Things You Know If You’re Single in the City

…….depending on your region of habitat, after 26, the idea of marriage can be a life long formality of events. At 28, I’ve been in 3 Texas weddings in a year, all close friends and they are all doing well and seem somewhat happy. All three marriages are drastically different but the way in which they love each other show similarities. They entertain each other by spending the majority of their time together doing married-couple-stuff like: planning vacations with other married couples who may or may not be on their top ten list, they plan pregnancies, they problem solve family issues, they host parties all in the close confines of their suburban homes, and they have life insurance policies. It all seems apart of the evolution of married life. “This is how we do it! Either jump on board or don’t, it’s your loss”. It sounds like the right and wrong thing to do. I guess it really does depend on where you live.

I’ve lived in New York for over 3 years and now that I am back in my hometown ,Houston, Texas, the social disparity amongst the single and married is evident in both regions. For example, as a New Yorker, the single life is celebrated. The entire island of manhattan is a haven for the young, established go getters, males and females seeking solace in climbing to the top of the socioeconomic ladder alone if may be. There is no sense of urgency in marriage because folks are too jaded to make the commitment. There is no time and too many attractive people to choose from.

Starting a Wednesday night with happy hour and night capping it with an industry party is a normal form of escape from the rigors of corporate. The night life itself can be so pretentious that Saturdays are designated for the “tunnel and bridge” folks or better yet, the annoying tourists. By the next morning you have a hangover, you can’t remember who you met, and it’s time to go to the office and do it all over again. All the one-liner cliches heard from esteemed New York moguls like Sean Combs (I hate playing into the P. Diddy monikers) isn’t just useless rhetoric. “The city never sleeps”, “You work hard to play hard”, is all true in the “Sex N’ The City” lifestyle of the single city dweller. I would be wrong to place all the blame on the city. The age 25-plus attitudes on marriage are not so sanctified. In a city where your boyfriend can be your roommate after only a couple of dates, the rules of engagement are broken. Before you know it, you’ve been living with a guy or gal in close quarters for over three years and that may be the closest you get to marriage, and you don’t even really like the person….lol.

Living in the city is enjoyable. Whether it’s Houston, Manhattan, LA or Chi-town, living in a metropolitan environment works well with the single grown up. Living in the city gives you a higher chance of getting involved in your community, finding your creative niche, and meeting some awesome people. Areas in Houston like The Heights, The Galleria, Montrose, and Midtown are mostly catered to socially active people. Here you will find farmer’s markets, night life, and museums. If you’ve lived in the suburbs the majority of your life and you’re still single, try moving into a metro area. Your social life may change dramatically.

Being the 3rd wheel is cool until midnight. When hanging out with your favorite couple, there are unspoken rules that the single friend must adhere to. It’s very important to give couples, whether married or engaged, their space, even if they are entertained by your presence. A single’s night may end at 3am, but the married life only allots the late night hours to major city events, such as the Super Bowl, New Years, and a concert. Generally, the married folks can stretch it to 12:30 am tops, maybe 1am. If they have kids….forget about it. So single folks, you may have to get a life and find other single friends. Now you may wonder “What if the best of your best friends are married? What should I do?”…..that’s the wrong question to ask. If you don’t find another circle of single friends then you will be subject to whack blind dates set up by yours truly and boring lonely nights. It’s great to have different circles of friends. The opportunity to travel and new forms of entertainment will be more plentiful.

Having sex after meeting someone after the first couple of weeks may not be a bad thing. After about 23, all those rules are silly. You’re an adult. If you are responsible and love yourself then you’re good. Sex rules are becoming obsolete. Don’t do away with your moral obligations with sex, but don’t read too deep into “The Rules”. Have rules that work for you and your personality. If you need advice, talk to a friend that you can depend on. Every experience is worth the experience, good or bad (I know it sounds redundant, but it’s real).

Just because you have a great connection with someone, doesn’t mean that person could be the one. People generally put their best foot forward when meeting someone new and attractive. Newness is always exciting to single folks. It’s a fresh start to beginning a new journey with someone who shares the same ideals and ambitions as you. Take it easy and slow and make sure that “best foot forward” isn’t connected to a janky leg. Yes, I brought back the word janky [questionable, fraudulent, misleading]. Due to the nature of the times, people want the perception as “I’m the best person ever”. No one is perfect and everyone has skeletons, so if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. You want to connect with a human, not a fraud ass wannabe.

It’s cool to be married because you’re not in it alone. It can be hard planning your life without your better half. Sometimes, people do not arrive at the top of their game until they’re married. You may think you have it all together and your life could not be any better, but when you have that person who loves you and sees your success as their own, you’re more inspired to take a risk and succeed or fail with dignity and support. At the end of it all, you’ll be the best person you can be because the life of your husband/wife and children depend on it. Barack and Michelle Obama are a great testament.

It’s cool being single because you are in control. If you want to take a trip to New York for the weekend, there’s no questioning it. You don’t have to hold a family meeting discussing the pros and cons. You are responsible for you. It’s easier to manage finances in some circumstances because you don’t inherit someone’s debt. You don’t have to answer to someone before you make a big purchase. The longer you remain single, the more in tuned you are with yourself and your wants and needs in a relationships.

Dating two people at once is acceptable. Two people can make a perfect ONE. What one person lacks in one area, the other can pick up the slack in another….lmao

And last but not least…….. Single people (if you’re doing it right) have a great sex life.

Please feel free to leave comments……I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR OPINIONS!

Also, send me an email at info@theblvdmag.com with the subject “sex n love” for your stories and advice you may want to share, please keep it moderately clean.

“You ain’t got no job man!”

Just like Tommy on Martin – I lost my job too. Or better yet, they “let me go,” I like that phrase better. With The Great Recession, there’s not much that you can do. I did everything to keep my job. Well, sort of. Ok so listen, maybe I didn’t come in extra early, skip lunch and eat at my desk everyday, or stay after work late – but is that the only way to keep your job? Is that the only way to stay “pink slip proof”?

I know another guy that I was working with who did all of the right things i.e. working through lunch, etc – they let him go too. But, I thought I got paid from 9 to 5? Oh wait, let me take that back, I actually got paid from 9 to 4:55. Regardless, they had to pick someone to go this time and it was me. I’m not sad about it, its cool. I just wish they didn’t make me work the entire day before letting me go. They knew they were going to let me go – I saw that impromptu meeting on a Friday. They weren’t fooling me!

With all of that being said, I of course must find humor out of it all. Unfortunately, the unemployment rate is the worst since 1945. The last time I checked, the unemployment rate was about 7.2%. Now that I don’t have a job and a few of my friends lost theirs too, the rate must be about 7.3%. Alls I know is that once the unemployment rate reaches 10% we will officially be in a depression. Does it count that I’m already depressed? Maybe not. But what makes me even more depressed is going online to the job sites and looking at the job descriptions. I swear the descriptions are almost two pages long. They have put about four jobs into one and are only paying you for one of the four positions that they want you to perform. Damn this recession. Damn the layoffs. I guess there’s only one thing a person can do to keep from getting “let go”. So here’s my advice to you: Go to work early, work through lunch, stay after work, and go into the office on the weekends. Show them who their bitch is! At the end of the day you will have your job at least…or will you?

Director Adam Bhala Lough Debuts “The Carter” at the SFF

Lil Wayne: sippin’ on sizzurp at Sundance

Director Adam Bhala Lough, whose fiction film Weapons premiered in competition at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, has unbelievable access to Lil’ Wayne’s public and private lives. He captures remarkably candid moments, such as Lil’ Wayne recounting his first sexual experience, as well as him talking openly about his drug habits. Following him all over the country and to Amsterdam, Lough mixes fly-on-the-wall footage of Lil’ Wayne in his hotel room and on his bus with artfully composed concert footage. The result is a shockingly intimate portrait of one of the most inspired (and eccentric) musicians of modern America.

Lil Wayne is laid bare in several different ways. He’s shown as a guy with a protean work ethic and a creative process unlike any other hip-hop performer. A child prodigy turned relentless showman whose only solace comes from creating music — Wayne is thought to have recorded over 1,000 songs and has contributed guest verses on dozens of others. He doesn’t bother to write down any of his lyrics but nonetheless retains total recall.

But the primary talking point of “Tha Carter” is certain to be none of those things. In the film, Lil Wayne’s biggest professional liability gets thrown into stark relief. It’s something that has managed to hide in plain sight throughout the rapper’s rise from underground mix-tape phenom to the biggest selling act of 2008 and this year’s leading Grammy nominee: his addiction to perscription cough syrup.

You see scenes of Weezy chugging the stuff mixed with soda out of giant styrofoam cups throughout the documentary. He raps about it more than a few times — the lyrics of one song spelling out his devotion to the drug are emblazoned across the screen. And in another scene, the New Orleans-born rapper opens a Louis Vuitton travel case and there, next to a pile of rubber-band-bound money as thick as a brick, he points to a bottle of Glaceau Mineral Water that is filled with the viscous purple syrup.

That drug of choice might seem random — or totally ridiculous, depending on your point of view — for anyone unfamiliar with Southern hip-hop culture. But there, it is as commonplace as smoking copious weed (something else Lil Wayne is caught in the act of doing in “Tha Carter”). The high you get from syrup — also commonly known as “purp,” “drank” and “sizzurp” a la the Three 6 Mafia banger “Sippin’ on Some Sizzurp” — is woozy, spacey and all-encompassing. It spawned a sub-genre of Texan rap called Chopped and Screwed in which a song’s tempo and a rapper’s vocal pitch are slowed way down — to sonically replicate the state of a person who has imbibed a lot of perscription cough syrup fortified with codeine, hydrocodone and/or promethazine.

Which wouldn’t be so much of a problem if so many other hip-hop people hadn’t died as a result of complications from sippin’ on sizzurp. Among them: the guy who started the Chopped and Screwed genre, DJ Screw, Pimp C of the rap group UGK and Houston rapper Big Moe.

In “Tha Carter,” Lil Wayne’s childhood friend/DJ/manager Cortez Bryant is so upset by the rapper’s syrup addiction, he refuses to set foot in Weezy’s tour bus. “He knows it’s a sickness,” Bryant says in one scene. “But what it is, deep down, I don’t think he wants to be dead. But it got to that point. It escalated.”

In the documentary Lil Wayne (shown in a YouTube clip from a concert last January) denies any addiction. “A junkie can’t do what the [bleep] I do,” he says. “I am the ultimate high. I am my drug. Understand me?”

– Chris Lee

Photo: Stefano Paltera for The Times

via Sundance Film Festival News – The Envelope – LA Times.

Members of the Black Artist Association Aren’t so Happy

And the drama begins……

While many watched President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama take the stage at the l Neighborhood Inaugural Ball, Michelle’s evening gown was the center of attention. Since Obama won the election on November 4, 2008 with an astonishing 365 electoral votes to McCain’s 173, all of the biggest names in fashion had submitted exclusive sketches to Michelle Obama for her inauguration gown. Designers like Isaac Mizrahi, Badgely Mischka, Christian Lacroix, Betsy Johnson, Oscar de la Renta, and Diane Von Furstenberg were just some of the few fabulous designers from whom she had the opportunity to choose. But in true Obama fashion, she did the unexpected and chose three designers that were unknown to all but fashion industry insiders.

Jason Wu, a 26 year old designer who got his start customizing Barbie dolls, Isabel Toledo a Cuban- born American designer who was named creative director of Anne Klein in 2006 and Narisco Rodriguez, who designed Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s wedding dress and who also gave Jason Wu his start as an intern. The morning after the inauguration, newspapers, fashion blogs, magazines and TV news outlets all gave Michelle rave reviews on her choice of dress for one of the most celebrated nights in history. But her praise was soon over shadowed by reports of the Black Artist Association being upset Michelle did not choose an African American designer for any of the inaugural events. Here is what the leader of BAA had to say:

“It’s fine and good if you want to be all ‘Kumbaya’ and We Are the World’ by representing all the different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too?”

Asked if perhaps the First Lady isn’t looking at the world colorlessly, Eele said, “it’s one thing to look at the world without color but she had seven slots to wear designer clothes. Why wasn’t she wearing the clothes of a black designer? That was our moment.”

Though I empathize with the frustration of the Black Artist Association for not being spotlighted during this historic moment, isn’t the fact that the first family is African American enough? Can’t we all get along? You be the judge, leave a comment!

Source: www.theybf.com

Barack and Michelle’s first dance at the Neighborhood Inaugural ball

above photos: Isabel Toledo, Jason Wu, and Narciso Rodriguez along with Michelle Obama

Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder shows pessimism towards historic Obama presidency

“Boondocks” creator/cartoonist Aaron McGruder (my imaginary boyfriend since 1999) gave some very frank statements about Obama’s presidency. Namely that he is “cautiously pessimistic” and naturally, some folks did not approve of McGruder’s Debbie Downer act, throwing ice water on their Obama fires.

On the eve of President Barack Obama’s inauguration, McGruder is “cautiously pessimistic” about the presidency.

“I don’t think you’re going to see any dramatic change from Barack Obama,” said McGruder, who wore a “Boondocks” T-shirt over a black long-sleeve shirt and jeans. “I’m hoping he proves me completely wrong.”

McGruder bases his opinions of the U.S. presidency on the 2000 election and how nothing has been done since then to change the election system. “It was a sham then … It’s got to still be a sham,” McGruder said. “I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but it’s what I tend to do.”

But my fake boyfriend didn’t stop there! He pulled out the also unpopular “Barack really isn’t black” meme. You know? Just to piss people offf.

via Black Snob

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Corporate America: How I Loath Thee…Let Me Count The Ways

1 hour for lunch is effed up…

2 new copy machines in the copy room? Whoop-dee-do!

3 people telling me about the wack ass snacks left over from the last meeting…

4 years of college for this?

5 days a week? So I only get two days off??

6 sick days? WTF? So I guess I should pencil in the flu and a sinus infection too right?

7 am I get up in the morning and get dressed…

8 my yogurt parfait and drank my tea…

9 new emails in my inbox, “ugh!”

10 am I think to myself, “is it 5 yet?”

Damn this 9-5 shit! I’m working on a million dollar plan!!!!

live. laugh. love.

Lady A.

A GQ&A: The Suit Men

 The youth can dress to impress when at a party, but can’t pull it together for an interview?

As the ripe age of 23 comes to pass, for most, college will become a memory of random events. The drunken nights, years of Scantron tests, crammed study sessions, the pleading to professors and deans for another chance. Many have yet to give up the collegiate high of being wild and free with little responsibilities. All the while, the harsh reality of corporate America is waiting at the doorstep. Joining the workforce is a step that no college grad is absolutely prepared for and with the current position of the failing American economy, the job market is ill-prepared.
So what does that say for the hundreds of thousands of grads expecting to be recruited?- a hell of a competition! The corporate world is immersed with Go-getters, Ivy leagues, and Cut throats in every corporate sector, and these described in the latter are just the bosses.
How does one prepare for the fierce competition coming from well-connected trust fund graduates and over achievers? Great question. It’s quite simple. From past experiences I can say, presentation, the power of networking, and determination will become weapons of choice.
Although the current generation has stayed consistent with fashion and style as far as celebrity trends, the representation of professional suiting attire has waned. The need to be able to sell one’s self and make a statement has been increasingly important in the job market due to the low availability of placements. Unfortunately, having just a great resume will not cut it.
When I say presentation, I am speaking of the importance of The Suit. While “hob-nobbing” and networking, the way to gain respect and attention starts with the suit and hopefully ends with a career opportunity. Whether it’s business, a dinner occasion, or a funeral, after the age of 21 a man should be prepared with a well-constructed suit. One should also be aware of what style of suit compliments the body. There are several styles such as: 3-button, 2-button, and a 3 piece to name a few. Although the actual suit itself remains pivotal in business attire, the details are what takes the look one step past regular and boring. There are many ways to stylize a suit to your liking, such as collar choices (button down collar, straight point collar, and the spread collar), classic cuffs (French, single-button, two-button barrel) and cufflinks.

Althoug very aware of what constitutes a great looking suit due to my tenure as a personal shopper at Bergdorf Goodman, I took a little time out to speak with a couple friends I feel have it down to a science. I felt it would be only fair to get the advice from successful, corporate, young men whom have encountered problems and have subsequently mastered the suit game.

I have the 411 on ways to anchor a business wardrobe, the best colors of the seasons, and how it may change your professional dating life. So take notes fellas, this might save your career and get you a date!

Meet Aubrey

Age:25
Occupation: Marketing Director
College: University of Florida

Location: New York, NY
Has worn suits since the tender age of 3
Type of suit: 3 button cotton/khaki by Penguin

 

 

GQ&A with Eddie Nicole

How many suits do you own? 8
At what age do you feel a man should own a suit? After 18
Do you know how to tie a bow tie? Yeah. That’s going to be my new thing for the fall. I’m going with a bow tie with small polka dots. I wore a bow tie when I was a kid. Yeah my mother always had me in some exclusive clothes.
Do you have a preference of seasons? What type of suit do you feel is appropriate for certain seasons? The fall, because you have more to work with. There are important pieces that you can wear in the fall like gloves, and an overcoat to add to your business attire. Tweeds and Wool suits are appropriate for the fall. Light cotton and khakis suits are what I wear in the summer. Sometimes I will just wear a vest instead of the jacket. It’s keeps the look professional and cool.
What’s the most you splurged on a suit or an accessory? I bought three pairs of cuff links for about $200 each at Thomas Pink(include link) (Thomas Pink is a moderate/upscale menswear boutique out of London)
Favorite Suit Designer ? Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss. Ralph keeps his suits classic. It is never a hit or miss with Ralph. Hugo Boss is another favorite because of the cuts and the modern look.
Favorite Accessory? (Pocket squares, cuff links)
Pocket Squares, definitely pocket squares

Favorite business Shoe? Wing tips or Oxfords.
Neither. I just bought these Gucci loafers. They will go good with a suit and my casuals.
What’s the most important detail do you keep in mind while shopping for a suit? The lining. If you have a nice color inside the suit, it can set if off. I also love hand sewn buttons holes with colored details.
Wear do you shop for a suit? Thomas Pink, SAKS, Century 21 (for accessories)
What’s your style plan for the fall? All classic neutrals. Black, Grey, White, Tan, Brown. I do colors in the spring/summer and I tone it down with classic suit colors and maybe a creative tie with a nice design or something- “Sounds nice”
How do you transition between work and play? That’s a good question. That has always been a problem for me. I guess that’s why blazers are so important. I always keep an extra set of shoes with me at my office. I hate to scuff Italian shoes.
Name films that inspire you as far as men’s style and fashion.
Casino, Goodfellas- Gangster/Movies catches my eye on the style tip. I really don’t watch much t.v. I’ve been pretty busy for the past 3 years, so I really haven’t caught up on my movies.
Most stylish men from the past. (anytime before the 70’s)
Malcom X, Muhammed Ali. Not only their way of dress, but their personalities were powerful and demanding of respect. I feel personality brings a lot to someone’s “swagger”
Most stylish men of the “grown up” generation. (He laughs)…..P. Diddy I guess?
Why Diddy, that’s so obvious? I told you I don’t keep up with the industry like that. I don’t look up to a lot of these people as far as fashion is concerned, but you can’t say Diddy is not killing the industry with his suit game.
Most stylish of the youth. (After a long pause and list of examples given by me)…Andre 3000
Are you just saying that because you can’t think of anyone else to say? Naaw. I like Andre’s style. He’s eclectic.
Are you the ultimate gentleman?
Yeah, I like to think so. You’re not yet a man if you haven’t learned be a gentleman.
Amen to that

One last question, do you feel you catch more attention and respect while in a suit?
Most definitely. I get more respect from people in my building. The same people that walk past you as if you’re invisible, the very next day will speak to you because of the powerful look of a suit.
And the attention from the ladies. Unfortunately I get a lot of attention from the ladies.
You say it like it’s a bad thing
Well it’s a misconception that just because a man is wearing a nice suit he must have a good job or make a lot of money. What if I’m in my regular clothes (loose jeans and t-shirt)? A brotha cant get love? It’s sad that some females will only give you attention because of your status.
And it’s sad that ya’ll try so hard to get the attention…he laughs and our GQ&A is concluded

Although Aubrey seems to have it all together, it would be unfair to say that he got his style from his own natural abilities, his mother dressed him in suits since the age of 3. And not any kind of suits…they were full three piece tight in the neck suits…She wasn’t playing any games!

Meet Creighton

Age:31
Occupation: Personal Shopper turned College Recruiter
College: Texas Southern University

Location: Houston, Texas
Has worn suits since the tender age of 5
Type of suit: 2 button silk/wool blend Zegna, Pocket square (Zegna), Tie (Brioni)

What style of suit do you prefer? (2 button suit). My torso is not long enough for a 3 button suit
How many suits do you currently own? 40. Started collecting suits at 24 after graduating from college
When you started your collection, how did you know what to buy? I Collected gentleman’s magazines and got an idea of what would work for me. My Dad and grandfather are impeccable dressers, so I grew up learning from them

At what age do you feel a man should own a suit? There is no real age. It’s up to him and his maturity. When he wants to be socially and professionally taken seriously with society
Do you know how to tie a bow tie? Yes. I have about 8 or 9
What do you think is missing in the urban youth as far a presentation is concerned? Substance, professionalism, and cohesiveness. What do you mean by cohesiveness? The way clothes work together. They seem out of touch with proper attire. Since the grown and sexy look started, the youth have started wearing more tapered and fitted shirts and pants. It’s very Pharrel right now. They need to know the basics. That’s why it’s great you’re doing this
Do you have a preference of seasons? What type of suit do you feel is appropriate for certain seasons? I love the fall season. In Houston the weather is pretty much the same. Summer/Spring: Linen and Poplin is great for the summer and light wool blends. As for Fall/Winter, I go with wools and tweeds
What’s the most you splurged on a suit or accessory? I have a vintage Rolex watch priced at $8,000. Every gentleman should have a standard watch. It’s a status symbol and the most predominant accessory. As long as the suit is quality it really doesn’t matter wear you go or how much you spend. The average decent affordable suit will cost you about $500. I advise Brook Brothers, they’ve been around since the 19th century. You can tell the texture of a suit and shoes, that’s the most important for presentation
Favorite Sartorial (Suit Designer)? Zegna- They’re conservative and have great tailoring. I usually buy my suits off the rack. I enjoy Kiton’s tapered cuts
Favorite Accessory? (Pocket squares, cuff links) Cufflinks
Footwear? Wing tips or Oxfords. What shoes are appropriate for work or a night out? Oxfords- have a smooth body portion in the front. Wingtips are more for business. Loafers are good for after 5 and with a sport coat

What’s the most important detail do you keep in mind while shopping for a suit? The cut, the vents, the lining? The lining
Where do you shop for a suit? I shop around. Norton Ditto in Houston, Neiman Marcus
What’s your plan for the fall, (Grey is gonna be big this year)?
I’m gonna integrate cardigans with my sport coats. I going to monogram my initials on them. Gives that English Saville Row look
Name films that inspire you as far as men’s style and fashion.
James Bond- Sean Connery to Roger Moore/ They have great style
Most stylish man from the past. (anytime before the 70’s)
Clark Gable
Most stylish men of the “grown up” generation.
Prince Charles- I never seen him have a down moment
Most stylish of the youth.
Pharrel Williams. He wears t-shirt and jeans a lot. And he was GQ man of the year
How are you the ultimate gentleman?
I Always remained dressed to par. Good diction and proper table manners

Eddie Nicole’s What Every Man Should Know:

There are a total of 5 suits every man should strive to have in his wardrobe:
The Solid Black Suit, The Solid Navy Suit, The Gray Suit (medium shade),
The Pin-Striped Navy Suit, The Khaki Cotton Suit

Collar types:
(Insert “shirt” image) Photo: Tom Schierlitz
The Button-Down Collar
You don’t want a shirt that looks too casual for your business suit.
The Straight-Point Collar
Always a safe choice. The collar’s narrow stance means it tucks nicely into high-cut three-button suits. Good for narrow-to-skinny ties
The Spread Collar
The most dashing, confident collar out there

Cuffs Types:
Single-Button Standard (left)The most common type of cuff, which you’ll find on most moderately priced dress shirts. When fitting properly, it should reach the hinge of your wrist
French (center)The dressiest, most formal cuff choice. But you don’t have to wear flashy cuff links and (after work) a tie with them. Try an open collar and more creative links.
Two-Button Barrel (right)For the guy who wants a shirt with as much flair as his British- or Italian-made suit.

Footwear:
Photo: Tom Schierlitz
Cap-Toe You need at least one pair of slim black lace-ups for your business wardrobe. You should also own a pair of brown lace-ups, but when it comes to those, remember this basic rule: Brown shoes work with everything except a black suit
Plain-Toe If you want something sharper and sleeker, go with a slim plain-toed lace-up. It’s dressier than a cap-toe and can be worn with a tuxedo to formal events.
LoaferA dressier version of these casual classics adds flair to your wardrobe. In the warmer months, try them with a khaki business suit

The Extra:
A cotton pocket square can add a dash of elegance to a business suit. Just keep it simple: Stay away from patterned silk ones. It’s best to keep it square

photo credit-thesartorialist.blogspot.com and Erica Reid