EBAY COLLECTIONS 2!

Let's get Technical, Technical 

Today on I AM GALLA we're continuing the conversation of the NEW collections feature on EBAY 

with my second article focusing on tech items! 

As an aspiring singer myself, I thought what would be more appropriate than a “recording artist” 

collection and feature some awesome items that can be easily bought on EBAY! To start, we have a 

starters kit (go figure) Which includes a mic, mic cord, headphones, mic stand and filter! The 

portability allows you to set it up anywhere, it's awesome. In the collection I've also added virtual DJ 

mixing software which is what all the producers use in the studio to make the music sound 

professional! You'll also notice that there's a beat pad which allows you to create your own beats 

physically! Check out the rest below and you'll be on your way to professional studio artist-

For the next collection I wanted to feature relevant, modern technology so naturally I called it “techy 

techy.” This starts off by featuring the ipad, one of this generations best inventions in my opinion. It's 

sleek, thin and much easier to carry around than a laptop which makes it great for meetings and travel. 

Beats by Dre is next on this list, which I personally use mine on the daily. It's similar to the collection 

above in the sense that it's almost like you're in a music studio everywhere you go! The sound quality is 

great. Below that is the portable iphone charger, a godsend to my lifestyle! I'm always running around 

New York and on my social networks that by the end of a couple hours my battery is shot! But now that 

the genius, portable charger has been created I can re-juice mid day and survive the night. Check out 

some other handy, techy items below-

All in all, I'm thankful for gadgets and technology! It has made daily life much easier and efficient 

especially if you're trying to pursue a career that calls for it!

Make sure to follow my Collections HERE to get inspiration on some of my favorite everyday items. 

#FOLLOWITFINDIT

“My eBay Collections were curated as part of my

Collaboration with eBay and Style Coalition.”

GALLA

EBAY COLLECTIONS

Men’s Grooming Tips and Sport Collections

Today on I AM GALLA we're exploring the NEW Collection feature on EBAY and how I organized some of my favorite everyday items into themed categories. Considering I write about menswear, I thought what better than to kick this off with a “Day in the life: a dude” theme?

For my first Collection I decided to go for Men’s Grooming. Every Man wakes up and has responsibilities he needs to tend to whether it be shaving, moisturizing or hair care. I personally need a beard trimmer. It allows you to choose how close you want the trim to be! Are you a 5 o' clock shadow guy or a beard guy? Do you have bed head? Hair combs are a great solution. Even if you don't want a clean, slick, handsome gentlemen's hairstyle, it's still good to comb and get some blood flow to your scalp! Speaking of hair, L’Oreal has some great putty to give your hair  that greaser effect – a personal favorite of mine. Let's switch things up and get into some skincare. All men with dry skin, LISTEN UP – JoJoba oil is a godsend and if you haven't tried it, you haven't lived! It's actually the closest product to human oil, the skin is tricked into being moisturized. You've got to try it. Check out my eBay Collections for shoppable inspiration.

For my second Collection I knew I had to go with SPORT. At some point in every man’s life he hits the weights or the treadmill to maintain a healthier lifestyle. I want to hone in on how important that is with a sporty Collection to prove it! Down below you'll see I featured a colorful assortment of water bottles, a vital role in any workout is hydration! Pick one that matches your personality. Then there was the shake weight, the household joke that actually works! Biceps, triceps and shoulders all understand what a true burn is after a mere 2 minutes with this guy. Great for a quick, healthy home activity. Along with those items I've also included pairs of PUMA socks which are one of the biggest necessities of all! No one wants to fall victim to your stank in the weight room so make sure to sock up, then lace up. Check out my Collection for all my must haves.

   In conclusion, make sure to take care of yourselves, men. Make sure to follow my Collections HERE to get inspiration on some of my favorite everyday items. #FOLLOWITFINDIT

“My eBay Collections were curated as part of my

Collaboration with eBay and Style Coalition.”

GALLA

Grooming by GALLA

Hey guys, I thought today we could change it up and take a look into personal care and grooming. Let's  keep it simple and to the point.

SKINCARE: I'm going to let you in on a not-so-fun fact: My family (including myself) has bad, hereditary acne. Now I know what you're thinking, "but his skin is nice?" and that brings me to #2: ACNE.ORG's Regimen by Daniel Kern is by far the most successful product I've used in my life. I'm not a rep for them nor am I getting paid to say this, I genuinely believe that everyone should give this a try because of how effective it is.

upside: get's rid of most acne

downside: dryness

tip: deal with dryness (beard dryness) with a little jojoba oil. works wonders, make your skin glow. all you need is a few drops after the shower when your pores are opened. 

SHOWERCARE: Being a fresh new yorker I've realized that my (body)skin has really taken a toll, it get's severely dry and chapped. To ensure the most moisture while I shower I use South of France - Green Tea moisturizing body wash. About twice a week I'll exfoliate with Dove's deep cleaning microbead wash just for the tough dirt and dead skin. Turning over to haircare I use Tresemmé which I'll admit I'm not the most pleased with. It's an affordable option but if you're willing to spend a bit more than go for Biolage mint. you can feel it tingling and cooling on your scalp, it's rad. 

upside: moisture! 

downside: bit pricey 

Continuing with haircare, let's segue into styling. Everyone seems to think I put in some magical ingredients but truth be told all I use is a comb, hairspray and shine. For styling, the Tresemmé hairspray has never let me down. A traditional comb from the drugstore help's shape it while blowdrying, yes I blow dry it. And then as a finishing touch I like to add Bumble & Bumble's shine spray


upside: everything
downside: nothing



There you have it, my grooming tips and "Secrets"


got something to recommend? I love trying new products! comment below




GALLA

On taking risks

step out of your comfort zone 

The Men at Lacoste FW13

Project HANDSOME

When I was 17 years old and starting chronicling my style on Lookbook.nu and my blog, I had no intentions of reaching out to mass's or appealing to anyone for that matter. I was simply putting my voice out there, and if others listened then great! It wasn't until I received my first few emails back in early 2010 from a few boys in high school who were thanking me for "marching to the beat of my own drum". These boys went on to tell me that they too wanted to dress stylishly at school but didn't due to bullying and hatred. One even admitted to almost getting "bashed" for his styling choices. It was right then in my life I decided to never stop showcasing my styles, and fashion inspirations. No man, young or old should feel subjected to prejudice or bullying because of the clothes he puts on his back, so it got me thinking. 

Flashing back to 2005 through 2009 when I attended High School, I can't count the number of times I was bullied for what I wore. It didn't make sense to me, I felt confident in my suspenders, leather jacket and fedora but apparently a lot of other guy's thought otherwise. I quickly became an easy target for hatred and slurs. "Fag, homo, queer, girly, bitch, pretty boy" the football, baseball or water polo teams would take their turns, picking which name to call me next. I eventually began to HOPE they would call me names instead of throwing food at me during lunch. Now, I in no way am mentioning this for sympathy. It's in the past and I have grown from these experiences but I feel it's important for people to know, what fashionable men may have to go through. The severity of some situations and overall epidemic of bullying, hatred and violence needs to be confronted.

 Just the other day, I made the popular page on Instagram for the first time, and I thought "there must be a mistake, me!?" I was legitimately shocked. Few hours later I read all the comments from the strangers who had seen my picture on the 'Explore tab' and to my surprise, "fag" and "gay" turned up more than once. "really? this is 2013" I thought. Some things will never change I suppose. (don't worry, I reported them) But it got me thinking, the same thoughts I did in 2010...How can men feel confident and inspired to wear what they please? Sure I am doing my best on my blog, but I can't inspire every man. So... What if I documented the style of fashionable men (Strangers) on the street, similar to street style but then I would interview them as well - ask them if they've ever been a victim of prejudice, or bullied for being stylish and what inspires them in their life to keep going, confidently, ignoring those slurs. That was it! I may not be able to inspire them all, but if I had numerous amounts of fashionable men I interviewed on the street, I might be able to influence more and more readers to be confident just like them! 

So here we are, The introduction to my new on-going project that will take place on this blog, I've titled "HANDSOME". When females dress to go out or doll themselves up, that makes them feel beautiful. But what's there to say for men? Sure a guy can wear a suit and feel handsome but I personally think it's a little deeper than that. Handsome is more of an inner feeling, a confidence one can exude. James Dean was handsome and his staples were a leather jacket and plain tee. Kurt Cobain was handsome, and he favored plaid and converse. It's an air, an attitude a man can accomplish by their personal voice through styling and fashion. So from here on out, I will be publishing the style of strangers on the street, who will tell I AM GALLA how they ignore the intolerance and proceed forward, confidently, stylishly and handsomely. 

now, your sentiments.

GALLA

Louis Vuitton FW13 Menswear

images: style.com

Did you know LV stands for Love as much as it does Louis Vuitton? Appropriate considering I have a boarder line obsession with Kim Jones's new collection. Layers meet subtle plaid that clash with rich hues and waltz with floppy beanies ever so effortlessly. Taking place as my #2 favorite show this season, (Andrea Pompilio leads by a hair) I can't help but to sit here whining like a 4 year old boy in a toystore, wanting everything in site. Do you see that snow leopard jumper? That's a fucking snow leopard jumper. Inspired by his recent trip to the Himalayas, he has incorporated cartoon portraits of the wildlife, animal prints, Bhutanese stripes and hints of fur. Personally, a collection that upholds such detailing and character within the accessories has me in crying spells of desire. Those bags for instance, who out there can get me one of those bags? The oversized spectacles below the knit headwear...don't get me started. Temptation for a standing ovation has overcome me, but alas I am here alone in my california studio apartment, not actually present at the show...enough disappointment to relapse the fits of a yearning menswear hopeful. 

what say you?

GALLA

  

The stylish men of the 2013 Golden Globes

(Aaron Paul, Ryan Seacrest, Ben Affleck) 

This past sunday was one of Hollywoods most pinnacle nights of the year, The 70th annual Golden Globe Awards. Film stars sat alongside Television idols, coming together to honor the great work that had graced the silver screen as well as the TV screen in the year 2013. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association awards the stand out talent of the year in several different categories ranging from best motion picture to best comedic television show and more.  But in my opinion, the best part of the night is before the event! The red carpet allows starlets and leading men to showcase their style, charisma and poise. 

Pictured above, You'll see my personal favorite menswear ensembles of the night. Ben Affleck adds a little mystery by sporting an indigo 3 piece suit. Ryan Seacrest radiates in gun metal alongside (cut-out) girlfriend Julianne Hough. And Aaron Paul, being one of GQ's most stylish men of the year, deserves any type style publicity. He's awesome cooking meth AND being a gentleman...such a hard balance. 

Highlights 1 - Menswear fashion week London FW13

 We've got a new year and some novel menswear collections with it! Since the week commenced, London has manifested a little bit of old, and a little bit of new inspired exhibitions. So far, my heart is Andrea Pompilio's for the taking. I believe it is extremely important in the designing process to uphold a certain masculinity for menswear but throw in a hint of character and whimsy. (see my favorites above) The styling and execution is absolutely brilliant! Array's of different stripes and prints overlap effortlessly with dashes of bold colors. The mere fact that the models are holding grocery totes filled with greens and baguettes instantly make me want to wear this ensemble to the market; a realistic, wearable wardrobe perfect for the autumn to come.     

I don't know about you guys, but I am a sucker for traditionalism. Especially when it comes in the form of modern, scottish inspired outerwear. With all this nostalgic-brit influence on our hands, a sudden crave for a 60's flick is in order. I applaud Patrick Grant of E. Tautz and the FW13 collection (above) for capturing a raw essence of british aristocracy. You'll also find subtle hints of orange in the series inspired by rusty abandoned cars on the island of Harris. That's what I call innovation!  

Let's talk: Male Arm Parties

 As we roll into 2013, several styles roll with it and linger ever so temptingly to the untried individuals. You still have yet to host a party of the arm variety?! cue the shock and awe! If you're a female and haven't tried this arm bundling hobby, Cyndi Lauper is currently sobbing in dismay. How could you resist the fun of stacking numerous accessories, like a Janga arm, flaunting it in public "Hey everyone! this side of my body is heavier then the other!" All fun aside, the finished collage of wrist-wear does appeal to the eye, being able to mix and match watches, metal bracelets, embellished chains and diamonds. But with the ever-growing menswear market this constitutes a question...What about male arm parties? or should we hereby rename to male arm "kickback" for all purposes of masculinity? 

Hayden Williams X Adam Galla

New Year, New Beginnings

Happy New Year readers!!! I can't express how happy I am that we didn't find ourselves victim to a mayan apocalypse....that would've been awkward. Nonetheless we meet again january 1st! New year, new beginnings and new resolutions! I've assembled a visual board of my personal intentions I will keep focus on in the year 2013. HERE WE GO  

 Wholesome foods! As the clock struck 12 am here in the west coast I promised myself that I would start taking better care of oneself. This includes healthier organic foods, juicing, better decision making when going out to eat, no more fast food, and no more sugar! I'm am completely intrigued with nutrition and firmly believe that if I didn't choose the path of fashion, then I would probably be studying human health etc. You can take this step with me! Go out and purchase a juicer, start shopping at your local farmers market and/or whole foods and give back to your body! It probably deserves it!    

The uncharted waters of SPORTSWEAR

There is a lingering preconceived notion that fashion bloggers do not stray from their "fashionable" path. "You must have so many clothes, do you dress like that everyday?"..."You're always attending events huh? dressed like that no doubt" Well, I'm here to clear the air (for myself at least) I split my time between formalwear AND sportswear on the daily. As a guy I think it's highly important to maintain a healthy lifestyle such as regular gym sessions, better eating choices and personal cleanliness. 

Let's talk "working out" and the gym: On the real - If one choses to maintain a lifestyle of fitting clothes properly, then one should workout regularly. I may not be a nutritionist or certified trainer but a couple hours in the gym a week can benefit you and your lifestyle in many ways. A healthy body can provide a healthy attitude and outlook. Running and cardio would be ideal for the candidate looking to loose weight. Weight training and basic exercises would be appropriate for the candidate looking to tone. When preparing for gym you must remember that you don't need to look like a celebrity. Most of  the people present do not care about what you look like. The keys to dressing for the gym is comfort and simplicity. 

My attire usually consists of basketball shorts from BIG5 sporting goods, a plain tee from target, NIKE socks, my Starter running shoes and a vivid hat from Active (pictured first). Some awesome pieces to invest in if you jog would be this cool ipod arm strap (pictured above). The item can be found HERE. Also, if you're the creative, bold, and outgoing type then invest in some bright running shoes! The NEW Nike flyknit one's will be released in 2013 (pictured below) source: HERE

On the subject of food I turn to Rory Freedman's "Skinny Bitch" to clarify any misunderstandings...

"And when all feels hopeless, remember that you are in charge of what goes into your body, you don't answer to anyone, and you are allowed to eat anything you want. Often just knowing we can eat whatever we want is enough to keep us from eating whatever we want. We're so rebellious.”

“Perhaps you have a lumpy ass because you are perserving your fat cells with diet soda”

“Laboratory scientists use formaldehyde as a disinfectant or preservative. They don't fucking drink it.”

Obviously a good read if you can't tell already. Even as a guy, it was very educational and slightly amusing to see the severity of dieting in female culture. 


So there you have it. If you have an affinity for fashion then somehow correlate a healthy lifestyle in the mix. You want to look sexy with the clothes off just as much as on am I right? Get creative with your sportswear styling, but don't participate in overkill. I will leave you with another awesome and no-brainer quote

"your body is your temple" 

GALLA