The Essentials: Southern Style

What!? Brian is doing a Southern-inspired edition of 'The Essentials'?

In a word: yes...well, sort of.

1. FireFly 'Sweet Tea' Flavored Vodka, $18 (750ml), fireflyvodka.com

A product of Charleston (Wadmalaw Island, to be exact), FireFly Sweet Tea Vodka is an amazing development that is being hailed as “the first artisan vodka of its time”. I had the liberty of trying for the first time several months before its release at a Guerilla Dining event--which we are not supposed to speak of--and I must say, it is probably one of the smoothest, and oddly, satisfying drinks I have ever consumed. A perfect attribution to Charleston style that mixes our two favorite things: sweet tea and alcohol.

2. Blue Crabs from Crosby's Seafood, $8-10 a pound, 382 Spring St., 937-0029

An established staple of the southeastern seaboard, blue crabs usually tend to come into season between the months of June and September and Crosby's is the best place to get quality seafood of all sorts (they've been around for decades, people). Unbelievably essential for any backyard gathering (and there are a lot of them down here), blue crabs need very little preparation before going into the pot. All you really need is a large, boiling pot of water, a pound or two of crab, a few Old Bay seasoning bags and a few, good friends; the rest kind of just falls into place.

3. The Oxford Shirt, $300, turnbullandasser.com

The Oxford shirt found commonplace among many Southern wardrobes over the past several decades and for good reason. The Oxford is a very durable, lightweight shirt that is versatile enough to go from the office to a dinner date a few easy steps:

1. Wear a t-shirt under your Oxford for it is unbecoming of a man who sports sweaty pits.


2. Opt for the standard white version. Nowadays, men have taken upon themselves to search for button downs in every shade of pastels imaginable. There is a reason why it is called a ‘classic’, guys.


3. Have a relaxed, cotton blazer on hand just in case. “No matter where you go always remember: It’s better to be overdressed for an occasion than under.”


4. For Christ’s sake, please tuck in your damn shirt. I am not going to repeat myself.

4. Eva Longoria-Parker

Oh. My. God. Errm...Oh yea! She's from Texas, too.

This is Me

Enough said...



All in all, people have been curious as to what DubiousOne looked like. So, here you go; to please the masses.

Questions? Comments? Criticisms?

DubiousOnTheWeb: Another HCS Contribution

After a few, ummm...mishaps, I finally got a new entry into the annals of HCS history. Hopefully this one is as much of a success as the first (if Caroline doesn't destroy the very fiber of my being in the process).

Holy City Style Blog Redux, brosef!

The Essentials: Week of May 19th

O.K., so I guess it is official. I am going to do make this a weekly thing. It’s just too hard to resist; an opportunity that has too much potential to pass up. So, without further ado, here we go:

1. Breitling 'Chronomat' Chronograph Watch, $1,350 (quartz models) to $7,300 (steel-cased models), breitling.com



I tried my hardest to describe this piece of hardware in one word, but I couldn’t, and conceded to the idea that perhaps that’s a good thing. There are actually not enough words in the dictionary to accurately describe the ‘Chronomat’ other than the fact that it can be purchased in nearly 100 different combinations and has a very sleek—and surprisingly lightweight—frame with the option of swapping out the default, tempered steel case for 18K rose, yellow or white gold.

2. Tivoli Audio 'Model Satellite' Table Radio, $299.99, tivoliaudio.com



Tivoli is known for creating some of the most aesthetically pleasing electronics the world has seen in a very long time. Along with that, they are no strangers to integrating up-to-date technology into their tastefully artistic designs. Enter the Model Satellite Table Radio. With its fully functional electronic display and larger-than-life control knobs, you will have no problem incorporating this device into your home’s décor.

3. SHUN 10-inch Damascus Blade Chef’s Knife, $132, knifecenter.com



Many budding cooks and gourmands in this country are convinced that the true indication of their culinary prowess lies in the number of cutlery they possess. This could not be farther from reality. Truth is, you only need one good (and I mean really good) chef’s knife—not five or six. The SHUN series is considered the Ferrari of knives and this 1o-incher is absolutely no exception. Get one as soon as possible and you’ll find yourself making up any excuse just to slice, chop and dice. Hell, you might even find yourself trying to julienne…

4. ‘Terryworld’ by Terry Richardson and Dian Hanson, $13.40, amazon.com




Considered one of the most prolific (and raunchy) photographers of our time, Terry Richardson released a 25th Anniversary edition of his most popular, yet controversial, photography book ever. ‘Terryworld’ contains pages of some of his best work you may—or may not—have seen since the original version’s release back in 1983 that I recommended for any contemporary’s coffee table.

5. Converse ‘Jack Purcell Vintage’ Sneaker by John Varvatos, $110, shop.nordstrom.com




Combining one of my favorite designers and absolute favorite shoe brand, the ‘Jack Purcell’ is everything a sneaker should be; nothing more, nothing less. Get two pairs if you can: one, primary pair for the day-to-day and another, you know, in case of an emergency.

BJW

New Music Review: Big Boi feat. Andre 3000 and Raekwon - "Royal Flush"

It was a long time coming for the Savannah-born rapper to finally release his solo LP, but then again it’s very hard to call “Sir Lucious Left Foot” a ‘solo’ effort considering the fact that Andre 3000 had a hand in both producing and guest appearing on several songs of the 12-track album.

Either way, the newest single to drop, “Royal Flush” is nothing short of a bona fide hit for anyone who is a true follower of Southern-fried hip-hop. If the simplicity of the one-two bass drop doesn’t get you going, then I’m sure either the guest appearance by Raekwon or the sample of The Isley Brothers’, “Voyage to Atlantis” are sure to put you over the edge.

Overall, the beat is amazing, vocals are top notch (thanks to the support of Outkast’s better half, Andre 3000), and the production is out of this world; an instant vintage in my book.

BJW

photo credit: mtv.com

The Manual: Summer Fragrances

When attempting to achieve a more respectable roster of fragrances, it would do you some good to follow these important steps:

1) Dispose of every can or bottle of ‘body spray’ that you, or any one that you associate with, may possess. NOW!

2) Keep your mouth closed and your mind open.

3) Take a look at these sure-fire recommendations.

4) Repeat.

• Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrian, $113.00, fragrancenet.com

Considered a staple of the warm weather months, Goutal is a very classic, citrus scent that contains hints of Sicilian lemon, cypress, grapefruit and citron. A very exquisite, yet casual, fragrance that should be used when trying to make a statement.

• Hermes D’Orange Verte, $46.00, fragrancenet.com

First launched in 1979, D’Orange Verte has managed to carve a niche for itself with very minimal tones of citrus fruit and heady greens. This scent is perfect for days when a more subtle aroma is needed.

• YSL L'Homme by Yves Saint Laurent, $79.50, ysl-parfums.com

An absolute favorite in my book, L’Homme has all the makings of a top-notch scent with elements of both floral fragrances and sandalwood. Lasting about 8 to 10 hours, this particular scent is perfect for everyday use.

• L'Eau D'Issey by Issey Miyake, $70.00, fragrancenet.com

Designed in 1994, D’Issey is meant more for an evening fragrance than anything else. It contains high citrus and spice notes with hints of musk, amber and woods; including a scent life of about 6-10 hours.

• Armani by Giorgio Armani, $67.00, armani.com

Considered a throwback, of sorts, Armani possesses a very complex scent that comprised of everything from lemons, oranges and bergamot to clove, coriander and nutmeg. Even though it was developed back in 1984, Armani still has the ability to compete with the products of today almost 25 years after its creation.

BJW

DubiousOnTheWeb: "Men and Linen" HCS Blog

As much as I like having my own slice of heaven here on the Internet, I have determined that in order to truly get my point across I must branch out to the greater blogging community. So, check this out:

Holy City Style Blog, baby!