7.15.2014

Star Wars Street Art

As you all may know by now, we have a bit of a street art fetish. The Arts District, just East of Downtown LA, is where we shoot a majority of the street. After we stopped by one our favorite stores, Suburban Riot, we decided to head over there and see if we couldn't discover some artwork we hadn't already stumbled upon. What we appreciate most about street art, is that the majority of the work is anonymous and done for the love of art, not for commercial gain. In honor of my daily art craze, I decided to pull out my new favorite pair of Star Wars Vans. I love the look of a slim suit pant with a pair of sneakers or vans. Of course I had to top it off with my Suburban Riot "Beer" shirt...

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7.12.2014

"Prendy"



Prendy: prend-y [pren-dee], adjective,  prend-i-er, prend-i-est
             1.         A cross between "Preppy" and "Trendy" styles. 

Our goal at Born and Raised is to engage as many different styles as we can, yet continue to showcase them in a way that is more practical for the "everyday man." Today, I decided to dress myself up in a casual button down shirt, sport coat, a pair of joggers, and an old pair of Keds. Normally when dressing with a blazer, I tend to compliment it with slacks and a pair of loafers. However, I wanted to go outside the box a little and play around with some mixing of styles. By adorning my camo joggers and a pair of sneakers, I was able to transform this look into something that isn't necessarily a look you see everyday. This is a presentable look that you can wear on a variety occasions. It is contemporary, but at the same time has a nice twist to make it stand out...

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7.07.2014

Four New Accessories

When it comes to accessories, we are always willing to look outside the confined box of your typical styles. Recently, we came across four companies that each ply their trade in a unique way. Considering I do not usually wear socks, and Matt is picky about the ones he does wear, we had to choose wisely. Unique and craftily colored socks can make an outfit look perfect from just the knee down.

Unsimply Stitched is a sock company based out of Los Angeles, who prides themselves on creating unique designs in a variety of colorways as to always keep their customers salivating at what style they will see next. The company has been around only for a couple years now, and they are itching at the chance to take Unsimply Stitched to the next level.

Rock My Socks is an Australian based sock company, in which owners Sean and Crystal wanted to bust out of the mold of corporate, mundane socks. They have taken those basic, timeless patterns, and reinvented these classics into something comfortable and colorful.

As far as jewelry goes, watches and bracelets are always on our list of adornments. However, recently we have been looking for necklaces that give a unique take on a tried and tested idea. West Paris Clothing, whose name is derived from what Detroit was referred to back when it was at the top of the fashion industry in America, have incorporated exotic leathers and graffiti into dog tags. We have never seen this idea being used on this medium, and it is refreshing to say the least! The varying patterns of the leather on each tag is something which helps to create a truly individual item for each customer.

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7.03.2014

Mayan Tall T's

Too many men ignore the fact that it is possible to put together a smart, sophisticated outfit, while still maintaining a high level of comfort. Today, I chose to do some layering! I dressed in a black thermal, under an elongated henley tank top, and a sports coat. While adorning the jacket, the look becomes a bit more formal; and when it's only the layered shirts, the look converts to something a bit more casual. The outfit is comfortable and trendy, but still contemporary enough that it is widely approachable. Pair it with a comfortable pair of sneakers and some relaxed chinos to ensure a great ensemble...

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6.27.2014

"Call It What You Want It"

On occasion, I like to step outside the box and wear something that I wouldn't consider to fit within my own style. In order to find something truly unique, of course I had to stop by The Gents Closet again and see our good friend Manny J. Manny showed us this incredible tall-T, adorned in nautical flags, from his private collection. The soft cotton material is hands-down one of the most comfortable things I have ever worn. We have been waiting on the edge of our seats for the full release of  #ThreadHaus and the time is almost here...

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6.22.2014

Born Ninja, Raised Man

I am always on the hunt for new styles of clothing and unique ways to style what I already own. Our good friend Manny, from The Gents Closet, is always up to date with the new trends. Every time we stop by his showroom, it is filled with such a distinct variety of clothing that anyone can easily find something to feel comfortable in. I fell in love with this hoodie/robe combination that was designed by Manny himself, which is unbelievably distinguishable from anything else I have ever seen...

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6.17.2014

Sunday Flee Market

The Arts District hosts one of the most unique flea markets I have ever been to, every Friday through Sunday. We had been itching to check it out, Matt and myself decided to make the short drive over there. The Arts District Flea Market plays home to a wide array of unique goods that cover all mediums, such as antiques, vintage clothing, and art. After spending some time browsing through all the hand-crafted goods the flea market had to offer, we decided to grab some lunch and check out the awesome street art on the way. As you may have noticed in our previous posts, both of us are a little obsessed with graffiti...

(Read more below to see more of the art we saw)

6.14.2014

Bank Robbing

Street style has become bigger than ever in the last few years. Graphic t-shirts, snapbacks, and of course a fresh pair of sneakers. When I am relaxing I like to get into a comfortable sweatshirt, a good pair of jeans, and a comfy pair of boots/sneakers. I put on my Lightning Boy hat because I wanted to spend the night without hair gel. Whether it is street wear, runway, or formal, comfort is always an issue for me...

(Read more below to learn how you can stay comfortable and fashionable simultaneously)

6.11.2014

Born and Raise: Amos Brand

Quality leather goods are tough to come by these days, with so much convolution in the industry. We were lucky enough to stumble upon Amos and their excellent quality leather goods that are both masculine and practical at the same time. Amos hand makes every bag and accessory they sell, making each item personal to the customer. To make your item even more unique, they offer FREE monogramming on their products to give that extra unique touch. Their Eli Weekender duffle bag is perfect for travel since it is fairly compact, yet has plenty of space and compartments to store all of your necessities. Go check out the rest of Amos' leather goods Here
(Read more below to see some of the other Amos products I have been using)

6.09.2014

Dirty DIY


Matt and I left Downtown LA to go exploring around Los Angeles County. We made our way south to Whittier, and stumbled upon a bunch of oil drills in the middle of a residential community. On a warm day I wanted to keep it light with a t-shirt and a short sleeve oxford shirt. To match the dirty scenery, I put on a pair of old ripped up jeans and some brown double monks. I tend to do a lot of "Do It Yourself" projects in my free time...

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6.08.2014

Tattoo Daydreams

I have really been into the 1950's classic men's street style lately. Keep it simple with a plain black t-shirt, cuffed up chinos and a nice pair of burgundy wing tips. Outside of fashion, I have always been intrigued by the uniqueness and individuality encompassed in tattoos. Even though I only have a few, I love the skill and intintricacies that the artists use...

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6.05.2014

Modern Prep

Although I wear a wide array of styles, I always like to go back to my preppy, East Coast roots with which I was Born and Raised. Growing up in New England I was surrounded by prepsters who wore seersucker, bright pastels, and penny loafers on a regular basis. I decided to play tourist and take a stroll through Beverly Hills wearing my vintage Ralph Lauren Polo, while sporting my new Mad Rabbit Kicking Tiger bag...

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6.02.2014

Matt's Drink: Coco Light Martini


Ingredient:
Ingredients:
2 ounces unsweetened coconut water
2 ounces Svedka Colada Vodka
1 ounce pineapple juice
1/4 ounce lime juice

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5.31.2014

Coffee Shop Walk


I am constantly changing my style trying to find news ways to wear my clothes, but some days it is nice to stay neutral. Any guy can wear a pair of cut off shorts and a cotton sweater. I chose to pair it with a pair of casual leather boots to add some pop. This look is comfortable, effortless, and appropriate for any summer occasion... 

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5.28.2014

Washed Denim For Breakfast

 Early in the morning is when I get a lot of my work done. Wake up, grab some coffee, and get the day going. I spend a lot of time in Downtown going to different showrooms and meeting as many people as possible. I love exploring new styles and getting inspiration by just walking around the streets and looking at the people surrounding me...

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