Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The Dandiest Of Tailors: A Tailored Suit


I just stumbled upon A Tailored Suit, an online tailor specializing in bespoke suits and dress shirts for men. It's brilliant, really. You simply build your own custom garment online choosing from a wide selection of fabrics, styles, and details like lapel type, vents, pockets, interior lining, etc. An instruction guide is included for you to measure yourself, or you can choose to be measured by your local tailor (and receive a $25 credit towards the purchase price). Your custom garment is delivered within 4-5 weeks. And the prices are very reasonable for bespoke: starting at $599 for suits and $99 for custom shirts. What a great concept!

C.H.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Dandies Online: A Suitable Wardrobe

Will of traditional menswear blog A Suitable Wardrobe published a post today about monogramming dress shirts in which he states that traditionally, monograms are placed out of site, such as inside the collar. (Apparently, monograms originally were meant for identification of shirts in the laundry.) According to this school monograms on dress shirts today are merely for vanity - as in only the wearer knows its there. Nonetheless, they're one of life's luxuries I'm fond of.

C.H.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Saturday, December 27, 2008

A Very Dandy Gift: Creed Eau De Toilette

Santa was good to me this year and gave me Royal English Leather cologne by Creed. Attention all dapper gents. This is the real deal.

According to the company's web site:

"CREED is the world's only dynastic, privately held luxury fragrance company. Founded in 1760 and passed from father to son since then, CREED has served more than 10 royal houses and the discerning public for 248 years. Indeed, CREED is one of the 100 oldest family businesses in the world.

"Based in Paris, CREED today is led by the legendary Olivier CREED, sixth generation master perfumer and company chief. Working alongside is his son, Erwin, 28, rising seventh generation and future head of the House.

"A house of tradition, CREED adheres to unrelenting high standards in fragrance creation and client service. CREED uses methods of hand production, including maceration and filtration, instituted at the company's founding. CREED is the industry's strongest proponent of natural ingredients in fragrance.

"For these reasons, CREED has a loyal clientele that includes royalty, Hollywood stars, political leaders, legends in business, sports, music and the fine arts as well as discerning members of the public who value beauty and quality in scent."

Santa, you know me so well. A discerning dandy, indeed.

C.H.


Friday, December 26, 2008

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Is A Time For Bow Ties And Velvet Blazers

If there is ever a time for "festive attire", it's Christmas. It's the perfect time for bow ties. And of course it's time to pull out the velvet blazers (that's assuming they're put away). Celebrate the holiday and be sure to dress for the occasion.



C.H.

Monday, December 22, 2008

A Necessity For Every Gent: Argyle Socks


Argyle socks are a must for every dapper gentleman's wardrobe. Originally derived from the tartan pattern of Scotland, argyle socks became popular with golfers in the early 1900's. And happily they have seen a resurgence in popularity in the last several years.



C.H.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Dandy Talk Show Host: Elvis Costello





Elvis Costello is looking very dandy in the promo photos for his new talk show on the Sundance Channel.

C.H.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Celebrity Dandy: Brad Pitt In Architectural Digest


Brad Pitt is looking rather dandy on the cover of the January issue of Architectural Digest. Pitt discusses his work rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans with his Make It Right Foundation.



C.H.




Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Presidential Dandy

WWD.com invited top menswear designers for their version of President-elect Obama's wardrobe. Here are are some highlights.


Rag And Bone

Kenneth Cole

Nautica


Thom Browne

C.H.




Tuesday, December 16, 2008

A Dandy Good Dress Code: Formal Friday


Forget Casual Friday! Our dandy facebook fan Kevin Chan tells us about how he instituted a policy of "Formal Friday" at The Barbarian Group and encourages his co-workers to get dressed up each Friday. I think that's an amazing way to combat our dressed down-obsessed culture. And what fun!
C.H.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Dandy On TV: Survivor's Bob

Full disclosure. I don't watch the show. But I was urged to check out Bow Tie Bob on the 17th season of Survivor. He apparently was nick-named because of his constant use of bow ties, even through the most rigorous challenges. The photo to the left is from the most recent episode when the participants were all given banners to wear and Bob turned his into a bow tie (with the Survivor logo showing).

C.H.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Welcome Daily Dandies!

We've just learned that we're going to be featured in tomorrow's "Everywhere" edition of Daily Candy, reaching the 2.5 million hip readers of the daily newsletter from all over the US. Of course that's huge for our little shop! So, welcome Daily Candy readers, thanks for checking us out, and remember to always be "fine and dandy".



Charles Henry

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Are You A Dandy Fan On Facebook?

The FineAndDandyShop.com fan page on facebook has become quite popular in the past week. Our facebook fans have shared their photos for our "new school dandy album", have been the first to hear about developments with the shop (including promotional specials), and starting next month will receive Charles Henry's Weekly Tip For Modern Gents. Here are a few of our favorite new school dandies.


   

C.H.


Sunday, December 7, 2008

Dandy Images: Hierarchy Of Beards

Via the blog Boing Boing I found this amazing vintage poster "Hierarchy Of Beards" on the Wondermark blog. Very dandy, indeed.




C.H.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Dandy Artist: Juno Youn

Toronto artist, Juno Youn's current show CONJUROR at Sunny Choi Gallery is definitely dandy reinvented. Youn's images of top hats, bow ties, and mustaches bring new meaning to fine (and dandy) arts. It's quite a magical collection fitting perfectly in any gentleman's library.




C.H.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Dandies In Print: ABC Of Men's Fashion



After letting it sit for several months on my ever-growing pile of books to read, I finally started flipping through ABC Of Men's Fashion, a reprint of the 1964 guidebook by English menswear designer Sir Hardy Ames. The book is full of sharp descriptions of sartorial terms like dogtooth check, motoring coat, and willow calf, all written with Ames' hilariously opinionated wit.

My favorite line from the book: "A man should look as if he had bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care, and then forgotten all about them."

C.H.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Pop Dandies: The Jonas Brothers




The Jonas Brothers are just further proof of the dandy's takeover in men's style. The brothers (ranging in age from 14 to 19) propelled into popularity as the pop boyband group on the Disney Channel and are huge in the teen market. Another example of traditional men's style being fresh and new.



















C.H.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Dandies Online: Bill Cunningham's On The Street On nytimes.com

I'm a little late with this but Bill Cunningham had another amazing photo spread in the New York Times and on nytimes.com this past Sunday in which he compared the classic style of a few gents to a 1933 Packard he saw on the street.





C.H.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Dandies Online: Lookbook.nu

I've just discovered Lookbook.nu an online "networking" site focused on style. Essentially, members upload photos of themselves, and other members comment and rate each particular "look". I'm a little embarrassed to say that I've found myself totally sucked in and I spend far too many hours browsing looks. Actually, I'm amazed at how many truly stylish young dandies I've found. I'm definitely inspired. Here are a few of my favorites:

C.H.


Sunday, November 23, 2008

A Dandy Of An Online Shop: Ankar

I just stumbled upon Ankar a Swedish men's online retailer for cashmere sweaters and East African Kikoy scarves. What I find most notable is the array of vibrant colors of the sweaters. Stunning.

C.H.

Dapper Men In Print: GQ

The December GQ article, "The New Standards 2008" features six items that "rise above the clatter" and "changed the way we dress." Item five is the silver tie bar. "The tie bar recalls a time when...shoes shined and socks matched... It's the accessory that pulls your look together and instantly sets you apart from the other suits."

The article image includes tie bars from Paul Stuart, Brooks Brothers, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, and Thom Browne, ranging in price from $75 to $290. Our tie bars range in price from $19 to $25.



Our Rectangular Silver Tie Bar ($25) and Indigo Blue Wool Tie ($45).

C.H.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Currently My Favorite Blog: "What I Saw Today"

It seems there are a million and one street style blogs trying to be the next Sartorialist. "What I Saw Today" beats them all tenfold. Blogger "Designerman" publishes gorgeous illustrations of the stylish men he sees on the streets of NYC. Sophisticated yet playful. And very dandy. Well done!




C.H.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

A Gentleman Should Know How to Tie A Bow Tie

Last night, my friend David admitted to occasionally wearing a clip-on bow tie because he's never learned to tie one on the old-fashioned way. Alright gents, if you don't know already, the time has come. The YouTube clip below is a fun instructional video. It will take a few tries to get it right but practice makes perfect. Actually, it doesn't need to be perfect. In fact, I love the imperfection of the knot of a self-tied bow tie. Watch and give it a try.



C.H.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Dandies In Print: Mr. Classic

I'm officially obsessed with Mr. Classic, Garda Tang's coffee table book of the work of men's fashion designer, Jeremy Hackett. What I particularly love about this incredible collection of sartorial photos is Hackett and Tang's ability to make men's traditional clothing so young. From the school boy in the tweed jacket, sweater vest, bow tie, and military buttons on the back panel to the young gent on the cover in a tux with flip flops (left). Absolute dandied perfection!


C.H.



Sunday, November 16, 2008

Dandies In Print: The Globe And Mail

Russell Smith "rocks the bow tie without looking nerdy" in Toronto's Globe And Mail. Smith ponders the bow tie's transformation from high fashion to mainstream and the importance of context when choosing to wear a bow tie: he fears that if he doesn't get it right (black Prada jackets, skinny trousers, high boots) he'll look like a bachelor English teacher taking his niece out for tea. But for some of us, that is occasionally the very look we're going for!

C.H.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Dandies In Print: What A Man Should Know







I finally picked up a copy of What A Man Should Know, J. Crew's gentlemanly guide by Max Blagg. An all purpose list of 50 tips from "A man should know how to salt his conversation" to "A man should know how to fire up a barbecue without starter fluid."


Most relevant here:

A man should know when to ignore certain rules of clothing etiquette: For instance, the canard that he should not bedeck himself in shades of white or linen fabrics once Labor Day has come and gone. Refuse such orthodoxy! You're a big boy now. You can dress yourself.

A man should know the true history of the blue blazer: Especially if he is wearing one. Back around 1837, Queen Victoria was making one of her surprise visits to the Fleet. The Captain of the HMS Blazer, appalled at the scruffy condition of his crew, had the ship's tailor, a genius at improvisation, sew up some sharp new uniforms, using an onboard supply of blue serge and some spare brass buttons. The tailor knocked off the double-breasted style of the standard mariner issue reefer jacket. The Queen remarked on the elegance of the crew and the "blazer" was born. Later variations produced the now classic single-breasted version with two buttons, a notched lapel and a center vent, but in either form, the navy blazer still rules.

A man should know how to tie a necktie: The tie is a useful accoutrement in helping to conceal too convex a body shape. It hides missing shirt buttons, too. According to a scientific study, there are 85 ways to tie a necktie, but one only needs to know those few that demonstrate symmetry and balance, like the Windsor or the classic four-in-hand.

C.H.