Ebay Find | Purple PL Silk Blazer

Yeah, it screams "I am Chuck Bass," and you can probably only wear it once a year, but... I do love this blazer. Purple silk shawl DB Purple Label. Buy it Now for $488.

Spring/Summer Swatches

The lovely folks over at Pierrepont Hicks give us a peek at some of their fabrics for the coming season. For those of you not familiar with the Minnesota-based neckwear company, all their ties are handmade in NYC's Garment District (including my favorite reversible bowtie from this fall). Really interested to see what they do with that gingham and the Nantucket red...

Climb Every Mountain

A good scent always tells a story. That's not to say the story is always a good one. One whiff of Polo Sport and all the awkward memories of middle school come rushing back. (Fortunately, Ralph has all but discontinued it.) Yet most of the olfactory recollections brought on by Creed's complex and subtle fragrances are fabulously vivid - Green Irish Tweed reminds me of fitting a tuxedo shirt with studs for a black tie event in New York; Erolfa instantly brings to mind the Lilly pants and G&Ts that pervade the balmy evenings in Palm Beach. With this cologne, Himalaya, I hope to add to that repertoire. Bergamot, sandalwood, ambergris, and musk combine to create a cool, crisp winter breeze. (Even cooler if you keep it in the fridge - it actually extends the usable life of the cologne.) Fresh and masculine, and just the thing to keep the January doldrums at bay.
Himalaya by Creed, $122 for one ounce, $250 for four, at Creed

Hot Pants

Happy new year, everybody! Hope everybody got what they asked for from Santa. And while the weather outside is still pretty damn frightful, the warming trend coming to the Northeast this weekend (40s!) has my heart aflutter over spring clothes. While it's best not to get too excited yet (it's still winter), now is always a good time to start thinking about what the wardrobe is going to look like come March. Here's something I'm looking to add to mine: Polo came out with some linen pants in six great colors - they've got the mainstays of white, navy, and khaki, but my favorite is this coral red color - perfect for that classic WASP look of linen pants (in a go-to-hell color, natch), a blue or white shirt, blue blazer, and cordovan tassels. Simple, elegant, easy. Done.
Preston Fine Linen Pant, $125, at Ralph Lauren stores and online

All I Want For Christmas | The Holiday Candle

Say what you will about schmaltzy scented candles, but nothing makes my house smell more like Christmas than Ralph Lauren's take on the holiday candle. The evergreen/juniper scent is not too overbearing, and the red tartan box makes it an easy gift for your neighbor, your boss, or even yourself. Light up one of these and you'll feel like you're stoking the fire and having a scotch with Ralph in Bedford (even if you're sitting in a studio in Bayonne).
Ralph Lauren Holiday Collection Candle, $42 (on sale from $60) at Ralph Lauren

Screening Room | Hotel Gramercy Park

If you missed it at the Tribeca Film Festival, be sure to catch Hotel Gramercy Park when it makes its television debut on the Sundance Channel Monday night. The film profiles the Gramercy Park Hotel at the time of its renovation from rundown boho chic to Hollywood glitz by hotelier Ian Schrager, and gives plenty of screen time to the previous owners, the Weissberg family, who chronicle the legendary New York hotel's storied past.
Hotel Gramercy Park, airs Monday, Dec. 7 at 9pm on the Sundance Channel

All I Want For Christmas | Rub a Dub Dub

Exactly what a gift should be: tongue-in-cheek fun with a dash of luxury (and under $25!). Have the man in your life ditch the Axe (ick) in favor of this indulgent upgrade. The delicious masculine scent is a no-nonsense way to introduce fragrance into his daily routine without getting overly fussy.
Tom Ford for Men Cleansing Bar, $18, saks.com