What's Poplin Seersucker?

The Poplin

Seersucker

 There's no doubt about it, summer is here. We have crested what is to be the final days of cool fronts & cool mornings for quite some time, that is however if you excuse the hail storm that came through last Monday!

Though the weather may be as it chooses, we are still called by either social obligation or painstaking desire to attend the same solemnities as they come about. And despite the heat people still think it a grand idea to get married in the beauty of the season's sun. So shall it be, some good people came up with a great solution to stay cool in the summer, and for the more formal occasions, still look great.

The Poplin Suit is nothing new to our culture. Poplin was first recorded in Avignon, France around the late 1400's. It derived its name from the word "papeline" given by the papal residence of Avignon itself. Poplin found its original use in men's daily garments, shorts and sports shirts mainly. But in the realm of fashionable innovation it was utilized later for more formal needs. If I am not mistaken, one of the original Poplin Suit manufacturer's in America was Brook's Brothers.

An interesting history forgoes the existence of Seersucker in the mainstay of the traditional gentlemen's summer wardrobe! Until the 1920's Seersucker was worn by poor southerners to beat the heat. In an attempt at reverse snobbery, a group of college graduates wore it to a graduation. Now it is the staple to a true summer wardrobe. The weave of the suit is what makes it seersucker, there is some speculation to the name, that it derives from a Hindi & Urdu translation of a Persian word meaning "milk and sugar". It goes on to discuss the relationship between smoothness and textured feel much like that of milk and sugar. Be that as it may, if a wedding calls, or any other carousal beckons in the heat of the southern Spring & Summer, go light but stay classy.

Cultural Changes

On June 3, 2011 Actor and Comedian Tracy Morgan was called down by the LGBT for making a comment about his kids being gay. He apologized for his comments and all was forgiven, or so. However, in 1989 Eddie Murphy stood on stage and said, "Faggot's aren't allowed to look at my ass while I'm on stage !That's why I keep moving while I'm up here.You don't know where the faggot section is, you gotta keep movin'. So if they do see it, quick, you switch, they don't get no long stares at your shit... ...so that their imagination is flowing about my... I know when you're looking, 'cos my ass starts to get hot. I'm afraid of gay people. Petrified.I have nightmares about gay people..."


He goes on for about 5 more minutes about gays, and not a single person breathed a word about it, there was no apology, no broadcasting company issued an apology to the general public. So my question is this, are we being more prejudice by not acknowledging people's ignorance (even if it's comedy) or are we being prejudice by pointing out everyone's "prejudice"? The question also bears, is it ignorant to point out someone's color in reference to them, or to be so ignorant as to say you don't see color? Where is our generation going with all this right to be offended and take action against the offender? Freedom of speech? For whom? Rights for all? Really? 

New Arrivals

Cole Haan Colton Nubuck Suede

The wardrobe is expanding, the style is curving with a slight rise in the form of fashion. Be that as it may, there is no perennial dictum mandating any facet of shoe ware that would consider these purchases trivial. Despite them coming at great opportunities both in time and in price, I have found myself smitten by their establishment of residence in my closet.

One of the first anomalies to note is the brand of shoe. I thought for certain I had finished with the line of Cole Haan. When I first started my trek to style Cole Haan was there to greet me. I spent the lot of my money acquiring what I thought was the height of shoedom. I was later introduced to many other lines, more prestigious lines, that left me desiring a more hand-crafted shoe. I left the Cole Haan line in search of accolade of Italian fashion moguls. My quest led me to Gravati, Donald Pliner, Romano Martegani, Canali, Toschi, Martin Dingman and many others. As life comes full circle...

Cole Haan Paul Chukka Boot

                                                         It was not an intentional purchase to return to Cole Haan, it was a matter of a sleepless night searching for great shoes. I had not owned a pair of Chukka Boots and thought the new craze of jean wear would intrigue, and a what is intrigue without action to satiate.

Tan/Cream SeerSucker Pattern

As for the Colton Suede Cream beauties, that was a, last minute I need to go to sleep but these shoes are tugging at me, purchase. What's a wardrobe without cream suede shoes for the next Yachting party you are invited too?! A nice Taupe/Brown or Brown/Cream SeerSucker Suit with a donning pair of suede shoes to match, brilliant says I.



A few websites I have recently found quite useful:
www.BerenShoes.com
www.Pelleline.com

But remember, if you can, support your local retailer's like:
F Camalo
Moseley & Hollard
Steve's Clothier
Partner's
Gentry



                                                                             

Ole Glory Crossfit

They're doing it right. I will start by saying just that.

As many of you know, I embarked on a desire to start doing Crossfit a couple of months ago. It was a catastrophe. The gym was super nice but the people were less than impressive. The relationship ended as quickly as it had begun. This is the point where I could say, "the search was on" for a new gym, but it wasn't, I was ultimately done. The only other gym I knew of was on Cajundome Blvd. and I wasn't travelling that far to workout, for all that I would have gotten a membership to Red's. (On a side note, I have heard wonderful things about Ragin' Crossfit)

A few weeks ago, on a Saturday, my and family and I were going to Morvant's in Broussard to grab burgers. Driving past I saw a building with a huge tractor tire out front, I thought, "I want a tractor tire!" It was then I realized I was looking at a Crossfit gym, a gym right here in Broussard, La. I noted the phone number to memory, it was easy, clearly a cell phone, and made a point to call on the following day.

I spoke to one of the owners, a husband, Bo Armentor. Everything about the conversation was delightful from the greeting to the information provided about the gym. I was really excited to give it another go. I arrived the following morning at 0500 as noted and I was immediately introduced to everyone in the gym. All were laughing and joking, at 0500 mind you, and it seemed like a good time.

Long story short I am really happy at Ole Glory. Bo and his wife Natalie have been wonderful hosts and the patrons are equally as delightful. It has been a few days shy of 1 month since I signed up but the relationship has blossomed and so have my results. Everyone is helpful and encouraging and most of the time really sweaty.

Bo & Natalie, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to get back in the swing and cult following of Crossfit. I look forward to our relationship growing exponentially over the coming years.

PS - I think there are more girls than guys at this gym!!! Perhaps that's why Bo was so nice to me, he needs me to knock down walls with him for expansion!!!!!

It's Just a Shoe

This picture arrived in my email from my beloved sister who seems to know the very way to my heart. As it turns out, Prada is allowing personal color customization of their latest Spring shoe line. Their forward progressive ideology is pining at my soul to become yet again a patron of the fine stylistic establishment. Hats off to you Prada, this is by way of great innovation Prada may find themselves back in the forefront Milan and Paris.

Enjoy!

Today's Big Idea

One shoe can change your life.

-Cinderella