Ok, let’s be honest.  The recession sucks. Having less money sucks. Whether it’s something small like having to purchase Stoli instead of Grey Goose, or it’s flying on Soul Plane instead of private aircraft, having less money sucks. Oh yeah, I said that already, lol.

On the path to putting together a stylish and diverse wardrobe, clearly finances present can present a challenge. Especially in these days and times. 

You decide to spend good money on the basics: few hundred bucks for a pair of good shoes, few hundred on a decent watch, then the few hundred more you’ve spent on a cashmere scarf, decent pea coat, etc. This would be fine and dandy if you were going to spend all of your days here, but if you’re like the rest of us, you’ll eventually have to put on a pair of pants to go along with your already purchased Instructions shirts and ties.

What to do? Where to shop?

I mean, we always have our options: there’s always the ‘guy’ that comes into the barbershop, we can scoop up a pair of designer-imposters courtesy of ebay, and then, there’s always ol’ faithful: TJ Maxx (and her fat cousin Marshall’s, whom I don’t discriminate against, fyi).

Nonetheless, be sure to avail yourself of the following options:

Loehmann’s- They usually dedicate like 90% of the store to women/girl’s stuff, but some quality stuff to be found.

Target- Yep! Target. They have great slim-fit slacks, and actually offer some decent suit options. Check it out here.

Now you don’t have to shop at Target, but my point is that, if you’ve invested in the necessities as stated above, try checking out stores where you wouldn’t ordinarily look to find nice clothes.

$350 shoes and $20 slacks? It can be done, and done well. Proof is in the pudding. Call me William H. Cosby.

When you know better, you do better. Hopefully now, you’ll dress better too. Veritas.

You know who you are. You and your skin tight “although I’m not anybody’s rockstar” denim, your meticulously arched eyebrows, and your “I apply product to every strand of hair” brand of cool. No More. Everyday fly-guys like me have reached THAT point, you know where you’re like a merger between Federal Express and UPS. Fed-UP. Thank you, Thank You. I’ll be here all week. Two shows on Sunday.

Terribly corny jokes aside, let’s get down to business.

I remember for my 23rd birthday one of my great friends bought me a book called The Metrosexual Guide to Style.  I was grateful on a number of levels: grateful that she remembered my birthday and even more grateful that she thought enough of our friendship to bless me with a gift.  While cleaning up the other day, I came across said book which got me thinking about the very subject matter of this blog.

Over the past few months, you guys have heard me bitch speak on the need for a return to the essence of male masculinity, or “throwback manhood” as I like to call it.

I think that stylistically, and in our every day actions we need to employ the temperment, grace, and dignity of our fore-fathers. While clothes don’t make a man, they do make a statement without speaking (just like we say here).  Apparently mens’ clothiers have complied with my sentiment and have decided follow suit.  One of my favorite fashion bloggers makes mention of it here.

So ladies/gents, next time you see a guy  in a pair of jeans that are a tad too tight  in all his purportedly masculine glory, advise that man, preach the good folks over at Dockers say,  “It’s ok to wear the pants”….Just buy a looser pair…You know just like our fore-fathers did.

A return to our stylistic origins. Now that we know better, let’s do better. Veritas.

Skateboard Culture. Tupac Shakur. The Fab Five. Jodeci. Rap Music.

Are the aforementioned the only culprits? No way. So many people, places, and things influenced me at a young(er) age when I used to sag my pants. Sagging became so normal to me, that wearing my pants above my ass felt weird…hence why I hated wearing “dress-pants”, because those pleated sons-of-bitches didn’t give you option to yank ‘em below your waist.

Now, of course my dad, uncles, and my old-heads were always on my head about how sagging was a terrible thing, and I needed to pull those Guess/or Marithe and Francois Jeans above my ass. Actually the phrase that was most often used, if memory serves me correct, was “pull your @#$@%#@ pants up.”

I remember the holidays when me and my cousin Ty would be standing around in all our sagging glory, and my (drunk) Uncle (name redacted, lol) would tell us about how we looked like a couple of prisoners. Little did I know, his drunk ass actually knew what he was talking about.

Now most people either feel like Barack Obama does about it or like Russell Simmons does.

My 0.02… there are three simple rules that need to be followed.

You shouldn’t be sagging if:

1) You are over 21 years old, unless you are a rapper performing on stage.

2) You are wearing skinny jeans.

3) Your t-shirt does not cover your assphalt.

It is my prayer that if are still sagging your pants at the age you are right now, hopefully you aren’t sagging in every other facet of your life as well. Remember, practice makes permanent. When you know better, you do better. Thank us later. Veritas.