Holiday Gifts to Avoid 2012

Christmas is tomorrow and hopefully all your shopping is done. But even more importantly, hopefully you've avoided the following list of gifts!

First up, let's take a look at this nice gift idea: a black cotton mac from (drum roll, please)... Pretty Green!

A cotton mac for the wealthy Oasis-obsessed Mod set.

I can't believe I'm going to say this but this isn't a bad piece of coat. Yup, a Pretty Green item I actually don't think is that bad. Nice, short collar with side pockets and epaulets. A step up from a parka if you're looking for protection from stormy weather. There's only one tiny snag in this little coat: it costs $1,100! Yes, you read that right: ONE-THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. Pretty Green, are you for real? If ANY of you have the money for a gift like this, don't be stupid. Please use it for a gift certificate to your local tailor instead. Seriously, for that kind of money you could probably get an even more stylish jacket made to your specifications PLUS a tab-collar shirt to boot!

One for the ladies. So, you think you look 'mod.' You think you dance 'mod.' You think you pose 'mod' in all your Facebook profile pics. But guess what. You probably don't smell 'mod'! Well, now you can fix that with this offering from Avon:

The essence of a "60's mod" bottled up.

And this stuff just won't make you smell like any ol' mod. Nope, you'll be engulfed in the aroma of actual "60's mod". Personally, I don't know what that's like, seeing as I was born a few years after the sixties ended. But this little item might just complete your total vintage experience. You're at a club and spot some gal who thinks she looks like Peggy Moffitt. She's out there doin' her Sandy Sarjeant dances while eyeballin' that fellow you're with. Well, all you need to do is walk right past her, let her take in a whiff of "60's mod," and watch that crestfallen look on her face. She just lost the 'mod' game.

Some of you have families, right? You probably don't have much luck driving your kids to school on your scooter. You and the wife need to hit the supermarket for a week's worth of groceries and scooters just don't seem very practical. In these cases, life forces you to bust out the Mazda or SUV. How embarrassing it's gotta be if you're driving by people who think you're just some regular ol' joe barely existing through life. Well, solve that problem with this little window decal to let the whole world know exactly what you're about:

Will be right at home next to your cartoon family decal sticker.

 With this little sticker, you'll announce your presence to the world.. After all, it's an important thing to make sure strangers know you're 'mod.' After all, why else would you walk around in a parka covered in advertisements for your favorite bands or a Union Jack pin on your lapel?

A few weeks back, there was some 'controversy' over Paul Weller and his tank-top/flip-flop look. Many of you thought, "What's the big deal? He's just relaxing and they're just clothes!" Well, for those of you who enjoy relaxing and don't think style is all that important, have I got a gift suggestion for you! Union Jack Uggs!

Lucky for you, I can't read German and I'm too lazy to find the actual link to buy these things.

After all, Mods need down time too, right? If flip-flops are an acceptable shoe, then why not Uggs? And hey... these are Union Jack Uggs! They'll go great with jeans and a parka.

Aw hell, everyone's suffering from Quadrophenia Fever lately! Well, show off your love of everyone's favorite Mod opera with this awesome tee:

Come on... it don't get more Mod than this!

Show up to that next scooter rally dressed in this and a green pair of sta-prest and I guarantee you'll still be better dressed than 70% of the people there! (Trust me, I've seen photos of enough scooter rallies these days.)

Now, this last item is on the wrong list. Do NOT avoid this but rush out now and get it if you're a dog owner or know a Mod dog owner. It's so silly, it's so ridiculous, it's so wrong... that it's right.

(Thanks go my pal Fred Eagle over at http://fredeagle.blogspot.com/ for hippin' me to a piece of Dogrophenia!)

In general, I'm not into clothing for dogs. But, in this case, I'll make an exception. Your dog will be the Ace Face mutt runnin' around the yard in this thing. And if you're hungry for mod dog puns, then the We Are the Mods Facebook page as you hooked up!

That's it for bad gifts this year. Have a GREAT CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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1st Ever MOD MALE Contest Winner!

Well, well well... BIG THANKS to everyone who took part in the drawing for this little gift set:

And an overall HUGE thanks to all of you who have been reading the blog over the last few months! It's been fun writing about one of my most favorite subjects ever. Okay, who am I kidding? This is my most favorite subject ever! Now, you probably think that makes me pretty shallow and all, but, well... duh.

So, last night, I took the names of everyone who (1) became a follower and left a comment on the original blog post and (2) 'liked' the Mod Male facebook page and left a comment there regarding their favorite accessories.

Then, I put those names on little slips of equally-sized paper, folded them over, and taped them shut. I threw all the slips into a Tupperware bowl, shook it, shaked it, moved it all around, and then had my wife pull a slip of paper from the bowl.

And the winner is...

Wait. Before we get to the winner of the drawing, let's make this post slightly more interesting for those who didn't win or enter. How about some cool images of 1960s Mod female looks found around the interblogs? Yeah? Well let's go!

Barbara Eden in op-art and go-go boots from a blog with even more great photos, The Knack... And How To Get It.

Diana Rigg trying to get comfortable while remaining sand-free at a beach, from '60s and '70s fashion blog, Get Some Vintage-A-Peel.

Françoise Hardy using 'Mod' sunscreen, from the photo-filled blog, The Impossible Cool.

In-flight entertaintment from the pop culture (the good stuff!) blog, Voices of East Anglia.

Awesome brown op-art dress, from The Carnabetian Army blog, via Lemonade Loves... 

Nice 1966 Vogue spread. And for more '60s-'70s Vogue spreads, visit the Youthquaker blog.

Gals rockin' the all-white look from the Sweet Jane blog.

Okay, whew! Now, the winner of 1st MOD MALE giveaway:

MONIKA CANCILLA!!

Monika, you've just won 2 vintage Ernst ties (one with a slight snag, sorry!), a new pocket square, and a brand-new one-size-fits-all Bugatchi Uomo socks! I will be contacting you shortly to get your mailing address and these should be in the mail this week.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been supporting this blog and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! (Apologies to Gretchen Carlson and Fox News.)

Mod Gone Wrong: Holiday Gifts to Avoid

First off, TODAY'S THE LAST DAY to enter the Mod Male drawing I posted about last week for a chance to win a small set of men's accessories: 2 vintage Ernst ties, a brand-new pocket square, and a brand-new pair of Bugatchi Uomo socks! For full details (and photos of items), visit Gifts for the Mod Male in YOUR Life and scroll to the bottom. But for the short version, all you have to do is one of two things:

1. Become a follower of this blog, if you're not already, and leave a comment on the blog telling me what your favorite clothing accessory (male or female) is. Or,
2. 'Like' the MOD MALE Facebook page and leave a comment on the page, telling me what your favorite clothing accessory (male or female) is.

Contest ends Tuesday, December 21st, at 6:00pm PST (that's tonight)! Good luck!

Now, let's move on with this week's post...
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Last week, I offered up some gift suggestions for Mod males who are into a more refined style. This week, I'm doing the opposite.

I'd like to help you prevent any potential gift-giving malfunctions as you search out something special for that Mod guy in your life. And if any of these items are on his Christmas list, well, give him the gift of not looking silly by avoiding these.

First up, this little insta-Mod packet of badges (or pins):  

Okay, it's true... I would have totally bought this. When I was 16 years old!

In one fell Hot Topic-esque swoop, you get a small collection of badges representing just about every tired Mod cliche there is. Resist the urge though! Unless you're getting this for your 14-year-old nephew/niece who is starting to show an interest in Mod stuff, just walk away. The experienced Mod male (or female) in your life should totally be beyond this stage of Modism... hopefully.

How about a little slice of blasphemy to help ring in the holidays with this great little t-shirt:

Yes, Jesus on a scooter. This is real.

I hope you're as offended by this shirt as I am. Just look at that horrible graphic design! Basic sans-serif caps running crooked all over that shirt with no visual flow whatsoever, punctuated, of course, by a basic target... ugh! And let's not get into the bad silkscreen job.

Now, maybe you want to spend some clean cash on your favorite Mod male. Well, you can put that money toward a nice bespoke shirt, a new Technics turntable for all those dusty 45s, or this piece of military wear from Pretty Green:

Yes, a blue camouflage 'designer' army parka... the perfect gift for anyone looking to 'hide out' in a dark urban setting. How much will this gift set you back? Only SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS! Be warned though: if you two are walking down a city street during the evening, there's a good chance the wearer of this coat will just disappear into the night.

And while we're on the topic of bad clothing ideas for gifts, let's not forget this modern classic:

A wife-beater A tank-top A 'singlet' for the Mod male who's just given up on being a Mod male.

I've written about them before and although, personally, I'm not a desert boot fan myself, I think other people can look great in them, especially as part of their casual wear (i.e., not with suits). But then we start getting into real danger territory once you start considering the 'fashion' desert boot, like this:

If you're going to give the gift of desert boots, avoid any with patterns. Yes, I know this looks slightly op-artish and all, but really, stick with the traditional and save this fashion pattern for your Snuggie.

And the last gift idea to avoid this year for any Mod gentleman in your life? This right here:

Method. Of. Destruction.

Seriously, if you're thinking of giving your special guy THIS for Christmas, well... I think you both need to sit down and have a long, hard talk.

Gifts For the Mod Male in YOUR life!

The holidays are upon us and I'm sure some of you are stressing out on just what to get that special Mod (or other sartorially-minded) guy in your life. And if you're reading this blog, I'm just going to assume that guy isn't the type who's satisfied with a DVD of the NFL's greatest touchdowns, a tribal tattoo around his bicep, or anything Ed Hardy.

Well, I'm skipping Mod Gone Wrong this week to offer up some clothing accessory suggestions for you. Heck, I know if my wife were reading this blog (ahem), she wouldn't be stressing so much.

First off, what every style-conscious fella needs: a new pocket square! Might I suggest a visit to the Kent Wang site for a range of beautiful, colorful pocket squares itching to jump into a man's breast pocket:

A couple of fancy Kent Wang pocket squares.

Don't forget to check out their selections of ties, cufflinks, socks and more, too!

Speaking of socks (oh boy, here he goes again), don't believe the old myth that men get bored with the gift of socks. I mean, how can any clothes-minded guy not get excited with the types of socks I've spoken about before, in addition to the types offered by Bugatchi Uomo:

Seriously... with socks like these, who needs shoes?

Y'know what else is always a great gift idea for the dapper gentleman? Ties! And right now, Munsingwear (Penguin) has been putting out some nice, simple, thin ties that have been catchin' my eye:

Do I wish they had paisley-patterned ties? Of course, but ties like these would work well on an everyday work-attire basis.

Men's jewelry, including cufflinks and tie bars, is also a great way to go, but I tend to steer away from contemporary brands and stick with the ol' vintage variety, because they just don't make 'em like they used to. And your best bet for great vintage pieces? Ebay, of course!

Unfortunately, I shouldn't be sharing these because I WANT THEM!

But since I'm in a giving mood, I'm GIVING you the opportunity to bid.

Must... resist...urge to... bid...

Maybe your favorite Mod male has enough clothes and accessories already and you're tired of losing closet space to him. In that case, why not look into getting him a nice male fashion book? Here are some new ones out that would look great on the coffee table:

Hollywood and the Ivy Look

A book on the sapeurs!

Sharp Suits... essential coffee table decoration!

Well, I'm all suggested out. Hopefully, some of these ideas will steer you in the right direction to getting that man in your life a bit more spiffy for the holidays.

BUT WAIT! 
 It's Christmas and I'm in a gift-givin' mood! A while ago, Karen Finlay of the 97 Things To Do Before I Turn 97 blog tossed me the idea of having a giveaway and now I'm using it.

Over this past weekend, we were all at a local music shop/art gallery, VAMP (which I'd highly recommend for GREAT jazz/soul/and more records, and located at 547 Athol Avenue, Oakland, CA), and I found a couple of vintage Ernst ties* I thought would be nice to give to a lucky MOD MALE reader!

2 vintage Ernst ties, one in a tiki-esque pattern and the other in red/brown stripes.

But on top of that, I'm throwing in a pocket square to match along with a pair of brand-new, that's right, BRAND-NEW, Bugatchi Uomo socks!

Black pocket square with red/brown patterns.

Black Bugatchi socks (one-size-fits-all) with half a chocolate argyle pattern.

All you have to do is one of two things:

1. Become a follower of this blog, if you're not already, and leave a comment on the blog telling me what your favorite clothing accessory (male or female) is. Or,
2. 'Like' the MOD MALE Facebook page and leave a comment on the page, telling me what your favorite clothing accessory (male or female) is.

Contest will end next Tuesday, December 21st, at 6:00pm PST. That evening, I'll put all the names in a bowl and pick a name at random. (And If you 'share' the Mod Male status update for this post on Facebook and suggest your friends like the page or become a blog follower, I'll add your name TWICE to the bowl!

On Wednesday, December 22nd, I'll announce the winner on this very blog! That's right, this contest will last one week only!

Ladies, I know you don't have much use for any of these giveaways, but they'd make great belated Christmas gifts for either your boyfriend, your husband, your good friend, your brother, your uncle, or your dad, even!

Mod Male gift giveaway!

*FULL DISCLOSURE: the striped tie does have a slight snag, but if you keep your suit jacket buttoned up all night long, no one will be able to tell!