2011 Holiday Wish List
This year, the OTC Holiday Wish List has a great mix of interesting items, price points and functionality. Some of these brands may be familiar to you, while others may be something new. And that’s what we try and do at OTC – remind our readers of why certain brands are indeed great, and introduce…
Hook + ALBERT: Modern Dandies
Along with the general movement these days towards better dressing and personal expression through style, a certain element of dandyism has again come to the fore. However, instead of exploding with color, pattern and anachronistic flourishes, today’s dandies are taking a refined and targeted approach to flair. In many ways, this is a natural extension…
British Heritage Brand Turf Legends
When Stuart King co-founded Turf Legends back in 2008, his goal was to create a clothing brand that reflected the storied history of British steeplechase. He wanted to pay homage to the sport’s great horses and their riders in a way that conveyed his love for this sport and its historical importance. Steeplechase is a…
Michael Bastian + Randolph Engineering
Award winning designer Michael Bastian recently joined forces with eye wear maker Randolph Engineering, provider of classic aviator specs to the U.S. military, to give a fresh take on classic sunglasses. The 2011 CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year and head of design at Gant by Michael Bastian, reinterpreted five of Randolph Engineering’s classic frames. …
Suiting Up With Proper Suit
OTC recently met with Richard Hall and McGregor J. Madden, co-owners of custom clothier Proper Suit. While there are a lot of “custom” suit makers out there these days, Proper Suit, as a brand and a process, is uniquely impressive. A near obsessive love of design, fit, quality and style is one of the distinctive…
Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style
When first reading my copy of Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style, I was reminded of how omnipresent the whole preppy thing has become. OTC hit the internet back in 2005. Back then, there were very few men’s fashion blogs out there. And there were even fewer sites dedicated to the preppy/Ivy League/East Coast style so familiar…
A Tale of Two Wallets
From billfolds to pocket secretaries to slim card cases, a wallet is one of the most personal items a man carries. 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 your bag, your shoes or even the…
OTC Endorses knomo London
OTC has had the chance to test out a couple of bags from the London-based brand knomo . Known for blending organic, contemporary designs with high quality materials and finishes, knomo bags are a great option for everyday use. We’ve spent the past few weeks putting the Kobe messenger and Jackson briefcase through their paces…
The Resurgence of Style; How Did We Get Here?
Do you remember the 1990s? It was a decade of change; serious social and sartorial paradigm shifting – to use a very ‘90s term. Back then, the rules which governed the very concept of business attire and professional decorum were being tossed out the window wholesale. Prior to the dot-com revolution, suits were de rigueur…