Curated and customized style boxes delivered to your front door via subscription are very much a thing right now. As with most brands competing in a commoditzed market, first movers have the advantage of establishing themselves as brand names which often represent the whole segment. Some services are spot-on, some average, and some forgettable. With…
As cold weather settles back in across the Northern hemisphere, let’s make sure to keep a little sunshine peeking through the clouds. Indeed, this time of year means wool sweaters and six-whale cords. Yes, there will be more time indoors and more flannels, tweeds, fleece, and hot coffee. All good things to be sure; however,…
When Jack Carlson penned Rowing Blazers, he created a unique and elegant anthology of the hard-charging yet tradition-bound rowing culture. An instant classic, it’s a welcome edition to any gentleman’s classic style and menswear library. The book also showcases the vibrant and eccentric designs of the world’s rowing clubs’ historic and in some cases, iconic,…
OTC and influential menswear lifestyle brand Jack Spade teamed up as part of the recent Georgetown Blogger Crawl, a viral marketing event to promote and celebrate the storied and historic retail hub of America’s Capitol City. As part of the #GTBloggerCrawl, OTC was honored to be the brand ambassador for Jack Spade’s DC presence. The…
It’s that time of year again! OTC has scoured the market and checked in with our many brand friends, looking for new and different holiday gift ideas. We also sought out products that have a little fun and creativity to boot. From bags to books, jeans to key chains, shoes to shirts, OTC has something…
From billfolds to pocket secretaries, a wallet is one of the most personal items a man carries all day, every day. In addition to credit cards and cash, IDs, and licenses, your wallet is often home to those personal scraps of memory and nostalgia unique to you. Unlike a favorite bag, shoes, or even the…
J. Panther Luggage Company makes really cool bags. We have reviewed several of their pieces, including the Courier Ruc, which is essentially the company’s flagship bag. What makes JPLC bags so special is the combination of innovative design, tough-as-nails construction, and use of exceptionally fine materials. JPLC bags can easily hold their own against better…
We love a good bag, and we are always on the lookout for a great backpack. Backpacks are versatile, practical, convenient, and leave your hands free to do other stuff. However, in the rarefied air of men’s fashion discourse, “backpack” can be a fightin’ word. To be sure, OTC is a men’s style and lifestyle…
“It all begins with the fit.” Peter Agati, Paul Stuart’s shoe buyer, is a shoe guy through and through. He knows shoes and he knows that what matters most is fit. If the fit is off, nothing else matters. If the fit is right, everything else falls into place. His first trip to a shoe…
And now for something completely different. Have you ever been stuck on a delayed flight, crammed into a too-small airline seat and wondered to yourself, “why hasn’t anyone made belts out of these seat belt buckles?” Well, wonder no more – it’s been done. Fly-Belts has taken the ubiquitous airline “lift to release” seat…
