VintageGent’s Menswear Daily

Sure Beats Rotary Dial…

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boost Mobile. All opinions are 100% mine.

Remember the commercials for Boost Mobile a few years ago?  Nextel may have been the first that comes to mind that offered the Direct Connect function, but Boost was the first, it seems, to have offered it with a no contract service. (You can’t tell me that you never were tempted to “chirp” someone and ask them “Where you at” when those commercials were looped.) Well, Boost is at it again.  This time, they are offering a no contact, $50 unlimited plan with a SANYO Incognito. Oh, and no more folks wearing round orange shirts.

What is an Incognito? It does most of the things a Blackberry does, such as browse the internet and take photos, but it also has a full keyboard and video capabilities. For folks that don’t want to be linked to a long term contract and want to pay month to month or a few months at a time, it allows them to see if they will actually use the technology without any major commitment. If you are me, you are sorely behind the times and will get that type of contraption in twenty years, though they do appeal to the side of me that likes to par down.  I am wondering if you would let me try out yours to see if I can blog with it.

The price point for the Sanyo Incognito SCP6760 is $129.99, not including taxes.  The phone may not be one of those “free with plan” deal because there is no contract. However, have you looked at contracts that include free phones?  You actually do pay for them many times over due to the elevated fees accruing throughout the year, or even three years, of the contract. You can’t get something for nothing.

Have you played with the Incognito yet?  To me, no contracts just seem more attractive right now considering that I am not sure which way I want to go for my next phone.  I am considering going back to rotary or one of those bag phones, but they seem to be eluding me…and they are awfully heavy.

Curbside Seats

I was talking to a friend from the city, and I was reminiscing over the days of itty bitty studio apartments that were wedged in the attic of brownstone apartment buildings. I have left that life far behind, but the treasures that people put up on the curb for the trash was amazing. Far from a dumpster diver, I couldn’t help not stop for a midcentury modern chair or a coffee table with a car engine as the base. Folks tossed it rather than stored it if they were a foreign student who went home for the summer, or just didn’t have a buddy who had a pickup truck. I guess when everyone takes the subway, those are in short supply.

Makes one think about getting one of those New York Studio Apartments for a month to camp out just to see what can be had. Sort of a midcentury modern stakeout.  Maybe not, as a “cheap” studio apartment in town is quite hefty, but everything is relative.

It’s Scary…

A feature ran on the New York Times Magazine fashion blog exposing New York locations of H & M and Walmart and their practice of slashing and discarding unsold merchandise.  The article reads, “A spokesperson for Wal-Mart told the Times that the store normally donates unused items to charities, and needed to investigate the 35th Street situation.”  Indeed, I do believe this to be true.  I have seen Wal-Mart merchandise at a local thrift store and given as in kind donations to groups as well. However, I am not sure of the practice of H&M.

The story was already told at the New York Fashion Blog.  You can read it here.   While I do understand the practice of slashing merchandise so that it cannot be looted and pilfered, in this day and age with sustainability being so important to consumers, any company who does this is committing PR suicide.  The practice of sending merchandise to off price retailers and warehouses are also popular. The argument for those that don’t is that one doesn’t want to dilute the brand.  Alternate methods such as rotating stock, and marketing special events may help clear the shelves instead.  These are all corporate decisions.

While I find it troubling, I found some of the comments made even more troubling.

One commentator writes:

“would u (sic) rather them donate to homeless people and have homeless people wear the same jacket you just paid good money for at h&m?”

And another…

“agree that unused merchandise should be shipped out to poverty stricken countries where people do not have many resources or comforts. Not only would that be the morally correct thing to do, it would also create a better image for these companies (and the country).

As for the homeless in America who have access to the abundant resources of this country? Why are we working our asses off to pay for clothes, food, shelter, etc…when people who choose to be lazy can get it for free via handouts? I don’t think that is fair, it does not promote work ethic or responsibility. Yes, there are genuine cases of homeless who just fell on hard times and are actively trying to get on their feet… but for the most part, those I have met are unmotivated to clean up and become productive members of society. Idleness should not be rewarded.

I will give anyone the shirt off my back if they need it, but do not let me turn around the next day and see them not attempting to get their own shirt.”

I have several comments.  Let’s start out at the diplomatic ones.

To me, the price of trendy retail is not solely about the price of the prestige of the brand or the quality of the item.  A consumer is also paying to be the one to own it first and to be seen in it first.  The person who buys it second may have purchased it at a lower price on sale or a clearance center, but they did not have the opportunity to be the first one to be seen in it or to have it before the beginning of the season. The instant gratification was not achieved. That sort of intangible is not often considered. It may be difficult to think about in regards to fashion, but there are rampant and familiar examples in the toy and technology world.  When the Ipod first came out, there were folks that paid $500 or more just to be the first to have it in their hot little hands.  Parents paid a hundred bucks to have a Cabbage Patch Kid under the Christmas tree rather than waiting for a birthday when they could buy it for $30, just for the experience of seeing a child’s face on Christmas morning. Those intangibles are what I am talking about and they directly relate to fashion.

Now…let me take my gloves off.  I am so disheartened by people not wanting to take care of their own.  Everyone wants to ship clothes and toys off to developing nations and ignore their brothers and sisters around the corner.  There are people who are homeless through either no fault of their own.  The woman who flees an abusive husband and has nowhere to go, the man whose apartment building burns down and he didn’t have proper renter’s insurance, the couple whose company shipped their jobs to another state and cannot find gainful work to pay the mortgage.  The list goes on and on and on.  Why are people living in other countries more noble and less lazy?  People worry so much about crime and the economy.  If we just stopped a moment and realized that someone’s bridge to getting on their feet might be clean clothes to wear to an interview or to send their kids to school in so they will not be rediculed for wearing the same outfit 4 days in a row, maybe we would start to get the picture. Apparently, the people making these comments were never “there.”

Off of my soapbox for now.  Luckily, some of the commentators are getting on the cases of some of these folks, but one never knows if they will listen or at least consider how selfish they are.  I don’t believe in free handouts.  I don’t believe in lifetime social welfare. I believe in the “Teach a Man to Fish” scenario. However, that man needs something to wear and a fishing line to do so, right?

This BirdBrain is on Twitter

I am trying to figure out when my Twitterversary is. Some sites tell the world how long you have been registered. It is not earthshatteringly important, but I was wondering how long Vintagegent.com has been on Twitter. It seems that the past year has just flashed before my eyes, and I can’t recall if I started a few months ago, or a year ago. I know that I have at least been on Twitter over the summer, as I blogged about it. The rest of my Twittertime has all been a blur.

At this writing, I have 393 followers.  I have not aggressively pursued followers on Twitter.  I followed probably about 5 people initially, and then everyone else came from my announcement of the announcement of me having a Twitter account on this blog, or just finding happening people that I wanted to follow and they were nice enough to follow me back.   I haven’t been tweeting in awhile, but once I start, it gets addictive.

A friend of mine said that when you start to follow more than 50 people, you will have a hard time keeping up with everyone.  So far, I have not found that to be the truth.  I think that the people I follow share my interests, so it is not an arduous wade in hip boots through people luring me into their casino.

If you enjoy reading this blog from time to time, feel free to come join me at http://twitter.com/vintagegent.  I might just even follow you back.  You’ll get updates when new stuff is posted on this blog, retweets from my friends on fashion, antiques, and anything else that strikes my fancy.

Send Your Baby Subliminal Messages with a Quilt

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Quiltcreator. All opinions are 100% mine.

I attended a car show recently, and had a chance to sit in a few great old cars. Don’t worry. I did know the car owners, so I wasn’t committing a senseless act of putting my grubby finger prints on someone’s hard work. There was an old Chevy that was perfect, but the bench seat hadn’t been restored. This minor flaw was covered by a cozy quilt that was appropriate to the era of the car. In fact, it distracted me and I didn’t even notice that the seats were worn. It wasn’t an old tattered quilt, either. There is something about a handmade quilt that adds some traditional character to a home, or in this case, a car.

Recently, I became aware of www.quiltcreator.com. It is a site that allows you to design your own quilt based on a variety of themes. Color and fabric palettes can next be selected.  At first, I was a little upset that I couldn’t just randomly choose colors, but they were smart in limiting your choices to a palette you select. This prevents one from designing something totally hideous and just plain wrong.

I myself designed this baby quilt, at left. The sheer geometrocity of it will stimulate a baby’s mind and mold it into a channel of design and interpersonal greatness. No, I can’t scientifically confirm that. Alternately, your child could have an episode when a friend brings over the Q-bert retro arcade game.  They could be inexplicably drawn to it, or perhaps line their future dorm room with M.C. Escher posters.  That might be something that science can prove, which is akin to the likelihood of the “freshman fifteen.”

At any rate, right now VG readers can take advantage of two special promotions. Enter Ship4Free to win the valuable prize of Free Shipping, or use code 104You., which will give you 10% your order.

Those Who Can…Teach

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.

A few of my friends are currently unemployed or under employed. Some see this as a second “Great Depression” but those who are smart and have a positive attitude are using this time to sharpen the saw. They are looking for ways they can either become more competitive and marketable, or they are retraining for a job they have always wanted to have. There are still job openings for nurses, but there is a shortage of nurses who go back to school to qualify themselves to teach. Nursing programs are closing for lack of faculty.  There is an old adage that “Those who can’t teach.”  It was mostly used in the theater indicating that those who couldn’t make it as an actor or playwright but knew the mechanics of it were relegated to teaching it.  However, I think that it isn’t entirely too.  There are many talented people who teach because they want either a steady paycheck, or they have much to share to make others great.

Also, there are many elementary school teachers and high school teachers out there, but sometimes there is a lack of those who can teach special ed or teachers that have experience in not just teaching, but had some other life experience that qualifies them to teach a specialized topic with enthusiasm. My aunt is a teacher and she said that it is about having enough skills in your tool box where a school or district can find a use for you even if they don’t need to to teach what you are teaching now. She always taught preschool and kindergarten, but by going back for certification in special education and another subject matter, if they ever had a dearth of kindergarten teachers, she could retain a position as a special education teacher for grades K through 6 or could teach science.

The problem sometimes is finding the time, or with someone who is unemployed, having the extra resources such as gas money to attend a Masters program.  Another dilemma is deciding to be away from a newborn baby.  If you have found yourself in this dilemma, you may want to check out the program information from the USC Rossier School of Education.

Whether you are a teacher with a Bachelor’s Degree and want to define your niche, or you have a degree in another discipline and want to teach, you can learn from the comfort of your home. There is an extensive online program that includes a tuition reimbursement program and an accelerated program. There are local field based experiences, so don’t worry about just reading a book and not being able to apply it. The school is ranked #9 for education programs among private institutions and #22 nationwide.

Have you considered going for additional degrees or certification online?  If so, tell me what your experiences have been?

Secondhand Christmas Shopping

Many readers love vintage clothing, and their interest naturally encompasses other antique or patinated items such as flatware, cars or furniture.  There is such a thrill in the hunt and one naturally thinks that loved ones feel the same way.  While some items may be treasures to us, they may just seem “used” to others. Thrifttown recently published a check list that you should consider when determining if a secondhand item is the right decision.

Not everyone appreciates a vintage item.  One man’s treasure is another man’s old junk.  You can still slip in a vintage item with tip #6:

Get crafty or bake! Make a project out of secondhand items like this kitchen canister set or these felted yarn balls. When it comes to gifting home-baked cookies or candy, pretty plates, platters, and bowls, hands down, make better gift containers than paper plates.

I am not one for yarn balls or crafting, but sending baked goods on vintage china or a vintage serving piece would be a nice gift. Consider the recipients color scheme or preferences. A cake plate or serving dish doesn’t necessarily have to match what they have and could become an heirloom. The key is to choose a plate that has a nice design, interesting enough to stand on its own.

For more tips from Thrift Town, Read the Top 10 tips here. .

The Host With the Mostest

VintageGent’s Menswear Daily has now been on the web for three years, and over two at this location.    It caused much reminiscing, but also a review of certain housekeeping matters, such as web site hosting. It has been a long time since I have shopped around. The feeling is eerily like going back into the dating world. It is an awkward, but necessary step if you desire the ultimate end result. The end result being a beautiful lifetime, or at least long term relationship. What do you think I meant by end result? Oh. I see.  Well then get your mind out of the gutter.  We are all ladies and gentlemen here.

There is a list at Webhostinggeeks.com that lists different choices for various needs. For example, there is a category for web hosts that are adept for hosting multiple domains, or hosting blogs. For each listing, there are reviews from the website owner and visitors. Some sites have a few reviews, while some have in the hundreds.  One cannot please everyone, so there occasionally is a review that might be very different from the consensus, but many times the consensus is consistent.

It seems to me, based on the comments, that there are quite a few hosts that charge very little.  What you need to watch out for are expensive add ons. There is a blog post that mentions the bait and switch.  Some of the add ons are not something I would need, but when you portion out basic services, such as one email account or email forwarding, I can see where it would get pricey.  I am glad that I was able to find some comparisons.   For now, I am going to stay put, even though if this site were a household, it would be due for a move based on national average of relocation.   If and when I should relocate, I am glad I am aware of the new games hosts are playing to compete.   By competing hosts, I don’t mean the two couples who alternately host your bridge game and try to outdo eachother with their beverage selection.  You knew that, though.

Gilette: A Close Shave Away from A Job

Were you aware that 84% of HR managers, according to a Gillette(R) survey, observed that individuals who are well groomed climb the corporate ladder faster than those that are not? It makes sense in many fields. If you are meeting with clients, it doesn’t give a good impression of the business as a whole when you show up with your shirt tail hanging out your fly and greasy hair.  It just looks like you don’t care.  More so, if you smell, that goes without saying that they won’t want you meeting with their customers down the road.

Some folks may take offense and say that this is discriminatory against those in creative fields and those who choose less traditional clothing and hair styles. On the contrary, it holds true for whatever field you are in. Often “creative” is a euphemism for messy or missing a few showers, when it really should mean a position that calls for less formal attire or allows a latitude for other expressions in hair color, body art or clothing, but still requires your best foot forward. In other words, don’t let them mistake the dye in your hair for dirt streaks.

By browsing around Gillette Career Advantage, there are some tried and true tips for interviewing and general grooming. Style expert Brett Fahlgren (GQ correspondant) and career expert Mark Jeffries team up to present some pointers to help you land that job.  They recommend a clean shaven look rather than a potential employer catching you in the middle of “trying out a beard.”  If you have facial hair, keep it need.  Otherwise, save the stubble for vacation.  They also recommend steering clear of products that will make your hair look wet and greasy.  On the side of physical conduct, there are tips for getting your resume looked at, to appropriate physical contact (the forearm is always safe).

If you want to bypass all the wisdom and your ears just perked up when you read “Gillette,” hoping there would be more information here about the products, you can stop by the Gillette Resource Center. There you will find the latest news on products and other earth shattering news from Gilette, such as sports sponsorship deals and more.

Etiquette on Fake Diamonds and AlmostDiamonds.Com Review

I used to discuss etiquette a bit more on this site, and a reader’s note reminded me of how much I miss it. If you have any etiquette questions related to fashion, etiquette from back in the day or just general lady and gentlemanliness, feel free to leave me a comment and I will do my best to answer it.

The question the reader posed was as follows:

Q:  Is giving or receiving fake diamond rings, or more so Fake Diamond Engagement Rings, a faux pax?  Not everyone can afford a big rock, and it seems that a lot of people trade them in anyways for something they rather have.

A:  I’m glad that you asked.

There are several things to consider here. Firstly, let’s go with the scenario that both parties are on the same page and are comfortable with the idea.  If both parties were on the same page, then I see no fashion crime committed. While it may not be the view you would expect me to take, this is a case where love trumps money.

Some individuals rightfully believe that the marriage is more important than the ring. If a nervous groom and blushing bride don’t have the funds to throw an expensive fete, or even a mid range fete, and it is the difference between waiting to buy a $2,000-10,000 diamond ring or proposing now, then a stand in might be an option.  It can be upgraded to a real diamond for an anniversary in the future, or all involved might be happy with the original.

In fact, Cubic Zirconia Engagement Ringsare a great option when you are traveling and don’t want to risk losing a ring on a scuba diving trip. A new bride may want to show off her new husband and new ring to new friends, but wants the real one to stay in the safe deposit box. When flashing someone a ring, you can’t really tell that its not white gold and is sterling silver  (I recommend going with sterling silver for longevity rather than a composite metal…that is a definite) instead. Of course, a jeweler would, but in a normal social setting it would be unquestioned. Of course, if the stone is extremely large, then it might be.

I also know many people who are in the manufacturing business, in trades, or work on farms.  They might need to leave their engagement ring off most of the time for safety reasons.  They may feel it is a better investment to put money in the band, rather than in a bauble they won’t wear.  They may appreciate a fake diamond to wear in social settings.  Oh, and don’t forget theatrical productions and films where it would break the budget to buy real.

When a fashion crime may be committed is when you find the most outlandish ring you can for daily wear.  Just like wearing a ten carat diamond, it may come across as pretentious.  Just consider the person receiving it, and if you are the one wearing it, consider the overall style you usually prefer.

Next, let’s go with the scenario where the bride to be is in the dark.  If one party is being dishonest to the other and pointing out , and passing them off as real, then that is another issue entirely. Marriage should be built on honesty and trust, and starting out by being deliberately dishonest to someone is not the way to go.  I suggest instead of proposing, you examine if you have been honest to your spouse to be in other areas of your life.  If this is the only glaring omission if you follow through with it, I would come clean.  Test the waters to see if your idea will fly and if it doesn’t, go right to Plan B and get a diamond.  Have it come up in conversation.  You can talk about “a friend of yours” or talk about fake rings in general and that you think they are great for whatever reason.  Then let that open up the discussion. You really should know your spouse to be well enough by now to know if it is a good idea to even approach the topic or not.

Of course, this shouldn’t replace everyone’s giving and getting of a diamond, but it is not a complete fashion “no”.

AlmostDiamonds.com is where we got the photos from.  They have a wide selection of faux diamonds for any budget.

What is She Hiding?

More and more companies, particularly start ups, are turning to viral internet campaigns to create buzz or to completely launch a new product. This usually involves hoisting something up on Youtube. One of the latest campaigns has been a “mystery campaign” for Red Chair Confessions. A young woman confesses to an indiscretion in a confessional, meant to intrigue us to wonder what exactly might be in store at Red Chair.  I have my personal theories, but will save that for after the video.

My first thought was that instead of a tryst, she is confessing to some sort of shopping addiction. She may, in fact, be wearing some sort of clothing item or fragrance associated with it.  I at first surmised that the folks behind Red Envelope were behind it. I did not see the Red Envelope logo, and it doesn’t seem like their style, but free association is the name of the game, isn’t it?  I don’t know if the mention of the activity seeming to be a right of passage is a clue or not.   Surely, she hasn’t joined the AARP.  I am going to have to scratch my head on this one for a little bit and get back with you.   I tend to be an “overthinker” and pick up on the smallest of clues, and miss the big ones.  I think that it is all my years of reading Si Arthur Conan Doyle and Hercule Poirot novels that conditioned me.

For now, I am going to stick with something fashion or beauty related.   To me, the handbag fits her outfit, but the scarf just seems a little overdone.  Perhaps the trench coat is meant to illicit seriousness or mysteriousness, as it has been featured so many times in mystery solver fashion closets.   I just seem to think that she is going to take it off, since she is so buttoned up, and is either going to have a T Shirt on that will reveal something about the company, or have some sort of outfit that we are supposed to see later.   Of course, I could be way off.   I know this is going to bug me at 3 A.M.

Come Fly with Me on Twitter

I have been on Twitter for a bit now. Some of you have already discovered me there, through following people in your address book. Perhaps some of you have merely searched the name of this blog, and found me that way.  You might have also tried out one of those services that gives you a list of people who have certain words in their descriptions.

I have decided to officially come out of the shadows. I can be followed @vintagegent on Twitter. For those of you not up on the Twitter short hand yet, that translates to http://twitter.com/vintagegent.  Come fly with me. I would like to see what’s on your mind. If you follow me, you’ll get updates from the “Daily” as soon as they are published, as well as other random thoughts that are on my mind. If you have something interesting to say, or have some cool duds for sale, I might even retweet you.

If Twitter had sound, what would I sound like? Would I be a songbird? Would I have the scream of an eagle? That is something to ponder. I do know that I can’t match the velocity of an African swallow, but I can carry a coconut in my claws very easy.

What’s Your Ugliest Sweater?

In the 80s, Bill Cosby popularized the Coogi sweaters. Some people thought they were high fashion, and others thought they were highly repulsive. From the Cosby Sweater to the Gem Sweater site, Ugly Sweaters have their place in fashion history. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some people have taste only in their mouth. Some were once considered beautiful and now they are dated, and some were never good.

My cousins had a contest to see if they could come to the party with the ugliest Ugly Christmas Sweaters.  The best one was a buttonless cardigan with a western cowboy Christmas theme. Sometimes Men’s Ugly Sweaters are harder to find if you are looking for something figural, like snow people themed, versus abstract ugly.

The handsome men’s sweater can be found at Buyuglysweaters.com.  They circle the decades and the miles to find the very best (worst) ones.  It is called A Bad Day to be Amish.   What makes it a bad day?  Perhaps because you are on an ugly sweater!  I got a laugh out of it, especially because it was produced for the menswear market versus the children’s. It retails at $20.  There is only one of them.  Hard to believe, right?  You’d better hurry, or you’ll miss out on this fine selection.

Quotes are not Just for Contractors

A friend of mine recenly told me about a website that she used to find a few people to do some work on her home that she is historically renovating.   It was taking a long time to get the work done, not because it took long once started, but because it took so long to find people to do it.   For me, it would probably take me quite some time to sift back in my memory to remember who hired who for what, and who they recommended.    She recently changed her game plan and used a site called MiNeeds.com.  She lives in the Windy City, described the job that needed to be done, and then several Chicago Contractors & Landscape Services responded with their quotes.

What surprised me more is that you can ask for help in all sorts of areas.  There are even fashion boutiques, photographers, and designers on the site.  There are individuals and companies that you can look up and hire directly, or you can pitch your idea and wait for quotes.  Of course, if you live in a metro area, or your job could be completed by someone who you don’t need to meet with at every step of the process, you are more likely to receive more quotes.

Say you need a photographer and flowers for a wedding.  Those are things you might automatically shop around for.  Wouldn’t it be neat if you could also ask for quotes for designing the bride’s dress or supplying the tuxedos?  Yes, you can definitely try doing that.

Of course, you would still need to decide for yourself if you think a business is worthy of hiring.  You will be able to read reviews from other people and see credentials online to help you with your initial research.  It behooves the businesses to be competitive with eachother, as it shows the best quote to date. The service is absolutely free for you, and may just help you connect the people you have been looking for.  In a new town, it is especially hard to know who to call, but here you have a good start.

Do you prefer to find help by doing your own research, or have you tried a site like MiNeeds.com?  I know its easy to surf around the internet and then make phone calls, but as a business person, I am always impressed by people who are willing to come to me to convince me to hire them.   It shows initiative, and perhaps they will use the same initiative in their work.  It is not always the case, but it often happens as long as the person going after the business is the same as the person doing the work, or is closely in touch with it.