YES! YES! YES!

I'm going totally Herbal-Essences commercial over this post by Jeremiah Williams over at the Indianapolis Fashion Collective Blog.

A Fashion Revolution for the Men of Indianapolis? Yes, Please!

My good man, I could NOT agree with you more!

Excerpty goodness:

Unlike the ladies, most men often underestimate what style can do for them. There is a clear difference from just putting on a suit, and styling the suit to you. That difference could be getting the job or promotion, over someone else. Putting together your look before you go out, to a social event, could affect your networking connections or making that romantic connection. I went to my twitter followers, to see what they thought of style over just getting dressed, for men. One response, kind of summed it up perfectly. Grey Granite (@greygranite), a local music artist said, “ In 2011 you can judge a book by its cover – we have graphic designers and stylists and TV to ensure that you customize your look so that it will only take a split second for your audience to find you – and love you”.

So men of Indianapolis, let’s give people a reason to fall in love with you. The city has too much talent and passion, to let it get underestimated; JUST BECAUSE IT IS LOCATED IN THE MIDWEST.

*pumps fist* Let the revolution begin!

The 2011 Celebration!

So, I've been playing catch-up a bit since the move. The outfall of that is, I didn't actually get this happy little New Year's photoset together until... erm... halfway into January. *blush* I had to post it anyway, because it was just the best New Year's celebration in a long time. Hope was palpable in the air again, for the first time in a long time. 2010 was NOT a fabulous year for a lot of people, and neither was 2009. But for some reason, it seemed like everyone in the room, no matter what the party I showed up at, felt like we've finally turned the corner, and that 2011 is going to ROCK.

So, go ahead and re-enjoy the festivities in the collage below. As always, clickety to embiggety. (And yes, that IS a guy in a leopard loincloth. Best not to ask.)

Happy New Year from Circle City Style!

The little couple that rocks hardcore.

You're totally jealous that these are my grandparents.

Meet my stepdad's parents, Walter and Estelyn. Try not to pine too hard over that red coat. Yes, this lovely lady is my second-biggest bargain hunting muse. (First place, of course, goes to Mom.)

This is another set I got at my brother's wedding. I say this is one of the loveliest couples I've ever had the privilege to know in person. They're coming up on their 69th wedding anniversary, and still look as adorable and happy together as they do in their wedding photo. (Now THERE'S a vintage fashion shot to show off, if I could get a scan.) Given their own successful marriage, the DJ at Alex and Jessica's reception handed them the microphone and asked them to impart their best advice to the new family, on how to make a marriage last.

Estelyn's words: It's not always easy, but just hang in there.

Walter's words: Always say, "Yes, dear!"

Dark Denizens, part 1

All photos taken at Revenge.

Tru Nightclub, Broad Ripple, Thursday nights starting 10:00 p.m.

"Spooky" and Mary

Me and DJ Krazy Karoline

The tights! The belt! The boots! *loves*

Quickie: Dapper kid in Batesville

Photo courtesy of my brother Jason

This is Logan.

Logan dressed himself up all dapper-like to attend church and go out for some pizza with his family. Logan is 13. Logan's going to snag ALL the ladies if he keeps dressing like this when he grows up.

Classing up E-ville, one drink at a time.

Hmm, 5-gallon buckets and a Colts poster in the background. Yep, we're still in Indiana.

Photo credit: Amber Elizabeth Lelak

Let me tell you right now if you've never been there: Evansville is probably the LAST place you'd go to shoot fashion photos. But I went to college there, and it's where I go to visit my fiance, friends, and family. When my buddy Misti came for a visit all the way from L.A., I was happy to make an appearance. Fortunately, we didn't stay at Hammerhead's on Main Street for long.

(Pardon, but I do not enjoy STICKING TO THE FLOOR the entire time I'm at a bar. Yuck.)

The next bar we went to, Bullock's, is prettier than any bar in Evansville has a right to be. The big mirror behind the bar is reminiscent of the one at the Vollrath in Indy. I'm not sure of the history of Bullock's, but it has the same 1920's speakeasy kind of feel to it.

And resident bartender J. Scott Myers dresses the part. Check it out. He's totally gangsta! I keep expecting John Dillinger to swagger into the shot and give J. Scott a high-five. I had to get a picture with this debonair dude. He also bar tends at Eclipse Spanish Tapas Bar. Do pay him a visit if you have to make a stop in Evansville, Indiana. He'll make your evening a better one; or at least, a better-looking one.

Tweeds and stripes downtown

I tell you guys, if this blog ever successfully monetizes, I'm gonna have to put Jared on payroll. Here's some more of his sartorial observation. Check out the pics he got. I LOVE the coat!

Quoth Jared,

I ran into Jason S. and his sister at Au Bon Pain on the circle today. I asked where he gets most of his clothes, "Ummm, J.Crew, and a lot of thrift shops". He works for Angie's List downtown. His sister was equally well dressed but declined to be on camera. When I commented on her style, Jason noted "Yeah, she's my sister, so we come from the same tribe."

I wrote on a napkin your site's address and snapped 3 shots.

Inspiration International 1.1: Male edition

In direct spite of what passes for menswear in most parts of the United States, I LOVE men's fashion. You men are beautiful, unique creatures with so many options and creative ways to dress up, even to just update a standard combo of jeans and T-shirts.

You'll notice most of this post's sources are from Japanese or Chinese blogs. Those Asian dudes just really know how to do it up right. I hope these inspire creativity. Or, at the very least, I hope they make you think.

Don't forget to visit the source-blogs and thank their photographers, if you like what you see! They work hard to convey the art of personal style.

Mint Fashion Snap: Ghostbusters!

The Sartorialist: Small accessory, big impact

Mint Fashion Snap: Awesome self-made jacket

Stylites Beijing: All Layered Up

Tokyo Fashion: Trench

Rid Fashion Street Snap: Tweed Ruffle

Beautiful Family

A montage of footage from my stepbrother's wedding.


Alex & Jessica Eversoll Wedding Montage (12/11/10) from Sean Gowdy on Vimeo.

Thanks, Sean, for this video. In addition to being a testament to a joyful addition to my family, it's totally fitting for a blog centered on style and beauty. A happy, thankful heart is always in fashion.

Not to mention the fact that my brother looks darn good in a tux, and his bride, Jessica, picked a gorgeous dress. Also, Jess's daughter, Emery, would fit right in on Planet Awesome Kid. This is one pretty family.

I did get some good style photos of reception guests. These are forthcoming, and they will BLOW your mind.

Disco-ball beret

This is Andrea. Andrea doesn't think she truly has style. I beg to differ, Andrea.

She says she borrowed the beret from a friend. I saw some just like this two days ago at Target. Get thee to Target and hook yourself up, Andrea!

Meet Scott. Scott likes to photobomb people. Bad Scott. Bad.

OK. That's a pretty sweet suit jacket. I guess you can stay.

Andrea lives in Broad Ripple and DJ's all over Indy. She says she gets her clothes mostly at Goodwill. Scott is a West Side resident, works at a local grocery, and says he likes to shop at Kohl's. "I just like suits," he says.

Thrift-store queens: Andrea in her disco-esque top. Me in a thrifted LBD with Betsey Johnson belt.

A crew with some serious style

[EDITED TO FIX SOME WHOOPSIES. Brandon is Qing's boyfriend. I incorrectly said that Nick was. Sorry, guys! That's what I get for not taking notes that are sufficiently legible. *blush*]

While looking to get some darker-styled snaps of the Revenge denizens this Thursday at Tru, I happened upon a most fascinating trio. They were all too happy to show off some moves during DJ Jin-XS's set.

They're so FAST -- one second they're in frame, the next I'm looking at a bunch of cut-off heads. :(

The first member of this group I saw was Qing. Qing's got moves that'd make my idols, the Beatfreaks, proud -- and she's also got some sweet hip-hop style that I just had to get on film. Qing is a New York native, re-located to downtown Indianapolis. She dances in a student crew at IUPUI. She says her style is mostly influenced by her dancing.

This is Nick. Nick is Qing's (extremely photogenic) friend. He's also an IUPUI student, and the two dance in the same crew together. That's almost as sweet as his awesome headscarf is. I should have asked where he got his great skeleton-key necklace. He went so simple - just a black T-shirt, white hoodie, and jeans. Proof you don't have to over think it to look pulled-together.

Finally, we have Brandon, a.k.a. "Edge." Edge is lucky enough to be dating Qing. He dances professionally, touring the nation with his crew, Incognito. He paired huge, geeky black-framed glasses with a striped T and green jacket (He was doing some funky move incorporating said jacket, but he threw it to the floor right before I could get my shot in.)

"I have this quirky, dorky style that I like a lot," he said. "Other crews see me and, since I look like such a nerd, they think I won't be a threat. Then I blow them away."

You can catch Brandon's crew on Friday night, December 10th at the Vogue in Broad Ripple. Musicians that night include Twin Cats, Hyrider, UV Hippo, and Psynapse. Incognito takes the stage at midnight. Cover is $8.

Fearless patterns on Monument Circle

My friend Jared snapped this awesome dude over his lunch break a couple weeks ago. I know, it's a bit late in season for a straw hat, but in spite of the fact it's November, it was about 72 degrees out. So why not milk it?

Just look at that sweater, doesn't it make you yearn for your old Nintendo? Alone, it'd probably look ridiculous, but paired with a khaki blazer, it's downright dapper. Harmonious colors within the contrasting patterns of his pants, striped hatband, and TWO floral scarves keep an air of whimsy within sophistication. (And I LOVE a man who's not afraid of a good floral!)

I tip my own hat to you, sir.