The Olympic flame might have been extinguished this week, but the race for the gold is in high gear here in Los Angeles. It is the LA Olympics or High Holy Days of Hollywood with Oscar Sunday but days away.

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Some of the most contested races include speculating the Best Director and Best Actress frontrunners, the neck and neck heat between Up Do and Down Do, and the highly anticipated Best Line for Scoring a Vanity Fair Party Ticket.

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But, the race we’re watching most closely is the one on the red carpet for most stylishly dressed guy. And, we can tell you right now what it will take to win it:

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- Go Classic All The Way.

- Black tuxedo. Get creative with either a shawl or notch collar, but don’t go further. We don’t need you venturing into ¾ length waistcoats, Scottish kilts or powder blue options. If you REALLY want to get technical darkest of navy blues reads a truer black on camera than most blacks.

- White shirt. I prefer a wing-collared, pique or narrow pleated front with French cuffs, of course.

- Tie: Bow. Full stop.

- Studs and cufflinks. Like the Olympics: go for gold or silver. Don’t bother with anything but and don’t get your bling on either.

- Cummerbund: This is where I go off piste. I don’t get this item and therefore I can’t love this item. I think a tab-front closure without a belt is more elegant and streamlined. I am not averse to a vest, but I hate to say it, only if you are as cut as Oscar himself. But, if you must bund, DO NOT match it to anything but the color of your tux: black.

- Pocket square: White. Folded like a 60’s business man: ¼ – ½ peeking out of your breast pockt.

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With n+1 million people watching arrivals on Sunday, keep it classic and make sure you’ve got your speech ready to accept the award for Best Dressed Vanity Fair Salahi.

Back from a whirlwind tour of the East Coast, Franklin + Gower offers you a fresh, though not necessarily new, melange for your enjoyment (see the player below). The mix comes from Phuegoo, a rather prolific DJ who pulls from a seemingly endless stream of inspiration. While we aren’t ones to necessarily give away state secrets, www.phuegoo.com is the place to find more…and more…and more, if you are so inclined.

Phuegoo – Promiscuous with You

Whether in the form of an animal-skin satchel, a saddlebag, the toolbox, a briefcase, the clutch, fanny or backpack, men have always carried “man bags.” So, when did the “man bag” turn into the “murse”  and become the subject of mockery and mayhem?

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The deconstruction of the hard-sided, utilitarian, standard size carrying device into the soft-sided, seasonal, extra small or extra large fashion statement certainly contributed to the “man bag” treading into “murse” territory. But, let’s call a spade a spade… I blame the Euro clutch for taking down this category.

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Regardless, the “man bag” is an essential part of a man’s look. Though we could limit ourselves to only carrying our phone and wallet, we are schleppers by nature. We like to carry stuff. And, though only very few people in the world have Sherpas on staff, the rest of us turn to our portable Sherpa to carry our phone, laptop, earbuds, loose change, vices, magazines, newspapers, flasks, breath management, etc. And, gents, overstuffing your pockets and hanging stuff off your waistband like a Christmas tree is not ever a good look.

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Regardless your choice of carrying item, it says a lot about you. Every day. Don’t make this choice lightly. And, don’t cower in the face of others’ mockery should your choice be more “murse” than “man bag.”

We could write a lot about this….or you could just watch it and see why it’s Thursday’s F+G Favorite

These are two words I never knew could go together. As a “just in case packer,” – “I know we are going scuba diving, but we might get invited to a black tie dinner…” – my weekend getaways more often looked like cross-Atlantic journeys, circa 1850.

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On a recent trip to the Caribbean, the imperative was to “pack light” given the puddle jumper plane required to reach our destination. Rather than cancel, I decided to rise to the occasion and pack my first true “beach-weekend bag.” Here’s what I learned:

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• White shirts: No need for color. Pack a variety: t, polo, button down. They match everything and they make your tan really stand out.
• Trousers: Just one pair will do. With the range of white shirts, you can assemble different looks. You know which pair I travel with, no doubt.
• Shorts: One and done. Dress them up or down with your choice of shirt.
• Trunks: Two. They never dry as fast as you’d like so have a dry back up.
• Footwear: Your travel pair. I recommend a dressier loafer. And your loafing pair. I recommend a Havaiana. Especially at a beach, you can easily dress up these Brazilian flip-flops.
• Toiletries: Ultimately, all you need is toothbrush and paste, scent and skin management items, and minimal hair care. We all like that beach swept look so why bother with pomade?

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I am not going to lie to you, though. I did throw in a bow tie just in case.

Sure the game was good- the food, the beer, even the backstory.

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But, what, you ask, what about the music from the commercials? What’s that song called? Where do i find it? Am I a loser because I’ve never heard it before and now I like the music that is in commercials?

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Two songs stood out for me…the Kia Sorrento ad and the Honda Accord.

The Kia Sorrento offered a piece of the Heavy’s “how you like me now?“. A bonafied groove powered by a lot of brass. Yep, on Itunes.

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The one from the Honda Accord Crosstour is none other than Kool and the Gang’s Can’t Get Enough of that Funky Stuff!

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Who knew the Superbowl had so much funk?

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Franklin + Gower feel we offer a unique way for our customers to express their own individuality.  In fact, it’s our mission.  Ready to own the joint?

Build a pair of lawn and marmont!

Likewise, we feel that the music often moves us in the same way. Stepping out to light up the dance floor or is it more just a headphones kinda night?

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It’s not up to us,  Franklin + Gower, but you, our wearer, the mood, the personality, etc.  We humbly ask only to serve as the conduit to the right creation, the right curation, if you will..

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Long winded intro into this, by the way, but what we’re really trying to say is that the right music together with the right pants…you can go out all night or stay at home and Air Hip-Hop. It’s up to you, not us.

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As long as you’re having fun, we are, too. Marry People Under The Stairs with a Goatee Mime, who’s not having fun?

Acid Rain Drops Music Video –

I have recently taken to checking out people’s iPhone’s to learn more about them. There is no better way to customize one’s phone that with a visit to an app store.

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With a few flicks of a finger, you can discover so much about people: how informed they are (pretending to be); how organized they are (hoping to be); how they manage their money; how they like to hook up; how they track down their favorite restaurants, hotels and stores…. but, what you ultimately learn, is how much time they like to waste!

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I also find that taking away someone’s phone under the excuse of wanting to check out their apps is the best way for them not to play, reference or read the contents of said apps while together with them!

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Sure, we all sneak a peek at the latest text that just came through or we all take a little extra time in the bathroom to read all the emails we’ve gotten during dinner. But, for goodness sake, where’s the app that disables all apps while we are sharing apps and a main course!? Can we really not go for ninety minutes without checking every text, Tweet, FB update, email and voice mail?

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While an app is the best way for customizing your phone, nothing customizes your life more than time meaningfully spent with someone else. Make sure you make the most of that time and don’t be distracted by the shiny buttons on your phone.

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As for the shiny buttons on Franklin + Gower pants and shorts, that is a whole ‘nother matter!