CARLOS SANTOS FOR HERRING SHOES

Carlos Santos is on the rise, so it would appear. Two major retailers in the industry picked them up this year and it seems that a once relatively unknown factory hailing from Portugal will start making major waves from 2016 onward. UK Retailer Herring Shoes who sells mainly UK brands, decided to have a go at another countries footwear and not only that but going rather bold with the offering in both color and design. So they chose to stock Carlos Santos and have a brand ambassador that is doing a great job at promoting them on his social media outlets: Men Need More Style (to which these hero shot photos are courtesy of). I particularly like the one highlighted in this post with blue suede and a contrasting blue toe. That type of styling is right up my alley and am happy to see other brands giving a go at something more bold and daring. Let’s see now how well the English market takes to these!

DAVID BALZAIC STRICKES AGAIN

I first wrote about Mr. Balzaic 6 months ago as he had popped up on my radar and found something intriguing in his shoes. So I have had this email for ever longer than that, and just now remembered to show you all this very flamboyant yet super cool monkstrap. I don’t think however that the angle of the main photo is very flattering to the actual last shape of the shoe but knowing that Mr. Balzaic doesn’t make unflattering lasts, one comes to accept that it is simple trickery of the eye and camera. Nonetheless, David’s shoes are interesting nonetheless as there is something about them that differentiates them from the rest and it is hard to describe. But I think that it is the blending of his French origin with his Hungarian physical presence (and thus cultural influence). But then again that could just be speculation? Either way, I like what I see and hope to see more!

MORE OF CORTHAY’S NEW ARRIVALS

A few weeks back I gave you a snippet of Corthay’s latest creations and instead of doing it bit by bit again, I have decided to just give you the whole lot! So here is little text but lots of imagery for your to feast your eyes on!

And remember that the J.FitzPatrick Button Shoe (Aurora) Pre-Sale with a 10% discount ends this Sunday evening so don’t miss your opportunity to save a few bucks on it.

CARREDUCKER ‘BARKAN’ DESERT BOOT CAMPAIGN

The Carreducker duo are back at it again with another campaign to get a new RTW product off of the ground and running. The latest model is a bit more mainstream than their previous slipper collection as it consists of the classic chukka styled desert boot so famously popularized by Clarks, yet interpreted by Carrducker from one of their bespoke models.

Coming in an array of colors and leathers (vegetable tanned calfskin, suede and nubuck) there is an option for literally anyone (although I would have added a navy option myself). The boots are made here in England in a small workshop in Suffolk using the stitch down method of construction. What that means is that the upper leather is stitched outwards, on top of the welt in order to create more of a waterproof like seal so that there is no weakness between the welt and the upper for water to seep through. There are two sole options, one in crepe and the other in this X-Lite rubber sole that weighs virtually nothing.

The retail price will be set at £265 but there are still plenty of slots to get them from as low as £180.

Should you be interested in supporting this campaign, please see the link below

J.FITZPATRICK JODHPUR BOOT (GENESEE) PRE-SALE – CHOICE OF SOLE

The Genesee jodhpur boot has been in the repertoire of samples since day one but never released until now. I don’t know why really but I always thought that I needed to establish the J.FitzPatrick brand before releasing a jodhpur boot as it was something that needed to be done right to be able to rival the competition. But with the very warm reception that it has received every time I post them on social media, I felt like the time was right to do so this upcoming A/W2016 season. So here we are, now offering it as a pre-order in 3 different colorways.

However we wanted to try a new approach as the world of online selling and retail is always evolving, by offering something different this time for our pre-sale. Normally we simply offer a discount to coincide with the pre-sale but this time we wanted to one-up that idea by allowing the client the choice of 4 sole options to choose from in order to not be stuck with having to accept just one (and one that they might not favor). That being, while all of the boots will be on the same last, the NGT (like the button boot), what you will have is the option to choose from 4 sole choices: 1. Single Leather; 2. Double Leather; 3. City Rubber (6mm in thickness) and 4. Country Rubber (7mm in thickness). So not only do you get the opportunity to essentially create a semi-MTO by selecting your sole, but also get a 15% discount doing so. It is a win-win but is only for a limited time.

Once the pre-sale is over, there will be no more choice to select your sole and the one that will go into normal production to offer online is the double leather at full price of £395. The pre-sale ends Monday the 31st of May, 11:59 Pacific Standard Time.

That being, now is your chance to get the boots at the one time price of £336 (ex VAT £280) with the one-time offer of sole selection.

CITY RUBBER SOLE

SEPTIEME LARGEUR PATINA DRIVING LOAFERS

While not being the originators of patina, for me Septieme Largeur are the ones keeping it relevant by always doing new things with it from giving patina to Ready to Wear shoes and allowing people to buy it online, from applying to leather accessories and now driving loafers. They have come a long way from a small online shop too as they have just opened up their 3rd shop in Paris and it is all very commendable, especially as I have been watching their growth since day one. I am proud of them for going this far and for staying relevant as so many brands, start then sell for a while and then fizzle away. But not SL, with new things on the go and shops and franchises opening up worldwide, I am curious to know where they will be in 5 years time. Who knows, maybe a shop on 5th Ave NYC???

New drivings with patina included are €175.

SUMMERTIME SHOES BY AWL & SUNDRY

It has been awhile since I have written about Awl & Sundry (you can see my review of them HERE) and it would appear that a lot has changed since them, mainly how much they have appeared to have grown in terms of brand recognition, styles offered and probably most important for all of you, in price. I managed to come across this shoe and was amazed at how much I liked the combination. While I will appreciate many things in footwear, that doesn’t always mean that I would wear them. So when I see off-white/beige leather like this, it is not something that normally appeals to me. But apparently when paired with tan grain and on this particular pattern, I have to say that my mind is swayed and I would happily attempt rockin’ these in the Summertime.

THE SHOE’S BEGINNING – IVAN CRIVELLARO

It’s quite interesting to see how the patina of an Ivan Crivellaro shoe will take form, especially on the ones that have so many pieces of leather to them all with different ideas, such as these two do. Here Ivan shows us how some of his shoes are prepared for such intricate finished patinas. But not all shoes are done like this I am sure, as I presume that he will also do patina directly on the finished product for something less intricate so to speak. But this helps you appreciate how much preparation can go into a patina job. Its hard work and can take a lot of time. So when someone puts +5-6 hours into something, it’s no wonder they can charge over £100….

I would love to have both of these framed and hanging in my showroom….Ivan let’s make that happen!

GAZIANO & GIRLING LADIES COLLECTION

Ladies, beware, the best shoes that I have seen made for you but in classic men’s styles have now hit the streets, courtesy ofGaziano & Girling. The kicker is though that they are on a Made to Order only basis which does make it a bit hard for instant gratification. But nonetheless, for those of you that fancy shoes of this style these are the cream of the crop. What I personally love about the look of ladies patterns are the short facings and vamps. I always appreciated the way that it subtly changed the aesthetics of the shoe. And men, for those of you visiting the G&G shop in London and worried about the spending due to what the wife might say, well now all you have to do is buy her a pair of shoes too and you will be off scot-free! 

5 Ways To Roll Up Shirt Sleeves

There’s a serious contradiction of intention when a man rolls up his shirt sleeves.

Is he getting ready to fight?

Or is he relaxing at the end of a hard day?

Or is he getting serious and down to business?

Or…. is he just cooling off?

Historically men have rolled up their shirt sleeves in preparation for work (or an occasional fight) as clothing was expensive and they didn’t want to damage it.

Watch any old Western film and notice how men take that extra moment to carefully fold their sleeves before landing a punch!

Sleeves would also be rolled up at the end of a long day as men headed to the bar for a drink with their mates.

In the modern world – the act of rolling sleeves has evolved into a style statement.

Men fold their shirt sleeves to indicate a relaxed mood, for freedom of movement or simply to bare their arms.

I’m going to give you a five methods to roll sleeves below. You can decide for yourself after reading this article which method suits you best.

Click Here To Watch The YouTube Video – 5 Ways To Roll Up Your Shirt Sleeves

Click Here To Watch – 5 Methods To Fold Shirt Sleeves

Before you roll your sleeves – remember to undo the buttons on the cuff and gauntlet of your shirt.

Also, let me answer a question about rolling up sleeves – should the sleeve stop above or below the elbow?

The simple answer would be – above the elbow if you’re about to do work. Roll your sleeves below the elbow if you’re just cooling off and want to let in some air or to signal that it’s the end of the day.

5 Versatile Clothing Items For Men

There is a compelling reason why humans like uniformity.

We live in a world that presents us with overwhelming choices. One less choice to make is going to result in better focus where it counts. 

Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs and a growing list of influential leaders have shared that decisions on what clothes to wear is not something they want to waste energy on. They simplify their wardrobe choices by wearing the same outfit every single day.

A grey t-shirt with jeans – Zuckerberg’s uniform – is not going to suit everyone’s work and lifestyle choices. A better approach would be to select a go-to outfit from a few versatile items of clothing.

One of my readers asked me, “Antonio, could you please give me tips on clothing that is both functional and stylish.

I go out a lot to parties and social gatherings, travel to hot and cold climates and like to go on hikes and mountain climbs.

Is there an outfit that is multi-purpose and suits all these activities?”

Tips To Create A Signature Style By Choosing A Brand

Inspiration to improve your style often comes from unexpected sources.

A group of stylish Italian men on a night out in Rome.

Watching a movie with a lead actor whose clothing sets the tone for the whole movie.

Coffee with an acquaintance who has discovered the art of classic style and owns it.

Personal style inspiration can come from travel, food, architecture, art, celebrities…..and clothing companies.

Yeah – brands are an often overlooked source for carefully curated inspiration.

Have you ever used a clothing brand to lift your style game?

What if you could find a brand that inspires you?

One that suits your lifestyle, your build and gets you moving out of your comfort zone and into the realm of inspiring style?

Once you identify an inspiring brand, the process of building an interchangeable wardrobe is simpler, saving you money while elevating your style.

A classic style clothing brand I am personally inspired by is Ledbury – Click here to see their beautiful shirts and sports jackets. 

Based out of Richmond Virginia, Ledbury started out making shirts and now has a range ofsports jackets, ties, trousers, sweaters, and other menswear pieces.

#1 Finding A Vision For Your Style – Use Catalogs For Stylish Clothing Ideas

Permanent change occurs when both the emotional and logical circuitry in your brain is rewired.

Making a logical commitment alone is not enough to build great style. You want to fire your emotional circuits to achieve your big goals in life. Emotions drive our actions.

A blank slate is hardly fodder to drive your emotions. Using images, on the other hand can create powerful emotions that gets you moving in a positive direction.

Using images, build a vision for your style.

A Man’s Guide To Wearing Necklaces

Necklaces and Men’s Style

A necklace for a guy is a little bit different than one for a woman.

For one thing, men are never going to wear anything that could be considered “costume jewelry” — the big, chunky stuff with rows of jewels that you’ll see accompanying evening gowns. That’s strictly a woman’s fashion.

There’s also much less of an idea among designers that the jewelry should be the centerpiece of an outfit. Men’s jewelry is meant to complement, not to overwhelm.

That means necklaces that are a little more rugged and rough around the edges. Good jewelry for men should look natural — like you’ve been wearing it for years, after it was given to you by your grandfather, who wore it for years before you.

You’ll see some brighter, shinier stuff, of course, and even the massive “bling” of urban caricature. And there’ll be some very light and fragile designs here and there too, but at either extreme you’re talking about exceptions to the rule. They catch people’s attention precisely because they’re so outlandish.

Most men who wear necklaces well won’t be noticeable for their jewelry. You’ll just see them as “stylish,” and then notice the accents over time.

5 Styles of Necklace for Men

There are broad families of necklace styles worth knowing about. These have been traditionally masculine styles for years (although some are worn by women as well), and they’re natural pairs for a classic man’s style.

1. Dog Tags

Military-style dog tags are functionally just a specialized pendant, but they bear mention on their own, if only because more and more jewelers seem to be making upscale versions.

Your basic dog tags, obviously, are a pair of tabs on a ball chain with text on them. Actual military tags usually list the wearer’s name and medical information, and sometimes rank and religious preference.

Decorative takes on the style often keep the blank ovaloid shape but replace the text with an image or raised design. The ball chain may also be replaced with something finer and flashier.

Different people are going to have different takes on this style. Some people love the nod to military style; other people find it disrespectful of actual servicemen and servicewomen, as it trivializes a fairly serious piece of identification.

Wear them if it’s really your style, but be aware that not everyone’s going to love it — and don’t wear a flashy set into a VFW post if you didn’t serve.

2. Chains

Plain, unornamented chains of metal are a classic male adornment. They can create any number of looks, depending on the metal used, the length of the chain, and the style of links and the method of fastening them.

The most classic style of chain necklace has relatively flat loops, spaced close together so that the chain appears as almost a solid ribbon of metal, and is long enough to fall a bit below the collarbone.

These have been seen on men (including men with no other stylish accents in their outfit) for the better part of a century. They’re a statement on their own, whether they’re worn with a white T-shirt or a tailored suit.

The key to wearing a chain well is modesty. Keep the style understated, and keep the chain underneath your shirt. The small amount that’s visible is enough to make your statement for you.

Because the metal basically defines how the entire chain looks, it’s worth spending more to get a higher-quality product here. Avoid cheap alternatives and go for a quality gold, silver, or platinum.

5 Things To Consider Before Going Tieless

You look at yourself in the mirror.

Suit looks great.

Shirt looks awesome.

Now the question…

Tie? Or no tie?

It’s a harder question than it seems.

Everyone else will be wearing one.

But you’re not a tie guy.

And does your shirt collar really look great going tieless?

Gentleman, in today’s article, I am going to address those questions.

In addition, I am going to give you 5 points on how to wear a suit, sports coat, and blazer without a tie and look like a million bucks.

Note:  For this article, I am going to use the terms jacket, sport coat, blazer and suit interchangeably.

A suit is when a jacket and trousers are made of the same fabric. Many modern gentlemen are wearing sports coats or blazers and generally the rules still apply.

Click Here To Watch The Video – How To Wear A Suit Without A Tie

Click Here To Watch The Video – 5 Tips For Going Tieless

#1 The Proper Environment

An accurate environment is everything.

Certain environments require certain aesthetics. Choosing to not wear a necktie might not be viewed favorably and could have a severe penalty. For example, certain high-end restaurants require a jacket and tie or your work environment might dictate that the necessary uniform requires neckwear.  Think about the situation.

In any case, make sure to research where you are going before you get there. Be thorough and exhaustive because sticking out like a sore thumb because you’re not in the proper attire would be beyond embarrassing.

If you research and do not get a clear answer and you don’t want to wear a tie, do it with confidence. What’s going to translate to others in that particular establishment is the moxie…the savoir-faire that you portray.  Own that you are a metropolitan style savant who is not afraid to make his own statement and not have his contemporary flare boxed in. Many times confidence is seen more clearly than any garment you’re wearing.

10 Products Worth 10X The Price?

Have you ever said this?

“I would NEVER spend that much on that product”

“That’s just outrageous!”

“Where does this brand get off charging this much?”

Well, that’s not the case today.

Today’s article is going to cover the 10 luxury brands that are actually worth digging into the pockets a little more for. 

These are brands that don’t come with the regretful feeling of buyers remorse.

I’m not talking about your usual suspects like Rolex or Omega either.

These are hidden gems. Diamonds found in a sea of overpriced coal.

Yeah, they’re literally that good. 

It takes a lot for me to say something is worth the money.

So why do I feel comfortable suggesting these?

Remember Style Law #3? The Style Theory Of Value?

As a quick reminder, it states that Value = Number Of Wears x Feeling/Price

You’ll get the mileage out of every item, which means the value is worth the price.

So…what are they?

Listed below is a list of 10 items that I consider to be worth every hard earned penny spent on them. 

Click Here To Watch The YouTube Video – 10 Products Worth 10X The Price 

Click Here To Watch The YouTube Video – 10 Products Antonio Recommends

1. Leesa Mattress

There are few simple pleasures in life that can compare to a good night’s sleep. How do you improve the quality of your sleep?

Invest in a memory foam mattress.

Originally designed for NASA airplane seats, memory foam is soft and highly energy absorbent. The material (made from a substance called viscoelastic),  molds to the heat and pressure from the body.

When you lie on the memory foam mattress, it softens on contact with heat from your body. It returns to its original shape when the pressure is removed.

Leesa Memory foam mattress is home delivered in a convenient and easy to carry packaging. This is a mattress the whole family (and guests) will love.

The greatest thing about Leesa is their commitment to social entrepreneurship and giving back to the community. You can get any size mattress delivered right to your doorstep and for every 10 mattresses bought one mattress is donated to a homeless shelter. 

How A Men’s Dress Shirt Should Fit

eems like a simple question – yet look around you.

The vast majority of men are wearing dress shirts that are one to two sizes too large.

Why does this matter?

Simply put – an ill-fitted dress shirt:

• Is uncomfortable
• Makes you look less than professional

Either of these should be enough to motivate you to either have your current dress shirts adjusted to fit by a local tailor or consider buying custom dress shirts.

Although both options cost a little coin – the end result is a dress shirt that wear and feels great.

The details in a well fitted men’s dress shirt.

Dress Shirt Collar Fit

Just Right:The perfect collar fit touches the skin all the way around the neck, but does not press against it. You should be able to slip a finger in between your neck and the shirt at any point without struggling or forcing.

Too Tight: The collar is close enough to actually press against the skin underneath it. There’s a discernible sensation of constriction. It would be impossible to put a finger between the neck and collar without stretching, tugging, or forcing.

Too Loose: The collar does not touch the neck, but rather rests off the body. You could slip a finger in next to the neck without moving the cloth at all.

Dress Shirt Shoulder Fit

Just Right: The vertical shoulder seam sits at the edge of the shoulder, where the plane of the shoulder meets the plane of the outer arm. The armscye (the hole where the sleeve joins the shirt body) is large enough that there’s no tugging or twisting on the shoulder seam.

Too Tight: The seam will be shifted up the shoulder toward the neck. Some of the sleeve rests on top of the shoulder. If the tightness is in the armscye, there may also be twisting that causes wrinkles or distortion along the seam.

Too Loose: The shoulder seam slumps off the shoulder, down onto the outside of the bicep. There may be billowing under the arm as well, if the armscye is too big.

How To Fold A Pocket Square 9 Different Ways

Step-by-step instructions for every pocket square fold you could ever want!

Note that most of these will work best with a pocket square that is, in fact, square.

Rectangular cloths can be made to work as well but will generally require folding from more than one edge rather than down the middle to make the cloth fit in the pocket.

Unless otherwise stated a folded pocket square should always completely fill the width of the jacket pocket where it emerges.

You don’t want the square looking like it’s being swallowed up or spilling out over the edges into a messy bulge.

The Square Fold | Presidential Fold

The pocket square at its most basic: crisp, clean, and elegant. In its finished form, it appears as a single horizontal band of fabric parallel to the top of the breast pocket. Use it when you want maximum formality and understated elegance.

A Man’s Belt Guide

Wearing a belt well is one of those litmus tests of fashion:

the simple task, done right, confirms you as a man who knows his clothes.

A mismatch or other error shows that you still need to learn about dressing well.

Fortunately, the basics of good belts aren’t hard to learn, and most are common sense.

The rest is personal taste — and belts allow plenty of room to express it.

Men’s Belt Basics: Belt Length

Dress belts should have a few inches of leather to the left of the buckle once it’s fastened. Enough to tuck under your first belt loop, or the loop on the belt if it has one, is a good rule of thumb. Err on the side of shortness if you need to, rather than wrapping a long tail of leather around your hip a second time. Casual belts have a little more room for flexibility, but an overly long tail end is always an awkward look.

Store-bought dress belts are usually measured with a range of pant sizes. Pick your belts two or three sizes larger than your pants to get a good fit. If you wear a 34″ trouser waist, a belt labeled 36″-38″ will probably be in the right neighborhood. Of course, the easiest check is just to try the belt on in the store, at least wrapping it around your waist over your pants. Just remember that it’ll sit a bit tighter when it’s worn properly.

Certain types of casual cloth bands have square brass buckles and a brass cap on the other end to feed through the mechanism. Military surplus stores often have these, and other manufacturers have imitated the style as well. These are traditionally worn “brass on brass,” with no spare belt beyond the buckle once fastened. Since the belt is cloth, you can remove the buckle and trim the cloth down until it’s the right length, then clip the buckle back into place.

If you’re looking for a more accurate fit and quality made belt, check out this belt video review I did on North Carolina’s Anson Belt and Buckle. They use a unique micro-adjust technology that enables adjustments to 1/4 of an inch and the belt’s leather is of very high quality!