Today is the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee. Without exception, Dr. King was one of the most inspiring and influential Americans in modern history. Go here and learn why he was also an icon of style – because style isn’t always about the clothes.
Author: OTC
One Thing: Zip Front Sweaters
Everyone should have a good selection of sweaters in their closet. Though popular and incredibly useful, sweaters are not often considered fashion accessories. What I mean by this is that they tend to be viewed from the perspective of function rather than form. And this is just fine; not every piece of clothing you own…
Dressing For Success: Where To Begin
After discussing some interesting albeit abstract topics lately, I thought it might be useful to address a sartorial issue on the plates of men everywhere. How best to dress for moving up in one’s career is a universal concern. Many of us head off to a traditional office day after day and finding something interesting…
It’s Hip to be Square: Bell & Ross
When it comes to wrist watches, the shape and style of the watch case is often a variation on a common platform. Typically, they are round, rectangular or Tourneau – all fairly traditional shapes. Once in a while though, a manufacturer comes along and dramatically changes the playing field. While not for everyone, Bell &…
Off The Cuff on Rugby.com
Check it out! Off The Cuff is highlighted today on Polo’s Rugby.com site. I am very honored that Rugby’s top notch blogging team chose to highlight my recent “Roots of American Preppy” article. Rugby is a truly innovative, creative offshoot of Polo’s family of brands and has clearly shown that it can stand on its…
Commuter & Dad Bag Test: Crumpler – Funny Name, Good Bag
Ever heard of Crumpler? Maybe not, but I suspect that most readers might recognize that little crazy-haired logo on the company’s distinctive messenger-inspired bags. You might not remember exactly where you saw him or on what, but chances are it will ring familiar. Crumpler is one of those brands; sort of everywhere but not necessarily…
Don’t Just Manage Your Message, Create It
You’ve heard it many times before, “details matter.” It’s true; details are the finishing touches of personal expression. They are often what separate average guys from truly interesting men. Whether big or small, exuberant or subtle, details drive the messages we use to define ourselves to others. Not too long ago, my fellow MensFlair contributor,…
The Roots of American Preppy
This column grew out of a recent discussion on this blog about the relationship between classic and preppy styles. The subject quickly became an effort to identify the real roots of American preppy and what it means today. New England preparatory schools, conservative protestant values and social stratification together created an environment that produced the…
Changing Your Pants
I am feeling a little vindicated today because it seems dress and casual pants, long the forgotten stepchild of designer jeans, are making a comeback. As retail sales for men’s jeans are finally starting to slip, corresponding numbers for dress and casual trousers are actually rising. This shift is being blamed on a combination of…
Commuter & Dad Bag Test: Bag #1
Anyone who reads Off The Cuff regularly knows that I am always thinking about bags in one way or another because men today need them more than ever. And for those of us who commute by bus or rail, like me, we need good bags. This led to the idea of the Commuter and Dad…