Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Mens fashion advice is found just about everywhere now. Probably because most need it pretty badly. If you're into that type of thing (I know I am), you'd be wise to check out Selectism, Sartorially Inclined, A Continuous Lean, ValetMag, and of course the staples: GQ, Esquire, and Details.

However, one thing that almost all of the bloggers out there never seem acknowledge its that not everyone out there looks like a model. Yes, everyone's body type is different but there are far fewer Zac Efron lookin' dudes than there are Zach Galifianakis guys.

Whatever you may think about stereotypes, it never hurts to look taller and slimmer. So for those of us who don't have chiseled abs, here is what I consider to be the definitive list of tips found from various reputable sources. The goal: make you look slimmer.

  1. No horizontal/diagonal stripes. If you go with stripes, make them vertical. They elongate the body and draw the eye vertically visually slimming down the curves. For formal clothing, a pin stripe pattern will be best on suits as well as shirts.
  2. Proper fit. Clothing should be fitted. Never slim/skinny/tapered/tight. The key is to find clothing that flatter your body while being comfortable. Clothes that are too tight will be unflattering. Large baggy clothing will only make you look shorter and squat. Solution: find a good tailor.
  3. Single color. Long flowing lines created by a shirt/pants in the same color will have a similar slimming effect to that of vertical stripes. Flaws will be visually minimized.
  4. No crazy/excessive patterns. While plaid is always a good idea, intense patterns like paisley and Hawaiian print make you look even bulkier.
  5. No bright accessories. If the goal is to create a slim silhouette, bright accessories in contrasting colors such as tie clips, pocket squares, necklaces, and watch bands will make the eye jump around. Belts that pop create a bright attention seeking rift in the mid-riff effectively dividing the body. Stick to complementary colorways and simple forms.

As The Art of Manliness states, "no fabric or pattern will make the large man look thin," but we can sure try our best. Just remember: rules are meant to be broken. Always be sure to have confidence and let your personality shine through your clothing.

Some great examples of people who do a great job of breaking some of the rules while looking great:






Monday, March 22, 2010

Things My Grandfather Gave Me: Snakeskin Wallet

My grandpa is my hero. Growing up, I always looked up to him as a source for guidance and friendship. He has always given me things, but lately I have begun to understand and truly appreciate all that he has done for me.

In our hometown of Kiev, Ukraine, he was an extremely decorated civil engineer and architect. In his retirement L.D.R. has flourished as an artist and an all around great man.

My gramps always shares amazing stories from his travels around the former Soviet Union and gives me the most interesting things. This is the initial installment of a series of posts about the items that he is passing along to me.

First up is a snakeskin wallet that is from the 50s/60s. It has definitely seen some wear but held up really well over the years. He remembers buying it somewhere in the street bazaars of Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan while he was on a trip to help with their city planning.

The construction/stitching is all done by hand and in genuine snake leather because as he puts it, "we didn't have the technology or materials to manufacture fake leather." Everything is about is amazing. The stitching and variety of pockets (zippered pocket) can compete with some of the overpriced offerings from esteemed heritage brands out there. The wear pattern is pretty neat and ads to the unique quality of this piece. Besides, when is something old that has been cherished and used by a loved one not better than an off the shelf widget? Hopefully I can do it justice.




New Icon

Paul Newman was pretty cool. So was Steve McQueen, James Dean, and Marlon Brando.

For decades those four men have been looked at as the icons for nearly everything having to do with being manly. They rode fast bikes and cars, had beautiful women, had great off-screen personalities, led mythical lives, and occasionally starred in a movie. They brought back the white t-shirt and cuffed jeans, turtle-necks, baracuta and denim jackets, and scarves. They played rebels, bank robbers, cowboys, punks, miscreants, trouble-makers, mafioso, and gangsters.

Well so has this guy:

Don't get me wrong. I look up to everyone previously mentioned as legends. They really lived. But I can't help but feel a certain disconnect with what some might call a bygone era. Statham takes their spirit of adventure and recklessness and updates it. Not as good or polished, but modern, and something current and evolving.

He is new with a sense of old. A real 21st century boy.
No, he will probably never have his own line of foodstuffs, race cars professionally, or start a film festival, but he was an Olympic quality diver.

He hasn't been famous for very long, but he has already starred in arguably some of the greatest heist movies of all time, and logged amazing chase scenes as well.

He looks just as bad-ass in a 2-button as he does in a welding coat. And oh yeah, he's balding.









Let 'Em Riot

I have always been a fan of simplicity.

Complexities get in the way. Clutter. Twenty-minute bloated and egotistical solos gave way to a harsh three chord musical assault. The year that the Pistols released "God Save the Queen," four teenagers from Belfast formed the Stiff Little Fingers. With a sound that was raw, incredible, and barely sold. Anyone that bought a copy pretty much started a band.

And yeah, it was in High Fidelity. Yeah, it was Green Day before Green Day was Green Day.