Before The Music Ends. 06.06.09

-Gettin' To Know You

Welcome to the new music section of the newly founded Men’s Fashion Blog. One of the things I find most important when reading articles regarding music is establishing some sort of relationship with the writer (shout out to hypebot’s Eliot Van Buskirk). Knowing who is behind the comments and opinions helps the reader understand what the writer is saying, whether they agree or not. So before I begin my new post as the music columnist, I want you to know who I am, just as Johnny Mathis sang once, I too, am “Gettin’ to know you”.

For starters, I eat, drink, breathe, and all around live music. I am not nearly as passionate about anything else in my life (ok, maybe my dog), and because of this, I am very opinionated when it comes to music. Call me, if you will, a music snob, and I will accept it wholeheartedly because I make it a point to understand every aspect of what I love before making any sort of opinions, so that when I do, I am ready to back up what I say. I am not a fan of the modern pop artists (sorry, Kelly Clarkson) and I’m not a fan of the Madonnas and Britneys of the world. I can respect the Katy Perrys who at least have a more well rounded approach to what they do (hello, she writes her own stuff at least), but I do have my guilty pleasures here and there (CHER! Shhhh…). I know one particular musician who wants to nearly kill me every time I say I cannot stand Nirvana, The Beastie Boys, or the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I also get laughed at for being a supporter of the English Indie bands like Bloc Party. Face it, I like what I like…

I fell into the music “industry” by accident. Moving to a new city 700 miles away from the place I had lived my entire life wasn’t exactly easy. I literally sat for the first week in California at my empty desk listening to The Ataris’ So Long, Astoria because all their songs were about remembering the awesome times they had back home, and I was unbelievably homesick… until I saw that The Ataris were playing the following week and realized that bands like that would never come to El Paso, Texas…. And that’s where it all began. I have spent the last four years bouncing from internship to internship in record labels, management companies, and music publishing companies trying to make my way into the big girl world, so….

I am going to do my best to write daily (except for weekends, sorry people), and I will also do my best to keep my articles unbiased. I will inform you guys of current music news, I will review shows and albums, and I will leave you all with my daily playlist. I will also let you in on my weekly music obsession of a band or artist that I feel that you HAVE to check out… sounds fair, right?

To get this column started, I am going to leave you something to listen and fall in love with over the weekend until I sign back in on Monday and begin enlightening you all with my awesomeness. This week’s obsession is a new band called Empire of the Sun, and the song is “Walking on a Dream”, the title track off their debut album. If you like MGMT, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, or even the Pet Shop Boys, you’ll love these guys!

Click HERE to watch the video

[sorry but until i learn to upload videos,

the link will have to do]

- Dalit Troyce, Music Editor

dalit@themensfashionblog.com

Skin care that actually works!

So here I am, helping out a friend with his blog, and hopefully he puts my contribution up. Skin care is a very important subject that goes hand and hand with fashion. If your face doesn't look good, then you don't feel good.

Many of the brands that you can find at your local store usually do not do the trick. Facewashes like Neutrogena and Clearasil usually cause more breakouts and tend to dry out your skin, instead of providing the necessary nutrients your skin needs daily.

I found this special skin care line online and also found counters at various high end department stores like Nordstroms. Mario Badescu is the line that carries it all. Treatments that cover acne, acne scarring, and even back and chest problems. The line also includes numerous serums and lotions to help fight wrinkles and keep skin hydrated. Mario Badescu is known for their Drying lotion. This magic lotion dries up pimples over night. I didn't believe it at first and for the price of $17.00 for a 1oz bottle, I was skeptical. Luckily for me, I had a pimple!! I wanted it to go away fast so I finally decided to give it a try . I applied to lotion to the troubled area and overnight, the pimple reduced in size and the redness was gone. They even have a special section just for guys.

I highly recommend the peppermint shaving cream that mosturizes and hydrates your skin, rather than causing red bumps and dryness. Mario Badescu is your one stop shop for all your skin care needs. Thanks Mario!

Peppermint Shaving Cream

Drying Lotion

To purchase these products, and to see their full line,

visit www.mariobadescu.com or nordstrom.com

-Joey DePierro, Special Features Editor

joey@themensfashionblog.com

More to Come.

I'm in talks with a few people to contribute to this site and make it your one-stop destination for all things fashion, food, sports, life, etc... If you are interested in making contributions, email me at admin@themensfashionblog.com

Something New.

Do you ever feel like you are stuck in a rut with your fashion? There are times that I feel like I could definitely use a change. One look I have always been fond of is that east-coast preppy look. Something I could never pull off on a daily basis, but implementing small touches of it into my every day wardrobe seems to be proving much easier. I recently went to an event for a friend and I decided to wear a bow-tie. Something I would NEVER do normally and guess what.....it worked amazingly well with my ensemble. Of course, it was a classic, tie-it-yourself bowtie. I wouldnt be caught dead in a pre-tied bowtie.

Another example...I am addicted to denim. I love jeans!! I can't get enough. After the major hurricanes in the south, I donated about 20 pairs of jeans to the victims and STILL I had about 16 pairs in my closet [with the number growing still]. I was inspired by an article in the current issue of GQ to "Give Your Jeans the Summer Off". I decided to give it a try. On Monday, I wore jeans. [What? I wasn't ready to let them go just yet] Tuesday...skinny jeans [I know, I know...how can I give advice if I can't take it? BUT they were different than those that I usually wear, which would be slim boot cut]. Nonetheless!, it was a slight change. Wednesday...khakis!! I did it! I strayed from my denim! I was, in fact, verrry comfortable in them too! There's just something about khakis and flip-flops that make you feel so relaxed. Thursday...brown trousers. These were equally as comfortable as the khakis and slightly dressier. Aaaand now comes Friday....jeans. Like I said, changes need to be subtle. It's all about slowly incorporating new elements to your wardrobe. Don't be afraid to try something new. Also, experiment with footwear! The pics below exhibit a variety of footwear including flip-flops, canvas sneakers, dress shoes, etc. But remember, if you are going to wear sandals, prep your feet!! I'll post an entry soon on proper foot-care for the summer (flip-flop) months. Here are some pics of jean-alternatives for the hot summer months, along with links to purchase.

Polo Ralph Lauren Featherweight GI pants

7 For all Mankind - Beaten Canvas Cotton Standard Pants

Ben Sherman 'Arcade' Chinos

Ben Sherman Plaid Shorts

Summer Shades.

Summer is officially here and no matter where you live, the sun peeks out to play every once in a while. After all, what would summer be without the sun. Personally, I can never have enough sunglasses but a lot of people have trouble finding the right frames for their face. I generally find that classic wire-rimmed aviators go with just about any face. As a general rule, try not to wear sunglasses that are too wide for your face. These can make your face seem irregularly small; or in the case of my parents, my Dad always snags my Moms sunglasses. The thing he doesn’t realize is that her face is SO much smaller than his. When he wears her sunglasses, his face resembles that of a giant.

I decided to make this first official post about sunglasses after a friend asked for help in picking out some cool sunglasses. Seeing as how it is quite difficult to explain face shapes over the phone, I took the liberty to find a face-shape/sunglass guide. In my search, I found that the most comprehensive/male-friendly version comes from Overstock.com. I’ve displayed a few of the sunglasses that are on my wishlist and included a link to the guide for your convenience.

Persol PO 0174

Ray-Ban Classic Aviators

Ray-Ban Red Wayfarers

Tom Ford Falconer TF2

Christian Dior

Most of these styles can be found on Overstock.com or Amazon.com

Click Here for the Sunglass Buying Guide on Overstock.com

Welcome.

Welcome to The Men’s Fashion Blog; the blog dedicated to bringing you the latest styles, and the most answers. In order for this site to function the way it is meant to, you (the reader) must submit any and all questions you’ve got about fashion, life, dating, etc. I am here to help you. And who am I, you ask? For the moment, I prefer to remain anonymous; but when the time is right, I will reveal myself.

What you should be concerned about right now is the fact that I live to help people become better, more stylish people. If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding this site, never hesitate to email me at admin@themensfashionblog.com . And now, enjoy the blog…