Gold: You can purchase yellow or white gold rings.  Women can find them in all different styles, as well as men.

Silver: Silver is a less common wedding ring option, although you can find plenty of rings in the market.  This option is less durable than the other metal options available and so that should really be considered.  It is often purchased because of budget constraints.

Platinum: Platinum has become a very popular wedding band metal.  It is very expensive, but durable and beautiful.  It has a silver sheen to it.

Titanium:  Titanium entered as a hit with men’s wedding bands, because of the ability to purchase it in several different sheens, but also because of how light weight it is.  It can be easily bent and scratched though, so lifestyle is a very important factor when deciding if this is the right metal to go with.

Tungsten: Mens Tungsten carbide wedding rings are the newest rage.  It is 4 times as hard as titanium and is very scratch resistant.  When there is no cobalt in the metal it is very strong and will last forever.  Tungsten can also be purchased in several shades of silver and also comes in black.  There are lines of Tungsten bands for women as well.

The next important decision is the choice of stone(s) for the bride.  Many brides are now getting diamonds, but also adding in a pearl or other precious stone for their more prominent stone.  Pearls, rubies, sapphires, etc. are all options that can be incorporated into the wedding band.  Whatever the stone it is important to learn about the quality of whatever stone you are getting.  Diamonds are graded on their perfection and the more perfect they are the more clear they are, the more they sparkle and the more they cost.  Sparkle is also dependent upon the cut of the diamond.

Women also need to decide what style of ring they want.  This is often decided by their lifestyle and fashion preferences.  Many women, for instance, don’t consider that they should have their main stone lowered, so as to cause less trouble by getting caught on things.  Some women don’t care and just want a big stone that is placed high.  Other women don’t even want rings with stones sticking out, they would rather have a flat ring, channel or otherwise, with the diamonds imbedded inside the ring.

Budget is the most important thing however.  You must stay within budget.  Tungsten and gold are very affordable and lasting options
 (although the sheen of gold may change over the years, but this gives it a very antique and classic look).  Getting smaller and fewer diamonds can lower the price as well.  Cubic zirconia is also an option to replace the diamonds altogether.  They look quite beautiful and the untrained eye won’t be able to tell the difference between CZ and a real diamond – nor would most people care.  Looking around and watching for sales is also a great option.  There are plenty of good internet sites for buying high quality weddings rings at reduces prices, because they don’t have an overhead – in other words they don’t have to pay for huge advertising and show room costs.

You can find the right wedding ring and within your budget with a bit a research and a lot of looking.  All of that looking is extremely important and well worth it, especially when you plan on wearing that ring forever.

Whether it’s for a job interview or it’s a daily requirement, almost every guy will need to dress respectably occasionally. How you dress in a professional environment says a lot about you. Your choice of attire may not directly reflect on how qualified you are for your job, but it definitely lets others know how seriously you take your work and the relationships you have with the people there. It also signals an ability to understand what’s appropriate in specific situations. A silk necktie looks much better in the office than an Affliction polo.

So what should you wear if you want to be taken seriously in business? Before I break it down, let me say that some companies have their own unofficial standards that may differ slightly. Also, some people can break these rules because they have enough power, even though they usually don’t.

The Suit

This is the most important for the first impression. In America, business suits are two-pieces with two-buttons in a dark color other than brown. Stick with grey, navy, or charcoal black. Any patterns should be sedate, which means pinstripes and very conservative window panes and tight hound’s tooth. Wool-cashmere blends look good, and wool-silk can work as long as it’s not too shiny. The cut is just as important as the color and fabric. Your suit should be current but not too cutting edge. This means no skinny legs. You’re not in a bar trying to impress uptown socialites, you’re at work.

The Shirt

You can never go wrong with a solid white shirt, although pinstripes are totally fine. Stay away from bright colors and eye-catching designs. French cuffs can look pretentious unless it’s a special occasion, which doesn’t include a job interview. Also stay away from button collars, opting instead for the stiff ones. I probably don’t need to say this, but the silk shirt died with Vanilla Ice’s fame. And finally, make sure your shirt is spotless and professionally pressed.

The Tie

If your inner peacock is being stifled by your suit, the necktie is your chance to spice things up… a little. First, a good necktie is a silk necktie. Your tie’s color needs to be coordinated with your suit and shirt; it should stand out without being a strong focal point of your overall appearance. Guess what, this means the “power tie” is out. Also, stay away from the narrow European cut neckties. How should you tie your necktie? That depends on the material. I like a full Windsor knot for thinner material, and a half for thicker stuff. Your tie should reach to just above your belt.

The Shoes (and socks)

Your shoes should be leather with ½-¾-inch soles on the heels. If you’re wearing the right suit, black shoes are always safe. Brown can work for grey and navy, although light brown with a navy suit is death. Your socks should always match the color of your pants and be long enough not to expose skin when you cross your legs. And finally, your belt should match your shoes as precisely as possible.

I’m not a big fan of the current political situation. Frankly, the GOP primary seems more like a circus than a contest for the presidency. And however hard I may try to avoid it, I am occasionally subjected to coverage of the debacle. Such was my experience today as I saw a short video clip of Donald Trump calling out Jon Stewart for what he perceived as a racist rant against Herman Cain. You can see the video below if you wish, but what I just can’t get over the Donald’s hair.

Is That a Dead Animal?

There is one undeniable fact that Donald Trump seems determined to ignore: He has a receding hairline! It’s okay. Lots of guys have the same issue. Some go with the shaved head. Others try plugs, implants or Rogaine. However, Donald Trump is a billionaire and has a hair stylist that is both persuasive and creative. Persuasive because he/she somehow convinced Donald that this looks good and creative because not many stylists would think to comb the hair forward, then back and to the side. But no matter how enamored Donald is with having his real hair, he can’t seem to grasp that it looks AWFUL!

The technology world lost a great leader today with the passing of Steve Jobs.

Since his return in 1996 (when NeXT was acquired) Apple became a new company. The iPod was an unqualified success and became synonymous with the MP3 market. The list of failed competitors is longer than most teenagers’ playlists. Not only was the device easier to use, it was well constructed and fashionable with its sleek appearance.

Steve Jobs ruled the company with an iron fist and security in Cupertino would rival a government agency. The design improvements trickled through the entire product line with the introduction of the colorful iMac, the aluminium unibody laptops and the now ubiquitous iPhone.

His personal style was very simple; a black mock turtleneck and jeans. His taste in cars was classy; a silver Mercedes coupe with no plates (and always parked illegally in a handicap spot in front of Apple headquarters). His taste in technology; impeccable.

This site was started years ago to sell humorous t-shirts and now I’ve decided to add a blog and write about fashion, style, and just about anything else that sparks my creative interest. Of course, the t-shirts are still available but I hope you’ll find my insights and observations useful. Thanks!