What Alex Wears... when it's gross and rainy but he needs to get out of the house to keep from going nuts from econ finals.

ooooo... he's so brooding!  he must be deep.

So if you couldn't tell from the title, today sucked.  I was going a bit stir crazy so I decided to get dressed and run some errands with Ashley.  Now, while I don't support the widely held belief by many in the men's style blogosphere that the world is going to hell because people don't dress well enough, I do kind of hate it when people wear pajamas out of the house.  The world is not your bedroom people!  Ashley agrees with me on this.  Anyway, I intended this outfit to be something of a more sensible companion to the general over-the-topness of the holiday party outfit.  Breakdown after the jump.

Alex And Ashley's Adventures in Alternate... uh... coloring of the blog... and fonts... and stuff

We changed the layout!  Exciting eh?  You should express your support by clicking on "follow with Google Friend Connect" and commenting on how much you like the new layout.  Because we have fragile egos.  Now, here's a picture of us being very serious while wearing all green and a gold toga/dress (respectively).

TREMBLE AT OUR AWESOMENESS!!!

Thanks for reading!

What Alex Wears... for the holidays

Just because I'm having fun doesn't mean
I should look like I'm having fun.

Oh man, it's getting late in the year.  And you know what that means? Finals!  Oh wait, not everyone is in grad school... what's that other thing that happens around this time of year?  Oh right, non-denominational winter present giving festivities!  And drinking various spiced wine drinks!  And of course that means that you get to wear ludicrous crap you wouldn't normally wear!  Like white shoes! (I seem to really like exclamation marks!)  And the rest after the jump...

[you_have_broken_the_internet]: Get to know Mac...

These aren't my feet.  But They could be!

Valet linked to this collection (ostensibly) of shoes. But I was way more concerned with the fact that in every photo he was wearing argyle socks. Good man.

[you_have_broken_the_internet]: Get to know Mac...

Alex becomes an internet celebrity! (really!)

Alex Yakovleff's Closet from forefront fashion on Vimeo.

OH BOY!  My closet just got toured by the awesome people over at Fore Front Fashion!  Finally I have a chance to be an internet celebrity.  Enjoy me saying "Meticulous" over and over again, and "HOLY SHIT I HAVE A LOT OF SOCKS!" just once.

Thanks a million guys!  Now I have something to look forward to over finals... or backward to... I'm not really sure.


Also, Like I said before.  Visit their site!  They're creative, nice, fashionable people.  Portland could use more people like them.

What's your wardrobe worth? Certainly not what you pay for it.

One of these things is worth more than the other

After that post I linked to earlier today (and about 6 hours of listening to land use valuation lectures this weekend) I had a thought (yeah yeah yeah, cheap shots... ok, we done?).  Anyway.  What are clothes worth?  The first thing you learn when you shop at goodwill/salvo/second hand shops, as I have pretty much my entire life, is that the most expensive thing you can buy is something you never wear.  Sure those pleather-purple-snakeskin pants are crazy and kind of sweet and only $5!  But... honestly?  (full disclosure: in high school I purchased a pair of purple pleather snakeskin pants.  I still own them.  And I did wear them a few times my freshman year of college, and in some shows, but in any event I know what I'm talking about) If I saw them now I'd get wistful, nostalgic and then pass.  There's just no reason for me to own snakeskin pants, no matter how cheap.

Put This On • Q and Answer: Where Can I Get Good Advice on Men’s...

A really good assessment of style v. $$$. Worth reading.

Put This On • Q and Answer: Where Can I Get Good Advice on Men’s...

Ashley Inspires a Nation... or Some Bead Ladies

So I have been super excited about my tutorial success at The Beadin' Path.  It's been so great to create new things and see everyone order the pieces for my designs, but what is even better is when I inspire new designs from veteran jewelers.  Today I totally got a shout out from Naomi Fujimoto an editor at BEAD STYLE MAGAZINE one of the biggest, most popular beading magazines in the country.

My new Rivet Earrings inspired her to create a lovely silver flower necklace.  I love this, it's so flattering.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! 

Alex becomes an internet celebrity! (not really though)

I figured I needed a picture to put
with the post.  Here it is,

The swell folks at Fore Front Fashion just came and looked at my closet!  Whoo!  I'm unsurprised flattered, I put a lot of effort into making my closet one step below obsessively organized and they were almost as excited to see it as I was to show it.  Plus, they were swell folks to boot.  Look for it on their site in the coming weeks.  And read their site in the meantime.  Because us Portland fashion bloggers need to stick together.

Giving thanks (mostly for tweed though)

It's definitely the country, I'm pretty sure we were contractually obligated to wear tweed.

Happy Holiday's everyone!  Well... I suppose not our non-american audience (of which there is at least one! Hey Egypt!), but everyone else.  I hope you're recovering nicely from the turkey overload.  I've been soooooo busy with a cold, school and turkey that I haven't had time to post.  But I have had time to wear tweed.  And so did my cousin Damon (on the left... no, the other left... my left) and John S. (on my right, with the bitchin' moustache).  Because even though it's about family and food and all that other good stuff (seriously, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays) it's always a good day to be a snappy dresser.  More of our jinks (most hi, some low) after the jump...

What Alex Wears... when he skips all the way to Connecticut to give thanks.

I decided to skip ALL the way there

It was a brisk fall day (brisk as shit, that field coat was NOT warm enough.)  Ashley and I decided to get some lunch.  It was a mere 3 hours from when I was going to head down to CT for my most favoritest of holidays (except my birthday, of course).  And what says fall more than some camouflage and jeans?  The rest of my outfit, after the jump.

What Alex Wears... when he drops knowledge

If this was 1874 I'd be sipping tea and reading Adam Smith

About a month ago (I know, I know, I've been busy with various parties, projects and posts) we had a presentation in my public finance and budgeting class.  Well... technically it was a highlights presentation... for a presentation we hadn't made yet.  No, I'm not quite sure how that works either.  The point is, I won't just be sitting in class.  I'll be standing and talking.  Two of my favorite things!  Of course, we were presenting on tax revenue structure, how the state gets dolla dolla bills as it were, so I figured I'd better step up my game.  Full breakdown of my British businessman inspired look after the jump.

Things I think are totally awesome... argyle socks

HOLY SHIT LOOK HOW MANY SOCKS I HAVE!

Argyle socks are awesome.  There's just no two ways about it.  If you've noticed (and if you haven't noticed what are you doing on this blog?)  they're all I wear.  I have trouble in summer because I only own long argyle socks and they're pretty hard to wear when it's 90+ degrees (though lord knows I do, how I suffer for style!).  Anyway, after the break there's hot hot sexy women wearing only argyle socks...

Ashley Creates... And Just Can't Stop

So I think I suffer from a common dilemma, knowing when to stop.  It's just so hard.  Stopping is something I've never been good at.  "Too far? Too Much?" are reoccurring questions of mine. This quandary spills into most aspects of my life, in my humor, my jewelry, my art, fashion, eating, talking, learning, whistling, etc. etc.

Now back to the point, I like this necklace A LOT.  Mainly because I didn't stop.  I added and added until I couldn't add no more.  I like working with a base.  In this piece I used a circular vintage silver filigree component.  It gives a wonderful surface to build off of and provides a beginning and end to a piece of jewelry.  Something to grow from and a roof to keep you down.

Another design device that I really love is mixing metals.  This necklace uses 'em all, gold, silver, copper brass, and they all look beautiful together in their delightful vintage glory.  Mixing metals adds an eclectic cherished feel to a piece.  Often a piece that uses one metal seems too clean, manufactured and store bought.  I want a gem that feels loved, remembered, special and unique.

Alex and Ashley DYE... in a horrible black vat!

Ewwwwww... why would you post a picture of some gross pool of grossness?  Well... it's a long story, let me take you on a trip into the past (LOST style flashback woosh.....)

Ashley's New Kits!

 I have a few new kits for sale at work.  Also check out Heather's new post describing a bit about my day to day work and how awesome pendants are.

 

Click the pendant to check out the new kits and the two other color options.

My favorite part is the location themed names.....

annnd that they are packaged in adorable ornaments, perfect!

Thank you Mr. Killah. Your wise words shall be considered

Rampant misogyny aside, I agree with most of this... I for one never got stuck for my cupcakes.

'YOU bringing the steez to it': Ghostface Killah drops fashion science | Music | The A.V. Club Blog | The A.V. Club

Things I think are totally awesome... gingham

Oh hey, how's it going?  Long time no see.  I guess what with Halloween and whatnot I've been pretty busy.  How've you been? Well, now that all that small talk is out of the way let's get down to brass tacks.  And put them onto a shirt in my favorite pattern ever.  Gingham.  (Or checked, if you prefer.) What makes it so great after the jump.

What Alex Wears... when he votes!

What are you looking at my fancy duds for?  Go out and vote!

Put This On • "Man Purse"

Put This On • "Man Purse"

Thank you.  Couldn't have said it better myself.  I have a sense of humor about it, but come on.  Give it a rest.

What Alex Wears... when he makes it rain at 555

In the interest of making myself look taller than Ashley showing off my shoes I'm standing in this ludicrous pose.  But there's an important reason.  It's fucking Restaurant Week bitches!!  That means we went with some friends to 555 to drop some serious dolla dolla bills, y'all.  And what do you wear to a swanky place to eat?  A suit goddammit!  But I didn't want to look like too big of a pretentious jag, so I dressed it down pretty significantly.  Plus it was raining, so I figured red chucks would hold up better than leather soled shoes.  I didn't want my feet soaking for the whole meal... that's just miserable.


The rest of the preparation after the jump.

What Alex Wears... when he meets the parents

Oh boy.  This was the big one.  I went to Ashley's parents house for dinner the other night (she was there too).  I don't know why I was worried, they both love the blog! (note to advertisers: I have cross generational appeal!)  In fact her dad was wearing a vest, tie and jeans! Thankfully he had on a snappy tweed number with a woven wool tie.  I had on my grey vest and a burgundy (that's like a dark purple-ish red, if you don't follow color too closely) knit wool tie.  How embarrassing would it have been if we had been wearing the same thing?!


Probably not very, my ego is vast and can accommodate people thinking I look good enough to copy.  I'm still waiting to see who dresses up like me for Halloween.  Of course I have a full break down of the outfit after the jump.  (Plus some musings on style, which I'm sure everyone was chomping at the bit to hear... or read... which I guess on the internet is pretty similar).

Ashley is....Famous!

So I was recently published in a jewelry magazine, Handcrafted Jewelry. The issue was released in early October and featured this Flower Harvest necklace and a step-by-step tutorial written by me! This is a great example of the kind of work I do, I love vintage components.  Flowers are always popping up and I can't get enough metal! 

Ashley writes... some things

So here I am, I know Alex over powers me in blog output, but hey maybe I'm just slow out of the gate.  I make things, I make jewelry.  I make other things too.  Well, although everything we talk about is extremely visual I don't have an image to share with you at this moment.  I am extremely particular and not willing to compromise with a shitty photo or just making up a subject to bullshit about.


So for now I will just voice a few basic points.  Be yourself, make a statement, and don't try too hard.


More to come.

Things I think are totally awesome... vests

As you can see.  I love wearing vests.  My bio says "30% olde-tyme saloon- keep.  There's a reason for that.  Olde Tyme saloon-keeps were awesome.  And their vests were awesome (so were their mustaches. More on that in a later post).
I think what I love the most about vests is how versatile they are.  If you wear one on its own it... 

What Alex Wears... while he passes out from exhaustion.

Poor me... I was all tuckered out after my long day of one econ class and then some beers with grad school people.  The last few days had been exhausting though.  I could barely sleep after being called the best dressed in PPM 610 (Foundations of Public Policy).  What would be next?  Best dressed in PPM 640?  PPM 611?  What would be the marginal utility and opportunity costs of being the dressed man in an economics class?
These were the question running through my mind when I just passed out from brain use.  Fortunately I was wearing this surprisingly comfortable combo.  Those pants were made in China... but I bought them in China... so I think I was supporting local labor.  The breakdown after the jump...

What Alex Wears... when he's named best dressed in class

This post is actually a ay late.  I was super busy doing work all weekend for Grad School (that public won't policy itself!)  But after all the work I got a prize!  My professor said I was the best dressed in class! Hurrah!  Let that be a lesson to everyone out there, wear a tie and your teachers will remember you... Unless you all follow that lesson... but I don't think anyone will start wearing a tie just on my say so.  Though I can dream.  Outfit breakdown after the jump.

What this blog is and isn't

As we're just starting out, this blog will certainly begin as one thing and become another.  But(t) for now you can expect a few things.  Ashley will write her own stuff, and I'm not going to say what that will or will not be, but as far as Alex is concerned with his half...

What Alex Wears... while he engages in a high speed chase

As you can see here on a beautiful fall day in Maine this outfit is great for sliding over your car hood so you can hop in and chase down some no good hippies (or punks, your choice).  The shoes let them know you're coming and the jacket is short, ensuring it won't get stuck on the car hood, and the aviators let em know you aren't fucking around.

What Alex Wears... while he BLOGS!

Look at me go! I'm a blogging machine!  what I'm wearing after the jump...

New Super Blog of DOOM!

We decided to start this blog last night.  

His part is Men's Fashion and how you too can develop a unique, affordable, awesome, wardrobe without looking like a douche.  

Her part is to take silly pictures of Alex and also talk about ladies accessories.  Focusing on creating jewelry and finding all the deals.

Keep watching for all our exciting new posts on topics like "Alex Wears..." "Ashley Creates" and "(Note to self: come up with third possible blogging topic)".  We absolutely guarantee they'll all be the most exciting thing you'll see between the time you start reading and the time you finish.