A Gentleman Entertains

A Gentleman Entertains

    When thinking of the upcoming holidays it's hard for me not to think of some of the awful dinner parties that bachelors will be throwing this year!   Turn off the sports boys and show some class.  It's not hard to be stylish if you have an advisor and most women dig the opportunity to meet real gentleman who know the art of gentlemanly etiquette.  It's a lost art on most.  However, there is help out there for the etiquette impaired.  In today's holiday entertaining article we are focusing on how real men entertain.

It's really not rocket science guys.  It just takes a little bit of thought and effort. Most of you already cook and also have you're own drink of choice.  Now you just need to set the table correctly in order to impress your friends and show them what you are really made of.

Martini Glasses by Artel Glass. Chartreuse Faceted Vase
by Artel Glass, Re-used chocolate Christmas Tree boxes, and
Table Cloth by Raulph Lauren. Tabletop design by j. thomas cahill

For this piece I've decorated the table quite simply with just enough decoration to make the atmosphere festive.  Martinis are the drink of choice at this table and each guest will be drinking out of a unique Martini Glass by Artel Glass. 

Paul Smith Handkerchief and Thomas Pink Bulldog Cufflinks as Party Favors

Every place setting has been carefully tailored to meet the interest of each and every guest including bespoke party favors.  For those with less etiquette and a need for upgrading themselves into a more mature adult I've offered ties and a gentleman's etiquette book by Brooks Brothers , as well as, a single tie to add or begin their collection of the mature man's essential wardrobe piece.  At place settings where more refined gentleman will be sitting, I've chosen cufflinks and handkerchiefs from different menswear designers such as Thomas Pink, Paul Smith, and Kenzo.       

In many ways, one just has to put a bit of thought into the type of atmosphere they want to create.  I have many ideas on Gentleman Entertaining ideas and can be a great resource for choosing and procuring party favors with class on most budgets.   Take a look for yourself at the photos in this article to gain more ideas and insight on how to create the perfect table for your holiday soiree!  

j.thomas cahill is available to help you with any of your holiday party or decorating ideas throughout the year and can be contacted at shopintheknow@gmail.com

                                                            

Can you Shop for Charity?

YES, YOU CAN!!!

If luxury shopping is your bag and you are a New York or Tri-State resident or even a tourist then Americana Manhasset is your place of choice.  Skip Fifth Avenue, skip Soho, and get yourself to the Manhasset/Munsey Park area of Long Island, New York.  It's here you'll find among the neighborhoods filled with residents such as LL Cool J, Jennifer Lopez, and countless other celebrities, an oasis of shopping which is literally a mimic of any high street in the world, but it's better!  Basically, its an intensely elegant strip mall with ample parking and staff in every store that's helpful, friendly, and very well educated on the products they offer.  Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Oscar de la Renta and Hermes are just a few of the well named brands you'll find here along with flagship locations such as Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, and even lululemon and a seriously enormous Apple Shop.

When shopping at Americana Manhasset one is privileged to be treated like a real client instead of just a tourist passing through on Fifth Avenue, New Bond Street,  or say the Champs-Elysee. Americana Manhasset  keeps attracting designer's on a daily basis.  While there make sure to check out the new Tory Burch shop.

Not only does Americana Manhasset provide an exceptional shopping experience away from the tourist insanity of Fifth Avenue, but also it provides charity events and gives back to the community in which it prospers from, the citizens of long island who are in need or state parks and wetlands.  There are several of these events throughout the year, but at Christmas they have an event called Champions for Charity.  I was privileged enough to attend this event about two years ago when in town for my cousin's wedding in early December giving me ample time to "Shop for Charity" while getting my much needed gift list moving along.  Remember folks, shopping is a feeling and when you have the opportunity to shop and give back to the community at the same time, it must be said, it's a great feeling.  They make it easy too.  

How it works from Champions for Charity 

Participating tenants of Americana Manhasset and Wheatley Plaza donate a percentage of designated pre-tax purchases to the participating organization of the customer's choice. Simply register for a CHAMPION CARD which is the quick and efficient way to participate in Champions for Charity^® and designate 25% of your purchases to the charity of your choice.   

Americana Manhasset is located at 2060 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset, NY , you won't drive away disappointed.

Photo Credits:  Americana Manhasset

Is your dog going to Brown or Dartmouth?

Available at www.petflys.com

If you're like me or even remotely like me about your dog then of course you want him or her pampered like someone who ends up at Brown or Dartmouth and since those aren't ever going to become realities for your pooch, then you've got expendable cash that doesn't have to be thrown into the University bin.  We treat our dog like our child. Some may find that strange, but he's the closest thing we have ever had to a child and we spoil him rotten.  However, when it comes to choosing a dog carrier for transatlantic flights it becomes almost difficult to spoil, be unique, and meet the requirements of the FAA or IATA!

Louis, our 18 month old Prague Ratter has been all over the world, dresses well, and has a demeanor like that of a stable and aristocratic Prince.

Louis. Collar by Coach,

Sweater by Juicy Couture,

Bag by Gucci.

Sometimes I think we should have even named him Prince or some god foresaken name like Paris Hilton would have dished him out like, "Prince Baby Louis Alexander Pumpkin Shizzle."  This year, after a flight to Paris, we noticed that the airlines were starting to crack down on requirements for carrying your pet on with you.  They are actually making you keep the dog in the bag the whole time you fly.  Well okay, recently I've tried to, as much as I can become part of the "If you can't beat them, join them" crew and therefore, I decided I would set out on a shopping journey for a pet carrier that was airline approved, stylish for the one carrying, yet at the same time comfortable for Louis!  I've shopped at dog boutiques in Paris, New York, Houston, London, Brussels, Bratislava, Prague, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, and Dubai and although all of these stores are great and carry a wide variety of items, a carrier is something special that can't be chosen from say  5 styles in a shop.  The internet comes in big time here and not only for variety, but also so you don't have to carry the thing around with you after you've made you're purchase.

Louis with shopintheknow author Jason Cahill

Searching high and low on the internet I came up with precious few options even still.  I'm not against the Louis Vuitton sac chien 40 or 50, or the traditional Gucci hard case carrier...but sometimes you just want to be different. We have the Gucci Basket Bag as I like to call it pictured on the left and available at www.gucci.com or in their stores if called in advance. It has many great features like the double zip front with leather tie down and brass button, the padded flooring for the dogs comfort, and an elegantly short Gucci signature webbing leash attached inside that keeps Louis restrained yet comfortable.  Its great on a day out in the city and can double as a shopping carrier even if L's in the bag.  However, the airlines are now tooting their horns about hard case only and so this bag doesn't cut it anymore for travel.  So, after shopping online for days we purchased the Sailor Bleu hard case bag as seen in above left corner available online at www.petflys.com  Petflys offers great service and they shipped from California to Prague, NO PROBLEM.  I give Tammy props at Petflys for her amazing customer service and also to Jamie who is keen on making sure all customer's and their dogs are happy.  We love our new dog carrier and so does Louis.

After countless hours of research I've made some recommendations below.  Some are traditional and oddly enough I only recommend anything from petflys or these these picks below:

Goochie Poochie Pet Bag
Available at www.yourdogsuppliesstore.com

Christian Audigier Safari Dog Carrier

Available at www.yourdogsuppliesstore.com

Christian Audigier Safari Dog Carrier

Louis Vuitton Sac du Chien
available at Louis Vuitton

Gucci Flight bag available at
Gucci

Not Airline Approved Sketch Bag by Louis Dog
available at Modern Tails

David Lynch and Dior

I always find fashion incredibly amazing.  In high end fashion houses it's as if they don't even have advertising budgets to adhere to.  Designers simply decide who they want to collaborate with, how they see the vision, and how they wish their customers to feel in what they design.

People like Bernard Arnault stay out of the way of these designers as they are his bread and butter and without his genius idea of spicing up most of his LVMH brands with hot designers such as Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, John Galliano for Dior,  and What young designer hasn't made a score for Givenchy these days?  Yes, these are genius business ideas of Bernard Arnault , but its the designers that make his brands the most famous and sought after items on the streets.  Hence the reason behind this blog.  Designers these days are working on almost unlimited budgets to create a "feeling" for what their lines represent, whether this is done by an amazing film as the one shown below called Lady Blue Shanghai directed for Dior by none other than David Lynch and starring the brilliant Marion Cotillard.  This film in itself creates a feeling, an episode in one's life who may carry or wear Dior.  It is with this human experience behind the idea of a brand that allows them the liberty to do what they want.  Their fans will pay for it in the products they buy, because THEY WANT the films, the runway shows, the couture lines, the ready to wear, the A-list opening parties (reflecting who they wish to be), the collaborations with other fashion houses and/or designers, artists, celebrities!  They want the feeling of Luxury in their bodies, they want to own it and that's why WE all buy into it!  What a Glamorous world we live in!  Watch this great example of bonding fashion, music, film, and much more by Dior below:


Part 1, Lady Blue Shanghai, for Dior by David Lynch starring Marion Cotillard




Part 2, Lady Blue Shanghai, for Dior by David Lynch starring Marion Cotillard





Watch Part Three HERE

New Beginnings for Louis Vuitton and a Great Sale at Restoration Hardware

Interesting things of note for today.


Excerpt from Patricia Garcia at www.vogue.com 

Whoever was under the impression that summer can’t last forever clearly hasn’t set foot in the newly redesigned Louis Vuitton store in St.-Tropez. Located along the rue François Sibilli, the enormous, expanded retail space—once home to an old pottery studio—is packed with year-round warm-weather wares and boasts a serene Provençal-style garden courtyard that hosted the likes ofJoséphine de La Baume and Daphné Hézard for dinner, drinks, and a little limited-edition shopping (a beach version of Vuitton’s Neverfull bag, anyone?) at the grand reopening party last Saturday night.

—Patricia Garcia  www.vogue.com 

Watch the video below.

Also of note today.

Restoration Hardware's SAVE UP TO 50% PLUS AN EXTRA 10% ON OUTDOOR

It was supposed to be About Watches!

A watch says more about your personality nowadays then even in days of the recent past. 30 some odd years ago, Rolex made its way to a mass market economy and thank the gods that they did! Without their ruthless advertising injections into the pages of almost every magazine or newspaper in the United States during the early 80's, I don't think we'd have the World of Watches that we do now. An average Rolex however, is about as fashionable these days as a Louis Vuitton Monogram Collection, unless of course you are speaking my language, the recently easy to get Personalization Collection. Now that's fashionable! Although today's topic is not about luggage, I'll touch on it very briefly. My HOT TIP item is J. Crew's Globe-Trotter® Centenary 30" extra-deep suitcase with wheels,, it aims to please.

Onward to the topic at hand, WATCHES! Today, one doesn't need a Rolex or an Omega to reflect their style. There are so many options out there and at so many different price points. My Number One Rule is to stay away from stores and shop online! Sorry retailers, but seriously, its an easy market for online shopping and usually I'm cutting your mark up by 50% to 60% by shopping online. Do some serious research before you purchase your new watch because there is so much out there that it's astounding. Here's three picks of mine lately that reach three very different price points:

The Mondaine Automatic, available at watchCo Online

The Nixon 31-50, available at Kitson's Online

The Yacht Master II by Rolex, available at swissluxury.net