Sid Mashburn, the owner of the Atlanta men’s store of the same name, has taken a sockless leap forward with the recent release of his own suit. Made in Italy with Bemberg lining, horn buttons, and a lot of by-hand detailing, each suit features a slimmer cut with natural shoulders, a slightly shorter length, and, perhaps most appealing, an uncommonly low price point (starting at $995 - $1395 off the rack—custom has approximately a 20% premium).  It’s a timeless look.  And what’s better, the more miles you put on the suit, the better it fits, thanks to full-canvas construction (wool and horsehair fabric sewn between the outer and inner linings act as the skeleton of the jacket), which allows the suit to breakdown naturally to your body.

Each summer, as the Fahrenheit begins to rise, nautical-inspired products start cropping up on shelves everywhere from big box stores to high-end fashion houses and local boutiques, so much so that the signature red, white, and blue hues have become more of a summertime staple than an in-one-year-out-the-next trend. It’s not hard to understand the appeal, though. Done right, nautical nods can add both classic elegance and casual beach chic without feeling contrived. And although it’s hard to beat the crisp clean lines of a navy and white French sailor shirt, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite maritime-inspired pieces.

“There is nothing like a hurricane followed by an epic flood to upset the order of things and blow in some literal winds of change,” observes G&G contributor, Julia Reed in her introduction to lifestyle photographer Kerri McCaffety’s forthcoming design tome, New Orleans, New Elegance (The Monacelli Press, May 2012) which explores the Crescent City’s evolving interior design sensibilities as it emerges from the rubble left behind by Katrina

Whether you’re taking your tailgate to Louisville or staying put and throwing your own Derby Day bash, we’ve rounded up a few party essentials to help get you started.