Wish List - Izod Lobster Shorts

Essential.

Spring Pastels

Damn right, men can wear pink chinos... yellow ones, too.

I suggest you hit up Belk or Belk.com before these are sold out.

Better at Belk

Belk Keeps Him in Style with

Men’s Most-Wanted Fashion Picks for Spring 2012

Charleston, SC—March 22, 2012—What’s on the fashion horizon for guys this spring? Destination sunshine: A place where a relaxed, optimistic, warm weather spirit prevails. A locale with a bright new quality that embodies colorful American classics- past and present- while celebrating an uncomplicated modern aesthetic. It’s easy, carefree and elegant. Join us as we peruse the season’s most wanted items for men.

1. Colored Bottoms -Look on the bright side and go beyond the blue. Say, “Yes!” to a wide range of bold palettes for spring. Add the wow with denim and other textiles in the most happening hues. Nantucket red is a favorite.

2. Striped Knit -Ready to give your look a fresh fix in no time flat? Bar none, these very “on-trend” patterns will do the trick. Multis, bi-color, almost any combo will do. The time is just ripe for stripes.

3. Bright Plaids & Checks - Don’t skimp on style. Indulge in an amazing array of prints and patterns to recharge your look. Color counts and grid lock is not an issue.

4. Prepster Sportcoat -Want to raise your cool quotient? Wear this seasonal jacket desk to dinner—workplace to weekend. The fit and fabric will feel so right.

5. Flat Front Short -Own it. Chic and simple, this warm weather staple will give you a smart start in pulling your off duty wardrobe together. Getting comfortable never looked so good.

6. Oxford Shirt -This all-time classic is back with a vengeance in a range of captivating tones. Softly crinkled or pressed to please, this shirt works as hard as you do.

7. Cool Tee -Our best in class tee shirts stand out as essential spring weekend gear. Check out vintage graphics, washed down hues and easy-fit silhouettes. Laid back looks better than ever.

8. Novelty Neckwear -Check out ties in seersucker, linen, spring plaids and a bounty of beautiful shades. Stand out from the crowd in ties that take you from okay to, “Oh, wow!” in a fashion minute.

9. Straw Fedoras -For the perfect balance between elegance and ease, try a hat that harnesses your modern manpower. You will look sharp and stylish.

10. Preppy Footwear -Step it up. Prepare to prep in shoes with an emphasis on the Ivy League. The message represents authentic American style. Madras plaids, tri-color boat shoes and, yes, saddle oxfords say it all.

About Belk, Inc. Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk, Inc. (www.belk.com) is the nation's largest privately owned mainline department store company with 303 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states. The company was founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, N.C., and is in the third generation of Belk family leadership. Belk.com offers a wide assortment of fashion apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family along with top-name cosmetics, a wedding registry and a large selection of quality merchandise for the home. To connect with Belk via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blog, mobile phone, text messages or by email, go to Belk Get Connected.

Modern. Southern. Style. Belk seeks to satisfy the modern Southern lifestyle like no one else, so that our customers get the fashion they desire and the value they deserve. Our vision is for the modern Southern woman to count on Belk first - for her, for her family, for life.

Belk Bonus Shorts

As prep continues to reach the mass market, classic summer staples are becoming more readily available.

 At Belk, you'll find a line of Izod oxford shorts on par with Polo's model, yet one-third the price.

 

From Belk's in-store brand, Saddlebred, you can pick up a set of quintessential seersucker shorts.

Polo at Macy's and Belk

I've come upon a couple excellent deals lately, via Macy's and Belk.

So it seems I really can never have too many polos.

At least not with such perfect colors for the season.

Designed with 5-pocket jean styling, this particular pant has been my go-to chino for several years.

I was happy to find the added touch of oxford pockets in this year's model.

I'll keep telling myself I can never have too many button-downs either, having picked up this beautiful mint green shirt today. 

My second-favorite color combination, behind pink and green? Purple and green, of course.

Belk's Bargains

When it comes to buying retail, patience and research are crucial. Why? Brand quality just isn't what it used to be. I take a good look through the thrift racks for something comparable to, if not better than, any piece I find at an absurd retail price. Yet, clearance deals come around or nothing similar is to be thrifted and then buying retail isn't so bad.

Today's case - Belk's Saddlebred sport coats. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Saddlebred is similar in design and quality to Chaps or Izod. Browsing online today I discovered a couple summer staples worth a look at under sixty dollars.

A safe and simple linen sport coat is a must-have for the summer rotation. Then an updated classic, tattersall seersucker, is summer's equivalent to bold houndstooth.

Chambray ups the dandy factor. Very underutilized but rather trendy. Finally the classic blue seersucker. Not for beginners. I'll admit, I would be hesitant to invest the latter seersucker for the sake of practicality. I have a Polo tan seersucker blazer from which I extract much greater use.

Better at Belk

I'd never heard of Belk department store until leaving for college a few years ago. In two years I picked up a decent amount of Polo from the Belk in town. Since coming back home for school, I've made it back to Belk only twice, including my trip a few weekends ago. It seems I came at final clearance time.

I was considering buying Brooks' pima cotton vests at the price of two for $79, but my waiting paid off and I found each of these vests by Saddlebred (Belk's in-house line) for under five dollars each.


I wear baseball caps very rarely, but at about four dollars each, I couldn't resist.


In continuing to build my bow tie collection, I've been looking at the Tie Bar's great selection. However, these pieces by Saddlebred were only fifteen dollars each and unaccompanied by tedious shipping fees.



Easter bunnies. Colored eggs?