Why Kechie’s Project?
Why Kechie’s Project?
Kechie’s Project is a unique nonprofit organization specifically focused on empowering underprivileged girls and providing them with educational resources. This takes place in both Nigeria and in the United States as well. Donations to Kechie’s Project provide direct financial support and resources to two schools in Nigeria and the organization also provides cultural awareness programs in New York City Schools, such as Bread and Roses High School in Harlem and PS101Q Elementary School in Forest Hills. Kechie’s Project is dedicated to direct involvement with minimal administrative costs. This focused approach benefits selected children enabling their growth and providing them with future opportunity. The result is a positive effect on their community and our world community.
My son recently asked me, “Why do you help Kechie’s Project?”
After explaining the goals and accomplishments of Kechie’s Project, I then explained my role in Kechie’s Project consists of writing press releases, coordinating social media, and connecting great people to help this charity grow, he then pressed me further.
“Why help children that you don’t know?”
My answer was this: “Because I can!”
Each one of us can help with such little effort. Even a small donation provides a direct positive influence in the lives of these girls.
Kechie’s Project
Color Color Color/ Solid Solid Solid
Just a sample of solid colors from Faconnable’s Spring 2012 Collection.
Why a solid tie? Solid ties enters a splash of color and easily blend with striped or pattern shirts and are easily taken in by the observer as being tasteful and clean with a pop. Throw in a pocket square and stop some traffic. the ties can have a satin finish, slight texture, or a tightly woven grenandine. While many people know of Faconnable brand from many various pronunciations, correct or incorrect, that which is always correct is the superb color palette Faconnable’s neck wear has to offer the well dressed gentleman. Season after season, year after year. Let’s look a a few combinations featuring myself, with a few colors.
Red Solid tie with pocket square and striped shirt from Faconnable. Suit by Domenico Spano Custom.
Solid green tie and blue Gingham check shirt with navy two button suit from Faconnable.
Solid Orange Tie with Blue Striped Suit from Faconnable. Grey Flannel Chalk Striped Suit from Hickey Freeman.
- Sean Connery with a more monochromatic look wearing solid grenadine ties during his tenure as James Bond.
Bruschetta ala Francis
In between my business endeavors I love to eat, and eat well. After I made some Bruschetta one evening, in my haste I apparently did not distribute the ingredients evenly across the toast.
“Dad it’s not mixed right, this piece has more olives, this one too many shallots”
Well, you get the idea. Dad not being one to take criticism well, young Francis landed himself a new job as The Bruschetta Plater. I also decided to make him mix the arugula salad as well.
“Slow down on the grated Pecorino, boy!”.
Bruschetta Puttanesca.
Our Recipe.
Basically the ingredients are those in a ‘”puttanesca” sauce.
- One large shallot diced.
- A dozen Kalamata olives chopped coarsely.two
- Two tablespoons of capers.
- One seeded Jalapeno pepper diced.
- Four anchovies chopped coarsely.
- One Tablespoon of lemon or lime juice.
- Three Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
- Most importantly we love Campari tomatoes right from the vine. Dice about six tomatoes, remove the seeds and add to the mixing bowl and let sit for up to 20 minutes. This bowl stays at room temperature, please please please do not put that bowl in the refrigerator or it will be terrible. Tomatoes hate refrigerators and will ruin themselves if you chill them, spiteful little fruit they are.
- Then toast some Semolina bread slices, plate it evenly, and spoon the remaining olive oil and juice over the plate.
Pour yourself a nice glass of Cannonau and watch the Bruschetta disappear. Delicioso!
Monochromatic Icons, Keeping it Clean
When we think of monochromatic dressing, what comes to mind, Black and White, shades of Gray between? Boring or clean and chic? Let’s take a look as some of the most well known monochromatic dressers and a few friends.
On screen and off George can be seen in solid dark suits with a white shirt and solid dark tie.
Cary Grant shows us a blue/grey monochromatic combination.
Now let’s look at spicing the monochromatic look with accents of color.
Simple Shade of grey and blue with a splash of color in the tie and bow tie.
Keeping it clean is relatively easy and adds a look of seriousness to your wardrobe and your personal Brand.It also creates variety as when you wear something more colorful at a different time there is more impact. What you wear is the initial perception others receive well before you even speak. Monochromatic looks speak of chic and clean and define a sense of masculine self confidence.
Grey Double Breasted nail head suit by Domenico Spano Custom. Striped tie ala Fred Astaire.
Go Gingham Go!
A lovely assortment of Gingham shirts with spread collars by Faconnable.
Gingham fabric makes a versatile shirt as it looks great with or without a tie, with or without a jacket and provides the opportunity to show colors cleanly with the white/color checks. The fabrics are light for year round use and are a classic part of the wardrobe.
Sources claim two origins of the word “gingham”, firstly from 1615, from Dutch “gingang” traders’ rendering of a Malay word said to be ginggang “striped,” used as a noun with the sense of “striped cotton. Secondly named after Guingamp, in Brittany, where the fabric was originally manufactured.
Teach the Children “Well Dressed”
It’s never too early to start your children in the right direction of style and taste. If they learn from your example of dressing well, and you help guide them in how/why you are dressing it will instill something in them to carry them forward in future success and confidence. If they can dress themselves in the morning their decision making skills get more focused and empower their confidence and self esteem at the beginning of their self consciousness.
Well Dressed at 6 years old with a Three Button Ralph Lauren Suit, Brooks Brothers French Blue French cuff shirt, tie and pocket square by Domenico Spano, suspenders from Aldo and brown suede laceups
So you bought a Striped Suit, Now what? Can I wear Stripes and Stripes?
The first question someone asks when buying their first (or tenth) striped suit is, “What shirts and ties can I wear with it?” Over the course of the last decade the so-called rules have loosened into reality not dogma. If it looks good, then it’s good. What this means is that if you look good in what you are wearing, and are comfortable wearing it, then this is your style and the process of your journey in taste (not just fleeting fashion- not that you can’t pull that off as well.)
Of course, you can wear solid shirts to start especially if they accentuate the color of the stripe in the suit. If you have a beaded stripe in most cases you can blend it to variety of colors. Once we add a tie or shirt with a pattern, what is critical is to think in terms of scale. I.e. If the suit stripes are an inch wide any patterns should using be containable within the stripes and a different shape or size.
We will work from busier tasteful combinations to more conservative examples.
Domenico Spano wearing his double breasted striped suit with a horizontal striped shirt and crisp polka dot bow tie with Gigi Francis Cuff Links.
Our next example shows Prince Charles.
Prince Charles with a double breasted striped suit and verticle blue striped suit. Notice how the scale of the stripes in the suit differs from the suit and once again a simple pattern tie simplifies the look.
Finally the most simple look, classic, crisp, and clean.
Ralph Lauren demonstrates the striped suit in its most conservative fashion, with a white shirt and solid tie.
