Just A Guy Thing » Men’s Style

The Pangolin Bag: One Badass Backpack

James — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:48:04 +0000

If you are tired of sissy-boy messenger bags but still need something to haul your stuff around, check out the badass Pangolin Bag. This thing looks like it stepped out of a Mad Max movie.

The Pangolin Bag uses recycled inner tubes from trucks. They are attached to each other with a striking wing nut. The parts of the bag slide together to create a retractable shell.

The Pangolin doesn’t just look cool – it’s functional too. The bag has roomy pockets for notebooks, pens, MP3 players and cell phones with double adjustable back straps and handle. The interior has canvas storage pockets in different sizes and some close with Velcro.

The back of the bag is anatomically shaped so that the back pack fits comfortably on your back.

The Pangolin is made with fair trade standards by single mothers, refugees and Indians of the Camentsa tribe in Columbia.

You can buy the Pangolin bag at Wannekes.

K-Swiss Dresses Up the Hoodie

James — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:18:10 +0000

There’s something about a hoodie that just screams comfort. Maybe it’s the soft fleece, or perhaps it’s the comfortable hood that you can throw over your head to shut the world out, but hoodies top the list of comfort wear. Unfortunately, most hoodies don’t exactly scream high style.

A couple of new models from K-Swiss (probably best known for their sneakers) ups the style quotient for hoodies (shown above). The K-Swiss hoodie is available in heather gray and black, and features a jersey lined hood and embroidered K-Swiss logo. Understated, but stylish.

I also like the look of the K-Swiss Padded Sweatshirt, a mature upgrade to your typical zip-up. You can cop this piece in black or white for $75; it features an all-over shield quilting stitch and rib knit sleeve at the cuff and hem.

If you’re a bit more daring, the K-Swiss Checked Jacket and Shell Jacket are fashion forward without going crazy. The Checked Jacket goes for $90 while the Shell Jacket, which features water resistant zippers, will set you back $160.

Swatch’s Chrono Automatic Has Rugged Good Looks

James — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:05:56 +0000

You might associate watchmaker Swatch with bright colors and crazy designs, but the Swiss firm’s new Chrono Automatic Collection tones down the flash with a rugged design. The debut collection launches next week with five models.

In a market dominated by upscale brands and traditional, more conservative designs, Swatch’s designers have kept what we love about chrono watches, but made them more stylish and sporty. The new collection has a self-winding movement, so performance is combined with style. Overall Swatch has done a really nice job with this new line – these watches look way more expensive than they are.

Are You Ready for Mantyhose?

James — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:00:14 +0000

What’s the latest trend in men’s fashion over in London? Leggings for guys, jokingly referred to as “mantyhose.” The fashion brand Unconditional recently launched a whole clothing line that revels in androgyny.

Unconditional’s designer Philip Stephens says his mens leggings can be worn as a statement or under clothes to provide warmth. Stephens likens the mantyhose to mosh pits and the Seattle grunge scene.

While it’s true Kurt Cobain used to wear leggings under a nightie, something tells me he wouldn’t have done so if they were called mantyhose.

[via The Life Files]

Stylish Jackets from 55DSL

James — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:00:47 +0000

The weather’s getting colder and that means it’s time to look at your coat collection. Is it outdated and boring? A stylish jacket can make an entire outfit. If it’s time to upgrade your outerwear, check out the cool new jackets from Italian streetwear brand 55DSL.

The focus of 55DSL?s fall/winter collection is casual streetwear with a dash of flash chock full of bright colors and hip graphics:

Keep warm on the streets in patchwork-printed down-filled nylon jackets, Varsity-inspired and stylishly dip-dyed coats, and a selection of outerwear styles in a light, wind-proof grouping called 5 seasons.

Also available for guys is an array of monochromatic reversible sweatshirts and hoodies in mixed prints, checks, colour-blocking patterns and cutting-edge logo graphics:

Check out the entire collection at 55DSL.

The Timbuk2 Q: A Stylish Black Backpack

James — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:53:34 +0000

Whether you’re going to school or to work, a good looking black backpack is a must-have item when you need to lug stuff around. Finding a backpack that is sturdy, versatile and stylish all at the same time is a tall order, but Tinbuk2 has nailed it with their new “Q” bag.

How annoying is it to take a backpack off your shoulder, set it down on the ground, and then hunt through its pocket just to find your keys? One of the things I like most about the Q is that it’ provides easy “swing around” access to its padded laptop sleeve and other compartments. Now you can get whatever you need form the bag without taking off the shoulder strap.

The Q is made from sturdy ballistic nylon and has lots of large and small pockets to keep all your stuff organized. The back panel and straps are nicely padded for comfort. It also has handles on the top and sides so you can grab it and go.

The Q features a smart power brick pocket that remembers where your cords are so you don’t have to. The pack has a small profile, but is large enough to carry most if not all of your day-to-day stuff. It comes in black and brown.

You can buy the Q at Timbuk2 for $100.

The iPhone I.D. Case Streamlines Your Nights Out

James — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:00:04 +0000

If own an iPhone you know how annoying it can be to lug your phone and your wallet around when you’ve got a night out on the town. The folks from Case-Mate have come up with a really elegant solution called the I.D. case.

The I.D. case is an impact-resistant, protective case for your iPhone with card-carrying functionality. Like a small wallet, the I.D. case has an ultra-slim and slip-proof slot on the back, to securely hold two credit-card size items ? driver?s license, credit or debit card, metro card, key cards and business cards . . . you name it.

For security, cards are kept in place with ez-slide protective film. Slightly nudge at the top and bottom of the slot for instant access to your cards. Neat, huh?

The case itself is sturdy, protecting your phone’s screen from shocks and scratches while providing access to all the iPhone’s ports and controls. The I.D. case comes in a variety of eye-catching colors like Silver – Metallic, Royal Red, and Royal Blue.

You can buy the I.D. case at Case-Mate for $29.99.

Sleek, Sexy Leather Bed

James — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:30:12 +0000

The folks at The House of De Sede Switzerland have designed a super sleek, sexy bed that goes by the very un-sexy name of DS-1165. Leave it to the Swiss to design something beautiful and then take the zing out of it. But regardless of the name, this is one bed that would look great in any bachelor pad.

The DS-1164 combines daring design with sensuality. I especially like how the headboards can be moved around easily to create different environments. If you like lounging in bed you’re going to love the DS-1164:

You can check out the collection and find a local dealer at the de Sede website.

[via Trendir]

Very Manly Barneby Gates Wallpaper

James — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:40:51 +0000

I’m not a huge wallpaper fan – painted walls are just fine by me. But after seeing the new Barneby Gates wallpaper I might be changing my mind. If you’re outfitting your bachelor pad, check out these manly designs.

The Deer Damask design shown up top features an iconic stag’s head trophy that you might see on the wall of a hunting lodge. Closer inspection, however, reveals a repeating pattern of stag skulls. Very cool!

If you want something racier, check out the Carpe Noctem design which features women in various states of undress:

The latin inscription for the bare-chested woman above reads “Bovina Sancta” (Holy Cow!). Heh.

Behind these manly designs are a couple of women. Barneby Gates, based in London, is comprised of artist and illustrator Alice Gates and British Vogue’s Living Editor Vanessa Barneby, an interior stylist. You can buy their wallpaper online at Barneby Gates.

Original Penguin 2009 Holiday Collection

James — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:00:59 +0000

Original Penguin just released their 2009 Holiday Collection and it looks good. Yes, it’s still August, but I guess it’s never too eraly to think about the holidays when you’re trying to sell clothes.

I haven’t been a huge fan of Original Penguin in the past. They’ve always seemed just a step behind the times. But the company has brought in a new Creative Director, Ann Payne, who is responsible for the design of all product lines from clothing to timepieces. Payne has done a good job maintaining the brand’s core feel, but making the clothes hip again.

According to the company’s press release:

The inspiration and concept behind the collection is based off of a story about a man on a cross country road trip that ends in Las Vegas where the women are drop dead gorgeous and the stakes are high.

Umm, okay.

Anyway, the clothing line looks pretty swank and you can see the Vegas influence throughout. Payne takes classic styles and brings them up to date with new patterns, colors, and silhouettes. Here’s a sampling of the collection:

You can see more of Original Penguin’s line at their website.

Perk Up Your Shoes with Oberon Socks

James — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:20:37 +0000

As fashion accessories, socks are not something most guys spend a lot of time thinking about. You pop them on, hope they match your shoes and pants, and get on with your day. But wait – the lowly sock can be so much more!

If you want to spice up your wardrobe in an easy way you might want to check out Oberon socks. These socks feature a column of embroidered elephants balancing on their hind legs and holding up an umbrella with their trunks, and come in a choice of blue and brown or black and gray argyle.

In addition to being super-comfy (I’m wearing a pair now), Oberon socks are just plain fun. I don’t know what the elephant symbol is supposed to mean, but it’s definitely playful.

Now these socks are a bit showy so you’ll want to be careful what you pair them with. Under jeans or dark pants they look great – a bit of spiritedness peeking out from under an unremarkable trouser. But you’ll probably want to stay away from pairing Oberons with a pant or show that has patterns or bright colors.

Oberon Socks has been steadily building a following around the country since it released the skull and crossbones embroidered Buccaneer sock just under a year ago. And just in case you need a semi-celebrity endorsement, Digg.com founder Kevin Rose wore the Oberon Buccaneer sock on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

You can check out the socks at OberonSocks.com.

Boat Shoes Inspired by Run-DMC and Michael Jackson

James — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:20:54 +0000

Boat shoes are not just for preppies anymore. Rockport has teamed up with deejay to the stars DJ Cassidy to create a version of the classic Bridgeport boat shoe that gets inspiration from Run-DMC and Michael Jackson.

DJ Cassidy is often seen wearing the Adidas shelltoe sneakers made famous by Run-DMC in the early eighties. To pay homage to the Hip Hop icons, Cassidy designed a special elastic component under the tongue so that the boat shoe may be worn comfortably without laces.

For the colors of the boat shoe, Cassidy looked to what he considers the greatest outfit of all time – Michael Jackson?s ensemble in the “Billie Jean” video of a black leather suit, red bow tie, pink shirt and pink socks (not sure I’d pick that one as the greatest outfit, but whatever). To celebrate this legendary look, the DJ Cassidy Bridgeport boat shoe is constructed of soft pink perforated leather, a red canvas upper, and a black pinstripe. The shoe also features gold eyelets and a custom pink terry cloth footbed. Yes, preppies would die if they saw this.

In honor of the King Of Pop, Rockport has produced 50 limited edition pairs numbered 1?50 to commemorate each year of his life. The shoe comes packaged in a custom DJ Cassidy shoe box complete with pink tissue paper, red satin bow tie and personalized card from Cassidy detailing his inspirations. Rockport is offering a limited number of pairs for sale at New York?s Blue & Cream beginning this month. I hav no idea what they cost, but I can’t imagine it will be cheap.

Ridiculous? You bet. Sort of hideous? Uh huh. Do I kinda want a pair anyway? Yup.

Cool Retro T-Shirts from Mustache Brigade

James — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:00:31 +0000

If you’re looking to avoid the average cookie-cutter tee and celebrate your inner geek at the same time, check out the Mustache Brigade t-shirt collection by Mighty Fine Men’s. They partner with folks like Marvel Comics and Peanuts to create a unique, retro-inspired feel with pop-culture coolness.

I really like the Charlie Brown “player” and the Snoopy Music shirts below. The use of iconic images with updated text is a fun twist.

The Marvel t-shirts show your appreciation for classic comics. Iron Man the movie is so 2008. How about Iron Man the comic book!

With pieces whose inspirational sources range from 90’s hip hop groups to Major League Baseball, Mustache Brigade provides a refreshing alternative for the ?sneaker head? consumer. The brand has recruited and worked with some very cool street artists like Tristan Eaton, Calma and Tes-One.

If you like these t-shirts, stay tuned. Just A Guy Thing will be running a Mustache Brigade t-shirt giveaway later this month, just in time to show off your new duds at school.

If you can’t wait till then, you can buy the Mustache Brigade line at places like Urban Outfitters, Bloomingdales, and Macys.

Help in Creating a Sexy Bachelor Pad

James — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:20:25 +0000

“You got her home…we’ll make sure she stays.” That’s the bold promise made by Sexy Bachelor Pad, a new high-end design firm catering to wealthy men in the New York area.

Created by designer Kimberlee Paige Hanson, Sexy Bachelor Pad helps single men who have become successful. but still come home to an apartment with a futon on the floor and a card table in the dining room.

Hanson first meets with clients to understand their wants and needs. She then outfits the bachelor pad with essentials like dinnerware that actually matches and furniture that doesn’t come from Ikea. Hanson can also handle renovations like a fresh coat of paint or built-in shelving.

With a little TLC from Hanson, even the most drab living space can be transformed into a love nest.

For those who don’t live in NYC and can’t afford a designer, we have our own tips for creating a sexy bachelor pad.

[via Cool Hunting]

A Very Cool Set of Sneakers

James — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:07:37 +0000

New for fall 2009, PF Flyers introduces the Mercer, an understated evolution of classic tennis shoes. Unlike some flashier sneakers, the Mercer strikes just the right balance between dress and casual wear.

The band across the leather upper creates an implied toecap, dressing up the shoe without going overboard. A nice detail is the silk woven tie print linings featured in each pair.

The light grey/silver model with metalized shimmer canvas/metalwash mirror leather shown above is my favorite, but the Mercer also comes in black and white, shown below.

The Mercer is available this month and can be found at places like Zappos.com.

The World’s Most Expensive Men’s Suit

James — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:30:24 +0000

Ready for a new suit for that important job interview? How about dropping a mind-numbing $75,000 on the suit? That better be one high-paying job you’re interviewing for.

A tailor on London’s famed Savile Row has produced what is thought to be the world’s most expensive men’s suit. William Westmancott created the ‘Ultimate Bespoke’ from
a unique, luxury cloth that’s woven in a traditional English mill. The cost is a mere 45,000 British pounds.

The cloth is so expensive that Westmancott creates a sample suit first to make sure the pattern is perfect. The Ultimate Bespoke takes 150 to 200 hours in the workshop to construct. The suit is aimed at “wealthy Russians and Middle Eastern gentlemen,” according to Westmancott.

Think the suit is a bit pricey? Well, Westmancott will throw in five bespoke shirts for free. Sounds better, doesn’t it? Now you’ll finally have something to wear in that new Maybach Landaulet you just bought.

photo credit: Trendhunter

Vintage Beer Label Sweaters

James — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:00:05 +0000

Just how much do you love beer? Enough to wear your favorite beer’s label right on your sweater? If so, you’ll love AJ Fosik’s vintage collection of knitted beer sweaters.

According to Fosik, “All of these sweaters were unearthed by me, rescued from moldy basements, plucked from dingy backwaters and ripped from the backs of greasy shitleopards.”

The sweaters, which are from the 70s and 80s, are not for sale. But maybe someone will hop on to this awesome idea and start producing them again. Sign me up for an Anchor Steam beer sweater.

Check out AJ Fosik’s Beer Sweater collection on Flickr.

photo credit: AJ Fosik

Pimp Your Garage

James — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:00:32 +0000

Want to picture that pricey boat sitting in your garage but don’t have the loot to buy it? Now there’s a company that makes photo-realistic tarpaulins that hang over your garage door that can depict a boat, a jet plane, a race car, or pretty much anything else you can imagine in your garage.

The days of grey, boring garage doors are now over, thanks to Style-Your-Garage.com. The new 3D photo tarps allow you to pretend to have a bulldozer, a wine cellar, or even a huge alligator waiting in your car port.

The photo tarpaulins start at 169 euro ($225). Check them out at Style-Your-Garage.com.

Is Your Bachelor Pad Ready for the Ladies?

James — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:00:58 +0000

This is a guest post from April Lentini who married to a former bachelor. While she enjoys the finer aspects of bachelor living such as eating salty things on the couch while watching TV, she (as well as her husband) also appreciates a clean, welcoming, ?lady-friendly? home. April writes for http://san-antonio.apartmentguide.com.

Your idea of comfort is a cold black leather couch with a glass and stainless steel coffee table. Beer and Pizza is your staple diet and cleaning may involve sweeping the crumbs off the couch and taking out the trash. But even if your apartment is spotless, do you ever wonder what women really think of your floor torch lamp and your heavy, over-bearing entertainment center?

If you are a bachelor who enjoys the company of females, you may want to re-think your man cave. You don?t have to go out and buy new furniture. You don?t have to change your undemanding bachelor lifestyle.

To make your apartment more appealing to the finer sex, you must simply pay attention to a few minor details. Whether you just want your girl to stick around long enough to watch a movie, or you’re pursuing a more serious relationship, here are just a few basic considerations if you?d like to convert your bachelor pad into a lady-friendly dwelling.

Eliminate odor ? even if you don?t smell anything

Oh, the smells are there. Your nose has just become desensitized to them. Candles and incense may be a bit clich? ?even by some female standards, but you still need something to combat the odor. It?s better to err on the safe side and invest in a mild odor eating spray like Febreeze. In general, women are more sensitive to smell than men.

Also, you may want to consider this: according to folks at the Smell and Taste Research Foundation, certain food smells may have an aphrodisiac effect on women ? particularly the smell of chocolate, vanilla, lavender, jasmine, oranges, and Ylang Ylang. Get a scented plugin to stick behind the couch or better yet, have some fresh baked brownies sitting on the kitchen counter (whoo hoo!).

Get the lighting right

The lighting in your apartment plays a crucial role to style and mood. Here is your basic rule of thumb. Overhead lighting sucks. Get rid of it. Why? Overhead lighting (that circular light that came pre-attached to the ceiling and also that torch light from the 90?s) muddles things. It casts horrible shadows on people?s faces – transforming perfectly nice looking people into ogres, giving them dark circles under their eyes, large noses, and blotchy skin. Please, take out the bulbs in those overhead lights and get some cool table lamps that add some color.

Don?t be afraid of color

Speaking of color, when did bachelors get the idea that everything in their apartment had to be black? Throw away those black bath towels, the matching black bath mat, and black toilet seat cover. Bathrooms are great places to go crazy with color. Think bright, bold, crisp and especially clean.

For the living room area, you can add a pop of color to your sofa with a warm fuzzy throw (like a blanket only prettier). Don?t be afraid of brightly colored pillows, rugs, and other accessories that add warmth to your apartment. Women love warmth (and you win when women associate you with ?warmth?).

Clean ? like your mom does it

Ever go inside someone else?s place, open their refrigerator and see their food products stacked on sticky, gooey shelves? When it?s your own apartment, you never seem to notice the mystery food crumbs lining your refrigerator?s drawers because you are the one who put the food there. Think about this when you clean your kitchen.

The same goes for your bathroom tub and toilet. If she needs flip flops to take a shower in your bathroom, don?t expect her to return any time soon. For women, you can?t just pick things up. You must think cleaning sprays, scum remover, etc… Make things sparkle!

Streamline your wires

Girls love guys with lots of gizmos. She will undoubtedly be impressed with your techie knowledge and enjoy hours of entertainment from your stereo, TV, computer, and iPod – but not if she is tripping over the wires.

Do her (and yourself) a favor by streamlining your gadgets and concealing the wires as best as you can. Invest in a few cable ties to keep your wires orderly – they’re not expensive and they make a huge difference. Not only are jumbled wires a huge inconvenient eye-sore, they also say ?hi-tech amateur.? Be cool about your electronics and let them blend in effortlessly with your d?cor.

Consider the small stuff

If you’re trying to entice your female guest to spend the night, have some first class hotel-type amenities handy. A simple thing like a guest toiletry basket complete with a new toothbrush, travel size toothpaste and a new razor will leave a huge impression on the ladies.

If you don?t want to look like a pretentious player, just say the guest basket is for your mom/aunt/sister who sometimes visits. Aww?(Cha Ching – points!) Other nice chick-friendly touches to your apartment include: plants, a bird feeder on your apartment patio (always nice for outdoor breakfasts), a pet (only if you whole-heartedly love it and care for it, of course), and tissue boxes.

Succumb to the woman?s touch

If you decide to get serious with a woman and she, in return, decides to get serious with you, you may find her spending a lot more time in your apartment. If she is sleeping over more than 3 nights a week, she believes that she has the right (by some unwritten woman law) to modify your living space because she will consider it now to be (partly) her living space too. You may as well just go with it.

If you end up living together in this relationship, you?ll eventually have to surrender to her style and taste no matter what. So just let her put up photos, add window treatments to your bare windows, and whatever else makes her feel at home. You may be astonished by her keen sense of style and how cozy she makes your apartment feel. You may also be surprised at how quickly you will become accustomed to a lady-friendly apartment and even embrace it.

photo credits (top to bottom): DeaPeaJay, greg.chiasson, lollaping, Topgold

Land Rover Creates World’s Toughest Cell Phone

James — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:00:44 +0000

If you think Range Rover SUVs are rugged, you should see what happens when they create a phone. The new S1 mobile by Land Rover has been called the world’s toughest phone after it survived being dropped from a second story window, stood on by an elephant and submerged in mud.

The model was first displayed from the top of Mt. Everest by explorer Sir Ranulph Fines when he reached the top of the world?s highest mountain.

The S1, which was developed by mobile specialist Sonim in conjunction with Land Rover, has a whopping 1,500 hours of battery life and comes equipped with an extra loud ring tone so you can hear it over the sound of your jackhammer. Other features include GPS, FM Radio, a 2GB memory slot, a waterproof camera, and Java for mobile.

During testing the phone survived being baked in an oven and soaking in a pint of beer, although I’m not sure I can imagine the circumstances where that would happen in real life. The gadget was finally broken after being crushed by a three ton forklift.

The phone was launched last week in the U.K. and is sold exclusively by retailer Tesco which charges about $410 for it. Expensive? Yes, but it does come with an unconditional three year guarantee so you can stomp on it all you want.

photo credit: Chris Hall