Street Style... "Skinny Belt," Carytown, Richmond

I don't think I've ever seen a guy pull off such a skinny belt, very cool contrast. The belt itself looks a bit like these leather suspenders I caught in Charleston about two years ago.

To Code: Vintage & Thiftstores, whats the difference?

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman 


Growing up, I wasn't too much into thrift shops till about my teens, I was more of the yard sale type. Now into my late 20's, I'm pretty pro-thrift, paired with my alterations lady. On that note, I am friends with a fair amount folks whose shops and boutiques prized collections are that of the vintage set. So the question is, what's the difference between thrifting and vintage?

It all comes down to value and convenience. If you've ever been to a good vintage store, the clothing is very well curated. Just as a baseball card collector knows the value of each card new and old, the vintage store owner is very focused on hanging up clothing from a certain era, certain brands, styles, condition, and is constantly educating themselves on fashion of our past. You may still have to dig around at the vintage shop, but ultimately you can expect to find quality, lightly used garments that are pretty close to one of a kind from many top shelf brands and designers from its heyday. Another popular choice for vintage shops is goods made in the USA since textile manufacturing is all but gone here in America.Vintage shops are the art gallery for fine clothing, though not original sticker price, expect to pay a higher premium. The .50 cent bargain bin doesn't exist here.

On the other end we have the thrift store, they have a certain smell that takes a bit getting use to however, the set prices easily make up for the musky scent. The ultimate draw back is the hunt since you must sift through racks and racks of horrible trends, stone washed jeans, and bargain store brands. When you finally do find something good, it's as if you won the lotto, $11.00 is quite the deal for that lightly used Brooks Brothers bespoke suit. A suit in which my friend recently scored on a trip to the thrift shop. Even with top rate alterations, it still doesn't add up to the cost of half a coat sleeve. If your know any one who is big into thrifting, unless you both are very different sizes, they probably won't tell you where their favorite store is since you might snag up that sweet vintage Abercrombie and Fitch coat that they will swear was waiting on them. You know, the outfitters store that once sold outdoor apparel before they went full douche? A far cry from the modern mall juggernaut with over priced, pre-ripped clothing most think of when you mention A&F. Moving on.

At the end of the day, thrift and vintage stores are very similar, yet very different. Sure you can find used  designer garments at both places, just expect to make more visits to thrift stores and spend more time shuffling through racks in hopes to find any Prada, or even some premium "Made in the USA" goods from pre 1980 where at the vintage store it will be in the window display.

Either way you're being a Green fashionista for passing up on buying new goods, Mother Earth will thank you and you'll be grateful that your chances of wearing the same shirt as that other guy just went down drastically.

Style Your Block Winner!

I want to congratulate Alissa in winning our first Style Your Block Photo Contest! She won a beautiful custom set of jewelery from Stella Jewelry in Salem. Please check out Stella Jewelery online for some more amazing custom jewelry sets. You can follow them on facebook and twitter as well.

Street Style... Charleston Fashion Week Models Off Duty

Here are just a few photos from some of the Charleston Fashion Week models I ran into while on the street I didn't publish.

Street Style... "Red Ruffles," Charleston

Street Style... Morrison Dr., Charleston, SC

I got to briefly meet Desmond Kinlaw while in Charleston for the day last week. He was voted one of Charleston 10 Most Stylish 2012 for Charleston Magazine. He also recently started a blog called Chinos & Cheesecake. From what a friend told me last week, after his shoot for Charleston Mag he's hooked to this thing called fashion. Welcome to the game Sir.

More Denim Shirts? I Think So! Charleston

I think I should run a week long series of street style photos I've taken with denim and Chambray shirts In them. I think you got the memo yesterday about these wardrobe staples.

Downtown... "Preppy Meets Pretty Lady," Charleston

Denim (or more accurately chambray) shirts have been my go too shirt for several years now, its probably because I got use to the weight of my uniform in my Air Force days and needed to replace that feeling. Aside of that, I absolutely love when women wear these shirts, when fitted with the right cut it can become the only shirt you need to own, worn a different way every day. Get some Denim up top ladies.

Charleston Tomorrow - Richmond Next Week

Happy Tuesday! I'm on the road for the next couple weeks, that being said tomorrow (Wednesday May 16th) I'll be in Charleston, SC roaming the streets for food, shopping, and street style. Follow my twitter account @angelspov for a play by play of where I'm at and where I'm going.

Next Thursday and Friday (and maybe Wednesday) I'll be in the Virginia Capitol of Richmond for the first time since 2010. I'm taking care of some work while in town, also plan to watch some of the North American Cycle Courier Championship events. Of course I plan to hit the streets for some Richmond based street style. Its going to be a good few weeks.

Style Your Block... The Top Three - Alissa

 

 Alissa from Roanoke Virginia. 

Why I picked her? Cause she has a sense of humor (see trash can on the left) and is cute as a button! 

If you like Alissa, leave a comment below to vote for her to win.

 

Style You Block Photo Contest - The Top Three

The top three submissions of the Style Your Block Photo Contest are ready to go! How this works, you will vote for the winner by leaving comments below their photo. The submission with the most comments with their photo wins! Good Luck! Photos will run till Friday, then I'll tally up the comments and announce the winner.

Downtown... Ladies Southern Fashion? You decided. Charleston

I feel sometimes that women's "Southern Fashion" is stereotyped as preppy with big hair. Who knows really, but if I were to put title on this look, to me I would say confidently that this is what comes to mind when I think of southern fashion on the ladies.

Downtown... "Short Business" Charleston

Unless you've never read a history book or seen a period movie, you will have noticed how much mens fashion reflects those more refined decades of our past in recent years (Like the look above which I love). When dressing well was a masculine trait, and not something only "girly" men did. I've been watching some of the treds designers have been trying to push lately, Imagine the 90's have a baby with the 40's, and Jnco jeans collaborate with Brooks Brothers. I think its best we avoid ever revisiting any forms of mens fashion from about 1979 - 2004, EVER!

Downtown... "Yes and Yes," Charleston

Downtown... Annie, Ashley, & Natalie - Charleston

(from left to right) Jewelry designer Anne Van Harlingen, designer Ashley Reid of Charleston, and New York based Stylist Natalie Decleve looking amazing in numbers off King Street.

Style Your Block - Next Monday

I had so much fun receiving photos for the Style Your Block photo contest! Next Monday I will post the top three submissions for you all to vote on. The reader submission with the most comments wins the custom jewelry set from Stella Jewelry.

In the shade

Downtown... "Cold Spring Days," Blacksburg

Again, we had some random cold days where people on the street were layering up.

Downtown... "Layers and Lace," Roanoke

Feature on Style Street in The Roanoke Times