Ankle Rebellion

In the spring of 2006, two longtime friends decided that they wanted to form a brand that encapsulated their satirical style. They wanted to take classic English and American staples and infuse them with wit and humor while still keeping them distinctively stylish. How better to do this than with the brand logo? And with that simple act, Psycho Bunny was born.

Ladies, in our second installment for the perfect male gift this holiday season I'd like to focus on one aspect of this luxurious label: socks.

One of the classic gifts for men over the years (especially for fathers) has been new socks. I remember many years growing up where my father used to tell us that the only thing he really wanted was these feet warmers because he had everything he needed. Well, you can still give him that gift, but why not do it with a little bit of flair. Statement socks are an easy way to spruce up a wardrobe but few men really splurge on good hosiery. The humorous skull and crossbones bunny is sure to get a smile. It's kind of like tricking him into feet luxury.

Final Verdict: I'm not saying you have to get him the whole set, but maybe one or two pair would be a fun way to start his collection.

Hooded Tartan

So fellas, you may be wondering why I helped the ladies out with a gift idea for their man but left you hanging. Truth be told, I was only keeping you in suspense. And now... drum roll please. We have the first holiday gift idea brought to you by the style experts here at Rakish Dishevelment: the wool plaid hooded cardigan by Ralph Lauren Rugby. The instant I saw this item I immediately fell in love with it. It could be the fact that it has a similar look to the cocoon jacket shown as part of the last look in the Ralph Lauren Fall 2010 show, or just the fact that it comes in two amazing plaid options. The $198 price point shouldn't sway you, as all RL brands tend to be driven by promotions. If this is something you are "sale stalking," try shopping online early Black Friday morning.

Final Verdict: I included the pic from the Fall 2010 show to give you a point of reference. If you need a little bit more nudging, consider that the Rugby version is 1/10th the price.

When to Not Leave The Tip

More so than other years, I have noticed a market saturation in the fingerless glove sector. Whether this is directly due to the uptick in touch sensitive phones, or just due to the fact that it is a great look, I don't really care. I'm a fan, but one could easily get lost in the sea of hobo gloves, so allow me to be your market guide.

When searching for a pair of gloves sans tips, you should first determine what type you are searching out. After you limit that down you can decide what fabric you are seeking. There are really 3 distinctly different factions for this trend. The first section would be the basic, normal-length fingerless glove. These tend to come in fabric styles only, although you could find the occasional pair with leather gripping on the palm side. Men should stick with styles that only come up to the wrist, and not over. Otherwise, you risk looking like you purchased a pair of ladies' gloves. Speaking of which, ladies are able to choose just about any length they wish and look "on point." When picking a fabric, I would stick with your basic wool or wool blends. No sense shelling out for cashmere when it is heat-wise impractical.

The next style we have only applies to women, and this would be the arm warmers. These are basically a lengthened version of the styles above. One of the most popular of this genre would be the cable knit, although you can find anything down to the pointelle metallic weave from Ralph Lauren Rugby. Feel free to upgrade to a higher quality fabric for these arm sheaths as the fibers will be covering more of your skin. For a cheaper option than cashmere, look for something that uses alpaca or angora. If you are in the mood to shell out the cash for cashmere, try checking out Qi, White + Warren, or Portolano.

The last category would be the fingerless driving glove. 95% of these are made in only leather, although you may run into the occasional fabric piece, perhaps in a lace. These are yet again a primarily female accessory, although it wouldn't be unheard of to have them available for men. I would encourage you, men, that if you are interested in the driving glove style to just pay a little extra for the tips. You want to look sophisticated, not like you just left the gym... unless of course your name is Karl Lagerfeld, in which case you can do whatever you want. For women, it gives your outfit a little bit of an edge AND they tend to come in a greater variance of color options. Try something bright to make them stand out.

Final Verdict: Most retailers are carrying these this season. You can find anything from a $4.95 pair at H&M, up to the gorgeous Gucci or Ralph Lauren ones above. Whatever your budget, this is a trend worth trying.

Best Wrapped in Brown Paper

Ladies, do you find the holiday season to be a frustrating time of year to be shopping for your man? Do you find yourself convulsing at the thought of getting him the newest video game he wants because you know that means death to your relationship for weeks at a time? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then I am here to help you out. Over the next several weeks I'll be putting up posts reflecting some of the best fashionable gifts for the man in your life.

I'd like to kick off the ball with this amazing roll-up shave kit from Colonel Littleton. Located in sleepy Lynnville Tennesse, Col. Littleton is that kind of company that just makes you proud to be buying from the USA. Don't be fooled by the rural location though, because their products are of the highest quality and could easily be sold in metropolitan cities across the world. They start by choosing hearty leather that is meant to stand the test of time, aging gracefully along with the solid brass hardware. Then, the option of the personalized engraving adds an elegant touch, which for a legacy item, adds that stamp of authenticity. While some may balk at the price ticket, just think of it as an investment item. Amortized over even only 5 years of wear, it is a worth-while purchase.
Final Verdict: Give your man something very stylish that, at the same time, just oozes testosterone from the wild west.

Hot Right Now

This post will be short and sweet. I absolutely love these booties from Dior. I've been trying to figure out how I can purchase them for my wife without her noticing $1300 missing from our account. Well...that AND trying to figure out where to get an extra $1300.

Final Verdict: Go ahead and drool. As an added bonus, I also threw in that last pic of the new Givenchy kiltie booties (available at Bergdorf Goodman -- $1700). I'm not usually into tassels, but those are pretty hot.

Looking Down Your Nose

Elvis Costello, Buddy Holly, Poindexter, Justin Timberlake… what do they all have in common (or in sync… ba dum crash). Give up? Ok, I’ll just tell you. They all wear dark, plastic-framed glasses. While this is by no means a new trend, it is very much in vogue right now. For quite some time it seemed like contacts were going to put the frame companies out of business, but then we noticed a resurgence of these spectacles from the 1950's. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, these facial accessories have reappeared in the pages of just about every fashion magazine pushing their geek-chic style. It has gotten to the point that retailers are making non-prescription pairs for those fashionistas who want the look but were cursed with perfect vision.

You can pick up a pair of these non-prescription specs at retailers like Topshop or H&M (usually for less than $30), but if you are looking to go with something more notable check out your local eyewear retailer. Most optical centers can do any frame you want with a poly-lens that need not be corrective. To avoid dating yourself, I would stick with a more classic look without the brand label stamped all over the side. A favorite of mine would have to be Persol from Italy. It is a brand that has been around for over 90 years and was the sunglasses vendor of choice for style icon, Steve McQueen.

When looking for that perfect pair, keep your eyes above the neck. You don’t need a pair that works with the outfit you are wearing that specific day, instead you want something that works with your face and skin coloring. If you have a paler complexion, you might want to lean towards the darker shades so that the glasses don’t wash you out. For something different, you could always look at the tortoise shell prints. Another big thing to consider when perusing is the general shape. Are you the kind of person that looks best with round or rectangular glasses? Maybe you could even do something a little bit more drastic like a cat eye style or a bright color. These frames are not meant to be subtle… think of them as the facial equivalent of statement socks (see my earlier post).

Final Verdict: For a new way to revamp your entire outfit try this styling out. Remember, geek is chic.

Patch 2.0

There comes a time in the life of an item in your closet that you begin to doubt whether or not you want to keep it. At this point, you may consider giving the item to the Salvation Army, a younger sibling, or just a good friend. I generally use this as a good excuse to clear up some space and make room for new items, but from time to time I go a completely different route. What is this road-less-traveled that I am speaking of? Why the patch of course!

When I say patch do you instantly think of those iron-on denim pieces your mother would use to fix your jeans when you were a kid? Yes? Wrong. I’m speaking of the collegiate or military style patches. In 2004 Ralph Lauren launched Rugby, an eclectic vintage-styled brand that thrives on this exact mindset. They take those heritage classics and re-imagine them with a sexy 'varsity flair' by adding patches, individual logos, and custom styling. You can take this same approach with your own pieces and give them a unique rebellious-chic makeover. Countless places sell patches, but I am a fan of the ones from the Rugby store. They have a well-worn look and come in countless colors and sizes for that perfect creation. You can go from a basic number patch to the more elaborate beaded crests approaching the $35 mark.

Once you have selected the appliqué you want, just affix it yourself to the item--or for a more finished look, get a tailor’s help. Either way is perfectly acceptable and the principles of rakish dishevelment should be fully applied. You want a look that is finished yet not perfect. I have even taken steel wool to the patches after applied to help fray the edges. Remember to think outside the box, try adding them to outerwear coats or perhaps old chinos.

Final Verdict: If you can’t find an item you are willing to experiment with, head out to a thrift shop for your blank canvas. If you get your friends together maybe you can look like this:
But then again... most people aren't friends with only 16-19 year-old models.