The baseball hat is a basic staple of the American male wardrobe.  It is comfortable, familiar, functional, and in many ways, iconic.  When sporting casual outfits, a good baseball hat can lend a fun, practical, or even stylish hook to your look.  Right now we are in love with the hat shown here from the Starboard Clothing Co., an Annapolis, Maryland-based brand.

This is a hands down favorite for several reasons.  First, the overall design is well balanced and visually pleasing.  While that may sound a bit overly analytical for a ball cap, when something looks right, you know it when you see it.  Second, the embroidered Anchor-Star logo is just perfect; nautical and classic looking but also a bit unique and distinctive.  Sometimes, hat logos are done too small or large and seem out of scale, but this is just right.  The addition of the brand name across the back is nicely done, as is the small Heron logo on the back left.

Overall, the Starboard Clothing Co. ball cap has the hallmarks of a long-term winner.  It’s a hat we like wearing and regularly reach for.  And, at just $22, it’s a great deal.  It also comes in white, green and brick-red, but navy is still a timeless classic.

Starboard also sell some outstanding handmade madras bow ties.

Founded by Benjamin Meredith, it’s a small company founded on passion.  Ben began making bow ties for his personal use as a young attorney.

As with other entrepreneurs, he quickly took note of the attention and questions garnered by his handmade bow ties and drew up plans for a business that became Starboard Clothing Co.

As it says on their website, “the company takes its name from the nautical term ‘Starboard,’ which indicates the right-hand side of a ship. Maybe that’s why there is something about Starboard Clothing Co. that just feels so ‘right.’”  We agree.

The Times’ App List is a definitive guide to must-have games, tools and distractions for your iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone 7 or tablet.  According to the paper, The Sunday Times’ app list was compiled by experts in the relevant fields along with input from regular Sunday Times app reviewers. The App List itself allows readers to search for specific aps, look through app categories and arrange results by platform.

Off the Cuff is proud to be part of the BeSpeak team and honored to work with such a distinguished and talented t group of sartorial and technical experts.

Conceived and developed by legendary clothier Alan Flusser, BeSpeak provides style guidance for business attire for men, including the best style of suit, dress shirt, tie, and pocket square to dress your personal best. The app recommends and coordinates the suit, dress shirt, tie and a pocket square customized for each individual based on a personal profile.

BeSpeak employs patent pending proprietary technology to create a personal profile based on hair color, skin tone, eye color, face shape, body shape and size. These algorithms were created based on intense analysis of classical style guides and designer preferences as seen in fashion advertising and runway shows.

It’s an amazing tool that can help you find the colors, patterns and styles that best suit (so to speak) your specific profile.

Use it in the morning to decide which outfit to wear, how to improve an individual outfit or when shopping to help select profile-perfect purchases. Select the most flattering clothes for a meeting, a date, or job interview. Most importantly, BeSpeak can help you better develop the dressing skills for how to look your most stylish every day.

How does BeSpeak work? First, create and store a personal profile for you (or others) based on hair color, skin tone, eye color, face shape, body shape and size. Then, you will receive a recommendation for coordinated outfits.

To see additional outfit recommendations, just tap the “reload” button on the lower menu bar.

You can also input your own individual articles of clothing or potential purchases and the app will make recommendations relative to your profile as well as evaluate and grade your choices. So, you can build your own virtual closet, get expert recommendations on what works best for you and even make sure that new shirt, suit or tie actually fits with your profile and your wardrobe.

You can download the free BeSpeak app from www.BeSpeak.com or from the iTunes store.

If something retains its function and ability to do its job over time, it will likely become a classic.

And the hallmark of the true preppy aesthetic is the re-purposing of utilitarian items for everyday life: foul weather gear becomes a fashion statement and prep school ties and tweed jackets move into the office.  The steamer trunk that great uncle Dan used at Yale is now a snazzy coffee table at the beach house.  These are the functional transitions which gave birth to cliquish subculture which in turn has, of course, grown into a full blown lifestyle concept.

A great example of this approach to life – utilitarian yet stylish – is the canvas tote bag. The most famous version of this functional workhorse is made by L.L. Bean. In fact, L.L. Bean literally invented the canvas tote bag category. The bag was originally developed to carry blocks of ice (back in the day when block ice was used to keep foods fresh in the ice box).

From these humble beginnings, the bag quickly became recognized for its simple yet elegant functionality. L.L. Bean started to offer the canvas tote in a smaller version and called it the “boat & tote.” It was perfect for lugging around sailing and boating items and the more abuse it suffered the better it looked. So began the WASPy affinity for this multipurpose wonder.

As the Official Preppy Handbook cheekily pointed out, every New England family has several of these lying around the house. In some ways, these canvas totes are a sort of status symbol. That you know what these bags represent – where to get them, the history, even the perceived lifestyle they imply – makes them recognized and desirable.

The L.L. Bean canvas tote bag has been liberally copied by many competitors. The basic design has even been reinterpreted by suppliers to Wall Street brokerage houses and white shoe law firms. Their logoed bags, given as employee gifts or awards, have become New York collector’s items. Go figure.

It is not uncommon to see these iconic bags on the subway, commuting to work with their owners. They are neutrally appealing and bring a bit of the outdoors to the office without being at all kitschy. The midsized L.L. Bean version is perfectly proportioned to hold everyday stuff along with lunch or a morning bagel.

For it’s latest ad campaign, Varvatos has partnered with Green Day, the band which basically created the distinctive rock-punk hybrid sound.  Green Day sports several versions of these sunglasses in the new ad campaign, as well as being fully outfitted in classic John Varvatos rocker duds.

The Varvatos brand has a famously tight association with the music industry and it’s fashion sensibilities reflect this longstanding relationship.

While not what we typically sport here at OTC, we have always liked John Varvatos’ unabashedly and unwavering devotion to the genre.  None of that, “hey, we’re all about rock ‘n roll style now.”  It’s what they do and they do it well, effortlessly shifting between music exec cool and rocker casual.

The sunglasses themselves are a modern take on a classic frame.  Transparent on the front with grey mottled tortoise arms, they are a nice mid-sized frame.  The guitar head detail on the arm hinge is subtle enough to blend into the overall design and not stand out.  Greyed lenses both match the frame’s style and provide nice eye protection without feeling blacked out.

This retro frame also comes in an outstanding brown tortoise for a more traditional take.  You can find them here.  Rock on.

Traveling, whether for business or pleasure, can be a stressful endeavor.  And the desire to return to a time of more thoughtful and luxurious transportation is an easy, escapist point of view.

However, in the real world we must still deal with lines, security checkpoints, body scans, tight seating, cranky airline staff and self-important plane mates, never satisfied unless they have something about which to complain. Yet, as most travel writers will attest, the technology, flexibility and cost of air travel – and of travel in general – has never been more advantageous to the customer as it is now.

Of course, travel these days is by no means perfect, or at times even tolerable. So, let’s agree that, yes, traveling by plane or train can be fraught with potential problems. Late or canceled flights, speed restrictions, or damaged track are but a few of the many things that can lead to a feeling of powerlessness, resulting in frustration and anger.

While such large-scale problems can reduce even the most seasoned traveler to tears, or at least silent rocking back-and-forth paired with deep breaths, more often than not it’s the little things that really cause the most stress.

By planning ahead, playing well with others and accepting that stuff happens, you are more apt to be the kind of person others don’t actually mind being stuck with for a few hours. Being ill prepared for your trip can lead to disappointment and discomfort. Choosing your clothing, luggage, accessories and travel strategy can make a huge difference in outlook and comfort before, during and post trip.

As with most of life, the key to success is often nothing more than preparation and perspective. Here are a few simple things you can do to reduce some of the stress and maybe even enjoy traveling a bit more.

Dressing for Travel

Regardless of the reason for my travel, I always dress as though I am going to run into someone important.

For business, that means wearing a suit, dress shirt, no tie, and good shoes. I always add a pocket square for a touch of style and a little color. When feasible, I also opt for a more comfortable and less form-fitting suit. Casual clothing goes into my bag.

When traveling for fun or in business casual mode, I still choose to project some style and maturity.

I usually pass on the jeans and wear a nice pair of khakis or corduroys and have a blazer or sweater handy. Zip cardigans are a good option and allow for cooler or warmer cabins. I wear shoes that make sense for my trip, not just for ease of the security checkpoint.

A main goal should always be to dress well but remain comfortable. Personally, I make a conscious decision to look better than I need to look.  An excellent example of this approach is displayed here by Alan Flusser.  He expertly presents an elegant yet comfortable look without appearing stuffy or overdone.

When I dress well for travel, I feel better about myself, why I’m traveling and am more thoughtful of others.

By choosing a stylish wardrobe that can be mixed, matched and paired, I also don’t need to pack as much. Gray suit trousers can be paired with an oxford and sweater or a spare blue blazer. For a casually dressy look, pull out the jeans and pair them with a tee shirt, fine gauge v-neck merino sweater and the suit jacket. Mentally work through real outfits for your trip.  Lay them out ahead of time, but be proactive.

Moreover, I simply choose to take a stand against sloppy and disrespectful travelers. Dressing nicely shows respect to my fellow passengers and to the airline or train crew. I am entering their office, their workspace. If I would never dress like a slob to visit a client’s office, why would I do so in the intimate environment of a plane?

Travel experts tell us over and over that how you dress directly impacts the treatment you get from gate agents and flight crews. It is a known and frankly obvious fact that we are judged by how we dress. Everyone makes these kinds of judgments every day. I think the truth of the matter is that we just don’t like it when it happens to us – and the outcome is not in our favor.

Packing

As a regular business traveler, it goes without saying that I always try and get everything I need in a carry-on bag. If that’s not possible, I’ll pack just my essentials in the carry-on and pray that my checked bag arrives when and where I do.

Remember not to over pack your carry-on. Otherwise, you’ll have a whole new level of frustration trying to squeeze it into a too-small overhead compartment. And when that doesn’t work, your carry-on will be gate-checked and you lose access to all that stuff you wanted to keep handy.

In terms of business travel, I have a good rolling carry-on that is perfect for a few days to a week, and a larger global workhorse that can take a beating. A rolling carry-on can be your single most important investment.

There are a lot of options out there; in fact I’ll be upgrading my 15 year-old bag soon and am on the lookout myself. Go for function over form in this case, because what really matters is how well your roller houses your stuff and performs during a transfer or running to catch the 11:58 express.

With business cases and day-to-day bags, I am happy to invest in beautiful leathers and craftsman quality. But when it comes to luggage likely to be checked, I want practical, functional durability.

Sometimes, I use a smaller shoulder strap carry-on bag. My old Ghurka ‘Express’ bag is perfect for this; roomy yet compact, soft and flexible but tough and all-leather durable. But remember, while such a bag may give you a globally stylish and blog-worthy persona, you still need to lug it and your other stuff all over the place. Hence, the myriad benefits of a good, compact, rolling carry-on.

Attitude

Last but not least is the issue of one’s attitude when traveling. The subject of attitude is very important to me. I spent a great deal of my younger years in the luxury retail environment, which is all about relationships. While I always wanted to do well by my customers, I am of the belief that the customer is not always right. Often, yes. Always, no.

The customer is not the most important person in the store. The line salespeople are; as are the managers, stock room, and shipping staff. Staff is what makes companies succeed and when you have staff that wants to give their customers the best service possible, everyone wins.

Permitting customers to run roughshod over your employees is counterproductive. This is not saying employees are always right, it just means they are not human punching bags for cranky customers.

Treat airline staff, or any other staff for that matter, with respect and patience. You may be ticked off, but would you want to switch places with the gate agent who just announced that a flight was canceled?

When front line staff recognize that you are an adult and that you understand they do not, in fact, run the company, they are more likely to remember and look after you.

A few years ago, my wife and I experienced this first hand on a flight to Paris. After a horrible drive to the airport though pounding rain, we were met with a disorganized sea of angry travelers. Ultimately, the flight was canceled. When I finally made it to the counter after nearly an hour, I knew we would never get on the next flight out. I was angry and tired but made every effort not to take it out on the airline agent; it wasn’t her fault.

I was as reasonable as possible under the circumstances, expressed my exasperation and made it clear that I was venting in general, but not at her.

Treating that harried and exhausted desk agent with respect apparently paid off, because hours later, when everyone was finally issued tickets for the new flight, we were upgraded to first class.

A common occurrence? Probably not. But the point remains that how we chose to present ourselves in the situation, pack, prepare and plan all came together at that moment. We were dressed appropriately, prepared with what we needed to get by sans luggage, and behaved like grown-ups when things went south.

Instead of being a bitter memory, that experience continues to inform how we travel and how we treat others.

After appreciating the beauty and construction of both the Cooper brogues and Bobby slip-ins, it was time to head out for a day of meetings.

On went the Coopers and off went our editor-in-chief.  After literally walking all day, from Metro Center to Georgetown and back, for those of you who know DC, there was not a blister in sight. Never before had a pair of dress shoes so effortlessly slipped into preferred status right out of the box. (See below for a special OTC-only deal on ordering your own pair.)

Fin’s are very special shoes.

Launched in 2008, Fin’s For Him was founded by Londoner Alexandra Finlay. She wanted to create a shoe for her males friends that blended the casualness of a summer loafer with the style and quality of a High Street dress shoe.  She settled on a comfortable suede loafer cum driving moccasin.

What began with that suede loafer, still the brand’s cornerstone, has grown into a collection of footwear and accessories including formal city shoes, casual desert boots and now, accessories. All of her products are designed around the mantra of, “Simple, Classic, Affordable and Fuss-Free.”

As a result, the Fin’s brand has garnered a global clientele and its relatively accessible price point means that one need not break the bank to give them a try. While keeping things affordable is a priority, quality is still vital – especially when it comes to footwear. The shoes are hand-stitched in a family-run factory in Portugal and all the accessories are made in Italy.

We find Fin’s to be extremely well made and almost unnaturally comfortable, hence the total lack of break-in. Similarly, the Bobby slip-in also required no getting used to and its supple leather almost makes it feel like a house slipper. Make sure to order down one size on the slip-ins.

While we have not had a chance to test run their casual footwear, these city shoes are outstanding and uniquely English in form. The trim double soles are complimented by a slightly larger (by American standards) toe box. This allows the shoe to provide visual heft and balance to a suit while not appearing clunky or overly casual. “Elegant” is the word which often comes to mind.

While the Fin’s brand has gained popularity in the United States, the cost of getting them here can still be a bit steep (though, in our opinion completely worth it).

To encourage OTC’s readers to give Fin’s For Him a try, Alexandra is offering a 15% discount – not including shipping – on all orders. Just use the code “OTC15″ at checkout.

OTC is happy to recommend Fin’s dress shoes.  They are a perfect start to building up your New Year’s wardrobe!

This is a quick teaser for the full review which will be coming next month.  What we endeavor to accomplish here is explain what to expect from Proper Suit once you take the plunge.

First off, OTC’s suit both met and exceeded our expectations.  The initial review of key components, including fit, construction, fabric, overall quality and attention to detail impressed us on every count.  (By the way, that wrinkly arm in the picture fits wonderfully – just needs some steam.)

It’s important to remember when choosing to go with a brand like Proper Suit, you are opting to order custom tailored clothing with certain constraints.  Among online clothiers, Proper Suit is unique in that Richard and McGregor will personally take your measurements prior to your placing a first order.  It’s extensive, thorough and designed to ensure that your fit is as accurate as possible.  It is not, however, the same as having a custom suit made for you by a tailor who will update your measurements several times throughout the process.  That is an altogether different, and more expensive option.

Making a custom suit is an art, not a science – don’t confuse the two.  Understand the process and set realistic, firm expectations.

Those initial measurements will form the basis for your Proper Suit suit pattern.  It’s a point in time translated to a tailor who will in turn translate them into a suit of clothing.  So, when you open that box for the first time, this should be your expectation:  it should fit very well, but will likely need some tweaking.

That’s exactly the case with the OTC suit; it fit almost perfectly but will need to be let out a touch on the sides.  Other than that, it’s spot on and that’s pretty darn impressive.  And this gets us to the issue of realistic expectations.  It absolutely met ours.  We were not expecting a perfect suit from a single fitting several weeks prior.  We were expecting a suit that was almost perfect and received just that.

The cost for the tailoring adjustments will be reflected on our next order as a credit and we will indeed be placing a next order.  Once those adjustments are made to the Proper Suit pattern, we should have something that does indeed fit perfectly, right out of the box.

Stay tuned for the full review which will go into the details, look and what goes into a Proper Suit and show you the finished product.

In the coming weeks, you will be learning more about a few of the outstanding brands listed below, such as Lotuff Leather.  We are in fact field testing a leather lock briefcase right now; safe to say they are not getting it back after the review!  Recently, we had the chance to speak with the superlative Ira Neimark, former CEO of Bergdorff Goodman, and the man who’s vision created one of the world’s legendary stores.  His new book, The Rise of Fashion and Lessons Learned at Bergdorf Goodman, should be required reading for anyone seeking to understand what it truly means to be an exceptional retailer or influencer of fashion.  Be on the lookout for our review.

Explore, enjoy and Happy Holidays!

1

1

Classic White Oxford Button Down
Lumina Clothing Company
Raleigh, North Carolina

$128.00

Needlpoint Ball Cap
HARDING-LANE
Dedham, Massachusetts

$30.00

1

1

1

1

A Man’s Watch: the Polar Surveyor Chronograph
Kobold Watch Company
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

$8,850.00

1

1

Possibly the Best Jeans You Can Buy
Raleigh Denim Workshop
Raleigh, North Carolina
Around $285.00

1

1

1

1

The Blue Crab Belt
Knot Belt & Clothing Co.
Boston, Massachusetts
$38.00

1

1

1

1

Lessons From a Master Retailer
The Rise of Fashion and Lessons Learned at Bergdorf Goodman
by Ira Neimark
Fairfield, Connecticut

$32.501

1

1

1

Colored Dress Shoe Laces
hook + ALBERT
New York, New York

From $14.00

1

1

1

1

Leather Lock Briefcase
Lotuff Leather
Ware, Massachusetts

$950.00

1

1

1

1

Purple Pinedot Tie
Drakes London
London, United Kingdom

£95.00

1

1

1

1

CD-15 Notebooks
Apica
Japan

Set of three, $10.80

1

1

1

1

The Arte Italiana Milord Fountain Pen
OMAS
Bologna, Italy

$425.00

1

1

1

In many ways, this is a natural extension of the resurgent interest in menswear, a focus on quality and the unique roles history and social provenance play in gentlemanliness.  Another factor is younger men of style seeking to insert a little distinctive expression into clothing that must still conform, more or less, to the realities of workday life.

Enter hook + ALBERT.  This new accessories brand is one of the first to really focus its wares on the desire of stylish men to find ways of injecting life and personality into their wardrobes without necessarily going all peacock.  What began with a mission to create, colorful yet stylish dress socks with the comfort and support of athletic socks, expanded to include a range of clever and colorful accessories.

The socks are H&A’s core product line, and they are wonderful.  Vibrant colors and fun, work-friendly patterns can now pop out from beneath suit trousers and khakis alike.   Company founders Adam and Cory view socks as “ankle accessories” and opted to reinterpret, and indeed reconstruct, the dress sock itself.  Click here to learn about the welcome technical features of hook + ALBERT socks, like cushioning and arch support.

And, while they first sought to bring change to the luxury sock market, they also felt it was important to offer their customers those hard to find little accessories that can truly make ones’ look unique.

Another big hit has been their line of colored dress shoelaces.  Such a simple idea, but such a huge impact on personal style; we love them.  Colored shoe laces can dress up any shoe, from a beat up brogue to a boardroom-ready cap toe.  By going bright or subtle you can give your shoes, and your overall look, a punch of color or simply a hint of something unique.  Laces come in a standard 30-inch length and fit dress shoes and low boots.

We are especially fond of the stylish incongruity a pair of red or orange laces create when worn with heavy-soled wingtips.  It gives the outfit an unexpected personal twist while not taking away from one’s overall look.

Lapels can be a tricky thing for a modern gent.  Once, a man was sartorially naked without something in his lapel hole – after all, it’s there for a reason.  These days it is hard to put one’s lapel to work without looking overly affected; a pocket watch chain secured with granddad’s favorite fob is just too vintage for most men.  Flowers, though Springy and sophisticated, inevitably lead to being asked if one is heading off to a wedding.  Still, there is something undeniably swanky, and distinctly gentlemanly about displaying a tasteful token on one’s lapel.

Hook & ALBERT’s solution was to create a new take on the boutonniere.  Handmade of soft mercerized cotton, each unique crochet flower secures to the jacket lapel via a shell button on the back.  We are partial to the Storm Blue, but as with their shoe laces, the color chosen – bold or subtle – can project the wearer’s mood, personality and sense of style.

The brand’s simple hopsack neckties are of a contemporary, narrow cut and well-finished.  The tie’s colorful contrast backing located where it lays against the shirt collar (in our case, vibrant red for a navy blue tie), has both practical and aesthetic functions.  The detail also gives it a fun tweak known only to the wearer.  The choice of hopsack also gives the tie a slightly informal, vintage air that is well suited for casual dress, letting it take on the role of a stylish accessory.

Lastly, you may be wondering about the name, “hook + ALBERT.”  So did we.  It turns out the name derives from that most treasured of gentlemanly possessions, the pocket watch.

Prince Albert, husband to Queen Victoria, liked to wear his pocket watch on a simple chain secured to his vest through a button hole.  The excess length of the chain would drape across his vest in a stylish swag.  As average gentlemen followed this royal fashion cue, it became known as an “Albert” chain.  A single Albert chain has at one end a vest fastener, often a t-bar or decorative button, and at the other a small “hooked” clasp securing the Albert to the pocket watch.  Want to see what a single Albert looks like?  Head over to OTC’s Facebook page – we found a great example.

OTC is happy to recommend the creative and well-made accessories of hook + ALBERT.