Got a little Cabin Fever? Visit F. Rock this weekend @ SOWA’s new pre-Valentine’s Day market!

Those amazing guys of the South End Open Market have done it again!  This weekend, beat those pre-Valentine’s blues with a wonderful new mid-winter indie artist’s market. FREE parking, $2 admission and 60+ artists selling their wares!

When: Friday {6-9pm} & Saturday {11-7pm}

Where: 460c Harrison Ave @ Thayer Street {between Harrison @ Albany)

Why: Get in out of the cold and shop! Show your self – or someone else – some love!

{F. Rock will be donating 10% of each sale to the Haitian Family Relief Fund.}

A gift of love! 10% per-purchase donation to the Haitian Family Relief Fund – through Valentine’s Day

Our hearts and thoughts go out to our Haitian friends, their families and loved ones.  In response to January 12th’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, F. Rock will be donating 10% of each sale through February 14th to the Haitian Family Relief Fund – established by Boston’s Mayor, Thomas Menino. Shop at http://www.FRockbags.com.

Looking to help?  The below organizations are welcoming aid and donations at this time…

Aftermath in Port-au-Prince from January 12th's earthquake in Haiti.

NATIONAL

The American Red Cross
International Response Fund
American Red Cross P.O. Box 37243 Washington, D.C. 20013

UNICEF Haiti Earthquake Fund
125 Maiden Lane New York, NY, 10038

Partners In Health Haiti Earthquake Fund
888 Commonwealth Ave, 3rd Floor Boston, MA 02215

Doctors Without Borders
333 7th Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001-5004

Oxfam Haiti Earthquake Response Fund
226 Causeway St., 5th Floor Boston, MA 02114-2206

UN World Food Programme Help Haiti Now
Via C.G.Viola 68, Parco dei Medici 00148 Rome ““ Italy

LOCAL

Haitian Evangelical Baptist Church, 1367 Main St., Brockton, MA 02301. Write “Mass Emergency Relief for Haiti” in the memo line.

The Haiti Fund at the Boston Foundation, http://www.tbf.org/Giving/GivingDetail.aspx?id=13244, created to fund the longer-term reconstruction efforts in Haiti.

Partners in Development, based in Ipswich, Mass., has a medical clinic in Port-au-Prince and is organizing to send a medical team there. Phone: 978-471-9922.

Bread of Compassion, Wayland-based organization sending a medical team on March1st, Send donations via PayPal or make checks out to: Bread of Compassion,6 Loker St, Wayland, MA, 01778

*As always, we advise our readers to thoroughly check the credibility of an organization before you donate. F. Rock does not personally endorse any organizations mentioned.

F. Rock is Ahead of Its Time!

Holy moly! While world leaders met at Copenhagen last week to discuss new climate-treaties, fashion connoisseurs also met in Denmark to discuss– well– a similar topic. At the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, the prime topic was good ol’ sustainability.

So what went down at the CFS (besides carbon emissions)? Ecouterre outlines five things they learned from the CFS– I’m further abbreviating by listing five things I learned from their five things. So, let’s begin:

1.) The Launch of NICE -It stands for the Nordic Initiative, Clean and Ethical. While it sounds like it may be some sort of organization from the show LOST, “NICE” is a joint effort from the Nordic fashion industry to take on social and environmental issues.

Who's Mr. NICE Guy?

2.) The Idea that Green Can Be Profitable – A huge push at the CFS was to show that sustainable clothing can be green while bringing in some of it to boot (see what I did there?) I mean, F.Rock is a relevant example of this. Man About Town wouldn’t be here otherwise, so there’s your proof. Now keep readin’…

3.) Environmentalism is Essential – There are so many end-of-the-world movies out there I lose track of counting them because I run out of fingers. And truth be told–it’s only a matter of time before the polar ice caps pay a visit to your backyard–you better befriend a B-movie Hollywood actor soon if you want to survive. But seriously, environmentalism is going to play a HUGE role in the future, and the fashion industry is a perfect market to set some sustainable trends. What we do now will pave the road (bad metaphor, I know) to a better future.

4.) Luxury Can Be Sustainable – See point #2. Or better yet, go here. That pretty much explains it.

Seeds Sewn summer weight plaid cotton hat

5.) People Are Important - As cheesy as it sounds, it’s true. People are the backbone of the business world and thus, the fashion industry. Like our Nicole’, there are creative designers out there trying to express their ideas, people out there to bring their creative ideas to life and customers to buy them. And people can’t separate themselves from the earth. They just need to protect it and preserve it along the way.

The Cardigan– Avant-Garde, Again?

The Cardigan. It’s a sweater, sure, but what makes it different than the typical ones you might be receiving from a relative this holiday season? For one thing it’s actually stylish– an attractive garment of clothing that won’t force you to crop yourself out of every holiday picture just because Grandma doesn’t understand that Rudolph should strictly belong in holiday lore and not on a sweater as a yarn-stitched decal… but I digress.

Here at Man About Town, we want to tell you that Cardigans can be worn. And they can be worn effectively. For this week’s installment, we’ll tell you how to rock a Cardigan on three different levels of Cardigan-rockingness:

1. How to pick the right pattern: Focus on a localized pattern– You’re not trying to look like one of those “Magic Eye” pictures. In fact, if your Cardigan’s pattern is just too darn complicated, people will stare at you like said 3D image puzzles. So, shoot for something that has a simple design in a centralized area. Also, be wary of stripes. Zebras have stripes to confuse predators, but your stripes should usually be for impressing or finding a mate. So, keep it simple– no more than three colors between stripes. J. Crew has nice sweater (while not a Cardigan per-se) that illustrates this, pictured below:
2. Pay attention to fit: For math buffs out there, keep in mind the positive “knit-to-fit” correlation (see below for graphical example). In other words: the more closely knit a Cardigan is, the more fitted it should be. Example: a fine-gauge cashmere should be more fitted, paired with a more tailored urban look (office-appropriate) whereas a more chunky lofty weave can be bigger and more slouchy (casual-appropriate). You know your situation, so make the call. 
3. Where to buy some great Cardigans: Well, whether you’re scrapped for cash or Rich Uncle Pennybags, there’s always a Cardigan for you. We’ll give you three of varying price points to get you started:
   • Urban Outfitters Casual Cardigan – $48
   • Banana Republic Burgundy Cardigan – $127.00
   • Ralph Lauren Cashmere Cardigan – $650.00
   • And just for the hell of it, the Mr. Rogers Version – $ priceless

SoWa Should You Do This Weekend?

You’re in Boston, the holiday season is coming up and your current gift ideas suck. Well, I’ve got five words for you: 6th Annual SoWa Holiday Festival. Before we get into the details, let’s give mad props to our Nicole’ Keane for having F. Rock bags mentioned in this event on Boston.com. Mad props given!

Alright, so what is this? For those who haven’t heard: You pay a $5 admission (or none at all if you’re under 12 or look like you’re under 12) and experience the work of roughly 80 different artists and designers from the New England area. From this vast array of creative folk, you can test-drive and purchase indie-made handbags, jewelry, silk-screened t-shirts, stationary… the list goes on!

Why: It’s the holidays– so what better way to embellish the festivities, find awesome gifts for loved ones and (most importantly) support the creativity that these designers and artists have to offer?

Where: 74 Union Park Street, Boston, MA. More specifically, it’s in the SoWa Cathedral High School Gym.

When: This event starts this Saturday, from 10am to 6pm. Can’t go on Saturday? It’s happening on Sunday too (from 10am to 6pm as well). Can’t go on Sunday? Shame on you.

Oh, and here’s a great pic from F.Rock’s feature on the site’s announcement page. Absolute Coolness:

Do You Snood?

Sometimes when reading about the latest fashion trends, I tend to scratch my head and wonder exactly how they come about. It’s almost like the anatomy of random highway traffic– you’re not sure what’s causing it and when you its finally over, you’re still unsure of how it started.

Case and point, the Snood:

It's a scarf! It's a hood! No--it's a SNOOD!

Nope, I’m not talking about that game you’d play during an Economy lecture in college that you didn’t need to listen to because you’re already that smart. The snood–a hood-scarf hybrid– has been around for awhile, but according to our friend Emmi, the snood is returning for winter fashion, especially for guys. Personally, I can’t really see the appeal of such a garment. Plus, with my enormous fear of any one of these predicaments ever happening, I can’t bring myself to wear one.

So my big question is, why would you don a Snood?

The Boston Hat Revolution

Thinking of something to do on this weekend before Thanksgiving? Well, take off your thinking cap and put on a stylish one, because the Boston Hat Revolution is coming to town this Saturday, November 21st:

This could be you!

With the sole purpose of promoting the idea that a hat can be worn in the name of fashion, the event is designed to give those who are on the fence about sporting a cool hat a little “push” in the right direction. However, don’t come sporting a baseball cap– the event creator explicitly states to avoid this avenue and get creative. We all love Boston sports, but this time support Team Fashion. It’s the name of the game.

Want to get beat up? Wear one of these!

The event’s schedule is as follows:

5:00 PM: 29 Newbury Art Gallery, 29 Newbury Street
6:00 PM: 29 Newbury Restaurant, 29 Newbury Street
9:00 PM: Clink at the Liberty Hotel, 215 Charles Street

It’s an event described as “an evening of art, food, drinks and meeting people with a great sense of humor.” Sounds like a great time to me. So put on that hat, grab a few friends (put some hats on them), come on down and cHAT. And order a Man-HAT-tan. Okay, that was the last “HAT” joke, I promise.

What’s that you say? You need a new hat to sport? Never fear, here’s a quick list of three cool Boston-based Hat Stores:

Toppers
151 Tremont St, Boston, MA
(617) 859-1430‎

S A L M A G U N D I
salmagundiboston.com
765 Centre Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Marchi, Inc. “A Hat For Every Head in Boston”
1 Faneuil Hall Market Pl, Boston, MA
(617) 523-1804‎

Fashion Trends and Their “Pull-off-ability”

Winter’s rolling into Boston (not good), but the frigid weather brings some cool new trends for guys to get pumped up about (very good). We’ll give you a quick rundown of each and how you can go about pulling each style off. Each style will be graded on a scale from one to ten depending on its “pull-off-ability.” One is easy– If you can dress yourself in the morning, you’re pretty much all set. Ten is near impossible. You may want to have the testosterone level of Hugh Hefner before even considering the notion of straddling this one. You’ve been warned. So, first up:

Source: http://www.jeansco.co.uk/

Comfort fit jeans. After being overthrown by tight fit jeans favored by indie bands and their (inspired) fans during the past few years, these guys are making a welcome comeback. Loosely worn, comfortable and now being pushed out by Diesel and The French Connection, casual denim has reclaimed the throne. Just be sure to back up the bagginess with some substantial footwear. Pick an underwhelming-sized shoe and you can kiss your feet goodbye– they’ll be swallowed up by the comfortable loose but ever-so-hungry hem. So do yourself a favor and put on some big kicks with your new comfort-fit jeans.

Pull-off-ability level: 2

Next up is…

Men’s Gloves: Well, I mentioned “Boston” and “Winter” in the opening sentence, so it was only a matter of time before we covered an accessory that combats crappy New England Weather. But, we can be stylish while duking it out with Mother Nature, no? Depending on the material, men’s gloves can be worn in a myriad of situations. Leather and suede can be more professional for a business setting, and would look great paired with a quality leather bag (*cough* F. Rock Bag *cough*). But what’s that you say? You’re unemployed because of the economy and don’t need gloves for a professional setting? Well, then I suggest the cut-off or fingerless gloves paired with a nice check shirt or jacket. Boom.

Pull-off-ability level for leather suede gloves: 5

Pull-off-ability level for fingerless gloves: 4

Lastly, we have…

Velvet Blazer: Right off the bat, you’re going to need some confidence to pull this one off. Seriously, if you’re even slightly unsure of donning this type of fabric, I suggest you don’t even consider the style. Also, blind confidence does not count– consult your friends regarding blind confidence. If pulled off right in a formal setting, you can come off as immensely suave and quite attractive. Mess it up and you’ll pigeon-hole yourself in the exact opposite category. So how do you do it right? If you are confident and donning a Velvet Blazer, match it up with some skinny jeans and high tops. Or even a basic button up shirt and simple colored tie. Keep it simple and the confidence abundant. Oh yeah, and good luck.

Pull-off-ability Level: 9

One Button, One Scotch, One Beer

What’s the connection between the rising popularity of vintage clothing and the desire to drink quality scotch whiskey at work? No, it’s not the recession’s impact on the retail industry or the depressingly steep unemployment rate. It’s simply the powerful tool of pop-culture, the media and a few Mad Men.

Source: www.boston.com

Well, okay–the increasing popularity of the AMC television series Mad Men isn’t the only bit of pop culture that’s contributing to vintage clothing’s comeback, but it sure is noteworthy. It’s probably safe to say that the show’s acclaim and the increase in vintage clothing purchases are as linked as these guys.

For example, clothing stores such as The Way We Wore, Decades and Resurrection (all vintage, can you tell?) have seen a recent influx of customers demanding fashionable clothing with a 60s era vibe– Smashing, baby.

Source: www.papermag.com

Of course, there are other contributing factors, namely the economy. Although it seems to be the catalyst for everything Godawful nowadays, the down-turned economy is actually a good incentive for vintage clothes shoppers to dish out some greens.  Because designer label vintage clothing is cheaper to buy the second-time around, shoppers can now purchase something that’s in style for an affordable price and feel compelled to drink scotch at work! (Don’t blame us if you get in trouble for that last one).

Source: www.static.paulsmith.co.uk

So this brings me to the main focus of this blog post: the One-Button Suit. Developed and popularized in the 1960s and now being revived (I think we’re seeing a trend here), the Uni-Button jacket is perceived by society as the party-loving offspring of your tux and pinstriped suit. Conception discussions aside, people see a One-Button Suit as the smooth jazz musician’s attire (think Miles Davis who popularized it, not Kenny G) or a respectably dressed rebellion’s getup. Either way, you’re probably not going to want to wear one of these to an interview.

But alas, the suit is seeing impressive popularity throughout its current revival. As a helpful guideline, AskMen.com recently outlined the appropriate social situation and personality type for the One-Button Suit (non-formal and stylishly confident, respectively). The reviewer even went as far as critiquing the attributes of several brands. Of course, the writer makes sure to mention that these are for casual use only and to avoid to social faux pas of wearing one to something important. Like, you know, work.

But with the rising popularity of such styles being the result of celebrities wearing such apparel in professional environments, can pop-culture sway the business norm? If 60′s era suits are becoming all the rage, will this affect how we dress in a professional environment? Will One-Button Suits become the new business casual for the new generation?

Eco-Sneaks – Hip, Urban and Green for the Feet!

For a while now I’ve been feeling quite guilty. Not as guilty as when my high-school girlfriend came down with food poisoning (failed attempt at homemade beef jerkey, not pretty) but close. See, a few years ago Timberland came out with their line of Earthkeeper boots. Made from recycled materials, these shoes were designed to reduce the size of my ecological footprint (sorry, couldn’t resist). But there was just one small, itty-bitty problem. I’m not Paul Bunyan. That whole scruffy-outdoorsman-in-flannel-grunge look is great for weekends in NH, but not so great for bounding around the city. Needless to say my Earthkeepers collect more dust than wear.

Well Simple Shoes has decided to take pity on me and my urban counterparts with their latest offering of EcoSNEAKS® and Green Toe™ shoes. In their effort for achieving 100% sustainability, Simple has found some innovative ways to clean up. Made of recycled and organic materials, these shoes from Simple have given sustainability a new look. Even the shoe boxes are made with 100% recycled paper and soy-based inks. They’re great for the beach, casual summer nights and stand out among the ubiquitous Chuck Tailors.

My personal favorites are the Tuba – Organic Cotton and the Sno Tire – Hemp.

The Tuba ($70.00) is a great shoe for lazy strolls down the boardwalk or rooftop barbecues.  It comes in both madras and a canvas that is strangely reminiscent of my grandpa Sal’s reading chair. (A good thing, I think.) The 100% vegan shoe is made of organic cotton (uppers), recycled rubber from tires that were destined for the dump (sole), and recycled soda bottles (laces).

The Sno Tire ($55.00) is can be perfectly paired with linen shorts and a polo shirt. The woven hemp upper could easily be mistaken for canvas, while the contrasting stripe along the edge of the sole adds a pop of color. Made of hemp, recycled car tires, and 100% organic cotton… these almost have a Converse All Star feeling, but way cooler! My personal favorite are the “natural” color, it practically shouts summer and goes with everything, but in brown, slate and black, they’ll also take you right into fall.

So if you’re looking to green your feet, check out Simple.