IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO EARN YOUR VARSITY LETTER... IN SWAG.

Ok ok, so maybe I wasn't the most athletic person in high-school. And chances are if you're reading this blog, you weren't either... But FEAR NOT! You can still impress your parents and friends by earning your Varsity Letter in: Swag from The Queen of Accessory design herself, Melody Ehsani. These Varsity Letters are part of the M.E.N.S. line and come in your choice of two colors.

At $48 for a custom piece, you can't really go wrong. I ordered my "R" in turquoise with a metallic gold back plate (Official colors of the School of Rockmore, naturally) and it's amazing. It takes about two weeks to make/ship and clearly it's worth the wait.

MENS SWIMWEAR, TAWK AMONGST YA'SELVES

Being that last week was the first day of... Le Summer (that's "Summer" in French)... I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to discuss men's bathing suits. I mean, right?!

I'm a huge fan of boardshorts, and really I think it's what works best for dudes. Unless you look like this guy, you probably shouldn't be wearing a little bikini bottom. However, I've recently been introduced to this shorter, more square cut version of a boardshort and I can't say I'm mad at it. Assuming you're well groomed and have decent legs, I think guys could totally go for it.

This season Diesel really delivered, not only by offering some of the most sickning suits... they give us options in length and that's something I've never seen before. You can be on some kind of Goldilocks shit... too short, not short enough, and then jussssst riiiiight.

This Pixel print is def my fav and it comes in three sizes and three zexy color patterns (from $60-$70). They're all available at Zappos and who doesn't love Zappos? You can order all three sizes, try them on and send the ones that you don't like back!:

If you like to have a little more fun with your summer swim look, these Vans Hula Girl boardshorts ($49) in standard 22" length are really something fine. If you use "the Google" you'll easily be able to locate a shirt and beach hat from Vans in the same print... cuz if you're gonna do it... do it big.

AND THENNN... if you wanna get dope-boy-fresh and have THIS auto-play when you step out on the beach, you're going to NEED the new Keith Haring x Joyrich print boardshorts ($100). (They run a little small, I tried them on over the weekend so I recommend getting a size up.) You can hit up the fine folks at Joyrich on Melrose directly or they're also being stocked at the Patricia Field boutique in New York.

And if you're bold, have daddy issues, and LIVE for metallics... then please, take a knee while I show you this next gem. Ladies and gentlemen, but mostly just gentlemen because this post is about MENS swimwear, let me present to you MY NEW... SUMMER 2011 SWIMSUIT (Please ignore the AA "model" - I look way better in this thing):

No, I'm not joking, and YES, that's right folks - you too can look like a little Chipotle burrito (they recently switched to gold foil, FYI - smart move on their part because I eat there more now.) and you have American Apparel to thank (and me because I showed you) and at only $36 why not get the silver one too? (In case Chipotle switches back, you'll be prepared.)

RORY SEZ: Too Much Leopard Print Is Just Enough

Hey new friends! Me, Rory, here. The main reason why Tamar and I are friends is because of Rory, her cat... the OTHER reason is because of our mutual love of leopard print. I know you just met me and stuff, but let's get right into it. When it comes to leopard print (for men or women), too much is just enough.

I feel like right now is my time... I feel like the moment is now... I feel blessed that almost every fashion house has delivered leopard print in one form or another since the winter of 2009, I'm talking everyone from bougie brands like Givenchy to street brands like Crooks & Castles to store brands like Zara &Topman. It's like everywhere you look, and I am NOT complaining.

Some people say leopard is trashy... I say, fuck you. Right now some of my top mens' leopard print picks are:

These Joyrich drop crotch pants are a must have. Like Tamar, I totally have issues with drop crotch. I was blessed with no ass and when I wear drop crotch it looks like I'm carrying a load in my pants. However with THESE... I'm willing to overlook that. It could be a load of CASH for all you know, ok? My pants are leopard. Let's focus.

This little leopard print bow-tie from Patricia Field is like the perfect way to subtly add leopard to your look. It's not gonna hit your coworkers over the head unless you're pairing it with a leopard dress shirt, in which case they won't even see it. This bow-tie is EVERYTHING... and at $12.00, why are you still reading this?

Another subtle way to add some RAWR to your look is in the shades. These Hoss sunglasses from Von Zipper deliver. My favorite part is the gold band on the side to make them extra tacky, and for that I am grateful.

Another Joyrich gem is this leopard studded fanny pack. It's EVERYTHING. If you're going to be ballsy enough to rock a fanny pack (or "belt bag" as the classy folk at Gucci call it)... you might as well go balls to the wall and rock one that's leopard AND studded. AM I RIGHT?!

$290, DrMartens

Last but certainly not least my pick for leopard footwear comes from our friends across the pond at Dr. Martens. NOT ONLY are they leopard print, but they're ITALIAN HAIR LEOPARD PRINT. Hopefully it's not hair from the cast of the "Jersey Shore" or something. Anywho... these could be worn with pants or shorts because really, they're like the Reese's of footwear -- there's no wrong way to wear them. Their price point is a little high, but the way I justify shit like this to my therapist is to just say that you can't put a price on happiness, and they can't question that.

I'd also like to just throw this out there for any (straight) men who are uncomfortable with my selections... get chu one of these on your arm and you'll be good to go.

These Cheeseburger Boxes Are PERFECT For Anthony Weiner

No idea why, but something about the blunt, in-your-faced-ness of the visceral man meat all over these cheeseburger boxers just screams "Anthony Weiner" to me. And God KNOWS, the man could stand to cover up. So here are some cheeseburger boxers on Anthony Weiner. Hold the pickle, please.

($18, Toddland, FredFlare.com)

Disclaimer: I DO NOT, thankfully, own these photos.

PS: Here's why lady politicians don't Twitpic their lady biz.

This Sacai Cardigan Is $649. What Am I Missing? Besides $649.99?

I love a guy in a striped cardi. I think they're an Everydude staple as they look great across the board. But did I miss something here? Not convert the currency correctly? How the filfflarnfilf is this Sacai men's striped cardigan $649? DOLLARS! The PRPS cashmere cardigans I've been ogling are half that. This looks like the type of cardigan you could get from Topshop for like 1/16th the price. (Oh look! You basically can!)

($649, Sacai, Colette)

No, this isn't cashmere, and no, it doesn't even come with a car or a pony or anything.


Better deals:

($13.99, Target)

See? Sensible!

($24.99, Converse, Target.com)

$24.99! For a sweater! It MAKES SENSE!

($34.99, DKNY, Amazon)

Also not wack!

($70, RVCA, Jacksurfboards.com)

Order -- it has been restored in the universe.

My Friend Neil Gets Street Spotted On Racked

This is my always-impeccably-dressed (and highly talented!) friend Neil, who was captured on Racked and braved many of their readers' absurd comments. Neil is ALWAYS dressed like this -- retro social club-chic dude -- in an unironic way, and it's always great. He's got his own haberdasher and has perfect suits. Yay, Neil!

Extricating Dudes From T-Shirt Hell

Not too long ago, while on the train, I had the extreme misfortune of seeing a guy (obviously) wearing this t-shirt:

Yes, that says "thousands of my potential children died on your daughter's face last night." Now I have a feeling that the type of guy who'd actually wear a shirt like that is NOT the type of guy who really sees much action at all. But still. Guys, that's not cool. And I even LIKE potty humor. But that's just bad. And grammatically incorrect -- it doesn't even end with any punctuation!

Anyway, here are some men's t-shirts that express much better taste and don't offend or involve sperm.

($17.95, Fuzzy Ink)

Love this guy. He's the sheriff of 'stache town, and with coupon code "Stache," you get 10% off. I got this shirt, designed by Craig Watkins, for my boyfriend and he wears it on the regs.

($26, Alphanumeric, Robustflavor.com)

Gas prices = le suck.

($30, Jay McCarroll)

Designed by the inimitable Jay McCarroll, and $5 go to Alex's Lemonade Stand, which raises funds to fight childhood cancer. (Shirts available in women's sizes too, y'all!)

($35, Wonderful Design, 2K By Gingham)

2K By Gingham, a Japanese company, aggregates lots of sick designers and sells their t-shirts in both men's and women's sizes. Sorta like Threadless. Love the funny bear above (hee -- he's got pwivate parts!) and two below:

($35, James Joyce, 2K By Gingham)

For the armchair DJ.

($48, Davis, 2K By Gingham)

Comfy-cute soft for dudes.

Sovereign Beck Ties

One of the main complaints/ criticisms I usually hear about Le Binge (besides what seems to be our feast-or-famine style of posting as of late) is that we don't do enough menswear. Actually, we do almost no menswear! Mainly that's because it's just not our thing, but these silk ties by Sovereign Beck -- I know it sounds like a bank, but Sovereign Beck is actually Brooklyn designers Ryan Sovereign and William Beck -- were too beautiful not to Binge about. I saw their 2008 collection at a Shecky's shopping event, and I had to share their smart, sophisticated designs that look like hand-rendered line drawings without a hint of too-cutesy craftiness:

($90, Thatch in grey and mauve)



($90, Crystalize in pink)


($90, "Links," from the 2007 collection)


($90, "Rings," from the 2007 collection)

Buy them online, and see who stocks them, and then check out their looks here -- you can totally tell how good these look on everyday guys who don't necessarily wear ties every day, but don't want to look like total DBs or Wall Street rejects when they do. I'd get one for my boyfriend, but he's about as happy in a tie as a cat in a laundry bag. Oh yeah, and no matter how much you might like them, ladies, PLEASE don't wear one unless you're Diane Keaton and you own a time machine. Otherwise, girls in ties is a fashion crime up there with doing the dirty dirty double denim deed.

Random Hump Night Binges

Y'all, first of all, my sincerest apolomagies for not Binging as hard or efficiently as I have in the past. I've been blogging my ass off for work, and while my heart remains in the Binge, work, well, pays the bills. Ah tries mah hardest to come up with some fun, semi-thoughtful and cohesive, subject-driven posts with lots of fun shit to look at/ buy/ dream about, but that's the Type A-er in me. At the risk of creating Bingeorexia and leaving you starving without much Binge at all, perhaps I should try being more Type B and just throw some shit up there? Your thoughts in the comments -- less frequent posts with more ZING or more frequent with less ZIP, if you will?

Okay, that said, here are three random Binge wants on this Hump Night (the night OF hump day, and not, to say, a night during which I'm humping, because I'm not, because I'm blogging. Ew. "Humping" is gross but funny!)

($99, Anthropolgie)

Oh, Anthro, you heartless, overpriced little bitch. Your sales are hardly even. Yet you keep drawing me back in.

($140, Nine West)

My ongoing love affair with grey heels continues. These are perfect summer shoes (with easy warm-to-cool seasonal conversion capabilities!) and almost have a Chie Mahara feel. But cheaper!

($175, Brian Bowie, Refinery29)

This messenger bag is supposed to be for guys (which fulfills one of my Type A goals of doing more men's stuff on the bolg), but I'd rock dat. Each bag is handmade by designer Bryan Bowie (best last name ever!!!! besides Rockwell) and thoughtfully comes with a detachable laptop case. Noice! They're supposed to be available at Bowie's site, Nostalgiecloth.com, but that site looks like it's slightly busted, so yell at Refinery29 and not me, k?

My Fair Isle Sweater... Et Al...

I don't usually go gaga over Fair Isle sweaters -- there's something a bit too WASPy about 'em for me, but I do LOVE this one:

($325, Chimala, Stuart & Wright/ Refinery29.com)

I like the oatmeal color. Cute cut too, and not too overly "trying-extra-hard-to-look-like-I'm-from-Maine-ish." By the way, I've never been to Stuart & Wright and keep meaning to go but rarely find myself in Ft. Greene. Anyone been? Any good sale stuff ever?

($88, Kersh, Nordstrom)

Nothing earth-shattering here, but cute nonetheless. I like the longer versions -- more femme than the standard waist-length ones.

($39, Victoria's Secret)

Oh my God. Oh my God. I can't believe I just posted something from Victoria's Secret. I'm fairly sure this computer will blow up as soon as I hit "publish," and/or a giant meteor will crush me to death as I sit here in my home... but this is actually fairly ok-cute.

($34, Old Navy)

Looks like that Fair Isle sweater Old Navy was pushing earlier this season is done, but this pullover is a nice, not-bad comfy staple.

($10, Old Navy)

Comfy pajama pants (or "apartment pants," as my boyfriend's sister humorously calls them) -- ten bucks! Cain't beat dat!

($24, JC Penney)

I couldn't tell you the last time I stepped foot inside of a JCP (closest one's in Jersey), so I'm not too familiar with their jonx, but my sweater search pulled up this cardigan -- it's not Fair Isle, but it's nice and wintery, and it's not bad.

($68, Urban Outfitters)

I couldn't tell you the last time I stepped foot within a one-mile radius of a campfire, but Urban Outfitters' All-Son Campfire sweater perfect! By the way, Urban has free shipping over $50 until Monday, so this totes applies! Git it, shortie!

($98, SandrikasFiberArts.etsy.com)

This scarf, hand made by Etsy seller SandrikasFiberArts, is so adorable and romantic. I'd so wear it camping if I knew how to do that.

Finally, enjoy this super-alluring photo of me in my eBay-scored horse head cowichan. Neigh indeed! And if you're thinking of knitting your own Fair Isle sweater, check out this how-to video. And if you're thinking of knitting your dude a sweater, consult this book first.