The Real Deal: The Nautica Aqua Rush cologne and sunglasses await you.

This one’s for him. (Although you can surely make off with the shades, ladies.) The ever-all American Nautica brand has released a summer cologne inspired by… gasp!… water. According to Nautica, this fragrance is:

Energetic. Confident. Inspired. Nautica Aqua Rush captures the freedom and adventure of the man who is undeniably masculine and appreciates the rush he gets from living life to the fullest.

Top Notes: Sea Breeze Accord, Yuzu Splash, Coriander
Mid Notes: Water Mint, Clary Sage Absolute, Violet Leaves
Dry Down: Amberwood, Watermusks, Teakwood

I’m a sucker for violet (the color and the scent) so I’d love to dig into the plastic wrap and take a whiff, but I’ll leave that to our lucky winner who also scores these pretty sweet shades in an aqua aviator shape. They come in a great sunglasses case, too.

Enter here to win.

photography courtesy of scottjamesonline.com

Scott James joins hands with The Make-A-Wish Foundation for its trunk show tonight at Original Octane. Check out the line’s spring/summer collection and should you decide to make a purchase (the Arden seersucker suit in gray, perhaps, or a pair of five-pocket pants in lime?), or, if you make a $10 donation to Make-A-Wish, you’ll be entered into a giveaway for a weekend getaway wardrobe selected by Scott James Kuhlman, the brand’s designer. Tonight, April 25 at Original Octane from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Update: There will be margaritas and light bites. Now you’re going for sure, right?

(clockwise from top left) Salvatore Ferragamo oxford (photo courtesy of Ferragamo), Hamilton Sneed (photo courtesy of Sneed), Richard James colorblock socks (photo courtesy of MrPorter.com), Eli Tahari spring 2012 colorblocking (photo courtesy of style.com), Neiman Marcus (photo courtesy of NM), J. Hilburn shirts (photo by Maxine Helfman) DESIGN BY CHARLOTTE TOBIN

HAMILTON SNEED

EVENT PLANNER, HAS EVENTS

Favorite Shoe:
Salvatore Ferragamo Wing-Tip Oxford in Blanco Calf. “I own them as of last week from the NorthPark store.”

Favorite Dallas Shopping Spots:
1. Club Monaco Galleria. “They have easy classic pieces that fit well–and it doesn’t hurt to be a VIP.”

2. Neiman Marcus Downtown. “They have an extensive collection of bow ties including one of my new favorite designers Edward Armah, who makes reversible ones with fun prints and colors!”

3. J. Hilburn. “Their extensive fabric collection, prints and ability to do just about anything to create a one of a kind shirt makes them extra special. Plus they won’t break the bank. Alison Kravetz has been my personal stylist since they launched in Dallas!”

Favorite Spring Trend:
“Fun, even bolder colors and prints than last spring/summer. And color blocking is not just for women; men can do it too! You should never be afraid of color, from a great pair of trousers to a pop of color on your feet (socks).”

Check out the other style setters and their favorite things.

(clockwise from top right) A double-breasted blazer at DSquared2 spring 2012 RTW (photo courtesy of style.com), Hadleigh's (photography by Elizabeth Lavin), Chas (photo courtesy of Chas Martin), Hadleigh's slippers (photo courtesy of Hadleigh's), Forty Five Ten (photo by Manny Rodriguez), Stanley Korshak (photo courtesy of Stanley Korshak) DESIGN BY CHARLOTTE TOBIN

CHAS MARTIN

MANAGING PARTNER, CM COMPANIES

Favorite Shoe:
Hadleigh’s spring slippers. “They go with white jeans, blue jeans, shorts, slacks, suits, tuxedos, swim shorts. They’re awesome.”

Favorite Dallas Shopping Spots:
1. Hadleigh’s. “They’re the best. They merge classic and modern perfectly.”

2. Forty Five Ten. “They have brands no one else carries, and they kill it at high and edgy.”

3. Stanley Korshak. “They’ve been able to grow, but stay true to their designers’ visions and styles. They’ve gotten big, but stayed small.”

Favorite Spring Trend:
Double-breasted blue blazers. “So regal!!!!!!!”

Check out the other style setters and their favorite things.

The women's side of Original Octane (photography by Alex Ham)

Our photography excursion through some of Dallas’ best off-the-grid shops continues. Last week, CABANA. This week’s stop: Original Octane.

Jump for more photos.

The men's side of the shop. (photography by Alex Ham)

Mistura wooden watches, left, and bright colors for womenswear, right. (photography by Alex Ham)

Like the furniture? You can buy it. Intrigued by the antique clocks, thermometers, and scales? They're on sale, too. (photography by Alex Ham)

Finally, a boutique catering to cool guys with a collection that's both stylish and functional.

photography courtesy of vendors

I’ve been going over that in my head for a couple months. My boyfriend’s got a heinous stash of old suit odds and ends, and they’re not cutting it. But April’s issue of D, out now, has a beautiful bouquet of solutions. Not only is there a list of the best custom clothiers in town, but also descriptions of each one’s strengths (like classic looks, bespoke garments, or high fashion), and a price range you can expect. If you could care less what your gent’s sporting, don’t worry. There are custom suit and dress makers for you, girls, perfect for getting you ready for the season’s upcoming benefits, galas, cocktail parties, and more. Take a look.

Guy Time: There are some shopping events this weekend that even guys will be rushing to. The Brioni Trunk Show can make his suit dreams come true. After getting measured this weekend at Stanley Korshak, he can have his very own custom-made Italian Brioni suit. And, for a stop that you can both enjoy, run by the Billy Reid Warehouse Sale before tomorrow. There are some styles that you can’t pass up.

Karen Millen: Make sure to stop by Karen Millen at the Galleria this weekend. You can find some great pieces for up to 20% off. Totally worth browsing through.

Going to brunch? Check out our Best Brunches in Dallas feature in March issue of D Magazine.

DO

- Get there as soon as possible. I arrived at 9:45 this morning, and the shoes/boots selection was already picked over. There are still plenty of the Billy Reid/K-Swiss collabo sneakers left, but, let’s be honest, those have always kind of looked like garbage. The dozens of pairs available back up my point.

DON’T

- Ride your bike. Despite the fact that I had a backpack, I could only buy what I could cram into the sack slung over my shoulders. Also, I didn’t want to look like a child molester wearing a new peacoat, on a bike, on a 80-degree day.

And, yes, I realize I’m probably the only person dumb enough to ride my bike to this sale.

DO

- Go a size down. Reid fashions his shirts wide, and his cuffs even wider. It’s a distressing and slightly emasculating quirk. Case: I’m 5’10″, 170 pounds. I like my shirts slim. I left with a small dress shirt, with the slim fitting.

DO

- Expect to wait. Check-out line took me 20 minutes.

DON’T

- Get all hung up on changing in an open room with dudes everywhere. This is a warehouse sale; there are no changing rooms for men. There are, however, three mirrors that seem to have been stolen from a college dorm room.

DO

- Check out the ties. They’re all $19. They’re a bit slimmer than I wear, but if that’s your thing, go for it.

DON’T

- Wait. Seriously. Go. Whatever you’re doing at work isn’t really that important. You’re a surgeon you say? I don’t believe you.

photography by Jessica Acklen

You didn’t think your shoes were the only ones worth lusting over, did you? Let’s not leave out the men. These Donald J Pliner loafers ($295) from Sebastian’s Closet can make even the least fashionable guy look positively stylish.

Brioni "Brown with Rust Glen Plaid" sport coat

Every man should have a well fitting suit that’s both stylish and excellent in quality. Stanley Korshak’s upcoming BRIONI trunk show marks the perfect opportunity to order such a thing. The Italian luxury line is offering made-to-measure suits at 15 percent off this Friday, February 24, and Saturday, February 25. Shop for a suit that will be personalized and hand-tailored for a perfect fit. Call ahead for an appointment for your soon-to-be dapper dude.

from left: collar stays, spray starch, and garment brush (photography by Billy Surface)

Man candy on StyleSheet

Stylish men are stealing the spotlight over on our fashion blog StyleSheet, so now seems like a good time to tell you about three of our favorite products for preserving guys’ slick style. Along with Kirby Allison’s super hanger for saving suits, D writer Joseph Guinto recommends you pick up the following:

Mother-of-pearl collar stays: Those plastic stays that come with shirts are useless. These have enough heft to hold the collar in place. Plus, you know what kind of man wears mother-of-pearl in a place where it can’t even be seen? A baller. $55

Oxford & Wells spray starch: This spray starch promises not to flake, has no harsh artificial chemicals, and comes in a travel size that’s TSA compliant. So when you travel, you’ll be able to make your shirts stiffer than the drinks at the hotel bar. Three 12-ounce bottles, $15

Kent cashmere garment brush: You spent hundreds of dollars or more on a fine cashmere sweater, so why use a cheap, disposable lint roller? The bristles on this brush are as gentle as baby’s breath, which means they won’t harm your V-neck. $80

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

If you know who Gregg Asher is, you’ll already be interested in taking a look-see into his personal belongings. If you don’t, allow me to introduce you. Meet Gregg, a hairstylist and fashion blogger with a better collection of women’s designer shoes than you do and a tiny chihuahua, Logo, who is apparently equally as obsessed with designer garb. (“Her favorites are Goyard and Hermès,” Gregg says.) Take a look into the Louis Vuitton lover’s (rather large) bag:

Stephen Sprouse Louis Vuitton bag

1. Paws in the City pamphlet. “After being on Most Eligible Dallas with Tara, everyone stops me about their stray dogs and cats.”
2. Carlos Falchi clutch. “My boyfriend and I met at that store and 15 years later, I still have it.”
3. Hermès dog collar for Logo. “I always try to pick up fun collars to take her parties.”
4. Big League Chew bubble gum. “As a child, that’s what my mom gave us to entertain us.”
5. Harper’s Bazaar. “It’s the new bible. Vogue was last year’s.”
6. Good luck travel charm
7. Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom Collection wallet with his favorite interior color: green. “It’s my favorite color because it’s the color of money.”
8. Louis Vuitton scarf. “I love leopard print. Leopard print in a color is double excitement for me.”
9. Cards for his New York  plastic surgeon and “my Dallas Botox lady”
10. Photo booth pictures from State Fair of Texas “It’s a tradition to go to the State Fair on the last day every year.”
11. Bedazzled earbuds as a gift from Tara Harper
12. Louis Vuitton sunglasses. “I saw Kanye West wearing them so I had to have them.”
13. Aspironpod.
14. Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Lip Silk (“I’m an obsessive lip person. I’ve had them done 10 times.”) and GlamGlow Mud Mask.
15. Scissors. “I can do a bang trim on the go.”
16. Marc Jacobs bandages. “I’m kind of careless.”
17. Hermès belt buckle and bracelet for “a quick costume change.”

Peek into more purses.

A Favorite Find: Fluxus sweater, $80

Octane 2.0, which is really called Original Octane, is open for business on Knox. (And has been since September.) Next time you’re in the area, go in. Let’s shout a big hallelujah that a smart, non bespoke (read: affordable) boutique that caters to men has opened. (Or reopened, whatever.) I’m totally digging the long rack of European-style button-downs for a young, tailored fit by Descendant of Thieves, the cashmere blazers by Scott James, and the wall of jeans featuring handpicked styles from Neuw, rvts, and limited edition Prps. As for the ladies, we’ve got the usual suspects: cocktail dresses, jewelry, scarves, and basics, but I like the selection. A Fluxus sloppy chic sweater, a black and white Fifteen-Twenty silk blouse, and Neuw jeans that wear out black (rather than fade pale) have all been added to my shopping list. Jump to get a feel for the store and find out why you should add it to your next shopping trip.

The ladies’ area includes lots of blouses, dresses for holiday parties, tie-dyed scarves, and jewelry.

Cashmere jackets.

(clockwise from top left) WeWOOD eco-friendly watches, Super sunglasses, scarves and more scarves, and retro-inspired frames for girls

(left) Put-together ensembles men can buy right off the mannequins. (right) Rings for $120 a pop.

(top) Every style of guys’ jean available hangs on this rod. (bottom) The magic Neuw jeans with black interior to make them fade dark rather than light.

The hemming station. Buy a pair of jeans; hem them for only $10.

photography by Matthew Shelley; design by Charlotte Tobin

If you wind up at a party with Hamilton Sneed, HAS Events event planner, you’ll notice him. He’s always impeccably dressed with his signature accessory: the bow tie. We had to know what this stylish dude carried in his bag, so we invited him in to spill it. Take a look.

Jack Spade messenger bag

1. Mobile Teapot from Village Tea Company. “I lived in London for two years, so tea is part of my life.”
2. Eyeglasses. “My dad use to wear those and he gave them to me. I just changed the lenses.”
3. Mac. “It’s my life.”
4. Jack Black lip balm
5. Dunhill of London and Monblanc pens
6. Bow tie from Stanley Korshak
7. Altoids
8. Sen7 travel fragrance atomizer. (It’s currently filled with Hermès.)
9. Nanodots. “They’re good things to keep me occupied.”
10. Glam Rock Watches band and face cover. “I can change my look from day to night. It’s great when I don’t have time to go home.”
11. Munitio 9 millimeter titanium earphones. “Oh my god, they’re amazing.”
12. Russell Simmons’ Do You! book. “I read this book once a year.”
13. Receipts for Marquee Grill, where he eats 2-3 times a week at Table 131