Cool Feet In The Summertime

Summer has arrived and so has the hot, humid weather! I personally am not a big fan of the heat but I do love the long, lazy summer days. Style wise, many people tend to believe that it's difficult to pull off certain looks during the summer, but you just have to invest in the proper materials. Materials like cotton and linen are some popular examples. Products made out of these materials are usually comfortable and breathable, which are two factors you want to invest in when buying clothes for the summer.

The same idea goes when investing in the right footwear to fight off the heat. Like I mentioned before, shoes really do compliment an entire outfit, especially in the summertime where you'll most likely have less clothes on. As a personal preference, I love how suede looks under the sun, and not to mention how comfortable they are.

Enjoy these photos of my suede bucks from Cole Haan.

Cuff your pants once or twice to give your ankles a slight breeze. It's the summertime, have some fun. Also, I'm wearing a pair of loafer socks from Banana Republic. They're a great addition when you're going for the "no socks" look, and very comfortable as well. They don't prevent your feet from being able to breathe.

I am not a big fan of slippers or flip-flops, so when I'm walking around, or simply lounging, the classic boat shoe from Sperry Top-Sider is definitely my first option. The fashion world has seen nautical-inspired pieces as of late, but the authentic boat shoe has been around for years. I remember my own father wearing a few in his earlier years. You just can't go wrong with a classic.

What yells out summertime more than a boat shoe? 

Stay cool my friends! and have a wonderful Summer!

Photos Taken by Ken Soleta

Product Spotlight: H20 Plus Skincare

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to H2O Plus. H2O Plus is a company that sell sea-derived skincare products. Unlike the many other skincare companies out there, H2O Plus uses ingredients found only in nature and not in chemical labs. They use an array of natural ingredients in their products, and even offer an Ingredient Glossary on their website. You can find a product from H2O for any skincare problem you may have. From dry skin to acne problems, there is a product for you.

As a part of their Oasis Oil-Free Moisturizing Collection, these three new shaving products are amazing. I was lucky enough to test them out prior to their release, and this was the first time I was ever satisfied with a shave. Before these products, my skin felt rough and spotty after a shave, but now, my skin is as smooth as they have ever been.

The product on the very left is the Oasis Men Energizing Facial Scrub. This particular product acts as a cleanser prior to a shave. It buffs away impurities and revitalizes your skin for a shave with the help of natural ingredients. Price: $18.

The product shown in the middle is the Oasis Men Precision Shave Hydro Foam. This it pretty much your shaving cream, but unlike the foamy ones you buy at your local grocery stores, this product consists of a water-light foam and nourishes your skin while shaving. One of the key elements found in the product is Vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps soften your skin. Price: $18.

The third product shown on the right is the Oasis Men Oil-Free Post Shave Balm. After you're through with shaving, this is the product you apply to pretty much top it all off. It rapidly cools and comforts freshly shaved skin. Price: $20.

Each product is sold individually, but can be purchased all at once if necessary. With the purchase of all three, you're looking at about $56 + taxes in skincare products, but worthy ones at that. It may take a bit of convincing on your end as far as needing three different products for a clean shave, but it definitely is worth every penny. Just like how clothes are an investment, skincare products are exactly the same and can only help you in the long run.

If you are located in Los Angeles, and are interested in the products, visit the H20 Plus store located in the Glendale Galleria Mall. Talk to my buddy Josh, and he will take care of any skincare concerns you may have. Tell him Rei from The Common Grounds sent you! 

H20 Plus

2212 Glendale Galleria

Glendale, CA 91210

(818) 551-0831

PS; These are products you might want to consider when figuring out what to buy your father for Father's Day! What else can beat a clean, comforting shave? June 19 is right around the corner!

The Common Grounds exclusively for GapMag

Check out a spread we did exclusively for the folks over on the GapMag

Here's one of the photos from the spread. Click on the link above to see the rest!

Thank you to the people over on GapMag, and especially Ann Marie Riley. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to do the spread!

Modern Vintage Today Boutique

Upon attending the Capsule Barbershop Grand Opening event, I was fortunate enough to stumble across this amazing vintage store. Modern Vintage Today (MVT) is a boutique specializing in vintage clothing that meets the trends of today. Owners Mary Moutry and Jennifer Dawn are two amazing people that have been friends for over 15 years. It was my first time walking into MVT, and I was blown away by the overall set-up of the store. Mostly consisting of women's clothing and accessories, MVT does carry a variety of vintage menswear as well. I actually picked up a nordic shawl cardigan that I will definitely be wearing later on the year.

Allow Ken Soleta to take you guys on a small tour of MVT with the photos he snapped.

Mary Moutry & Jennifer Dawn

If you're obsessed with vintage clothing, it is a must that you check out MVT for yourself. Not only do they offer great prices on their products, they also offer services such as personal styling, personal shopping, and alterations. I'm truly glad that we have boutiques like MVT popping up on this side of Melrose, or in Los Angeles in general. Jennifer and Mary take pride in offering the best customer service and they will welcome you into their store as if you've been their client for years. 

Thank you Jennifer and Mary for allowing us to snap some photos of the store! It was a pleasure meeting you ladies, and I can't wait to see what else you guys do with MVT.

Modern Vintage Today

4306 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90029

11am-7pm All Week

(323) 252-4283

Capsule Barbershop Grand Opening

My longtime barber, AJ whom I featured on my blog earlier this year, invited me to the grand opening of the barbershop he now works at. Capsule is located in the heart of the "Bike District" on Melrose and Heliotrope. The event went on from 2pm-8pm, and it was one of the most memorable events I've ever had a chance to cover. Anytime you have good company, good food, and good music all rolled up in one event, chances are it will be successful. I couldn't be anymore happier for my friend AJ, and the rest of the Capsule Family.

A big thank you to barber/co-owner of Capsule, Vince (aka Vincethebarber). If you guys haven't heard of him yet, he's cut hair for Chris Bosh, Miguel, NewBoyz, Ron Artest, and the Jabbawockeez. I've heard of him before, but this was the first time meeting him. With such clientele, you'd think he'd have an ego, but he was the complete opposite. He's just an overall humble guy who loves what he does and that's to cut hair. With the team he has established along with his professionalism, the sky is the limit for Capsule.

I also want to thank JayP, a respected DJ and also co-owner of Capsule, for allowing us to be a part of this event. Thank you and a salute to my longtime barber and friend AJ. I couldn't be any happier to see his progression from doing cuts in his garage to having a seat at a full-blown barbershop such as Capsule.

Here are some photos Ken Soleta took when the event kicked off.

As you can tell from the photos, Capsule really emphasizes simplicity and elegance. When I first walked in, I thought I in an art exhibition. From the smooth wooden floors to the various pieces hung on the wall, you feel as if you are in an art gallery rather than a barbershop. Instead of stiff chairs that most barbershops offer, you get to sit on a comfortable black leather sofa while you wait for your turn. With haircuts starting from $20, you really do pay for the ambience the place has to offer on top of the quality hair cut you will receive from one of their barbers/stylists. Whether it's a scissor or a razor cut you are looking for, stop on by the shop and get cleaned up!

I also want to say whats up to the amazing people I met during the event including Eli Lagrimas from RawMedia and the ladies from Modern Vintage Today. I actually have a separate post that I'm currently working on for Modern Vintage Today, a boutique specializing in vintage goods. Stay tuned for that!

Capsule Barbershop

4303 Melrose Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90004

Tel: (323) 522 3133

@CapsuleLA

Hours: 

Mon-Wed: 10am-6pm

Thurs-Sat: 9am-8pm

Sun: 10am-2pm (appointment only)

Photo Credits to Ken "K.Sole" Soleta 

The Loafer

Certain pieces are dubbed as classics for specific reasons, and loafers are no different. They've withstood the test of time. The versatility they offer is certainly unmatched. It's a great alternative when you've grown tired of your oxfords. Don't be afraid to throw a pair on to add a hint of variety to your footwear selection.

The ones I have on are a pair of loafers from Ralph Lauren. There are a ton of brands out there that make loafers. Brands such as Bass and Florsheim are notable companies who make quality shoes. The retail price on them aren't steep to begin with, but if you're hesitant on paying full price for a pair, you can always visit your local Nordstrom Rack and I can almost guarantee a few of them laying around. You can also visit your local thrift stores and score on a pair, but you might have to clean them up a bit for them to be wearable. 

It's very tough to stay away from the combination of brown leather shoes with dark denim. In this set of photos, I paired the loafers with my selvage jeans from the GAP. There is just something about the stripes on my varsity cardigan that totally completes the look. It's a perfect combination of brown leather shoes, dark denim, and a varsity cardigan that just seems appropriate for class.

Outfit Details:

• Shirt by American Apparel
• Varsity Cardigan by BDG
• Selvage Jeans by GAP
• Loafers by Ralph Lauren
• Shoulder Bag by GAP

Photo Credits: Ken "K.Sole" Soleta

Spring Season Pt. 1: The Transition

It's simply amazing how people instantly assume that the weather will dramatically increase as soon as the first day of spring arrives. Well, it has been a little over a week now since spring hit us over here in Los Angeles and it hasn't been pretty. We've seen more rainfall than sunshine. Our team had to cancel our shoot last weekend because it was raining so hard that it would've been completely impossible to shoot until this past weekend when the weather finally cooperated with us. Enjoy our first installment in our small spring series. Photo Credits to KSole

Why "The Transition" you ask? This is a time where many people may be confused on what to wear due to the random weather.  I like to call it The Transition because we're at a time where a small part of the winter season is still with us while slowly transitioning to spring and its warmer climate. Though you may not need to bundle up as if a snowstorm was on its way, you still need to have the right pieces in your wardrobe to keep you warm when cooler climates from the winter season decide to re-appear. 

As you can tell by the photo above, the sun wasn't out at all and hasn't been out consistently since spring arrived a week ago. No sun in Los Angeles? Yes, it does occur and when it does, I like to layer up accordingly. The denim jacket is a nice, warm replacement of a wool coat that isn't necessary during spring. The versatility of the jacket is amazing and can be worn with so many outfits. In this case, I paired it with a slimmer fitting khaki and layered it with a cardigan and a button down. Topped it off with a solid pair of moc toe boots to keep my feet warm.

Above is a closer, more detailed picture of what I had on. Here are the details:

• Denim Jacket by GAP (from Fall of 2002)
• Navy Varsity Cardigan by BDG
• Button Down Shirt by GAP
• Slim Fit Grey Khakis by Old Navy
• "Lumber Up" Boots by Eastland

I walked with them through mud and water, but they dried up the next day and looked brand new.

More on the boots, I've had them for a little over a year now and they're probably my favorite pair of shoes. I picked them up for close-to-nothing at a local Nordstrom Rack and they have yet to disappoint. Eastland is a family-owned business founded in Freeport, Maine and have been manufacturing classics since 1955. People might be uncertain about the quality, but I'll be the first to say that they are made great. I've worn them in rain, slight snow, and even in mud. They've held up nicely and barely have any noticeable scuffs. I've had no regrets in buying these at all and would make the purchase all over again. To read more about Eastland and their history, click here.

Thank you all for taking the time to read and please stay tuned for part two of this series.