Bravado Living

For years, discerning men of taste have carried handkerchiefs on their person. Now a silk handkerchief is a great way to not look like a repugnant degenerate when sneezing in public, wiping one’s sweaty face on a hot day, or blowing one’s nose. To all my neighborhood street pugilists, a handkerchief can easily substitute as a bandage for a minor injury. One could argue that handkerchiefs are unhygienic, but you can easily solve this problem by buying a few spares to account for laundry turnover; furthermore, handkerchiefs are more environmentally conscious than paper ones, making it a great conversation topic with an eco-loving hottie.

Not only are they a great way for a gentleman to handle his hygiene with style, a good looking silk hanky can add a little something extra to any ensemble. Put it in the breast pocket of your jacket or coat to put a finishing touch to a formal outfit, or in the breast pocket of a nice short-sleeve shirt to add some more presence to your person when at a casual gathering. I wouldn’t even worry so much about matching it with your clothes, you want eyes to wander to your breast pocket. I love this simple polka dot handkerchief, I find the white on blue droll as hell. The handkerchief is a timeless accessory for any man, be it for style or hygiene.
This hanky from Aspinal of London is only $20.
Get one here.

These chukka boots are vibrant and eye-catching. I really love this royal blue suede, it totally sells the shoe for me. This is some classy casual wear, something I would sport at a lunch at a nice restaurant or at party with at friends. Really, you can take these feet crowns pretty much anywhere.

I’d take them to the bar because they are sure to catch the attention of the women folk(they can spot shoes and color like an eagle spots injured rabbits.), but with my luck I know some douche is going to spill his drink on them. And then I’d stomp his face in and blood really does a number on royal blue suede.

They are really fresh take on chukka boots, a little modern and with an innovative use of color. These are a fresh way to add a little more color to your spring wardrobe. Your best bet is to pair them with cropped, cuffed khakis or slim/straight denim.

$495, Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Ave., NYC, (212) 753-4000

Or get them here.

These shoes are for the hardcore gentleman, they are sleek, stylish, and made up of the skins of animals. The Julian features both antiqued calf and genuine crocodile uppers for a look that is amazingly traditional and modern at the same time. The multiple overlays and that modern square toe mesh very well with the classic oxford styling. These are great shoes to hit the town or wear at the office, unless your bars and offices are staffed by baby cows and alligators.

I’d probably wear these sucker at the zoo and even the animals would give me props. Well, at least the cool carnivorous animals and the dangerous herbivores, probably not so much the pansy prey animals. The Julian comes in both black and brown, either of which can easily assimilate itself seamlessly into any ensemble. So you if can get over the guilty twinge at wearing animal skins, these are a great addition to any closet.
They retail for about $200.
Get them here.

“This is another peek at the new collections that are popping up this upcoming spring. This is a gingham shirt by Hyden Yoo Vilas. If I was an up and coming young banker or advertising exec who wants to seem professional but still hip, this is what I would wear. I feel that Hyden Yoo Vilas has a really great relaxed personal style that is always being communicated throughout all his pieces, be they a tweed suit or a t-shirt.
I think this shirt is snazzy as hell. I can just imagine the hot girl at the office mouthing those words as I pass by in this little number. I really enjoy the dark checkered patter and how it is very nicely accentuated by that large black stripe that goes down the center.

$156, Oak, 208 N. Eighth St., Brooklyn, NY, (718) 782-0521, oaknyc.com

Lacoste Essential is a great fragrance, really fresh and crisp. It is a very light and casual fragrance, very inoffensive and green. It creates an aura around you without overpowering your presence.

The top notes are tangerine, bergamot, tomato leaves, and cassis. The middle notes are black pepper and rose. The base notes are patchouli, sandalwood, and wood accord. It’s very clean smelling and a perfect scent for the daytime, especially during the summer and spring months. Essentials lasts for about 6 to 8 hours, give or take an hour or so.

An interesting fact about Essentials is that it retains the fragrance of the top notes throughout its duration, which is neat since in most colognes the top notes evaporate within the first hour or so. That means instead of your cologne smelling a certain way for an hour and then changing into a slightly different scent for the rest of day, you’ll have that consistent scent throughout.

According to Lacoste, this is due to their patented Time Release Technology which basically traps the top note oils in the perfume and releases them steadily over time. Another little neat perk of the this technology is that when your body heat goes up, it releases a burst of scent. This is probably bad for running away from wolves, but great for day out in the sun or playing light sports.

BUY IT Lacoste Essential 4.2 oz bottle $65