Style: For Boys

I am starting this because I am finished scraping through popular fashion magazines geared toward women for male style tips. GQ, DETAILS, and Out are three popular male magazines but they are not geared toward my audience. I have noticed the need for a style guide for Young Men and beyond that a lifestyle guide for Young Men so this will be that. This is the beginning of Style: For Boys but it will not be the end. The success of this will depend on the followers that read, contribute, and comment on our articles and posts, so keep on coming back and get ready for a lot young testosterone. We would like our voice, we want the perspectives of young men and to get a discussion flowing amongst the boys.

City and Colour

It takes a lot of talent to stick out as an acoustic solo artist in this day and age. With the thousands of Jack Johnson wannabees clogging the airways it seems any kid with a guitar can slap together a few chords and call himself an artist. Enter Dallas Green, the man who's not just changing that notion, but pushing the boundaries of what was thought could become mainstream.

I first discovered City and Colour a few years ago through a friend of mine who could not stop raving about his album, Sometimes. Soon enough I gave in and decided to give it a listen, and boy was I mad at myself for not doing it sooner. Dallas Green, the man behind City and Colour (Dallas = City, Green = Colour, get it?), creates such an incredible tone with his steady guitar rhythm accompanied by his haunting vocals that by the time the song is over you feel as if you just started it a few seconds ago. To me the most interesting thing about City and Colour is that Dallas Green plays guitar and sings for the Canadian hardcore band Alexisonfire. Despite his hardcore roots Green still manages to master the acoustic genre quite well. As a fan of both bands it's easy to see how the two can overlap at times which creates something not usually heard in folk/indie music.

If you like acoustic, folk, or indie music then you definitely won't want to skip out on City and Colour.

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What Makes a Man?
Hello, I'm in Delaware

Summer 09: unemployed, and at the cinema

Since there was not much to do this summer, I found myself at the cinema quite often, however that is hardly a departure from the rest of the year, this summer's movie season still stood out. Here are my personal top five films of the summer.

1. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: Because I am a huge Harry Potter fan (having read them since elementary school) I am automatically inclined to put this film at the top of the list. Everything was executed wonderfully, and everything was how I saw it as i was reading it. Although the film did focus on a couple characters too much; you could say that this film can also be called "Dumbledore the movie". There was the main plot, that of Harry discovering the horcruxes, and the sideplot, which to say, was kind of lacking; the Ron and Hermione side plot. Whatever the case, I loved it because it brought the wizarding world closer to our land of the muggles.

2. Julie and Julia: This film was adorable. I loved how the two different time periods were played on and off of each other, and how the situations each character found themselves in were relatable even with the decades long time difference. The depiction of France-that-was is also quite adorable. the film was adorable, hands down.

3. District 9: I'm a sucker for these sort of films. I loved the viral marketing campaign to promote this film, like the Humans Only signs you may have seen everywhere. I also have a mild obsession with aliens, and have always asked the question "what if contact took place? An encounter of the third kind, but on a much more massive scale?" This film answers the question. The main character, a very sweet, cute, yet asshole-ish character, has to deal with one of the most awful situations imaginable, and with the outcome of the film, there is a hint at a sequel. This film is done in the mockumentary style, and it bares a resemblance to J.J. Abrams' Cloverfield.

4. Public Enemies: This is the kind of film that romanticizes the life of crime, and it makes me want to become a criminal, solely for the adventure. One of my main reasons for going to the cinema so often is to see life blown up to epic proportions, and if clothing is life, than by extension, clothing blown up to epic proportions. The costumes in this film were breathtaking, and being able to see every garment in detail, down to the last stitch in big screen is such a pleasure. To end this, Marion Cotillard was wonderful in terms of costume and acting, I know that Johnny Depp was in this too, but he was kind of nasty in comparison to Marion Cotillard.

5.The Time Traveler's Wife: This was a definite chick flick. However it was still an OK movie. OK enough to make it on my list. Based on a book, The Time Traveler's Wife was greenlit my New Line in '07. I will always review movies from the perspective of a fashion designer. With that said, this film is full of lovely knits. I guess knits make themselves more evident in places where it snows, as in the case of this film. Regina George's character was far from Regina George, which (her name escapes me) means that Regina George is an excellent actress. The film gets a bit weird and uncomfortable at times (flashback to benjamin button under the table with that girl when he was ten) but the overall theme of the film made those cringeworthy moments forgivable. Don't see this film with your gal pals, boys.

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Quick Grooming Tip #1

Smell Your Best Gentlemen:
Good cologne actually does cost between $25 and $70 dollars. An amazing cologne will run you from $70 and $150 but anything above that is phenomenal but who actually cares that much. The point is Axe does not cut it when you want the date of your dreams and you want their hands all over you. The tip is to go to your local department store or Sephora Brand store and ask for 2 sample bottles, a cologne you can wear in the day that is light and refreshing and another that makes you smell hot for night events and dates. They will give you nice size sample bottles and they will last you about a week. This way you can see how people react to your new fragrance and see how you like it before you make the splurge on a $45 dollar fragrance. Then for all you boys who have girlfriends who love to go out and buy you this stuff, Tell them to stop right away and let you deal with it; Sure girls might like to make boys smell the way they like but we are smart enough creatures to make choices for ourselves and especially when it comes to scent because you could cast your net wider if you smell better for a lot of people vs. one person.
Recommendations: Kenneth Cole Black, Vera Wang: For Men, Hugo By Hugo Boss
*Tell us what you recommend and why in your comments on this post.

Style Post 9.06.09

Lets Start With The Basics
By David Michael
To make it simple, a young man’s closet should be simple, solid, and clean. Boys our age need to have clothes that we can wear all day and clothes that work for us, without having to worry about them. As a women’s wear designer I give girls soft, sophisticated, and sultry, all of which require a few complicated lines but for the most part the idea is the same. Mix texture, pattern, shape, and color together to create a look that inspires confidence and exudes wearibilty. For the most part young men can be just as fashion forward as girls, but we are able to do it with more ease. As a collective we need to begin to put ourselves on the same fashion foot as girls, and adopt a personal style.

Fall is the texture season in clothing, meaning we can layer a long sleeve cotton T-Shirt with a lined wool vest, and wear some dark denim slacks. Playing with texture is fun; you will start to notice that the feel of your fabric can inspire the way you feel in your clothes. Try On: These Band of Outsiders looks. #1 is for a special event or you could be the type of guy to wear it around town, and #2 is a street casual look that you can hang out in. With these looks the brand has given these guys a classic lines and basic pieces with pattern, texture, and color, which make them fun. Look At: Plaids, Ginghams, Tartans, and Checks this fall (Google what those fabrics look like if you must. LOL.) Remember: Think about it before you wear it, stock up on good basics that can be used over and over, look cool while being comfortable and confident.

Recommendations: 1.GAP, 2.Urban Outfitters, 3.Club Monaco, 4.American Apparel

Girlfriend & Boyfriend Of The Week

What is "Girlfriend & Boyfriend Of The Week"?

“I am so happy you asked.” G & B of the week are the two people every week we recognize for their extreme “dateability”(which is not even a word, but I like it!), which means they have shown us that they would be great to go out with. Each week we will select a Girlfriend of The Week and a Boyfriend of the Week, so straight, gay, or questioning we have you covered. This is just a fun way for us to talk about attractive people together (or even question their attractive nature, ”Oh this could get interesting!”). * All people selected for this weekly honor must be under the age of 22 and older than 14. We would also love to hear suggestions for who should make the list so post those in your comments also.

GF & BF of the Week 9.06.09

GF
Kristinia DeBarge
Age: 19
Heritage: African-American (Maybe Spanish Too)
Passions: Singing, Writing Songs, and Dancing
About Kristinia: Kristinia DeBarge is the legacy of the famous DeBarge family (1980’s Soul Group signed with Motown). We first saw Kristinia when she was 13 on the American Idol spin – off American Juniors (which was a really bad program FYI), but @ 19 she is now back and signed to Sodapop Records a new division of Def Jam Records and is now on the Pop, R&B, and Dance charts with her new Album Exposed w/ Single: Goodbye which landed in the Top 20. Kristinia is definitely dateable. “ Not to sound crude, but her Album is called Exposed, What is she exposing?”


BF
Hunter Parrish
Age: 22
Heritage: Caucasian-American
Passions: Acting and Singing
About Hunter: Hunter Parrish is most famous for his role on the popular Showtime series Weeds starring Mary Louise Parker. Hunter plays Parker’s older son Silas on the program and has been doing so for 5 seasons now. Hunter took to Broadway in the fall of 2008 starring in Spring Awakening until it closed and had a short spot in the Zac Efron film 17 Again. Hunter appears to be relationship material. “ He is also known as a Cougar target.”

Food & Lifestyle

Taking Command
by Kelly F.

The day is drawing nearer when my older brother leaves for college. Now he’s already been in college for two years now but that was community college and this is away-from-home, big university, four year college. For the most part, I’m not too worried. I’m actually somewhat excited seeing as I’ll have no siblings to bother me anymore. The worrying presents itself when I think of what this kid is going to eat, though. His interaction with the kitchen usually includes walking in picking up his pre-plated dinner and retreating to his room to savor his meal in front of the comforting hum of the television. Now this is not to say he doesn’t know his fair share of egg recipes and the man can make a mean cup of coffee.
But what else? How will he cook for himself once my mother and I are out of the picture? When will he finally learn to put knife to vegetable and prepare himself a decent meal? I realized that this culinary problem rests not only in my brother but in the general population of young men these days. Sure, everyone knows how to slap a burger on the grill, but it’s the sautéed mushrooms that go on top, the bleu cheese sauce spilling over the patty, and the toasted bun that will really impress and divide the men from the boys. And the best part is: it’s easy!
Believe it or not, most everyone, with the help of these articles, should feel confident in creating simple, delicious food. Instead of taking your next date out to a nice restaurant, cook them a meal at your place. Have them become involved in the cooking process. When you show confidence in cooking people are immediately drawn to you. Plus, you get to show your personal flair in the kitchen and it will cost you a whole lot less than the expensive eating establishment. It all starts with baby steps. Learn the basics of cutting, chopping, zesting, etc. Then move on to flavor combinations and putting ingredients together. Finally, prepare meals and follow recipes. Add your own culinary twist and suddenly you’re a master of the kitchen. You may not be Bobby Flay in the end, and you will be far from Julia Child, but the fact that you can command your kitchen is an asset every young man should have.