6 Signs the Menswear Industry is Exploding

You don't have to live in a cave to recognize that menswear is on the rise. From the proliferation of male-specific versions of popular women's retailers to the adoption of high fashion by celebrity athletes, menswear is here to say.

1. Bergorf Goodman finally created a male-specific Instagram account last week, Goodmans, an appropriate move to attract a user base who would otherwise not subscribe to the female-skewed Bergdorfs account and further aligning with their brick-and-mortar business model of Bergdorf Goodman and Bergdorf Men’s Store across the street.  And what better timing than the debut of the spring/summer 2015 menswear shows!

Paris City Guide: Where to Shop

Alongside New York, London and Milan, Paris is one of the premier fashion destinations in the world, host to semiannual ready-to-wear and couture fashion shows.  Some of the most world-renowned brands were established here: Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior.  This, in part, explains my desire to have studied abroad in Paris and why I returned with an extra suitcase (sorry, mom and dad).  But it would be selfish of me to keep my newfound knowledge to myself, which is why I’m sharing with you some of my favorite stores in the beloved city.  Now, I’m not going to pretend that this list is in any way exhaustive but rather the musings of a 20-something who spent 10 weeks here and managed to pick up a few things along the way.

Le Bon Marché

Le Bon Marché may literally mean “the good deal,” but stocked with the latest Anne Demeulemeester, Saint Laurent and Chanel, this department store is anything but.  Even if your wallet may not be Celine Luggage Tote-friendly, a stroll through is absolutely necessary on a trip to Paris if only to browse the stunning space.  Don’t leave without a stop at Le Grande Épicierie, the haute couture of grocery stores with artisanal jams, fresh produce, incredible pastries and its own café.  And for the ex-pats feeling homesick, stop by the “American” section, home to Oreo’s, peanut butter and Reese’s Puffs cereal.  Now you know what they really think about us.

24, rue des Sèvres, 75007

Tel. +33 1 44 39 80 00

12 Reasons Why New York is Better Than San Francisco

These kind of statements tend to be polarizing...and the type you'd find on Buzzfeed -comical exaggerations purely orchestrated for page views, but nevertheless, here they are, and I believe in them unequivocally.  Plus, when you're justifying moving from a place in which you honestly can't recall the last time it rained to a place most recently known for its polar vortexes, you have to have reason.

1. Clubs don't close at 2am. And neither do diners (thanks Cafeteria for the early morning fuel!).

2. People don't conceive of a start up T-shirt and cargo shorts as an acceptable outfit in which to leave the house.

3. Public transportation. Enough said.

4. Dominican hair salons. I'm sorry, San Francisco, but your 6% black population (and rapidly declining) is doing nothing for my new growth.

5. Housing is expensive but not impossible.

6. Net-a-Porter has same day shipping.

7. Maybe this is unique to Palo Alto, but walk-in nail salons are not a foreign concept and don't cost the down payment on a new car.

8. Temperature doesn't swing 30-40 degrees, rendering your a.m. outfit impractical merely two hours later.

9. Seamless. 24/7.

10. Sample Sales -- just a quick look on Racked.com and you'll find yourself in sample sale Mecca (e.g. Alexander Wang, Rag & Bone, Dannijo).

11. Movies premiere here first.

12. Culture: SF MOMA is closed for the next 2 years? Meanwhile in New York, we have the Chelsea art galleries, MOMA, Guggenheim, Whitney, Brooklyn Museum, Jewish Museum, need I say more? Oh and don't forget about Broadway, Lincoln Center and the Apollo Theater.

Defining the "Game Time Decision"

It’s not everyday that you and three friends hop into your car at 11pm on a Friday night to arrive on the Las Vegas Strip at 7am –joggers and streetwalkers the sole inhabitants of an otherwise vacant street.  Caesar’s Palace staring at you in all its gaudy lure, void of the blaring music and flashing lights that commanded hordes of club goers merely hours prior.  But alas, somehow I found my way there Memorial Day Weekend. So let me tell you how it came about.

It all begins with something known as a game time decision.

Urban Dictionary defines the game time decision as a “decision that is held off until the moment when it must be made. Very commonly used by professional coaches, especially of the NFL.”  San Francisco 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh favored the use of the game time decision during his tenure at Stanford when evaluating players’ injuries, preferring to list them as a “game time decision,” thus eluding his opponents who therefore would have to scheme for the first team player when, in fact, Harbaugh was fully aware that said player was incapable of walking, better yet meaningfully contributing on the field.  Talk about tactics.

Palo Alto City Guide: Where to Eat

As I leave the Bay Area in my rear view mirror, I see it only fitting that I dole out a city guide highlighting the places that have truly made Palo Alto my home for the past four years, which first and foremost, includes food.  Without respite from oft-repetitive cafeteria meals or itis-inducing menus from Row House chefs with items like Chicken Fried Steak with Sausage Gravy (sorry arteries!), I don't know how I could have survived.  With that said, I'm delighted to share with you some of my favorite eats (Orlando, New York, Paris versions to come).

1. Tacolicious: Somewhat of a new kid on the block, Tacolicious is a welcome addition to the street-taco vibe of Lulu’s in Town and Country and the parents-pick-up-the-tab vibe of Reposado.  With an exhaustive drink menu of pitchers and “chupitos,” think shooter-esque mixed shots, to boast, you’re sure to leave happy.  And if, in fact, you’re the kind that chooses to actually eat at a restaurant, I recommend you adhere to the tacos, all sound selections. 

Tip: They don't take reservations, so come early or don't mind waiting during peak hours.

Great for: Pre-senior night pregame, anytime meal