June 20, 2013 world of men's style / fashion / grooming RSS
“warby parker”
05/29/13
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What's What

The Kempt Five: Inaugural Edition

Fives

You might think we’re all selvage denim and bespoke suits over here at Kempt HQ, and not unfairly so. But we’re starting to think it’s high time you got a bit of a deeper look into what really makes us tick. So starting today, we’re going to give you a piece of our minds.

Actually, more like five pieces.

Every Wednesday from here on out, we’ll present you with five things that we’ve had our wandering eyes on recently. And what defines “things,” you ask? Well, really, nothing is off-limits. Given we find it cool, or interesting, or downright beautiful, it’s got as good of a shot as any of making the list. New collections or gallery shows, a novel we’ve been reading, an album drop or even just a damn fine pair of pants—you’ll see quickly that our interests are as varied as the next guy’s. And it’s time we celebrated that accordingly.

So do us a favor and join us as we introduce our newest, and most personal, weekly feature: The Kempt Five.»
 

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05/13/13
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Dress Code

Sunglasses for Your Summer Plans

Sunglasses

Next weekend marks the unofficial start to summer—which means it’s time to kick your summer preparations into high gear right now.

And above all else, you’re going to need to pick up the right pair of shades for wherever it is you plan on summering—because the sun in Cannes requires a different UV protection than the sun you’ll encounter on the music festival circuit. So we put together a handy guide for your summer’s eyewear-related needs.

Choosing your sunglasses according to your summer plans.»
 

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05/10/13
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LinkOut

Cucinelli Hits a Billion, Warby Parker’s Steps to Success and Eight Failing Trends

Brunello Cucinelli

Brunester’s Billions: Ladies and gentlemen, Brunello Cucinelli is now a billionaire—only one year after filing an IPO—reports Esquire.

Foresight’s 20/20: Techcrunch outlines the three things Warby Parker did to launch a successful lifestyle brand.

Best Interest: Mr. Lean makes a long overdue visit to Best Made Co. and winds up seeing the best in things.

Crazy Eight: Four Pins names the eight trends that will die before they ever hit it big—like punk couture and children.

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04/15/13
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LinkOut

Detroit’s Shinola, Ending the Need for Bras and the Masters’ Pimento-Gate

esq warby parker

Shine On: Valet has word of a new enterprise in Detroit hell-bent on reviving American manufacturing of everything from bicycles to watches. (Cars can’t be far behind.)

Bra Burning: 15 years of research suggests there’s no benefit to be gained by wearing a bra, according to this groundbreaking scientific study from France (but of course).

Good Eye: Esquire gets a sneak peek at the slick new brick-and-mortar of bespectacled do-gooders Warby Parker.

S’wicheroo: The biggest disappointment at this weekend’s Masters didn’t happen on the course, but in the clubhouse: it would seem the traditional pimento cheese sandwich had been corrupted.

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04/05/13
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Good Idea

Your New Sunglasses for S/S 2013

Sunglasses

While you’ve probably got a trusty pair of shades tucked away from last summer, it’s always nice to have another pair to reach for in the event of the inevitable… Forgetting them in a cab. A tragic kayaking mishap. Accidents happen.

Luckily, a handsome new crop of sunglasses has landed on the market just in time to have you fully equipped to keep your eyes stylishly protected from the harmful effects of the sun—and the occasional morning after—when you’ll need them most. Even luckier: we’ve rounded up your best options, from new-age club masters to good old aviators. So, without further ado:

All of the UV-rated dapperness your face requires.»
 

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10/01/12
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Object

The Hybrid Aviators

Warby Parker has been turning out highly stylish, quality frames for some time now—and new to the lineup is a collection made using the lightest and strongest metal, titanium (for less than your similarly built fairway wood).

Our favorite of the bunch is the Cromwell, an update on the Aviator (the sunglasses of choice for fall getaways) with a titanium frame and tortoiseshell temples—which should leave you with some versatile and fairly indestructible shades. Plus, you’re still getting all of the goodwill that comes along with buying frames from Warby Parker (someone in need of glasses also gets a pair of their own).

You’re looking better already.

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09/19/12
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Labeled

Seeing Red


We’ve already begun seeing everything through autumnal-colored glasses—metaphorically—but now Warby Parker has just unveiled their new fall 2012 collection of frames in colors reminiscent of turning leaves and finely aged liquors. Our favorite of the new batch is this pair of rum cherry Sloan frames. Have them pop in a pair of UV-resistant lenses and you’re ready for any sun that might be filtering through the falling leaves right after you’ve jumped into a freshly raked pile. (Or, you know, a bright morning on your way into the office.)

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06/29/12
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LinkOut

Edita Vilkeviciute Can’t Stand Water in Her Ears

Edita Vilkeviciutevia FashionFaves

D’oh!: Here to explain the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on Obamacare: nine Simpsons GIFs. [Buzzfeed]

Readers, Digests: Selectism brings news of a Warby Parker pop-up that’s easy on the eyes. [Selectism]

Always a Critic: Being a restaurant critic sounds like a plush gig. Here are some words of wisdom from a guy who is one. [The Art of Manliness]

Drink Up: It’s Friday afternoon and you’re thirsty. Pick one of Esquire’s 50 summer cocktails and then make it. Enjoy. Repeat as necessary. [Esquire]

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09/08/11
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The Biz

A Night on the Town

Fashion’s Night Out is upon us, and in a mere eight hours, some of menswear’s best brands are going to unleash all manner of silliness upon us.

We’ll have a more detailed report tomorrow morning (hangover permitting), but we wanted to single out two noteworthy events. First, Warby Parker is continuing their Buddy Holly homage with a tribute show from Justin Townes Earle. Second, David Coggins is participating in something called “Whisker Wars” with Sloane Crosley and, somewhat confusingly, Whoopi Goldberg.

Naturally, we’re a bit curious.

Evidently there’s been a fierce debate raging over the relative merits of a beard, and the interest of heading off fisticuffs, Bergdorf Goodman has elected to settle the matter in a public forum at the mens’ shop, starting at 7:30.

The above picture is an artist’s rendering of what it will look like, if you squint and imagine Mr. Coggins as the Oscar-winning star of Hook.

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02/17/11
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Object

Seeing Red

warbyparkerframes_crop.jpg

Warby Parker, our favorite mail-order optician, just added 14 new styles, including these Crosby frames that swap out the usual tortoise shell for a more aggressive red. It’s the usual Peter Sellers chic with a hint of Luden’s. Feel free to remove them dramatically.

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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.