May 24, 2013 world of men's style / fashion / grooming RSS
“dusting off”
11/02/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: Morse Code

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off morse code.

You never know.

It’s one of the few constants of life. After tomorrow, you could be lost in the wilderness, wrestling bears for survival. You could find yourself becalmed on the high seas, signaling to passing ships with a flashlight. The future is cloudy, like the fortune tellers say.

All you can do is try to develop skills that will get you through any situation intact. Skills like knot-tying, tent-pitching…and an ostensibly outdated system known as Morse Code.

It’s a telegraphic code we’d like to dust off…»
 

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
10/19/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: Alpinism

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off alpinism.

It’s hard to know the meaning of our lives.

We muddle through, doing the best we can, but we’re mostly making it up as we go, ignorant of any larger significance our time on earth might have.

So we’re just going to tell you. The fates have guided you to this blog post, and now we’re going to provide you with the purpose of your existence. We’re not even going to put it after the jump.

Your purpose in life is to ascend the tallest mountains on earth, bringing glory upon your name and country.

It sounded strange to us at first too …»
 

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
ADVERTISEMENT
10/05/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Single-Bar Kicker’s Helmet

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the single-bar kicker’s helmet.

Like most of you, we are all in favor of the NFL doing whatever is necessary to protect its players. Ease up on the defenseless receiver. Respect the fair catch. Save the horse collar tackles for the rodeo ring.

But since we are ever-so-slightly more interested in aesthetics over long-term brain functionality…»
 

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
09/21/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: White Socks

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off white socks.

The usual line on socks is pretty simple: gray, blue, brown or black. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can get into crazy patterns and fluorescent hues, but that’s pretty much the limit of blog-approved style.

It wasn’t always this way. In the Kennedy era, the tube sock was one of the great American staples alongside crewneck sweatshirts and pressed khakis—but somewhere along the line, the snow-white tube sock became a sartorial faux pas. By our lights, it’s due for a revival.

Rehabilitating the tube sock…»
 

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
09/07/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: Manual Scorekeeping

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off manual scorekeeping.

We live in a world of convenience. So it’s only natural that when we find ourselves at a sporting event—or watching on TV—there’s always some sort of device there to tell us who’s winning.

Even if we might be better off figuring it out for ourselves.

Allow us to elaborate…»
 

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
ADVERTISEMENT
08/24/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Sidecar

The Sidecar

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the sidecar.

You should never be afraid to pick up a passenger or two.

So much as we admire the solitary drive of the motorcycle, we have to admit, it’s missing something. A place for a navigator, or a passenger who doesn’t have to cling to your back all the way through Nebraska. Room for company—otherwise known as a sidecar.

It’s a charming item we’d like to dust off…»
 

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
08/10/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Summer Cabin

Summer Cabin

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the summer cabin.

Nowadays the words “summer vacation” usually imply a plane ticket to a southern island and an anonymous and freshly scrubbed hotel room. We’re not knocking it, but there was a time when those words meant something a bit more traditional, a bit more familial.

And the resulting few weeks were often spent in a cabin of some kind…

Wherein we extol the virtues of living the simpler summer life»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
07/27/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Two-Sport Professional Athlete

Bo Jackson

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, trends and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the two-sport professional athlete.

These days, nobody seems to know what Bo knew.

We’re not talking about breaking bats over your leg (though we wish someone could figure out how to do that in one attempt, too.)

We’re referring, rather, to the seemingly lost art of playing more than one professional sport. Bo Jackson’s name was synonymous with the practice in the 90’s, thanks to his penchant for blasting stratospheric home runs into the upper fountain at Royals Stadium while averaging the second-most yards-per-carry in NFL history.

We had this poster on our bedroom wall, and so did you.»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
07/13/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: When a Woman Jumps Out of a Cake

Paz de la Huerta

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the magical moment when a woman jumps out of a cake.

We’re men of simple tastes.

And yet, we can’t suppress a slight melancholy whenever we see a roughly human-sized cake, only to realize that there is not a scantily clad woman waiting to burst from beneath its surface.

And it’s time someone did something about it…»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
06/29/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Wooden Roller Coaster

Coaster

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the wooden roller coaster.

We’re suckers for a good amusement park. It’s not the most sophisticated variety of thrill, but there’s something about the rush of speed, the open air and the timelessly kitchy décor that brings us back to sunnier days.

But naturally, as the world’s amusement parks have doubled down on the twisting-steel-vertebrae school of coaster design, we find ourselves nostalgic for a more rickety kind of ride—the kind you only get from the wooden coaster.

In fact, it’s a pastime we’d like to dust off…»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
06/15/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: Classic Shaving Cream

Proraso

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off classic shaving cream.

By now, you’ve heard from the shaving trads.

The ones that swear by the straight razor. The ones that let nothing but badger hair caress their virgin cheeks.

So we won’t waste your time proselytizing the old school barbershop shave—but we would like to draw your attention to the most important and most overlooked element of the holy ritual: the classic shaving cream.

It’s a custom we’d like to dust off…»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
06/01/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: Smelling Salts

Smelling Salts

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off smelling salts.

Quacks have gotten a bad rap.

Sure, we wouldn’t go to them with anything serious—the flu shot, the broken leg—but if your problem is more along the lines of a mild headache and a general malaise, the snake oil salesmen may be able to help you a whole lot more than a GP.

So naturally, there are a few folk remedies we’d like to dust off…starting with smelling salts»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
05/18/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: Taking Dictation

Dictation

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off taking dictation.

You spend a lot of time typing.

There are emails, nostalgic blog posts and dozens of other daily tasks, all channeled through your fingertips. After a while, you start to wonder if there’s a better way.

Once upon a time, there was. You’d pace purposefully around your desk, orating whatever urgent missive needs to be sent to the head office, while a dutiful assistant typed it all up at speed. When you were done, you could send it off without even looking at it—and at the bottom, you’d stamp the ultimate mark of correspondence-related mastery: “Dictated but not read.” If you’re not familiar, it’s the gray-flannel-suit equivalent of “deal with it.”

But what was awesome once may be awesome again»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
05/04/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Portrait Sitting

Portraitvia the Met

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the portrait sitting.

If you’re plugged into the modern world, it’s a safe bet there are at least a hundred pictures of you floating around—and most of them probably don’t look too good. (We blame point-and-shoots, Facebook and dimly lit bars, but that’s another story.)

The good news is, we’ve got a nostalgic affectation that will take care of that in one fell swoop.

It’s time to commission a portrait.

No, seriously, you should think about it»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
04/20/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Postcard

Postcard

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the postcard.

Everyone needs a change of scenery from time to time.

And whether it’s a weekend road trip or a monthlong tour of Asia, we predict you’ll spend at least some portion of the next few months in unusual climes. It’s an opportunity for reflection, mind-broadening and—if you came prepared—a little nostalgia. We’re thinking of the postcard…and the kind that doesn’t come from a gift shop.

Allow us to elaborate…»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
04/06/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: Sports on the Radio

baseball_crop.jpg

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off listening to sports on the radio.

It’s the oldest predicament in sports: You care about your team, but you’re not going to make it to every single game. So you check out the sports page, or the highlight reels, or the steadily updating scores trickling onto your phone. You check every few innings, and accept anything else as lost in translation.

Unless you happen to have a radio.

Allow us to elaborate»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
03/24/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Hobby

hobby_crop.jpg

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the hobby.

You can’t be amazing at everything.

You tried, sure, but part of moving into the adult world means leaving behind some skills to focus on a single area of expertise—ideally, one related to gainful employment. All the other stuff becomes more personal and less intense, with lower stakes and smaller rewards. In short, a hobby.

Or at least that’s how it used to work.

But something’s gone wrong…»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
03/09/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Continental Breakfast

continentalbreakfast_crop.jpgCopyright Bill Ewing

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, habits and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the continental breakfast.

We like rituals. Pomp. Circumstance. The more accoutrements—the silver service, the folded napkin—the better.

And while the standard breakfast ritual has been whittled down to “coffee and something else,” we’d like to make room for something a bit more elegant. Nothing that would involve any elaborate stove work, just a bit of culinary ceremony at the start of the day…or what is commonly known as the continental breakfast.

Allow us to elaborate»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
02/23/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: Superstition

steviewonder_crop.jpg

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, trends and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off superstition.

We’re usually fans of reason.

But while we trust science in 19 out of 20 occasions, there are a few places where the rational order of the universe breaks down and pure, tribal instinct is the only system that can adequately make sense of the world. The shortlist includes job interviews, sold-out concerts, public transportation, local elections, and professional sports.

It’s not exactly the modern thing to do, but it’s the honest human thing to do—and it’s a custom we’d like to dust off.

Allow us to elaborate»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
02/09/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Hat Rack

hatrack_crop.jpg

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, trends and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the hat rack.

In a few weeks, it’s going to be fedora weather—but something tells us we won’t see many of them on the street. And while plenty of bloggers have taken up the classic hat banner, it’s going to take more than just encouragement to make this happen. In particular, we place the blame for the non-resurgence of the hat squarely at the feet of the hat rack.

Allow us to explain»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
01/26/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Enemies List

nixonkhrushchev_crop.jpg

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, trends and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the enemies list.

It’s rough out there. By now, you probably already know. You’re never going to get anywhere if you don’t know who your friends are.

And likewise, you’re going to want to keep track of your enemies.

Possibly with a list of some kind…»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
01/12/11
·
The Past

Dusting Off: the Snow-Day Radio Roll Call

snowdayradio_crop.jpg

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, trends and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the snow-day roll call.

If you were in grade school before the internet era, you might remember a certain pre-dawn ritual for days like this. We’re thinking of a radio and a seemingly unending list of snow-bound school districts…

Unless you heard your school on the list, you had a bus to catch. Unfortunately, the names were fast and if you missed your school, you’d have to wait another five minutes for the whole thing to repeat—making for one of the more dramatic radio broadcasts since Orson Welles.

It’s a custom we’d like to dust off»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
12/21/10
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Wooden Sled

woodensled_crop.jpg

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, trends and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the wooden sled.

With any luck, you’ll be facing a few snowy hills in the near future—possibly with a few smaller relatives in tow. And when you pick out your sled, you might notice that all of the modern options are made of thermal-stamped plastic. It’s a shame. And it’s time to dust off something a little more dignified.

Allow us to elaborate»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
12/07/10
·
The Past

Dusting Off: Dressing Up For a Flight

airportsuits_crop.jpg

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, trends and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off semi-formal air travel.

Peruse, for a moment, this picture from Midway Airport circa 1956. The gentlemen in question are wearing suits, hats and pocket squares—formal even by the standards of the day. They’re dressed for an occasion, an event. In other words, for taking part in the miracle of industrial flight.

Allow us to elaborate»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags
11/23/10
·
The Past

Dusting Off: The Well-Dressed Comedian

georgeburns_crop.jpg

As connoisseurs of history, we sometimes find styles, trends and turns of phrase from the past that we wouldn’t mind bringing back to the present, Doc Brown-style. This time around, we’re dusting off the well-dressed comedian.

Ladies and gentlemen, this man is a comedian.

Hard to believe, we know, but once upon a time, this was the uniform for a successful stand-up, right down to the skinny tie and the pocket square. If you had the money, you spent it on a first-class suit and then you traveled from town to town looking like you owned the train. (A trade secret: Puns always sound funnier if the guy telling them is dressed like a senator.)

It’s a professional custom we’d like to dust off…

Allow us to elaborate»

ALL The Past
TAGSTags

Style: some people have it, and some neighborhoods really have it. To show you what we mean, we’ve partnered with Cadillac to present Style Shifters—a five-part, in-depth look at what the hippest gents in some of the country’s coolest neighborhoods are wearing now. Our intrepid photographers have roamed the streets in search of the most stylish guys around. Herewith, a few photos of what they found...

New York

Brooklyn

Williamsburg

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is home to some of the country’s best bars and coolest restaurants—and, of course, some of the best menswear shops in the world. Naturally, you’ll find more than a few stylish individuals perched outside those locations (and no, not all of them are Billyburg hipsters). See what we mean below...

On The Streets: Brooklyn

  • Drew Ledbetter Actor
    Lives: Providence, RI

    Hometown: Chattanooga, TN / Bay Area, CA

    What We Like Drew’s shoes are made by Cole Haan.
  • Drew Ledbetter Actor
    Lives: Providence, RI

    Hometown: Chattanooga, TN / Bay Area, CA

    What We Like Drew’s shoes are made by Cole Haan.
  • Justice Hampton Works for Club Monaco
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Dallas, TX

    What We Like Leave it to a Texan to know that a linen jacket is the perfect bit of outerwear to transition you from spring to summer.
  • Justice Hampton Works for Club Monaco
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Dallas, TX

    What We Like Leave it to a Texan to know that a linen jacket is the perfect bit of outerwear to transition you from spring to summer.
  • Jamie Clawson Runs a leather accessories business (valentinegoods.com)
    Lives: East Village, New York

    Hometown: Cleveland, OH

    What We Like Jamie’s shirt is called the “Expensive” shirt by Wil Fry. Ironically, it goes for about 30 bucks.
  • Jamie Clawson Runs a leather accessories business (valentinegoods.com)
    Lives: East Village, New York

    Hometown: Cleveland, OH

    What We Like Jamie’s shirt is called the “Expensive” shirt by Wil Fry. Ironically, it goes for about 30 bucks.
  • Koppel Verma Researcher at Google
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Cambridge, MA

    What We Like Turns out, the Swiss Army makes more than knives—they also made this jacket (it’s vintage).
  • Koppel Verma Researcher at Google
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Cambridge, MA

    What We Like Turns out, the Swiss Army makes more than knives—they also made this jacket (it’s vintage).
  • Chris Afzal Audio engineer
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Baltimore, MD

    What We Like If you needed any more proof that Brooks Brothers has shed its stodgy image, these shoes should do the trick.
  • Chris Afzal Audio engineer
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Baltimore, MD

    What We Like If you needed any more proof that Brooks Brothers has shed its stodgy image, these shoes should do the trick.
  • Malik Alokpovi Host for a hotel
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Born in Togo, West Africa, but lived in the South of France

    What We Like Malik’s red suede shoes came from A.P.C. Try not to step on them.
  • Malik Alokpovi Host for a hotel
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Born in Togo, West Africa, but lived in the South of France

    What We Like Malik’s red suede shoes came from A.P.C. Try not to step on them.
  • Billy Cadden Musician
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Woodstock, NY

    What We Like Billy’s worn this shirt, which he got at H&M while on tour, at every show since.
  • Billy Cadden Musician
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Woodstock, NY

    What We Like Billy’s worn this shirt, which he got at H&M while on tour, at every show since.
  • Sam Bowstucky Bartender
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    What We Like He’s actually on his way to a working audition for a bartending job at the Blind Barber. Good luck, Sam.
  • Sam Bowstucky Bartender
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    What We Like He’s actually on his way to a working audition for a bartending job at the Blind Barber. Good luck, Sam.
California

San Francisco

Mission District

Style. The Mission’s got it. Union Square’s got it. But each of them goes about having it in a different way—the Mission rocking a more bohemian coffee shop vibe, Union Square hosting some of the best higher-fashion shops (and shoppers) on the West Coast. We rounded up a few of the most stylish folks from both. Have yourself a gander below…

On The Streets: San Francisco

  • Brian Cunningham Shop clerk
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: Boston, MA

    What We Like The first rule any SF transplant learns: always bring a light coat. Brian sticks with a denim jacket from AllSaints. (Button to taste.)
  • Brian Cunningham Shop clerk
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: Boston, MA

    What We Like The first rule any SF transplant learns: always bring a light coat. Brian sticks with a denim jacket from AllSaints. (Button to taste.)
  • Erik Newton Attorney
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Diego, CA

    What We Like Erik likes to throw on an interesting sport coat with a pocket square and skip the tie—on days he’s not in the courthouse, naturally.
  • Erik Newton Attorney
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Diego, CA

    What We Like Erik likes to throw on an interesting sport coat with a pocket square and skip the tie—on days he’s not in the courthouse, naturally.
  • Jason Moo Banker
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: New York, NY

    What We Like Jason picked up his prized pocket square at his favorite tailor, tucked away in NYC’s NoHo—Michael Andrews Bespoke.
  • Jason Moo Banker
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: New York, NY

    What We Like Jason picked up his prized pocket square at his favorite tailor, tucked away in NYC’s NoHo—Michael Andrews Bespoke.
  • Presyler Galvin Bon vivant
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    What We Like A good carry-all bag is a necessity in the city—and you won’t do much better than a Goyard. Extra points for the monogram.
  • Presyler Galvin Bon vivant
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    What We Like A good carry-all bag is a necessity in the city—and you won’t do much better than a Goyard. Extra points for the monogram.
  • Randal Ruiz Design student
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Jose, CA

    What We Like Randal fashioned those elbow pads himself—ensuring he’ll never bump into the same blazer anywhere else.
  • Randal Ruiz Design student
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Jose, CA

    What We Like Randal fashioned those elbow pads himself—ensuring he’ll never bump into the same blazer anywhere else.
Florida

Miami

South Beach
June 6

Forget everything you know about Miami style. Today’s Miamian is more LeBron James than Crockett and Tubbs—as you’ll soon see in our next edition of Style Shifters…

Kempt
Style Shifters
Cadillac