A little holiday swag | Monks, Bags, Watches

Christmas may be a time for families to come together, and celebrate the birth of...alright I already got bored and distracted. It's a time for family and swag. There isn't a better time to bust out your wildest get-up and see what the fam has to say - as we all know, it's

Christmas, and at Christmas you tell the truth. If you look like a fool, there's probably an aunt or uncle that is going to let you know. But around here we swag, and swag brings compliments and good tidings to all. Let's bring it down for this year's Holiday wish list.

The Invicta 2770 Military Chrono Lefty ($130, Amazon)

I love a good genuine leather watch strap with an oversized bezel. It's an easy way to make a statement for someone getting into the accessory game. Invicta is a great watch that has been going through some rough times lately, so you can pick these up all over the GILT and Rue La La websites for cheap. Do I like tacking advantage of quality? No. Do I know it's not easy to drop $500 on a risk accessory? Yes I do. So jump online and pick one up. I rock my watches under my wrist bone on my left hand so I buy left-handed watched so the crown won't dig into my wrist. Swag is about fit, no matter which hand is dominant.

Mercanti Fiorentini Double Monks ($140, DSW)

Looking to step your dress shoe game up? Look no further than a set of clean double monks from Mercanti Fiorentini. They fit true, look clean, and go with jeans as easily as they go with dress pants. Show these bad boys off and look like you are wearing Prada's for the price of Air Force Ones. Rock the 5cm cuff with these bad boys, they are built for looks, not for speed.

Terre D' Hermes Colgone ($76, Amazon)

This is some grown man shit. You know how you have been wearing the same cheap cologne your whole life (or you are like me and have a few different ones you switch up so no one catches on)? Well it's time to upgrade. A blend of atlas cedar, citrus, patchouli and bay rose means you will be smelling like a grown-ass man for days. Use lightly, 1-2 sprays will last you the day.

As for the bag, dont' bother looking for it. Been sold out for dayyys. But I will send some suggestions your way soon because if you live in a city you need some swag in your bag. And you don't live in a city, move here. It's worth it.

Happy Holidays from Swag On, 2012 is looking unbelievably steezy already.

Winter Steez | We Be Steady Bloggin'

It's been too long friends. These shorter and colder days are not only bad for morale but also our swag, as we revert to the one good winter jacket we own and the same hoodie we have been rockin' since grade school.

So let's boost morale and bring back the swag in the first post of the winter and bring our steez a few winter essentials.

Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots:

($340, Nordstrom but you can find them for less)

These boots are unreal. Warm. Built well. Waterproof. 1.5" lift and that stiching? That's the type of thread women faint over. A friend introduced me to a quote "He was beautiful, until I saw his shoes." Well that won't happen to you rocking these swagtacular boots during the winter months. Oh, and cuff your jeans with these. Trust me.

The Pea Coat:

Grey or Black, always clean over complicated.
I wear one from Sterlingwear of Boston (tailored)

I don't know how it happened but some of us made it past 2010 without owning one, I apologize for not bringing this up sooner but if you don't have a pea coat, buy one. Today. It the cleanest, warmest, easier way to bump up your swag and they will never go out of style. Buy one that is fitted like a suit (i.e. don't buy a large peacoat, but a 42R) and make sure it covers up all of the clothing on your upper body. Best way to rock it? mid length. Short is for fall and long is for, well honestly people who know what they are doing so lets not get ahead of ourselves.

Overused but underdone: Cardigan-over-the-oxford look

This, is Nickelson Wooster. Stalk him. Look at him. Be like him. He has more swag than most of the world combined and while you probably can't rock his boots, you can throw a nice shallow v-neck sweater over your regular oxford for a clean, work or bar appropriate look for the winter.

Bump up game. Texture, and layers

Simple is Better.

So this is not what you would call an accident. Simple. Effective. Layering. Pictured above you will find someone that has a watch, a tie, a pocket square, a vest, a ring, a textured belt, and a striped oxford on and he doesn't look overdone. Now here's the disclaimer: if you own all of these things (which I do) it does not mean you can just put them all on think you will look like this (I have tried, it doesn't work). But you can take elements from this, and also learn when you are out shopping to look for things that you know will go together and not just look good standalone. Some of my plainest shirts look best alone, and some of my most complex look best layered.

Winter is  the best time to test out your layer game, mostly because if you mess it up you can hide it pretty easily. I am not a huge fan of wearing blazers in the winter, but a decent textured sport coat is still a good go-to when you feel like making a scene. Winter, however, is about channeling sweaters and textures.There will be a post coming soon on perfecting this but for now, study, learn, and swag on.

There will be more posts coming soon, I just had to get you all started as I have missed you and hopefully you have missed me.

If you are fiending some extra swag, run on over to my Tumblr, We Were Making Good Time

-Swag On