Normally, I wait a little while before posting any of my MensFlair columns to the blog. I like to give myself some space so that I can revisit what I had to say, add some new material or perhaps a different viewpoint. In this case however, an article in yesterday’s DNR bookended very nicely with…
Author: OTC
LVMH Buys Hublot
Today Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton (LVMH) announced the purchase of Swiss watch maker Hublot from the company’s founder, Carlo Crocco. The outright acquisition of the company brings Hublot, founded in 1980, into the orbit of the largest and some say most voracious, luxury goods company in the world. Known for targeting and then acquiring niche…
The Art of The Pocket
Men can be a little superstitious about some things. We have our lucky shirt or favorite pair of shoes, a certain tie; maybe even a particular driving route to the office. We also have our talismans – a favorite pair of cuff links or certain watch, for example. Personally, I have a lucky coin; it’s…
Commuter & Dad Bag Test: Timbuk2
If there is one company that’s the proverbial 800 pound gorilla of the messenger bag industry, it’s Timbuk2. The San Francisco based company’s three paneled bags have become somewhat iconic, just like its curly-cue logo. Though owners can customize those panels to almost any color combination, the bags are still instantly identifiable. BACKGROUNDFrom its founding…
WSJ Takes on "Business Casual"
Today’s Wall Street Journal takes on the misnomer of business casual. Read the article HERE. The author argues, convincingly I think, that dressing for business and dressing for casual time are two different things. “Business casual,” she feels, is an oxymoron that causes confusion and often leads to poor wardrobe decisions that can sometimes derail…
A Little More Important Than Clothes
I suspect that many of you have heard about Randy Pausche, the Carnegie Mellon professor who is dying of a pancreatic cancer. His last lecture, a professorial tradition at the school for retiring teachers, took on extraordinary meaning. Recorded on September 18, 2007, this wonderful discussion about fulfilling your childhood dreams and living a life…
Bedside Reading – Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster
I wrote recently about how luxury has been downtrodden over the years, and how our own quest to live the good life has fueled the demand for cheap opulence. To me, this is a fascinating issue because it ties together the multiple effects of social stratification, class change, privilege and the common leveler of the…
Mastering The Wall Street Style
So you want to be the next Gordon Gekko? Think you’re a master of the universe, ready to wheel and deal with the big guns on Wall Street? I spend a fair amount of time with those guys and though it’s been a rough couple of months in the Big Apple, most are still looking…
Style Guide: Fashion for Shorter Gentleman
When it comes to shorter men, finding well-tailored and well-designed clothes in styles that also enhance stature are not always easy to come by. In the business arena, clothing plays a key role because it can influence how others see you – tall or short, slim or wide. Perception, as usual, is king. Based in…
Wordsmithing: A Paucity of Plurals
I’ve recently noticed a disturbing trend that seems to be affecting people from all walks of life. From politicians to newscasters there’s many people making this annoying and slightly baffling grammatical mistake. Did you catch it? Please tell me you did. In the previous sentence, I used a singular contraction (there’s = there is) with…