When it comes to holiday decor, we tend to keep our decorations closer to something you might see in a Pottery Barn catalog rather than something that would give Clark Griswold a run for his money. On the flip side, when it comes to holiday clothing, we are all about blowing it out and having some fun. Now that we are only days away from Christmas we are breaking out our favorite holiday pants, the Tangled Cords ($125) from Bonobos.
Until last year, the only reason we had to visit Sears was to look at tools, or maybe for a quick oil change. That all changed when we found out Lands End Canvas would start rolling out to select locations around the country, one of which just happened to be in Annapolis. Needless to say, Sears is now on the short list of must stop shops when we find ourselves in the mall. On a recent trip, we were able to try something on that we have been meaning to pick up for a while now, the Striped Shawl-Collar Cardigan ($79.50).
It’s official, we are less than one week from Christmas. Have you finished your shopping yet? Ever the procrastinators, we still have a bit to do, but hopefully everything will be wrapped up (literally and figuratively) by the middle of the week. Luckily, most of the things we need to pick up are primarily “stocking stuffer” type items that shouldn’t be too hard to track down. If you are still on the hunt for that perfect stocking stuffer, take a look at the list below, these are all things that we hope to have in our stockings come Christmas morning.
About 20 minutes ago we got a Direct Message on Twitter from one of our absolute favorite stores, Redix in Wrightsville Beach, NC. If you are a fan of our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter you have probably heard us talking about this gem of a store on more than one occasion. Recently, Redix opened up an online storefront, and in an effort to spread the word they have been gracious enough to offer a $50 gift certificate* to one lucky Bows & Boats reader. We’re calling this giveaway a Flash Contest, and will only be taking entries until Noon tomorrow (12/18).
Lately we have realized just how much time we spend tied to technology. From laptops to iPads to iPhones, there is never a time that we aren’t connected. Sure, it is certainly convenient to always have access to just about everything at our fingertips, but sometimes it is a great change of pace to unplug and get back to basics. In an effort to do just that, we will soon be placing an order for “The Kit” ($44.95) from Field Notes.
As nice as it is to receive gifts this time of year, we enjoy giving them much much more. In our opinion, to see the look on a loved one’s face when they unwrap that perfect present is a far better gift than anything that anyone could give us. Well, today we are happy to once again be a gift giver, this time in the form of a prize pack from Starboard Clothing Co.* While a few other things will be included (including the hat shown above), the centerpiece of this prize pack is the recently released Winter Madras Beau ($45).
Our wardrobes are always in a state of flux, whether it is adding new pieces, retiring old ones, or just shifting seasons, it seems that our closets rarely look the same from one month to the next. It’s been a couple of months since we have put away our ribbon belts for the season, but thanks to a new Social Primer for Brooks Brothers collaboration piece, it looks like we will be wearing a one again a bit sooner than we had planned. Yes, there is now a Social Primer for Brooks Brothers Reversible Ribbon Belt ($38).
We are always up to break out a great looking tartan print, and this time of year it seems like everyone else feels the same way. It is no trouble tracking down a shirt, pants, or even a blazer with a solid tartan print, but until recently we were having trouble finding a belt that would allow us to add a bit of tartan to even the most basic looks. That was until we realized that our friends at Smathers and Branson had two fantastic options (both $165).
We all know that the best pieces of any wardrobe are those that are extremely versatile and can be worn with just about everything. Sure, we love go to hell pants and intricate plaids as much as anyone else, but you just can’t wear them as frequently as something a bit more understated. This time of year one of our most worn pieces is a simple crew neck sweater. If you have been on the hunt to add one to your collection, take a look at the Yachtsmen Sweater (currently on sale for $58.50) by Castaway.
Has anyone else caught any of the L.L. Bean holiday commercials that are running lately? While we normally don’t pay much attention to ads, there is just something about them introducing their employees to the world that we really love. Of all the ads currently in rotation, our favorite is probably the one that features Jason Valera (sp?), he cuts the leather for Bean Boots. Literally, every time we see the commercial we start trying to justify another pair. Though you can’t go wrong with the basic Bean Boot, our next purchase will definitely be the 12″ Leather Maine Hunting Shoe ($185) from the L.L. Bean Signature Collection.
