Reel deals at Orvis warehouse sale

One year after my first blog entry on Style Points, the Orvis warehouse sale is back in town at Reliant Park, where plenty of fishing gear, luggage, clothing, dog pillows, you name it ... go on sale at deep discounts.

At last year's 3-day sale in Houston, I passed on a Barbour jacket the first day but returned on the final day and picked up a computer bag, a comforter and some bartending tools that I rarely use.

I have since been hired to work part time at the Orvis retail store in Houston a couple of months ago, so I'm a little biased about the quality of Orvis apparel these days. (No, I did not get an additional employee discount at the warehouse sale.) That said, you'll still find solid deals on quality merchandise.

This time, I got stuff I could really use: Merrell leather loafers ($100 retail), a linen safari jacket ($169, perfect for Houston weather), an organic cotton T shirt ($49), all at 60 percent off the retail prices, plus Barbour Classic Sylkoil Overtrousers (approximately $100 retail) for just $29. About $420 worth of goods for $160.

Click here for the next Orvis warehouse sale, which is held in major cities across the U.S.

Super Bowl chic

Each year, as Americans congregate at households or sports bars or wherever there's a large screen, the Super Bowl is a big deal. Here's a smattering of what's at stake: Rooting interests of entire metropolitan areas; Creative ads that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to air; and who's going to Disney World as the game's MVP.

If you're lucky enough to be going to Tampa for the game, you're obviously not going to the stadium dressed the same as the average Joe (the fill-in-the-blank) who's watching on TV.

So let's break down the sartorial options. First, the common goals:

• Dress comfortably. It's going to be warmer in Tampa than, say, Pittsburgh, so a cotton windbreaker in Tampa Stadium should get the same result as a wool sweater in the Steel City. For the latter, just remove the sweater should it get too warm indoors.
• Go casual all the way. It's jeans, T shirts, Under Armour gear, whatever does it for you.
• Colors are important. You can ward off the potentially annoying question of whom you're rooting for by wearing red and white if you're pulling for the Cardinals or black and gold for the Steelers.

And now, things to avoid:

• Put non-contending team gear away. If you don't have as much of a rooting interest in this year's Super Bowl, do not wear the colors of your favorite team. The reason is quite simple: The season is over for teams that are not the Cardinals or Steelers. Wait until after the game to resume wearing your favorite team's gear and/or colors in anticipation of next season. If you go neutral, wear khakis or jeans and a solid shirt (white or gray).
• Take off ties after church. Come game time (6:18pm EST on NBC) on Sunday, no ties. It'll be your fault for exposing your tie to beer that may get spilled on you by accident.
• It's not a fashion show. No need to buy new clothes for the Super Bowl. Really. People won't go out of their way to notice what your wearing, just whether you're interested in football, if you're hungry, and what you'd like to drink.

But, if you must have stuff to get in the gridiron spirit, I recommend the following "old school" items:

• Orvis Long-Sleeved Football Jersey
• Under Armour ColdGear Mock
• Brooks Brothers Multi-Strip Leather Sport Shoe

Enjoy the game.

Shopped 'til you drop? Now see this movie

Check out my take on "Confessions of a Shopaholic" on Examiner.com, where even men can learn a thing or two about when the desire to look good goes to the extreme.

Maybe we're too cool for that -- on the outside -- but for those guys who take their look seriously, take a little time out and check out this (not just for chick) flick.