Male Worthy: Gruff Beards & Cufflinks

I thought I'd start 2012 off with a bang! I've been asking my beloved Bahrainirants to contribute to my blog for FOREVER & at last that day has finally arrived (WOOHOOO)! I'm hoping to have more posts by him this year ( fingers crossed) so stay tuned! 

Gruff beards and cufflinks

At the behest of my wife, I’ve decided in this guest feature to casually throw around a few opinions of mine regarding men looking presentable.  Men’s Fashion has taken so many strange turns over the years going through peaks and troughs of cool - but over the last decade and a bit, a set of principles have quietly emerged and have been gaining ground on a world of androgynous looks and photocopied ideas.  A group of very interesting people coming from London, New York andTokyo decided to take a stand and take back men’s fashion from the runways and glamour.  These designers decided to turn away from fashion house mergers and the large scale mass production of looks and began focusing more on a bespoke idea of functionality.

Everyone wants to look good, and fashion is an important part of that.  As a man, I don’t see the need to focus my attention on this season’s looks or the must have this or that.  Apart from our personal and professional lives, we already have far too many things to keep up with: sports, military history, the perfect moustache, charred meat, adrenaline packed action, gonzo journalism, pub quizzes, the secrets of ninjas, and so on and so forth.. Fashion should be a cornerstone of every man, but more of an undertone to our daily living.

Before you go any further, I would like to reiterate that what you are about to read is only my opinion. Some of the points might resonate with you and some won’t, and that’s absolutely fine.  I am by no means an expert in anything other than my opinion; in fact, I’m the world’s goofiest dancer and tend to ramble on more than I should..

I have a few rules to dress by that I would like to share, hopefully removing this contrived need for fashion and getting back to buying and wearing things because we actually need them..  Please note that I am only referring to fashion - special edition sneakers, very old bottles of alcohol and Joseph Stalin’s nose hair as memorabilia do not count as things we do not need but desperately want..

Subtle speaks louder than anything else: the last five years have given way to jeans with excessive stitch work on the pockets, logoed t-shirts for teams that don’t exist and enlarged brands covering the entire garment.  Why would anyone other than a professional athlete or a formula one team driver want to wear logos? You’re actually paying to have this company’s logo plastered all over your body.. If you’re going to be a walking billboard, then at least get paid for it..

Always wear your best stuff: The French have this wonderful belief that every occasion is a special one and that’s something I can get onboard with very quickly.  Make it a habit of always wearing your best clothes, you’ll look better and will feel more confident.  Why keep that incredible blazer tucked in a closet for the right moment when any moment is as good as the other?

Buy things by people who make things: I’m a sucker for tradition and firmly believe in buying something from someone who specializes in making whatever you’re buying.  For me, a watch must be acquired from a timepiece maker whether it’s a Glasshütte or a Swatch.  You know why a Rolex is just as good as a Timex? They both keep better time than a designer branded watch.  The primary function of glasses is to protect your eyes, why not buy a product from a company’s who’s raison d’être is making glasses? They’ll know how to design the product, how it works and how it should rest on you.. You’re not going to a seafood restaurant to eat chicken, know what I mean?

For variety, go back to basics: I love t-shirts and over the years I’ve become intrigued with the cotton and the cut.  Take it from someone who has a t-shirt collection that extends into the hundreds, the more basic the t-shirt the more useful it is.  If you find a t-shirt you like and fits you well, you can buy a bunch of the same in different colors and there you have it.. A uniformed variety that doesn’t need much thought..

All you need is one item (of everything): Developing the best utility wardrobe requires a bit of time and patience, but it’s not rocket science.  There are a few items that every man needs in his wardrobe to go about his day in whatever fashion. Regarding these “few items” you can stretch it to whatever you want, as long as you have the basics: A crisp shirt (white is essential but a light blue wouldn’t hurt), a pair of Converse sneakers, chinos, blue blazer, soft driving loafers, an evening suit, Two pairs of jeans (one dark the other medium wash), a white t-shirt, a proper pea coat, formal black shoes and belt, an everyday white shirt, a navy blue/OR grey suit (both if possible), a good pair of brown shoes, at least one standout tie and a great sweater.  You can expand on this list in any way you like, but this should be enough to get you started to take you from dressing down to a dinner at the Savoy.  After a trip to Iraq, I was taken aback by an oil rig driller who wore his jeans shirt with a stained rocknroll nonchalance that immediately made the jeans shirt a staple in my closet..

Afterthoughts on accessories: I’m a big fan of hats, scarves and socks.. That said, there’s a time and a place for everything.. You look as ridiculous in that fedora tilted to the side as the older lady wearing her daughters clothes – no one will take you seriously.. A little word of advice,, unless the climate calls for you to wear a scarf and hat, then the less accessories you wear, the less of a peacock you’ll look like .  Remember the first point, subtle will always go a lot farther than loud.. I find socks the perfect opportunity to express yourself and your love for color and pattern.. Break free and wear whatever you want, you can never go wrong with socks, in fact the wilder the better.. something quite comical about your feet being able to startup a conversation that always sets the night off on the right note.

Give your clothes a story: people who douse themselves in high end fashion can only prove one thing, their credit card limits.  It’s very easy to walk into a boutique in some major city and take an entire look off a mannequin, but then you’re just dressing like someone else.. As a personal challenge, it’s always interesting to mix your outfit: something expensive, something affordable, something personal and something old.. As you continually mix to include different facets, you develop a style that defines your character – which, let’s face it, is so much cooler and distinct than anything you can buy off any rack..

Go Big or Go Home: Detail, and attention to it is what differentiates someone from being fashionable to not quite there yet. It may be that no one will notice the length of how far you’ve gone to perfect that double Windsor knot, but believe me, you’ll know and the satisfaction from that is quite powerful.  If you’re going for a look, then go all the way..  If you can learn to survive and be independent in the world, then you can learn to tie a bowtie, no excuses..

And there you have it, nothing groundbreaking and nothing you don’t already know to be the gentleman debonair you already are. As a man, I don’t feel the need to wear skintight shirts or distressed denim, or have someone’s logo printed on my bottom..

I like smelling like a mix of charcoal and cologne..

xoxo for now from Bahrainirants & myself OH & happy 2012 ma lovely PFFers,

P.S. Much more to come from me in 2012! 'I got a feeling that tonight (or this year's) gonna be a good, good night (year)'!

P.P.S. Blog Crush of the Day: I've come across some of the coolest bloggers Stateside & thought I just had to share it with y'all! Blog: www.songofstyle.blogspot.com & I think she's just pure fabulousness! I love her outfit & nonchalant approach to fashion! It's easy, fun & VERY California! What do you guys think? I seriously have THE BIGGEST STYLE CRUSH on her ever!

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day:  Paradise City by Guns 'N Roses (I thought it befitting to pick this song as my SOTD since it's one of Bahrainirants' favourites! He air guitars it every time it's playing! I miss this fantabulous band & I hope like many rock/boy bands of the past a reunion tour is in the works)