I've recently realized why I love winter so much. The cold weather and icy streets give me just cause to buy new things... Shoes... Jeans... Jackets... You name it, I've indulged in the last little while. Sadly, I've been missing one of the most important things. A place to keep my things! My search for the perfect bag has brought me to none other than Filson. Since 1897, Filson has been delivering remarkable style and quality. A bag should last for many years, so keep in mind this quality... Even at the expense of cost!
This Rucksack is water repellant, making it perfect for those cold and wet winter months that we have here in Vancouver. It goes for $260 (US) and is available here.
The perfect Duffle bag. I love how tough this bag looks, while still maintaining elegance. What a beauty! Costing $225 (US), this bag is available here.
It is said that the strongest sense that's tied to memory is smell. If that's the case, every man and woman should do their best to smell their best. Try to match your fragrance to the season. Summer fragrances should be sweeter... Fruitier, even! I like to use the word 'refreshing' when I think of Summer smells. In the Winter, try to heat things up. Winter fragrances should be smooth and rich. Warm is the word that I use for these scents.
My current obsession. One Million, by Paco Rabbane, is the perfect fragrance for any man this winter. With notes that include Cinnamon Bark and Grapefruit, it is bound to warm even the coldest of hearts this winter. Wear this scent with an overly chunky scarf like the one pictured below, by Paul Smith, to really heat things up! I like to keep my scents (whatever they may be) up close and personal. Spray your fragrance on your lower neck/chest and wear a scarf to keep it there!
I was introduced to this blog this morning. The snow was falling outside and the Christmas music was blaring inside. Was a rather magical morning, and this tidbit of info was the cherry on top. It would be an understatement to say that the writer and I share similar tastes... It would be even more of an understatement to say that their taste is impeccable! After only a glance at the home page, I wanted at least 5 things. Imagine how much I want (need) now that I've had a tad more time to browse through. Keep it up NOTCOUTURE! <3
I'm having a classic moment... And thankfully, I'm not the only one. We've been seeing a lot of designers heading back to the basics over the last few seasons, and it's starting to hit the Ready to Wear department in a big way. From pleated trousers, to full-on suspenders, men have a lot more 'gentlemanly' options. My favourite trend that's coming back in a big way... BOW TIES! And not those lazy clip-on ones. I'm talking full on, tie-it-yourself bow ties.
I got these trousers about a month ago from a store right here in Vancouver. They're by Scotch & Soda, a design house out of Amsterdam. If you're going to go for the suspender look this fall, this is the way to do it. Sure, the clip-on variety work, but the old-school approach looks much more refined (the same can be said for bow ties).
I've been having a lot of difficulty hunting down some old-school bow ties. Finally, I stumbled upon an entire bin of them... And in a thrift store, nonetheless. This one is pure silk, and I got it for only $10.
If you're not one to thrift shop, check out this one by Tommy Hilfiger. The great thing about these simpler patterns is that they can be combined with a variety of looks. Try it with a plain shirt, or even a plaid one. Just be sure that the colours in your look compliment each other. There's no use in adding something as fun as a bow tie if it detracts from the look as a whole!
Now, tying a bow tie is no easy feat. Thank God for Youtube!!
