Spring Fashion

For you fashion savvy individuals, my current job at Saks 5th Ave gives me some insider information on current fashion. This is what will be in this spring for both men and women according to the buyers.

If you're looking to be in style this season pay close attention.


MEN'S SPRING 2007










NAVY BLAZER

a nicely cut, spring weight navy blazer is definitely our first among equals this spring
dresses up casual looks, even shorts; keeps dressy events from being too stuffy
the deeper the navy tones the more versatile the blazer











WHITE JEANS

they're jeans so they're cool, but they're white so they're more polished than your average denim
try them with a great short sleeve shirt, stands out in a good way
they take a navy blazer into the sporty zone, champ











SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT

the tailored shirt got a reprieve from cuffs, just as right, just cooler than before
you are allowed to pop up the collar but only when you're alone on the beach with the dogs
plaids, patterns all in easy-on-the-eye colors











RUGBY SHIRT

speaking of sporty, in terms of shirts it doesn't get any more winning than this
we like the stripes in mixed colors best
the white collar hooks up with the white jean without looking premeditated











SPORTY SUNGLASSES

aerodynamics are the key, sleek, hints of motocross styling
aviators are always right, this spring squared up a bit
think skiers, skydivers, cyclists, Steve McQueen











STREET SNEAKERS

when we say street, we're thinking more urbane than urban
ergonomics meet foot art, look for organic shapes and colors
try them with your new seersucker suit for a sporting footnote











CLASSIC SWIMSUIT

a classic suit is just the right length trunk in a easy-going tropical print
square cuts and even swimmer suits can be classic, as long as they're graphic and dark
check out the new hybrid suits, part swimsuit, part walking shorts












DRESSED UP SHORTS

put a blazer over shorts and you've taken the whole afternoon to the next level
call it Global Warming, but shorts are more acceptable more places than ever, as long as you've dressed them up a bit
leave the printed t-shirt at home, drop on the tailored short sleeve shirt instead











SEERSUCKER

seersucker is cool this spring, literally and figuratively
makes a great blazer for dressing up or down
in shorts or pants it's the subtlest way to have a sporting stripe



WOMEN'S SPRING 2007












CHIC DAY DRESS

it's the ultimate in one-piece dressing
look for extra-feminine details like eyelet, tiny ruffles and soft colors
short is the sweetest length, from an inch above the knee to as high as you dare to go, just stay in your comfort zone
remember a mini can be a tad more modest doubling as a tunic over slim pants












COCKTAIL DRESS

the pretty/posh party dress has returned in the biggest way
choose short and fluttery or slightly longer and leaner
a metallic shoe ups the glamour quotient











CRISP WHITE SHIRT

in a season of ultra-femininity, this tailored classic is a refreshing alternative
bright white is the light half of the graphic spectator trend
pair it with a black skirt, trousers, or even a slim city short











FLAT SHOE

the dancer flat keeps the flightly spring silhouette demurely grounded
try flats with the mini dress, trousers, almost anything this spring
here, too, metallics put a little extra glamour into your daytime look












PLATFORM SHOE

in the transition toward the pretty pump, this is the height of style
don't forget heels on a platform are not just for night, try them with jeans
keep it lively with animal prints or mixed metals











SHORTS

there's no stopping women's love affair with shorts...of all lengths
the long slim short is spring's alternative to the skirt or pants
try an oversized blouse or shirt to give the silhouette balance












HAND-HELD BAG

the evolution of the clutch, best small and smart
this is a good spot for a touch of spring's hot metals
look for textures, like woven and quilted leathers, and wristlet handles












HIGH-WAISTED BELT

wear the new belts, as wide as they come, above the natural waist
it cinches the silhouette of spring, which starts high and stays there
another strategic way to add a flash of metallics








FLORAL FRAGRANCE

when ruffles and roses are in the air, a sweet garden-born scent can't be far behind
look for notes from subtle exotics like neroli with just a touch of tuberose
indulge your romantic fantasies more often, wear florals every day



fashion, style, shopping

Pickup 101 Intro Seminar – What are you waiting for?!

So, let me lay down some experience. And I’m not talking dating advice here; I’m talking about how to make a change in your life. Having started from an unhappy guy to a guy satisfied with his love life – I want to let you know the deal.

If you’re actually going to make a change – then do it. Don’t wait around for your inner game to get better, to memorize a few routines, or to practice your openers.

Having known about the community – and all the concepts – for years now I can say one thing.

Reading didn’t help me get better once. It helped me to change the way I thought, but in terms of affecting my ability to meet girls it has minimal returns.

When you take a pickup101 workshop, you won’t learn anything that you couldn’t read about somewhere on the internet. There truly aren’t any secret revolutionary concepts that we save ONLY for workshops.

I’m serious, go read some reviews. They’ll talk about all of the concepts, exercises, and advice that we give. Read enough of them and I’ll bet you could put together a pretty good manual to refer too.

You know why we don’t care that something like this could even exist? I mean, aren’t all of our “trade secrets” going to get out? The answer is NO, because we have no reason to hide it.

We have no reason to hide it because it really won’t help anyone.

Think about it. How do you get better at public speaking, by reading or by practicing? How do you learn how to act, by reading or by practicing? How do learn stand up comedy, by reading or by practicing?

Interacting with people is a physical skill – NOT a intellectual one. So, then why wouldn’t your physically practice? This concept it really the core of why Pickup101 workshops are so effective. It has EVERYTHING to do with practicing.

Hell, ask our interns if even being present at a workshop helps. These guys get to sit front row and center in on the whole weekend, but do NOT participate at all other then observing. They’ll tell you it was cool, but it doesn’t even come close to actually participating in the exercises.

Having said this, I get really frustrated at intro-seminars. I get frustrated because guys who come spend $50 to come see what we’re about. If you decide after that it’s not for you – that’s totally cool. The people who drive me nuts are the guys who really want to take the workshop, but don’t.

They spend enough time and money on the internet researching us, paying the money, coming down to the seminar, listening for two hours, and chatting to us afterwards. They think waiting is going to make a difference.

They need to wait until they fix their inner game, learn new openers, learn new routines, or whatever else. They fail to realize that this will in fact make it harder later. They’ll be so caught up thinking that they won’t be able to ACT.

That’s really what this is about – taking action. Who cares if you know what you’re supposed to do, but can’t actually do it. Sure, you may give great advice to your friends, how does that help you?

And the money…it’s never a good time to spend $2,000, but I personally found the workshop more rewarding than my college education which cost me $20,000. And I spent that money without thinking twice.

But let’s really talk about the money, because that always seems to be the issue. Ever thought about the opportunity cost of the money for you economically oriented guys?

I have spent tons of money on women - flowers, dinners, drinks, dates. If I really had to think about how much I have actually spent on a woman, I might actually cry. And I’ve never even been married and had to pay for a ring, a wedding, a house, or kids. What happens when that all fails apart because you settled on a woman, rather then marrying someone you really were into. Someone you could handle because you have the experience.

Have you seen what the cost of a divorce really looks like?

Why NOT spend that money on yourself so that instead of making some woman happy, you can make yourself happy. Empower yourself rather then taking her on a date. How many bad dates do you have to go on before you realize that you have wasted $2,000. How much will you kick yourself in the butt a year from now knowing that you could have taken this, but instead you wasted $2,000 and have NOTHING to show for it?

Spend that money on yourself rather then someone else. Make your own life better. You’re going to spend it somewhere, maybe not all at once, but somewhere. Hold off buying that new LCD TV, golf clubs, or computer and spend it on something that is truly going to make a difference in your life.

Spend the money on making your relationships better instead of things to occupy your time distracting from being unhappy about the fact that you have no woman in your life to share it with.

Or don’t….

When you come to that workshop, I’m not going to ask you why you’re not going to take it. You won’t need to make any excuses to me.

The only excuse that you’ll need to make is to yourself.

pickup 101

Female Friends, Social Circles, and the quickest way to get better with Women

I have always kept female friends around. It’s always included girls that I have always been completely platonic with and girls that I have dated, either seriously or casually. I’m the type of person I like having friends around and I especially can appreciate female energy.

I realize though not all guys are like this. Some guys just like having guys around. Maybe just because that’s what they’re used too. Some guys don’t keep many friends around at all. But, something that I have noticed is that guys who are truly good with women keep just as many female friends as they do male friends.

Interesting. Seems obvious doesn’t it? If you’re reading this, I’m sure you’d like to improve your skills with women. So, let me ask you? How many close female friends do you have?

If you don’t, how come?

If you don’t have a lot of close female friends around you, I’d be willing to bet that you never really have had close female friends – other then a girlfriend here and there. If you want to get better at reading and understanding women, the quickest way is to have female friends.

I was talking to some “PUAs” the other day. By the way, I don’t like that acronym and use it to describe guys new that think it’s about tips, tricks and techniques – basically out of touch with reality.

Anyways, they were talking about how they never stay friends because they make the “ho say no.” I think there is an element to the statement that can helpful to certain guys who aren’t used to escalating, but that’s typically not the context for it. Whatever the case, these guys basically thought keeping female friends was NOT important.

So for you “PUAs” out there who think this isn’t important, ever heard of social circle game? For you guys that understand money – not women, let me put it this way. Female friends are not all that different from making financial investments where you can make residual income. One female friend that you keep a genuinely close connection with can be your gateway to many other women. In fact if you meet a very social chick who’s cool, you potentially could have a limitless supply of her friends always in and out of the dynamic.

The rest of the world, who doesn’t like to meet people in bars, coffee shops, grocery stores, speed dating events, likes to meet through their social circle. In fact, this is the preferred way for most of the world to meet people.

Just like VISA and MASTERCARD.

So, let me offer so different advice. You could go out and do 10 cold approaches and try and date those women. Maybe it will work out, maybe it won’t, but in either case you’ll only have access to those ten women.

Or

You could go out and make 10 female friends. You can practice flirting with them, you can connect with them, and never escalate to something physical. When it’s said and done you have the opportunity to meet more women, then just those ten women, by just being friends with them.

Think about it, just because things are platonic doesn't mean you can't practice flirting. You make 10 new friends and you have 10 new people that you can practice flirting with - this is how you really make a lasting change. I flirt with everyone because I have become that guy. I practiced it until it became natural and I started by practicing on my female friends.

If you like to talk about “modeling reality” and “naturals” this is what they do. "Naturals" keep girls around them all the time, platonic and non-platonic. They always keep women around who are friends, and those women always bring more women around, and they didn’t have to do one single cold approach and are still very successful with lots of different women on a regular basis.

Think about it.