The Urban Gentleman

Duluth Pack

| Accessories, Fashion & Style | 5 Comments

Duluth Pack sent us a few items to try out and I must say, I'm loving all of it. The scoutpack, featured above, has become one of my new staples.

Duluth Pack. Founded in 1882 by Camille Poirer in Duluth, Minnesota. In the 1870s Camille started a small shoe store, then in 1882 filed for a patent on a new type of "packsack." It was a canvas sack, that closed with a buckled flap, had shoulder straps and other new features. It was known as the Poirer Pack, and is now called the original Duluth Pack. (below)

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Bliss: Chocolate x Accessories

| Design & Culture, Fashion & Style, Look Books | 3 Comments

Details on all featured photos at the end.

Jessica White; Vintage Hand-Made Leather Messenger Bag;

Illesteva-Frieda-Sunglasses (round frames); Lanisha Cole;

Boss ‘Malaki’ Double Weave Belt; Corduroy Toms;

John Varvatos USA ‘Hipster’ Chukka Boots; BMW M6;

Urbanears ‘Plattan’ Headphones; D&G The One (cologne);

Cole Haan 1985 Summer Penny Loafers;

Naomi Campbell; 1974 Maserati Merak;

‘Havanna’ Sunglasses by Super ; Vintage Ralph Lauren Linen Tie

An Urban Gent Basic: How to Fold a Pocket Square or Handkerchief

| Fashion & Style, Guides | 5 Comments

I happened to be going through a few of my old magazines this weekend and came across a page featuring pocket squares. I decided to share the page with you guys along with a few other photos of men wearing pocket squares:

I couldn’t post the pictures above without giving directions on how to properly fold a pocket square, so I’ve listed 4 popular ways to fold it, plus one “special way”. Alot of men tend to fold their pocket square or handkerchief using one technique every single time, without switching it up. That’s usually because they only know one technique- most likely taught to them at a suit store. Although it certainly is fine to have a signature folding style, it’s important to atleast know how to fold in other ways; so that you can switch it up every now and again. The next time you go out try folding your square using one the techniques below:

(follow the directions step by step, click to enlarge photo)

THE PUFF

1. Lay your pocket square flat with the two top corners horizontal. Pinch the middle of the pocket square and pick it up.

2.As you pick up the pocket square tuck the sides in as in the diagram. Don’t worry it may take a couple of tries to get it just right, but soon you will have it perfect.

3. With one hand firmly holding the pocket square, use your other hand to gently gather it closed.Now gracefully gather up the bottom of the pocket square.

4. Tuck as needed and place your pocket square in your jacket pocket.

THE PRESIDENTIAL POCKET SQUARE
(also known as the Flat pocket square, Straight, Architect, or TV fold)

1. Lay your pocket square flat with the two top corners horizontal.
2. Fold the the left side over the right side.
3. Fold the bottom up just short of the top.
4. Tuck as needed and place your pocket square in your jacket pocket.

ONE POINT/PYRAMID POCKET SQUARE
(also known as the one corner)

1. Lay your pocket square flat with one corner facing up and one corner facing down.
2. Fold the bottom corner up to meet the top corner.
3. Fold the left corner to the right.
4. Repeat and fold the right corner in to the left.
5. Tuck as needed and place your pocket square in your jacket pocket.

FOUR POINT POCKET SQUARE

1. Lay your pocket square flat with one corner facing up and one corner facing down.
2. Fold the bottom corner up to the top just to the left of the top corner.
3. Fold the left side towards the right, and up to the right of the “middle peak”.
4. Fold the right side towards the left, and up to the left of the “second peak”.
5. Tuck as needed and place your pocket square in your jacket pocket.

DUNAWAY POCKET SQUARE
(combo puff and point)

1. Lay your pocket square flat with the two top corners horizontal.Pinch the middle of the pocket square and pick it up.

2. As you pick up the pocket square tuck the sides in as in the diagram. Don’t worry it may take a couple of tries to get it just right, but soon you will have it perfect.

3. With one hand firmly holding the pocket square, use your other hand to gently gather it closed.

4. Now gracefully roll the top of the pocket square in the direction of the arrow.

5. Carefully lift the bottom points up.

6. Flatten the points.

7. Tuck as needed and place your pocket square in your jacket pocket.

There are many different ways to fold a pocket square. To perfect the art of folding I suggest perfecting the five folds listed above then begin mixing styles and techniques– be creative and think outside the box. Yes there are common and culturally proper ways to fold your handkerchief, but there is technically no wrong way; so grab your pocket square and suit jacket and just play around until you find a style that fits your personal look.

*directions courtesy of samhober

Worn by All: Carrera Sunglasses, Since 1956

| Accessories, Fashion & Style | 3 Comments

It’s hard to see a celebrity these days without them wearing one of two type of shades: Rayban or Carrera. We all know and love Raybans, but many of you are a tad unfamiliar with Carrera…

Quick History:
Carrera was established in 1956 and produces high-performance sports eye wear, ski helmets, and goggles for a wide range of extreme sports. The name itself is taken from an extreme sport – the Carrera Panamericana, an auto race that used to cross the entire country of Mexico.

Carrera sunglasses are available in several categories: Hi-Performance, Sport-Fashion, Everyday, Junior, and Adapters— the ones we see David B, Kanye, and Jay-Z wearing would obviously be the sports-fashion or everyday.

Kanye West

Check out a few of their most popular styles:

“Safari“

“Hot”

“Champion”

they’re all so subtly different.

Purchase these at Bloomingdales for $120-150.

Want the Carrera look, but can’t quite afford to spend $150?
Get the coveted Carrera look-alike-style for $10, here.

Tyson Beckford

Put a Ring On it: Rings for Men

| Accessories, Fashion & Style | 7 Comments

Rings- the one men’s accessory that continues to go in and out and in and out of style– except for wedding rings (band) or superbowl rings- those will NEVER be out.

Let’s see I would guess pre the 70s the were mostly out, in the 70s they were sorta in if you were a wanna be pimp of sorts or a hippie, early 80s out, mid to late 80s all the way to the early 90s very very in, in the mid to late 90s it was all about bling, so things like blinged out pinky rings were in, then once 2000 came around less became more… theeen a very tad in 2007, bit more in 2008, and now in 2009 rings have become cool again due to the incredible 80s/90s hiphop inspiration that seems to be influencing everyone from couture designers to mainstream retailers.

Personally, with the exception of wedding bands, championship rings, and maybe a ring that has a specific meaning (ex: it was your dads or grandpas, or it symbolizes something etc) , I don’t like rings on men… just like I don’t like loop earrings on men- its unnecessary and too feminine. But obviously there are exceptions to every rule, and if you can pull it off then by all means- rock on.

I did a very quick search of rings for men, and I found a few rings that are sorta rad and I think the right guy can easily pull these off:

(Surface to air ring) Three finger ring, $98 (oaknyc)

(Surface to air ring) Graduate/helmut ring, $236 (oaknyc)

Steel ring with spinning chain, $21.99 (justmensrings)

Horseshoe ring, $33.44 (justmensrings)

Steel recesses ring, $21.99 (justmensrings)

(Vane NY) 2-finger brass knuckle ring, $80

Sterling Silver 2 ring finger, $40.99 (vistabella)

The main thing that men should remember when wearing a ring– less is more. You know how some girls may have four or five rings on at a time (depending on the look they’re going for)? yeah, well guys shouldn’t do it… One ring at a time unless for some reason 2 in necessary. Usually, in my opinion, a man should never wear more than 2 rings. (but there obviously are exceptions to the rule