For Your Cure: kickoff event tonight

I am excited to be taking part in the first event put on to support For Your Cure.
Here are the details:

The Charlotte Checkers, 1065 The End, CGR Creative and The Gin Mill are sponsoring Give A Puck Night with For Your Cure! Come out to The Gin Mill and get served by the guest bartenders of the night, The Charlotte Checkers! $1.00 of each beer sold will go directly to For Your Cure! This event will be limited to those who are 21 and older.

FOR YOUR CURE is a charity that specializes in providing people suffering from cancer an outlet to occupy their mind and body through creative expression.

Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: The Gin Mill
Address: 1411 South Tryon St, Charlotte, NC

Job Hunting: tips for graphic designers & others looking for work

Here are a few tips for those of you looking for jobs, some of these apply to brand new job seekers, and others to those who have been out there in the field for a while.

Indeed.com

Skip Monster, Hot Jobs, Career Builder, Craig's List and all the others because Indeed.com pulls all those listings and more. This is the first place to start looking for openings.

Tell everybody

Your network of friends and friends of friends is your biggest asset when it comes to hearing about new openings, but not your only one. Sometimes it's the guy we bumped into at the coffee shop who is in the know about an open position. In today's economy most employers do not want to post an ad for a new position unless they absolutely have to. They don't want to incur the expense or have to slog through a thousand responses to find a good candidate. So call all those old college buddies, hit up your peeps on facebook, or whatever it is you need to do to let your network of contacts know that you are looking for a job.

Be specific

I hate it when people ask me to help them find a job and it turns out they don't even know what they want. We all want more money, we all want a shorter commute, we all want better benefits, we all want a better looking secretary, these things don't describe jobs... they describe perks. "I want to work in publishing" isn't much better. There are janitors who work for publishers... I'm sure I can get you a job cleaning toilets at a publisher! What the hell is it that you actually want to do?

It takes work

Finding a job you enjoy, that pays the bills, and fulfills your creative needs is, well, not easy. It requires work, self promotion, attention to detail, and commitment to see the process through. If you are not willing to drive 30 minutes for an interview, if you aren't willing to put in a few weeks as a non-paid intern, if you can't bring yourself to take out your elbow piercings for work, if you refuse to wear a tie, or work for the man, or what have you, then you are not serious about finding a job.

Cold calls and setting appointments

Yes, you must sell yourself in order to get a job. You will need to call those companies that you believe have the type of job you want. It is very unlikely that they will call you. So first you must do some research to find out who the decision maker(s) are at each company on your list, then you must prepare a short over the phone introduction that includes your name, basic qualifications, and desire to sit down with them to discuss the possibility that you could help their company, finally you must... actually call them!

It should be pointed out here that you don't want to leave the next contact up to them. Obviously this is the easy thing to do. "Well, thanks for your time today... I look forward to hearing from you." is not an acceptable way for you to get off the phone or out of a meeting. You must take control by saying something more like, "Thanks so much for your time today, can we go ahead and set up a day to meet next week or should I call you Monday in order to see how your week is shaping up?"

Don't judge a book by it's cover

Sometimes companies have more to offer than you might think. I once took an interview at a small copy shop, thinking that I could maybe get some leads on larger printers from the owner. Well, it turned out that the owner actually owned a commercial printing company that in turn owned the copy shop. I got a great job working for a great guy because of an interview I almost talked myself out of taking. Sometimes the interview is exactly what you thought and they don't have anything to offer you, but you still get experience and if they offer you the job that's a free ego boost. Simply put go on every interview you can... all you have to lose is a bit of your time and you may stand to gain way more than you think.

New Job: style consultant for CGR Creative

I am pleased to announce that I have accepted a consulting position with CGR Creative in Charlotte, North Carolina. Some of you may know that Jason Ramsey, Creative Director of CGR, is a former student of mine. I have been following his career with great interest over the last seven years and really couldn't be more excited to work with him at CGR. Jason and his partner Julio Colmenares have created a company that is innovative, creative, and really able to turn on a dime. They get behind their customers in a way that larger agencies just can't, committing all their resources to ensure the success of their client's projects. This is a shared philosophy that I have always tried to follow. Sometimes this means turning down a new project if you can't devote the time and resources needed to make it successful. Most agencies get too blinded by dollar signs and lose sight of the fact that their client's success is their own success. This commitment to client success is the driving principle behind CGR Creative and the number one reason that I am happy to give up my ringside seat to join in the fight.

I will be CGR Creative's Style Consultant so I'll be handling some traditional PR responsibilities, a few fun event planning tasks, some social media duties, but more than anything else, I'll be promoting CGR itself. CGR Creative is the fastest growing creative agency that you have never heard of and it is now my job to make sure that doesn't stay the case.

Please visit the CGR web site, to see why I am so passionate about this agency. Once you see what they are all about, I know you will want to become our fan on facebook, subscribe to our blog, and follow us on twitter.

Uggs: Hot or Not?

Well... ummm... Yes, they're hot. They're also smelly, bad for your feet, and they're sure to make you look like a pachyderm with cankles. So why do so many women still buy and wear them? It boils down to one key concept: sheep.

Uggs are made of sheepskin and lined with wool made from, you guessed it, sheep. Sheep are animals best known for doing whatever the animal in front of them is doing. So it stands to reason that if someone were to buy a pair of ugly boots sheep would do the same. In other words: you are what you wear.

Ferretgate

Ferretgate: the long story

It has been a long while since my last blog post but I have a problem that you can help with. I want a ferret. This may seem like no big dilemma but unfortunately my friends and peers seem to be polarized by this issue, so I am putting it up for a kind of vote.

Before I explain the details let me make my case. I have owned a ferret in the past. I got her when I was in college around Christmas time so I naturally named her Holly. She loved me. In fact she loved me so much that she didn't let anyone near me without nibbling at their toes or playfully barking at them, to be fair it sounded more like a chirp. She stole shiny trinkets and hid them under my bed. She curled up in my lap when I watched TV. She slept on my face. She was my world.

When I graduated from college I got a job in Columbia, SC. After living their for a few months I decided I would like to get another ferret to keep Holly company while I was at work or out. My girlfriend at the time (now wife) thoughtfully bought me one but she did not pay attention to my two rules of ferret buying.

Rules of Ferret Buying

1. Buy only female ferrets.

2. Watch the prospective ferret in the pet shop to make sure it uses the litter box.

She bought me a male ferret. He was very cute and he too adored me. However, I learned the hard way that one way male ferrets attract mates and impress other ferrets is to publicly display how good they are at acquiring, and therefor providing food. They display this by depositing solid waste all over the place.

At the time I lived in a townhouse and did not have adequate facilities or time to train away this behavior. I eventually had to give the ferrets up to a friend that lived on a farm with several rooms she could devote to the ferrets. I cried... a lot.

Now I know that I only want one female ferret. I am also committed to training her if need be to use the litter box. I want to name her Wasabi.

Here is How You Can Help

I have a T-shirt shop where you can buy either Team Ferret shirts or Team No Ferret shirts. If more people buy the Team Ferret shirts by January 17th, my birthday, I will buy a ferret. If more people buy the Team No Ferret shirts I will not buy one. I agree to abide by the decision.

Team Ferret Shirts

http://tiny.cc/teamferret

Team No Ferret Shirts

http://tiny.cc/noferret

Decision Time

I will announce the vote tally in public at The Gin Mill in Charlotte, NC on Wednesday, January 20th at 6:30. I would like to thank you in advance for your support!

Reversible Belts: godsend or garbage?

Most of us have at least toyed with the idea of buying a reversible belt at one time or another. The idea that you can go from wearing black shoes at work and then switch to brown shoes with jeans for the evening is attractive. So, if one belt will do both it seems like a no brainer. There are a few issues though and this article should help you decide if a reversible belt is something you want to add to your wardrobe.

First off they don't last as long as most regular style belts. The same mechanism that allows the buckle to flip also creates a weak point in the design. This makes it really important not to wear this type of belt two days in a row. Wearing leather goods for multiple days does not allow the leather to shrink back to its original size. Therefore if you wear the same belt multiple days in a row you are stretching the leather to its maximum and putting even more pressure on the buckle. The only possible exception to this rule is if you are packing for vacation and really need to conserve space in your suitcase. At that point it may make sense to wear the one reversible belt that will give you the most options on your trip.

Another typical problem is that reversible styles tend to be far more casual than most dress style belts. Reversible belts are not the choice for formal occasions like weddings and black tie dinners. 

The final issue arises if you wear the belt significantly more often displaying one side rather than splitting your days between both sides. Uneven wear can create shapes in the leather that are hard to overcome when you decide to reverse it.

If you think these issues pale in comparison to the benefits of a reversible belt, then by all means go out and grab one. Either way, at least you are making an informed decision.

Shirts: how to spot quality

There are so many options out there when it comes to choosing a dress shirt these days that it can be tough to decide between what to buy. Many guys aren't even sure what makes one shirt better than another, so I'm going to point out a few things to look for on your next trip out.

Thread Count

Generally speaking the higher the thread count of a cotton shirt, the softer and better feeling the fabric is. This is due to the use of finer cotton in higher thread count shirts. This same rule applies to things like bed sheets.

Heavy Fabric

High thread count does not always imply heavy fabric. When it comes to cotton shirts heaviness is more directly related to the ply of the shirt. Heavier shirts are often two-ply, meaning there are two layers of fabric. An Oxford shirt is traditionally two-ply and these can still feature a thread count in the 80s.

Cotton Quality

Not every cotton is equal, and this means that sometimes the quality of the cotton can be more important than the thread count. Egyptian cotton is widely regarded as one of the most luxurious cottons on the planet, but the highest quality cotton actually comes from Sea Island, Georgia.

Other Stuff

Now, this does not mean that every high quality shirt will be made of the best cotton or even have a high thread count. The overall look of the shirt is just as important. Examine the details: look at the placket construction, check the buttonholes, inspect the collars and cuffs. Avoid any shirt that has loose threads still attached or that shows puckering at the seams.

These should give you some points to ponder the next time you go shopping for shirts. Looking for these qualities will help insure that you make the right choice.

The Scarf: hot trend this winter

This winter the scarf is back! In fact it may really just be getting here in the first place. Guys in Europe have long known that the right scarf can improve their look, while most of us in the U.S. have been sporting cold bare necks even on the most frigid of days. If you are new to scarves or just checking to make sure you're getting the most out of them, the following tips may help.

Size Does Matter:

When it comes to length, longer is better. You want a scarf you can wrap once or twice around your neck and still have enough length left to fall somewhere near necktie length. As for width... wider is also better. The newest trend is to wear a scarves so that they have some bulk against the neck. Now you do not want to look like you are wearing a neck brace, but I'm sure you get the idea.  

Color and Pattern:

Bold colors and patterns are very trendy, tartans for instance are a classic look that is getting a lot of play this season. Stripes are possibly the most popular this year and they can add visual length to your torso. When possible try to match some color within the scarf to a color on your shirt or coat, but the scarf does not really need to match anything you are wearing. Avoid paisley and other less masculine patterns unless you are trying for a particular effect.

Knots and Placement:

As a rule a loose knot just under the chin is the best look. If you are wearing a formal coat with lapels the scarf should go under them. If you are not wearing a coat or have a more casual look on top is fine. 

Avoid the Following:

Extra long tassels are never a good look for a guy. Fuzzy material or those strange knits that look like giant caterpillars are not recommended, unless you are an entomologist. Also the length should be long, not crazy. If the scarf is wrapped around your neck and it still falls below your knee it was made for a girl, probably a tall one. White scarves do not look good on guys and they don't stay white very long anyway so stay away from them too.

I hope these tips will help answer your scarf questions and maybe you'll try rocking one the next time you hit the town on a cold evening.