"I Got A (Rag &) Bone To Pick!" -The Fly Spy

He's just a sneak peep, a teaser if you will, of what's to come from the guys over at the relaxed luxury brand Rag & Bone. From the looks for things, they're really making their way into the shoe game in a BIG way! Just give a look, and tell would you be seen rocking these?

"How Much Is That Rugby In the Window?" -the Fly Spy

When you get a minute and you're in the Union Square neighbor
hood, swing by the Rugby store
on University Pl. and I think it's 12th St. Not only is Tiara Chameleon the new kid on the block running things over there, she's even featured on their new website (Rugby.com) blog modeling! You can go to "Newsroom" once you're on the site to see her photo, but I've saved you the trip. Also peep the touch screen window display web browser they've set up! DOPE! It's the future of shopping as we know it. Stop in say "What up T.C.?" and make sure she rings your items up, so you're not too embarrassed when it reads "DECLINE!" Lol!

Brand Fan: "All Good In the Wood" -Brian Wood

You ever follow a brand really hard, then by the next year or so you're wondering how it ever made it into your closet? Well Brian Wood is working REALLY HARD to not be one of those brands. Slowly (and rather smartly) moving away from the stigma that certain street wear labels, BW's newest collection looks like it's "splintering" off from the others to "get his grown man look on" with his Fall season designs. From the looks of things to come he'll do just fine...knock on Wood (lol).

"Tote 'N Heat" -the Original Fly Spy

Pssst...Victoria is not the only one with a secret. Long before, Agent Double S (aka Secret Squirrel) had the good sense of knowing that wearing a trench coat in his line of business would be a "dead" giveaway.
He opted for the still fashionable alternative, the Duster, sister to the trench. However, the point where "S. Squire"
became a fashion maverick was his hat selection. Besides the fact that it was Purple (not the Agency's regulation color) , the spy game had not seen the Totes hat working double duty as a mask as well. In today's times, security would be a major headache for this dude. Everything needed to fight the good fight was tucked underneath his hat, and he NEVER took it off. so air travel was problematic. Mostly known for it's rain repelling properties, his had to stop bullets my friend! This wasn't just a fashion statement, it became a"it-could-save-my-life" statement (lol). So when someone says that they "dodged or took a bullet" for fashion, keep this guy in mind.
He did it literally! BTW doesn't it look like he's whispering ...
"Shh, wait 'll you see my d..." Right?

"Youza Window Shopper..."-Sidewalk Stalking w/ the Fly Spy

Walking around the city playing catching up with fashion can make anyone broke feel broker! Just surrender and understand that you can't have it ALL. But it's nice to dream, here's some flicks for you sleepwalkers that like to dress like they're wide awake. Apple, Rugby, Adidas, and Y-3 had me spenting my check before I even got it. You know how it goes...in one pocket out the other.

"Everybody 1, 2, Stretch"- the Fly Spy

ATTENTION HIPSTERS!
Sorry to tell you (not really), but you are NOT the pioneer of fashion that you think you are! The deep V-neck, the enormous white sunglasses, the colored pencil thin
stretch jeans
(what else could he wear?), all those things, you have to credit Plastic Man for rocking first.
While getting fitted for his costume as a fighter of crime,
"Plas" had a moment of inspiration and said
to his tailor
"Hey, you think you can make the neck line a wee bit deeper?"
"There's no reason I can't bring sexy back while bringing
the crime rate down...right?"
And viola', the style yet to be trend was created.
Word has it that the other "Supes" frowned upon "the P. Man"
and his new fashion statement saying,
"You need to humble yourself when you're catching bad guys!"
"Picking up chicks, is a distraction in this line of work dude."
However Plastic Man stayed the course and joking replied
"Well BOO HOO, they've mainly upset that I can stretch every part of my body...EVERY part (wink) and the ladies dig me for it," "Knowhatimasyin'?"
Well years later we FINALLY get it, and so does the kids of L.E.S. and Williamsburg. You were the first to stretch the limits of men's fashion and the Minority Report salutes you.

"Suspended Animation" - the Fly Spy

A Bathing WHAT? WHO's Unit? You must be smoking green bananas to think those guys were first simians of fashion. Not by a long stretch dude. But how Magilla Gorilla (or "the Thrilla" as the ladies called him) differs from those guys is not only was he the first doing it,
he did it up dapper.
Bow tie...check.
Suspenders...check.
Wingtips...check. Pocket scarf...check.
Bowler (aka Derby) hat and Walking cane...double check.
There's humans I know that don't dress this fly...Seriously.
Sadly though, M. Illa became one of those cats unrecognized by the fashion "gate keepers." And the name associated with his species somehow took a turn for the worst. To bad too, he could swing with the best of them.

"Color Me Bad"- the Fly Spy

Man, I'm mad that I didn't think of this a looong time ago. I would have made my life that much easier getting dressed in the morning. They do say "the simplest ideas, are often the best." This definitely tops the lot. A good friend of mine actual put me on to this helpful advice about color-coding my closet. You see while we were exploring through her closet (no, I wasn't looking for R. Kelly),
I saw that she used this method as a means to organize her wears. That's when a light switch went on in my head, and I thought
"That makes so much sense." I need to re-do my closet in this fashion. Once I returned home, rearranged my closet (by color) to my liking, it instantly made looking for what I needed to wear less troubling and time consuming.
The Minority Report recommends you should try this too.

"Winter Fresh...The Boy in the Bubble" - the Fly Spy

I just know you're staring at this picture saying to yourself, "So this bubble goose jacket trend ISN'T new either?" Nah bro. Once again an iconic fashion figure has been overlooked by the history books.
"Mich Man" was bold with his swag too. He rocked an all-white one, WITH the pants to match!
Straight gangster!
So please stop thinking that you're SO original in your expensive, high-glossy, Moncler or knock-off
Oni-Glo jacket, and pay some respect to the "Man" that
the fashion historians have snubbed. And next time you decide to wear yours outside to brave the cold harsh winds of Winter, take a minute to remember another passed over pioneer.
Ice cold BABY!

"A Good Wing Man"- the Fly Spy

Once and awhile I like to get my
"Savion Glover" on, and rock a nice pair of shoes ("corn huggers" in my case lol), with my favorite denims, and throw on a
"Keith Sweat-ish" blazer to complete my grown man look.
Recently, when I decided to put on the "click clacks" my recommended choice of footwear are the never-go-wrong Wingtips. Made famous by the Stacy Adams brand, these classics are just that...Classic! I always feel that every man should have two good pairs of shoes in his wardrobe (a black pair and one brown), and one GREAT pair of these. After you purchase a pair, be sure to stop by the local cobbler to accessorize 'em with some taps (the rubber one man, unless you REALLY tap dance) to extend the heel life. When someone asks "Got any good tips lately?" You can now point to your shoes.

"Winter Fresh...Ballin" -the Fly Spy

Oh...What? Oh you thought you were the 1st to start rocking the ol' school ski hats with the ball on top? Nooo sir, ya man Chilly Willy was a fashion icon unappreciated in his time. Just peep the the two tone pom pom skully slightly tilted off to the side, complimented with a matching English-knotted scarf. Classic! Last year, you were the bomb if you sported a bomber hat. In '08 if you're not rockin' a "Willy" you simply look silly. Ice cold BABY!

"Doin' Tai Bo in my Bow Tie" Pt.2- the Fly Spy

As promised here's part 2. to "tie" up the loose ends for the bow tie article I posted earlier. It may take quite a few tries, but once you get it, guarantee your savior faire points will increase double fold.
Just click on each of these
to increase the size and post'em up on the mirror.

"Doin' Tai Bo in my Bow Tie" -the Fly Spy

Man, can I tell you how I couldn't wear won of these a few years back without one "Orville Redenbacher" or "Brother Bean Pie" remark. Wait...I still get the double takes, but the comments are less common. Either people that know me given up, or it has officially become a trend to watch and a bow tie sighting is not out of the norm. Frankly speaking, I really only have three, if you're counting the one that I wear untied "Frank Sinatra" Frat Pack style. I'm starting to notice 'em EVERYWHERE lately. On the Rugby employees, in Club Monoco (which is also owned by Ralph Lauren), in Movies (the Great Debaters), even Mr. Softee's rocks one. Seems like the Fruit of Islam is either going hard recruiting, or sexy IS really back. Soon I'll post a Part 2. to this for those, including myself, that would like to learn how to finally tie the damn thing for Pete's sake.