THE JOY OF SOCKS

As with most men’s clothing items, socks are deeply rooted in utility – they keep feet warm, dry, ease chafing, and look a whole lot better than a pair of hairy ankles bulging out from a pair of pants.

While some might argue that it’s pretty hard to go wrong with socks, we say au contraire, mon frere (translation: not so fast, bro). Believe it or not, you can still take a wrong turn.

To prevent you from riding off the hosiery rails, here are a few basic rules to follow even in these “anything goes” times:

-- White athletic socks: to the gym, on the field, around your apartment, no problem. Anywhere else is a no-fly zone. They are only to be worn as office attire if you’re a NFL, PGA, NBA player, David Letterman or work outdoors.

--- Dress socks are, well, for dressing up – thus the name, guv’ner. Dress socks are thinner than athletic socks and usually made of finer materials so feet and ankles look trim when tucked inside a nice pair of dress shoes. Dress socks go to the office; athletic socks don’t.

-- Dress socks and casual (non-athletic) socks should always coordinate with the color of your pants to give the illusion of an unbroken line. The sock color doesn’t have to be an exact match but if you’re shopping for socks and can’t quite recall the colors of your pants, just go for darker, complementary shades.

-- Humorous socks or pink socks. Well, given our druthers, we’d just say no. However, if you feel you must wear them, know your audience, and know they’re probably laughing at your questionable taste.

Know also that they will tag you as a complete goofball when you wear the humorous/pink socks at the office, on a job interview, on a first date or meeting your defense attorney. The only places you might be able to pull them off without being greeted by a chorus of sniggers is at the yacht club, golf club or office Christmas party, long after everyone is thoroughly soaked. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Ten Commandments Of Tailgating

By Contributing Blogger Ryan Liss of The Sportmeisters

As the summer turns to fall, and the NFL and NCAA Football season start to commence, the planning period begins for an equally important event; the tailgate. As someone who has spent years in various tailgates for both college and the NFL, I have been able to amass a set of commandments, designed for ultimate tailgate success.

Please keep in mind, not everyone will be able to follow these commandments, for one reason or another, and in today’s financial situations, it’s understandable. However, if you follow as many as possible, your tailgate will quickly gain fame as one of the top tailgates in your section.


The Ten Commandments Of Tailgating

Commandment 1: Thou Shalt Have A Big Enough Vehicle
Granted, SUVs are gas guzzlers and expensive. Therefore, if this commandment cannot be met, but multiple people can use small cars to meet the same objective, then you are in the clear. The main purpose of this commandment is so your tailgate can have all of the necessary items, without risk of forgetting anything. A truly successful tailgate has items such as tables, chairs, television, tents for shade, coolers, the food and drinks, and of course, the grill. Having all these items, and more as you see fit, guarantees a proper tailgate setup and is a crucial element in a successful tailgate.

Again, if you can do this with multiple smaller cars, then you still meet the essential needs of the commandment. Working together with friends is important, which leads to the next commandment.

Commandment 2: Thou Shalt Share The Grilling Duties
Some people can’t bring a grill, and choose to bring in trays of food from their local grocery store. That is an acceptable replacement for this commandment. However, nothing says tailgate like a fired up grill with some burgers and dogs. I’ve seen tailgates go further, with chicken, steak, kabobs, the list is endless! A truly successful tailgate has great food, and nothing says great food like some BBQ. However, the responsibilities of cooking are an important, time honored task, that should not be taken lightly. But don’t let one person be stuck working the grill for two or three hours. Share the responsibility among your best grillers (they’ll know who they are). This gives everyone who wants to cook a chance, and lets everyone have ample time to mingle without being behind a grill.

Commandment 3: Thou Shalt Bring Enough Food and Drink
Nothing ruins a good tailgate like running out of food or drink. With stadium concessions already at premium prices, tailgaters need to get their fill before entering the stadium. Following that, with most, if not all stadiums no where close to purchasing extra food or drink (some college stadiums will have gas stations nearby), when you run out, your out of luck. Always make sure you know ahead of time the number of people in your tailgate, and purchase above and beyond what you need, just as a precaution. Besides, if there is extra, you can always post-tailgate while waiting for traffic to dissipate after the game. It’s win-win!

Commandment 4: Thou Shalt Properly Prepare For All Situations
It’s a tailgaters dream that every football game is 75 degrees and sunny with a cool breeze, but face it, that’s an imperfect reality. The beginning of the season can have extremely hot and humid temperatures, while showers and rain storms are always a reality. In the north, as the fall turns to winter, cooler temperatures can quickly chill out a tailgate. Therefore, do your research. A day or two before the game, research the weather. If it’s going to be hot, pack hats, sunglasses, and plenty of tents for shade. If it will be raining, have the tents to keep you dry. As it gets cooler, have blankets and jackets available, and maybe a space heater if possible. A great tailgater is like a boy scout, always prepared.

Commandment 5: Thou Shalt Get There Early
Setting up a tailgate takes time, as does shutting it down, and no one wants a good time to end early. Therefore, getting to your tailgate two to three hours prior to the game gives you enough time to set up (15-20 minutes), enjoy yourselves (hour and a half to two hours), and clean up (15-20 minutes) before making your way to the stadium. Of course, this is adjustable based on how far a trek you must make prior to the game starting. That’s why this commandment goes hand in hand with:


Commandment 6: Thou Shalt Be Willing To Pay For Parking
For season ticket holders and college football boosters, this part is null for you, because where you park is based on where your seats are, what level you are, etc. Basically, that part of the equation is on you. For the rest of society, who maybe attend one or two games, you need to make the most of it. By following the fifth commandment, you’re already at the game early enough that you should be able to find a decent parking spot. However, with a better spot comes a better price. I’ve seen parking prices from $5 to $20, and as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. If this is your one game of the year, go the extra mile, fork over the dough, and watch your tailgate be a success.

Commandment 7: Thou Shalt Keep The Kids Entertained
What kid doesn’t enjoy spending quality time with their family, rooting for the same team as mom and dad? A family day at the stadium can be a great time, but a kid can’t spend the entire two-three hour period eating and sitting around. This is where entertainment plays a crucial piece. A TV is nice, but you’ll have the game on (more on that one later), so what other options are there? Some stadiums offer outside entertainment for kids (be advised, this may cost money, and will most likely force you to leave the tailgate, if you came with other friends and their families). Another option is to bring entertainment with you. A football can be a great form of entertainment. Depending on where you’re located, a small game among the kids can keep them busy for an hour on their own. It really depends on the kids and their age, but don’t forget about them.

Commandment 8: Thou Shalt Have A TV With The Game On
A TV is a crucial piece to the tailgating puzzle. Obviously, if one can’t afford or doesn’t have room to bring a TV, then a radio will suffice. The truly successful tailgates have some form of a television with a game showing. The more extreme ones have multiple televisions with satellite dishes everywhere. Whatever your pleasure (and financial level is), having a TV lets the hardcore fans keep in touch with other interesting games. A four o’clock NFL start means missing all of the one o’clock games, unless prepared with a television.


Commandment 9: Thou Shalt Not Be Obnoxious
This commandment, and the next one, is important in multiple areas. For this one, obnoxious holds different contexts. When finding a parking spot, park in your area, don’t take up multiple spots and ruin the experience for someone else. If fans from the opposing team walk by, good-natured ribbing can be appropriate at some points, but don’t fire a profanity laced tirade at them. They have every right to root for their team too. Being a respectful person overall can make the tailgating experience that much more enjoyable for all parties involved.

Commandment 10: Thou Shalt Party Responsibly
Arguably the most important commandment, this one needs to be followed above all. Drink plenty of water so you’re not dehydrated or too imbibed with alcohol. Have a designated driver decided on beforehand, and bring plenty of soda and water for them and others (going back to food and drink). Clean up after yourselves. Most importantly though, have a good time. Tailgating is an enjoyable experience for all, and no one wants to be the idiot that ruined the fun for everyone else.

With football season upon us, take these commandments and go forth, and find success in your tailgating experiences throughout the season.

SNEAKERS

While clothes may make the man, we think shoes are important too, and sneakers even more so, but only if they’re done right.

Recently we’ve seen so many done wrong, we just had to share a couple of our sneakers pet peeves below. For more thoughts on how to do sneakers right, click to http://www.askmen.com/fashion/fashiontip_400/466_the-dos-and-donts-of-sneakers.html:

-- If you’re wearing sneakers to the office, please, we beg you, always wear socks with them, air them out every now and then, and spray them liberally with anti-bacterial/anti-fungal spray every night.

-- If you’re going to meet your potential in-laws, dude, wear a pair of real shoes. Show some respect people – at least at first.

--- If you’re headed to a job interview, leave the kicks at home, no matter how casual you think the office might be. Once you land the job, then break out the sneakers and have at it.

-- If you’re headed to the opera or theater, again, wear a pair of real shoes unless you’re Steve Jobs, Woody Allen or are well into your 80’s at which point you can do whatever you dang well please.

DOMINIC FUMUSA IN PERRY ELLIS

Tuesday night, Dominic Fumusa of SHOWTIME’s “Nurse Jackie” wore head-to-toe Perry Ellis to GLAAD’s Summer Series in New York City.

Fumusa, a member of GLAAD’s Honorary Host Committee, hosted the award show in a sleek two-piece worsted wool slim suit in chambray, complete with a Perry Ellis classic white dress shirt.


The Summer Series was held to celebrate and highlight GLAAD’s accomplishments.

1950’S MEN’S FASHION NEWSREELS

Though the era of movie theater newsreels faded away when televised news took over the airwaves in the mid-60’s, those mini-documentaries of yesteryear didn’t disappear completely, they just moved out of the theater and onto the net.

Our favorites are, of course, the men’s fashion newsreels which illustrate how far men’s fashion has evolved – and how far it hasn’t.

A case in point is a clip from 1955 which features five suave gents swilling suds at McSorley’s Ale House, outfitted in the suits of the season. It’s interesting to note that with the exception of their “Mad Men” style hair, none of these guys would look out of place in McSorley’s today.

Another favorite is the circa 1954 fashion show which features male models on a fork-lift, hovering over the crowd, as they show off the usual array of suits plus a few choice looks we’re pretty sure never touched down in stores – among them the short-sleeved business suit and the sleeveless jacket-with-Bermuda-shorts ensemble – possibly two of the goofiest looks ever.

To view them, click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3938KrN6Og andhttp://vidcat.com/blog/2008/11/vintage-fashion-1955-mens-fashion.

Building The Perfect NFL Quarterback

Contributing blogger Ryan Liss was born in New York, but moved to South Florida as a child. A 2006 graduate of Florida State University, he currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina with his wife, Jennifer. When Ryan is not deployed (as he currently is), he works at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina as a Communications and Information Officer.

Any free time Ryan has is devoted to spending time with his wife and their two dogs and cat. He also is the founder and one of the contributors to The Sportmeisters, where he blogs and records podcasts dealing with all the hot topics in sports. When not doing either of those, he can be found watching sports, brewing his own beer, or enjoying time with friends and family.

Ryan and Jennifer are expecting their first child in February 2010.

Ryan submitted the following blog post from his post in Afghanistan:

Building The Perfect NFL Quarterback

By Ryan Liss

There are many different types of Quarterbacks in the NFL, from the fast to the powerful, the big bodied to the brains. All of them have pieces of the formula that leads them to success. What happens though when you put all the little pieces together? From the brain to the arm, to the legs, to the body, and even in the intangibles, today, the perfect NFL Quarterback (taken from current players) is built.

Head: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

No Quarterback in the NFL is smarter than Peyton Manning, period. Holding a current regular season of 117-59, he has completed at least 62 percent of his passes in every year, with the exception of his rookie season.

Known best for running the Colts no-huddle offense, he frequently will have a formation selected, only to walk up to the line of scrimmage before selecting a play, based on the defense presented to him.

He dissects defenses better than any other current NFL Quarterback to the tune of just over a career two to one touchdown to interception ratio. His 94.7 passer rating is the highest among all current NFL QB’s, and second in NFL history. Simply put, Peyton Manning has a quarterback’s mind that stands alone.

Arm: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
In the pass-happy world of the NFL, no arm has more behind it than Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. Since his breakout 2004 season, Brees hasn't thrown for fewer than 3,000 yards in a season, including 2008’s 5,069 yards, the second-highest seasonal output in the NFL.

In 2006, he had a streak of five straight 300-yard passing games, tied for second in the NFL, and also holds the NFL single-season record for passes completed with 440 in 2007. Since joining the New Orleans Saints in 2006, Brees has shattered the mold of a pocket passer quarterback, and should continue that trend over the next few years.

Body: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
He takes a licking and keeps on ticking. At a mere 6'5" tall, and 241 pounds, Big Ben can stand up to most linebackers trying to take him on. Even with his rough 2006-2007 season due to his motorcycle injury, Roethlisberger did more than most, still playing in 15 games despite multiple injuries he was trying to recover from.

Now fully recovered, he was won his second Super Bowl ring, playing with a style he even admits as reckless, while taking plenty of hits. Since 2004, Roethlisberger has been sacked 192 times, most of them while still trying to make a play. He doesn’t throw the ball away when the rush is on.

Instead, most highlights of Big Ben can be seen when avoiding a blocking breakdown, whether its spinning around in the backfield for more time (ala John Elway), or tucking the ball and daring the defenders to take him down. Whatever the case, Roethlisberger’s frame is a model of a quarterback who can take a hit, and dish a few out himself.

Legs: Vince Young, Tennessee Titans
Let’s keep in mind, all we’re using is his legs, which are easily the quickest in the NFL since Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb. As a college QB at the University of Texas, Young twice rushed for more than 1,000 yards, and came two yards shy of doing it three straight years. Overall, his 3,127 yards were the most in UT history, and his 37 touchdowns is tied for number one among Quarterbacks.

In his first two years in the NFL, the numbers weren’t as high, but teams still respected his rushing ability, gaining 947 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a 6.7 yards per carry average his rookie season. While he played minimally in 2008, with the rise of the spread formation and the Wildcat, having quick feet like Vince Young’s is optimal for a winning quarterback.

Intangibles: Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Is there really any question? After getting passed over 198 times in the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady has done everything, from winning Super Bowls (36, 38, and 39), to setting records (50 touchdowns in 2007). He has a career record of 101-27, including a record 21 game winning streak. He has never lost in overtime, and has led the Patriots to 28 game winning drives.
His ten straight playoff victories is an NFL best. He wins with studs on the roster (Randy Moss, Wes Welker in 2007, Deion Branch 2003-2005), or in 2006, when he had a no-named receiving corps. Despite injuries, including a sports hernia in 2006, and knee problems in 2007 and 2008, Brady is one of the most respected and feared QB in the game today.

A quarterback needs strength, speed, and skill. A solid mind, strong arm, quick feet, big body, and the “extra” touch make up winners that we talk about forever. Pieces from Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, and Vince Young together make up the perfect quarterback.

DE-FUZZ YOUR DINNER

There comes a time in every guy’s life when a he’s got to learn how to manage his fridge, and the occasionally furry items inside it.

That’s right, that big metal box full of beer, “vintage” milk products and half-eaten cans of sardines can make you sicker than a frat-boy at rush week if you’re not paying attention to use-by dates, funky smells and of course, fuzz.

However, here’s the rub -- some foods that look like they should be disposed of by a hazmat team may actually be fine to eat, while others that look edible could give you a wicked case of, well, let’s not go there.

How to know what’s still OK eat and what to toss?

Head to the incredibly useful site www.StillTasty.com <http://www.stilltasty.com/> , where you’ll find the low-down on how to handle your food and how long to keep it, plus answers to such burning questions as: Can you make bananas ripen more slowly? Are eggs still safe after the expiration date? Can you safely eat chicken that’s been frozen for two years? (The answer is oddly enough, yes with a few caveats, but really, would you want to?)

Consumer feedback

While I have been a Perry Ellis wearer for many years, they flat front pants have stopped me from purchasing any pants from PE. Classic styling means exactly that, they NEVER go out of style.

I have been surprised at some of the material selections in the past few seasons, if a material looks like a bedroom sheet DON’T use it for shirt material.

My son enjoys the city fit style of shirts (21yr old) while I have enjoyed the classic style from a couple of seasons back. While I imagine that some of the Batik and uneven paisley [patterns] may have appeal to someone, you need to stay basically true to the style that 'brung ya.'

The coat style of recent years has made me wonder if your designers ever wear what they design. Use classic material not the plastic looking stuff. That’s why they haven’t sold. Try a longer version of the classic PEA Coat.

That’s all for now, if interested I will send you more hopefully inspired ideas for the line.


Gabriel G. Zambrano
Texas

A podium finish for Mike Conway ... the PE IndyCar driver!

It is interesting to note that both Perry Ellis and rookie driver Mike Conway are new to IndyCar! It is the first season for both of us … but that does not seem to be hindering either one of us!

From the UK, Mike has spent the first few races making some pretty big adjustments … a new country, a new style of track (the track is shaped differently in Europe), a new car, new people, being away from home … LOTS of firsts for Mike Conway.

But he got his land legs on Sunday in Sonoma CA when he placed third for the race and stood tall on the podium to receive his first placement prize on U.S. soil!

Dennis Reinbold recently told me (Colleen Adams!) that Mike was one of the most natural and intuitive drivers he had ever seen, and I witnessed his ‘nerves of steel’ approach when I interviewed him at our recent event in Louisville.

We are proud of this great achievement for Mike … but I think it is safe to assume that ‘we ain’t seen nothin’ yet!’

The press release on the event is below:

PODIUM FINISH FOR DREYER & REINBOLD RACING AT INFINEON RACEWAY Sonoma, California (August 23, 2009) - Dreyer & Reinbold Racing completed the last road course of the year at Infineon Raceway with a bang. Mike Conway, driver of the No. 24 TranSystems machine, finished on the podium for the first time this season in Sonoma, California today with a third place result, while his teammate Milka Duno came home in 17th position.

The 2.303 mile circuit has been good to DRR this year. They had the opportunity to test at Infineon Raceway last week with Mike Conway and Milka Duno. Conway recorded the fastest time on both days and topped the charts with a time of 1:19.25 seconds on the first day and on the second day he clocked a time of 1:17.48 seconds.

As the green flag dropped, both drivers had a flawless start. Conway showed that he was a true road-racing pro. The Brit kept his nose clean as he stayed out of the trouble that happened in front of him. He started in ninth position and went to 14th on the first lap.

Fortunately that didn’t hinder him for long. The rookie was able to climb as the race progressed. With near perfect pit stops, Conway drove a good, consistent race, running in the top-ten for a majority of the race. It all came together on his last pit stop when he went from seventh to fifth and continued to pass. On lap 73 Conway made an incredible maneuver on the No.27 of Hideki Mutoh for third position in Turn 7.

Firestone nominated the performance for the Firestone “Tire-ific” Move of the Race. As a result he crossed the finish line with his best result of the season, third place.

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing heads to Chicago for the Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300. The race will take place on August 29th.

What they had to say… Mike Conway, #24 TranSystems:
“Yeah, it was good. In the beginning we got hit from behind and I got a puncture in my rear tire and I thought my race was finished. I just kept pushing all the way and just kept moving forward and I kept setting quick times. Towards the end I knew I might be able to get past the guys in front. The Tran Systems car was really good today. If we had a few more laps, it would have been interesting to see if I could get past those guys.”

DOES THIS TIE GO WITH THAT SHIRT? PART 2

Yesterday, we gave you a few basic ideas on how to shop for shirt and ties, but if you’d like a few more details, then we’d recommend that you head over to http://shirtsandties.org/ <http://shirtsandties.org/> .

There you’ll find a treasure trove of straightforward and not-too-fashiony thoughts on how to match shirts, ties and suits, tie a necktie and dress for a job interview.

Though we like the easy-to-digest information on the site, we must admit our favorite page on the site is the “Shirt & Tie Matching Game,” where you can test your mad pattern-matching skills and get instant feedback on your choices as you play.

To play, click on http://shirtsandties.org/TieMatchingGame.html.

Consumer Feedback

I think you should use more colors with in your clothes. My favorite color is red and I do not see too much of it. Styles and patterns are good, just more colors available.

Micheal Sandoval

DOES THIS TIE GO WITH THAT SHIRT? PART 1

As Mark Twain once said, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society”. In other words, all it really takes is a jacket, pants, shirt and shirt – and the world’s your oyster.

How to coordinate some stylin’ shirt-and-tie combos the next time you hit the menswear department? Remember a few basic rules of thumb, fire up the plastic and shop like a guy who mean business:

TIES:
-- A tie should always pick up at least one of the colors in your shirt.
-- Tie colors should be a bit darker than your shirt, so there’s some contrast and interest at the neck.

SHIRTS:

-- Shirt vs. tie patterns should be distinctly different in scale. Avoid pairing a small-patterned tie with a small-patterned shirt. Instead, pair larger-patterned shirts with smaller tie patterns or visa-versa.

-- Unless you’ve signed up for a season on “Dancing With the Stars,” stay away from black shirt and light tie combos. The only guy who ever pulled that look off was Sopranos henchman Paulie Walnuts, and you my friend are no Paulie Walnuts.

JACKETS:

-- Idiot-proof the shopping process: Bring your suit or sport jackets with you when you go shopping so you can coordinate shirt and tie combos more easily. While you’re there, solicit the advice from the best-dressed sales person on the floor to help select good combinations and vet your choices.

Sports In The War Zone: Following My Fantasy Teams

Ryan Liss Biography

Ryan Liss was born in New York, but moved to South Florida as a child. A 2006 graduate of Florida State University, he currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina with his wife, Jennifer. When he is not deployed, he works at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina as a Communications and Information Officer.

When he is not working, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife and their two dogs and cat. He also is the founder and one of the contributors to The Sportmeisters, where he blogs and records podcasts dealing with all the hot topics in sports. When not doing either of those, he can be found watching sports, brewing his own beer, or enjoying time with friends and family.

Ryan and Jennifer are expecting their first child in February 2010.

Ryan of The Sportmeisters is currently deployed in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. While he is over there, Ryan enjoys chronicling some of his journeys as a sports fan, and how he continues to monitor his favorite teams. Below is one of his posts on fantasy sports.

I’ve been playing fantasy sports for a long time, but only when I got into college did I really take off with it. Recently, I partnered up with Sportmeister Derek on most of my fantasy endeavors, which is baseball and football. Being deployed, I have to monitor both seasons while over here.
The baseball one is in full swing, so we’ll start with that first. Back home, I get to spend my nights watching my players perform and tracking their progress as the night goes on. Here, by the time I get to a computer in the morning, I’m stuck seeing what already happened, except for the occasional West Coast game that runs late. It’s even more difficult because when I go to bed at night, the games haven’t even started yet! Luckily, Derek runs a schedule at work that allows him and I to talk while its late on the east coast and early on my side of the world. This allows us to discuss our baseball team and any moves we need to make. However, when it comes to football, that’s a whole other story.


You see, when Derek and I prepare for fantasy football, we go all out. Call us what you will, but the weekend that Derek visits me, when we hunker down for 48 hours of pure fantasy football rankings, is downright important to us. Our league requires we spend the time fully prepared, because lets face it, what good is playing Fantasy Football if you’re not winning? This year, requires a different touch.

Because we’re so far apart, Derek and I are resorting to email for our rankings. At the same time, being slightly separated from the have it yesterday news pace, I see things a little after Derek does, and am forced to play catch up. Luckily, Derek is the Fantasy Guru, and his rankings show he knows what he’s talking about. Our strategy this year is to email each other with our arguments and decide our draft plan. Its tough to give 110% focus this year, but I’m making as strong of an effort when it comes to my big studs and sleepers.

While draft preparation is part, being there for the draft holds another significant importance. Being eight and half hours away, I will most likely be awake extremely early, while our draft is going on. Call me crazy again, but if you want to win, you have to put in the work.
Following a fantasy team can be difficult when you are getting the news at a different pace than what you are normally used to. Draft times have to be set to accommodate you, but when you can find a group of like-minded people, it makes it just as fun.

My office here is starting a league, so we’re all on the same page when it comes to our level of information, and how we can follow the sport. Luckily, being in the same time zone allows us to set a draft time that isn’t so unreasonable.

I like fantasy sports because it lets me feel like I am the GM, and it gives me an extra reason to watch a Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears, or follow Justin Verlander’s latest gem performance. Despite the time difference, I am happy I can keep fantasy sports as much a part of my life as anything else.

GET ANSWERS FAST BY TEXT

Answers, answers, we all want answers, and fortunately, now they can be had, even when your laptop is out of juice.

Just pick up the cell and call or text your question in (toll free!) to 1-800-2-CHA-CHA or text 242242.

While you sit there contemplating the universe, ChaCha’s real live human” guides,” – specially trained ninjas who will do the net searching for you – will research your question and text you a smart, informative reply, so you can soak it in, and move on with your life.

Though they may not have the answer to “Dude, where’s my car?” they will provide answers for just about anything else that crosses your mind. After ChaCha has sent your answer, if you want to know even more, just reply with another question, and keep the conversation going, all, for free!

MEET ANOTHER MAKEOVER CANDIDATE

Creativity is one of the criteria for the Perry Ellis: Make Me Over! contest, and when Cindy Miller nominated her Police Officer husband Blake for a makeover, she surely did meet that criteria!

She is one proud wife, and we join her in thanking her law enforcement husband for all that he does for his community. Here is Cindy's submission about her husband Blake:

My policeman husband is an American hero.

He chases criminals and makes the traffic flow.

He saves people in tornadoes and fires.

He seems to never tire.

Creating a charity for police widows, he is so good.

Building a playground for the poor, he is like Robin Hood.

Working gang fights at the mall,

he has had 22 years of pagers, crime and wakeup calls.

He does not have time for fashion---

in the spring, summer, winter or fall.

SHOP, DON’T DROP

You need a new jacket to wear to your buddy’s wedding, or maybe a suit to wear to your own.

Here are a few thoughts on how to shop, without dropping:

· Before you hit the store, know roughly what’s in your closet and what you need more of. Also look closely at what you already own and determine what to keep, toss or donate. And, as an added bonus, you’ll also be opening some closet space for all the new stuff you’ll be buying.

· Don’t rush thru the men’s department. Be patient and give yourself enough time to try on a bunch of clothes, not just one or two pieces.

· The best time to shop? Thursday evenings, when traditionally most stores stay open later. You’ll save time by getting your shopping done on a quieter, more convenient weekday night, and you won’t have to miss you’re kid’s Saturday morning soccer game.

· Bring along buddy, male or female who dresses well. Though experts disagree on the strategy, we say bring a friend along to offer a second opinion on your choices.

· Learn from a master and get a dose of dressing direction from men’s style blogger Andy Gilchrist, whose site www.askAndyAboutClothes.com is devoted to helping guys figure out what to wear and how to wear it.

PACK LIKE A PRO

Pack according to the cardinal rule of frequent fliers everywhere: "If it doesn't go with two other pieces, it doesn't go."

In other words be merciless, and edit your road load down to the bare minimum. How to do it?

-- Eliminate hard-to-match colors and patterns from your travel wardrobe. Stick to a travel wardrobe of three solid, coordinating colors. Favorite neutrals for travel are: navy, black brown, dark green, tan, gray, cream and white.

-- Limit yourself to one briefcase or shoulder bag that fits under the seat and one small carry-on bag for the overhead. You’ll save time by skipping Baggage Claim altogether and will be able to jump on the taxi line long before everyone else.

-- Lighten up: check out the incredibly useful site www.onebag.com , a site that’s dedicated to teaching the traveling public possibly more than they might ever need to know about how to “go light,” pack less and have more fun along the way.

HOTEL SMARTS: SLEEP TIGHT

Whether you’re a regular business traveler, or hitting the road on vacation, here are a few thoughts on how to secure yourself and your stuff along the way:

-- Request a room between the 3rd and 10th floors. Those floors are generally thought to be too high to be broken into and low enough for rescue personnel to reach you in emergencies.

-- Before you unpack, check door, balcony and window locks as soon as you arrive so you can change rooms easily if they're not in working order.

-- Keep doors locked when you're in the room, and put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on doorknob to prevent unwanted intrusions. Stepping out for dinner? Then leave the sign on the door, and turn on the TV to make the room appear occupied.

-- Lock up your laptop. When you’re not in your room, store your laptop in your luggage, and lock the luggage to an immovable object in the room. While it may not stop a determined thief, it can help deter a casual one, and make them think it’s not worth the effort.

DRESS FAST, SLEEP MORE

Want to sleep in tomorrow? Then take a few minutes tonight to help beat the morning rush, and feel free to hit the snooze button when the alarm starts honking:

-- Get into uniform. Uniform dressing that is. Simplify your wardrobe so dressing well becomes a no-brainer. Stick to a few basic colors that work well together. Save yourself the hassle of wondering what shirt will go with that lime green sport jacket. Stick to the basics and express your more creative side with neckwear.

-- Get it together: Lay out tonight what you’ll wear tomorrow, before you go to bed tonight. Collect all the pieces, right down to the belt, socks, shoes and underwear. Put them all together in a logical place, like the bathroom so you get dress quickly after showering.

-- Step away from the iron, and put down the needle: Ironing or sewing on lost buttons in the pre-dawn hours are phenomenal time-wasters. Our suggestion? Make repairs before you hit the hay. At night, when you’re getting your clothes together (see above) for the morning, use the time to also check for wrinkles, stains, missing buttons and collapsing cuffs.

What's written in YOUR (Men's) Journal?

Hopefully the same thing that is written in the September issue of Men's Journal Magazine.

..how cool our polyurethane moto-zip jacket in black is!

In a fashion story titled “Dust Devils of El Mirage,” this very cool jacket earned a prestigious spot next to a couple of equally cool land-speed racers (twice!).

Guess it just proves that time-worn adage that you are judged by the company you keep!

THE FASHION SCOOP IS IN THE DETAILS...

It is lovely to be recognized by one of the publishing industry's most prominent menswear and lifestyle magazines, Details. And such was the case in their September issue when they featured a 2-page spread chock-a-block full of great new items from the Perry Ellis fall collection!

“Sonic Youth” was the feature story, and it cited two great items from Perry Ellis: a nylon cire puffed vest in port royal and a tattersall jacket in charcoal.

Check us out in the September issue of Details!

SOLAR PANELS FOR YOUR PHONE ipod

Power. Seems our phone is always running out of it, usually when we’re on the road, miles away from an electrical outlet. So we were relieved to discover the pocket-sized Solio – a clever gadget that stores power from sun or socket – and allows us to recharge our phones, I-phones, mp3 players and small hand-held devices wherever we roam.

Better yet, the energy Solio stores – for up to a year – is convenient, sustainable and clean, so it’s a pretty sweet deal for the earth too.

Want to take eco-consciousness a bit further? Then try replacing wall and car chargers with Solio to reduce your eco-footprint.

While charging via the sun isn’t necessarily the fastest way to power-up – 1 hour of sun = roughly 15 minutes of talk time or 40 minutes of mp3 music – it’s a lot better than running out of juice. To have a look, click to: www.solio.com

Perry Ellis in Cosmo Mag!

Well yes, we are a menswear brand, but that does not mean that we cannot play well with others...like the 'whats-hot-next' women's magazine Cosmopolitan!

They recently featured up and coming leading man Justin Long wearing a Perry Ellis button-down striped shirt in their September 2009 issue.

The story was titled “Crush the Competition,” (we like that title!)---and we have to admit that it's pretty exciting to see our brand appear in this popular women’s magazine...with a circulation of 3 million readers.

Pretty cool huh?

CLOTHES FOR THE LONG HAUL

Want your clothes to last longer? Then give them a fighting chance by treating them well, and of course, dress defensively. To start:

· -- Go easy on dry cleaning, machine washing and drying, as all of that will help speed the breakdown of fabric fibers and shorten the lifespan of your threads. Just by reducing the frequency, from one wearing to two between cleanings, you’ll save time, money, electricity and a little bit of the earth. All we (and your officemates) require is that you put on a fresh t-shirt and underwear underneath, every day.

· -- Like your momma always told you, hang up your dang clothes, and preferably on cushioned hangers to preserve their shape, and to allow air to circulate and keep wrinkles at bay. Can’t manage that, Mr. Lazybones? Then at least hang your clothes neatly over the back of a chair between wearings.

· -- Prepare for a fashion emergency like Don Draper and the “Mad Men” crew do: Always keep a few clean shirts and a pair of trousers at the office so you look fresh pressed in the morning, no matter where you wound up the night before.

· -- Do you live life on the uncoordinated side? Then stick to a wardrobe of dark colors to help camouflage workday food and coffee drips. If by chance you have a major spill, chances are darker shades can be easily salvaged, and the damage won’t require as much effort to undo at the dry cleaners.

MEET ONE OF OUR PERRY ELLIS MAKEOVER CONTESTANTS

Perry Ellis is very proud of all of the gentlemen who have entered our makeover contest, and wanted to feature of few of them over the next few days so that you can meet them too!

The first gentleman I would like you to meet is a Major in the US Army, proudly serving our country and a great member of his community. Meet US Army Major Steven F. Selman. He is currently deployed, but due home at the end of this month:

His essay: I am a US Army Major stationed at US Central Command, MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL. I am often deployed, and have been to Afghanistan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia on many occasions, and am currently deployed, scheduled to return home at the end of August, 2009.

When I am home with my family, my wife, 8-year-old son and 1-year-old twins, I love to volunteer and make things better in my community. I would love to be "made over" and receive a brand-new Perry Ellis wardrobe to finally get me out of my Army fatigues, so I can look like an All-American civilian when I am out on the town with my wife or am volunteering on the weekends.

SUNSCREEN BY WILL FERRELL. NO KIDDING.

Call us suckers or perhaps stalkers, but we will go see just about any movie Will Ferrell is in (with the possible exception of “Step Brothers”).

So when we heard the funny man was launching a sunscreen line for charity, we thought it might be time to order up a case. Created to raise funds for Cancer for College, a non-profit which gives college scholarships to cancer survivors and amputees, Ferrell’s collection sells for $11.99 a bottle, with all proceeds going to the charity.

"We are obviously appealing to sun worshippers, streakers, art lovers and the ever growing market of body-building golfers,” says Ferrell, whose sunscreen line includes hard-to-resist names like Will Ferrell’s Sexy Hot Tan, Sunstroke and Forbidden Fruit SPF 30.

To order: http://www.shop.cancerforcollege.org/category.sc?categoryId=5

CHILL FACTOR: MUSIC THAT MEDITATES

Not long ago, a doctor buddy noticed that we were a little tense. In between bouts of road rage and cussing out the Yankees on the flat-screen, it occurred to us that Doc might have a point.

His prescription? Meditation. Our reaction? Um, not so much. Not that there’s anything wrong with the lotus position, it’s just that we weren’t planning on folding ourselves into it anytime soon.

The compromise? Take two songs and call your primary-care physician in the morning. Doc suggested listening to a few cuts off Jonathan Goldman’s album “Sounds of Healing.”

So we downloaded it off Amazon and, to our surprise, we’ve been getting chilly with it every other day or so, just to take the edge off.

Like Valium for the ears, these lyric-free, chant-like tunes have the ability to tamp down the temper, quiet the mind and put us in a peaceful, trance-like state without us having to book a trip to an ashram.

To get some for yourself, prescription-free, visit amazon.com.

LOOK BEFORE YOU SLEEP

About ten years ago, in the time before Orbitz and Trip Advisor, a buddy booked a gang of us into a hotel in Vegas, sight unseen, based on a recommendation he’d seen in a guidebook.

The rate was great so we thought we were pretty wise guys, that is till we pulled into the parking lot and were greeted by a platoon of rent-a-cops armed with Rottweilers and razor-wire surrounding the hotel perimeter.

Needless to say, we quickly bailed out of the Gitmo Las Vegas and made a bee-line for better, more expensive digs.

The lesson? Never book anything sight unseen, and now we don’t have to thanks to everyscape.com -- a new, interactive, travel-friendly site that lets you stroll through the town of your choice and even into its buildings.

Everyscape.com describes it as “the real world, online,” that lets you check out the neighborhood before you book, so chances are you won’t accidentally wind up in the Bates Motel, unless that’s the sort of thing you’re into. Click to: everyscape.com

BECOME A PERRY ELLIS BLOGGER!

We are really interested in hearing what you have to say ... so we are
giving you the opportunity to become Perry Ellis contributing editor for a day!

All you have to do is send us a post about any of the topics mentioned
below, along with your picture and a short bio (to profile you in the Perry Now! blog if you get selected*).

We will be doing this regularly, so keep your posts coming! You matter to us!

TOPICS:

> YOUR PERSONAL STYLE
> GADGETS
> TRAVEL
> THE ARTS
> GREEN LIFE

Send your entries with the required information to colleen.adams@pery.com


*Perry Ellis cannot guarantee that all material submitted will be used. We reserve the right to edit the articles as deemed appropriate. Submissions become the property of Perry Ellis and will not be returned. Submissions must be original and not infringe upon the rights of any third
party.

PERFECT PORTABLE SPEAKER SYSTEM

If you’re like us, it’s almost impossible to go anywhere without our Ipods on (loud).

But headphones jammed into our ears 24/7 does tend to annoy friends and family at a certain point. The remedy? Mini-speakers of course.

Now some dudes may go for the fancy high-end systems, but we have a tendency to break stuff, so something durable and about 1/3rd the price is a better match for us. Our choice? The Vestalife Ladybug Portable Speaker Dock for Ipod (approx. $100 on Amazon.com).

We got a Ladybug over a year ago and have used it just about every day since. The sound is quite decent, it runs on electricity or 4 AA batteries and is not much larger than a grapefruit, so we take it everywhere.

So far we’ve used it at home, in the car, in a little cabin in the Canadian woods and in our closet-sized office (with the door closed of course). Over the years, we’ve owned and accidentally destroyed at least 4 sets of portable speakers, but not the Ladybug – it just keeps rocking our world.

ESQUIRE SAYS: BE BEST DRESSED WITH PERRY ELLIS!

Perry Ellis hit pay dirt in the fashion-right September issue of Esquire Magazine, prominently mentioned in their article titled “The Best Dressed Real Men in America.”

That perfectly describes the Perry customer: a 'real guy,' and 'best dressed!' Sound like you?

IFC’s “BOLLYWOOD HERO” STARTS TONIGHT !

Wondering where Mango has been?

Well tonight (August 6), his alter ego, SLN alum Chris Kattan, returns to the flat screen to play (of all things) himself in “Bollywood Hero,” debuting tonight on IFC (the Independent Film Channel).

Inspired in part by Kattan’s real-life experience of failing to land leading roles after moving to Hollywood, Kattan describes the semi-autobiographical “Bollywood Hero” in Entertainment Weekly as being “a lot like Extras meets Entourage meets Lost In Translation.”

Shot on location in India, using much of Slumdog Millionaire’s production crew--up to and including a show-stopping Bollywood dance number choreographed by Longinus Fernandes (the choreographer behind the ubiquitous “Jai Ho” sequence)---Kattan’s 3-night mini series is sure to be one of the most unusual shows this summer.

Not to be missed!

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

Hidden in most American homes is a dead electronics corner.

In our case the corner was a closet, jammed with 2 vintage Imacs, 2 monitors and 4 wrecked laptops, one of which was circa 1989 and roughly the size of a Smart Car.

Not wanting to dump it all in a landfill, we warehoused the pile of junk for a few years, till we heard about the Staples recycling program for used computers and monitors.

For a $10 fee per item, we handed Staples our cast-offs and gained about 4 square feet of space in our overstuffed apartment, and that’s what we call a win-win.

Staples will also recycle smaller devices such as cell phones, pagers and digital cameras for free, and you can earn $3 in Staples Rewards if you sign on for their ink and toner recycling program.

For recycling guidelines and details on the items Staples can accept, visit Staples.com

LISTEN UP: IT’S THE VIVIAN GIRLS!

What do you say to three cute rocker gals from Brooklyn by way of New Jersey? Play it loud, ladies!

In just under 2 years, indie rockers Vivian Girls have made a lot of noise on stage and in the press for their layered harmonies, high-speed, jangling guitar riffs, driving beats and modern take on “the wall of sound.”

Described by one reviewer on Amazon as “The Mamas and Papas on methamphetamines,” the tuneful trio makes music that features touches of The B-52’s, The Bangles and The Shangri-La’s, echoes of The Strokes and a light dusting of navel-gazing.

Though their second album doesn’t drop for another month, give the girls a listen and check out their video, “Tell The World,” on youtube.com.

LAUGH YOUR ADS OFF!

Happy Monday!

And to make it even happier, we have a special treat for you, courtesy of Jezebel.com who gave us the heads-up on a brilliant new site to help you kill time while you’re waiting for the 11 am conference call to start.

The just-launched, must-see site is AdViews , which lets users view thousands of vintage TV ads from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

Though the ads were originally intended to be serious and sultry back in their heyday, 40+ years later, the ads have aged miserably and are now truly hilarious.

To view a few thoughtfully-selected knee-slappers, click on http://jezebel.com/5323936/60s-and-70s-beauty-ads-were-little-tv-nightmares?autoplay=true