Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

Style Scenario: Valentine’s Day – Alone. Solo. At home.

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What are you going to wear? Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and three scenarios (going out, staying in, and staying in solo) have now been tackled. Single this Valentine’s? Want to avoid the love drunk (or just plain drunk) masses since it falls on a Friday? Might be a good night to saddle up to the sofa and take it very easy. Top photo credit

Style Scenario Valetines Day 2014 all alone so alone by dappered.com

The Sweater: J. Crew Cashmere Crewneck – $149.99 ($225). Treat. Yo. Self. (Also, if it sticks around in the sale section, it’ll dip to $104 during the next 30% off sale items code. Final sale though.)

The Jeans: GAP 1969 boot fit jeans in medium authentic wash – $38.97 ($59.50). Oh, like YOU don’t have a pair of well worn, super comfortable, BOOT cut jeans lurking in the back of your closet. No? Really? Child please. They’re there. And we all know it. Wear those.

The T-Shirt: Mossimo Athletic Fit – $9.99. A cotton poly blend in an athletic fit at a bargain of a price. Still one of the better basics deals out there.

The Watch: Seiko Monster – $172.00. Quite possibly the best, toughest, meanest super-casual automatics out there. IF… you don’t mind large diameters. It’s got some chunk that one.

The Movie: Ocean’s Eleven – $8.49. Something with a strong, clever as hell, male lead who’s fine flying solo, but there might be a (big) love interest in there somewhere too. Iron Man works as well.

The Refreshment: Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye. Big flavor, yet still crisp and clean. It’s an IPA but it’s not a palate destroyer. Lots of flavors. Like, all the flavors (malt, an herbal sorta thing too, has a little sugar & citrus stickiness that dissipates quickly, plus that familiar rye bite.) And somehow they all play well together. 6.6% ABV. Widely available. A great late winter beer.

The Belt: Jomers Made in the USA ‘Sagamore’ – $20.00. Cotton with Italian leather trim. Ships free too.

The Boots: Clark’s Desert in Grey Suede – $99.96. Comfortable for around the house, plenty fine to wear out to a bar or other casual establishment. More grey suede options over here.

The Unsolicited Advice: If you can’t find a way to ever be happy with only your thoughts for company, then you’ll never truly be happy in a relationship. Better to be single and smart than stupidly shacked up for the sake of having companionship.

Comments

  2. I think this style scenario also works for those of us who are prisoners in our own homes because of a newborn. Although I’d recommend swapping out that cashmere for something that will be easier to wash…

    Fortunately I’ve got some of the Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye in the fridge – bring on Valentine’s Day!

  3. Are there certain beer flavors that are better at different months/seasons? I go-to-guide would be extremely helpful

  4. I’ll wear the cashmere sweater…… but only the cashmere sweater. I’m at home… by myself … watching House of Cards.

    Mailing it in has never felt so right. Or fuzzy.

  5. By the way… that advice is priceless and something many of us have had to learn the hard way.

    To all of those going solo tonight, enjoy!

  6. Absolutely! As a general rule, the “heartier” the beer (or the darker the beer), the better it is for colder months. You won’t ever catch me drinking a hefeweizen, for example, in November. But you might catch me with a porter or a stout.

    If you’re into IPA’s, there’s a spectrum of sorts. I think you can drink an IPA all year round, but in the hottest summer months I scale the hops back just a hair (reaching for something like a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale instead of the Ruthless Rye).

  10. Try Founders Breakfast Stout. So good.

    And lately I’ve been digging peanut butter beers.

    This year, Stone Espresso Russian Imperial Stout was incredible IMO.

  11. Ah yes, BOOTCUT JEANS. I have a few nice fitting bootcuts way in a back of my closet. Still debating if I need to tailor them to slim the bottom or hold ’till bootcuts come back again.

  13. Thumbs up on the grey suede Clarks! Wearing mine now. And actually, this thread is good info for those of us who ARE in love, ARE in a relationship, but still want to avoid the craziness of Friday night downtown. My girl also has her nice J. Crew cashmere sweater. Besides, it’s too cold out there!

  17. For those of us who are watching public schools get dismissed at noon because snow is imminent, let’s talk hot rye related drinks: how about digging up Dappered’s hot whiskey sling recipe and subbing in Jefferson’s or Bulleit’s rye offerings (or someone smarter about whiskey name a better choice?)

    Ruthless rye IS really good though. So’s Bell’s Smitten if you like your rye fizzy.

  18. I suppose it’s possible to name a better rye than Bulleit’s offering, but not one that’s as widely available or price friendly. Dollar for dollar, it’s my absolute top choice for whiskey. So good. So affordable. I’m not even sure there’s a close second.

  19. If I’m home alone on Valentine’s or any other night, I’m wearing sweat or PJs. Maybe it’s because those nights are rare to me, but I can’t imagine wearing real clothes on a me night.

  20. I think the biggest factor for seasonal taste is where you intend to drink it and what you intend to do before/after/while drinking. Generally, lighter beers are more refreshing and thirst quenching when it’s hot outside and you’ve been doing some sweating. You want a beer with less mouth-feel and “texture,” something that brightens your palette without lingering on it, that has citrus or floral notes. In the winter, you want that rib-sticking feel, something you can hunker down with. Think chocolate, cloves, or late-in-the-season fruits like cranberry or blueberry. However, because many of us live in climate-controlled bliss, drink what tastes good and what goes with your mood and meal. Unless you simply prefer to keep it seasonal and local.

  21. Ah, I don’t think bootcuts will ever come back. Actually, I don’t think they ever looked good, people were just silly enough to wear them. The problem is that they are cut like that for a purpose, and one that pretty much no one wearing them needed (i.e. to fit over boots). To me, wearing bootcut jeans without some pretty hefty footwear is like wearing a tie clip, but no tie. Or socks and sandals. Haha.

  23. Are you referring to Ruination? I always found it too unbalanced to be a proper DIPA… not to say that I don’t still enjoy the hell out of it. I’ve heard the Ruination 10th is properly (or more traditionally) malted. I still need to have the Stone 16th Anniversary as well. Born and raised in SoCal… I grew up on Stone.

  25. Indeed I am. I’m a big fan of the Ruination, and most all of the Stone offerings. For me, there is enough sweetness from the malt to balance the intense hoppiness and bitter grapefruit. I’ve had better DIPAs, but in terms of what I can always find at my local beer barn, it’s probably my favorite. Stone, along with Dogfish Head, are my favorite of the big little craft breweries, meaning the ones that are widely available nationally. Unfortunately, I can’t find Dogfish head where I live currently. There 90-minute IPA was my previous go-to IPA.

  27. I don’t need anyone telling me how to dress when I’m alone at home!!

    Just kidding. But seriously…

  28. You missed the best one, going out solo. I’ll vote for the velvet blazer from the other day and a nice pair of dark denim.

  30. You’d have to be crazy to pay that much for suede CDB’s. I would go with the suede Bushacres for $73 on Amazon – 20% coupon = $58.40 shipped.

  31. this is pretty much my night except it will be lambswool instead of cashmere (so, the complete opposite on the comfort scale), stone ipa, and some bad Bond movies (Brosnan era)

  34. For peanut butter, I’d highly recommend Sweet Baby Jesus by DuClaw Brewing – its a peanut butter porter that is subtle and delicious!

  35. That’s good but if you live in the Philly area look for Big Gruesome by Springhouse Brewing in Lancaster. Super good PB Stout

  36. Just ordered a couple of those Jomers belts based on this rec. No shipping or tax charged, plus found a 20% off coupon online.

  40. I’ve never known anyone to wear shoes at home. It’s something only people on TV/Movies did. Shoes are outdoor wear. How many people would wear hats or coats while at home? You don’t want to be trudging extra dirt around the house. Prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your shoes. Slippers/moccasins should be the indoor shoe of choice?

    Joe, it would be interesting to put up a poll and see what the general consensus is.

  42. Most offices have a dress code and many businesses have signs on the doors with the classic “no shirts, no shoes, no service” slogans on them. Shoes should be warn everywhere that isn’t a home just for safety purposes alone. Would you wear a hat or a coat at home? Both outdoor items. Both items most people don’t usually take off at banks or grocery stores. How about sunglasses? Never at home. Banks and grocery stores? Yes.

    Want to try again? Maybe a little more ridiculous this time?

  43. I’ve got a 2.5 year old to add to my 3 month old, so I feel ya. My wife and I both live far from our families, but we have some nice friends who we switch off babysitting with so that we can have occasional nights out. It’s really great. We appreciate them a ton.

  45. Drink what you want, when you want. Beer is, for the most part, consummed cold so it’s not like it will warm you up on a cold day anyway.
    Now, if you’re drinking it with a meal, match it to the meal. A think, rich stew would be great with a stout or porter whereas a bowl of chili will generally go better with something lighter.
    Seasonal beers are seasonal primarily because the adjuncts (flavoring ingredients) are seasonal. They are not seasonal because of the color of the beer.

  46. Got to ask, since you are going this way with it, do you change your shoes depending on what you are wearing in the house?
    You get up and the first thing you throw on is some shorts and a t-shirt. Do you wear trainers with that outfit? What about if you change into something more substantial? Do you change your shoes to match?
    Do you wear different shoes when you go to the bathroom? It is, afterall, arguably the most casual room in the house so you wouldn’t want to be too over dressed for the occasion.