Favorite Things: LKC Blog

This favorite things from LKc Style is geared toward the man in your life! LKc Style is an affordable personal shopping and image consulting company exclusively for men. Webcam, text, and e-mail capabilities for any man in the nation too! Visit www.lkcstyle.com for more info and check out the blog at www.lkcstyle.com/blog! Here are Laura Knepper’s favorite things for 2009—for you husband, boyfriend, or son; most for under $25!!!

1. Dolce & Gabbana The One for Men



If the scent is as delicious as Matthew McConaughey in it’s ads, you’ll want to jump your significant other faster than you can say “Alright, Alright.”

2. Topman Grey Denim Slim Tie $20


A classic color with a twist and can be worn with ANY color shirt and with or without a jacket!

3. Docker’s Reversible Leather Belt - $18.20


For any man on a budget…turn one belt into two!! And it’s still real leather too.

4. The Art of Manliness Blog - FREE


Your modern encyclopedia of manhood and all things manly from pocket knives to what to carry in your car at all times, plus a few dating tips along the way.

5. Birds on Everything!!

There’s something about flying away this year…

Kohl’s Apt 9 Wired Up Bird Tee - $9.99


Target 21 Piece Wall Hanging Set - $20


6. BONK! The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex -$10.17


You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to find someone to get under the covers with. Written not by a scientist, but by a hilarious journalist, Roach will answer all the questions you’ve been wondering about humans and sex…and answer some you hadn’t even thought of too. Her other books are just as much worth a read.

7. Buckle Pattern Weave Beanie - $19.50


Please guys, ditch the baseball cap and vie for something a little warmer, a little less fedora-y (really, are you pulling it off), and appropriate for work too.

8. Pineapple Corer - $12.99

Mystify the mind and eat deliciously fresh pineapple slices at the same time. I usually hate cluttering my kitchen with appliances, but this is a wonderful and affordable exception!

9. Dresser Charging Valet


We carry around so much crap that doesn’t have a “place” when we get home…things that, um…get lost. This is a great way to keep all your crap together and fully charged in one place.

10. Old Navy Canvas Slip Ons - $15


If you HAVE to wear your sneakers out on the town…at least skip the white ones you wear to the gym and wear something just as comfortable, but a little less sore on the eye. You don’t even have to tie these ones, boys!

Favorite Things: Fashion Under $100

Dana over at Fashion Under $100 has an incredible talent for putting together fabulous head to toe celebrity looks for those on a budget. Not only that, but she also has a feature called "The Savvy Stylist" where you can write in with an outfit request (love!). Definitely visit her site but first check out her stylish picks...

1. BDG Leather Riding Boots - These boots are so comfortable, and they go with everything I own – dresses, jeans, leggings, everything! And best of all, they’re incredibly affordable: just $88 for real leather!



2. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion – My favorite album of 2009. It’s lush and complex and basically beyond words, trust me and just listen to it!


3. “Love Necklace” from Etsy seller PianoBenchDesigns – I originally bought this necklace for my sister-in-law for Christmas but ended up keeping it for myself because it’s just so darling. Am I terrible?


4. Hayden Harnett Newman Hobo in Cognac – I’m a huge fan of Hayden Harnett’s bags. The leather is so soft and buttery, and the bags themselves are stylish but classic at the same time. I’ve needed a nice medium brown bag for quite a while and I think this is the one for me.


5. Slickdeals.net – I subscribe to this site in my RSS reader and I can’t tell you how many incredibly cheap holiday gifts I bought because of it. Three sweaters from Victoria’s Secret for $30 total! A snuggly terrycloth robe for $3.99! A diamond bracelet that was originally $400 from Macy’s for (I’m not kidding) $50!


6. The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl– I’ve been a fan of the Pioneer Woman’s website for quite a while, so I was stoked when her cookbook came out a few months ago. She’s so relatable and hilarious, and, most importantly, the recipes are to die for. Try the linguine with clam sauce; you won’t regret it!


7. Chartreuse Chanteuse dress from Modcloth – I’m in love with this adorable, retro-looking frock. It would work equally with black tights, boots and a cardigan in winter and with darling ballet flats in summer.


8. India Bangle Set from Amrita Singh – These bangles will add interest to any look, and they’re just exotic, luxe and beautiful.


9. Steve Madden Merriee Caged Heels – Blue has been my go-to color this year, and I am just smitten with these caged heels. They look amazing with a simple black dress.


10. Honeycrisp Apples – I’ve always enjoyed fruit but I’ve rarely craved it. That is, until I discovered Honeycrisp apples this year. The taste and texture is so superior to any other apple I’ve ever tasted that I actually look forward to my post-lunch apple every day now.

Favorite Things: The Chloe Conspiracy

Chloe from The Chloe Conspiracy is not only hilarious, but is also super fashionable. She's a master at mixing high and low pieces and although I'm sure I could never pull off her outfits, she always looks amazing. Definitely check out her blog (as well as her adorable puppies) asap if you haven't already. Here are some of her favorite things...

1. Snickerdoodle cookies. Chocolate has never tripped my trigger- but cinnamon? Oh yes, I'd die for cinnamon. I've been known to dump ground cinnamon on top of french toast and pancakes (it's amazing with maple syrup!) and when I make my famous cinnamon ice cream, it's a dark brown because of the obscene amount of cinnamon I'll put into it. It grosses husband out- which is fine, all the more for me!



2. Anything by Nanette Lepore! Not only do I love all of her clothes, but her last name also rhymes with my favorite word. Yes, many might say that I'm a bit of a Nanette Lepore Boar. Wait! I mean Whore! A Nanette Lepore Whore!




3. Classical music. Very few people know that I actually took 11 years of piano lessons growing up, and studied nearly seven years on the harp; I've also played harp at Carnegie Hall in NYC. I know, right? I am quite amazing, thank you. I prefer the much happier stylings of the Baroque period of classical music (Bach, Vivaldi, Handel)- and abruptly quit piano after turning 18 and becoming a bit irate over not being able to master the Maple Leaf Rag due to my hands being too small to stretch to the octaves throughout the whole piece. If I couldn't do Scott Joplin, I decided, I didn't want to do it at all.

Of course, now I miss it and nag Husband for a baby grand piano nearly every day. Lucky guy.


(that's my harp, which is currently sitting almost stringless in a guest bedroom. Someday I'll get around to playing it again!)


4. Anything with a good bow on it. I like a good bow, a strong bow- a bow that boldly decries to the world, "LISTEN HERE, I AIN'T SCREWIN' AROUND!"




5. Bad Reality TV. It's an obsession I share with my husband- we gleefully watch anything trashy, and were probably the only ones in the world that first knew who Jaimee Grubbs was, probably before Jaimee Grubbs even knew who Jaimee Grubbs was. Or at least before Tiger knew, 'cuz HELLO- she started on a show called The Tool Academy! Like she isn't just desperate for fame, you dummy.

6. Peanuts! Snoopy! Charlie Brown! I've been an avid collecter ever since I was about 10, and I have a ridiculously huge collection of several old comic books, toys, and knick knacks, VHS tapes, and figurines. I can even still list off the years several of the characters first appeared- and I also might be obsessed with local Fox News Anchor Leland Vittert because Leland was was also the name of an obscure Peanuts character that only appeared in one Peanuts movie and just a few comic strips. Woodstock is my favorite though:




7. So...Leland Vittert on Fox 31 News Denver. BECAUSE HIS NAME IS LELAND! And also because I rank his hair on its poofyness on a scale from 1 (a bit flat) to 10 (BADASS POOFTASTIC!) every night that he's on. Lately he's been hitting around an 8. Go Leland, go go:


8. My two long-haired chihuahuas (Kitty and Petunia!), and my two long-haired chihuahuas when they cuddle with Husband because it's so cute, it should be criminal. Also, Husband should never ever divorce me because I have 3u49237434287 incriminating photos. And while some couples might have an incriminating sex tape or an embarrassing photo or two floating around, I only have incriminating photos of a 33 year old man happily using a 3-lb chihuahua as a pillow, hee hee:



Squish.

9. Stephen Sprouse for Louis Vuitton Rose Speedy 30. I'm actually not a huge fan of Mr. Vuitton myself (even with Marc Jacobs at the helm, gasp!) but I've been obsessed with this bag ever since spying it last year- and it might just make an appearance in my own closet very, very soon!


10. Mad Men, Mad Men, Mad Men. Wait, how long until the new season?


11. The Look 4 Less Blog & Einstein & J. Of course! And I know you said "only" 10, but you have to be included somewhere. :)

Favorite Things: Gigi's Gone Shopping

Gigi from Gigi's Gone Shopping has a super helpful blog, especially if you love J Crew like I do (although she does review other retailers as well). Her blog is full of dressing room photos, reviews, and helpful size information. Definitely check it out before purchasing from J Crew online! Here are some of her favorite things...

1. 19 by Adele - Blue Eyed Soul from London - I listen to this when I'm getting dressed, when I'm cleaning, blogging...anytime. Adele is fantastic. Definitely great to purchase & share w/someone else.

2. NY & CO faux fur scarf - Hot to trot. I can confirm that the pale wheat color is gorg.



3. Aquolina Pink Sugar Hair Perfume - This is such a light, pretty fragrance and this version is for the hair. Loveth.



4. Graphic Lap Desk - Me loveth the cup holder aspect on this. Or this one has speakers.



5. Tibor Kalman's Sky Umbrella -I've always loved this brolly! Available at MoMA.

6. Jenga - I don't even know if it has rules. You just remove the wood sticks without toppling them over. Of course my nephews make up rules as we go along. It's such a great game that anyone can play. It's a good gift or something to have at your house as an entertainment device. Wooden blocks as an entertainment device. Why yes, I like that.



7. driin mobile phone holder - How cool is this!

8. Old Navy baby bodysuit - Pwah ha ha!! I love baby bodysuits and I wish I knew a little baby to gift this to.



9. Holidays On Ice - A fantastic collection of short stories by David Sedaris - SO funny!

10. Fisticup brass knuckle mug - For the bad@ss in your life, from Fred Flare. "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." (The Godfather)

BONUS! Starbucks Gift Card - I buy 2 or 3 of these in $5 increments. They're good to have in my purse as an 'emergency' gift for people I may forget...like the nail lady and...well, I just don't know until I need it. And it's there.