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How I Styled My #ZapposxAnimalFarm Trucker!

Posted on November 19, 2019

This blog post was sponsored by Zappos, but all opinions, styling, photos and write-up are my own!

I’m definitely an accessories guy! I love jewelry, I love sunglasses, and most of all, I love hats! If you’ve been following my instagram account @BlueCollarPrep, then you know I love hats! They are just one of those accessories that can really add that extra something to your outfit and can also just completely change the vibe.

I just copped this awesome Goorin Brothers Animal Farm Snap Back Trucker Hat from Zappos.com! Excited to add this new accessory into my wardrobe because I really don’t have too many trucker hats in my collection, and it’s always good to have at least a few because I love how it can instantly toughen up and give a bit of ruggedness to any look. Goorin Brothers has soooo many different Farm Snap Backs to choose from and there are so many ones I like! I went with the Fowl, mainly because I really like the camo 🙂 and I think the fowl just fits perfectly with the print. I love how this hat adds the perfect amount of camo to any outfit. And I really love how camo looks with orange, so I immediately knew I was going to pair this hat with my orange turtleneck – I just think the colors compliment each other perfectly and give it that cool outdoorsy vibe that I like. I love the oversized patches on the collection and the muted & rich colors they went with. These are the kind of hats that you can throw on with any look and like I said before, just toughen it up a bit!

I always love how trucker hats can go with any outfit…from jeans, to chinos to even suits! I’ve worn them with a suit before and I love how it instantly can casual up the look and give it more of a laid-back hip street style. With my Goorin Brothers Fowl Trucker, I really like the fact that it has a slightly larger cap on top rather than some of the other trucker hats I have. Something about the raised top just gives it a little something extra in a modern fashion-forward kind of way. I just like like it!

Check out the Goorin Brothers Animal Farm collection on Zappos.com! I also really dig Goorin’s Trout hat. I’m loving that bluish brim with that splash of pink in the fish! There’s literally an animal for everyone, not to mention, I’m sure you’ll find other pieces you’ll want to coordinate with your new trucker. 🙂 I’ve always been a fan of Zappos! They have such a large selection of products across multiple product categories, so it’s nice to be able to shop for me, my wife and Nate all at the same time. I honestly don’t know any other website that I shop at that has a 365 day return policy – that’s incredible! I always tend to sit on new purchases for a few days before deciding if I want to keep it, so with a return policy like this, plus the free shipping & returns and the free 2-day shipping for rewards members, there are so many benefits as a shopping customer, it’s a no brainer when shopping on their website! I hate paying for shipping and I hate when websites have such a short return policy window, so thank you Zappos!

My Go-to Jacket Brand & An Exciting Announcement!

Posted on November 12, 2019

A leather coat is one of those essential pieces that everyone should own. There’s so many different styles of leather jackets you can always find the perfect jacket no matter what your style is. When it comes to leather, quality to me, is one of the most important aspects in picking the right brand to go with. These jackets are an investment and if you treat them right they will be with you forever and are well worth it!

Growing up I was always into military style pieces. My father worked at the docks in Brooklyn and we always visited Army/Navy stores together when I was younger. I think that’s probably what really ignited my love for the armed forces kind of vibe. Unfortunately, I was never able to own a leather jacket growing up, so I knew that once I was in a position to get my own, it would have to be a quality leather!

Cockpit USA is one of my all time favorite outerwear brands! Not only are they top quality, but I love that when I style them, their jackets just have this bit of edge to them that I like. Now their edge doesn’t come from trying to be edgy, but it actually just comes from staying authentic to iconic American civilian and military design. Cockpit USA has been around for over 40 years, and they continue to make jackets that are suitable for pilots and guys like us that want bad ass jackets – like some of the styles I’m rocking here. Whether it’s a bomber, sheepskin, leather, textile or a varsity jacket, they are definitely one of those brands, that just delivers such sick pieces with that top-notch quality that I love. I also love that they make kids jackets as well. When we visited the Cockpit showroom not too long ago, it was one of the rare times that I saw Nate actually get excited about a jacket! He loved the camo & leather bomber so we had to get them!

I currently own 4 Cockpit jackets and Nate owns 3! I linked the ones that are still available here:
Aces & Eights Flight Jacket
M51 DMZ Fishtail Shell
Kids Top Gun G-1 Jacket
Kids Camouflage Field Jacket

Whenever I wear any of my Cockpit jackets, they pretty much just make the outfit. I usually keep it simple underneath and let the jacket be that statement piece on top. Whenever I share a look on my Instagram page (@BlueCollarPrep) featuring one, I always get such positive feedback and so much love for them. I cannot wait to get my hands on one of their sheepskin jackets! They are just so top-level, and the sexiness and quality is on point. I seriously need one!

With such a love for this brand, I was super excited when they had an interest in my beanies from my brand BLUE. They’ll be carrying a few select colors of ours on their website: camel, gold & neon orange! Check them out here! I’ve actually worn each of these colors with one of their jackets at some point and definitely agree these will fit perfectly in with the vibe of their brand. I couldn’t be more excited that such an iconic brand, that is one of my all-time faves, will be offering the BlueCollarPrep Watch Cap to their dedicated customers & featuring Nate and I in their Joint Forces collection.

If you’re in the market for a quality jacket that you want to elevate your looks, and have that quality that will allow the piece to last forever, Cockpit USA is a brand to check out. I’ve always been a fan, and now my son is as well! Make sure to pick up one of my Watch Caps before you complete the purchase and tag my brand @Not.The.Color.Blue on IG if you rock it!

Reviews Style

Skincare & Hydration With Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Line

Posted on November 1, 2019

Thanks to my wife schooling me on the importance of face care and me starting to notice the effects of aging, I’ve been pretty good with keeping up a routine of taking care of my skin. There are so many different products to use out there, so I always like to try and stick with brands I know I can trust. Neutrogena® is probably one of the first skincare brands I was ever really familiar with growing up and to me, they kind of feel like the OG of the skincare game! Over the years, I’ve always had at least had one product of theirs in my bathroom, and I know my wife uses some of their products, as well as their make-up, so it’s always been a go-to brand for my family. So, I was really excited to get to try out some new products from their new Hydro Boost line!

During the month of November, get a $10 rewards Visa when you spend $30 or more (excluding tax) on participating Neutrogena® products in one transaction. Click here for full offer details!

During summer months, I’m either working outside or beach & pool-side with the family, and during winter months, I’m usually working outside or skiing with the family. So, between the sun and the cold it can really beat up and dry out my skin. What I really like the most about the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Collection is that the products have purified hyaluronic acid in them, which is meant to really replenish the water in your skin and refresh & rehydrate it. I think for most men, including myself, that’s what our skin is probably lacking the most…moisture and softness.

My current routine starts every morning using the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost City Shield Eye Serum. Not sure if this is weird or not, but I don’t wash my face in the mornings because my skin tends to be on the dryer side. So when I wake up, I like to keep the little bit of natural oils I have intact. However, I wake up with puffy eyes and the wrinkles around my eyes are definitely more prominent in the mornings—so this serum is perfect for moisturizing this sensitive part of my face. It helps smooth out my crows feet and under-eye lines, and it just helps add some life to my tired eyes in the morning. I love how lightweight it is! Nothing’s worse than putting on an eye cream that feels heavy and sticky on your eyelid! This is the one product I actually use twice a day. I use it both in the morning and at night before bed, and I love that it both treats and protects the sensitive skin around my eyes. I’ve used other eye creams before that may have been too potent because they left the skin around my eyes red & irritated, but this one from Neutrogena is amazing and a keeper. I love how refreshing this little bottle looks too…so pretty!

Since I only wash my face once a day, I do so usually right when I get home from work in the shower, or right before bed, and that’s when I use the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser. I actually only started using exfoliating cleansers these past few years, as I never really liked how a gritty cleanser felt on my face. However, this one has such a super fine texture. I can barely feel the exfoliating elements, but I feel it just enough where I know it’s getting deep down in those pores to really deep clean. I really like the fact that it exfoliates my skin and removes all the dirt and oil but also leaves my skin feeling super soft and refreshed. My wife just started using it as well and even though she usually prefers a really gritty cleanser, she loves how small the little scrubbers are and how they really feel like they’re getting in and cleaning that hard-to-get area around the nose. We both really love that is works hard but is gentle and leaves behind a soft and polished face.

After I wash my face, I immediately moisturize with the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Gel Cream and again with the eye serum around the eyes. I’m trying to keep this area as moisturized and taken care of as possible since this is definitely where my age is starting to show the most! I like to use the gel cream at night to help prevent waking up with a dry forehead. My forehead is one of my problem areas when it comes to dry skin, and it’s probably why I have most of my wrinkles in that area—I have them there and between my eyes. So, I make sure I get both of those areas as moisturized as possible so when I wake up, they’re usually not as defined.

So far, I am really loving using these 3 products from the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost line. I love the refreshing blue color of their packaging, the lightweight texture and feeling of each of the products, and the way my skin feels after using them in conjunction with each other. They say water is the best thing for your skin, so it only makes sense that my skincare products aid in increasing my skin’s hydration as well as locking it all in! My wife and I are both such fans of the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost line and even though our skin is completely different (mine is dry and her’s is oily), it works perfectly for both of us. I’m happy to have found a skincare routine that works for me from a brand I know and trust and is the #1 dermatologist recommended skincare brand. I love Neutrogena® and will definitely be introducing my son to it soon enough!

Reviews Style

Fall = Comfy…Jeans?

Posted on October 15, 2019

Everybody loves denim and what’s great about denim is that there are so many different styles to choose from, that you can always find a pair that’s perfect for you. The Lee® Extreme Motion Skinny Fit Jeans from JCPenney are the perfect jean to add to your wardrobe. First and foremost…they’re super comfortable, which let’s be honest, is one of the most important things when picking out your wardrobe (in my opinion)! Because of the comfort, they’re the perfect jean for someone who isn’t really comfortable going the skinny jean route, but does want that fitted style. They have a slim fit, and you can even get them a little snugger because of the elastic waist and the stretch fabric. There’s a lot of denim jeans out there that are just so tight and uncomfortable you don’t even want to squeeze into them or if you do, you can’t wait to take them off! With these Lee Skinnies, the denim still feels like denim, but are soft and have a lot of give…which I like!

With my first look, I wore the dark blue wash or “night wander” Lee® skinny jeans and paired them with this Ely Cattleman Western Shirt from JCPenney. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a fan of western style shirts and as soon as I saw the eagle embroidery I was sold on this one…love the embroidery and piping details! Pairing this shirt with the dark denim really helped play up the tough vibes of this western shirt. I took some shots both with my black hat and without because I couldn’t tell if I was diggin’ the extra cowboy kinda vibe 🙂 or if it was a bit much. And in turn, after looking back, I’m all about the full-on western vibes with the hat! Normally when I wear dark denim with an outfit like this I almost always go with a dark denim that has a snugger fit, but with this pair, because of the elastic, I could barely tell how fitted they were. Like I said, I’m all about that comfort!

(scroll past this look for my 2nd look!)

With the lighter blue “blue prodigy” Lee® Extreme Motion Skinny Jeans from JCPenney I went with a lighter look overall, and paired them with this sunlight yellow Cubavera Button-Front Shirt, and a pair of white Converse, also both from JCPenney. I’m all about the vacay kinda vibes, so with this look it gives me all the feels without being overly tropical in the wrong setting. 🙂 I really love how all these pieces compliment each other and keep it light and casual, but still feels put-together to go grab a bite and a drink with wifey! Just like the darker wash, these jeans have just the right amount of stretch, the perfect length to fall right above my shoes just like I like them, and they keep the look fitted and clean, without feeling too uncomfortably tight. As a dad, this kinda style is a must because one minute I’ll be shooting for my blog, the next I’ll be grabbing a drink with my boo, and the next I’ll be throwing a ball around and chasing my 7 year old son, Nate! I of course like to look my best, but also like to feel comfortable. Besides the stretch denim fabric I also love the comfort of the elastic band around my waist. As I always say, comfort is the key to confidence when rocking a look!

This post is sponsored by JCPenney and Lee.

Reviews Style

Versatile Outdoor Style With JCPenney

Posted on October 8, 2019

No season is as cozy as fall! It’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the weather and the outdoors. Whether it’s just walking around the city, visiting a cute town, or enjoying nature, this time of year just makes you want to be outside, and I love doing it all! I partnered up with JCPenney to show you a versatile look that I put together from their new Men’s Outdoor Collection, that you can easily wear while grabbing a coffee in town and then at the same time, be perfect for an outdoor adventure, like walking around or hiking a state park. In my case, we went on a hike near New Paltz, NY. We love it up there!

I love wearing olive this time of year. Well, I like wearing olive anytime of year, but I definitely tend to dial it up starting in the fall. These St. John’s Bay Outdoor Stretch Slim Fit Joggers are perfect. They’re comfortable, have a great fit, and I love the cargo pockets. The jogger style elastic at the bottom of the pants set them apart from other olive cargo pants that I have in my wardrobe. I also think the elastic bottom definitely aids in the comfort of these pants, as well as making them fall perfectly above my sneaker, where I like all pants to fall! Great fit, great color, great price!

I can’t believe I don’t have more camo in my closet! I think the correct camo piece can definitely be a staple in your wardrobe. It never really goes out of style and it’s a very masculine piece to wear, but also has a bit of edge to it depending on how you style it. I love this American Outdoorsman Camo Pullover! The orange details and zipper really caught my eye and made this piece stand out to me. I love the outdoorsy print and the neutral colors with that pop of neon orange. Oh and the comfort…it’s like putting on a teddy bear LOL. I already know this is going to be one of my go-to pieces all fall and into winter. Besides styling it with this look, I can see myself rocking this on all future hikes, keeping cozy on the sidelines at Nate’s sports games, or heading to our local farm for our apple cider donuts. 🙂 I just know it’s going to be that top I throw on every weekend for some quick family errands.

Now let’s get to the vest from American Outdoorsman. This vest is what pulls the whole look together. I felt like I really needed a layer and love the “clay” color of this vest. With the camo and then the green pants, I felt like I needed something neutral to balance it all out. Like the pants, I also love all of the pockets on this piece…both for style and function! When you’re out and about all day, extra pockets definitely comes in handy. I hate having too much in my pants pockets and feeling bulky on the bottom, so this way I have plenty of pockets to spread the love. I know my wife would appreciate me carrying my own stuff instead of always throwing everything of mine in her bag. LOL

I really love how this look from JCPenney came together! When you’re dressing for the outdoors, most of the time, you don’t really think about style too much, and you’re more concerned with function, but I felt like the combination of these pieces hit all the marks: function, style and edginess. Like I said before, this look can easily be taken from the woods to the streets! Shop the new Men’s Outdoor Collection at JCPenney here!

Style

My Randolph Blog Feature!

Posted on September 12, 2019

So excited to be featured on the Randolph Engineering blog! I have such a love for their sunglasses and already own 5 pairs. The quality and style of them are always on point and they always seem to complete all of my looks. Check out my blog feature!

Reviews Style

Got2B Fighting that Thinning Hair!

Posted on April 3, 2019

This shop has been compensated by Schwarzkopf. #got2bPhenomenal #sponsored

Listen up…I’m gonna be real! As many of you can see, I’m not getting any younger LOL. So, it’s more important than ever for me to stay up on my grooming regimen and find great products to help fight the effects of aging, like thinning hair. Growing up I always had a full head of thick hair and a baby face and never imagined the day when that would change. I used to love shaving my head for the buzz cut look, but unfortunately, as I aged my face became a little more round and I no longer looked good with a shaved head. It’s funny because when I was younger, everybody used to always ask me why I would shave my head if I wasn’t losing my hair? Here I was shaving it all off, when people I knew who had thinning hair, were trying to get theirs thicker!

Now that I’m older, I sometimes wish I could go back to shaving my head to hide my thinning hair, but I can’t. I don’t think it would look as good without my baby face, and to be honest, I’m a little nervous that if I shave it all off. It will grow back even thinner, so I gotta work with what I have LOL!

One of the products I started using is the got2b® Phenomenal Thickening Shampoo. It’s officially time for me to start preserving all the hair that I have before it’s too thin. Honestly, I’ve noticed that when I’m using good products like got2b® Phenomenal Thickening Shampoo combined with their got2b® Phenomenal Texturizing Clay, you will never even notice that my hair is thinning. The shampoo gets a great lather and tad bit of tingle, which to me, makes me feel like it’s working and doing its job! I can definitely notice a difference from when my hair dries after this shampoo vs. other shampoo’s I’ve used before. Somehow it just dries looking a little fuller! On top of that, once I add in some of their texturizing clay, it helps make my hair have a thicker and fuller look and also brings out the curls in my hair, which in turn, also helps it to appear thicker!

I picked up my got2b® products at my nearest Walmart, so look for them at your nearest location! Also, check your local Walmart for the $2.00 off the got2b® Phenomenal Shampoo! If you’re starting to notice your hair is thinning, don’t wait, and take action while you can. You’re going to be washing your hair on the regular anyways, so may as well do it with a shampoo that you know is working in your favor!

Reviews Style

Tricks of an Influencer With Dapper Dots

Posted on April 1, 2019

Being a lifestyle blogger, I’m always trying to stay on my A game. Whether I’m out trying to shoot for the blog, taking wifey out for a drink, or just running around with the family I always want my look to be photoshoot ready! 🙂 So, I’m always down to try new products that are going to help the outfit details stand out, or not stand out and help me when I’m on the fly.

I can’t believe it has taken me so long to find out about Dapper Dots. Dapper Dots are a small double-sided tape in the shape of a small circle about the size of a dime, that come perfectly packaged in a small easy open & shut tin. These dots are strong enough for just about everything clothing related. Lose a button? Neck tie keep flopping around? Collar keep popping’ up? And the most hated of them all…have a floppy belt? No problem…Dapper Dots got you! All you have to do is grab one of the sheets from the pocket-sized tin, peel off one of the dots, remove the easy-to-remove backing and press the two pieces of clothing together and you are good to go!

When wifey and I went out shooting I ended up using Dapper Dots on my watch strap to keep it from sticking out. I can’t stand it when watch straps (just like belts) don’t stay tight to each other. I also used it to help show off a little chest and my new tattoo while trying to get the perfect collar crease to the top of my shirt. In the day of Instagram, these are perfect for guys and gals like me that are trying to get the perfect shot, with all the perfect details, when out and about. I can think of multiple occasions where I had to shoot a product that needed a little finessing before being shot, so my wife had to unfortunately photoshop out the safety pins and clips we had to use. How did I not know about these?! Seriously perfect for my lifestyle!

I can already think of more instances I’ll be needing my Dapper Dots for…like when I wear baseball caps that have that extra strap hanging in the back of the hat! These dots are made to just peel right off but strong enough to stay on all day. They won’t ruin your clothes like a safety pin either, and the fact that they’re clear makes them perfectly hidden! They’ve officially found a home in my glove box and have become part of my everyday shooting.

Use my code BLUECOLLARPREP to get 20% OFF your Dapper Dots order! They also make double-sided tape strips and a combo pack. Check them out so you can perfect all those outfit details!

Family Reviews Style

Nate & I in AG Jeans

Posted on November 23, 2018

It looks like Nate and I have another brand to shop together! I had no clue that AG Jeans made children’s clothes, but boy am I glad I do now. If you’re not already familiar with it, AG Jeans is a premium denim/lifestyle brand that really cares…cares about what? Just about everything. They care about the quality of their denim and that the design of their collection reflects the sensibility of the brand, and they care about being socially responsible for the blueprint they leave behind. They have partnered with Water, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations and have Ozone Technology. And, they also use eco-conscious fibers. I know most people probably don’t consider these things when they’re trying to shop for an outfit, but it’s always great to hear that there are companies that do care about these issues and help out where they can!

I am in love with The Axle Shop Jacket. I have been searching for the perfect buffalo plaid jacket and couldn’t be happier with the way this one fits. The length of this jacket falls perfectly and gives it just the right look. The Tellis jean has a stiff look to it, but it actually has some stretch, which means comfort! I love how these pants looks stiff, which is how I like all of my dark denims to appear, but secretly they are super comfortable. Score! I really like the way you can fold these jeans up with an extra large cuff. This style really goes well with the Axle Shop Jacket and gives this look an edgy Williamsburg Brooklyn type of vibe!

When Nate was younger we tried to force him into wearing jeans that weren’t comfortable on him and now whenever he sees jeans he wants to run the other way LOL. So, we either have to get him jeans that have some stretch to them so we can show him that they’ll fit comfortably, or get a colored denim to try and sneak one past him HaHa. Luckily, we didn’t have to do either because Nate was such a fan of the mustard color of the Ryker denim jeans he was excited to wear them. We also gave him the thick cuff to match my look. 🙂 My wife and I get such a kick out of hearing him get excited about wearing clothes…it’s too cute. Usually he’ll just wear what we tell him but when he likes something, he now makes a point to really voice it and he always has such great taste. Honestly, it’s to the point now where if my wife and I are undecided on something, we go to Nate to help make the decision…and he’s usually right! The kid’s got style! We all love denim, so we always make sure to have a denim jacket for Nate. It’s the perfect jacket that goes with any look, and The Drake Jacket also has that bit of stretch to it (that Nate loves for comfort) and has just the right amount of fade to it!

We love our AG looks! Shop them today through 11/26 & get 25% OFF site wide!

Family Reviews Style

Lacoste & The True Original

Posted on November 20, 2018

Most of the time when Nate and I get to coordinate our outfits mommy gets left out. So it’s always fun when the whole family can get in on the matchy-matchy! What better way to get to coordinate than to share your love for one of the most iconic characters ever…Mickey Mouse! It’s hard to believe that Mickey and the LACOSTE Croc have been around for 90 and 85 years, so it’s only fitting that these classic icons come together for a classically clean & fun capsule collection, available for the entire family!

Nate and I scored matching striped polo’s where Mickey Mouse showed off his tennis skills. Nate looked too cute in his polo! He’s always been a fan of Mickey, so this was definitely a fun outfit to coordinate with him on.

I liked the tennis Mickey Mouse so much, I had to go with the white hooded sweatshirt with the larger Mickey on the front. Nate went with the grey sweatshirt with the oversized Mickey head, and my wife went with the crew neck sweater with the oversized Minnie face. With all of the love for Mickey we couldn’t forget about Minnie, so it was fun to get wifey in on our coordinating looks & rep the Minnie! Of course hoodies and sweatshirts are going to be comfortable, but my wife, whose top was a sweater, couldn’t get over how comfortable it was. She said it was one of the nicest feeling sweaters she’d ever worn! I loved how all of these sweatshirts and sweaters had the detailed images on the front, but also had a blacked out version of the silhouette on the back. Seriously…too cute! We definitely got some “aww how cute’s” when we were out and about in our Mickey gear!

We all could not get enough of the LACOSTE Mickey trainers! Mine and wifey’s were white with just a touch of tennis Mickey on the right side of the shoe, but Nathan’s were Mickey’d out! Nate’s had the same silhouette but it completely covered his entire shoe. They’re seriously adorable! These clean, crisp low-top style trainers are very in right now, so the touch of Mickey really separates them from some of the other trainers on the market.

The LACOSTE x Disney Holiday Collector Print Leather Tote that my wife was rockin’ is one of the coolest pieces in the collection. It just screams Mickey and Minnie Mouse and has a pop art feel to it. It has an oversized print, lots of color, and if perfect for when Sarina (wifey) is holding all mine and Nate’s things LOL. My mother-in-law, whose a Mickey Mouse fanatic, was completely in awe of all of our pieces and is currently trying to take over the bag from my wife! Haha.

It was so fun walking down the street with all of us wearing matching pieces and hearing some of the reactions from people walking by and checking us out. I can’t think of another character that can capture the heart of so many generations and give you that same magical feeling throughout your whole life. The love for Mickey just never leaves you.

Check out the LACOSTE x Disney Collection that just launched in November! It’s classic & clean and allows the entire family to coordinate in a cool & timeless kind of way. Mickey, you definitely are the “True Original”!

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