Posts by Eric:
- Puppy Prize. (129)
- Meghan: i know Im way late, but that would have been sweet!
- Jerry: Only a dozen? ;)
- Lori: I would share with all my friends…I promise! :)
- Marc: No way im 28th—–but i hope so…nomnomnomnom
- Adam: Missed this one. Darn.
- PT: I’d share them with my hockey teammates as we prepare for a gay/gay friendly hockey tournament in Boston...
- Denise Altschule: My teacher colleagues and I love bombers burritos! Bring it on!
- Puppy of the Day. (11)
- Jill: time to get a life…and move or something…lol
Don’t call it a comeback.
May 3rd, 2012
I love a comeback. I’m still rooting for LiLo, I am convinced that Jessica Simpson is going to have another hit single, and one day I will have DVR installed to watch the Friends reunion, I just know it. And the only thing better than a regular comeback, is a fashion comeback.
Summer scarves.
April 26th, 2012I have written on this blog about Gwyneth Paltrow, so it should come as no surprise to you, dear readers, that I am not afraid to address controversial topics in my writing. And as we in that time of year wear the weather teases us like a schoolyard bully, I have to ask you to join me in a great debate. Ladies and Gentlemen, we need to talk about summer scarves.
I admit it: I love a summer scarf. I own them in bulk. I have one that was gifted to me by a very sexy Canadian from Hermes that is worth more than my car. (Seriously, my car is a piece of shit.) I just bought 2 more and there’s one in my online shopping bag at Mr. Porter (PS, my birthday is in a few weeks, it’s the red bandana print scarf by Hartford, you guys can get it for me and just ship it to Bombers). I understand, the very idea of a summer scarf flies in the face of all that a scarf is supposed to be. It’s a sartorial oxymoron. Who needs a scarf in the summer?
Fat kids, that’s who.
I learned that one day when I was shopping with my mom at Ralph Lauren and I kept picking up scarves and ties. In her own awesome way of telling me I had put on weight (as if I didn’t know) she mentioned how I was only picking up scarves and ties. “Why is that Eric?”, she intoned, “Because you don’t have to go in the fitting room and try them on?” Foiled again.
But she had a point, scarves always fit. Plus, in all honesty, I just like them. For a big boy, I am always effing cold, and I swear, the one time I went out between October 1st and April 30th without a scarf on I got strep throat. Also, as you get older, sometimes you have a “thing”. Something you wear that’s sort of your signature. Like how Joan Rivers wears a mask and Chris Brown wears a wife beater. I like scarves, they’re my thing.
But the debate continues, there are people that dread the thought of them, hate the way they look and can’t tolerate them. I draw the line at wearing one if I have shorts on, but I do know a girl that wears 2 scarves at once and I think that’s kind of awesome. And I’m probably kind of a hypocrite, because one time I had a very negative visceral reaction to some douche who was wearing a knit wool had and skinny cord jeans on a super hot day in July. (When did the L train start making stops in Albany? Seriously, leave it in Brooklyn.)
But what about you guys, do you summer scarf? Or do you secretly want to turn them all into a noose and hang the pretentious jagweeds wearing them? Weigh in with a comment, or tweet me @mrerichenderson with your favorite summer scarf story. Or just skip ahead to the pictures of the dog.
Frequently Asked Fashion Questions.
April 19th, 2012So one of my favorite things to do when I contribute to this blog is field questions from dear readers like you. Contrary to what you might think, I enjoy when my advice is solicited almost as much as it is not. That being said, I am going to offer up some words of wisdom on some timely topics submitted by my fan. And away we go:
Can I wear a romper as a bathing suit cover up?
I think it’s pretty safe to assume that if you’re reading this blog, and you know there is such a thing as a “bathing suit cover up” that you’re not in preschool. Ladies, say the word with me: “Romper”. Romper. Think about it, you’re a sophisticated, commanding lady. You’re a girl (who runs the world). You went to college and you drink wine in glasses. And now you want to shop for a onesie? Doesn’t seem to make sense. Rompers? More like Wrongpers. And you’re already in a bathing suit? Did you really want to make going to the bathroom that much more difficult? Though, I am sure the cut of that romper would most likely hide a diaper anyway (paging Lisa Rinna). My advice? If you need a bathing suit cover up, grab a great pair of cutoffs and your dad’s/brothers/gay best friend’s favorite old buttonup shirt and the best sunglasses you can afford. Donezo.
Can I wear white shorts?
Simple pimple, yes you can. Just make sure they are good, clean white shorts, and done in a fabric that conceals the pockets, isn’t sheer, and are long enough so that you don’t look like you’re wearing old man underwear. Basically, you’re looking at a white chino short, and there are tons out there at every price point. One warning? Make sure your legs are tan. Real, fake, sprayed on, or grab a beige Sharpie and start drawing. And best bet is to wear black or navy on top. Pink shirt and white shorts? You’ll be the best dressed day camp counselor out there.
Can a regular gal doing regular things wear high heels with shorts?
Yes, if by regular gal doing regular things you mean Cameron Diaz running to Ralph’s to buy some kale and a six pack of Corona Light. Or if by regular things you mean that your life is one long movie montage of slutty car washes in the 80s. And PS, there’s no such thing as evening shorts, or office shorts. So stop it. There is however an argument to be made for a well made high wedge espadrille if the situation warrants more than a flat or a pair of sneakers.
White shoes? Okay? Okay before Labor Day? Not okay at all?
White shoes are fine, but again, like white shorts, you have to buy quality. Cheap white shoes look like, well, cheap white shoes. If they are not real leather, they will crack and the paint will chip, or the rubber will get marks, or whatever they are made of will rot your feet from the inside out. But consider the nude patent heel, its looks better and makes your legs look a lot longer and is way more versatile. And this goes for guys and girls, nothing looks better in the summer than classic white suede bucs with a red crepe sole. The more scuffed the better. I have a pair that are about 6 years old and they are just getting good.
Do you have a question you need answered with glaring uncensored honesty? And I am not just talking about white shorts here. (PS, talking about white shorts always reminds me of some magazine that my girl friends read in middle school, and people wrote in with their humiliating stories and it always ended with some tween getting her period in white shorts in front of some guy she had a crush on. What magazine was that? Jesus, teenage girls are cruel.)…
Send me a tweet @mrerichenderson (or email FridayPuppy@gmail.com Subject: FASHION) and I will see what I can do for you.
Video: Child Celebrities Opposing Kirk Cameron.
April 13th, 2012
Born in the USA
April 12th, 2012
This past weekend I was home visiting my nephew, the world’s most magical and amazing boy, and I went to Woodbury Common, the world’s most amazing and magical outlet mall. I grew up near “The Commons”, so it isn’t exactly like Disneyland, but it’s still pretty great when your brother lives but minutes away from so many great designer bargains. I was excited to see that in the time since I’d last visited they opened a James Perse outlet. James Perse makes the best fitting, softest fitting tee shirts I’ve ever put on, and at 68% off, it was kind of like retail sex.
But here is the real gist of this story: (And I have been trying to think of a way to present this without getting too political, or preachy, or called out as a hypocrite) One of the things I like best about these tee shirts is that they’re made in the U.S.A. Any one can do a tour of their closets, and inevitably almost everything you own was made in China. Or Vietnam. Or Mauritius. (Who knew Mauritius was a hotbed of shirt production?) It has become a fact of life that most of what you buy, especially what you wear, wasn’t made anywhere near where you grew up. I wish that were very different.
I look at some of my favorite things that I buy repeatedly or own forever: New Balance 993’s, J. Crew ties, the aforementioned James Perse tees, Alden shoes, Filson bags.These are all Made in America. They last forever, and they look great over and over again. My good friend Peter turned me on to the website www.reactual.com, which is a phenomenal good manufactured in the United States. Take a look, and spend some money. Trust me, this is one time, when I really love to say “What goes around comes around”.
Window Dressing.
March 29th, 2012
Back in the very early aughts, I briefly held a job whereby I interacted with a man named Simon Doonan on a fairly regular basis. Mr. Doonan was for a very long time the Creative Director of Barneys New York, which used to be one of the great, directional, aspirational stores in the world. Sarah Jessica Parker once said, “If you’re a nice person and you work hard, you get to go shopping at Barneys. It’s the decadent reward”. Now I don’t work especially hard, and most people would agree I’m kind of a prick, and I’ve been shopping there for years. But anyway, back to Doonan.
Simon Doonan basically became very famous to a very small group of people because he was a very talented creator of very elaborate windows for Barneys that people would line up to see and gawk at especially at Christmastime. He parlayed this notoriety into a book which almost, and by the grace of God, did not become a movie made by Madonna. But hell, who knew you could become relatively wealthy and well known and get a book deal because you were a window dresser? Bully for him, and all for all of the window dressers. For serious. But that’s New York, and Barneys sells underwear that costs more than your school taxes, so it all kind of makes sense.
What I love about our little town though, is that we, often and in some unusual ways, share some great qualities with world capitals. I was strolling home from a recent shave and haircut at Patsy’s Barbershop and walked past Amore’s clothing. Amore’s is an institution in Albany, selling beautiful suits, custom made shirts, and Alden shoes, which, if you’re a dude, are the finest thing you can put on your body south of your ankle. Save up, they’re totally worth it. Amore’s is a modestly sized shop, sitting in the shadow of the State Capitol at the top of the hill on State Street and on that walk home I saw this amazing display. It’s not elaborate and there really aren’t any bells and whistles. But its clever, its funny, and it speaks elements of originality and thoughtfulness that I think most people assumed had died downtown. And clearly, they never will.
Sarah Burton.
March 22nd, 2012
I want to meet the girl that goes on a bagel run in this. But I hate the sunglasses. Because the sunglasses are what ruins this.
Seriously though, this is kind of amazing. And for those of you who don’t spend all of your time at work pretending to write spreadsheets while secretly reading style.com all day long, this is Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
Most people know her as the designer of the world’s most famous boring dress, the one Princess Leah married Prince Valium in last year at the Worlds Fair in London, but she is now the head designer at McQueen, taking over after Lee McQueen hanged himself at the height of his career. If you’re into referring to fashion designers as geniuses, then by all accounts he was a genius. If you didn’t have a chance to see the show last year “Savage Beauty” at the Met, definitely check out the catalog. I saw the show, and despite the gummy handed brats running around and the blathering masses of people elbowing their way through like it was a Sample Sale, it was a pretty amazing show, especially after I ate a klonopin.
But can you imagine getting the job she has now? “Oh hey, your bestie, who is crazy famous, and is also your boss, just died and untimely and tragic death. Can you run up a couple dresses for us?” Jesus, pass her the klonopin. And I think researching hospital contracts is tough. However, despite the doily tee shirt and skirt combo that Princess Jasmine almost married Jafar in (before Aladdin stepped in and made her sister’s ass famous), Burton has done some really profound things, while remaining very much under the radar. I encourage you, followers of fashion, the check her handiwork out here.
Hey, Four Eyes!
March 15th, 2012I want to start off by saying that in no way am I being compensated for this post. However, much like the owner of this blog, I think its important to highlight a locally owned and operated business that faces a lot of competition from chains and big corporations. And especially when a local business has Tom Ford glasses.
So I have always been the kind of guy who likes really well made interesting things. Fortunately or not, “interesting” and “well made” often translate to “expensive” and “sold in stores where they cringe when I show up wearing sweatpants”. (PS, I have taken to referring to me sweatpants as “out of office pants” or “5-9 pants, a la J. Crew, so it makes me feel less bad about wearing sweatpants in public, hence basically giving up on life). But what happens when a stylish, fashion loving label whore gets fat? I can tell you dear readers. Fat kids buy scarves and sunglasses.
Now Crossgates still doesn’t have an Hermes, so I have to space out by scarf buying missions for when I am in New York, but sunglasses, well for that I just have to go to Delmar, to see the fine folks at Hughes Opticians. Full disclosure, I never, ever go to Delmar, I am convinced that if I actually read Dante’s Inferno, that I would discover that one of the rings of hell is actually Delaware Ave. at 3 pm on a Friday. But, as it turns out, my new shrink is in Delmar, so, you know, I made my way out there. And luckily for me, my shrink is right next door to Hughes. Now I know, ostensibly, when I’m there, I should be focused on my sociopathic tendencies and anger management issues, but come on, right next door there’s Prada. Sue me, luxury eyewear is my porn.
Here’s the skinny for all you four-eye out there, and those in the know will know how good this roster is : Tom Ford, Oliver Peoples, Paul Smith, Mosley Tribes, Prada (the good ones, not the tat you can get in the mall), Tiffany, (yes, they make eyewear), Chanel (what? Yes!) and then of course the standard Ray Ban/Maui Jim etc. But most of all, the people I worked with were outstanding. Stylish, charming, honest, and beyond helpful. They were able to order styles that I wanted to try on, held frames for some time until I made up my mind (Tom Ford black galsses, the same one Swizz Beats has Ha!, and Oliver Peoples sunglasses, light green tinted lenses, and they got exactly the tint I wanted, because they do it on site. That isn’t something that happens at LensCrafters), and they were genuinely excited to get me into these glasses. It is exceptionally rare to get that level of customer service anywhere.
I am not going to lie, this isn’t a bargain hunter’s wet dream. They aren’t competing with America’s Best, and I am sure I didn’t see any “2Fer” signs posted, but my glasses are the first thing that goes on in the morning and the last thing I take off at night, so I was willing to spare a few doubloons. If you’re in the market, I hope you drop by. And if you see me stumbling out of the building next door, and I’m clutching a teddy bear and bottle of Valium, then say Hi, we’ll grab a coffee.
Lies my Sales Associate Told Me.
March 8th, 2012
So based on the feedback from a few of you, dear readers, I wanted to shoot you a missive whereby I warn you of a few things.
Sales Associates, Marie Claire, the skinny dude dressed in tight black jeggings at the MAC counter, Tim Gunn, almost every drag queen and even your bestie, at one point or another, they have lied to you. I don’t know why, I want to think that it doesn’t come from an ugly place, and like some lies, there may be some truth in these for some of you. However, I feel like its my job to shed some light on the truth.
My gifts to you: Read the rest of this entry “
“You got it, Dude”!
March 1st, 2012I know I have mentioned licensing on a few of my blogs, and without boring you all to fashion business school tears, lets just say it basically a business agreement where someone says , “Here, take my famous name, attach it to you’re (probably crappy) product, and you can use my picture to sell piles of crap to people who think that buying this crap makes them just like one of my famous friends”.
I mean, do you really think Usher was hanging around with his entourage one day, and said, “Entourage, let’s make a fragrance! And let’s sell it at Macys!”
No, Usher’s business manager told him about the 600% markup from wholesale to production on perfume and how he could take home 8 figures on the back end for doing next to nothing.
This is also how “celebrity fashion lines” also happen. I’m looking at you Jennifer Lopez/Kathie Lee Gifford/Daisy Fuentes.
The one exception here is The Row. Courtesy of The Olsen Twins, those magnificently rich little magpies, The Row is an actual high fashion, beautifully produced and editorially relevant collection. By all accounts, MK and Ashley are directly involved in design, sourcing, styling etc the entire line. They even made a backpack that cost $39,000 that completely sold out. $39,000? How rude!
So this weekend I was in Barneys on 61st and Madison, and I got lost looking for the loo, and I happened upon one of the women’s designer floors and it was crazy. Barney’s had given The Row a crazy amount of square footage right near an escalator. What that means is, for every polished turd that Gaga wears or for every sausage casing that Khloe Kardashian heaves into, there are five times as many sensible women (with a bucket of money) buying clothes made by Stephanie Tanner’s little sister. I’m guessing Steph is regretting not putting down the meth pipe for a hot minute and pitching in at the Olsen house once in a while.
Click here to see more pictures of beautiful clothes you can’t afford.
Grammy Schmammy.
February 22nd, 2012
When an academy of voters is willing to give Chris Brown an award, I have to take some exception to that award’s validity.
Anna Wintour, on the other hand, if she throws you a pass, then there’s a reason to go Linsane. Jesus, that sentence took a lot out of me. In spite of those 6 Grammys, check out the Mazel my girl Adele also got this month: Read the rest of this entry “
Guy Fieri and Prada.
February 15th, 2012
On the left, Guy Fieri, professional douchebag. On the right, Prada Spring/Summer 2012.
Is he some sort of fashion prognosticator now? That makes me want to burn all of my Prada in a (very small) fire.
If Rachel Ray shows up at Lanvin during Paris Fashion Week, I am going to force my own head to explode.
What You’re Buying in 6 Months.
February 9th, 2012
What sucks is I can’t decide if I want to wear this to dinner at Prime on my birthday or to that wedding I have in Lake Placid on Labor Day weekend. Ugh, decisions are the worst. Thom Browne is what happens when I throw up in my mouth a little after a long night of 7 dollar bottles of white wine and Tramadol.
Bro-ner.
January 26th, 2012Ok, so I have basically spent my life looking people and their clothes. The vast majority of the time I was being paid to do it. Some of the time I did it because I was looking to get someone out of their clothes. Sometimes, I just needed a laugh. So, by now, I’m not too fazed by too many things. I still love a lewk, I love seeing something new and beautiful, something clever and great looking. But its rare that someone always looks so good that I fear I might drop dead and void my bowels. Ladies and Gentlemen, enter Mr. Nick Wooster.
Nick Wooster is one of those people that, unless you read trade papers or read obsessive street style blogs, you wouldn’t know he existed, but, exists he does. I first knew about him when he was a menswear buyer at Bergdorf Goodman, now he’s a buyer for Park and Bond, an offshoot of the wildly successful gilt.com sample site franchise. He looks like someone from a Karlheinz Weinberger photo humped a J. Crew model. I saw him and I started to sweat. Not because I wanted to bang him, I wanted to be him. For all I know he’s a total douchebag who’s into chicks. I don’t give a fig, bitch looks good.
Here is someone who took some of the worst overwrought and easily misinterpreted trends, and not only nailed them, but mixed them together and makes it look totally authentic. Hyper preppy Americana, Military, Ironic Facial Hair, anything from Thom Browne, these are all reasons people share apartments in Brooklyn, but I think there’s a lesson here. Know yourself, know your body, and play to your strengths. Clothes should fit, no matter what your size (homeboy is pocket sized) grooming goes a long way, and as long as you have a decent watch and good sunglasses, you look like you’re about to get laid. On a personal note, I thank him for making me feel good about growing old with an arm full of tattoos. Now can I bum a smoke?
More photos after the jump. Read the rest of this entry “
Gwyneth.
January 19th, 2012
In an election year, things can get sticky, and I’m not just talking about Santorum. The Economy, The Middle East, Wall Street, what will happen to Tina Fey’s Q Rating if Sarah Palin isn’t running… The list goes on and on. One thing America will forever remain divided on though, regardless of who sits in The White House, regardless of The War on Terror, regardless of whether or not me and the Hot Canadian can get married (come on already DOMA! Really?!?), is a little thing I like to call Gwyneth Paltrow.
Gwyneth Paltrow divides a conversation like Moses through a street puddle. I’m here to settle the debate folks, she’s fucking perfect. Yes, her website is woefully out of touch with the 99%, she pissed of the Plath daughter royally, and lets face it, Coldplay kind of sucks now. But lets get down to brass tacks: She looks good, she has impeccable taste and every girl, whether she admits it or not, would give anything to be Margot Tannenbaum, if not just for a day.
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