Custom Suiting with Southern Hospitality
Sometimes in life we have to travel many a road until we find the path right for us. For David Watkins, he worked in the ad world for years until he started feeling burnt out. Then he remembered buying shirt fabrics in college and decided to try his hand at shirt making; then the dreadful […]
Something’s Brewing in Queens at Singlecut
Cool facts about Queens, New York: It is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world. Queens is packed with attractions including Flushing Meadows Park, Aqueduct Racetrack, Silvercup Studios and was established in 1683. On December 8th the first microbrewery to open in Queens since prohibition opened its doors. Yes, we know – a […]
SXSW Packing Essentials
It’s about that time to head down to America’s favorite music throw down, SXSW. The event involves a lot of running around, food trucks and most likely a hot down and dirty dance-a-thon. To be sure you have what you need, The Manual has provided some essentials we bring to make the trip a breeze […]
Daniel Wellington Arrives Stateside
Watches are a big accessory for men these days, as we have previously reported. But many are way over our budget limitations. When we discovered Daniel Wellington we were stoked to find something so classic and cool but figured they would be in the baller price range. When the sales associate told us they range […]
The Manual Guide to Summer Ties
Summer is fast approaching and it’s time to start thinking about that wardrobe, whether it’s for the office or a coastal getaway. Many men forget that ties aren’t just a noose around the neck that we get for Father’s Day. With the right collar size (so you aren’t getting strangled through the day) and a […]
Take your Drawers to the Next Level with Special Delivery
With the increased interest in men’s fashion, it only makes sense we consider all aspects of dressing. The first thing you put on is not that Gitman Vintage shirt and we are hoping you have progressed from BVD’s. Special Delivery NYC is a new men’s underwear line working to make basics better. Made in America […]
Fossil Watches Raise The Bar
It takes a lot to get us out of bed for a business breakfast but hearing that Fossil is launching a luxury line had us curious. Hosted by Hal Rubenstein he immediately eliminated the elephant in the room. “Nobody needs a watch!” he shouted as he held up his iPhone. Yet with men more interested […]
Sunspel Debuts Archival Prints
We discovered Sunspel on a rainy day in East London three years ago when we were checking out the new shops in Shoreditch. We could tell there was something special happening with the once old and dusty brand. Sure enough Sunspel has been popping up at every trade show and ‘in the know’ menswear stores […]
Frank & Oak’s Escondido Live at Noon
We talk a lot about fast fashion these days, H&M, Uniqlo and Gap, but the boys at Frank & Oak take the concept to another level. Based in Canada, Ethan Song and Hicham Ratnani work directly with manufacturers to create a curated collection of premium clothing and accessories each month. “We love architecture, interior design, […]
Ledbury – Custom Shirting Southern Style
Custom shirts are everywhere these days. Many brands are geared towards the executive who needs racks of them for work or needs them made in a certain amount of time. But how about those of us who just need a good looking shirt to wear to the local bar? Ledbury is that shirt company. Based […]
Saturdays x colette
It’s still hard to convince people that there is actually quality surfing around the New York City area, but surfing in Paris? Alas, even the Parisians have become ‘coucou’ about the sport and of course, the fashion crowd has followed. Leave it to the Saturdays boys, who brought surfing back into the American vocabulary, to […]
Bellroy’s Passport Sleeve
With all of the conveniences of modern technology, when it comes to travel we still have papers flying. Passports, foreign currency, cab receipts and in some countries, paper boarding passes all clutter and confuse us. Luckily for us, a little company in Australia is working on making ‘Better ways to carry.’ Bellroy is focused on […]
Nemo Proof: Gotti Snow Goggles
We sure could have used these last week with Nemo swirling around Manhattan, but thankfully we have discovered these gems for future blizzard blasts and ski getaways. Gotti Switzerland is a rather fashionable line of eyewear known for their ‘wearable art’ manufactured in Japan, Germany and Austria using lightweight titanium materials. So it was great […]
Windsor Custom Goes RTW
Ten years ago men were just wearing whatever was in the closet and heading out the door. Then they heard about someone called a tailor and custom suits became all the rage. Now these tailors are taking us full circle and coming out with ready to wear. We saw Hardy Amies at Bloomingdale’s and now […]
Billy Jealousy’s Adrenaline Junkie
We woke up this morning to quite a shock. It wasn’t the snow on the ground or the cat hurling in the bed (don’t ask), rather the scrub we used in the shower. Adrenaline Junkie is the new energizing scrub from the amusing, yet dedicated grooming line, Billy Jealousy. Although sold as a face scrub […]
NUMBER:Lab’s Lima
Occasionally we like to turn over the editorial to some of our pals in the design world. Architect turned menswear designer Luis Fernandez produces a large portion of his collection, NUMBER:Lab in Lima, Peru and offered up a tour of the city from his well tailored point of view based on a recent production-focused trip […]
Getting to Know The Wythe Hotel
The days of being flippant about Brooklyn are long gone. No, you don’t ‘need your passport’ to head over the bridge and it’s not only for hipsters anymore. Frankly, Manhattan needs to take some tips from their borough neighbor on how to live life simply and well. Take the new Wythe Hotel. This 72 room […]
Miami’s Hostel Takeover: The Freehand
Anyone remember Miami in the 80s? It was a bit run down, great local seafood and there was always that random Gianni Versace spotting. These days Miami is booming with mega luxury hotels, super clubs and pricey restaurants (although the service is still on par with a gas station in Guadalajara). Needless to say we […]
Catching Up with Threads and Fins
As we mentioned yesterday, surfing is reaching new found popularity the sport hasn’t seen since the 50s. We wonder if it is a reaction to all the technology in our lives that has kept our heads down and fingers swirling opposed to taking a deep breath and finding our groove back in nature. Regardless, it’s […]
In Good Form: Stutterheim
Soon we will be creeping into the rainy season before spring bursts forth, and rarely can we find a quality rain coat that doesn’t make us look like an extreme sports enthusiast. We need one that works well with a suit. When we discovered Stutterheim at the (capsule) menswear trade show last year, we were […]
Sailing into New Design with Victorie Yachts
With the massive popularity of surfing in recent years, (thanks to companies like Saturdays bringing it into the fashion fold), we wonder when sailing will take off with equal hype. The excitement of being on the ocean or a great lake and rigging the sails, heeling to a strong wind and listening to the waves sure […]
The Top Gun’s of Glasses: Randolph Engineering
The eyewear market has become it’s own massive monocled beast in the menswear arena and we are happy to see men wearing more than just mall brands. With all the options out there, the market can be dizzying and while we will post about many other brands on the site, Randolph Engineering is one we […]
Cole Haan x fragment design
For anyone who lives in a walking city or is on their feet all day, a brogue or loafer can get awfully uncomfortable by mid day. We will never know how women do the heel thing all day. Yet we are vehemently against the late 90s sneaker and suit trend. Luckily Cole Haan has come […]
The Dirt about Detergent in Hand Soap
Whether you sport a wedding band, your high school class ring or or a family heirloom on a daily basis we bet you have had this dilemma- cracked, irritated skin under the ring. How does this happen when we do what mama told us and wash our hands after bathroom breaks, before eating and pre […]
Paddle Your Gal at Spin LA
The Standard Hotel has always keep us on our toes with their collabs, pool parties, skating rinks and bonkers Art Basel parties. Needless to say we are eager to head out to Los Angeles for their brand new ping pong club, SPiN, a partnership between Standard owner André Balazs and Susan Sarandon. It features three […]
Robert Hines Glass Workshop
Biking up North King Street in Charleston, South Carolina, where run down delis and rickety old wig shops are slowly getting turned into slick bars and restaurants, I discovered a languorous store front filled with a passel of old mirrors, gilded frames and a light film of dust, giving the tall old windows a look […]
The Real McCoy: Leather Head Sports
Coming from the epicenter of baseball in America, Paul Cunningham knows a thing or two about sports. Born and raised in Cooperstown, New York, Paul spent years as the photo editor for Major League Baseball. While there, he perfected his skills as a top drawer leather craftsman which lead to him going on his own […]
Connor’s 2013 Calendar
Along with New Year’s resolutions, gym memberships and holiday store returns there is always one more thing to do – buy a new calendar. To us it is like a clean slate ready to be filled with great escapes, movie nights and ever exciting doctor appointments. So why not take it up a notch passing […]
The Asian Persuasion for Charleston Foodies
Charleston, South Carolina is blowin’ up as a must visit foodie destination with Husk, Fig and Hominy Grill winning accolades around the country. But tourists and locals alike can enjoy only so much pork cheek and grits. That’s why Xiao Bao Biscuit is a welcome addition to the scene. Their style of cooking is playfully […]
Ball and Buck x New Balance
It only makes sense that two companies from ‘America’s Walking City’ would pair up to make one helluva good looking sneaker. Boston based Ball and Buck, an all American company, proudly making everything Stateside or working with American businesses, partnered with fellow Bostonian, New Balance for a limited edition kick. The US 574 in mountain […]
The Colonel Can Caddie
During those languid, long summer days, nothing beats a cold beer while kicking back on the porch or dock (or anywhere really). But Lord knows we try hard to keep it classy on occasion and those foam koozies we grew up with simply don’t pass muster. Luckily, we stumbled upon a little company based in […]
Love for the Beard with Beard Buddy
Men’s grooming has become a serious business in the past decade but we still like to see companies that are a bit tongue in cheek about the whole thing as well. We discovered the Los Angeles company Beard Buddy recently and applaud them for truly taking beard culture to another level. Not only do they […]
Three Brothers Paddle Boards
From Miami to Charleston to Los Angeles we have seen a rise in the popularity of paddle boarding (or SUP to those in the know – Stand Up Paddleboard) around the country. It’s awesome exercise and something one can do on still waters. Three Brothers has been making some of the best boards in the […]
Custom Shirts from Bellucci Napoli
We have all seen that dude around the water cooler who may be fit but sports a button down shirt that resembles a blimp around his waist. And how about those shirt sleeves spilling out the end of their suits. Not cool. Everyone should have a personal tailor (don’t think we are ballers, we go […]
Gift Guide: Gant Rugger Watches
Gant Rugger (the little brother of Gant) has launched their first wristwatch just in time for the holiday season. The three styles are based on classic diving watches of the 1970’s such as the Rolex Submariners, OMEGA Speedmasters and the Tag Heuer Octavias. “It felt like the only thing missing to really complete the distinct […]
Gift Guide: Allegri Pea Coat
We take note when a company calls themselves, ‘The Architects of Fabrics.’ Allegri, an Italian outerwear company founded in Florence in 1961, has invested much of their time on fabric development. Yet the design has not been compromised as this new pea coat attests to. This double wool jersey ‘Milano’ pea coat feels almost like […]
Gift Guide: Les Essentiels Prestwick Slippers
Whether we are on vacation or a business trip, hotel slippers are either non existent or a little on the hausfrau side of things. Not cool. That’s why we are digging these travel slippers from our Canadian friends at WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie (You can just call them WANT). These italian boiled wool […]
Gift Guide: Panerai Oro Rosso
Panerai watches seem to be the hot watchmaker these days for serious collectors and in the know gentleman too. We give them a thumbs up for looking good without being overly flashy. Even though the name is being bandied about heavily these days, the company has quite the history. Founded in Florence in 1860 by […]
Fjällräven Opens Pop-Up Store In New York City
Backpacks are one of those accessories that can really spoil a man’s daily dress. We see suited up men rushing around New York with their weekend camping rucksacks pulling at their suit shoulders and downtown dudes too old to be sporting their high school backpacks. Luckily a heritage brand from Sweden is saving men from […]
Cadillac Celebrates 110 Years
Cadillac has certainly been on an identity roller coaster over the past several decades, but lately they seem to have found some firm footing with their new designs and branding. A book on their 110 years in business will certainly help bring back the cache they once held. Celebrating 100 years in the business, Assouline […]
Wolverine Pops Up In New York
1883 was a good year for boots. That is when the Wolverine factory in Michigan began stitching up boots that were worn around the country building railroads and skyscrapers. Although they are still proudly made in the USA they haven’t had a retail presence outside of Michigan. Luckily for us (and just in time for […]
Brooks Makes Saddles for Your Bike
It was 1865 and John Boultbee Brooks left his home in Leicestershire, England with a pocket full of pounds and headed to Birmingham where he established a horse harness and leather goods company and did quite well for himself. Sadly, in 1878 his favorite horse puttered out and unable to afford a new one he […]
Teddy Roosevelt Style
With the $40 million restoration of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial at The American Museum of Natural History recently dedicated, we began to look back at our 26th President and realized – damn, he had style. The man not only carried a big stick but he knew what to wear when riding a moose, scaling the […]
Eau de Cologne Makes a Comeback
Men just weren’t meant to spritz. We dig smelling good but squirting cologne on pulse points or necks is just weird. That is what we are all about the return of ‘eau’. Eau de Cologne is all about shaking and splashing with abandon. Perfect for after the shower, you can douse a bit of scented […]
Author Lesley M. M. Blume Discusses Her Favorite Old School Cocktails
Our eyes always roll when friends sloppily order a vodka soda to get their night going and never consider something more intriguing. There was a time when men would spend hours pouring, mixing and tasting till the wee hours, coming up with zany names, many of which have been forgotten. Luckily we have the elegant Lesley […]