The American Trade Hotel, Panama
Remember when a hotel meant little more than a room with a bed in and a free mini hand soap? There’s no doubt that we are living in the age of the boutique hotel experience. These days, booking a trip can frequently revolve around a dream bolthole over destination. With this in mind, allow us […]
(City) Surf’s Up: Saturdays Surf NYC Spring 14
The design guys at Saturdays Surf NYC are no fools. Morgan Collett, Josh Rosen and Colin Tunstall have built their brand on rock solid intuition, responding to their personal wardrobe and lifestyle needs, which basically equate to our own. Each apparel collection looks and feels right with pieces that are both covetable and timeless in […]
An SS14 catch-up with Common People
We’re so impatient for summer; we want to talk to everyone about it all the time. So when we saw Scottish label Common People’s SS14 collection film, we knew we wanted to wax lyrical about outdoor roaming and their lightweight jackets, which just happen to be the colour of sunshine. Fortunately, the assistant designer Gail […]
Plan your Boy’s Weekend away with 3RD HOME
For those lucky enough to have a second home who are looking for that extra special stag trip or boy’s holiday, listen up. 3RD HOME is an exclusive club that offers its members the chance to rent out their holiday home to other members in exchange for the opportunity to rent out any other member’s […]
Top Five Gent’s Drinking Spots in London
The first ever gentleman’s clubs opened in London’s West End in the 18th century, to provide secret havens for gents about town to escape the world and get loose, in the classiest possible way. Today, the gentleman’s club tends to represent something a little seedier. Alas, the city where it all started has seen a […]
Feel Good Friday – Carhartt WIP X Ikku
You know we love it when a beautifully designed, ethically sound collab comes together. Our latest fave is this awesome four-piece collection of technology sleeves, the totally legitimate love child of Carhartt Work In Progress and Amsterdam-based accessory brand Ikku. A trio of buddies, Daniel Archutowski, Frank Bleker and Janneke Grootings, established Ikku in 2012. […]
The Marina Heat Reactive Jacket by Stone Island
Remember that t-shirt you had when you were little that changed colour depending on the heat? Well we’ve discovered the grown-up version and it’s way more sophisticated and 100% more awesome. Set to hit stores in mid-March, the Marina Heat Reactive Jacket by Stone Island pays testament to the super smart engineering that the brand […]
Lanes of London: Food for Globetrotters
Londoners can afford to be greedy and picky. The sheer diversity of food on offer here is overwhelming- and probably explains why basically everyone who lives here is a foodie. So when we heard about Lanes of London, a haven for those wanting to travel the world via their taste buds, we made a reservation […]
Super Soft Threads by Delikatessen
You know that sweater that has dwelled in the shadowy depths of your drawer for several years now? Or that shirt that still hangs in your wardrobe unworn because the fit isn’t right but it was a gift so you can’t quite bring yourself to throw it out? Well Delikatessen’s AW13/14 collection is so wearable- […]
Surfers: Stop Freezing your Asses off with Finisterre
It’s no secret that we dig stylish, expertly crafted threads but when a brand exercises genuine love and appreciation towards its customers, the environment and selected charities, our hearts turn into putty and we are only too happy to hand over our dollar bills for a slice of the action. British brand Finisterre specializes in […]
Super Sweet Sweatshirts by Good Measure
You know that stage of the night when you’re in the bar, the empty beer bottles are stacked up and you and your comrades get to talking about business. And there, slumped over the bar as they call last orders you hatch the million dollar idea that you’re sure is the niche everyone has been […]
Social Media and Art Collide With the Launch of the Instagramers Gallery
If the average lifespan of a tweet is five seconds, how long does an Instagram post last for? Though its existence may not be quite as brief, we generally consume the images on our Instagram feed in a similar fashion as we scroll down, gobble them up and forget about them forever more. Alas, that […]
President Stays True to its Tuscan Design Roots for AW13/14
When it comes to fit, quality fabrics and top-notch craftsmanship, Italian designers are unprecedented. Like some unspoken guarantee or silent seal of approval, we automatically expect pieces that fit like a glove and last a lifetime. Tuscan menswear label President is no exception. Founded in 1957, the brand dedicates an entire year to produce a […]
Spiewak Celebrate 110 Years of Uniform and Style
Given our ongoing fascination with functional, utilitarian dressing, it is no surprise that Spiewak are so cocky about the timeless appeal of their wares. The Brooklyn-based outerwear brand are so confident, the homepage of their newly designed website reads ‘Developed to weather the test of time’ in gigantic font. Delve a little into their history […]
Gorki Apartments, Berlin
As overlooked destinations continue to drift onto our radars, Berlin has been a constant. A cultural hub that remains appealing year after year. You can imagine our delight then, when we heard of the opening of Gorki, a new development in the eternally cool Mitte district, housing 35 bespoke apartments and two soon to be […]
Top 5 Vacations for 2014
Arguably, one of the best things about the start of a brand new year is planning your travel schedule for the next 12 months. Once you have learnt the art of planning your trips rather than just mindlessly tapping up cheap deals twice a year, your entire world will change. Believe us. So get your […]
Belle Helmets – Style Statements for Sartorial Cyclists
Come January, it’s a traditional for mankind to crave a healthier way of living. After the gluttony of the holidays fades, our minds wander to ambitious exercise regimes, detox diets and our semi-forgotten dust-coated bicycles. Yes indeed, January is the time of year to wipe down your two-wheeled steed and get back on the road […]
Gant Rugger opens in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
When it comes to classical, time-honoured American clothing brands, Gant is way up there with the greats. Steadfast and timeless. Naturally then, we were thrilled to hear that the brand is planning a huge expansion and has opened a second store in Brooklyn just months after the success of the ‘tasting table’ concept store that […]
Five New Year’s Resolutions for your Wardrobe
Can you believe it’s resolution time again? We’re still trying to remember our optimistic dreams and vows from last year… Anyway. While you’ve been debating over whether to join a gym and actually turn up once a week or not, we have five resolutions that you will want to keep and won’t involve you hauling […]
Marwood London – Shaking up Neckwear Since 2010
Some of the most worthwhile designs ever produced were created because someone, somewhere, felt that what was available wasn’t good enough. This was the case for Becky French in 2010. After compiling a blog of inspirational images of razor-sharp neckwear and sketches, the London-based creative decided to call off the search for the perfect necktie […]
Billy Reid’s New Orleans Store
We are never as intimately acquainted with stores as we are at this time of year. Visiting boutique after boutique, you really come to appreciate the worth of a well-designed store; are there seats? Are the fitting rooms comfortable and is the lighting flattering? These are all needs that Billy Reid’s brand new New Orleans […]
The Manual’s Top Five Button Downs
You cannot beat a good button down. Undoubtedly, this classical garment forms the basis of the modern man’s wardrobe, for both work and play. Here’s five versions we are really excited about right now… Poplin Cotton Shirt by Sunspel $175 Recommended Videos You can always rely on Sunspel for a beautifully crafted, expertly cut shirt. […]
The Manual’s Gift Guide for Globetrotters
With less than a month left until Christmas, we’re pretty sure you’ve experienced that ‘uh-oh’ moment by now where you realise that pretty soon you’re going to have to haul ass to the stores and buy the annual ton of gifts. Alas, there are two ways this can go. If you wanna avoid running around […]
The Coldest Day AW13/14 Collection by Penfield
When it’s cold outside, we’re not fantasizing about central heating and cups of cocoa; we’re dreaming of Penfield, in all its fleecy, blankety glory. There aren’t many brands that can compete when it comes to bundling up for the grey and snowy season. In fact, when Harvey Gross established the brand in 1975, he was […]
Badass Sunglasses for the Modern Motorist
Watching cult movies such as The Italian Job and Bullitt, we can’t help but feel that driving has lost the golden pizzazz that it once possessed. iPhone leads that plug into car lighters and plastic cup holders have superseded creaking and that reassuring whir of classic sports car acceleration. Naturally then, we were near ecstatic […]
The Manual’s Top Five Lifestyle Journals Right Now
The paper vs. digital argument is by now, a very tired one. But in the spirit of resurrecting pages, we are quite excited to find ourselves amidst the age of the journal. Unlike a magazine, this crop of specialist publications is predominantly produced on the finest paper, with staggeringly sharp photography and insightful and creatively […]
Pass the Parcel: An Interview with Svbscription CEO Andrew Apostola
Since June 2012, Svbscription have been altering the modern man’s experience of collecting the post. Every three months, the banality of receiving bills and pizza menus has been replaced with a child-like anticipation as the Svbscription package is set to arrive. Taking curation to the next level, the luxury subscription service has based each of […]
Edwin AW14: No-nonsense Clothing for the Street to the Slopes
We can hardly believe its time for all our favorite brands to show us what they got for AW 2014- has 2013 been the quickest year yet? Nevertheless, here’s one of the standout collections from Japanese denim brand Edwin. The best way to ‘feel’ the collection is to watch the awesome accompanying film created by […]
Great Plains: De Lemos Guesthouse, Portugal
When it comes to deciphering a future trip, the accommodation is often secondary to the destination. Alas, the De Lemos Guesthouse and winery in Passos do Silgueiros in North Portugal is a destination in itself. The space, owned by wine brand Quinta de Lemos, was designed by architectural supergroup Carvalho Araújo, the geniuses behind boundary-smashing structures including the Casas […]
Are These the Greatest iPad Covers in the World? Probably
If your apartment was on fire and you only had time to grab one or two of your belongings we’re pretty certain your iPad would be right up there with your cellphone and your pet cat. If you’re like us, you carry your trusty tablet everywhere you go, from your daily commute to the bathroom […]
Qwstion AW13 – Kick Ass Bags for the Modern Man
If you’ve ever experienced that distressing moment where you open your wardrobe to realize you’ve somehow accumulated a small avalanche of bags for slightly differing purposes, you’re going to seriously love this brand. Championing an innovative ‘one bag suits all purposes’ ethos, Swiss brand Qwstion produce truly multi-purpose bags that will smoothly integrate into practically […]
Schnayderman’s: Seriously Smart Shirts
We love the way Schnayderman’s envisage the shirt. In the eyes of the design team, the right shirt cannot only alter our attitude and ability, but can also change the world. After sounding them out, we couldn’t agree more. Established by a small circle of shirt lovers from Stockholm, Paris and New York in 2012, […]
Talking Facial Fuzz with Master Barber, Alex Glover
Remember when a beard was a sign of slobbery? At some point that symbolism was superseded by a new found sartorial respect for facial hair. A well-groomed beard or perfectly clipped handlebar moustache is now an indicator of awesome personal style. Murdock of London has championed this trend since the first outpost opened in 2006. […]
Copenhagen: micro guide
Copenhagen might be the coolest city in Europe. The Danish capital boasts more hip cafes, concept stores and coffee joints than you can shake a stick at. And its residents may be the best looking race in the world…irrelevant but good to know, right? Book your stay at CPH Living. Essentially a floating hotel, this […]
Feel the Bromance at Saturdays NYC
Generally speaking, we want so much more from the retail experience than browsing, buying and leaving these days. Things have moved on, and one of our favorite pioneers is Saturdays Surf NYC. As of 2009, the downtown live/surf brand launched its flagship space on Crosby Street in SoHo. Since then, Saturdays has launched its second […]
Love your Leather Bag Like a Pro
We love a leather bag. Evidently, so do the girls at Fairchild Baldwin. Design team Jill Fairchild and Karen Baldwin put their fashion backgrounds to good use and launched the brand in 2012. Since then, their rep for creating smart, sartorially sound bags for the jet-set man about town has grown steadily. And their discerning use of sumptuous, high-quality […]
Feel Good Fridays: These bags are on fire
It’s Friday and we wanna make you feel good. So this week, we’d like to introduce you to our new favorite eco-responsible accessories brand, Elvis & Kresse. The British brand began in 2005 when design duo Elvis- aka James Henrit- and Kresse Wesling discovered a decommissioned fire hose, previously used by the London fire brigade. […]
Sunglasses to feel awesome in by Surface to Air
We can’t think of a better way to celebrate the fashionably late arrival of summer this year than with the inaugural eyewear collection of one of our favorite brands. Surface to Air’s new sunnies collection comprises 11 styles that fuse elements of the failsafe classics we love, with the kind of super fresh updates that […]
Clothes to Fly in: Uniforms for the Dedicated
Is it just me or does the idea of eco-friendly clothing conjure images of knee-length, rainbow coloured hemp hoodies? Shudder. Fortunately, Swedish brand Uniforms for the Dedicated hasn’t just lifted that stigma; they’ve whacked it into oblivion, hopefully into the realm of never to be seen again, with their incredibly wearable, environmentally sympathetic menswear brand. […]
A chat with the guys at STAG
In 2009, Steve Shuck and Don Weir were pissed off. The scarcity of menswear stores in Austin was at an all time low, and the pair struggled to identify any single destination that provided all manner of man stuff – accessories, gadgets, grooming, etcetera. Fortunately, their disgruntlement led to the birth of STAG, a modern-day […]
The Manual’s Top 5 Caps that won’t make you Look like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air
This summer is all about caps. Yes indeed, its time to channel your boyhood days when you wouldn’t part with your beloved Yankees or Chicago Bulls version and get back in the cap game. We understand it can feel a little odd at first but find one you like and lean into it for a […]
Spring Threads: an Interview with Shipley & Halmos
The founders of menswear and lifestyle brand Shipley & Halmos are as likeable as the clothes they make. Having carved out a niche in the market with their witty and wearable menswear, accessories and footwear, the brand is enjoying something of a boom. The Manual caught up with design duo Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos […]
Clothing for the Modern Adventurer by 18 Waits
Born out of a lust for life and Tom Waits, 18 Waits create the ideal clothing for rambling around the woods that surround your secret lakeside cabin with your really hot girlfriend who you’re madly in love with. If your life happens to resemble the guy’s in the spring/summer 13 collection film, that is. Either way, […]
Super Swimwear by Onia
Shopping for swimwear can be a tricky business. Though, for the 99% of guys that would prefer something design-conscious and a lot more substantial than Speedos, Onia’s latest collection is a pretty awesome solution. The New York-based brand creates designs that are simple, well crafted and effortless, sticking to classical silhouettes that fuse wearable colors […]
Our Top 5 Sunglasses for Summer 2013
Despite the recent snowfall and blistering winds, summer is on its way. If you’re already fantasizing about hanging up your faithful bobble hat and trading it in for a sweet pair of sunnies, look no further than our pick of this season’s finest from some of our favorite brands. 1. RB2140 Ray-Ban Recommended Videos If […]
Charles Olive and his Technicolor Bow Ties
When it comes to bringing the bow tie back, Charles Olive is representing. His grid-like prints incorporate progressive color ways and for the most part, are designed in excel which is really pretty awesome. An avid bow tie wearer himself, the London-based designer has utilized his own experience and preference to create his super smart […]
100 Beards, 100 Days: Taking Five with Jonathan Daniel Pryce
Blogger extraordinaire and fashion photographer Jonathan Daniel Pryce is possibly one of the nicest, most exciting people emerging on the London men’s fashion scene right now. Born and bred in Scotland, Pryce moved to London last summer, and promptly bagged the award for Photographer of the Year at the Scottish Fashion Awards. Gaining momentum, JDP […]
Feast or Famine: Laurel Hardware, CA
Since opening six months ago, Laurel Hardware has caused quite a commotion that refuses to simmer down. The Manual says believe the hype and book a table sharpish. Located in an ex-hardware store in West Hollywood, this ‘neighbourhood eatery’ specializes in new American cuisine (anything from yellow corn to grilled flatiron steak) with a sprinkling […]
East London: Micro Gude
Soho aside, London’s East end holds the reputation as the fastest changing area of the city. A constant flux of new restaurants, bars and concept stores keep the hip crowds coming and the rental prices sky-high. But you already knew that right? Well then read on for the new openings that you couldn’t possibly have […]