Teddy Roosevelt a Fashion Icon for Panama Hats?

A panama hat is a straw hat that originated in Ecuador, but because they were sold internally via Panama we have the current name. They became widely popular during the 1800s thanks to aficionados like Teddy Roosevelt, who wore one when he visited the construction site of the Panama Canal. Being a straw hat, the panama hat often is perceived as something that is worn by a gentleman of leisure in the Caribbean, but there is no reason why you cannot strut down Fifth Ave with one. The panama hat is made in a variety of styles of which, in my humble opinion, the fedora is the most elegant version. As with any piece of clothing, fit is the most important thing. Do not buy one that is too large for your head, or your face. Neither buy one that is too small that only sits on the top of your crown. If you are brave enough to wear a hat in these times of bare heads and baseball caps you must be certain that it is stylish. Think Matt Bomer in Suits, a classic fit with a modern twist.
Two e-stores have an impressive collection. We recommend BrentBlack.com which sells panama hats up to 25k and PanamaHatMall.com

Bertigo shirts

If you are the type that is edgier then most, you should check out the Bertigo shirt collection. With a unique use of fabrics, patterns, and materials, Bertigo is able to infuse all their shirt collections with a modern feel that is right any season.  One of the things we really like about Bertigo is their creative use of buttons. It is not something that most people think about when buying a shirt, but owning a shirt with square buttons, wood or metal buttons will set you above the pack.  The cut of the shirt is impeccable, slim, modern and most importantly: all Bertigo shirts have the same fit. The use of patterns, for example adding paisley assent to a solid color shirt, adds enough pizzazz to the shirt that it makes it a wonderful piece.  Of course, if you are trying to be edgier that effect all but disappears if another person is wearing the same thing as you, which is why the fact that few stores carry Bertigo is good.  By being carried by few, it is more selective because your neighbor will not simply walk past it at Bloomingdales.

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Luxury swimwear for Men

from OrlebarBrown.com. Model is Red Bulldog, available for 265$

As the heat waves continue to buffet the country you probably want to hit the ocean waves and cool down by the beach or a pool.  But just because you are going swimming doesn’t mean that you should slack off on your style.  So as you putting your beach book inside your bag, take a second look at your bathing suit, is it baggy and long? If the answer is “yes” then you must upgrade your beachwear.  You should cool down in style, and very few companies make stylish bathing suits like a luxury swimwear company. The Classic Collection from Lahco, a Swiss swimwear company, harkens back to a vintage 1960s-esque elegant style with simple lines and well-cut trunks.  Their nostalgic style, of elegance through minimalism, will certainly allow you to cool down, while looking cool.
If color is your thing, the Swedish Napapijiri company is well stock with bold, yet sophisticated solid colors. The cut of the trunks is slim, but still loose enough so you don’t feel like your trunk is painted on. If you wish to show off more skin then most, while still looking like you belong in a GQ issue and not in Magic Mike, then the “shorter” short colletion from the Orlebar Brown collection is for you.  The “shorter” short comes in over twenty solid colors and ten patterns, which all but guarantees you will find one you like.  And if you are ambivalent about buying on a luxury bathing suit, remember, while you are sunbathing someone might be watching you, and you don’t want to be wearing some oversized, unflattering swim trunk.

Colorful Soles

The Ember shoe from Donald J Pliner.
Available for 298$ on donaldjpliner.com

Long ago, in the Dark Ages it was the case that being interested in shoes was the sole magisteria of women, but we are in the Enlightenment and the shoe-bonanza for men has never been more varied and fun to explore.  One style that has pique Modus interest is shoes with contrasting, colored soles.   This style has become rather prominent in the last few years, reaching all sections of male fashion.  Literally every brand that makes shoes for men-that you should wear-has several shoes that have been reinvented with a color sole.  And reinvented is the correct word here.  It used to be the case that you would have a black pair of shoes and a brown pair of shoes, but now every new style that you have added in the previous years, e.g. desert books, chukka boots, boat shoes, etc., can be added again, and again because you can acquire them in all the colors of the rainbow, and then some.

We believe that you can judge a man rather well by the shoes he wears, and if they are a fun, modern suede shoe with bright orange soles, we can say with great confidence that that man has style.

Available for 275$ on http://store-us.hugoboss.com

 

Hand Painted Cufflinks

Cufflinks are not as popular or as essential to a man’s wardrobe as they once were.  Which means that if you are using cufflinks you are trying to make a statement with them by defying the new norm of cufflinklessness.  But because their isn’t a large demand for cufflinks it is difficult to come across unique cufflinks.  A good option for uniqueness is hand-painted cufflinks.  What is most interesting about the collection in paintedcoins.com is just how vast it is.  Given its large selection it is more likely that you will find something which you like.  The craftsmanship involved in the cufflinks gives them an air of elegance.  If you are using cufflinks you should check out hand-painted cufflinks.

Bold Color All Year

Corbin pants

DL1961 Premium Denim

Bertigo Shirts

Winter means that closets will change their color and become monochromatic.  But damned be the season, this winter you should be an evergreen and keep your color.  But when defying the norm you must make a statement out of it.  This means that to pull off color in the winter it must be bold colors.  Red is perhaps the boldest color so add something red to your wardrobe this season.  Just be weary of not overdoing it.  If it looks like a rainbow vomited on you, it is too much.  Just because you are being a rebel does not mean that you can throw aesthetics out the window.

A bold color does not have to be a bright color.  A deep violet is bold but it is not bright.  On the other hand white is bright but hardly bold, for the notable exception of white jeans as these are defying a norm in of themselves.  So a way to know whether a color is bold is by first impressions.  If a color at first sight does not cause a strong reaction from you it is safe to say that it is not bold.  if the color screams, in a good way, then it is a bold color.

Elk Accessories

Elk is an Australia based accessories designer company that has a fresh, contemporary aesthetic.  The company’s products are delightfully minimalistic in design and color palette.  Elk is committed to using high grade raw materials and to working with small manufacturers to produce high quality products.  Elk’s website mentions that “accessories should be a statement, easy to wear, comfortable, affordable and instantly recognizable” which contains their entire fashion philosophy.

The simplicity of the products is a breath of fresh air in an over-designed atmosphere.  The color palette is based on a natural color palette.  This color palette gives the accessories a refined masculine feel.  The air of refinement is further reinforced by the clean cut lines in the design.  Their document wallet is a perfect example of the style.  The document wallet is navy with a brown latch.  The design is leather, nothing more.  But it is in not having more that is actually more.  Minimal design is tricky, too minimal looks bare but the right amount of minimal is more.  And I think that Elk’s accessories are the right amount of minimal.  Having one of their accessories will certainly make a state.