Bravado Living

We were recently contacted by Duncan Grant, Director of the Dalvery Shirt company from the UK. We’ve featured some of the their products in the past here and here, and they contacted us to correct our links. It’s always nice to hear from small, family owned companies that care about their product. So we were thrilled when they decided to send us a gift package for review.

They products they us over were the sky blue windowpane check shirt, the links sky blue tie, and the propeller cufflinks.

We recieved  the package from Dalvey Shirt company with their windowpane shirt this past December.  To be quite honest, when I first received the package I was bit underwhelmed. Having shipped to Seattle from the UK, you can imagine the box was a bit beat up, and the packaging was beginning to fade. When we opened the package we found the windowpane check shirt, the cufflinks, and links tie.  When we examined the shirt it was a bit rough to the touch and the buttons were thin. Not exactly what we expected  from a London Luxury House. It was a bit dissapointing.

Everything changed when I slid this shirt on.

The Shirt

I’m about 6′ tall, and fairly athletic, and the regular cut fit me like a bespoke glove. When  I slid this shirt on, it glided on and snugged tight. I have $400 bespoke shirts that don’t fit this well. The tail is exceptionally long so you don’t have to worry about it bulging out on the sides, and the bottoning closes neatly. Even more impressive are the collars and cuff. You can tell they have been reinforced and double stiched to prevent shrinking and even more importantly prevent pancake collaring when wearing it with a blazer. The collar sticks straight up like a pair of doberman ears, even under the heaviest of wool blazers.

Fits Like A Glove

Even more impressive was how wrinkle-resistant this shirt is. That rough to the touch feeling faded after two trips to the dry-cleaning (probably starch residue), and became much softer to wear, but the stiff properties of the shirt were still resiliant. I found myself often heading out for happy hours after a long day running hard at the office without a noticible wrinkle. Within two months this became my go-to work shirt because of how crisp it stays all day, giving me that fresh from the presses look that I crave, all day long.

In all honesty, this has become my favorite shirt in my rotation. The first shirt may have been free, but I’m gladly paying for my next one.

Buy Here Dalvey Sky Blue Windowpane Check Shirt £60

The Tie

The pattern for this tie is reminscient of the understated patterns of Ferragamo, Hermes, or Brooks Brothers. Featuring a hefty weight, this tie easily holds a dimple, stays flat on the bib, and arches ever so slightly off the collar. The dichotomy of the serious weight, but playful pattern makes it the perfect tie for Spring. I wore it with a Navy Suit and Caramel coloured boots and recieved multiple compliments on this tie. Very impressive.

Heavy But Playful

Buy Here Dalvey Links Sky Blue Tie £39.50 £19.50

Cufflinks

Given my hobby for aviation, we recieved a pair of beautiful gold and silver tone “Pilot” cufflinks. I recently wore it to a wedding in Miami. They slid on my French Cuff Canali shirt with ease. The chain closure maintained the perfect balance between flexibility and security keeping the shirt from peeking out more than the perfect length from my suit. Even half-hidden behind my suit cuff, these cufflinks were a huge hit and were complimented several times throughout the night. I am very impressed with the finish and quality of materials and would highly recommend this pair for the pilot in your life.

For All You Avionics Afficianados

Buy Here Dalvey Propellor Cufflinks £87.50

All in all, we were thoroughly impressed by the cut, quality, and finish of the three items we recieved. I give them all my highest endoresement and would recommend you bookmark their site the next time you need to stock up your wardrobe.

Dalvey Home

 

A lot has happened in the past 5 years. We’ve gone through a housing bubble and recession, we’ve changed presidents, we’ve changed clothes (hopefully), and we’ve got a new outlook on life. One thing that hasn’t changed has been out preference for quality, yet understated watches.

Rolex Submariner

One watch that reignited out passion for horology this week is the Rolex Submariner. Five years ago it was considered too simple by many. It looked shy and meek next to those ubiquitous 50mm Breitlings, yet a few years later, the submariner remains king. It’s confident elegance and charming charisma has withstood the test of time, remaining relatively unchanged since the 1960′s (Don’t kill us Ben), this iconic classic will be just as gorgeous 10 years from now, as it is today.

If you’re going to invest in a time piece, or get one as a gift, you could do a lot worse than this.

BUY IT Rolex Oyster Precision Submariner Chronometer Stainless Steel Watch $5,000

1.) Recognize these opportunities, and

2.) Properly negotiating a win-win situation for both sides.

Negotiation is one the most essential survival skills a modern man can hope to acquire. It is an essential skill for sales, your career, and even your love life.

And there is no such thing as a no sale call. A sale is made on every call you make. Either you sell the client some stock or he sells you a reason he can’t. Either way a sale is made, the only question is who is gonna close? You or him? Now be relentless, that’s it, I’m done.-JIM YOUNG “Boiler Room”

A successful negotiation ends up serving both you, and your partner. (We call them partner as opposed to adversary or opponent, because a successful negotion should end up as a win-win). Here is the one tip we feel is critical to any successful negotiation.
Read the rest of this entry »

Boys will be boys...

Boys will be boys, but being knotty just might be fashionable some day; the day you receive an invitation to a black-tie, or other formal affair. What you wear is just as important as how you wear it, whether attending a wedding, funeral, or crashing a Presidential State Dinner. Looking dapper and debonair, with a touch of culture and refinement, is the goal of every modern-day gent when faced with such an occasion. With this in mind, what’s all the fuss over 50+ inches of silk, and what’s with all those knots, anyway?  

The necktie, along with its forerunner the cravat, has been a predominately male fashion expression for centuries. Its origins can be traced to both military and royal attire of the early 17th century. Although an important piece of fashion history, there is no mandate that your formal ensemble conjure up memories of your father’s matching tie, handkerchief, and sock combinations. 

• The conservative look outranks all others within the professional arena. Keep things simple, while in a Corporate Environment or during a Job Interview, by wearing a dark suit, white dress shirt, and the classic, solid, navy-blue, or burgundy tie. Although a slight variation of tie color is acceptable, and simple prints are tolerated, avoid the temptation for bright colors or busy novelty prints at all costs; especially during the holiday season. 

•  When making a tie decision for Weddings, or other jubilant Celebrations, proceed with caution. Oftentimes, there are unspoken rules of etiquette for guests at a wedding, or other formal engagement. If you are not in the wedding party, pay special attention to your invitation, and any attire requests from your host. If the celebration is a black-tie affair, keep it simple and go with tradition. In the absence of such a request, bear in mind that weddings generally have a color theme. Grooms frequently choose the tie colors of white, silver, gray, sage green, pink, lavender, yellow, and orange. If you are not privy to this information, stick with basic tie colors and dark suits rather than making an unsolicited fashion statement. Although an Ascot tie, or other formal neckwear is in order, be careful not to upstage the groom.   

• Without question, Funerals are a definite black-tie affair. Stick with a black, dark blue or gray suit with a tie of similar color.  Enough said.  

• For Dating or Romantic occasions, feel free to liven up your fashion ensemble with a dose of imagination. Create a look that is warm, inviting, and friendly, as there is no need for conservatism here. Break the monotony of tradition with a splash of vibrant color, a unique print or pattern, a distinctive tie or Ascot pin, wearing a decorative vest in lieu of a jacket, or a variation of the necktie altogether.

Whatever you decide, make certain that your apparel is clean, pressed, and properly fitted. To the latter, every gent will know his measurements (neck, chest, sleeve, waist, and inseam), and is re-sized from time-to-time, to account for changes in his physique.  

Lastly, if you’re the uncomplicated type, don’t fret over the Windsor knot, Half-Windsor knot, Pratt/Shelby knot, Four-in-Hand knot, Small knot, Prince Albert knot, Cross knot, Ascot (Ruche, Cocolupa, or Naud Gordien) knot, Jabot, Bow Tie, and which knot, not to wear. Ties of the clip-on and pre-tied variety are fashion, that is fortunately made simple. 

Now that you’re all tied up, could there be an additional benefit of wearing a necktie? It should come as no surprise that, for women, there’s something inexplicably titillating about a well-groomed gent in a tie; the three Cs to be exact.  If you could read her mind, she’d share that you appear to be in Control, exhibit a Command presence, and convey a sense of Confidence, all by wearing a tie!  Not to mention the extra points earned for your quotient of appeal.   So what are you waiting for? Enjoy any formal event while looking your best.  

Don’t be afraid to tie the knot. Wear it – a necktie – the modern gent’s fashion accessory. 

-K. Walsh  

Know your nose

Were the rules of attraction made to be broken? If not broken, perhaps, enhanced? Who’s to say, but one thing is for certain: finding the right mix of sensuality, and pheromone, is the kind of thing genies have socked away in bottles for centuries. What makes women find a particular man desirable? Every man has a special ‘something’ that makes him unique, be it charm, bicep dimension, the proverbial shoe size, or the PIN number to his debit card. The list is exhaustive, so, how will you set yourself apart? 

You won’t find the answer in your father’s Old Spice, or even in the old school of conventional masculine wisdom. Although your heart’s settled on a favorite aromatic love tonic, does it truly define you? Does it drive the woman in your life passionately crazy, or does it drive her away? 

Give yourself a competitive edge, in the game of love, with the perfect scent for a sophisticated gent such as yourself.  Determine whether you prefer a strong and robust scent or a subtle, yet, clean and cool one. Whichever appeals to your senses, understand why this is so, by getting to know your nose.  From Giorgio Armani to Givenchy, and Ralph Lauren to Bvlgari, with so many scents from which to choose, how will you best decide? 

It’s in the notes. To be precise, the composition of any fine fragrance (male or female) is such that it will feature three distinct elements, or notes (top/head, middle/heart, and base), each unfolding over time; creating a symphony for the senses. Top notes offer an introductory scent that tends to be lighter, yet is highly volatile. Chances are you purchased your favorite scent based on this particular note. Top notes evaporate quickly, so allow a fragrance time to linger.  You will soon discover that the best of it has only begun. 

Enter the middle note. Often referred to as the heart of the fragrance, middle notes are strong and enduring. Remember that you are unique, and no two men will wear the same fragrance alike. When testing a fragrance, wear it no less than 15 minutes. In time, it will emit a signature aroma, as the elements fuse with your body’s natural chemistry. 

Last, but not least, are the base notes. These are the strongest ingredients of a fragrance, and serve as a fixative melding all other notes together. The base note provides for extended wear, of a fragrance, and prolongs its aromatic properties. 

All scents, from the impostor to the designer, belong to one of four distinct categories including Fresh, Floral, Oriental, and Woody (with a central trans-category of Aromatic Fougère). That’s right!  Contrary to popular belief, all fragrances are, in fact, cut from the same cloth.

By concentration, cologne contains 2 – 5% essential oils, and fragrance compounds, in contrast to perfumes, which contain upwards of 20%.  As nature’s perfect stimulants, essential oils induce certain euphoric and relaxing sentiments. Common notes used in male fragrances include Bergamot, Cedar, Ginger, Lavender, Neroli, Patchouli, Sandalwood, and Vetiver. It’s no accident that these are woody, aromatic, tranquil, and soothing. 

So what did Giovanni Paolo Feminis know that the rest of us would pay an arm and leg?  He knew that men deserve special recognition in their quest to enhance the rules of attraction.  In answering this masculine battle cry, Giovanni developed the perfect Scent for a Gent – his 1709 romantic elixir – cologne. Thus, the contemporary concept of male fashion cologne was born. The rest of this story can be found on Saks’ Fifth Avenue, your bedroom armoire, and in every department store worldwide.                                                                                                          

SCENT hints for a GENT:

1. Determine which notes are in your favorite cologne, or other fragrance.
2. Score some free samples online, or the next time you purchase at a department store.
3. Test no more than three scents at a time; any more will cloud your sense of smell.
4. The smell of coffee beans will clear the sinuses; the sales representative will have some.
5. Apply cologne to clean skin, most commonly after a shower.
6. Cologne should be worn on the body; hotspots include wrists, neck, and behind ears.
7. Rubbing wrists together will crush, or breakdown, a scent more rapidly. 
8. Spray cologne into the air, and walk into the mist for even distribution.
9. Store cologne in a cool, dry, place away from direct sunlight.
10. Properly stored cologne will last approximately three years. 

Now that you’ve got the basics, a little trial, and error, is in order. You hereby have permission to slather, spritz, and douse… within reason.

-K. Walsh