Category Archives: Grooming

February 12, 2013

Hudson Made New York

By Sheree L. Ross

Goat Milk

Best known for their “Fancy’ Black Bar of soap (you know I love that name), Hudson Made New York is an online retailer that sells wonderfully curated artisanal products to the likes of you and me from the Hudson Valley, North Country and Brooklyn.

Products

Their packaging makes me weak in the knees.  I do love detail and I especially love products that are presented with such love and care.

Products 2

But I would be remiss if all I talked about was their individually boxed and hand packed and wrapped soaps and products.

Beard and Shave Soap

Their philosophy is all about quality, craftsmanship and craft.  The products look good, feel good and work well.  They support their local communities by making an effort to resource within 100 miles of Hudson Valley and 100% American made.  They are what the heart Americana is all about.

Apron

Hudson Made NY

 

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Grooming, Retailers

January 14, 2013

A Stylish Life

By Sheree L. Ross

Image

Mr. Porter, for those Dandi’s out there who are not yet aware, is an online menswear shopping experience for those who love to be in the trends of the day and who have the wallet to match.  But this article today is about a Volume One Dandi must.

Image

Written by their Editor-in-Chief, Jeremy Langmead,The Mr. Porter Paperback – The Manual For A Stylish Life, is a dream buy for anyone interested in having the foundation to create their true style, no matter your budget.  And as you can well  imagine this is right up my alley.  I love all things masculine and love to hear and read about the latest etiquette and ways of being well-mannered and stylish.

Image

Does style make the Dandi or does a Dandi make the style?  I think it is somewhere in between and I absolutely believe that style does not stop at the buttoning of a shirt and the perfect knot of a tie. It is lived and breathed in all areas of a Dandi’s life and here is a great book to start or continue that journey full force.

Image

The book is a 240 page dossier of everything you will need for the next millennia and this is just volume one!  There is everything here from fashion to the in-and-outs of your part of a massage to dancing at weddings.

Get your copy today at the swell price of $35 at Mr. Porter Paperback

Got style questions? Send them to me in the comments!

PB

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Books, Fashion, Grooming

July 16, 2012

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

By Sheree L. Ross

From what I am beginning to understand Nordstrom Anniversary Sale are some of the three most popular words to be put together in a sentence in the history of the world.

Hunter Boots

I even hear there are websites and blogs dedicated to sharing inside and covert information about what is actually going to be at this sale.

Frye and Adam Derrick

Well guess no more! I had the priviledge of being invited to an early preview and get a sneak peek behind the curtain (literally) and there are goodies galore!  The pictures you are seeing here are just some of the few delights that will await you in all Nordstrom stores and online starting July 20 – August 5th. (GO SHOP!)

For you newbies wondering what the big deal is I’m here to tell you, you can purchase your entire fall wardrobe during this sale plus stock up on your favorite grooming products and save $100′s upon $100′s of dollars.  Not to mention you get the opportunity to experience some of that great service Nordstrom is known for.

I went home with some fabulous grooming products, from my absolutely favorite new facial cleaner – ‘purity made simple’ – I feel like I want to leave it on all day (don’t).  It really is the best cleaner I have had for my face, ever!  Since I am more the andro Dandi I also love the Anastasia Beverly Hills ‘Brow Wiz’ which creates those precise lines and helps blend the brow.  Now that I think about it this can be used for masculine and feminine Dandi’s.

Diesel Jacket

And I love, love, love (did I mention that I love it!) the L’Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate.  Honestly I love all things L’Occitane so there is no contest here.

Okay, now back to clothes.

What you see here are my favorite picks.  However, there is so much more to choose from; Marc Jacobs, Rag & Bone, Kors, Klein, Cole Haan, La Mer…just to name a few.

7 Diamond

If you’ve never been this is something you cannot afford to miss.  If you haven’t been in awhile this year looks like it will make you a very happy and Dandi camper.  If you are a regular you don’t need me to convince you.

(My Favorites!)

A big thank you to Kelly Skahan for letting me and my sweetie preview this years Anniversary Sale.  We had a blast!

(Oh by the way, amazing news – Topshop and Topman coming to Nordstrom in September! (can you believe!?!)

Related articles

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Accessories, Designers, Fashion, Grooming

May 8, 2012

The Haircut for Spring 2012

By Sheree L. Ross
I am simply in love with Men’s Fashion Director for Neiman’s Nick Wooster!

 

This cut will give you a more edgy look.

 

I jumped on board. It will give my preppy tendencies a sharper edge.

 

Fem’s are rocking it too. Go Cassie and Milla!

 

Try it long in the front…

 

Or like Sasha Mallory, do something different and fierce with it daily!

 

Photos courtesy of:

aimhighforlife.com,

facebook.com,

nickwooster.com,

allure.com,

howtomake-yourhairgrowfaster.com

 

 

 

2 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Fashion, Grooming, Queer Fashion Designers, Queer Fashion Icons, Queer Icons, Television

November 29, 2011

Kiwi Love

By Sheree L. Ross

Some Dandis liked the smell of magic markers when they were growing up, me, I was a little obsessed with the smell of Kiwi Shoe Polish, still am a little bit, but less so if I’m not polishing my shoes (lol).  ‘Tis the season to start wearing your heavier boots and leather shoes Dandis, so it also the season to take good care of them.  Not to say your spring/summer shoes shouldn’t get the same attention and love, but more than likely most of them are canvas and need a different kind of care.


Which also goes for leathers that are made from more exotic skins.  I would suggest you get those done by a professional whether that be a shoe shop or skilled old-time shoe shiner that can be found in Barber Shops or airports.  But for shoe care at home I always use Kiwi…   My dad used it and I have followed suit.  He was a Marine so he could really get an amazing ‘spit-shine’ on his shoes.  I don’t care so much for a shine so glossy I can clean my teeth after dinner but I do know that there is nothing the girls like more than a Dandi who loves shoes and keeps them to perfection.

I tend to polish my shoes at least once a month, however if they have been in  dusty area, like an outdoor concert or a hike for a romantic picnic, I will polish them right before I wear them again.

Instructions for getting the best polish:
1) Clean you shoes first with a shoe brush or cloth.
2) To really do it right remove laces (I tend not to have the time).
3) With a slightly dampened tip of the cloth get an ample amount on your rag and spread it over the entire shoe.
4) Buff it into perfection using a natural brush …or
5) Using a different cloth and a sprinkle of water on the shoe buff it side to side across the toe, vamp and back until you generate desired shine, use brush for sides.

Photos courtesy of:

kiwicare.com

flypaper.bluefly.com

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Grooming, Shoes

September 22, 2011

Cologne

By Sheree L. Ross

When it comes to personal fragrance I don’t follow trends or change very much at all.  I have to admit that I have only worn maybe a handful of different ones in my lifetime.  I think my first one was Charlie, because that was a very popular brand for girls coming of age in my day.  But it wasn’t soon after that that I ran to the popular fragrance for boys and wore Polo until even I couldn’t stand to be in the same room with myself anymore.  I wore Halston for a very long time until finally CK One came into my life and I get so many compliments I just can’t bring myself to try something new.

I like light fragrances because I don’t want to overpower people that are in the same room with me.  There is nothing I hate more than hugging someone and then smelling like them for the rest of the day.  Some colognes are so strong you smell them and they leave an after taste in your mouth.

Before you buy test it.  Do not buy cologne you have never smelled on you like on the internet, even if it is the latest greatest scent.  We all have different body chemistry.  I have smelt something I loved on someone only to spray it on myself and dislike it.  Start by putting a little bit from a tester on the inside small of your wrist, let it sit for a second, then smell it.  If you like it great, if not use the other wrist then you’ll have to wash them off before trying again or you won’t get a true test.  I’d advise taking a friend and if you have one, definitely your partner.  They have to live with you and they should definitely get a vote.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Grooming

September 15, 2011

Who Wears Short-Short!?!

By Sheree L. Ross

Writer's shaved head

Tools of the Trade

I have been wearing my hair short for over a decade now.  Before I went bold, bald and free my curly locks fell way beyond my shoulders.  It started off getting shorter and shorter over time and then before I knew it it was a little over an inch.  Now a days I keep it as short as I can get it and what I love most about it is the process of doing it myself.  This is one of the rituals that a Dandi gets to do that is equivalent to actually shaving the face, which most Dandi’s do not need.  It is a wonderful and loving ritual that can be shared with a loved one, by letting them cut your hair for you, or a part of your daily grooming routine.

All clippers come with different size guards, so you don’t have to go as short as I do.  I sometimes use them but since I don’t cut my hair everyday I usually leave it without a guard and begin by shaving my head front to back, then the sides and then I trim up the back and get rid of the clipper tracks by going perpendicular, around my head, to even it all out.

I use a razor for my side burns and to cut definition around my hairline.  I don’t find that the clippers ever get close enough.  I used a Braun for years until it finally broke.  To hold my over while I got it repaired a got the Norelco 3-in-1 shaver and I love it!  I skipped getting my Braun repaired, this Norelco is so much easier to use.  It is cordless and it has the same 10 hour charge I gave it 4 months ago and I cut my hair at least once a week.  Amazing.


Always start with clean hair and if you want to keep lyour hair on the longer side, use the different guards to create a layered look.  You will need a mirror to look into your bathroom mirror from behind to make sure the back of your hair is even and your neck trimmed.  Use scissors to even out longer hair around your ears and follow the directions specific to your clippers on cleaning and keeping the blades oiled.  If you’ve never done this before it can take a bit of getting used to.  Don’t freak out, the good news is hair grows back and even if you cut a patch in your hair it will become less noticeable in less than a week.  If you do cut off more than you intended, leave your baseball cap in the closet and cover it up with your favorite fedora.  If nothing else you’ll still carry yourself with a bit of swagger.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Accessories, Grooming

August 31, 2011

Khiel’s

By Sheree L. Ross

Beauty begins on the inside but once you get to the surface you need to start considering the best products to take care of your  skin to keep all parts of your body feeling, looking and smelling clean and fresh.

Khiel’s is my personal favorite for all of those reasons.  They are a company that has been around since 1851 so they know a thing or two about the philosophy of skin and hair care.  They use the finest unique natural ingredients found in the world and have an outstanding variety of products to choose from for all types of needs for your face, body and hair.

I fell in love with this brand in the mid-nineties because of the packaging.  I am drawn to a lot of things in the marketplace because of their more masculine or neutral packaging design and had not found this at all in facial products.  Khiel’s products don’t use perfumes that can be overwhelming and feel a bit too girlie for the average Dandi.  That said, facial products are the one place where a Dandi can’t buy what is formulated for a man’s skin.  It is important for the health of you skin to stick to products designed for the skin on our faces.  If you must you may be able to buy body washes and lip care that is marketed to men but don’t do this to your face.

Khiel’s has also gotten celebrities involved this season for the limited addition design on their 2011 Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque as a part of the company’s Friends of Khiel’s Earth Day 2011 initiative.  100% of the profits go to Waterkeeper Alliance, a grassroots organization that helps communities protect and preserve waterways.

http://www.khiels.com

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , | posted in Grooming

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 442 other followers

%d bloggers like this: