June 20, 2013 world of men's style / fashion / grooming RSS
“Valentine’s Day”
02/13/13
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What's What

Style Icons on Dates

Steve McQueen

Valentine’s Day isn’t till tomorrow, but you can already feel it in the air: the unmistakable tingling of a bone-chilling winter frost.

But also: romance.

And since you’re more than likely on the hook for dinner, or at least a starry-eyed stroll, we thought you could use some inspiration for tomorrow’s festivities—with some style cues from history’s most fashionable gents on dates. Just don’t forget the flowers (or in the case of Mick Jagger: cotton candy).

Without further ado: 10 ridiculously good-looking dates and the style icons who love them.»
 

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02/13/13
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Brazilian Merrymaking, Fashion’s Astrologer and Waka Flocka Flame’s Valentine’s Playlist

Rio

Rio’s Grand: The Atlantic shares some spectacular photos from the Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro.

Haute Svengali: The Cut tries to figure out how Susan Miller became the de facto astrologer to the fashion elite.

The Flame Rekindles: The best part of GQ’s Valentine’s Day guide has to be the romantic playlist from Waka Flocka Flame.

Denim Jumpsuits: Put This On embarks on a photo safari through the Americana jungle/annual vintage menswear show, Inspiration LA.

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02/12/13
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Explaining Fashion Week, Bourbon’s Unlikely Rise and Frank Ocean on a Diving Board

Frank Ocean

Who Even Goes to These Things?: Four Pins does a fine job of explaining Fashion Week to the uninitiated by answering a few FAQs.

Sub Bourbon Flight: How the Samuels family took bourbon from backroom tipple to the revered drink it is today.

Being Frank: The story behind the photo behind the equally mesmerizing NY Times Frank Ocean profile (he’s balancing on a diving board hanging over a cliff above LA).

Cupid’s Arrow Looms: The editors of Details recount their most memorable Valentine’s stories.

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01/29/13
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The Code

Winning Valentine’s Day: The Love Letter

You know what the greatest Valentine’s gift of all time is? A fully loaded, pearl-white Ferrari made of roses.

But giving the same gift two years in a row would just be tacky. So this year you’re turning back the clock and winning Valentine’s Day the old-fashioned way: by writing a thoughtful, heart-melting and perfectly legible love letter.

Herewith: the Kempt Guide to Writing a Goddamn Stupendous Love Letter.»
 

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02/15/12
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Sports Illustrated Always Finds the Nicest Swimsuits

Victoria Germynvia Sports Illustrated

Louder Than a Ton: Tommy Ton takes on New York Fashion Week, with predictably sharp results. [GQ]

Kilim Rising: Perhaps it’s time for you to buy a pair of slippers that look like a carpet. [Die, Workwear]

V Is for Victory: Some push-pull on the value of Valentine’s Day. We still blame the roses. [The Atlantic Wire]

Keep It Simple: In the background of Fashion Week, Dana Lee continues to kill it. [The OEN]

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02/14/12
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The Code

The War Against Roses

We’ve got urgent, life-threatening news. It’s Valentine’s Day.

And even if you took our advice and tackled the celebration a few weeks ago, you’re still on the hook for a bouquet of something.

We’ve only got one all-important piece of advice: don’t make it roses. Lilies, daffodils—anything but roses.

The problem with roses, explained»

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02/09/12
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Shanina Shaik Is Concerned About Her Roomba

Shanina Shaikvia WBE

The Female Perspective: Some of the sharpest women in the game weigh in on what to get your lady for Valentine’s… assuming you haven’t already made a preemptive strike. [Valet]

Slub and Tussah: Derek Guy digs up a tie brand selling nearly Drake’s-quality shantung ties at half the price. [Put This On]

The Train Rolls On: After the great man’s passing, Details digs up a vintage profile of Don Cornelius in his dotage. A thing of beauty. [Details]

Lost in Translation: One more beautiful Italian menswear brand. Fair warning: the text is also in Italian. [Men’s Reverie]

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01/31/12
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The Code

The Preemptive Valentine’s Day

We’ve got some problems with Valentine’s Day.

You’ve probably already noticed a few of them: the smarmy advertising, the kitsch, the awkward chivalry, the endless parade of overbooked prix fixes, the all-pervading sense of enforced sentiment, without sensitivity or regard for individual circumstance…

Sorry. We got carried away there.

But it’s important, because Valentine’s is letting down romance and it’s letting down the men and women of America. So we’ve come up with a single fix that will restore the day to what it should be, a single cure-all to restore it to the spontaneous, romantic expression February needs so much.

It’s time to change the date.

Our plan for fixing Valentine’s Day, explained»
 

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01/26/12
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Well Pressed

The February Issues

It’s been a strange month for magazines.

We got to see more of Michelle Williams’ Marilyn impression, the wisdom of an ex-president and some quality drinking-and-shooting time with the bull-shaped creature known as Channing Tatum.

But naturally, you’ll want more than that, so we’ve got an intricately detailed summary after the jump…

Here’s everything you need to know from February’s crop of glossies»

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01/17/12
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Object

L’Amour Fou

Valentine’s cards are hard to tackle in a genuine way, but this business-card-sized love note from Terrapin Stationers comes pretty close to the feeling of losing your head over someone. Pick one up here at $5 a pop.

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02/12/10
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Dany White is Playing the Field

danywhite_crop.jpg

Pastoralism: No matter how many times we see it, we never get tired of the “naked girl in a meadow” editorial shot. [Fashion Copious]

Dixieland: Billy Reid walks off with the GQ “Best New Designer in America” prize, possibly while wearing saddle shoes. More on this next week. [GQ Eye]

A Man for Both Seasons: An indepth look at one of our favorite must-haves, Ralph Lauren’s Olympic Committee-mandated gear. [Valet]

Don’t Tell Her: Whatever you’ve got planned for Valentine’s Day, we’re pretty sure it’s going to be less impressive than the Taj Mahal. Just saying. [Neatorama]

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02/11/09
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Swimsuits, Construction Sites, and Valentine’s Day Equipment

swimsuitissue_crop.jpg

Suit Up: A calm, mathematical reaction to the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. There’s a first time for everything. [Daily Intel]

Do You Have Anything in Flourescent Yellow?: Esquire gives advice on the best gear to wear on a construction site…and happens to recommend some of our favorite brands. [Esquire]

Protect Your Neck: For no particular reason, the top ten hit jobs in cinematic history. Get ready to see a lot of ruined suits. [Vulture]

Valentine’s Insurance: 10 solid movies about unfulfilled love, just in time to put on your Netflix queue and have in your hands by Saturday. Don’t say you weren’t warned. [TakePart]

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02/05/09
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Bad Idea/Good Idea

His and Hers

bitchwanker_crop.jpg

Valentine’s Day is a very special time, when couples can grow together, share feelings of love and respect and, most importantly, exchange gifts.

These matching coffee cups come from the L.A. erotic shop Coco de Mer. In case you can’t read it, the one on the left says “bitch,” and the one on the right says, “wanker.”

Consider yourself warned.

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01/26/09
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Bondage, Hartmarx, and Dov’s Love

agentp_crop.jpg

Agent of Change: Agent Provocateur still makes steamy web videos, but this time around they swap the gothic castle for a Valentine’s Day bondage theme. Ok, maybe it’s not that big a change. [My Fashion Life]

Marxists: Hartmarx is on shaky ground…which is bad news for anyone who wants a suit made in America. [A Continuous Lean]

Free Dov: American Apparel is just making pornography at this point. But we have no complaints. [TrendHunter]

Science!: A new female sexuality study gets the feminist blogosphere riled up. To be fair, it was already riled up. [Jezebel]

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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

Forget everything you know about Miami style—today’s Miamian is more LeBron and Wade than Crockett and Tubbs. So we started in the slicked-up South Beach and made our way to the hip, artsy enclave of Wynwood to get a good look at what Miami style is all about. See it all below...

Miami, FL

  • Gerardo Gutierrez Photographer
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: New York, NY

    What We Like Gerardo picked up his nautical hook wristwear from local Miami shop MIANSAI.
  • Gerardo Gutierrez Photographer
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: New York, NY

    What We Like Gerardo picked up his nautical hook wristwear from local Miami shop MIANSAI.
  • Alain Martinez Visual artist
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    What We Like Alain’s vintage accents, including the tie clip and shoes.
  • Alain Martinez Visual artist
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    What We Like Alain’s vintage accents, including the tie clip and shoes.
  • Michael Young Shoe expert
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC

    What We Like Michael finishes off his Miami-prepster look with a pair of tuxedo slippers from local shoemakers Del Toro.
  • Michael Young Shoe expert
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC

    What We Like Michael finishes off his Miami-prepster look with a pair of tuxedo slippers from local shoemakers Del Toro.
  • Carlos Darquea Hair stylist
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: Providence, RI

    What We Like Nothing beats out a cool haircut. (It doesn’t hurt that Carlos happens to know a thing or two about them.)
  • Beto Girardo Publicist
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: Colombia

    What We Like Beto isn’t afraid to layer even in the Miami heat. Extra points for that impressive hat.
  • Beto Girardo Publicist
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: Colombia

    What We Like Beto isn’t afraid to layer even in the Miami heat. Extra points for that impressive hat.
  • Marque Butler Stylist
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: Berkeley, CA

    What We Like Marque pulls off this leather jacket, thanks to the tailored cut and the interesting detailing.
  • Marque Butler Stylist
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: Berkeley, CA

    What We Like Marque pulls off this leather jacket, thanks to the tailored cut and the interesting detailing.
  • Manuel Benitez Stylist
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: Queens, NY

    What We Like Manuel shows us some neo-Miami style by keeping the white pants but edging up the rest of his kit with boots and a moto jacket.
  • Manuel Benitez Stylist
    Lives: Miami, FL

    Hometown: Queens, NY

    What We Like Manuel shows us some neo-Miami style by keeping the white pants but edging up the rest of his kit with boots and a moto jacket.
California

Los Angeles

Venice

Stylish Angelenos, past and present: Cary Grant. George Clooney. Arnaud Delene. About that last one: he’s among the well-dressed vanguard you can spot today on one of LA’s more trafficked street corners. We camped out along Abbott Kinney Boulevard in Venice in search of such figures—have a look at the results below. (Yes, including Arnaud.)

Los Angeles, CA

  • Adam Ulbarri Retail/sales at Enda King
    Lives: Venice, CA

    Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

    What We Like His boots (Fiorentini + Baker), his custom hat (Westbrook Maker) and his shirt (Civilianaire). Hell, the whole damn thing.
  • Adam Ulbarri Retail/sales at Enda King
    Lives: Venice, CA

    Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

    What We Like His boots (Fiorentini + Baker), his custom hat (Westbrook Maker) and his shirt (Civilianaire). Hell, the whole damn thing.
  • Arnaud Delene Architect
    Lives: Downtown Los Angeles, CA

    Hometown: Nîmes, France

    What We Like The Europe-by-way-of-SoCal vintage shirt.
  • Arnaud Delene Architect
    Lives: Downtown Los Angeles, CA

    Hometown: Nîmes, France

    What We Like The Europe-by-way-of-SoCal vintage shirt.
  • Colin Prothero Architect
    Lives: Venice, CA

    Hometown: Santa Ana, CA

    What We Like The pin Colin just found and put on. Spontaneity’s a virtue.
  • Colin Prothero Architect
    Lives: Venice

    Hometown: Santa Anna

    What We Like The pin Colin just found and put on. Spontaneity’s a virtue.
  • Mark Wystrack Cofounder and creative director of MOVMT, a shoe-and-wallet line
    Lives: Malibu, CA

    Hometown: Sonoita, AZ

    What We Like The connections behind the ensemble, including the shirt (from Deus Ex Machina, with whom he’s collaborating) and the rest of it (much is from The Stronghold, where he’s friends with the owner).
  • Mark Wystrack Cofounder and creative director of MOVMT, a shoe-and-wallet line
    Lives: Malibu, CA

    Hometown: Sonoita, AZ

    What We Like The connections behind the ensemble, including the shirt (from Deus Ex Machina, with whom he’s collaborating) and the rest of it (much is from The Stronghold, where he’s friends with the owner).
  • Nick Fuquet Owner of Westbrook Maker
    Lives: Santa Monica, CA

    Hometown: Palm Beach, FL

    What We Like That almost everything you see is vintage.
  • Nick Fuquet Owner of Westbrook Maker
    Lives: Santa Monica, CA

    Hometown: Palm Beach, FL

    What We Like That almost everything you see is vintage.
  • Timur Dmitriyev Retail manager
    Lives: Venice, CA

    Hometown: Minsk, Belarus

    What We Like The jacket and pocket square—both from Gant Rugger.
  • Timur Dmitriyev Retail manager
    Lives: Venice, CA

    Hometown: Minsk, Belarus

    What We Like The jacket and pocket square—both from Gant Rugger.
  • Francisco Fernandez Musician
    Lives: Los Angeles, CA

    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    What We Like The shark boots from Al’s Attire. Perfect for a guy whose band is called the Ferocious Few.
  • Francisco Fernandez Musician
    Lives: Los Angeles, CA

    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    What We Like The shark boots from Al’s Attire. Perfect for a guy whose band is called the Ferocious Few.
Texas

Dallas

DOWNTOWN
June 21

Dallas: home of Jerry Jones, Bobby Ewing and... a bunch of guys who don’t dress like Jerry Jones or Bobby Ewing. Behold the new Dallas in our next edition of Style Shifters.

Kempt
Style Shifters
Cadillac

  • cartier style #1

    W7100045

    This stainless-steel number is the sportiest of the bunch—it’ll put a run-of-the-mill diver to shame on the high seas, but it’s still polished enough to wear into the boardroom.

  • cartier style #2

    W7100042

    This watch has the best of both worlds: the strength of stainless steel and the luxurious touch of rose gold—which solves any questions you might have had about matching your watch to your cufflinks.

  • cartier style #3

    W7100046

    Switching out a stainless-steel band for the handsome warmth of leather can give a watch a whole new life. Luckily, that doesn’t mean sacrificing any of the top-notch mechanics for the added dressiness.

  • cartier style #4

    W7100043

    If you weren’t sure which way you were leaning between stainless steel, rose gold and leather, your decision has just been made easier: all three. Opting for the brown leather band in this situation only serves to improve the watch’s warm and luxurious feel.

  • cartier style #5

    W7100047

    This is the statement piece: a rose gold case and band with all of the trappings of a meticulously crafted chronograph. There’s something here for bons vivants, race car drivers and titans of industry alike. The two registers circled in gold to match the case add a particularly dapper grace note to the white dial.

  • cartier style #6

    W7100044

    Switching out a metal band for the handsome warmth of leather can give a watch a whole new life. And when it comes to this Cartier, that new life involves a calendar full of cocktail attire and using “weekend” as a verb.