Friday 7/31 Edition: On Vacation

Thursday 7/30 Edition: 11 Clothing and Style Hacks For The Modern Gentleman

Every day you button your clothes, roll up your shirt sleeves, and pick out your shoes. But what if I told you the way you go about doing these things is all wrong (or at the very least ill-informed)?

From packing your suit the wrinkle-free way to keeping your rolled-up sleeves from unfurling, heed these 11 clothing and style hacks that will save you time, money, and, in some cases, embarrassment.

1. Roll your shirt sleeves the right way.
Instead of rolling the cuff slowly up your sleeve, flip the cuff back and pull it to just below your elbow. Then take the bottom (inside-out portion) and fold it up so it traps and covers the bottom cuff. Your shirt sleeves won’t unroll again.

2. Pack a suit without getting it wrinkled.
Simply wrap the suit in tissue paper and place it in a bag to keep it in good condition.

3. Learn the “sometimes, always, never” rule of jacket buttons.
The top button should sometimes be buttoned (stylistic decision), the middle button should always be buttoned (it pulls the jacket together and is flattering), and the last button should never be buttoned (it messes up the tailoring and flare of the jacket).

4. Match your dress shoes and suits.
Follow this simple chart to learn what colors and styles are best. If you’re wondering which shoes to wear with shorts and chinos, click here.

5. When possible, always try to buy full-grain leather goods.
It’s the highest-quality leather money can buy, it will last forever, and it’s far superior to top-grain and genuine leather.

6. Invest in quality shoe trees. 
A good pair of shoe trees will maintain the shape of your nice work shoes, prevent the leather from warping or cracking, and absorb any excess moisture from your shoes so they don’t rot from the inside out. Bespoke shoe trees are the best for your expensive shoes.

7. Hang your suits and dress shirts on cedar wood hangers.
The cedar acts as a repellent for moths and absorbs moisture. And unlike wire hangers, these thicker hangers will not damage or stretch out clothing

8. Fold your sweaters instead of hanging them.
Even lightweight sweaters stretch out if they’re on a hanger for too long. It’s better to fold sweaters in your wardrobe and hang dress shirts and T-shirts instead.

9. Go sockless without causing a stink. 
There’s an easy way to cheat that oh-so-popular sockless look. Loafer socks are undetectable, but effective at soaking up sweat so there’s no funky odor.

10. Use leather soap and oil to preserve your shoes. 
After a tough winter, make sure to take care of your nice shoes. It will dramatically increase their lifespan and ensure your footwear investment pays dividends for years to come.

11. Let your shoes breath between wears. 
You shouldn’t just slip on the same trusty pair of dress shoes day after day. Why? Because if you let them rest they’ll stay alive that much longer.
via BI

Wear It Like: Street Style From The First New York Men's Fashion Week - Wednesday 7/29 Edition

1. Hackett Slub Linen and Cotton Blend Shirt @ Mr Porter

2. Oliver Spencer Fishtail Cotton and Linen Blend Trousers @ Mr Porter

3. Avallone Antique Leather Bag @ InforMANt

4. Anderson's Woven Leather Belt @ Matches

5. Alfred Dunhill Sterling Engine Turned Cigar Tube @ Sir Jack's

6. London Undercover City Lux Umbrella @ Mr Porter

7. Lord Classic Waistcoat @ Reiss

Sounds: Crystalised by The Xx

Wear It Like: Street Style From The First New York Men's Fashion Week - Tuesday 7/28 Edition

Photo by Robert Spangle

1. Shannon Slim Fit Blazer @ Reiss

2. Shannon Slim Fit Trousers @ Reiss

3. Givenchy Skate Leather Trainers @ Matches

4. Sailormade Standard Belt @ InforMANt

5. Officine Generale Linen Shirt @ Mr Porter

Sounds: Everyday by A$AP Rocky ft Rod Stewart, Miguel and Mark Ronson

Wear It Like: Street Style From The First New York Men's Fashion Week - Monday 7/27 Edition

Photo by Robert Spangle

1. Polo Ralph Lauren Slim Fit Corduroy Trousers @ Mr Porter

2. Martino Navy Waistcoat @ Reiss

3. Daniel Wellington Grace Warwick Wristwatch @ InforMANt

4. Lanvin Cotton Evening Shirt @ Matches

5. Karma Mantra Palm Tiger's Eye Bracelet @ InforMANt

6. Want Les Essentials Canvas Hold All Bag @ InforMANt

Sounds: You're A Wolf by Sea Wolf @ Amazon

Sunday 7/26 Edition

Saturday Style - 7/25 Edition

Cool Design: Step Inside This Cliffside Home WIth A Pool As The Roof

OPA’s Casa Brutale is defined by three thick concrete slabs with all the installations preformed. The crystalline pool, made by reinforced glass, is set between the walls to smoothen the hard materials and let the abundant natural light through, illuminating the residence. The enormous glass façade frames and extracts the beauty of the Aegean. And small details of black-coated steel and brown/red aged wood complete the composition.

In literal groundbreaking integration, Casa Brutale penetrates the landscape. The underground building benefits from a perfect homeostatic mechanism with thermal insulation from the surrounding ground, and the cooling properties of the swimming pool. The optical impact of the building on the landscape is minimal, with only one façade on the cliff side and no volume extruding from the ground level.

Light penetrates the transparent or semi-transparent surfaces of Casa Brutale, bringing it to life. The dynamic light patterns caress the bare concrete with refractions and shadows. Bare concrete, or beton brut, is the finishing technique that gave the name to both brutalism and Casa Brutale. Raw, unpretentious, monolithic, marked by the wooden planks used to mold the casting.

After descending 50 stairs to the Aegean, under the shadows of epic concrete beams, you reach the entrance (also accessible by elevator). The tall, rotating door of aged wood (with the axis at ¾ lengths) opens to a breathtaking sea view, through the glass façade. The remaining space is bare, pure and simple; minimalism at its best. A concrete cast dining table is combined with concrete benches, clad with warm wood. Smooth curves sculpture the fireplace on the wall next to the bench. Behind the dining table, the guest room is formed under an old-fashioned Zoellner slab with a glass corner. Next to the guest room, there is a small passage to the utility rooms (storage room, bathroom and WC).

An inner staircase consists of thin, steel steps that allow the optical continuity from the kitchen to the glass façade. The staircase leads you to the mezzanine floor, where the master bedroom is exposed to the same overpowering vision of the Aegean. The bed is cast of concrete with wood finishing, while the walls are covered with mirror to enhance the play between light and shadows.

Casa Brutale redefines the harmonious coexistence of human and nature in a poetic homage to pure Brutalism.

Thursday 7/23 Edition: 23 Wise Life Lessons From Anthony Bourdain

Considering the man has traveled the globe many times over and learned from more cultures than we even knew about, it would probably be wise to listen and learn a thing or two from chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain:

1.) “Skills can be taught. Character you either have or you don’t have.”

2.) “If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.”

3.) “Don’t lie about it. You made a mistake. Admit it and move on. Just don’t do it again. Ever”

4.) “What nicer thing can you do for somebody than make them breakfast?”

5.) “Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life – and travel – leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks – on your body or on your heart – are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.”

6.) “You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together.”

7.) “Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”

8.) “Maybe that’s enlightenment enough: to know that there is no final resting place of the mind; no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom…is realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.”

9.) “I don’t have to agree with you to like you or respect you.”

10.) “Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.”

11.) “We know, for instance, that there is a direct, inverse relationship between frequency of family meals and social problems. Bluntly stated, members of families who eat together regularly are statistically less likely to stick up liquor stores, blow up meth labs, give birth to crack babies, commit suicide, or make donkey porn. If Little Timmy had just had more meatloaf, he might not have grown up to fill chest freezers with Cub Scout parts.”

12.) “Open your mind, get up off the couch, move.”

13.) “Luck is not a business model.”

14.) “There’s something wonderful about drinking in the afternoon. A not-too-cold pint, absolutely alone at the bar – even in this fake-ass Irish pub.”

15.) “Under ‘Reasons for Leaving Last Job’, never give the real reason, unless it’s money or ambition.”

16.) “It’s very rarely a good career move to have a conscience.”

17.) “The way you make an omelet reveals your character.”

18.) “Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one’s life.”

19.) “Good food and good eating are about risk.”

20.) “They’re professionals at this in Russia, so no matter how many Jell-O shots or Jager shooters you might have downed at college mixers, no matter how good a drinker you might think you are, don’t forget that the Russians – any Russian – can drink you under the table.”

21.) “If you look someone in the eye and call them a ‘fat, worthless, syphilitic puddle of badger crap’ it doesn’t mean you don’t like them. It can be – and often is – a term of endearment.”

22.) “Without new ideas success can become stale.”

23.) “But I do think the idea that basic cooking skills are a virtue, that the ability to feed yourself and a few others with proficiency should be taught to every young man and woman as a fundamental skill, should become as vital to growing up as learning to wipe one’s own ass, cross the street by oneself, or be trusted with money.”
via Airows

Wear It Like: Harry Styles - Wednesday 7/22 Edition

1. Neuw Denim Lou Slim Leg Jeans @ Matches

2. Saint Laurent Black Shirt @ SSENSE

3. George B Slim Fit Black Blazer @ Reiss

4. Alexander McQueen Silk and Modal Blend Scarf @ Mr Porter

5. Marsell Ankle Boots @ farfetch

6. Givenchy Belt @ SSENSE

Sounds: Ambition by Wale @ Amazon

Wear It Like: Harry Styles - Tuesday 7/21 Edition

1. DSquared2 Single Breasted Coat @ farfetch

2. Simon Miller m0002 Gulf Resin Slim Jeans @ Matches

3. BLK Denim Classic Tee @ SSENSE

4. A.P.C. Suede Chelsea Boot @ Mr Porter

5. Reclaimed Vintage Chain Ring @ ASOS

6. Reclaimed Vintage Lion Ring @ ASOS

Sounds: Jaguar by What So Not @ Amazon

Monday 7/20 Edition:

“Be patient, calm, compassionate. Know that existence is fleeting.”

Ettore Sottsass.

Friday 7/17 Edition - Gimme Shelter: Travel The World And See 17 Of The Coolest Shelters

Sarah Murphy and Stefaan duPont did it. The duo left their desk jobs—Murphy as a textiles designer at Martha Stewart, and duPont as an interface designer at the agency R/GA—and hit the road. After a year on the move, they started the travel blog Miles & Miles, where they create stories on topics like adventure and fashion for such clients as American Express, Gap, and Condé Nast Traveler. More often than not, the pair is traveling off the grid in their trusted Toyota Tacoma, which they’ve outfitted with a sleeping platform, running water, propane stove, and auxiliary batteries. Murphy and duPont love looking for inspiration in how others take shelter in their respective landscapes. In doing so, they’ve stumbled on some of the world’s coolest structures. Here, they show us a collection of their favorites.

Above: Long Studio: Joe Batt’s Arm, Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada
Newfoundland is a mecca for innovative homes and architecture, which is surprising for a province with only 2,500 residents. On the outskirts of Joe Batt’s Arm on the northern tip of Fogo Island, we climbed over a hill near the coast and found what we think is one of the best examples of contemporary architecture in North America. Long Studio’s interior is almost completely open. It’s designed to hold multiple workspaces and capture the most light during long summer days.

Squish Studio: Tilting, Fogo Island, Newfoundland
Fogo Island was originally a fishing community, with many of its inhabitants coming from Ireland and England. In fact, it’s common to hear Irish accents while wandering more remote parts of Newfoundland, which was a surprise to us. Fogo Island Arts is responsible for six contemporary artist studios, available for residencies, as well as the Fogo Island Inn. All of the buildings, designed by Todd Saunders, are influenced by the heritage, landscape, and tradition of craft that is native to this area.

Tower Studio: Shoal Bay, Fogo Island, Newfoundland
Another brilliant design from Saunders, the Tower Studio twists from the bottom and has large windows to capture light. It looks different from every angle and doesn’t stick out too much in the coastal landscape. All studios in the Fogo Island Arts project are off the grid and powered by solar panels that are either on the structures or nearby.

Fisherman’s Boathouse: Tilting, Fogo Island, Newfoundland
Cod fishing was the main source of income in Newfoundland until 1992, when the Canadian government prohibited fishing due to the diminishing cod population. This was a devastating blow to the island’s residents and economy. The Shorefast Foundation has come up with a strategy to rehabilitate the community based on the arts, geotourism, and incentives for local entrepreneurs.

Fishing Village: Saint Paul’s, Newfoundland
We saw these houses as little specks out on the beach as we drove north from Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland. It didn’t look as though many people drove out that way since there was no marked road. We decided to pull off and see if we’d be able to drive out to the collection of fishing shacks. We ended up with an epic view of the houses as well as the south-facing landscape of Western Brook Pond, a landlocked fjord.

Bell Island, Nova Scotia
Filled with excitement one summer, we drove from Rhode Island to Nova Scotia in a day. After searching for a nonintrusive place to park and set up camp, we ended up discovering Bell Island. An elderly fisherman who was taking a walk in the neighborhood gave us permission to sleep in our truck at the end of the road. In the morning, we decided to walk around the area and took this picture of our neighbor’s house.

El Cosmico: Marfa, Texas
El Cosmico does a brilliant job of capturing the most beautiful elements of life in the desert and consolidating them into the ultimate glamping experience.

Uno Astro Lodge: Tulum, Mexico
Although we’ve never stayed at Uno Astro Lodge, we’re always drawn to this beautiful beach villa when we visit Tulum. It’s a representation of everything we love about the place—the ocean, a great view, and totally picturesque.

Grass Island: Guilford, Connecticut
It wasn’t until we became tourists in so many other parts of the world that we really tried to look at our own home with that fresh perspective. One of our favorite discoveries is this beautiful beach shack at the tip of Grass Island in Guilford.

Ermita de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: Bermeo, Spain
Driving west on the northern coast of Spain after leaving Mundaka, it isn’t long until you stumble across this gem. We hiked the rugged coast down to the man-made bridge connecting the island to the mainland and up the 241 stairs to the church that currently stands there. The church has been attacked and burned down many times over the centuries. It is thought that the original structure was built in the 9th century.

Hiker’s Restroom: Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa
At the end of our second day hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, we camped above the clouds for the first time, and the reality of what we had committed to doing was setting in. We sat as the sun set into clouds, which were moving so fast that it felt like we were watching the ocean lapping a rugged coastline from the top of a cliff. Yes, this may be a hiker’s rest stop, but it must have one of the best views in world.

Farmhouse: Iceland
Most of the time that we were driving around Iceland, we saw more sheep than people. Many people in Reykjavik own farmhouses or vacation houses on more rural parts of the island that are left untouched for parts of the year. Here, one our favorites, with a healthy lawn as a roof!

Stonehouse: Iceland
The houses in Iceland seem to adapt with the terrain and fold into the variety of landscapes. This small stone farmhouse was perfectly camouflaged.

A-Frame: Big Sur, California
Driving Route 1 along the coast of California never gets old. We always discover new things, like this A-frame home with a killer view. I grabbed a telephoto lens and captured this image, which we often look at and daydream.

Teepee: Terlingua, Texas
We camped in our truck just outside the Terlingua Ghost Town on the Mexican border. This teepee was the only landmark for a small campground where we stayed before heading to Big Bend National Park the following day.

Boathouse: Luang Prabang, Laos
We entered into Laos on a two-day slow-boat trip down the Mekong River. Our boat was not nearly as large as the one here, but we saw dozens of families who live in houseboats like these all along the river.

Windmill: Sagres, Portugal
Sagres is a legendary surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing spot on the west coast of Portugal’s Algarve region. We chose the first winding dirt road heading toward the ocean, having no idea what to expect, and found a beautiful surf beach with layers of coastal mountains sloping down to the ocean. Among the changing landscapes, we spotted this old windmill on our way out to Carrapateira.
Read more at Outside Online | Story and all photos: Sarah Murphy and Stefaan duPont