Looking at the development of hair grooming since the 1930s, we can conclude that products have significantly multiplied while trends have grown in and out of fashion. A styling trick that the past gentleman taught the modern one is how to be well groomed using hair pomade for men. Iconic personalities like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash or Brad Pitt are known to have defined their hair styles by using this moisture rich, shine adding formula. » Read the rest of this entry «

There is nothing like the soft comfort you can only find in a cashmere garment. These articles of clothing were once something only the upper crust could afford, but modern methods have made cashmere accessible to the masses. Now that we can all afford cashmere, we need to learn how to keep it soft and comfortable for many seasons of use. Most professionals agree that you can ignore the “dry clean only” instructions on a garment’s tag if you wash the item gently in cold water and use a high quality cashmere brush to remove any bumps or clumps without damaging the garment.

Learn more about caring for your cashmere by visiting this article.

With Movember 2012 in the horizon, it’s inevitable to see men everywhere growing shaggy beards and mustaches. The reason behind the practice is a noble one and we are always excited to see that this month-long event, along with prostate cancer awareness and support for its research, gain more and more traction.

But there’s no reason for eschewing neatness in favor of a yeti-like mug. While some might think that male grooming equals a shaven face, a properly looked after beard can accentuate one’s features. That’s why even though the meaning of men’s facial hair has changed over time — from a sign of wisdom, of masculinity, of sexual virility or high status, dominance and honor — beards and mustaches have never gone completely out of fashion. » Read the rest of this entry «

Vacchetta leather is one of the most exquisite and desirable leathers available. Its rich, honey-gold color and soft, buttery texture speak of elegance and style.

Vacchetta leather is chosen from the finest part of the cowhide. It is tanned using vegetable dyes, which lend it the smooth texture that is its signature. The lovely golden color deepens over time by absorbing sunlight, so the more it is used, the more beautiful it becomes.

Normally in the finishing stage of leather treatment, the leather is rubbed with moisturizers and sealed with a coating that protects it from water damage, chemicals, cleaning supplies or scratches. Unfortunately, Vacchetta leather is not treated in this way, so the cost of its beautiful, glowing, golden color and its soft, supple texture is that it is much more susceptible to damage than other leathers.

Thus, because of its lack of protection, caring for Vacchetta leather accessories takes more time and effort than more inexpensive leathers. Below are several tips to keep your Vacchetta leather product looking its best.

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So, I’ve piqued your interest, and you are thinking, “This Montecristi thing—how do I go about finding a good Panama Hat?” You want that film noir look with the classic fedora. Or maybe you are tired of your sunburned ears and neck and are remembering when golfers and boaters wore hats, not visors or caps. A Monte Carlo or a skimmer might be just the thing. Use your head the way it was intended. Look like a grown up. A sophisticated grown up.

But you don’t necessarily want to throw the complete contents of your candy jar into the search. Must have a little left for a maybe a cigar and a mojito, and that overhead fan.

Or maybe you are in for the best of the best, but how do you know you’ve found it? » Read the rest of this entry «

I love summer. If you had been through several Canadian winters, you would love it as well. Love it so much you might start to think that global warming is not so bad after all.

Each and every summer I’m like a kid left unsupervised with a jar of candies. In my case the candy jar is filled to the brim with the unrestricted access to credit cards.

I am dedicating the contents of that candy jar this summer to Panama Straw Hats. A friend with a gift of finding ridiculously expensive, and somewhat impractical, accessories for men, pointed me in the right direction: Montecristi Panama Straw Hats.

It was love at first sight. Sensing a trend here?

» Read the rest of this entry «

Did you know that some well-know watchmakers like Citizen and Seiko create certain mechanical high-end timepieces that are made available only for the Japanese market? These superior watches are offered only to buyers in Japan and, to a lesser extent, Singapore and Hong Kong. The Seiko Corporation is the leader in producing these luxurious and expensive watches. Items from their Credor line come with a retail price tag of up to $150,000. That’s the price of a small house or an entire fleet of compact cars.

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He was the steadying hand on the seat of your bike the day the training wheels came off. Many an award-winning science fair volcano or animal habitat diorama were snatched from the jaws of defeat when he opened his toolbox or adjusted the household chemical recipe.

No one was more of a fan as you competed in your chosen arena, whether athletic, academic, artistic or musical. His fingers led you through the intricacies of your first Windsor knot or caught his breath when you descended the stairs in that strapless, sequined dress. He taught you how to parallel park and wistfully relinquished the car keys after that trick paid off in a driver’s license.

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Morgan Spurlock, documentarian, reveals in his film Mansome what may be a last personal taboo: the business of improving how men look and feel, through no-holds-barred, intensive grooming practices. The kind of pampered, day spa approach women can access without anyone blinking.

Yes, the documentary looks at that kind of feel-good grooming. Eyebrow threading. Facials. Chatting about grooming, mulling over the pros and cons of different kinds of treatments. To polish or not to polish ones nails. Extreme facial hair, extreme lack of body hair.

Insanity or points along a continuum of male grooming?

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If you’ve ever visited a department store, you know that the fedoras on hand these days are a far cry from the well made pieces your grandfather wore. Glued-on bands, limited style and color options, and worst of all, “trendy” patterned fabrics have led plenty of guys to think fedoras are nothing more than costume pieces. But not you. You love the way a fedora covers your head in effortless classiness. One man stands between you and the style apocalypse. His name is Stephen Temkin, the man behind Leon Drexler Handcrafted Fedoras, Toronto.

» Read the rest of this entry «