Category: Men’s Wear

Essential + Classic: Spring Shoes Edition

Posted on by louis polo

With the hope that times of quarantine and self-isolation will soon be over, I wanted to share my favorite shoe options for the spring season, with great emphasis on functionality and priority. We're often very quick to discard a shoe option because of its classic style before considering how essential and durable they can be. I wanted to challenge myself, with the help of some of my favorite brands, to style and include those classics into my routine. And to be frank, the challenge was a total breeze.

I came to understand that certain shoe styles have transcended to be as essentials as the mandatory formal white shirt, or the "must have" dark pair of jeans. Following these simple unspoken rules will make your wardrobe less intimidating to navigate and will expand the use of your existing pieces. In addition to the wearable flexibilities, owning essential pieces will certainly sharpen your very own sense of style and will drive you to try new things within your own closet inventory.

From rainy days to spring transitioning weather, owning a pair of comfortable leather chelsea boots is crucial. You can easily make them part of your office attire, or dress them down to a more casual jeans-like gathering. Same can be done with Diego Sneakers (from NISOLO), paired well with chinos or with ripped jeans like I did. From there, the style possibilities can really be endless. Keeping one or two casual classic sneakers is also a must.

Getting a visual idea might be a lot more refreshing for you, that is why I've selected my favorite looks, styled with my now favorite classic shoes. I've taken some of these very distant from my day-today routine. I traveled with my Wolverine Plain Toe Boots, everywhere while living and exploring the Dominican Republic for over a month. Whenever it was time for me to move to another city, I knew I had to wear those. From taking buses in remote and rural areas to flying from one country to another, these came in very handy at last. I want to know which styles have become essentials to your routine. Don't forget to share your tips and tricks when it comes to shoes and if you haven't already, check out how I styled mine 🙂 Until next time!

Cheers,

WOLVERINE - BLVD CHELSEA BOOTS

CONVERSE - CLASSIC CHUCK TAYLOR ALL STAR

WOLVERINE - BLVD PLAIN TOE BOOTS

NISOLO - DIEGO SNEAKERS

REEBOK'S CLASSIC CLUB C 85

This post was sponsored by @Wolverine, @Shopwss, and @Nisoloshoes

SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS

Morning Paper x SAS

Posted on by louis polo

It has become very hard to simulate the feeling of being in New York City. So much culture and remarkable people corner after corner. The world at your fingertips, an immense feeling of opportunities and great progress. I feel so inspired and joyful whenever I'm the big apple.

I remember walking to school, grabbing the Spanish free paper, and stopping for some empanadas. Doing these tittle things, a few times a week, made me feel a bit closer to home. Until slowly, New York became home. It has given me the opportunity to expose and open myself to so many different scenarios. I've been blessed with the life education acquired from my time living in the city. Slowly becoming more vulnerable and understanding of others.

I'm forever grateful for the memories and the adversities New York threw at me. Every time I go back home, I make sure to be fully prepare to face all the city has to offer. On this particular occasion, I partnered with SAS (San Antonio Shoemakers) to tackle my day from a very comfortable perspective - wearing their Journey Mesh Lux Lace Up Sneaker.  Starting with grabbing the Spanish morning paper - like the old days, having breakfast with my sister before getting some work done, followed by scheduled meetings and hows, then dinner at my moms, and finally going for Friday night drinks with some old friends. Since I'm always on the go, these shoes paired effortlessly with any of my look! I decided to share the look with which I started the day, right before having breakfast with my sister.

 This is the feeling of being home.

Cheers,

This post was sponsored by @Sasshoemakers

Sunglasses were gifted by @Fossil. Outfit was gifted by @Asos.

Pouch (bag) was gifted by @Subtle_park (Use my promo code POLO10 for a sweet discount)

SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS

On The Go – Bus Stop Essentials

Posted on by louis polo

Transitioning from one season to another is essentially very fun for me, when referring to fashion of course. Is that period lasting about seven to ten days; Where weather is shifting from Summer to Autumn or Winter to Spring - I call it my play out period. This is when weather tends  to drastically change from one day to the other, and often weather predictions are shifting with very short notice. This is the perfect time to merge my favorite fashion aspects of both seasons into one look.

This might sound quite odd or unusual to some people, but this fun playtime with fashion is something I've been doing since I was in high school. I remember walking into the classroom in black shorts, a black turtle neck, a navy blue square-cut jacket, and black double-tasseled loafers, when one of my classmates asked "what the hell was I wearing" and if "I was confused about the weather." Now, of course, these questions were not taken personally from my end, considering the visible lack of sense of style from my classmate. This was the first time I noticed... people noticed. I always encourage everyone to make their own fashion choices and statements based on their true selves. Of course, they are trends and so call "fashion rules" that were stablished by who-knows-who,  but who says rules were meant to be followed.

I started to show up to places with very different pieces merged into one attire. Anything from short-shorts paired with a longline duster jacket and sneakers, to wearing no top under my coat. Not the most revelrous activity in which I've partaken, but for sure the one in which I had the most fun for so many season. In retrospect, that is the concluding argument of these few sentences: have fun with whatever you wear.

I recently had the opportunity to rediscover that "sexy," "good looking," "being a snack," and all the synonyms of having a powerful vibe, are solely driven by feelings. It was such a shocking moment to understand, after so many years, that how you see yourself in the mirror - and how others potentially perceive you - is the perfect and identical reflection of how you feel - Now, read that again, OUT LOUD. Is through the power of words and awareness that we can change our perception of ourselves and others. Remember to genuinely complement others and their great assets, respectfully - say it! You can be the one to highlight and spark the curiosity in others about their own potentials and strengths, physically or otherwise.

I know this post might be turning a bit long, comparing to my regulars. I believe at this point you have grasped what I'm trying to convey. Feel good, project your greatness through your own fashion, and respectfully complement others. All of these previous points will eventually lead you to happiness and self acceptance. Open yourself to experience such feelings, I recently did. These bullet points and your favorite magazine are your ultimate bus stop essentials; Don't forget to take them with you to your final destination. Enjoy the ride!

Cheers,

SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS

The Last Bookstore – Zona Colonial, Dom. Rep.

Posted on by louis polo

With today's tecnological advances and accessibility, the need to purchase tangible books, based on my personal experiece, are in decline. We are resorting more and more to online outlets to quench our reading needs. There are so many present changes responsible for this decline and for the lost of interest within the younger generation.

I do love and enjoy a hard-cover book, but if I'm frank, is not for the purpose of reading. Every room in my house - except the bathrooms - have a noticeable stack of coffee-table-sized books as to convey a very specific aesthetics. I love looking at them, opening them up and going through their pictures once in a while - they make me happy!

As many of you know by my Instagram Stories, I went to work and explore my motherland, The Dominican Republic for an entire month. This is when, while scouting for locations we came across this little corner magazine stand we really liked. We do the usual: Ask for permission, fix my clothes, and start shooting. In between the very fast picture snapping moments and the motion of getting that "right shot," the sweet owner comes up to us and asks if we wanted to go inside. At this very moment, my photographer and I exchanged a very confused and random look, because we didn't know what he meant by "inside."

We followed him, and just around the corner there was a door. This is when our looks drastically shifted from confused to suspicious and panic. But yes, you guessed it, we still went inside. When he opened the door, BOOM! There was this magical place furnished with handmade overstocked shelves and an insane variety of vintage books, magazines, and Spanish comics. He said books were no longer selling as much, but since he didn't want to get rid of them he kept them I a small storage right behind his magazine stand.

His very official bookstore - according to my visit and experience - is known among a small group of people who still appreciate and enjoy vintage books and absolutely mind-blowing findings. We had such great quick conversation before he left and allowed us to stay and explore on our own. We took some pictures, grabbed a few things, and left in total amazed and happiness for having found such cool place.

Sometimes the unexpected and different can allow us to experience some pretty remarkable head shaking moments. I thought It would be cool to share such pleasant experience and encourage you to open up that bookstore behind your corner magazine stand 🙂 Remember to always be kind, and yes, follow me on Instagram @Poloshyyt.

Cheers,

 

SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS

Urban Views x Swatch’s BIG BOLD Collection

Posted on by louis polo

If you've ever visited or lived in New York City, I think you can agree with the statement that New York is one of the few places in the world where everyone has the opportunity and freedom to be their authentic self, without judgement or reprecautions. A place where gender, sexuality, feminism, diversity, beliefs, love, and art, are all well respected forms of expressions. A place where is okay to be different.

Moving to New York, from the Dominican Republic, as a young teen really boosted the chances I so desperately wanted to be myself. I always had a basic yet clear understanding of my sexuality, but when I arrived and emerged myself into the New York culture I gave myself permission to be bold! Always remembering to be respectful to other people's boldness and raise my voice/power to demand respect for mine when necessary. Never being afraid.

That sense of being fearless gave me the perfect wings to fly and present myself to the world in my very own creative aspect. As an encouragement to one's unique attributes, @Swatch_US have created their colorful and fun collection: BIG BOLD. I'm always ready to get out of my comfort zone and give it all! With @Swatch_US you're destined to be front and center. Don't be afraid to be different, check-out the collection HERE or scroll down to the bottom of the page to find your favorites. I would love to hear your self-discovering story. Remember, is okay to BE YOUR LOUD SELF!

Cheers,

 

Sponsored by @Swatch_US

BE YOUR LOUD SELF!

Casual Springs in Santo Domingo

Posted on by louis polo

Cheers,

SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS

Festival Wear & Travel Experience – Coachella Day 2

Posted on by louis polo

TRAVEL EXPERIENCE:

Getting There: Without importance from which corner for the world you are traveling (unless you can drive or take public transportation, of course) , I recommend to arrive at the Palm Springs Int Airport. I recently learn some people decide to flight to Los Angeles instead, but the festival is actually 2+ hours drive from LAX. Even if you have to do an extra layover, I think is worth arriving right into Palm Springs. Why? driving from LAX or other "near by" airports is not that comfortable or as hassle free as you would think. Having to rent a car, deal with traffic, drive yourself or pay USD$100+ in Uber, is not very convenient - believe me.

Arriving to Palm Springs will give you the flexibility to safe time, energy, and potentially significant dollars. The city is fairly small, so no matter where in Palm Springs you'll be staying (YES, because you should definitely stay in Palm Springs) the airport will be less than 30 mins drive from your lodging's location.

Where To Stay: The month of April (not only Coachella weekends) is the busiest and most expensive time to travel to the desert. There's Dinah Shore Weekend and Stagecoach also taking place around the same time. With that being said, if you're trying to safe money on lodging, the options are quite limited. If you're not on a budget, skip to the next part, and book one of the many overpriced hotels - Enjoy room service 🙂

Moving on from the rich brats; Airbnb will be your best ally. But even then, you should book with anticipation - and I mean months. You would think that last minute Airbnbs will be cheaper because the host is interested in getting the listing booked. Well, that is generally the case, but this marketing strategy doesn't apply during Festival season. Young people tend to leave everything for the last minute, this increases demand on those very few places available and as a result, also skyrocketing Airbnb prices. Bottom line, plan ahead and you will safe!

Where To Eat: Now, as many of you know, this is the non-bugdet friendly section of this episode. I splurge on food - okurrttt? (not trying to get sued by Cardi B).

Without further ado, here are my favorite restaurants in Palm Springs:

 Farm (6 La Plaza)

4 Saints (at The Rowan Hotel)

Grand Central Palm Springs (160 La Plaza)

Lulu California Bistro (200 S Palm Canyon Dr)

Trio Restaurant (707 N Palm Canyon Dr)

The Tropicale (330 E Amado Rd)

Things To Do: Based on the fact that the most memorable Coachella performances take place at night, I listed my favorite daytime activities. Although you might feel like you wont have the strength to do anything during the day, is definitely worth to go out and get to know the city you're in. Make an effort, get ready relatively early, take some time to explore and take some sick pictures for the gram.

Desert X (A series of amazing art installations around the desert, super interactive and Instagramable)

Taquiz Canyon (Smooth morning hike with great views and water fall)

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (Not much to say, just a dope chill experience)

The Windmills (Great view, easy to access, and great scenery for pictures)

Moorten Botanical Garden (A  small garden with cool spots to complement your IG story)

I hope that you take something from this brief travel experience and tips, but if you didn't, just scroll down to my festival essentials picks and shop away! As usual, be safe and enjoy responsibly 🙂

Cheers,

  • Fringe Tank Top: Asos
  • Leather Jacket: H&M
  • Leather Spike Bracelet: Unknown
  • Beats Bracelet with Cross Charm: Armani
  • Plain Pants:  H&M
  • Red Velvet Boots: Asos
  • Blue Gambler Hat: Fairfax Flea Market (Los Angeles)
  • Tiger & Black Eye Rings:  Asos
  • Silver Band: Gucci
  • Black Retro Sunglasses: Vintage thrift store

FESTIVAL ESSENTIALS

Festival Wear & Tips – Coachella Day 1

Posted on by louis polo

Coachella, the music festival so many people await for and anxiously attend year after year. Around this festival season is when I feel somewhat proud and happy of being a desert local. Yes, I live in Palm Springs, the place where at least for 1 month, becomes the backyard of the whole world for music, party, and more music. Although the actual festival takes place in Indio; Palm Springs is certainly the capital of the desert. Yes! where all the parties happen and where most of the beautiful pictures by influencers are taken. I describe it as the place where the digital Coachella story is told.

Attending the festival is just the icing on top of the cake. The desert has so much to offer during this time of the year. From amazing weather to breathtaking views, national parks, and even natural springs. It becomes the perfect excuse to let out that Coachella spirit you never knew you had, no matter the time or season of the year. Now, take out your glitter, your long-line shirts, retro sunglasses, hat - and Coachella away!

For this first Coachella inspired look, I went with the most prominent color in my closet - black. Paring an extreme long-line mesh t-shirt with a black ripped denim jacket seem like the perfect combo - off the shoulders of course. To complete the all-black attire, I threw on a pair of black leather gladiator sandals from Asos and the classic black ripped jeans. Now, off I go, let's explore the desert!

TIPS

- Remember, is important to be very comfortable during the festival, I suggest you try on all your clothes and create sets of outfits so there are no surprises the day-of.

-  I do not recommend wearing open toe shoes, unless they have a chunky sole like my gladiator sandals. Why? there is sand and dirt everywhere. Your feet will get extremely dirty and, of course, the chances of someone stepping on your toes are extremely high. Close shoes are a safer option in case you bump into something. Believe me, you don't want to spend the entire festival with an injured toe.

- Don't wear expensive accessories. I know, you're cautious and never lose anything, oh yes, and you're planning to take a bag. Nice try! Among thousand of people, while dancing, jumping, taking pictures, and most likely drinking, the chances of losing your bag and precious items are very high. Purchase really cheap rings and sunglasses specially for the festival so that you won't feel so bad if you lose them.

- Only take what you need. Don't take important personal documents (driver's license, passport, etc.) Because what... YOU CAN LOSE THEM!

- Check the weather/temperatures before heading out. Before arriving, you might have planned for an outfit that doesn't go according the the current weather. Make sure you wear breathable clothes, always communicate and take the necessary precautions if you start to feel over-heated.

- Eat before the festival. You don't want to spend most of the time in lines waiting for crappy overpriced fast food. If you're planning to be at the festival for long hours, of course, eat and stay hydrated throughout the day. But if you're only attending for specific performances, take some snacks and eat before.

If you have any extra tips to share, feel free to use the comment section at the end of the post. For my Coachella style picks, check-out the essentials list also at the end of the post 🙂  Enjoy responsibly and be safe during festival season!

Cheers,

  • Yellow Retro Sunglasses: Asos
  • Ripped Denim Jacket: ZARA
  • Wrapped Jeans: TOPMAN
  • Basic Long-sleeve t-shirt: H&M
  • Gladiator Sandals: Asos
  • Rings: Pandora, Gucci, Asos
  • Watch & Bracelet: Paul Hewitt
  • Extreme Long-line Mesh T-shirt: Asos
  • Hair Products: Hair Situation (Gel) & René Furterer (Setting spray)

FESTIVAL ESSENTIALS

Perdido en el Desierto

Posted on by louis polo

Vivir en el Valle de Coachella puede ser sumamente divertido y caluroso todo el añ0. Pero la marea desierta se triplica durante el mes de Abril, porque? pues por todos los festivales de música y fiestas que duran hasta todo un fin de semana. Es el mes en el cual todo el mundo pone sus ojos en esta pequeña parte de California. Desde el afamado festival de Coachella a la reunion fiestera lesbia mas grande el país, Dinah Shore, este es el lugar donde todos quieren estar.

Mi primer Abril en el desierto, hace dos años, fue un poco confuso. La ciudad se torna mas activa en todos los sentidos: cientos de mega-autobuses transitando las calles, las personas en traje de baño caminando en los parques, muchas fiestas en los diferentes hoteles, y música por doquier. Considerando que la ciudad es sumamente tranquila durante todo el resto del año, para muchos locales, podría ser caótico mas que divertido. De todos modos, es una temporada de mucha alegría y diversion; se puede sentir la diferencia en el ambiente.

Por primera vez, me sentí perdido en el desierto. Los que me conocen bien saben que no soy de muchas fiestas y parrandas. Prefiero un ambiente mas calmado, ir a cenar, y pasarla en casa. Durante ese mes, quise probar cosas diferentes y salir un poco de mi zona de comfort; tomé mi cámara y me fui al medio del desierto. En ese entonces no tenia mucho conocimiento sobre el estilo de vestir para los festivales y mucho menos como sobrevivir la gran cantidad de personas.

A pesar de todo, la pase super bien y me divertí muchísimo. Al fin y al cabo, se trata de llevar del espíritu musical y el ritmo por dentro para así encajar perfectamente. Aunque nos e trata de encajar, se trata de ser tu mismo. Es el momento para dejar tu imaginación volar libremente, sin perjuicios o dudas. Es ese pequeño lapso durante el año donde expresar lo que quieras, de una forma creativa, es totalmente valido. Se refleja mucha aceptación y liberta en todos los sentidos. Recuerda, el mes de Abril en el desierto puede ser tu año completo en cualquier otra parte del mundo 🙂

Hasta la próxima,

SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS

Over-sized Coat & Inspiration Hunt x Go Daddy

Posted on by louis polo

When it comes to new online projects, it can be quite challenging to gather developing ideas and generate a plan of execution. When I first started blogging, about six years ago, it all seemed to flow very smooth and as planed, but as things started developing and changing, I was aiming for much more. Aiming for more meant reaching new goals, learning new things, and coming up with new ideas in order to move with the changes. With so many other people blogging and having as much ambition and passion as me, it felt like I needed to constantly step up my game in all different sides of the spectrum. Don't get me wrong, I am fully conscious that there is so much more for me to learn and so many more projects to execute, but I'm ready and willing to take my ideas to another level.

Everything began with an idea and the creativity roll just started to unfold. My ultimate vision is to be able to continue growing and inspire others along the way, the same way I'm inspired by them. Have the opportunity to travel new places and share the world with you! Taking part in what has been describe as a very own millennial epidemic: waking up every morning and be you won boss.

Is all about finding that one thing that comes natural to you, that's effortless and that you're good at doing. From there on, work is the main ingredient for a pleasant ride. This has been a passion of mine for all these years, and I'm forever grateful for who continues to walk with me and @GoDaddy for giving me all the necessary tools I need to pave the road. Now, every vision, dream, and idea that comes my way, I'm confident I will be able to execute it thanks to @GoDaddy. I dare you! Now is your time to #MakeTheWorldYouWant - IT'S ALL WORTH IT!

Cheers,

#SponsoredPost

SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS