Weddings break the bank. The L.L. Bean Signature Khaki Suit does not.

You see that model, right there? The one wearing the khaki suit? I am going to go out on a limb here and say, dammit, I want to be friends with this guy. Most times, the guys modeling the clothes I dig, I really am more into the “Wanna smash you in the grill” mind frame, but something about this guy, mainly the suit, screams, “Bring your lady, and the four of us shall enjoy brie and wine on the deck of my yacht.” And as that is what I am aspiring to in life (yachts and stinky cheeses at my disposal), it’s going to start with a sharp, simple suit like this.

That said, last week when I opened the topic of the khaki suits my brother wishes to outfit not only outfit himself in, but his best man and groomsmen, as well, I got a response from the folks at L.L. Bean Signature. They sent me a snapshot of one of their khaki suits which will be available 3/15/10. While I dig the J. Crew ensemble I originally proposed, as I’ve had the chance to try it on, this one looks just as high-caliber and on par with the Crew varietal, not to mention a price-point fit for….us working folk. Honestly, if we’re looking to outfit an entire wedding party, $155 for the jacket and $59 for the pants is appealing, as not every groomsman rakes in the dough* like yours truly. March can’t come soon enough, for a number of reasons.

*Read: Stable employment.

The Bowmentum of Failure: A special creation from BT Unique

Doing something a bit different this week, and because I’ve loved having her be in my company (albeit Internetally) these past few weeks, the one and only Kate from the now (in)famous, BT Unique, decided to design a few specialty bow for the ladies that find their way to the Momentum site. Nice of her, no? Let’s all say thanks. Thanks, Kate. Awww, that was grand, guys, good work. While her creations won’t soon sit on the necks of any gentleman, these designs would make a proper and quite stylish addition to your better half. Haven’t got one of those? Me neither. But would getting a girlfriend be a little easier with the promise of flashy bow tie necklaces in her future? It couldn’t hurt. With that in mind, we’re going to give these away right here and right now. All it’s going to take is for you to complete the following phrase*: “The perfect outfit for a girl to wear to accompany this bow tie necklace would be…” Throw it in the comments below. and let the games begin. Kate and I will choose the winner next Wednesday, 2/3/2010.

* Got this idea from SI. Thanks, guys.

The Red Wings Irish Setter restoration project 2010

A week or so ago, I got this bright idea that I wanted to restore something. Last year, and for the better part of my 20s infact, I’ve wanted to snag an old Scout II to make into some sort of weekend project culminating with a trip to Moab or Gunnison, CO to do some rock crawling, or even just to use it as an everyday driver, depending on what condition I got it to. As 2010 is the year of realistic plans and achievable goals, I wanted to start smaller, settling on a beat up pair of Red Wing Irish Setter I scored for $30 of eBay. I knew they’d be in less-than-desirable shape entering this process, but what’s a project if the product is already in good condition? It’s cheating, is what it is.

I snapped a few pictures last night of the before boot. Not a coat of polish has been applied to them in ages it would appear, and these were truly loved and used by someone that did work. Forgive the quality of the shots. A new camera is to be purchased stat. During a less-than-memorable episode of Idol, I applied a coat of polish and buffed them up real nice to see what one coat would do. Not surprisingly, it did little. But what fun would this be if there was instant gratification. It’s going to take effort and time, but I remain confident that in a short while, these Setters will be sparkling. Wish me luck.

Summer’s coming as is the J. Crew Gingham

Even though it’s only January, and we’re still months away from anything that remotely resembles Summertime fun, J. Crew unveiling their new Gingham shirts has already got me wanting to plan picnics, fly kites, and drink 40′s to sunsets in the park by my house. While it appears I will have to wait for the current 30+ degree weather to dwindle away, I’ve already donned a few of my favorite gingham button downs, readying them for the year. Granted, the print in question is not Spring/Summer-specific, as the colorways differ often, it just reminds me of tablecloths from family BBQs and outings from years gone by.

I am still somewhat kicking myself for not snagging one of J. Crew’s gingham ties from last season, but alas, if I hunt hard enough, maybe a few eBay searches or a few words thrown towards my friend, Ryan, at the Crew will yield positive results. I suppose, too, if I am looking for accessories with said print, I could opt for a pair of their boxers. But, and this could just be me, but does anyone wear boxers anymore? I assume we all wear underwear, yeah? But boxers? They just seem so cumbersome. It hasn’t been since high school skater daze when the pants did sag that I sported (quite prominently) boxer shorts. Since I’ve pulled up my pants, cinched the belt tighter, and started wearing clothes that fit and made me look respectable,  I’ve opted for boxer briefs. And this leads me to another pressing issue: Undergarments. What do you wear and why? And where can I get some gingham boxer briefs?

Tuesdays with a Pretty Girl: 10 Things Females Notice.

Alright, Casanova, you may think you have the opposite sex figured out and have every aspect covered when it comes to impressing her. But in all honesty, you probably don’t. Kate chimes in again on the 10 Things Gals Notice about the Gents. Read on and get informed.

1. Style. What you wear says a lot about you. Don’t be afraid to dress up a little and put on your best pair of  “butt jeans.” You think that guys are the only ones that do the checking out? Wrong. She will sneak a peak so make sure to wear a pair of pants that do your gluteus-maximus justice.

2.  Scent. This one is easy enough to do yet many never get it right. A shower, a concept foreign to some, is essential.  Wear deodorant: you won’t win her over with your “manly musk.” Make use of cologne, but remember bathing in it is prohibited.

3.  Smile. Your smile is very important, and if you plan on showing your teeth to the lady, make sure you take care of them. Brush, floss, rinse, bleach, and straighten!

4.  Hair. There are many different tastes when it comes to hair, but one thing remains constant: a trim has never hurt anyone. When you can’t see your date because your hair refuses to get out of your eyes, consider making an appointment to take care of the issue. I have nothing against guys with long hair (I am actually a bit of a fan), but make sure you look put-together and not disheveled.

5.  Finger Nails. Get rid of the dirt from under your fingernails and trim them, don’t go all metro sexual and get a mani/pedi, (Editor: I like getting these, fyi.) just keep them clean. Finally, don’t bite your nails and spit out the pieces at the dinner table (or anywhere for that matter).

6.  Eyes that wander. Your date can see you checking out the girl that just walked by. Consider the date ruined and your chances, blown. You would have to do some major resuscitation of the evening. Girls like to feel special, so pay attention to what she is saying instead of ogling someone else’s goodies.

7.  Intentions. If you are only looking to score, we can tell. Lame attempts at working your not-so-irresistible, cheesy charm won’t do you any good. And NEVER use the line (and I’m quoting) “ME CAVEMAN – YOU GIRL- MY BED NOW” That won’t just leave you with a drink in your face, you will also be a proud owner of a black eye. (Editor: See last week’s post.) At this point the only thing left to do is club her over the head and drag her to your cave, but I don’t recommend it.

8.  Nerves. No matter how hard you’re trying to hide how nervous you are, girls can tell. There is nothing wrong with being a little shaky. It is more likely to calm the girl down and break the ice than do any harm.

9.  Conversation. If she might forgive your appearance to some degree, the conversation will be your real test. Like I mentioned last Tuesday, be eloquent and keep the chat going. There is nothing worse than awkward silences, except when the dialog turns into a soliloquy. I know it could be the nerves talking but make sure to ask her questions, this will make her feel like you are actually interested.

10. Gentlemanly-ness. Chivalry is not dead. Open the door for her, help her out of the car, treat her like a lady; Being a gentleman goes a long way and will score you some major points.

Stay tuned next week when a whole panel of ladies offers a little insight to a user-submitted question.