6inchsociety

My sister Yadira and sister from another Carid have decided to open a blog titled 6inchsociety.com.

The blog focuses on fashion and I can’t think of any female duo who has more style.

The blog launched the 25th and I’m sure it will be a success.

Best of luck my loves…

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6inchsociety.com…. is a post from: Live Above Mediocrity

Look at me…look at my outfit…look at me…look at my outfit.

I know I sound like the Old Spice guy, but I’m just trying to alert you to what this post is about.

If you haven’t guessed it yet, it’s about that polka-dot thingy in my suits breast pocket.

Why?

Well, for starters, I don’t have any traditional pocket squares and I feel naked when I wear a suit jacket without something in the breast pocket. So, in the last year and a half, I’ve resorted to using my ties as pocket squares. This is a bit different because ties don’t give you the same form as a pocket square. They are bulky, long and somewhat sloppy; so when I go out, I have to keep an eye on it a lot.

Annoying huh?

I usually roll them up and try to separate them into three different spots. With ties, it’s difficult to get the effect that a regular pocket square gives you because of their bulkiness. The soft fabric allows you the ability to arrange a pocket square in your own way within the tight confines of those pockets. With a tie – you fold it up – and 3 strands come out, and it moves around a lot.

I’ve stuck with this because whenever I see pocket squares online, they are over $15.00 and up per square. That’s a bit much. When it comes to fashion, I do like looking good, but I also want to be smart with my wallet about it.

As for my other little style quirk, I usually only do this when I wear a suit jacket and an unbuttoned dress shirt. I put a tie in the back pocket of my pants making sure it’s visible. It either matches with my shoes or the color of the dress shirt I have on. People usually only notice your little style quirks from the front, but sometimes you can add stuff to your back pockets to make your outfit pop out from all directions.

Fin…

If you want to learn more about pocket squares, click here

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The Wrinkles… is a post from: Live Above Mediocrity

As everyone who reads this blog knows, I’m a shoe lover. It doesn’t mean I buy many because I usually rock out with pairs until they die. I haven’t bought a real pair of shoes in a while. I just rotate between my Cardins, Magli’s, Bucci’s and Nunn Bush’s. The reason why I haven’t had to purchase any new ones is because of the quality of these shoes.

But, even if I don’t purchase many, I always try to stay on top of the newest designers and fresh collections by old shoemakers.

A few weeks ago, I met up with a friend and he mentioned this shoe company made by his friend, Portugese model Armando Cabral. A dope shoe company (self-titled) that offers wingtip hybrids, Clark inspired sneakers, and classic dress boots. A company that was started from scratch, but now has people like Steve Madden trying to buy him out to present the line he’s created as solely his.

Let’s just say he passed on that offer.

As a model, Cabral was lucky enough to have access to the best of the best in the fashion industry. His shoes, which is shocking for a starter in the industry, get made at the same places that Hugo Boss and other top designers have their shoes made.

My friend made a small investment in the company and saw a return double of what he invested. Oh how I wish I had that type of dinero to invest in projects I believe in.

Below are a few links to Cabral’s work. I’m not sure if any of these are available in the states yet – but they are in Portugal – and I’m sure you can email him to find out when they’ll be in a store in your area.

Armando Cabral’s stylish next step
Showroom Next Door: Armando Cabral

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Armando Cabral Shoes… is a post from: Live Above Mediocrity

I was one of those high school/college kids who worked in retail and because we got an extra discount, I’d spend my paycheck the same day I got it at the store.

This eventually built my closet to stuff of legend. My closet was my most prized possession. I’d spend nights haggling over what to wear like a female, but I had options; plenty of them. My friends always talk about me being late when we go out to dinner or a club and it’s because of that.

My mom would always tell me: ‘You have way too many shoes, sneakers, t-shirts and jeans.’ I would always tell her to leave me and mi ropa alone.

But as I look back now, she was right. Absolutely right. My shoe/sneaker game has been whittled down to maybe 12-15 pairs tops. I’ve given up maybe 15 pairs in the last two years to family and local charities. All shoes that were in near perfect condition, but the money I’d receive for them on Ebay wasn’t worth the listing so I just gave them away.

The same goes for dress shirts and pants. Truthfully, there’s still some stuff in my closet right now ‘you’ may want to take a look at.

But, despite growing older and wiser, my love for clothes hasn’t died, but my trigger happy ‘purchase’ impulses have as has my dependence on clothes to make me feel better about myself.

Before it was about having anything and everything. Now, it’s just about buying what I need.

For example, I have a navy pinstripe and a grey suit. I love both of them. Would I like a nice, cotton beige suit? Of course. Maybe a wool light grey one like Diddy always wears? Absolutely. A slim all black/navy one ala Anderson Cooper? Without a doubt. But they would just sit in my closet all year with maybe two wears tops.

I dont need one ‘right now.’ I don’t need them because my job doesn’t require me to have them. I work in a corporate environment, but a lax one.

How many pairs of jeans do I have? Three – one white, black, and blue. Dress shirts? Maybe 7 that I actually use.

My needs? I don’t have many at the moment.

Wants:
Three suits
Black John Lobb’s
Brown Testoni’s
A black trenchcoat for fall
A new pair of loafers
A few spread collar dress shirts
A pair of Tim Duncan foamposites
A pair of old-school David Robinson’s
Marmot Polo’s in all colors.

Needs:
Nothing.

A few months ago, I even overdosed on dress watches and got a ton in different colors. Granted, they were cheap, but were they necessary? Nope.

Nowadays, you can catch Claudio wearing his staples. The usual American Apparel V-Necks that show off my Uncle Jessie chest hairs with Vidal Sasson Mousse on them (just kidding, but my chest hair game is the best in upstate Manhattan). On my legs, Dior or Levi’s jeans and any pair of the shoes I have left over from my last dump.

Before, when I made purchases, they were heat of the moment ones. Things that were ‘hot’ right now. Today? I just buy what I need and in the end that feels much better than what you want.

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Back To Basics… is a post from: Live Above Mediocrity

Make sure to visit the site and take a look at all the other folks included in this edition.

I guess I should let out a “Wooooo” like Ric Flair as it’s called “Styling and Profiling.”

Anyways, shouts to Oscar Monte De Oca for including me in the “Stylin & Proflin” edition for the Uptown Collective Launch Party last week.

Details on the look below.

Cardigan: Comme Des Garcons Play

Shirt: Tasso Elba

Tie: Countess Mara

Watch: Gold Casio

Jeans: Levi’s Slim Fit

Shoes: Pierre Cardin

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Uptown Collective “Styling & Profiling” Edition… is a post from: Live Above Mediocrity