Lifestyle

  • Maintain, Don’t Change!

    Men are funny about admitting they’re self-conscious about aging. Some just tell it like it is and wear their wrinkles with a smile and others are a bit more reserved and try to stave off aging. The reality is, no one can escape aging; but you can do things to maintain or improve your looks.

    I was waiting for a haircut when I happened upon this article in Esquire magazine. Model Nick Wooster talks candidly about his problem chin and what he did about it. I’ve considered Kybella, but just haven’t taken the time to talk with a certified provider. If you check into it, you’ll discover that it is a chemical substance found in bile; which makes the thought of injecting it into your skin a bit unsettling

     

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  • Darts in the Back

    Not the kind you throw, but the kind you sew.

    For years, men’s clothes have trended towards fitted, rather than loose. However, if you’ve kept an eye on style trends, you’ll notice that in some fashion circles, larger, free-flowing shirts and jackets are starting to find their way back into retailers. Personally, I’m not a fan of the look. IMHO, a man’s shirt or jacket should always be well fitted. If you work hard to keep in shape, you’ll want to show off your best asset; your fit and trim body. That’s where darts come in. Darts make a shirt or jacket contour your body, leaving a svelte image.

    I’ve said before that men should always have their clothes tailored. It is not often that you can pick up a shirt off-the-rack and have it fit you well. It is just too challenging to find a well-constructed shirt that fits great in all the right places. The fortunate thing about darting is that it is not a challenging enhancement for shirts. I’ve experimented with a sewing machine and was able to dart some test fabric with ease, but I wasn’t quite willing to take the next step to sacrifice an expensive shirt to my kill set. I’m considering a trip to Goodwill to buy some cheap shirts so I can try my skill, but admitteldy, I am a little weary of the idea and usually just run my shirts to a tailor. Generally, I’ll pay about $20 a shirt for professional darting. A tailor will mark or pin your shirt, then run a single dart down each flank; widening the dart in the middle for a slimmer, more tailored fit. It is often cheaper than having a custom shirt made, so take that into consideration the next time you’re out shopping.

    For those in Austin, here are a few personal notes about tailors that I am familiar with. Ask your friends for references, because sometimes you can find a person who does tailoring as a side business and they are most always less expensive than a professional shop.

    Oliva Tailors
    3513 Jefferson St Austin, TX 78731
    (512) 454-2525
    Sleeves – 20, Sides $20-30

    Sasa Esquivel, mother of Daniel Esquivel, the fashion designer. She works out of her home in South Austin.
    (512) 441-2287

    Alex, he works out of a studio in his apartment near S. Lamar on Manchaca.
    (512) 703-7445
    Sleeves 25, Sides 25

    Art Alterations on South Lamar (just north of Ben White)
    3720 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
    (512) 448-9996
    Sleeves 26.50, Sides 48.50

    My Cleaners & Alterations
    3100 Guadalupe St Austin, TX 78705
    (512) 465-9500
    Sleeves 32, Sides 32

    Hope Tailor Shop
    4315 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78745
    (512) 447-4673
    Sleeves 34, Sides 43

    Marfiels Alterations has been around for a long time. She isn’t quick, but she is very good.
    2703 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
    (512) 478-3639
    Sleeves 30, Sides 35-55

    Austin Alterations
    700 N Lamar
    (512) 276-7474
    Sleeves 35, Sides 40-55

    Lee’s
    718 Brazos
    (512) 480-0046
    Sleeves 28, Sides 30

    I don’t recommend Fine Stitch as I have had a bad experience with her.
    Ace Tailors is ridiculously expensive (I expect they have to charge a lot to pay for the expensive real estate they occupy).

    Keep it classy!

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  • After the Holiday Shopping

    Wine. Weather. Weird.

    That pretty much sums up Fredericksburg, Texas;  a strange little anomaly in Central Texas. It used to be quaint and loaded with shabby chic stores filled with dead animals turned into furniture, but it in recent years has upped its game, so to speak. One of my ongoing favorite stops is Vaudeville. I have mentioned it before and it is certainly worth investigating. Try the tea room/cafe. Spend an hour or so in the car driving from Austin and enjoy wine tastings, shopping, then eat a German pastry and head back to ATX.

    Vaudeville_card
    Vaudeville_card

     

     

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  • The Mansion Time Forgot

    While traveling to South Padre via the backroads, I took the family on a tour of Bayview, Texas; a sleepy community of waterfront homes along the resacas of Cameron County. I’d been through this area many times during my life, but had only taken a few county roads through the resacas. On this particular trip, we meandered through the area and happened upon a piece of intriguing real estate. With family in tow, we grabbed our iPhones and furiously began investigating the property listed for sale on N. Valencia Road. What a historic surprise to behold! The photos in the advertisement were magnificent. Post cocktails and after great discussion at Wanna Wanna, we opted to call one of my favorite realtors in McAllen for further investigation of the property. Within hours we had confirmation of a tour and viewing.

    By all accounts, the home and property were phenomenal. It was not until the on-site tour that the reality of years of neglect set in. The house we had ogled over online was in a desperate state of disrepair. Prior to the tour, we envisioned the grandeur of the home and all the opportunities the property had to offer (bed and breakfast, event center, artist retreat, etc…). Well, Bayview wasn’t having any of that; no commercial use whatsoever! What a shame. With champagne wishes and caviar dreams in mind, we politely thanked our guide, hopped in the car and drove off. If we had a million dollars laying around for a renovation budget…. eh, maybe, but there’d be no way to recover the investment without commercial operations. It was an absolutely grand Spanish mansion but also such a disappointment.

    Here’s to “Casa Rosita.”

     

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  • Organizations to Support to Fight our Charlatan President-elect

    Please consider sending supporting donations to these organizations to fight against the anti-humanistic theory behind the incoming President and his cabinet.

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