Introducing Blaine’s Menswear Picks. Up First, a Smooth Pair of Cole Haan Brogues

Cole Haan Air Madison Wingtip Oxford (photography courtesy of Cole Haan)

New to ShopTalk, let’s give a round of applause to Blaine Mountain, who will be bringing you a fresh bout of men’s style news. Founder of local menswear blog, The Culpr.it, Mountain will highlight his favorite shopping picks each month. Up first, his new favorite brogues:

The winter is the optimal season to beef up the brogue game. An unexpected cold front is the perfect excuse to find those argyle Happy Socks of yours a good home, and Cole Haan’s Air Madison Wingtip Oxfords ($248) are as cool as a loft at The W with a view of American Airlines Center. The best part about this brogue isn’t the calfskin leather, syrupy brown color–like a Lite batch of Mrs. Butterworth’s goodness–the magic is in the Nike Air cushioning technology.

It’s like Lebron and Nick Wooster had a baby. Imagine yourself balling in and out of the boardroom in wing-tipped, hand burnished brogues. (Granted, it may be a little over the top to hoop in them, laces dangling, pump faking, and pulling up from fifteen feet like OJ Mayo, but the horizontal groves implanted in the soles do provide extra traction.)

So instead of copping a pair of retro Jordan’s that have been rereleased for the third time this year in a slightly altered color-way, roll into Cole Haan at NorthPark and cop a pair of these brogues for $248.00. –Blaine Mountain

Blaine Mountain is a blogger for TheCulpr.it, a Dallas menswear site. While at Texas Tech University, he studied American Literature, and in his spare time, devoured everything concerning Japanese lifestyle and fashion. He is fond of knitted ties, narrow notch lapels, and pants with no pleats. He’s also an 8th grade language arts teacher.

Sip & Shop (Read: Chug and Clear Racks) on Lovers Lane Tonight

A handful of our very favorite shops (Hemline, Lou Lou, Elle by Elements, Elements, Mine, and LA Connection) are in cahoots this evening to bring you their Sip & Shop event. Find complimentary wine at each store and hours extending until 7 pm.

Local Designer Amber Perley Joins NBC’s Fashion Star Cast

Pearl Southern Couture holiday 2012 (photography courtesy of Pearl Southern Couture)

Amber Perley (photo courtesy of Fashion Star)

Dallas-turned-Austin designer Amber Perley of Pearl Southern Couture is making her big TV debut on the next season of NBC’s second season of Fashion Star. Similarly to Project Runway, contestants are mentored by fashion heavyweights–in this case, Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, and John Varvatos–and compete to have their designs selected. In a twist from the original fashion design competition show, the judges are actually Saks, Macy’s, and Express, who will actually pick up the clothing collections, which are then available to viewers and customers for purchase.