Do you remember the Ronald Reagan era; “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall…” and his many other quotable quotes? His speeches, excellent examples of wording, timing and the deft use of humor, are still studied by prospective politicians. And as a former actor, Reagan also understood the power of wardrobe and presentation. Even during his…
Tag: Accessories
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…
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 &…
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…
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…
One Thing: The Flat Folio
I need to add one more item to my perpetual wish list. I hope that when you read this column, you too make a little room for this arguably anachronistic yet stylish item. I would very much like a flat leather document folio; the one with a zipper that opens up on three sides so…
One Thing: The Canvas Tote Bag
I have written a fair amount about men’s bags because to me, there really is no issue about it anymore; most men need some kind of bag to hold all their stuff. From cell phones to Blackberries, notebooks to notebook computers, the days of stuffing one’s necessities into your pockets is long gone. I should…
The Man Bag: Redux
I’ve been looking forward to writing a follow-up to “Defending a Man’s Bag,” one of the most popular articles I’ve written. Well, here it is. It’s taken me a while to pull this together because I wanted to have a reason for doing an update and not just rehashing the whole, “I like this bag…