The Sunday Best

Sober Reminder

Patrick Stewart, a true gentleman.

 
Here he writes about growing up with domestic violence:

I knew exactly when the shouting was done and a hand was about to be raised – I also knew exactly when to insert a small body between the fist and her face, a skill no child should ever have to learn.

Protect the women you love - always the right thing to do.

Trending in My Closet

I opened my closet the other day and discovered that, unbeknownst to me, it had started to...trend a little.

The grey sweatshirt is popping up all over the place, but the reddish-pink shirt I seem to have adopted all on my own. 

I'm hoping that if I leave it alone my closet will start to trend Armani tuxedos. 

How a Man Gets Ready | Tony Leung Chiu-Wai

Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in the final scene of Days of Being Wild.

And what he looks like when he finds out his wife is cheating on him. In the Mood for Love is the most stylish movie I've ever seen.

Literally Fashionable | The Shirt

From "Shirt" by Robert Pinsky:

The back, the yoke, the yardage. Lapped seams,
The nearly invisible stitches along the collar
Turned in a sweatshop by Koreans or Malaysians

Gossiping over tea and noodles on their break
Or talking money or politics while one fitted
This armpiece with its overseam to the band

Of cuff I button at my wrist. The presser, the cutter,
The wringer, the mangle. The needle, the union,
The treadle, the bobbin. The code.

...

George Herbert, your descendant is a Black
Lady in South Carolina, her name is Irma
And she inspected my shirt. Its color and fit

And feel and its clean smell have satisfied
both her and me. We have culled its cost and quality
Down to the buttons of simulated bone,

The buttonholes, the sizing, the facing, the characters
Printed in black on neckband and tail. The shape,
The label, the labor, the color, the shade. The shirt.

Copyright Robert Pinsky

In Defence of Speaking Good, You Know?

Not quite Chris Rock's "He's so well spoken", but a timely polemic on the need for thoughtful speech.

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Poem by Taylor Mali.

Get Your Hair Did | Privé Products

I didn't start this blog to be sent products, and my general stance was always to say no. I say "was" because occasionally I'm offered something that sounds genuinely interesting, and I can't think of a good reason not to accept it. In my responses I'm always very clear - there is no guarantee I'll write about what is sent, and I can't say if I do that it will be positive. 

When a PR rep from Privé Products wrote to me, I almost automatically hit delete until I saw they had a pomade. I've recently adopted a "traditional" haircut and have been experimenting, with poor results, with various pomade-type products. So I wrote back, said I could be sent a sample, and that I'd run my opinions by them before posting anything.

Pomade: Etymology - Middle French pommade ointment formerly made from apples, from Italian pomata, from pomo apple, from Late Latin pomum

Date: 1562

: a perfumed ointment; especially : a fragrant hair dressing

The sculpting pomade I was sent has a pleasant, clean smell that, despite worries to the contrary based on the packaging, is not reminiscent of mown lawn. It feels very thick and tacky on the hands while you work it, but once in the hair blends almost into a gel. 

I was worried that it wouldn't hold my hair so I added some other product on the first try.

Day One w/ added product:

And by the end of the day:

I could run my hands through my hair easily, and, with a bit of water, reshape it to a fairly high degree. The next day I used just the pomade.

At first I thought it was too shiny for my tastes, but the sheen grew on me. I don't know if it will replace what I currently use, but I'd recommend it for anyone looking at a pomade. 

I Want to Dress Like a Woman*

*Specifically, a woman wearing Hermès. (All pictures copyright Style.com, except for the first picture copyright NY Times.)

 
 

 

The Marker

One day, son, if you ask a girl to marry you, she may get you such a watch.

(As seen on Put This On. As given by Charlie.)

Tokyo Help

 For a couple of weeks in June and July I'll be travelling for the first time to Japan. Part of the trip will be in Tokyo and part of it will be in a village to attend a friend's wedding. I've been dreaming about Tokyo for years and have my own list, aided by blogs and magazines, of things I must absolutely see (including stopping into every Uniqlo possible), but thought I'd ask readers for their suggestions.

If you've been to Tokyo what are must sees? Details are very welcome, the more the better. Links are also very good.

As an added incentive for suggestions, everyone who makes one will be added to a little draw for ONE VERY COOL THING from my trip. I have no idea what it is, but I guarantee it will be VERY COOL. Super cool even. If you don't feel like leaving a comment you can always send a suggestion via email, which will also net you an entry.

 Like this, only smaller.

Thanks in advance.

Analog in the Digital Age | Inspiration

It's ironic that as photography moves almost completely away from film to digital, it is now easier than ever to peruse archival photos. The following selection comes from the Flickr Commons, an easily accessible source for style inspiration.