Teach your kid some manners, or I'm going to drop kick him.

We've all witnessed it. Some bratty ass kid just runs over or precious child like its 4th and goal with less then a minute on the clock. You're standing there stunned. you're kid is laying there processing what the hell just happened "I was playing so nicely". 

So my little man and I are standing in line at the arcades games in our favorite pizza joint. Then some future Dallas cowboy Offensive Lineman/

hot dog competition champ just bull dozes my kid over. This kid looked like he was 2 going on 50lbs. Luckily my little T-Money  thought it was funny and just started laughing. I picked him up and dusted him off. No more then 30 seconds later the future diabetic comes plowing through again. Knocking over my little man one more time. This time my mini me did not find it funny.  All the while the the original poster child for heart disease is standing off to the side not being a parent.  So I tell the kid "we're all waiting in line to play the game. lets try to take turns ok buddy". This Affliction shirt, sagging below his butt cargo short, and Baseball cap to the side with the bill flipped up says to me "please don't discipline my son". So I get down on one knee (to get to my sons level) and verbatim say "remember what daddy said about punching kids in the face? If that kids pushes you down again, do it". I then stand up and slowly turn my head to the dad to stare him dead in the eyes. The fatty boom batty then grabs his kid and says "these guys aren't going to play nice". R U F'N kidding me?!?!? 

(If by chance you're the dad at the pizza place reading this, I was serious about telling my boy drop your kid

 And you should continue reading this because your kid needs some motha fucking manners and more importantly so do you. Idiot.)  

Living my first 13 years in Cincinnati, I was taught manners and would be reprimanded by individuals that weren't my parents if I didn't use them in public. Unfortunately it happened a lot since the only manners my mom really taught me was (In a heavy Asian accent)  "no talk back!!" Followed by a couple karate chops and some sort of kung fu nerve pinch that dropped me to my knees begging the executioner for mercy.  

I've had multiple occasions when someone will say " You have such great manners. you must not be from around here." It gives me a nice pat on the back but it saddens me that people out here in So.Cal dont know how to act properly and don't feel like teaching their stupid offspring.

We as Dads with Swag are responsible not only being there for our kids but also raising them to be a better person then we are.  It's up to us to raise a person 

who will be a functioning member of society. 

I love. LOVE! seeing parents who get embarrassed when there kids act all Gary Busey crazy. And they start apologizing "i dont know why Billy is acting like this." Really? ITS BECAUSE YOU don't have manners either. How are you gonna expect your drooling toddler to do the same?  So you want to Teach your kids "Please" and "Thank you". Then start using PLEASE and THANK YOU. 

Want your son to be an upstanding gentlemen, Teach your kids to hold doors for ladies and the elderly and just whoever is walking behind them.

DADS WITH SWAG. Want your son to be a pimp and have that swag like George Clooney   or  fucking James Bond. Teach him to open the car door for his lady or dates by watching you do it for your significant other. It's so simple but will separate him from the herd as the ALPHA MALE. He knows how to treat a lady. 

Teach you kids to say excuse me after burping, dropping bio warfare in their pants, and when he or she would like to interrupt a conversation. The next time I'm at a park and some kid comes running up yelling at 4 octaves to loud while i am in mid story, he or she will catch an elbow to the eye socket.

Teach your kids how to behave inside the store or when you're out in public. And if your one of those dirtbag parents who bring your kids into Nordstrom and just let them toss clothes around.....I'm tripping your kid if he or she gets close enough. TRIPPING THEM! They will catch a mouthful of linens and denim in their crooked un-brushed teeth.

I saw one kid inside at toys 'r' us litterally taking every Superman toy off the rack and dropping it onto the floor (about 9-10 toys) because the mom didnt want to buy it. And she just stood there saying "pick it up. Don't do that. That's not nice. we gotta go Henry".
(If your son is named Henry, about 5/6 years old, and you shop at the toys r us off Cabot in Mission Viejo.....your kid is an asshole and lucky I didn't hip check him in the Avenger toy section when he walked passed me.)  
She then grabbed the little asshole and walked away. I then said "really? Not gonna pick thatup"? I heard a huff and fast moving high heals getting farther and farther away.

(PS Henry's dad your wife has no back bone and you need to back your wife up more when she is disciplining your asshole kid. Also give Henry a hug here and there, it seems like he could use it.)

I was at the San Diego Zoo just a few days ago and it just so happened to be FIELD TRIP DAY! And this little 9-10 year old accident tries to push me out of his way to see a Panda Bear. I looked at him  and said "you need to say excuse me". The teacher looks at me like I'm an asshole. So once the crowd start to push in. I just stood on his right foot so he couldn't move. Like I really dug my heal in to his foot. Just kidding. I wish I did that. I also wish I "accidentally" bumped him over into the exhibit.

I hate hearing excuses like "he's so young". BS! You start young and continue to reinforce it so when they become an adult someone won't punch them out. 

It's never too early to teach your kid to be a respectful person. Basic manners. Lets try it out. 

Lets be Dads with Swag that have little kids with Swag. 

Layers on layers on layers. (Clothing, not emotions)

I texted a buddy of mine back in Febuary who lives in Cincinatti and told him "it's 93 degrees". He responded with "must be nice, it's 32 here".  

Now I wasn't gloating or bragging, I was FREAKING JEALOUS! I love winter time. Fall and winter time is when Men's clothes Stand out (if you live where there are actual seasons). The long sleeves,the sweaters, the jackets, and all the LAYERING. That could be done.  But

living in the sunny So-Cal (I'm not complaining, the weather is amazing) some guys think putting a nice look together is a new quicksilver shirt and a pair of shorts. Its sometimes hard to layer my outfit of the day (OOTD). But it isn't impossible.  

Working at Nordys is interesting. You get a wide range of people. The old guy who wants to dress young, the old guy who only wears tommy Bahama. You get guys who only wear blue or white shirts (which is really strange).  

Or you run in to this situation back in the end of April/early May a late 40s guy is just blank starring at all the long sleeve wovens we had to choose from. So I approach him. I find out this is the first time he has bought clothes for himself since he was 20 something. His deceased wife of 20 some years used to buy his clothes for him. In 3 days he was going on his first date in almost 30 years, 2 years since his wife passed. "What do guys wear on dates these days?" He asked. I told him don't worry I'm gonna set you up right.  I wish I took a before and after pick. He was wearing 10year old Levi's and a work style button up shirt that was almodt 2 sizes to big for an accountant that no longer cares. I put him in some nice fitting jeans, and a nice Hugo Boss button up. He said "wow I look good. And the clothes fit." I told him we are not done. He had a concerned looked but was interested. He thought a shirt and jeans should be enough.I told him nonsense. It's about layering. Adding a piece or 2. Standing out from the rest. I got him in a John varvatos vest and Blazer. Boom! The look was complete. He took a pic with his phone and sent it to his sister. She was stunned. He then asked advice for his date. Where to go, what to do. I planned it out for him. 

(Surf and sand hotel for dinner at sun down, then walk up 3 blocks on the sand to a gelato place, then walk back. Pay for her valet at the hotel. And send her off) 

 He comes back in the day after his date to shake my hand. Seriously. He said the date went great. And she was really impressed on his style. They even planned their second date during their first one (my idea). I saw him again about 2 months ago and he said they are still dating. 

Now back to the LAYERING and how. 

A light weight cardigan over a button up is great so cal weather look (think NBA, or NFL Players at the post game press conference)

(This look is meant for the leaner man. So if your six pack has a triple order of wings and nachos on it.....stick to the normal sweater look) 

Or throw a solid color vest into your work suit. It doesn't have to be the same color as the jacket which seems to be the hesitation with a lot of guys.

Like Hunger Games here:

Or go match a vest and pant with a different color jacket like the Fresh Prince here: 

During the winter time the harsh weather in So.Cal (snicker snicker) can get down to as low as the high 50s! I'm not gonna lie. I still sometimes go out in a T-shirt just so I don't feel like a wimp. 

Another warm weather layering tip is to  throw a Henley over a button up in your work suit like this 

Also take note on the pocket square. Now most of you guys are looking at it and thinking "it looks sharp but it aint me". HORSESHIT! It absolutely can be. (ill explain how to fold/wear the pocket square in another post later on)

Layering is simple. Here are some Basic rules in no particular order 

1- the "layered" piece is about adding color to the outfit. 

2 -pick contrasting colors. 

3- patterns with solids. Like pattern button up + solid sweater or Solid button up + pattern sweater.  If you are brave enough to bare the pattern on pattern make sure not only are the patterns different but also different in scale (size wise).  Simple right?  

4 - 3 pieces at the most. Like Shirt, vest, jacket. Or shirt, sweater (v,crew, Henley) with a jacket. 

I don't consider ties/bow ties, or pocket squares as an additional piece of layering. A layered piece is an article of clothing that can be worn alone. You're not walking outside in slacks and just a tie. Unless you make your living dancing for the ladies then......go as you please. 

A buddy of mine told me once "you dress for the job you want, not the job you have."

But why should I do it? Because most guys DON'T. Most guys walk into the office with just the normal button up and slacks/jeans whatever. If you throw on just one more piece and immediate become the ALPHA MALE in style at the work place. You'll distinguish yourself for the rest or Neanderthals who just want to coast by in life and work.  

Also when your out with the lady.  She tries pretty hard and consumes a lot of time to look great for you when their is a date night, company outing, or meeting up with friends. Just throw on one extra piece and stand out. Show your lady that you want to make her proud to be standing next to you. 

Take this look.  Button up collard under a crew neck with the sleeves rolled up, with some nice contrasting dark denim.

Always remember "don't make your wife jealous of other women. Make other women jealous of your wife". 

Be that Dad with SWAG.