Dressing Avery: Fancy Pants

Fancy Pants

This is a very big weekend for the preppy crowd in Delaware. Point to Point at Winterthur is a major horse steeplechase where the who's who of Delaware come out from far and wide to see and be seen. I won't go into details (you can check out Delaware Blue Blazer's post on it), but in the spirit of this weekend, fellow Delawarean Fancy Pants submitted a perfect outfit for Avery for Point to Point. She even added a matching tie for Dad. 

Lilly Pulitzer

Alex's Pick: Barbour Jacket

J.Crew Cuts Barbour Jacket

If April showers bring May flowers, then why not keep your little one dry with a Barbour Jacket. J.Crew is currently offering a smaller version of the classic Beaufort Jacket online. The price is a little steep (as with all Barbour jackets), so I would suggest that you be patient and check out Ebay until one pops up or visit an Orvis outlet like Joe Gannon.  I scored one for myself for $75 on Ebay UK.

Inspiration: Letter from Sen. Joe Biden

My Sen. Joe Biden story begins with a field trip to DC in 1994. I was in 8th grade at Talley Junior High at the time. During the question and answer session of Sen. Biden's presentation, I raised my hand and asked a question. I cannot remember what question I asked but I do remember stuttering a little bit. I have struggled with a speech impediment all of my life but something compelled me to ask a question that day. After answering my question and few others, Biden pulled me aside and asked for my name. Sen. Biden then told me that he used to stutter as a kid but never let it interfere with his life goals. In fact, Sen Biden added that he would purposely seek public speaking opportunities (such as acting in plays) to force himself to speak in public. About a week later, I received a letter from Sen. Biden urging me to remember our conversation about stuttering and being respectful to others. I really took Sen. Biden's words to heart the following year when I entered The Tatnall School as a freshman and ran for class president. I won the election and basically served as class president all through high school and college (Ursinus College), giving countless speeches and a few sermons (M.Div from Harvard Divinity School) along the way. From that day forward, I cast away my worries about stuttering and basically crafted my entire adult life around public speaking. Today, I type this email as a prosecutor in Delaware.

-As quoted in The News Journal August 29, 2008.

Partners & Spade's Identity Work

Identity Work

Browsing through the Partners & Spade site, I came across some of their Identity Work and started to marvel about the wonderful world of marketing and advertising. Along with starting my own Family Law Firm, working with these guys would be my other dream job.

Dressing Avery: The Preppy Princess

The Preppy Princess

For the first post in the Dressing Avery Series, I decided to go with one of my favorite bloggers and early supporter, The Preppy Princess. Already an authority on all things prep, the Preppy Princess developed a little online shop that is filled with tons of goodies for that special prep in your life.

Baby Gap

Target

VV Intercoastal Jacket

Vineyard Vines Intercoastal Jacket

I still have my eye on the Penfields but I like the color of this Vineyard Vines jacket.

New Series: Dressing Avery

Avery Elizabeth

Starting this week, I will roll out a new series titled, "Dressing Avery," where I ask women bloggers to come up with the perfect outfit for my daughter. If you or your significant other would like to participate, send me an email at Skipbrooks9@gmail.com and I'll send you the details.

A "Dressing Avery" giveaway could be in the near future so stay tuned.

Jack Spade 2-Day Sale

Jack Spade Sale

Use the code JSPADEFF for 30% off everything at Jack Spade. Limited time only so act fast.

Pendleton Oceanside Madras Shirt

Pendleton Woolen Mills

Although I'm currently favoring the rolled-up long sleeve look, I like the Oceanside Madras shirts from Pendleton Woolen Mills.

The Oceanside is pigment dyed, with subtle striations adding to the authentic vibe of our genuine Indian madras. Madras is one of the world's oldest and most popular cotton fabrics for good reason. Soft, light and loosely woven, it's a great way to stay cool. Our authentic madras is still loom-woven by hand in India. $48

Inspiration: Toland Grinnell

Toland & Roman

Three years ago, while I was living in Boston, I remember flipping through Cookie Magazine at Borders and stopping at this picture. The article was about Toland Grinnell's search for the perfect Dad bag (Jack Spade's Dad Backpack filled that void for me), but what interested me the most was the cool effortlessness that he displayed in the photograph above. Grinnell mentioned in the side article that he wears Lacoste polos on weekends as a sort of uniform and that he wears them in every color. We all fall into a pattern of wearing some sort of uniform to work or on the weekends, but I love the fact that Grinnell isn't afraid to get his dirty. Raising children is a dirty job but who says you can't look good while doing it. 

Skip @ Social Climbers

Social Climbers by Beth Dunn

Check out my interview at Social Climbers.

Weejuns: Take A Penny, Leave A Penny

I recently purchased a pair of Bass Weejuns a few weeks ago and while relaxing on our deck, I began to ponder whether or not I should add pennies to my penny loafers.

Jack Spade Spring 2010

The Fry

Take a look at the current section at Jack Spade. I like where the collection is heading, especially their Chambray shirt: The Fry. Click here for Prepidemic Magazine's review of Spade's shorts and shirts.

The Perlow

The Windmill Club Re-Open

The Windmill Club SS 2010

Penfield Jackets

Vassan 2 Tone

Great find this morning over at A Time To Get of Penfield's collection of jackets for SS 2010.

Turning the Big 30

30th Birthday

Today is my 30th birthday and I thought I would celebrate by posting on my favorite birthday of all time.

My 4th Birthday

Sun Faded Shorts

J.Crew Sun Faded Shorts

Although I went to Urban Outfitters to check out the Cord Shorts (and they weren't that bad in person), I must be honest and admit that the Sun Faded Shorts from J.Crew are more my speed.  Now I just have to wait a little bit until the price goes down. 

How to Play Whackbat

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Click here to take a crack at Whackbat.

Long Playing with Alex Grant II

Broken Bells

"Long Playing" is a conceptual fit based on the artwork and moods of an album cover. Clothing are all courtesy of J.Crew's Crew Cuts.

Tent x Bed

Tent x Bed

For some reason or another, Alex started cutting his naps short. I decided to put his tent on his bed and like magic, he's back to taking 3 hr naps. You can thank me later.

Key to the Secret Fort

Special thanks to James @SecretForts

Levi's 511 Corduroy Shorts

 Levi's 511 Corduroy Shorts

After participating in Trip's survey about shorts length, I came to the conclusion that it's probably time to start updating my shorts collection. And since corduroy shorts seems to be in this season, I decided to take a look at Levi's 511 Corduroy Shorts that are currently at Urban Outfitters.

Pop On Over to Martin + Osa

Martin + Osa

With the recent press that popovers have been getting over at Sartorially Inclined and 10engines, I decided to throw my hat into the ring with the Martin + Osa's Vintage Plaid Popover Shirt. 

The Windmill Club SS 2010

 

The Windmill Club SS 2010

The guys over at The Windmill Club get it right.

Treehouse: The Ultimate Secret Fort

The Wall Street Journal had a great article on a upscale Treehouse the other day and it had me thinking about how I always wanted a treehouse growing up. We currently live in a new development that hardly has any trees, but I would love to move to an older neighborhood with well established trees to make one of my dreams a reality for my children.

Did you have a treehouse? Did you want a treehouse? Have any interesting treehouse stories to tell? Leave a comment.

Ipad Arcade

Ipad Arcade Cabinet

I don't know if this will ever move beyond the conceptual stage, but the Ipad Arcade Cabinet ($150) is one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

Alex's Pick: Sophie Teething Toy

Sophie

We purchased this teething toy on one of our trips to Annapolis MD last year for Alex and it's still going strong with Avery.

According to the website,

The Little giraffe was born on the 25th of May in the year 1961…St Sophie’s day! In those days, the only animal toys available were farm animal or pet figures.. That is why one day in France, a certain Monsieur RAMPEAU, who was an expert in transforming sap from the HEVEA tree using the rotational molding of rubber as a toy-making concept, came up with the idea of designing a giraffe.

Such an exotic wildlife figure would be a first on the market, and its size and shape would be ideal for a baby’s small hands to grasp. Sophie the Giraffe, who looked exactly the same then as she does today, went into production on a Thursday, May 25th, whence her name. She was an immediate success. 

Once they show signs of teething, do you and your child a favor and pick one up.  You'll thank me later.

Fathers and Sons pretending to be giraffes 1954

Avery Elizabeth

In order to make sure that my daughter doesn't have a complex when she gets older, I decided to create a blog named after her: Avery Elizabeth. Now if I could just get my wife to start posting then I'll be all set.

Check out her tumblr as well.

Long Playing with Alex Grant

Inspired by Sartorially Inclined (the birthday boy!), here's my take on "Long Playing" for your little one. "Long Playing" is a conceptual fit based on the artwork and moods of an album cover.

Spymob

Polo

LL Bean

Easter Egg Hunt

Hope you had a great Easter!

-Skip

Alex's Pick: Beluga @ Sears

Beluga Nautical Set at Sears

This weekend, I picked up a Nautical Set by Beluga at Sears for $4.99 for Alex. The set comes with a pea coat, a navy & white stripe long sleeve shirt, and Jeans.

 Left Sleeve