Esquire’s The Handbook of Style

“Fashions fade, style is eternal.”

Yves St. Laurent

Every year, the editors over at Esquire put out a special issue of the magazine that deals with style. If you are a style-minded reader and interested in looking your best in 2009, we highly suggest you pickup Esquire’s “The Handbook Of Style (A Man’s Guide To Looking Good).”  The just released handbook is chock full of essential (and entertaining) information on everything men need to know about personal style and dress.

Using a highly illustrative approach and incorporating Esquire’s usual wit, The Handbook Of Style delivers a handy yet compact style resource for men. It draws upon a varied list of style icons like Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra to André 3000 and Jay-Z, and explains why certain pieces work well together, while others don’t.  It also offers guidance on wardrobe necessities, how-to’s for specific styles, and even clothing care.

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Cool Material Round-Up - Men’s Gear

	Fuck the Rain Umbrella Fuck the rain! Designed by Anton Schnaider, the Fuck the Rain umbrella features a carabineer handle.
	Dart Coat Hooks These stainless steel Dart Coat Hooks are tipped with screws for wall-mounting, and when in the wall you wouldn’t even realize they weren’t actual darts.
	Pin Clock Modeled after the pin art toys that you press your hand onto, this clock’s face is made up of 3,000 pins that as each minute passes retract and reshuffle to create the next number.
	Gravity Balans Chair The special edition leather Gravity Balans chair lets you feel as close to zero gravity as you’re going to get outside of orbit.
	c-Jays Headphones c-JAYS headphones come with 3 different foam ear cushions for a different sound and feeling. The multi layer speakers provide balanced sound with detailed highs and intense lows.
	Property of P.T. Cycle Bag Laid back style and practicality meet with weather proofed, polyurethane coated cotton and attractive leather trim.
	Vroom iPhone Case Made from 100% treaded rubber that’s impact resistant so it provides ample protection for your phone, not to mention a good grip.

Cool Material Round-Up - Men’s Gear

	WTF? How to Survive 101 of Life’s Worst F*#!-ing Situations Alleviate stress and with any luck—avoid conviction following these hilariously satisfying tips.
	Rinse & Chop The Rinse and Chop is a hinged cutting board that’s also magically a colander. Dishwasher safe and great for small bachelor pads.
	Razorblade Mirror Seriously, this thing looks pretty awesome… check out that ruggedly handsome mug in this oversized razor blade.
	Blackbird Guitars There are few things we consider sacred and not to be “improved” upon with advances in technology and until now, the acoustic guitar was one of them.
	Shroud of Purrin Hoody Stay warm and active with only one layer in the Shroud of Purrin Hoody which features a water resistant but surprisingly breathable outer layer and a full hood with an extremely soft faux fur inside.
	Kuro Cube It reduces fridge odor and absorbs foul gasses to keep food fresh longer. It’s active for years, but when it loses its juice, just give it a sunbath.
	The Save-Your-Marriage Easy Tree Stand Literally put your tree up in 10 seconds and give the Mrs. and her mother dearest one less thing to criticize you about.
	TSOVET Watches Influenced from industrial tools and motor gauges, TSOVET Time Instruments would be favorite of any steampunk fan.

Bonobos Review: Go Bananas for Men’s Trousers

A few weeks ago, we got a chance to check out a pair of pants made by Bonobos. Produced in limited quantities in Manhattan and San Francisco and available only online, Bonobos pants ($110 - $350) solve what their founders call “KDB” or that khaki-diaper-butt problem some experience every time they slip on khakis.

After trying these pants on for size, we’ve become huge fans. We like them not only because of their namesake (Bonobos is one of the most sexually active chimpanzees on the planet), but because they are just flat out good quality threads. Everything from their unique buttons, colorful inseams and super soft cotton to their tailor fit waist was a welcomed change from our standby Dockers that we’re used to. We highly recommend you try on a pair and see for yourself.

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Tips on How to Choose the Right Hat

Editor’s Note: This is a post from our friends over at LEGENDmag.

If you’ve never worn a hat other than a baseball cap, how do you go about choosing just the right one? There are so many styles, shapes, sizes and colors that it sometimes seems impossible to even start. We’ve had the same problem, so we enlisted Liz Brusca from Goorin Hats to give some helpful hints for those of you feeling a little naked on top! First-time customers might feel unsure of how to select their perfect hat. However, the hundreds of styles and colors to choose from, ensure that there is at least one perfect hat for every head.

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11 Ways To Spruce Up Your Wardrobe For Next To Nothing

1. The Life Laundry

Take all your clothes and make three piles. The first is items that you can’t live without, the second is items that you are/should be ashamed of and the third is everything in between. Throw out the shame pile and put the keeper pile back into your wardrobe. Congratulations, your style just got a whole lot better. When you are ready to spend some cash again, gradually replace the in-between pile with fresh, but not necessarily expensive, stock. Fresh items go in the wardrobe and old items go in the trash.

2. New Thinking

Another great technique that’s absolutely free is to simply change your perspective concerning the items you already have. A lot of people tend to be quite habitual and stick to the same combinations. Don’t. Make some time to try new things out. Do it alone if need be and give yourself freedom to make a few mistakes. It’s all part of the process and nobody else has to know. Besides, it’ll be worth it when you find a new approach that’s fresh and personal.

3. How’s It Hanging?

Throw out the wire, throw out the plastic and invest in some wooden hangers. Not only do they make your wardrobe look a lot tidier, but they’re thicker than the other varieties. This means that your more fragile items are less likely to suffer from unsightly stretching. Your garments will all thank you for this small investment. For extra security, think about treating your most treasured items (such as leathers or suits) to a soft, padded hanger of their own. They can be found in most decent haberdasheries. Read the rest of this article »

Don’t Overlook These Details

These details may be mundane or an afterthought, but they can make a big difference in what you as a man want to say about yourself. This may come off as a bit of a rant, but you should be as informed and prepared as possible. With all we have going on in our lives, it’s easy to overlook certain habits and details. Hopefully this insight will open your eyes a bit more to the little things that we can all miss. Because after all, it’s the little things that sometimes make all the difference in the world.

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8 Style Tips Every Man Should Know

1: There Is No Such Thing As A Comedy Tie

The world doesn’t mind if you love certain cartoon characters but does that mean you should wear images of them to board meetings? And that shirt with the ‘zany’ pattern that you’ve been saving for the party season: will people honestly think ‘he’s good fun’ or will they think ‘I wonder if that man’s color blind?’

The clothes you wear cannot, and should not, be a substitute for personality. If a man feels that he must advertise his sense of humour then he is really advertising his need to be liked. Stylish men do not have such needs. Keep it simple and let your clothes say ‘I have a lot of self respect’ rather than ‘please like me’.

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Men’s Wardrobe Basics: 10 Closet Essentials

These 10 closet essentials evoke a timeless look, can be worn almost year round and don’t follow any particular fashion trends. Every man should have these men’s wardrobe basics as the cornerstones of their wardrobe. Chances are you already have most if not all these wardrobe basics, but regardless of your age group or profession, your closet should always have these garments hanging around.

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Understanding a Sneakerhead - The Soul of a Sole

photography by reegsta

I like sneakers. This topic evolved from “sneakers sneakerheads should own” to “classic kicks,” but I will simplify it by just naming fresh kicks from one shoe lover’s perspective. I mean we all have different tastes, so something that’s dope in my eyes very well may be an eyesore to you.

People often ask me if I’m fond of a particular pair that they’re eyeing, and I give my honest opinion, which might sway them from one direction to another. But the golden rule is: wear what you like, and emphasize the YOU part. Don’t rock a pair of kicks because other people sweat them, because of scarcity or because you’ve waited in line overnight for them. If you think a pair of kicks is fresh, then that’s all that really matters. Jay-Z says, “What you eat, don’t make me sh!t,” and likewise, what you wear shouldn’t make me sh!t either.

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