Finesse— now that’s a word you don’t see much anymore. Webster defines it as “refinement or delicacy of workmanship or structure”. Maybe the reason we don’t see that word very often is that few products these days elicit this descriptor. “New”— we see that word a lot. But whereas “finesse” tells you something about the product itself, “new” only tells you something about its position in time— something is “new” only until something else is “newer”. Finesse, on the other hand…finesse is forever. Finesse is to New what Style is to Fashion. And if there’s one thing we can say about this artfully simple carryall from Materials + Process, it’s that it has finesse. It lacks both complication and gimmick, replacing these with an understanding of classic, purposeful understatement. In other words? Finesse. C’mon, folks. Let’s bring it back. Get it here.
It’s one of the worst-kept secrets of all time that life often requires us to be (how shall we say it?) less than truthful. From white lies to those downright indistinguishable gray areas, sometimes we’re put to the test and the only way to pass is to be crafty. One sneaky maneuver you won’t ever feel bad for deploying? The Smuggler’s Belt from Barrett Alley. With a hidden pocket secured behind the buckle, it’s the perfect place to stash whatever type of contraband your rakish lifestyle requires. And the best part? It’s absolutely perfect for concealing things from the person in your life you need to the most— yourself. Need to keep cab fare handy for after a night at the bars, but don’t want to spend it on the third (fourth? fifth? sixth?) round of drinks by mistake? This belt is foolproof. Unlike your latest web of lies… Get it here.
We know what you’re thinking: “Lamps? What’s so great about a lamp?” Bite your tongue, sir. This is not just a lamp. This is Allied Maker’s lamp made of gorgeous hardwoods finished with organic beeswax, outfitted with a cotton-covered cord and brass findings, and bottomed with beautiful and hard-wearing leather. As far as lamps go, these are the most masculine yet understatedly heirloom-quality specimens we’ve ever seen. Still not convinced? Take another look at that lightbulb. The hand-wound Marconi bulbs (which, okay, maybe sound a little like something out of Portlandia) add just a pinch more visual interest and set this lamp above all others. In fact, it doesn’t even feel right to call it a lamp. What’s a more rugged word for objet d’art? Get it here.
Ah, the iPad. No matter how useful those damn things are, we still always feel a bit awkward tucking this slick little piece of equipment under our arms and walking down the street— it’s like carrying around a big flashing “Young Trendy Kid” sign. But then we came across this iPad case from KC CO. and it changed everything. KC CO. only makes four items, and it’s easy to see that a benefit of this is that they put a ton of thought into designing each one. The iPad case, which is made of a gorgeous veg-tan leather, looks more like a folio your late Madison Avenue grandfather would’ve carried around and less like a slick gadget you picked up from the smug kid at Brookstone. And on the level of utility, it doesn’t disappoint either, since the pockets are just big enough for the essentials— i.e. anything you don’t already have an App for. Get it here.
Back in 1996 when Nick Hornby first published High Fidelity, dropping beloved character Rob Fleming into our hearts and forever lodging his snarky internal monologues into our minds, the world was a different place. Computers were, by current standards, inept; Napster hadn’t even happened yet; the most advanced thing you could do with your cell phone regarding music probably involved five pre-loaded ringtones. If Rob was around today, he’d probably live in Portland and grumpily ride a fixie to work every day. But his taste would remain impeccable (that’s the nice thing about characters in books) and that’s why, of course, he’d carry this incredible record tote from Tanner Goods x ACE Hotel. Made of hefty waxed canvas (tough enough to withstand any sympathetic weather you may encounter) with bridle leather accents, it shows that you know your stuff without blatantly exposing you as a snob. Use it to carry around your top five records, your cigs, and the mix tape you’re making for that girl you may be sorta interested in. Get it here.
Contrary to what we all believed when we were kids, it’s not always necessary to advertise your predilections on your clothing. While we all spent many a year proudly declaring our allegiance to a particular band by absolutely living in a ratty, faded tee we picked up at a concert, or relegating ourselves to permanent hat-hair by showing our team spirit emblazoned on a baseball cap, or even sewing patches from our favorite record stores or concert venues to worn-out jackets (hey, we were weird kids), we eventually heard the voice of reason and decided that, yes, it is okay to remain a mystery to the widespread public until they actually talk to us and find out what our interests are. And from that day forth, with the possible exception of the upturned cuffs of our selvage denim, our subtler senses prevailed and a mystery we did indeed remained. That said, there are some moments when we feel the urge to show our true colors, even just a little bit, even just for a fleeting flash. Such a moment: this awesome wallet from Ashland. On the outside, it’s a smart, grown-up, handsome-looking wallet. But open it and the reverse-side Horween boasts the stamp of quality that secretly makes us all grin. It’s sort of like having a secret hand-shake or code word. Hey, just because we became grown-ups, doesn’t mean we have to lose our sense of humor. Get it here.
There are a handful of things every man should know how to do— mend a small tear, cook up a steak, mix a Manhattan. However, when it comes to the bigger things in life (that is, a bigger tear… not a bigger Manhattan), sometimes one needs a bit of help. Elbow patches have long been the thinking man’s solution to both stylistic and structural garment quandaries alike, but never before has there been a solution as elegant as Jack Foxley. Named after a very dashing English bulldog, Jack Foxley is a one-stop internet destination for all things elbow patch. Whether you’ve blown out the elbows of a favorite jacket or just want to add some flair to an old standard, JF’s extensive selection of colorful suede, leather, and even wax cotton options is enough to make a grown man drool. Now, if you could only work out how to perfect cook that steak. Get them here.
It’s the end of August, which means that autumn is definitely on our minds. And while we love to fantasize about fall ideals as much as anybody—crisp leaves, apple picking, hard cider—we also understand that fall isn’t a season of pristine picture-postcards and starched blazers. In fact, one of the things we love best about fall is the get-outside-and-get-dirty element of it (raking leaves is, after all, a perfect time to break in some raws). And these truly unique boots from Hard Graft seem like the perfect fall boot for just this reason— their beautifully crafted veg tan leather is artful enough for late-afternoon drinks with the boys, yet hard-wearing enough for all the outdoor activities you can throw at ‘em. And if you end up spending all autumn in front of the TV…well, at least they look good. Get them here.
Sometimes, music and style are so tightly interwoven that it’s difficult to tell which came first. The Mods had their scooters. Glam had glitter. And rock n’ roll? Well, we all know that the uniform for any rock star worth his salt is leather. It makes sense, then, that these Cordovan leather guitar picks by Corter are about as rock n’ roll as you can get. They’ve got all the necessary components of a perfect rock riff: simplicity, longevity, and just a pinch of innovation (plus, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll help you get chicks). Get them here.
While we love leather and selvage denim first and foremost for their long-wearing, practical properties, we must admit that, at this point, you could probably sell us a $30 Snickers bar if it was wrapped in Cone Denim and Horween. But those of you who are not actively blurring the lines between “enthusiast” and “unhealthy obsessive” will rejoice in these striking iPhone cases by HAUSKRFT all the same— they serve a practical purpose (keeping your precious iPhone safe and cozy) while still allowing you to bask in the aesthetic glory of that little warp-y, weft-y line we all love so well. Go ahead and ask, we all know you’re wondering: How exactly does the selvage in your pocked wear on the selvage of your pocket? Only time will tell (you geek, you). Get it here.
