Button-Down Shirts with a Tie

Video by Paul Walters

Hello all! Someone that I know well and once considered myself to be friends with (we see each other very little these days) began making custom clothing a few years ago. I can't endorse it because I've never seen it first-hand, and I've never seen him wearing his own clothing at any of the fashion and style events we've both attended, but if it's as good as he says it is, his clothing must be excellent. I've only seen him wearing his own suits on video and in pictures, so they could be fused rather than canvassed for all I know.

On YouTube, this fella has posted a couple of videos offering clothing tips and style advice; one is about wearing a nice watch, where he shows off his fake Breitling for Bentley tourbillion watch and claims that it's real (the tourbillion brackets on the originals are slightly "A-framed", and the fakes are straight. I know the difference... I studied watches for years... the real ones also were "on sale" for $99,000), and one has to do with saying that button-down collar shirts should never be worn with a tie.

In my first-ever video blog, I debunk this myth, and explain why. Please enjoy.

Cheers,

Paul

More Brooks Brothers: Fall 2010

Here is the new video look-book for th Fall 2010 lineup at Brooks Brothers. Enjoy.

Brooks Brothers: An American Staple Since 1818

The American brand for nearly 200 years: your one-stop-shop for almost everything a man could possibly want.

Tom Waits, Downtown Train

Prior to Rod Stewart covering this song, the original composer, Mr. Waits of course, made it rock. One can actually hear that the lyrics are brilliant, and the tone is much more fitting than the foofie remake. Tom, we salute you.

Required Listening: RPWL, Roses

RPWL was a Pink Floyd tribute band who decided to compose and play their own music. The result is a phenomenal progressive rock band with a rich full sound, ethereal vocals, and amazing dynamics. Here, they play one of my favorite of their songs live. Enjoy.
-Paul

Buckling Down: Watch Entry III

In keeping with the recent theme regarding wristwatches, I wanted to present another bracelet/band option for a more elegant and less casual look than the ribbon band I discussed last time. Leather bands always lend an aura of elegance to a watch, especially when fashioned of an exotic skin like crocodile or lizard.

Today I'm not talking about material, however, but about the clasp type of the watch band.

Metal bands are typically a little bit sportier than leather bands, but are often favored  by wearers because of  durability issues and the security of the clasps that typically accompany a metal band. There is a way to capture the elegance of a leather band and the security of a metal one; a leather band with a deployment clasp (pictures 1 & 2 - click to enlarge).

The pictures provided pretty much do the talking here and take away a need for too much explanation, but simply stated, a deployment clasp on a leather band allows one to position a pin in a bracelet hole for a good fit, and after that, the clasp can be snapped open and closed without having to pull the strap through the buckle each time. The result is a watch that fits a bit more snug on the wrist (photo 3), and often feels more comfortable on the wrist.

Having one of these groovy bands doesn't have to break the bank, either. They can be picked up on ebay for next to nothing. They are a good option for those who like a lather watch band. Give it a try!

Until next time (where we'll probably have one more watch-related discussion),

Cheers!

Paul

Groovy New-Old Vintage Watch, Part II

PROJECT UPGRADE: It was my decision, amidst a cluster of 100 degree days, that such a hot time of the year with humidity thick enough to both cut through and choke on, that my groovy new-old vintage Zodiac Spacetronic needed a Summer facelift. In the spirit of the "trad" movement, and with a desire to wear something "lighter", I applied the ribbon band that you see here.

This simple nylon band adds a colorful aesthetic to one's overall ensemble, fits like a second skin around the wrist, and breathes, keeping the wrist cooler than a thicker, more insulating leather strap. Cool huh?

Various colors and patterns are available, but I'd say keep it simple. For a brief time last year, DayGlo colors were popular, a throwback from the 1980's... yeah... remember when Pizza Hut carried the "Back II The Future" sunglasses? That's what I'm referring to. I find the DayGlo movement to be nothing more than a passing trend, just as it was a fad when it first started. Stick to classic colors and avoid lime green, electric yellow, and neon pink.

Lifestyle brand J. Crew sells these ribbon watch bands for around $20 a piece. That's a lot for a piece of nylon. Check out this ebay seller; his bands are $4, with a $2.41 charge for shipping. That's more like it!

One can always go with the ribbon-band "old trusty"... the NATO strap as worn by James Bond with his Rolex Submariner in Dr. No (pictured at left). Be prepared to pay more than $4... I think there's an ebay seller who carries these for around $13.50... I'll let you research that one. Just remember... even though James Bond's Submariner had 20mm lugs, he wore an 18mm band... a little tip for those of us concerned with authentcity.

Until next time,

Cheers!

-Paul