Angel's Point of View is Moving!

Changing names, but not the content. All of the greatness you've come to love and more will be available at my new Thestylepreneur.com which is set to launch the first of July. Since we're busying setting up the new site and moving all the arcives over with hope you and kill the time searching our past posts.

I'll be keeping everything current at my Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram in the meantime. See everyone at TheStylpreneur.com in July!

To Code: Teeth Bleaching

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman 

Our smile is probably one of the most noticeable attributes of our face. It might be a bit more time consuming then just brushing, but getting whiter teeth can easily be added to anyones dental maintenance routine.

You might ask, why should I care about having white teeth? Well, at the end of the day it's really not that big of a deal, I'm not going to stop being someones friend just because their teeth aren't as white as the snow. However, whiter teeth will make you look younger and for those with teeth that aren't perfectly straight (like me), whiter teeth do a good job at hiding smile imperfections.

If you haven't bleached your teeth before but have considered it, just go for it! It's not something you have to do weekly. I make a point to bleach my teeth about every 2-3 years.There our several methods to achieving a whiter smile, It all comes down to what you're willing to spend on the process.

Just remember, teeth are apart of our bodies, and our bodies are uniquely ours. Sometimes stress and other factors during our growing years can cause dark spots, curves, even differences in color from tooth to tooth. We're just trying to get rid of some of the yellow from "dental abuse," anything else going on in the mouth department is just one more thing that makes us all different, and ultimately one of a kind.

Read below for my suggestions for teeth bleaching opinions.

----------------------

- Whitening strips - I don't like teeth whitening strips, they feel funny and slip all in my mouth. Whitening toothpaste is more for maintenance after a proper bleaching, not full on color reversal. I'm also not a fan of the teeth whitening kiosks at malls. Not because they can't do the job, I just think some things shouldn't be done at malls. Here my best suggestions.

- Professional whitening by a dentist! It will run you about $150 according to my last quote, but your dentist will give you the best results in the shortest amount of time. They can also target trouble stains caused by years of smoking, soda or coffee drinking.

- Custom trays and professional grad bleach - This opinion is again, started by the dentist then the rest is D.I.Y. You get your custom teeth trays made by your tooth-doc, and a couple packs of whitening gel and detailed instructions how to do it. Again, this is a more expessive opition, but it gives you the flexibility to take your time getting to that optimal shade of white. This opinion will likely still run you about $100 or so.

Lastly and my personal favorite, Angel's $8 D.I.Y. Teeth Bleaching kit. I'm notorious for being cheap frugal, so I don't worry about going overboard on something I know works.

* Grab you two basic athletic mount guards, one for the top teeth and one of the bottom teeth. Don't bother with the double thick models, the standard adult size will work best. 

* Head over to toothpaste isle and look for a tube of Teeth whitening gel. Mold one mouth guard for the top teeth, and the other for your bottom set, just like you did for little league football. 

* Once youre guards are finished and formed, squeeze in just enough gel so to cover your teeth. It might take a bit of practice so not to over fill, bleaching gel doesn't feel good when it tries to bleach out your gums.

* Leave guards in your mouth for 15-20 mintues once to twice a day for about two weeks. Add another week if you think you can get that extra shade in with a little more patience. 

After you get to a happy white-place, use a whitening toothpaste to maintain your newly whitened smile. Don't worry about bleaching again until after you're next annual teeth cleaning when you're smile is squeaky clean; primed for a whitening-touch up.

-----

(Disclaimer: Angel's Point of View or anyone affiliated with this site is in no way suggesting to drink bleach as depicted in the illustration as a healthy or safe means of whitening teeth. If you do consume bleach, seek immediate medical attention, dial 911 or contact the poison control office.)

To Code: Which Bag Should I Use?

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman

Technically, I'm not giving advice this time around, more so seeking it. So here is your chance to help me pack for Fashion Week next month.


Which bag should I use while in New York for Fashion Week?


---

A canvas tote? (which I don't own, so if anyone wants to send me one please do!)

A regular old back pack?

Or my trusty, two shades of blue, Timbuk2 messenger bag?

Comment and let me know what I should use while in the Big Apple!

To Code: Can We end Taco Crotch?

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman

Get your head out of the gutter, I'm not talking about anything funky happen downstairs. I'm talking about that annoying folding of fabric in the crotch area after your break in those new pants. It's likes you have a hard shell taco hiding in your pants around your you-know-what. I know I'm not the only person with this issue, but it seems to plague me with khakis more than other pant fabrics. I'm not really solving any fashion faux pas here, mostly complaining. If we can have a stain resistant, wrinkle free, tailored fit shirt right off the rack, why can't we get "bunching and stretch proof" pants. I'll tell you right now, don't dare "fall into the GAP" if this is a common issue with you. Every brand by the mighty GAP corporation fail to deliver a pair of Khakis that don't make me look like my manhood has hit senior citizen status long before the rest of my body, showing through my pants for all to laugh.

If anyone has the solution to the dreaded "taco crotch," let me know. Till then, looks like I'll have to continue the hunt for a worthy pair of anything that isn't jeans. 

I honestly think I'd rather have a wedgy or camel-toe before taco crotch. On second though, I'll pass on all of the above.

To Code: The Rule of Hats - Day & Night

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman

I'm a lover of hats, I have a small collection even though I almost always grab my VMI baseball cap. Every now and again, I'll pull out my full brim straw fedora just for fun.

I'm a practical person by natural, something that comes into play in my style often. When it comes to hats, I've always felt their purpose it to keep your head dry, warm and to block the sun from your face and neck. The great thing about hats is they are in fact very fashionable and you have many options that keep you from looking like a 40 year old frat boy. Like many things, keep trying on different style hats till you find the right fit.

On to the rule of hats.

Simply put during the day, where you hats to your heart's content. Once the sun goes down, unless the hat is apart of a uniform, if there is no snow or rain in sight, hang that lid up till morning brings the daylight again. Point blank, the end, male pattern baldness happens, you're not fooling anyone.

So in review.

Daytime - Hats, OK!

Night Time - Hats, NOT OK.

Happy first week of summer and happy hat wearing.

To Code: Be a Under Cover "V-Tee" Man

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman

If you're like me, a undershirt is as much of a protective layer as it is a second shirt. If I didn't wear an undershirt, my dress shirts would be ruined in a matter of weeks, my bank account wouldn't like that at all.

I have a few crew neck, white undershirts, but when I plan to go tieless with my collared shirts, I always wear a v-neck tee. The Air Force required us to wear V-necks when we wore our dress blues without a tie, and there was something cleaner about the look.

If you plan to go wear couple buttons undone with your polo or dress shirt, get a v-neck tee to wear underneath. For some reason the collar of a crew neck shirt draws so much attention to that area, it breaks up your outfit in a bad way. The V-neck gets rid of that entirely so all you see is a bit of chest and the shirt you intended to be visible to the public.

A V-neck does open up a bit more chest hair to be visible, and how much you want popping out; well that's a totally separate conversation.

To Code: Brush Your Face

 To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman

Its March, soon many of you beard growing hipsters mans man, will be shaving off your winter scruff welcoming in springs warmer weather.

I don't do the beard thing, but I do use a shave brush to lather up my Almond, Col. Conk Shaving Soap. You shaving connoisseur can have your fancy, over priced shave products, Col. Conk's cost me a whooping $6 and last about a year. Paired with Mach 3 Turbo, I enjoy a vintage-mod shaving experience every other day.

Aside of the nostalgic feeling, those brush bristles push your whiskers around to help prop up them up for a closer, cleaner shave with far less ingrown hairs. Man grooming at its best I'd say. As far as brush go, they start as low as $6 well into the hundreds, I suggest one made of badger hair at the least. I've used a few pricey brushes but my go to is a $20 badger hair brush made by Tweezerman.

Happy Shaving.

To Code: Bearded Business

 To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman

I'm excited to have To Code back! I have a lot of them lined up for you this year, expect a new one 2-4 times a month.

Now on to the ever so hip beard. 10 years ago it was the goatee, now its mustaches and full beards.

I have nothing against beards, I grew up in a small Southern rural city in the mountains, beards are normal. Thing is, these "mans-men" kept their beards in check! Some are thick, some are long, some are short, but not often out of control.

If your beard looks like a used Brillo pad its time to trim it up. Even if you're trying to grow it out, at no point should your face look like your armpit hair got confused and started growing in the wrong place.

Clip your whiskers to an even layered pelt followed by a gentle brushing every couple days. Point black - The End.

Your friends, girlfriend, or wife will no longer be embarrassed to been seen in public with. They will also finally stop telling everyone you're auditioning for a movie role as a member of al-Qaeda, or having issues with a over productive pituitary glad.  

To Code: Enjoy the Little Things in Life

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman

We take a lot for granted in life trying to make everything so damn serious while forgetting the little things. Take a second and just enjoy something simple and basic today you normally would overlook. True gentlemen don't need fancy clothing and things to make them happy.

To Code: The Glossies Effect

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman

Its that time of year again, the long awaited "September Issues" are hitting stands and mail boxes world wide. While I hope you enjoy your encyclopedia sized magazines of upcoming fashion greatness (because we all know that many of you guys pick up Vogue only once a year to keep your September GQ from getting lonely). It's important to remember that magazines are companies supported by the ever changing business side of the fashion industry, take in all your new found knowledge with a grain of salt.

Fashion changes season to season, year to year, style is every lasting.

To Code: Camouflage and Fashion

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman 

. After spending the better part of a decade wearing camo every single day in the  US Air Force, you'll only find me wearing a my camo rain jacket every now and then. This past season though, the runway has been cluttered with camouflage, some good, some bad.

I don't reprimand those who wear camo apart of their civilian wardrobe, I do however have a basic guideline to doing this right.

- If the US armed forces are currently wearing said camouflage pattern, you should not. Opt for obsolete styles, the most recently retired pattern is the Woodland battle dress uniform. Everyone has gone digital (which is what they call the patterns now), or to MultiCam (a.k.a., badass camo that actually works). Prime example, this monstrously of a fashion statement. (The Navy doesn't even like them). Wear the vintage stuff, its cooler looking anyways.

- If you didn't earn them, don't wear them. Unless its a family hand me down from a Dad, Aunt, uncle, etc., take off the name tape, branch, patches, Ribbons or medals. Some Vets take that stuff pretty seriously, don't be disrespectful to them by having no connection to what those things symbolize.

- Take it to the tailor. Much of mens fashion can be rooted to military uniforms throughout history, and how they are worn and altered to fit doesn't fall to far from the status quo of modern fashion tailoring; slim and trim.

To Code: Why it was started

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman 


I've had a few e-mails from readers asking why I started To Code. Well, after about a few months of starting the blog I wanted to add fashion advice to my content. Getting original photos for this wasn't happening, so I use this little stick man to have some kind of image along with the post.  The sketches stuck!

The next question is, why is my advice geared towards men? The answer is simple, a large portion of my readers are female, not to mention many of my photos are of womens street style. Writing To Code: I feel is a way to give the guys their own little place on Angel's Point of View. Also, I've had a few female readers actually tell me they love reading them because they can suggest my advice to their boyfriends or husbands.

The last question is why is it called To Code? Well, you get your house inspected to make sure it's up "To Code" right? I think you should live your life to some sort of Code of standards as well, thus To Code was born.

To Code: USA - All The Way

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman 


Did you know I actually draw each sketch for the To Code series? I draw each one with paper and pencil then scan it into the computer to post. It's pretty fun.

Aside of that, I hope you all enjoyed your Independence Day. I thought it was fitting to give you a little advice while celebrating our fine country is still fresh in your minds.

Whenever possible, buy goods made in the US of A. Our country is in the middle of a resurgence of local consumerism and products of every kind made here in the US. It's the belief in quality versus quantity that is leading the way, and more Americans are taking a leap in rebuilding American manufactured goods. 

I'm not saying you need to go out and only buy US produced items from here on out, it's just good practice. I try my best to buy US goods, local food, and so on. The truth of the matter is American made products almost always cost more! Yes, unless you're Oprah rich, you may get sticker shocked very quickly as well as a dwindling bank account if you only buy things made in our country. Many companies are only manned by 2 or so people, with some of the larger operations capping out at 20. What takes a large scale manufacturer 20 minutes to make takes these hard working makers 6 hours, and these folks deserve a fair wage, don't you think? Hence, the higher cost.

Aside of the higher premium, American made products are back. Although some of the more desirable items like clothing, cars, and lets say furniture can cost three times what imports would, you can find American made products at big box stores, farmers markets, and even thrift stores within more manageable rates. Just check the label and walk off whistling a few bars of ' I'm proud to be an American." You're in a small way helping out nation get back on its feet to a pretty high level of awesomeness.

To Code: What's That Smell?

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman 


Do you wear cologne? I hope so, not that your natural man smell is a bad thing, but its always nice to just kick it up a little bit in the smell department. After all, scent is the strongest tie to memory. So they say, whoever "they" are.

All the men in my life are cologne wearers, my Dad has been wearing the same stuff as long as I can remember, my uncles are in the same boat. Through my teens I had a scent for every occasion, then one day I came across the amber greatness in a test tube looking bottle and I ditch every other cologne I owned. That was about 10 years ago. Here are a few tips to make your choice in cologne last longer than a season or two. 

If you don't like the way it smells on you, don't wear it. Things smell differently once your body arbores it into your skin, you'll have to try a few before finding the right match.  


You probably won't be able to wear the same cologne in your teens as an adult. Its a body chemistry thing, we just pump out different stuff once we hit manhood then as a kid. 


I stick with one, but its OK to have two. I only own one brand of cologne and wear it every single day. If you want to change it up, find something for summer and one for winter. Something cool and fresh smelling in summertime is good since its warm and you sweat more. Something with a bit more kick and a bit musky in winter is more suiting since the cooler temps will make it harder to smell something light. 


Try to stick with the originals. Hunting for a discontinued cologne is the pits, trying to find a new scent is even worse. Companies will make the original scents as long as they are in business, their scents of the season will only stick around for a couple years. Example - Channel No. 5 has been out for almost 100 years for the ladies.


If your friend wears the same stuff you do, get a new friend or a new brand of cologne. I'll let you pick which opinion is most important to you here, Its just kind of cliche to smell like your best buddy.


- lastly, don't wear anything that will instantly make you into a douche bag. Axe, Old Spice if your not 11 or 86 years old, Curve (or what is currently popular with high schoolers and frat boys), anything that is like Axe but has a different name but with equally douchey TV commercials, and whatever Abercrombie and Fitch has pumping out of their air and heating vents. 


Find something you like and that gets you lingering hugs from the ladies. Now go forth and smell awesome.

To Code: Graduate from Mall Brands

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman 

As I make my way closer to 30, the age group of people I interact with are regularly in the 26 to 35 bracket. With that being said I meet far too many men often times older than me, married with children who rock low rise, bedazzled, pre-torn jeans with matching top. I don't know about you but I didn't go to A&F University, or AERO College.

Listen, bands like Aeropostale, American Eagle, Abercrombie, and their other mall store friends have a target market of 14 - 25 year olds. That's high schools and undergrads! Some stores that target the whole family like GAP, Express, even Old Navy, still stock clothing that fits that "mall brand" stereo type with the more grown up items you should be shopping for, hidden away in the back like some sort of VIP section. Mall companies understand that people into their 40's somehow end up wearing the same outfits as their preteens.

Here is my simple take on this, not all mall stores are evil, but once your are of legal age of buying alcohol, stop shopping at these underage stores. Do a good deed and donate that stuff before your 25th birthday, you want to wear T-shirts with a name across it, make it your Alma mater not Tommy Hilfiger.

P.S. these rules apply to you ladies out there reading this, you are just as guilty - I'm talking to you girl wearing sweatpants with "Juicy" on the back.

To Code: Measured Up

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman 


OK gents, do you know your sizes, like your actual measured sizes? Not medium, large, etc., etc. but your shirt sleeve length, neck, inseam, coat size, and true waist.

When I realized that I didn't fit into the average sized shirt because of my monkey arms, I got measured and stopped buying shirts in the top three ( M, L, XL). I checked it once, check it twice, then I wrote it down to someplace safe. Next time I went to the mens store I didn't have to go, "ummm....like large'ish," I told the sales rep like a rock star what I needed in inches. Wearing the right size just clean everything up and your a little bit smarter knowing your digits.

Here's another good tip, when I hit the thrift store I actually carry a tape measure with me to check what I pick out before even trying on. Often times I weed out more than half the stuff I picked because it doesn't measure up. Then in the dressing room, I can hope for at least one perfect fit, then dropped the what I keep off at alterations for some thrift store tweaking. It feels silly at first, but after a while you end up with more takers in the dressing room than duds.

Wanna spice up the measuring process? Get help from your lady, you both can take turns measuring each other. I'll let you decided how that ends.

To Code: Denim on Denim on Denim

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman 

When I think of iconic American fashion, I almost always think of denim first. Americans love their jeans, it has been that way for quite some time. Yes young people, before the 80's.

So a few weeks ago I was on Twitter and GQ was doing their monthly #AskGQ hash tag. So like the smart ass I am, I tweeted this question, "What's your take on jeans with a denim jacket? Or how about denim on denim on denim (jeans, jacket, shirt)?"

Since I already had my opinion about this (which I'll get to in a second), what I was looking for was to see what GQ would say. GQ never responded which didn't really bother me, but a couple GQ Twitter followers did.

@Karimbergheim tweeted, " You can use denim jacket with jeans, but you need a contrast. A pair of dark jeans and light denim jacket."

@monsieurtruong tweeted something similar by saying, "That'd work if they're different shades."

Not to disagree just to disagree, but I actually am completely disagreeing with their opinions.

Here's my take guys: Jeans with a chambray shirt, Sure! chambray is like the distant cousin to denim, but they are two totally different fabrics. I've taken several shots of chambray on the street, like this post, and this post, lets not mention how often I wear blue chambray with dark blue jeans. Jeans with a jean jacket? I don't think so, this just isn't something I can promote. Different shades of blue or not, it's like a cowboy uniform, no cowboy would ever be caught wearing.

Of course in fashion there are always exceptions to the rule, when having drinks with a friend who is a fashion editor downtown in Charleston, she said," You know someone who can pull off denim on denim flawlessly? Rhett Boyd at Rogue Wave Surf Shop." I know Rhett, and oddly enough I agree - this time. That puts Rhett in the 1% of people who can pull off the "denim overload" look. With the exception of Rhett and the 1%, leave your jeans at home and try that jean jacket with some khakis or any other color than indigo. The whole denim on denim on denim thing was a joke, it's taking triple threat to a whole new terrible level. Then again, as fashion goes, there is an exception to everything and even the right person can probable pull off full on denim head to toe.

To Code: Vintage & Thiftstores, whats the difference?

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman 


Growing up, I wasn't too much into thrift shops till about my teens, I was more of the yard sale type. Now into my late 20's, I'm pretty pro-thrift, paired with my alterations lady. On that note, I am friends with a fair amount folks whose shops and boutiques prized collections are that of the vintage set. So the question is, what's the difference between thrifting and vintage?

It all comes down to value and convenience. If you've ever been to a good vintage store, the clothing is very well curated. Just as a baseball card collector knows the value of each card new and old, the vintage store owner is very focused on hanging up clothing from a certain era, certain brands, styles, condition, and is constantly educating themselves on fashion of our past. You may still have to dig around at the vintage shop, but ultimately you can expect to find quality, lightly used garments that are pretty close to one of a kind from many top shelf brands and designers from its heyday. Another popular choice for vintage shops is goods made in the USA since textile manufacturing is all but gone here in America.Vintage shops are the art gallery for fine clothing, though not original sticker price, expect to pay a higher premium. The .50 cent bargain bin doesn't exist here.

On the other end we have the thrift store, they have a certain smell that takes a bit getting use to however, the set prices easily make up for the musky scent. The ultimate draw back is the hunt since you must sift through racks and racks of horrible trends, stone washed jeans, and bargain store brands. When you finally do find something good, it's as if you won the lotto, $11.00 is quite the deal for that lightly used Brooks Brothers bespoke suit. A suit in which my friend recently scored on a trip to the thrift shop. Even with top rate alterations, it still doesn't add up to the cost of half a coat sleeve. If your know any one who is big into thrifting, unless you both are very different sizes, they probably won't tell you where their favorite store is since you might snag up that sweet vintage Abercrombie and Fitch coat that they will swear was waiting on them. You know, the outfitters store that once sold outdoor apparel before they went full douche? A far cry from the modern mall juggernaut with over priced, pre-ripped clothing most think of when you mention A&F. Moving on.

At the end of the day, thrift and vintage stores are very similar, yet very different. Sure you can find used  designer garments at both places, just expect to make more visits to thrift stores and spend more time shuffling through racks in hopes to find any Prada, or even some premium "Made in the USA" goods from pre 1980 where at the vintage store it will be in the window display.

Either way you're being a Green fashionista for passing up on buying new goods, Mother Earth will thank you and you'll be grateful that your chances of wearing the same shirt as that other guy just went down drastically.

To Code: Don't be a "Bubble Butt!"

To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Gentleman 

As modern men, we feel the need to carry everything we own with us -- smart phones, iPods, digital cameras, chap-stick, keys, etc. -- in our pockets which = pocket overkill. Then there's the wallet: a more period version of the modern smart phone.  The wallet has always been out of control with what gets stuffed in it. It's the most used, yet abused item of a man's daily carry. An over stuffed wallet will add bulk to your new tailored fit trousers, which makes the "bubble butt" the most common style faux pas made every day.

The day I retired my bi-fold was the day my butt thanked me for the many years of abuse.  How do you transition? Ditch your current bi/tri-fold and upgrade to a simple card holder and money clip. If you need more than your drivers license, a credit card, and maybe a work ID on you at all times, upgrade to a brief case. I carry the bare minimum: a few bucks, Burt's Bees, keys, and my card holder with no more than my ID. Also, if I'm not wearing a coat or have a bag, I often leave the cell phone behind just because I don't want to deal with its bulk in my pockets.

Do yourself (and your butt) a solid and downsize your wallet. Hard chairs will be no match for your new streamline back pocket gear. You'll wonder why you didn't do it a long time ago.

To Code: Toms and Dresses, It's a No, No!

 July's To Code: A Guide to Being A Better Lady (better late than never)


















TOMS eco-friendly (a pair of shoes goes to shoe-less children for every pair bought) have become a popular choice of footwear over the past few years. Across the board, hipsters, kids, doctors, moms, and dads are all rocking a pair of these minimalist shoes. I'm going to make this simple. TOMS are OK in my book, although I can't say you'll catch me in a pair anytime soon. HOWEVER, I've seen far too many ladies of all ages wearing their TOMS with skirts and dresses.

If you want to look like a ballerina in your pointe shoes then by all means, wear your TOMS in every outfit you own. Otherwise, put on a pair of flats or pumps and head out on the town when in skirts or dresses, wear your Classic TOMS with your favorite jeans or shorts and keep it at that. Same rules should apply to men as well.

----------------

UPDATE: Toms Shoes have some wedges and actual ballet flats in their line up since my original post. I've seen them in store and on a few people and will promote ladies to where these options however they please. My original statement stands though on the classic TOMS.