My New Summer Blazer

I was at a thrift store the other day. I always find great vintage golf clubs there. I took a chance and looked at the mens section.
And there it was....the perfect plaid blazer! I was thinking it wouldn't have been my size. It was the perfect fit!
It was made by Coconut Grove. I never heard of the label. After researching on Google, I found out it was from Nordstroms. Original price about $75-$80. I got it for $4!
Best of all it was brand new!!

We Live In A Gym Shorts and T-Shirt World

I'm at the golf course getting ready to play nine holes. Golf has always been a gentlemens game. When one plays a round of golf, one should dress properly. I always wear a collard shirt or a nice sweater with a nice pair of shorts.
Today I saw a schlub wear gym shorts and a ratty t-shirt as he approached the first tee.
First its blue jeans, now its gym shorts at the golf course. There used to be signs at the pro shop saying, "Proper attire is required on the golf course." Sadly, those days are gone. We live in a sloppy world now.

Good Bye GQ Magazine

GQ magazine first came into my life in my sophmore year in high school. A friend of mine style of dress was avant garde. Just a little different from the rest of us high school kids.
He tried to help me out by giving me an issue of GQ to help me get some style tips. At the time I wore t-shirts and blue jeans. Very bland if you ask me now.
I thought the clothes were too fancy for me, and also not in my price range. But I would sneak a peak at an issue whenever I came across one.
After high school, GQ came in and out of my life. In my 30's it became my style bible.
I'm about to turn 41, and I can honestly say I have moved passed GQ. I haven't opened up the issues in my mail box in half a year.
I'm comfortable in my style now, and I don't need GQ's help anymore.

Confessions Of A Clothes Whore, Or Hoarder

Hello everyone! I took a long break from the style blog and focused on my sports blog. My sports blog was almost DOA. But I put some time and love into it and it's going well.
It's been over three months since my last post. I got something in the mail the other day that gave me an idea for a post.
A charity that collects clothes for military veterans sends me a bag and asks for donations. Usually it's once every other month. I left a bag out front of my house two weeks ago. A day or so later I got another bag in the mail.
So I set out to clean out my closet again. It was then I noticed I'm a serial clothes hoarder. I had sports jackets I have never worn. I even had a few of the same pattern. Some were just a bit snug.
I got so caught up in the thrifting bug, I accumulated too much stuff. I guess I was a sucker for a good deal. It all goes to charity, so I didn't feel to bad about the money I parted with.
But my closet is bulging and it was time to pare down my collection. So I gave a few away to the charity, and gave a few to a young man I work with. He's just starting out in the world, and doesn't have much extra money to buy clothes. So it made me feel good he appreciated the sports jackets I gave him.
Next time I go to the thrift store, I'm gonna stay away from the men's clothing department and head straight to the used sports equipment and find antique golf clubs. My sister informed me that's another problem I have!
In the mean time, I hope those bags keep coming in the mail.

Formal Wear Without Breaking The Budget Or Renting

I always wanted my own dinner jacket. I'm at the age where I should have a dinner jacket and the accessories on hand for formal occassions. Renting tuxedos (I hate the word tux) is expensive. So I have been on the lookout for a dinner jacket on clearance at a department store or thrift shop. A couple of months ago I found a like new dinner jacket for $5.99. Took it to the cleaners to get dry cleaned for $6.
I still needed a formal shirt and black bow tie. I was doing some last minute Christmas shopping at JC Penney the other night. I saw a very nice tuxedo shirt on clearance for $9.99! I then found a black bow tie for $20.
Now I had a big problem. I didn't have any cufflinks. Looking around they were pretty pricey. So I went around and asked some of the older gentlemen I work with if I could borrow a pair.
We have a dress up Christmas potluck every year. For about $35, I looked as if I spent a fortune on my outfit. And since it's mine, no racing back to the cleaners to return a rental!

White On White

I used to like white sweaters. Things is, whenever I would eat, I would make a small mess on my sweater.
So over the years I have walked away from white sweaters.
Just the other day at work, a young co-worker came to work dressed in a white cable knit sweater with a white tennis shirt underneath. It looked so clean and streamlined.
I think I'll try it for myself soon! Here is Francisco in his stylish look!

Who Is Skip Kennedy?

I have been asked who is Skip Kennedy when I mention to people I have a style blog. Allow me to explain.
I have always been clean cut and conservative. I have always been preppy (except for a few years in my twenties when I was slumming it). I have developed a taste for all things Ivy League. I love the east coast, particularly the New England area. I love the Bush's of Connecticut. I worship and glorify the Kennedy's.  I love Cape Cod. I consider Rhode Island home away from home.
I'm a devoted fan of The Official Preppy Handbook. There is a section on prep nicknames. There is a passage that reads, "When one is named after father, your automatically christened Skip."
So when trying to come up with a name that sounded vintage New England, I came up with Skip Kennedy. If I ever came up with a clothing label, thats what I would call it.
I'm Skip Kennedy!