Winter Colors and Community

Hola Mi Gente,

With the state of things in the world I just wanted to send you into the weekend on a positive winter vibe that revolves around two things: Community & Colors.

Winter Gatherings

Thanks to my friend Ross Romero and Hale Center Theater, several members of diverse communities in the Salt Lake City Valley had the privilege of attending a backstage tour of the theater in my hometown of Sandy, UT. All this as a preamble to a performance of the musical “The Prince of Egypt”.

If I can describe the production in one word, it would be: “Mesmerizing”. I mean, if witnessing flying Egyptian chariots and the plagues of Egypt don't impress you... you really need help.

On the musical side of things, several numbers really get to your heart. On a personal basis, as anUS immigrant who came originally from Venezuela, and a Christian, the numbers: “Deliver Us” and “When You Believe” strike a particular chord (IYKYK). During the latter, my wife had to hand me a tissue (c’mon, can’t an hermano have feelings, people?).

In a true InnoLatino fashion, I’d like to give a big shoutout to Brooke Christensen, and the entire Hale Theatre team. As a singer and a performer, I can tell you the operation and quality of the performances are high, the stage is state of the art and the effects are top notch. The atmosphere is welcoming and after each performance you leave (I’m going to use the word again) mesmerized.

Something I really appreciate is the push to reflect inclusion in the different casts as well as their efforts to make sure diverse communities discover the arts.

So here’s my invitation to come visit us at Sandy, Utah and see a performance in Hale Center Theatre. You’re going to fall in love with our community.

A Great Bank Opening

When you have the opening of a bank branch in the middle of a blizzard, to some it might feel cumbersome. When the opening is packed with members of the community who braved the weather conditions, that says you have a brand that people care for and value.

That’s exactly what happened yesterday at the opening of a Branch of US Bank in Farmington, Utah. The branch is led by none other than Juan Carlos Becerra, who brought a stellar team of bankers to join him in this branch.?

Just between us, after seeing the business model, the culture, and the members of different teams, I really think U.S. Bank is unto something, something worth emulating, people.

Big Sartorial Dude Series: Colors in The Winter

On a different note, I decided to keep going with my “Big Sartorial Dude” series. I just find inspiration in clothes and the different ways to apply them for different occasions. Another aspect of it is that it’s not easy to find clothes my size. Therefore, I consider it a triumph, or at least a healthy and rewarding shot of Dopamine in your brain, at least) coming up with a combination of clothes that I feel do work.

So, here’s another one for guys in the XXL range who are trying to look good, and even if you don’t look like the way I look, or think I’m coming across as arrogant, please, know that I’m trying to feel good about myself with this silly exercise of giving sartorial ideas to the big & tall crowd. I hope this can still inspire you.

Outdoor Chic

Here’s a simple idea for company outings in cooler weather. I took inspiration from the gorgeous mountains I live surrounded by in the state of Utah.?

It’s ideal for company outings. A very simple palette: Blue vs. Red.

Not too shabby, right? If you’re local, you might think about the rivalry between BYU and the University of Utah. I didn’t go particularly to either, and I don’t care about said rivalry, but I do love the color contrast, especially with darker tones on both colors.

Here’s a description of the look by parts.

From the top:

Navy blue flat hat: This one is usually called a “duckbill” cap because of its rim. It’s quite versatile and for those who don’t like to always wear a baseball cap, it gives a touch of class. I purchased it at a clearance sale some time ago for $10 in a sports apparel store.

Dark shades: They come in dandy. This pair was a gift from my niece’s wedding. So they were free.?

Red (Rust?) buttoned up “Padded” sweater – Kirkland brand: If you saw it in person, you’d see a padded pattern and the pockets. Which makes it wearable by itself. I love the button feature of this sweater. It not only looks good, but it means I can also regulate the amount of heat I can conserve inside. In other words, if it gets warmer than expected, I can just unbutton it a little and it does the trick. My wife got it at Costco for me. Don’t know how much she paid for it.

Blue “Quilted” Hunting Jacket – Joseph Abboud brand: If my camera had a better lens, you’d see the padded look more clearly. Somehow, it doesn’t compete against the pattern on the sweater. It has tons of pockets. It’s quite light and it comes in larger sizes. The best news? You can find it online at the Men’s Wearhouse for only $9.99.

Dark Blue Jeans: Don’t remember the brand. It’s just jeans, they ain’t fancy. They ain’t ripped either. Aren’t Jeans versatile by themselves? Denim can be worn on so many different occasions. I just wanted to show a way to wear them that looks a little classier than average. These are on a darker tone, and I think it makes a good contrast against the sweater.

By the way, if I wanted my jeans with holes (which I don’t), I’d just rub them a little against my car’s battery, no need to spend a chunk of change on that.

Navy Blue Shoes - Skechers Brand: It’s just a pair of really comfortable shoes. Love the colors. Don’t remember how much I invested in this pair, but I’m willing to invest in comfortable shoes. IMPORTANT NOTE: If it’s a hike in the woods, get shoes with more traction than this pair. Don’t sacrifice safety for looks.

The Casual Winter Commuter

No need to look drabby or look gloomy at the bus stop during a bitter cold day. Applying Shades of Red, Yellow, Beige and Black can do the trick.

Again, from the top:

Fuzzy Beige Flat Cap - Adidas Brand: A donation by a fellow singer at the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera. The tone goes with a lot of stuff.

Pilot Dark Shades: My wife got them for me at a Dollar Tree store. The point I want to make is that you can get shades from a Dollar Store and still look good. As I stated before, I’M A CHEAP BUYER (get over it and get some shades, y’all).

Brown Scarf: It’s an old scarf, don’t remember its origin. You can find it in many stores, especially second hand. Quite useful if you’re going in and out of locales in the winter.

Black Samurai Tiger T-Shirt from Threadless: If you pay attention you can see the tiger in a Samurai helmet peeking through the scarf. Love the Red, Yellow and Orange pattern against the Black.

Beige Suede “Racer” Jacket: I’m not going to lie, I really lucked out with this one. It cost me only $7.00 in a second hand store. The kicker came with the bill of the cleaners, as suede is more expensive to clean. Still, it’s warm and versatile. More than the suede itself, the tone goes well with a lot of stuff, just like the hat.

Rust Jeans: Unique color, I just love it. Found the jeans on Amazon. They go great with black stuff.

That’s all for today, Mi Gente. What do you think? Have a great and inspiring weekend and please, be kind to others. Love,

Gonzalo