We are actually combining two things here: a product review and collaboration announcement. It’s all about Docker’s Alpha Khakis and US Open tennis. OTC is excited to announce that we will be covering the women’s final match of the US Open this coming Saturday. OTC is partnering with American Express to give our readers a…
Category: Product Review
Grooming Find: Philips Bodygroom Pro
While OTC is not a grooming site per se, the issue of personal care an appearance often comes up. Mostly it’s in the form of reader emails; what is the best strait razor or shaving creme? How about Australian hair gel or Italian toothpaste? Sometimes, however, the issue is a little more….personal. While beards and…
OTC Recommends: J. Panther Courier Ruc
This bag surprised us – in a very good way. It is hard to come up with a truly innovative briefcase; something that maintains the high standards of a professional work bag but also takes on a different, less-formal role. The J. Panther Courier Ruc does just that. It’s a briefcase for guys who might…
OTC Heads to Nantucket (Brand Roundup)
Last month, the OTC crew loaded up and decamped to the wonderful island of Nantucket. Apart from being the advertizing byword of preppy lifestyle brands, it is also place rich in history and the default vacation destination for generations of New Englanders. Nantucket is a laid back home to several thousand year-round residents and temporary…
John Varvatos ChronoScope Hits Nantucket
A few days before OTC decamped to the island of Nantucket, bastion of East Coast laid back preppy, we were thrilled to receive John Varvatos’ newest collaboration with Swiss watch maker Ernst Benz. Into the carry-on and off we went for a week on a famous, tiny island in the Atlantic ocean. The Ernst Benz by…
“Streets” is Not Your Dad’s Old Suit
What comes to mind when you hear, “Hart Schaffner Marx?” Perhaps you think of your dad’s two-button lawyerly-looking gray suit? You know, the one with the center-vent jacket, pleated trousers and conservative, boxy profile. Well made, yes; but certainly not anything to which you aspired. The same often holds true for memories of that other…
Artist “Sammo” Puts Menswear on the Wall
Canadian artist Sam “Sammo” Shuter gives classic menswear a visual punch and colorful twist that we flat-out love. Her vivid and creative take on suits, ties, jackets, and the other staples of a well-dressed man’s wardrobe are brought to life in bold colors and strong, purposeful brush strokes. The clever riff of mixing high style…
The Messenger Bag Grows Up
Here at OTC, we like a good bag. Men have come to appreciate the role of a good bag in their lives and for many the seminal bag is the universally useful messenger bag. Messenger bags are much hipper than a backpack and have the implied ruggedness of utilitarian cool. There is some debate about…
The Ivy League: A Personal Review
In the six years that Off the Cuff has been around, I have made a point to try and keep my personal life and background out of the picture. Occasionally, articles have alluded to my upbringing and the Ivy League-ness of the world in which I was raised. While a rich and interesting background to…
Summer Casual: Three brands, one message
As the weather warms up, sweaters and khakis give way to polos and shorts. The look above brings together three of OTC’s favorite warm weather brands: Southern Tide, True Wind, and Kiel James Patrick. Each of these brands captures a particular aspect of summer – sailing across the open water, lounging with friends over a…