As most of you probably already know, the word “Pub” (as in bar), comes from the term Public House. In short, public houses we’re 19th century drinking establishments and restaurants, most of which also offered a small amount lodging upstairs for travelers (a beer and a bed…pretty much all a guy needs.)
With the opening of Longman & Eagle in Chicago, The Grazing Goat in London and Honor & Folly in Detroit, this concept has been experiencing a bit of a renaissance lately…with modern updates, of course.
The Grazing Goat (London)
Longman & Eagle (Chicago)
Honor & Folly (Detroit)
* While Honor & Folly does not operate it’s own bar, it is located above The Sugar House, a craft cocktail bar.
“Look at the subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my god, it even has a watermark.”
I’m a sucker for good business cards and stationary, it’s amazing what a nice identity can do for your business or personal brand. I was delighted to find out that the packaging design blog, Lovely Package, also has an edition dedicated to stationary design, aptly named, Lovely Stationary.
I wouldn’t usually support the idea of spending an outrageous amount of money on blue jeans…but 3×1 is just too damn cool.
Denim industry maven, Scott Morrison, of Earnest Sewn and Paper Denim & Cloth fame opened up his Soho shop this past May. His new concept, 3×1 (the name is derived from denim’s standard weaving constriction, 3×1 Right Hand Twill, and references the designers third denim venture), is focused on the bespoke process.
While 3×1 has a selection of ready-to-wear denim (prices starting around $350), the real draw is the custom, with prices starting at (cough) $1200. During the process, you meet with Scott and his design team to pick out everything from fabric (with dozens of Japanese, European and American bolts to sort through) to hardware, to stitch color. From there, you will collaborate with the head pattern maker until the fit is just right. The ladies who work in their in-house facility will construct the finished product while you watch.
Sure, if you want to pay this month’s rent you can get a pair of A.P.C’s or Gap 1969′s, but the day might come when you want to drop $1200 on a pair of jeans, and when that day comes my friend, 3×1 is the only acceptable option.
Mixing good cocktails is essential for any party, but it can also be a huge hassle. Not to mention it takes you away from the real reason for the party…talking to your guests. If you want to mix up something quick that has a little more style than a rum and Coke, check out these two-ingredient cocktail recipes from Esquire.
Look, I got into the workwear trend just as much as the next guy. I own plenty of workshirts, flannels, and I’m one pair shy of a full weeks-worth of Red Wing boots. Heavy Field & Stream-like flannels and work boots will always be in style in the right setting, but the “trend” is dying off. If you’re a city dweller, you’re better off investing in some classic well-tailored clothing, like those documented on the blog, Die, Workwear.
While the rugged look certainly has a place and time, the classic look is timeless and always appropriate.
Spread collar shirts have been gaining popularity recently, and for good reason…when done right, they look damn good.
A spread collar is like a double-breasted suit, they’re not for every guy. But if you have a thin frame and a thin face, nothing looks better than a spread collar shirt. The horizontal line that the collar creates balances the natural vertical lines of a thin face and frame. Add some to your mix today, they’re available from high to low.
“Quarterly is a new way to connect with the people you follow and find interesting. We spend so much of our lives connecting with people online that we forget the value of tangible interactions that happen in the real world. Quarterly wants to bridge that gap by allowing anyone to subscribe to influential contributors and get physical items in the mail from them. It is like a magazine, but instead of receiving words on a page, our subscribers receive actual items that tell a compelling story crafted and narrated by the contributor.”
“…maybe you’ll get the same kind of notebook that your favorite author used to plot their recent bestseller. Or maybe it’s the tea a musician was drinking while they penned a famous track.”
This is a really cool new company founded by Good Magazine co-founder and former Editor-In-Chief, Zack Frechette. Current contributors include Josh Rubin and Evan Orenstan of Cool Hunting, Bobby Salomon of The Fox is Black, world traveler Josh Spear, and many more.
Tough to find a cooler version than this one from J.Crew.
‘Tis the season…to wear a Fair Isle sweater. Fair Isle sweaters are named after the knitting technique that originated on an island off the coast of northern Scotland called, well, Fair Isle. They’re always popular and appropriate during the holiday season, but beware of those with gimmikcy patterns like snowflakes, reindeer and moose. Some can work, but you run the risk of looking like an overgrown child. Better to save those for the annual ugly sweater party and get yourself an updated and more versatile version this season.
If you’re looking for a bargain, this one from American Living is a good option.
The guys over at The Motley we’re cool enough to let me curate a ready-made kit for their online shop. It was tough to choose from all of their top-notch grooming products, so I decided to go with a theme…everything a guy needs for a close comfortable shave. With this kit you’ll get all of the essential items needed to prepare and protect your skin for battle.
If you’re already well-stocked in the shaving department, there are other curated kits available that tackle different grooming gripes.
A good, quality tweed sportcoat is a wardrobe essential for any guy. When I mentioned the “High-low” in my previous post…this is what I meant by “High”. This is where you should be spending your money. Molloy & Sons has been weaving Donegal Tweed (named after County Donegal, Ireland where the family business is based) since the 19th century, and they are one of the few remaining companies who still produce authentic Donegal Tweed.
One key aspect of having great style is knowing how to pull off the “High-low”, spending big bucks on the well-crafted items that will last a lifetime, and saving your money on others. One thing that I refuse to spend money on is an umbrella, because I will undoubtedly loose it. This guy is rocking a $5 street-bought umbrella…and making it look good.
