We have spent a lot of time talking about Men’s boatshoes here at Bows & Boats, but with Memorial Day less than a week away we thought it would be a good time to share one of our favorite women’s options. While we tend to keep things simple with basic leather, (or occasionally canvas) boatshoes, we feel like the ladies in our lives have a bit more creative license when it comes to our favorite piece of footwear. For the ladies looking to add a pair (or two) of new boatshoes to their collection this year, we recommend taking a look at the A/O 2-Eye Boatshoes ($70-$125) by Sperry Top-Sider.
Everyone is guilty of finding that one item that they will wear time and time again without a second thought, and, for many, that one item is a blue blazer. The blue blazer is something that has been a pillar of preppy style for years. From classic prep school uniforms, to chinos, to dress slacks, a well cut blue blazer looks great with just about anything. Of course, if it is well made, and perfectly cut, we completely understand the constant wear. That being said, it never hurts to have a few options when it comes to wardrobe staples, so if you are looking to add a new navy sport coat to your repertoire, you should absolutely take a look at the Milano Jersey Sport Coat ($298) by Brooks Brothers.
Two weeks ago today, the Triple Crown officially kicked off with the Kentucky Derby. Today, the second leg of the Triple Crown, The Preakness, will be taking place about 30 miles north of Annapolis at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. While the pomp and circumstance may not be at the level of the Derby, that doesn’t mean that The Preakness isn’t a spectacle in its own right. With thousands of fans descending on Baltimore for the event, and just as many locals spending the day watching the races, it is safe to say that countless Black-Eyed Susans are going to be consumed this afternoon. We aren’t talking about flowers here, the Black-Eyed Susan is to the Preakness what a Mint Julep is to the Kentucky Derby. Take a look below for this year’s official recipe.
Many times we overdress on “casual Friday” just to mix things up a bit, other times we take full advantage. Today is one of those days when we are in full on casual mode, the dress slacks have been replaced with jeans, and there are no ties in site. While some may scoff at the idea of dropping nearly $200 (or more) on jeans, we have to admit, we are definitely guilty of splurging every now and then. If you have been thinking about stepping up to the next level of denim, but don’t want a pair of jeans that looks “fancy”, take a look at the Original Bootcut ($155-$198) by 7 For All Mankind.
From solid oxfords, to tattersalls, to stripes, we have more button downs in our closet than we care to admit. That certainly doesn’t mean that we are on hiatus when it comes to finding new options. While many of our button downs pull double duty between the office and casual wear, there are certainly plenty that only fall in to one category or the other. If you need to add more button downs to the casual side of your closet, take a look at the Washed Thomas Mason® Fabric Button Downs ($125) by J. Crew.
Yesterday we talked about slimming things down for summer. From weight, to wallets, to clothes, the warm weather always seems to be a catalyst to slimming down. While you will never catch us wearing skinny jeans, that doesn’t mean slim cuts aren’t in the regular rotation. If you are looking for an extremely well priced pair of slim fit shorts, take a look at the Slim Fit Chino Shorts ($34.50) from Lands End Canvas.
This time of year, it seems like everything revolves slimming down. With beach season right around the corner, everywhere we turn the hot topic is how to drop a couple of pounds before summer vacations start. Since we aren’t a fitness blog, we can’t tell you about the perfect gym routine to get ripped, but what we can do is tell you how to lighten your load when it comes to what you are carrying with you. While we will be the first to say that a well made wallet is key, this time of year we switch over to a simple card holder. If you have read Bows & Boats for a while, you know how much we like the Water Buffalo Compact ID Wallet by Coach, well, their Water Buffalo Slim Card Case ($48) is just as great.
There are some things that every man should have in his closet. Bowties, boatshoes, blue blazers, pressed oxfords, etc. are all pieces that no wardrobe should ever be without. Another thing that no man should live without is a pair of khaki pants that always look good. You know, the ones that can be worn to work with a sport short, on the weekend with a t-shirt, or anytime really. After our raving about the Dalton Shorts by Jack Donnelly, it should come as no surprise that their Dalton Pants ($88), have officially become our go to.
Compared to what we wear in the office everyday, you could definitely say we dress down on the weekends. Slacks are normally swapped out for shorts, and perfectly pressed oxfords are replaced with anything from a vintage t-shirt to a well worn polo. Our clothes aren’t the only things that get more casual on the weekends, our accessories do the same. If you only have one watch, and feel like it is a bit too dressy for weekend wear, take a look at the Nylon Watchstraps ($29) from Smart Turnout.
Just like black cats and broken mirrors, Friday the 13th gets a bad wrap. Sure, 13 may be an “unlucky” number for some, but how can a Friday ever be a bad thing? After a long week in the office or classroom, Friday should always be a welcome site regardless of the date attached. Since so many people out there are convinced today is unlucky, we thought it was only fitting to profile something from a brand that is anything but. The Leather Rope Braided Belt ($59.50) by Lucky Brand is definitely a fresh take on a traditional look.
