So I spent the last couple nights watching Rick Alverson's new film The Comedy. Seeing as how it had one of my favorite comedians, I guess you could call him that, Tim Heidecker in it I expected it to be a Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie-esque film. Boy was I wrong. A word of warning though, only take the time to watch this if you have to capacity to look past what is actually going on on the screen and think about the underlying meaning. So let me set the scene for you. Basically, the main character is an aging hipster living on a boat and hanging out with his other aging hipster friends in the hipster capital of America, Brooklyn. Sounds like a hilarious ABC sitcom right? Wrong. The movie is a jumble of scenes containing Tim, the main character, and his friends just doing stuff. I'm not being vague here, it is literally what they do. Just stuff. Theres very little dialogue and of the dialogue that there is it doesn't pertain to the last scene or the scenes to come.
I sat there in disbelief that a movie could be so scatterbrained and seemingly nonsensical. But since my rental time on itunes was dwindling I figured I could at least finish it. I was glad I did. Once the film ended, I laid back on the couch and started to break down what I had just spent an hour and a half watching. It finally dawned on me. The whole film is an example of how people become trapped in current fads and it leads to the ultimate demise of their existence if they fail to eventually mature and break away. The example in the movie is that of the hipster. A culture predicated on expensive taste without having really worked for any of the money that they so frivolously spend. And such a vehement denial of what is socially and culturally acceptable that they eventually become alone and miserable because society has left them behind. The main character's inability to mature lands him in a situation where he just wanders through life with no purpose or direction.
It got me thinking. Let me start this off by saying this is not me scoffing at or passing judgement on the lifestyles of others, but purely an opinion of mine. It seems to me, that these days, kids have lost the ability to treat life like a chess game and think multiple moves ahead. The adoption of the mindset of the here and now has become the most popular philosophy of all. It seems as though no one thinks an action has any kind of bearing on what happens next. I'll present a relatable example here. It's astonishing to me how many kids I see going to class wearing the "West Fucking Virginia" shirts. If you go to WVU you're more than familiar with the drama surrounding this topic. I mean, how are you supposed to make intelligent conversation with you're professor while wearing a shirt that so obviously displays your rock bottom IQ? Do you think you'll ever get a break on that test question that could have gone either way when you approach your teacher looking like that? Thats just one example. This principle applies everywhere. It goes back to the movie. People, especially kids, become so immersed in this, you can't judge me, I don't care what you think, mentality that they get left behind wondering where time went and why everyone around them has excelled and they're still playing pool at Shooters on a Tuesday night. Don't get me wrong. Being yourself and having a sense of identity is one of, if not the most, important thing a person can have. But this practice of pushing the envelope has become a game of who can "out-ridiculous" the next guy. College is probably the most pivotal 4 years of you're life. It almost completely dictates what you will be doing until they bury you. It's a scary thought I know. But it's unavoidably true. My only advice would be to have a little bit of forethought. Look ahead. Think to yourself if trying to shove your "I don't care what you think to a point of embarrassment and insanity"in the faces of others, is really worth the price you may potentially pay. People often tell me that I act like I'm 40. I'm ok with that. Kids think of maturity as some kind of miserable hell where life becomes repetitive and boring. But it's not. Trust me, I'm not the pinnacle of maturity. I mean I'm 21 years old and I still laugh until I cry over a good fart or something. It's all about being able to tell when to dial it back and act appropriately. Alright well thats enough for this evening. I hope I got my point across as clear as would have liked to and I hope no one takes offense to this simple observation. It's just something thats been on my mind for the last couple days.
Nathan
Friday, November 30, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Knowledge Darts About Footwear
Back when And 1 was to Streetball as Nike is to Oregon football and you were rocking those clever Big Dogs tees like it was your job, you were probably more worried about what clever song lyric you were going to put as your AIM away message than what was on your feet. But those days are over, so here come some knowledge darts about footwear.
Shoes can make or break an outfit. It's remarkable how much I catch myself looking down at someone's feet to see what they're wearing. You really can tell a lot about someone by the type of shoes they have on (and if they take care of them.)
One essential to have in rotation year round are a pair of white canvas low top sneakers. Converse all-stars are my personal go-to but you can't go wrong with Pro Keds or Jack Purcells. These are all inexpensive and are always a timeless casual look.
Another style that looks good year-round are any of the shoes from the Nike Lunar series. My favorite sneaker as of late is the Nike Flyknit (seen on Olympic athletes at the medal ceremonies in London.) This is also a time where you can add a bit of color to your outfit.
Steer-clear from big, chunky sneakers like the Air Force One or basically any type of Jordan. Those things suck.
During autumn and winter months, you really can't go wrong with a suede brogue or desert boot. You should always have a pair of brown and black boots available to you. Unlike sneakers, keep it simple and toned-down with the colorways. It's never a bad thing to invest a good chunk of cash into a nice boot. We recommend looking at Red Wing or Frye.
Nathan talked me into a pair of black L.L. Bean boots this past summer while we were in D.C. and I couldn't be more thankful. For only $100 I got a durable and good-looking pair of boots that I will wear for at least the next 4 or 5 years.
As we start to grow out of our fratty boat shoes (some earlier than others) and Hush Puppies, we'll start to purchase real dress shoes made for real men. There are plenty of do's and don't's when it comes to dress shoes, but here are a few tips to get you started:
Match your shoes to your belt. They don't have to be identical colors but if you EVER want to be taken seriously, don't wear a brown belt with black shoes and vice-versa.
Always keep them polished and structured. Invest in shoe trees to keep the shape. Quick tip: if you don't have shoe polish handy, use the inside of a banana peel.
Consider the colors. Black dress shoes look good with just about any color suit. But when you're thinking about going brown remember this quote from a good buddy of mine Brad Howe, "wear dark shoes with a dark suit."
Typically, a high quality leather dress shoe is a pretty big investment for a young man. But it's also a very important investment. Here are four styles that you should chose from when purchasing a dress shoe.
Oxford:
The first dress shoe a man should purchase. Should be black and include a toe cap. Can be worn to funerals, job interviews, business meetings. Very versatile.
Wingtip:
This shoe adds a bit of personality and flair. Wingtips, otherwise known as brogues in the UK, are not as formal and can be paired with dark jeans or a suit.
Loafer:
Otherwise known as the official shoe of my dad, a loafer is a low-cut, slip-on that can be worn both casually and formally.
Monk Strap:
This is without a doubt Form & Function's favorite style right now. Switch it up with these if you're really feeling like a menswear head. You can get them in single, double or even triple strap.
Remember, don't ruin your crispy fit with struggle-wear.
Ryan
Shoes can make or break an outfit. It's remarkable how much I catch myself looking down at someone's feet to see what they're wearing. You really can tell a lot about someone by the type of shoes they have on (and if they take care of them.)
One essential to have in rotation year round are a pair of white canvas low top sneakers. Converse all-stars are my personal go-to but you can't go wrong with Pro Keds or Jack Purcells. These are all inexpensive and are always a timeless casual look.
Another style that looks good year-round are any of the shoes from the Nike Lunar series. My favorite sneaker as of late is the Nike Flyknit (seen on Olympic athletes at the medal ceremonies in London.) This is also a time where you can add a bit of color to your outfit.
Steer-clear from big, chunky sneakers like the Air Force One or basically any type of Jordan. Those things suck.
During autumn and winter months, you really can't go wrong with a suede brogue or desert boot. You should always have a pair of brown and black boots available to you. Unlike sneakers, keep it simple and toned-down with the colorways. It's never a bad thing to invest a good chunk of cash into a nice boot. We recommend looking at Red Wing or Frye.
Nathan talked me into a pair of black L.L. Bean boots this past summer while we were in D.C. and I couldn't be more thankful. For only $100 I got a durable and good-looking pair of boots that I will wear for at least the next 4 or 5 years.
As we start to grow out of our fratty boat shoes (some earlier than others) and Hush Puppies, we'll start to purchase real dress shoes made for real men. There are plenty of do's and don't's when it comes to dress shoes, but here are a few tips to get you started:
Match your shoes to your belt. They don't have to be identical colors but if you EVER want to be taken seriously, don't wear a brown belt with black shoes and vice-versa.
Always keep them polished and structured. Invest in shoe trees to keep the shape. Quick tip: if you don't have shoe polish handy, use the inside of a banana peel.
Consider the colors. Black dress shoes look good with just about any color suit. But when you're thinking about going brown remember this quote from a good buddy of mine Brad Howe, "wear dark shoes with a dark suit."
Typically, a high quality leather dress shoe is a pretty big investment for a young man. But it's also a very important investment. Here are four styles that you should chose from when purchasing a dress shoe.
Oxford:
The first dress shoe a man should purchase. Should be black and include a toe cap. Can be worn to funerals, job interviews, business meetings. Very versatile.
Wingtip:
This shoe adds a bit of personality and flair. Wingtips, otherwise known as brogues in the UK, are not as formal and can be paired with dark jeans or a suit.
Loafer:
Otherwise known as the official shoe of my dad, a loafer is a low-cut, slip-on that can be worn both casually and formally.
Monk Strap:
This is without a doubt Form & Function's favorite style right now. Switch it up with these if you're really feeling like a menswear head. You can get them in single, double or even triple strap.
Remember, don't ruin your crispy fit with struggle-wear.
Ryan
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
An Angry/Informative Rant on Accessories
Alright guys, Ryan and I have pretty much hashed out the necessities when it comes to daily garb. So what about the accessories? What does every guy need for everyday use, travel, etc?
The first thing that jumps to mind is a good bag to travel with. No not a man purse. Like an actual piece of luggage. Less of a suitcase and more of a duffle bag. Something large enough to travel for a few days. Try to steer away from back packs. We aren't going to the Carnegie Science Center. (Suncrest Middle stand up). L.L Bean makes a great canvas duffle. It looks great and it's durable. I carry a
Puma x Ferrari duffle when I travel. Good luggage is always something you won't regret spending your money on.
Next, technology. How people travel without some kind of music available to them is completely beyond me. So I really feel a great pair of headphones can make a world of difference. Here I go throwing myself under the bus again, but I totally bought into the whole Beats by Dre craze. Contrary to popular belief they are actually of good quality. The issue is, every time I go to the airport, I end up looking like "that guy." You know that guy. The guy who's got his giant headphones on between class because the 100 yards between Oglebay Hall and the Mountain Lair MUST be filled with some form of stimulus or else his day is ruined. Yeah, that guy. But since I don't really have the capacity to ditch one pair of $400 headphones for another pair of $400 headphones I'll go ahead and stick with the beats and use them only when it's necessary. My advice, Bose QC 15's. If my Dad were reading this, I'm sure he'd say "I told ya so" because he certainly did tell me so. But when I was 17 you couldn't tell me anything. Anyways, yeah, great headphones, a little pricey, but I've never found a pair that can even moderately compare.
How about wallets. One of the most underrated pieces in a man's wardrobe. I recommend owning two. One for daily use, and one for more formal occasions. "Two wallets? Are you stupid?" is probably what you're saying as you read this. And this answer is, yes, yes I probably am. But as far as I'm concerned, I don't need to carry around my 100% bison leather Ralph Lauren wallet every day. Day to day, I carry a canvas Carhartt WIP zip wallet. Canvas is durable and the zip aspect prevents all my useless cards from falling out. For more formal occasions like I mentioned I carry either a leather suit wallet or the RL wallet I mentioned above. The bottom line is, get a good wallet. There, jesus I really strung that one out.
Ok, so lastly, hats. There are so many rights and wrongs here. Luckily, the list of wrongs is pretty short. First on the list of wrongs, NO SNAP BACKS. I seriously cannot stress this enough. Good god this is probably my biggest pet peeve right now. They look so bad, under every circumstance. You will never look good in one of these, ever. Second on my list of wrongs, New Era 59/50s. Now there are some loopholes here, but primarily it's always going to be a bad look. Guys, it's been done, New Era fitted hats are out. If you must, make sure you wear the team's primary colors, make sure it fits, and for the love of god, take the damn stickers off. Just take them off, I promise it won't hurt. That pretty much covers the wrongs. Now, the rights. Number 1, Ebbets Field Flannels. Sure they're fitted, but only because thats how they made hats in the 30's. 100% wool, just like your great grandpa used to wear. A classic look that hasn't gone out of style since the traveling days of the House of David Baseball Club. Second, 5 pannel camp hats, super classic streetwear look, and if you like to be adventurous, throw it in with some formal stuff. Third, a good toboggan, keeps you warm and looks good with every kind of outfit, the only exception to this is the guy who wears the toboggan when its 70 out. Yeah you know who you are. It's hot out, you don't need a winter hat falling off the back of your head. Another crucial tip, unless you're at home, show some respect, take your hat off when you're inside, we weren't born in a barn, take the damn hat off.
Nathan
The first thing that jumps to mind is a good bag to travel with. No not a man purse. Like an actual piece of luggage. Less of a suitcase and more of a duffle bag. Something large enough to travel for a few days. Try to steer away from back packs. We aren't going to the Carnegie Science Center. (Suncrest Middle stand up). L.L Bean makes a great canvas duffle. It looks great and it's durable. I carry a
Puma x Ferrari duffle when I travel. Good luggage is always something you won't regret spending your money on.
Next, technology. How people travel without some kind of music available to them is completely beyond me. So I really feel a great pair of headphones can make a world of difference. Here I go throwing myself under the bus again, but I totally bought into the whole Beats by Dre craze. Contrary to popular belief they are actually of good quality. The issue is, every time I go to the airport, I end up looking like "that guy." You know that guy. The guy who's got his giant headphones on between class because the 100 yards between Oglebay Hall and the Mountain Lair MUST be filled with some form of stimulus or else his day is ruined. Yeah, that guy. But since I don't really have the capacity to ditch one pair of $400 headphones for another pair of $400 headphones I'll go ahead and stick with the beats and use them only when it's necessary. My advice, Bose QC 15's. If my Dad were reading this, I'm sure he'd say "I told ya so" because he certainly did tell me so. But when I was 17 you couldn't tell me anything. Anyways, yeah, great headphones, a little pricey, but I've never found a pair that can even moderately compare.
How about wallets. One of the most underrated pieces in a man's wardrobe. I recommend owning two. One for daily use, and one for more formal occasions. "Two wallets? Are you stupid?" is probably what you're saying as you read this. And this answer is, yes, yes I probably am. But as far as I'm concerned, I don't need to carry around my 100% bison leather Ralph Lauren wallet every day. Day to day, I carry a canvas Carhartt WIP zip wallet. Canvas is durable and the zip aspect prevents all my useless cards from falling out. For more formal occasions like I mentioned I carry either a leather suit wallet or the RL wallet I mentioned above. The bottom line is, get a good wallet. There, jesus I really strung that one out.
Ok, so lastly, hats. There are so many rights and wrongs here. Luckily, the list of wrongs is pretty short. First on the list of wrongs, NO SNAP BACKS. I seriously cannot stress this enough. Good god this is probably my biggest pet peeve right now. They look so bad, under every circumstance. You will never look good in one of these, ever. Second on my list of wrongs, New Era 59/50s. Now there are some loopholes here, but primarily it's always going to be a bad look. Guys, it's been done, New Era fitted hats are out. If you must, make sure you wear the team's primary colors, make sure it fits, and for the love of god, take the damn stickers off. Just take them off, I promise it won't hurt. That pretty much covers the wrongs. Now, the rights. Number 1, Ebbets Field Flannels. Sure they're fitted, but only because thats how they made hats in the 30's. 100% wool, just like your great grandpa used to wear. A classic look that hasn't gone out of style since the traveling days of the House of David Baseball Club. Second, 5 pannel camp hats, super classic streetwear look, and if you like to be adventurous, throw it in with some formal stuff. Third, a good toboggan, keeps you warm and looks good with every kind of outfit, the only exception to this is the guy who wears the toboggan when its 70 out. Yeah you know who you are. It's hot out, you don't need a winter hat falling off the back of your head. Another crucial tip, unless you're at home, show some respect, take your hat off when you're inside, we weren't born in a barn, take the damn hat off.
Nathan
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Be A Man, Take Her On A Date
Alright men, time to talk about the topic we all struggle with... Dating. Some say I'm not the person to be giving advice on dating. They're probably right. But I'm not talking about having (or wanting) a girlfriend here. This is about how to avoid looking look like a complete moron on a date. It's actually about how to make yourself look like you know what the hell you're doing.
The first step is scoring the date. Everyone has that one girl that you just would do anything in the world to impress. So go talk to her. Some may say going up to a complete stranger and just talking to them is one of the hardest and most awkward things any guy can do. There's a quote from the movie We Bought a Zoo when Matt Damon's character says "sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. Just literally 20 seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." I mean yeah that's really cheesy and IT'S A FREAKIN MOVIE but it's a great freakin movie. And that's a great quote. So go talk to her, introduce yourself, tell her you like her puffy sleeves, anything. It's worth it.
Once you get her number and wait a few days, reach out to her. Normally I would say calling her would be the best thing to do but girls keep getting simpler and simpler and would probably think you're weird and hit ignore so try sending her a text message. Figure out a time when you're available and give her the low down. Women don't like making decisions. They like a man who will be aggressive and get the job done. Tell her where you're going (so they can dress accordingly), what you're doing and when you will be picking her up. Don't even think about not picking her up. I've found a solid first date is to take her to a nice restaurant for dinner or lunch for something a little less formal.
After you've shaved your face, gotten a shower and put on something halfway decent, make sure you pick her up on time. When you get to her place, don't honk or text her telling her you're outside. Walk to her door and get her. We all open the door to the restaurant for her right? Well here's the big one fellas. Open the door to the car for her. I can't tell you how many girls have told me that I'm the first guy that's ever done that for them. I find that really pretty sad because that used to be commonplace in society. Women notice the little things.
When you get in the car, turn off The Birthday Song by 2 Chainz and put on something soft and easy to listen to like Mumford & Sons or Of Monsters and Men. Ask her what she likes to listen to and if you have it, put it on to gain some brownie points.
When you get to the restaurant, be nice to whoever is waiting on you. Of course you're going to be nice to her, but she'll judge you on how you treat people that you're not trying to impress. Stand up if she ever leaves the table. That's another old fashion act of chivalry that they'll notice and appreciate.
The last point of emphasis, which should already be an absolute given anyways, but pay for the meal. The quickest way to not get a second date is making her take out her credit card. Don't be embarrassing.
My final words for how to act on a date is to just be a gentleman. If you don't know what the hell you're doing, at least you can act like it.
But what do I know?
Ryan
The first step is scoring the date. Everyone has that one girl that you just would do anything in the world to impress. So go talk to her. Some may say going up to a complete stranger and just talking to them is one of the hardest and most awkward things any guy can do. There's a quote from the movie We Bought a Zoo when Matt Damon's character says "sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. Just literally 20 seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." I mean yeah that's really cheesy and IT'S A FREAKIN MOVIE but it's a great freakin movie. And that's a great quote. So go talk to her, introduce yourself, tell her you like her puffy sleeves, anything. It's worth it.
Once you get her number and wait a few days, reach out to her. Normally I would say calling her would be the best thing to do but girls keep getting simpler and simpler and would probably think you're weird and hit ignore so try sending her a text message. Figure out a time when you're available and give her the low down. Women don't like making decisions. They like a man who will be aggressive and get the job done. Tell her where you're going (so they can dress accordingly), what you're doing and when you will be picking her up. Don't even think about not picking her up. I've found a solid first date is to take her to a nice restaurant for dinner or lunch for something a little less formal.
After you've shaved your face, gotten a shower and put on something halfway decent, make sure you pick her up on time. When you get to her place, don't honk or text her telling her you're outside. Walk to her door and get her. We all open the door to the restaurant for her right? Well here's the big one fellas. Open the door to the car for her. I can't tell you how many girls have told me that I'm the first guy that's ever done that for them. I find that really pretty sad because that used to be commonplace in society. Women notice the little things.
When you get in the car, turn off The Birthday Song by 2 Chainz and put on something soft and easy to listen to like Mumford & Sons or Of Monsters and Men. Ask her what she likes to listen to and if you have it, put it on to gain some brownie points.
When you get to the restaurant, be nice to whoever is waiting on you. Of course you're going to be nice to her, but she'll judge you on how you treat people that you're not trying to impress. Stand up if she ever leaves the table. That's another old fashion act of chivalry that they'll notice and appreciate.
The last point of emphasis, which should already be an absolute given anyways, but pay for the meal. The quickest way to not get a second date is making her take out her credit card. Don't be embarrassing.
My final words for how to act on a date is to just be a gentleman. If you don't know what the hell you're doing, at least you can act like it.
But what do I know?
Ryan
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Don't Sweat the Brands
A lot of self evaluation goes into writing these pieces. Before I can start to be critical of one thing or in support of another I have to have had some personal experience in that arena. Right? I think so. I was thinking the other night of my own flaws when it came to fashion and such. Specifically the days where I was far more concerned with the brand than the item. This is hard for me to type and my brain is telling me "Why would you type this you jackass idiot, you're going to lose all your credibility." Oh well, but anyways, back in the day when Ed Hardy wasn't available at Gabes and was popular, I would have practically worn an Ed Hardy cape if I could have got my hands on it. I was so concerned with the fact that it was Ed Hardy that I completely overlooked the fact that it was straight up UGLY and ridiculous looking.
Another misconception I used to have was that designer brands were more expensive because they were of better quality. God was I wrong. Trust me, I've had my fair share of Lacoste Polos, Dolce and Gabbana pants, Burberry sweaters, and designer jeans. Perfect example, a couple of years ago I decided that it'd be a smart idea to pay $300 for a Burberry cotton sweater. Let me be frank. WHAT A PIECE OF SHIT. It shrank, was too short, and was uncomfortable. I have a cashmere sweater from Lands End that I think I paid $200 for and I'd put it up against anything. It has withstood the wash, hasn't lost its color and is still as soft as the day I took it out of the bag. An Ex- Girlfriend of mine spent the summer working at Gucci Headquarters on 5th avenue and assured me that their products are of no higher quality than something you can get at the mall.
Another angle of this is that logos and branding make the outfit. Wrong. Go to Ralph Lauren's Purple Label collection. Not a polo horse for miles and it's by far his most expensive collection of clothing. The reason for the lack of branding is because the demographic Purple Label appeals to doesn't need to flash what they're wearing. It looks good. They know it and they know you know it. I mean I don't know about you but if you are determined to spend a fortune on clothing, what's cooler than rocking a $500 t shirt without anything on it as opposed to Gucci's gaudy new line with gigantic double G's painted like the american flag.
There is an alternate side to this though. Some things require you to seek out particular brands for their quality. I think an appropriate example is boots and jackets. Two vital articles of clothing. I personally prefer to be dry and warm as opposed to looking pretty and being drenched and freezing. Spending the extra money on pieces like that is going to guarantee you a product that performs and will last you the majority of your life. Trust me, Red Wing's are going to do a way better job than a pair of "boots" from H&M. They may look the same, but that extra $300 spent is going to go a long way.
The key is knowing how to pick and choose what to splurge on. $500 Hermes belt or $75 Ariat belt, both hold up pants, both look good, so why spend $500. $350 Red Wings or $95 Timberland Classics, no comparison, Red Wing outperforms forever. Be smart people, be smart.
Nathan
Another misconception I used to have was that designer brands were more expensive because they were of better quality. God was I wrong. Trust me, I've had my fair share of Lacoste Polos, Dolce and Gabbana pants, Burberry sweaters, and designer jeans. Perfect example, a couple of years ago I decided that it'd be a smart idea to pay $300 for a Burberry cotton sweater. Let me be frank. WHAT A PIECE OF SHIT. It shrank, was too short, and was uncomfortable. I have a cashmere sweater from Lands End that I think I paid $200 for and I'd put it up against anything. It has withstood the wash, hasn't lost its color and is still as soft as the day I took it out of the bag. An Ex- Girlfriend of mine spent the summer working at Gucci Headquarters on 5th avenue and assured me that their products are of no higher quality than something you can get at the mall.
Another angle of this is that logos and branding make the outfit. Wrong. Go to Ralph Lauren's Purple Label collection. Not a polo horse for miles and it's by far his most expensive collection of clothing. The reason for the lack of branding is because the demographic Purple Label appeals to doesn't need to flash what they're wearing. It looks good. They know it and they know you know it. I mean I don't know about you but if you are determined to spend a fortune on clothing, what's cooler than rocking a $500 t shirt without anything on it as opposed to Gucci's gaudy new line with gigantic double G's painted like the american flag.
There is an alternate side to this though. Some things require you to seek out particular brands for their quality. I think an appropriate example is boots and jackets. Two vital articles of clothing. I personally prefer to be dry and warm as opposed to looking pretty and being drenched and freezing. Spending the extra money on pieces like that is going to guarantee you a product that performs and will last you the majority of your life. Trust me, Red Wing's are going to do a way better job than a pair of "boots" from H&M. They may look the same, but that extra $300 spent is going to go a long way.
The key is knowing how to pick and choose what to splurge on. $500 Hermes belt or $75 Ariat belt, both hold up pants, both look good, so why spend $500. $350 Red Wings or $95 Timberland Classics, no comparison, Red Wing outperforms forever. Be smart people, be smart.
Nathan
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The Lost Art of the Barber Shop
So I'm sitting here at 1:33 in the morning and Ryan shoots me the idea of doing a piece on barber shops, something I've always held near and dear. I'm not tired and I just put the coals on my hookah, so what the hell. Might as well fill you in while I'm doing my best impression of an insomniac.
So I've always felt that a being a loyal customer to a local barbershop is a great way to continue the art of manliness. First off, nothing is a better example of a win/win situation than supporting a local business. You provide them with the means to continue to deliver a personal and specialized product and in return you receive an an exceptional good or service. Your grandfathers didn't get their haircut at Famous Hair, trust me. On top of that, who doesn't love to walk into a place where someone knows your name and can give you what you want without asking. I don't know about you, but familiarity and exceptional service can never be beat. I've never been a big proponent of men having defined hairstyles, but a good haircut is something that is imperative if you want to look good and put your best foot forward.
Find a good barber and it's a great way to escape your day and just shoot the breeze about things you don't always get to talk about. A seasoned barber has been around the block and most didn't get their start at the beauty college. You'll find that most barbers starting cutting hair in the military and it just carried over and became their career. This is a great time to just shut the hell up and listen. Ask a couple questions here and there but first and foremost just listen. You'll learn a lot about a lot of things, because if you're anything like me, you spend your entire day spewing nonsense and talking to your friends about a good looking piece of tail you saw on campus. Those topics are fine, but they have their time and place. The barbershop is not one of them. For me and my barber, its things men of 50's and 60's loved. Classic cars, western movies, and great music. I'd be here til 1 am tomorrow if I listed all the cool stories and knowledge I've picked up in 45 minutes in the chair, twice a month. A large portion of my obsession towards the fashionably functional can be attributed to this. You know why guys wore Levi's jeans back then? Because they got the freakin job done and nobody gave a shit if they got dirty. It's hard to bail hay in pair of True Religions. I'm going off on a tangent here but thats ok. Lets bring this back in though. Find a barber. Build relationships. Have fun. And most importantly, listen with your ears and not your mouth.
I'll leave you with the words of my great grandfather, Samuel Colombo, to Eddie Money at my parent's wedding. Thats right, Eddie Money was at my parents wedding. Wanna fight about it? Anyways,
"Get a damn haircut you hippy."
Nathan
So I've always felt that a being a loyal customer to a local barbershop is a great way to continue the art of manliness. First off, nothing is a better example of a win/win situation than supporting a local business. You provide them with the means to continue to deliver a personal and specialized product and in return you receive an an exceptional good or service. Your grandfathers didn't get their haircut at Famous Hair, trust me. On top of that, who doesn't love to walk into a place where someone knows your name and can give you what you want without asking. I don't know about you, but familiarity and exceptional service can never be beat. I've never been a big proponent of men having defined hairstyles, but a good haircut is something that is imperative if you want to look good and put your best foot forward.
Find a good barber and it's a great way to escape your day and just shoot the breeze about things you don't always get to talk about. A seasoned barber has been around the block and most didn't get their start at the beauty college. You'll find that most barbers starting cutting hair in the military and it just carried over and became their career. This is a great time to just shut the hell up and listen. Ask a couple questions here and there but first and foremost just listen. You'll learn a lot about a lot of things, because if you're anything like me, you spend your entire day spewing nonsense and talking to your friends about a good looking piece of tail you saw on campus. Those topics are fine, but they have their time and place. The barbershop is not one of them. For me and my barber, its things men of 50's and 60's loved. Classic cars, western movies, and great music. I'd be here til 1 am tomorrow if I listed all the cool stories and knowledge I've picked up in 45 minutes in the chair, twice a month. A large portion of my obsession towards the fashionably functional can be attributed to this. You know why guys wore Levi's jeans back then? Because they got the freakin job done and nobody gave a shit if they got dirty. It's hard to bail hay in pair of True Religions. I'm going off on a tangent here but thats ok. Lets bring this back in though. Find a barber. Build relationships. Have fun. And most importantly, listen with your ears and not your mouth.
I'll leave you with the words of my great grandfather, Samuel Colombo, to Eddie Money at my parent's wedding. Thats right, Eddie Money was at my parents wedding. Wanna fight about it? Anyways,
"Get a damn haircut you hippy."
Nathan
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication
To continue with the theme of essentials, I'm going to talk about a few essential pieces that every man should have in his closet. A couple things that are important to us here at Form & Function are quality and simplicity. da Vinci once said "simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" and that couldn't be more true when it comes to clothing.
The reason I take presenting myself so seriously is because no matter what anyone says, people judge you on what you look like. That's just human nature. And you say, "well I don't care what people think of me." Yes you do. I promise. I say this to myself every morning before I put on my clothes: dress yourself like you're going to meet the most important person in your life. Whether it's the woman of your dreams (I'm single by the way ladies) or a business contact that can affect your future financial situation, you want them to think of you in a positive light. The best way to do that is to look as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
So here are a couple pieces that every man should have in his closet and if you don't, you should probably run out to the nearest Hot Topic to pick them up.
Just Kidding
1. White or blue dress shirt. No orange. No red. And for the love of Don Draper don't ever wear a black dress shirt. I've seen way too many pictures of frat bros going to their formal looking like The Situation at the club who came straight from his grandmother's funeral. Keep it simple.
2. Brown chukkas or desert boots.
They go great with a pair of raw denim pants or colored chinos. Which reminds me...
3. Raw selvedge denim. There's nothing like unwashed denim worn to fit your body. I own only Levi's. Like Nate said earlier, you just can't go wrong with a pair of 501's.
4. Blazer or sport jacket. It can be blue, tan, two buttons, three buttons, single vent or double vent. Along with suits, just MAKE SURE IT'S TAILORED. Anyone can make a jacket look 100% more expensive than what it was if you make sure it fits. How to figure out whether it fits or not I'll have to save for another post.
5. Classic sunglasses. I'm not even going to get into bad looking sunglasses because you don't want to see a man narrate his own suicide so here are a few looks.
 |
| Persol (^Steve McQueen, Bond, Ari Gold) |
 |
| Ray-Ban (Nathan and I both own these, great look) |
6. Watch. "A man wears a watch." Don't know who said it but it doesn't matter, it adds instant credibility. Unless Jay-Z is reading our blog then I suspect you probably don't have the income for a Rolex or Hublot. So go pick up a classic Fossil or Timex Weekender.
That about wraps it up for my list of essentials. So take off your snap-backs and graphic tees and go put on something that people will take you seriously in.
You can never be over-dressed,
Ryan
Functionality is Key
Ok so let's get this thing going. My area of expertise is that of the function. I love clothing that serves a real world purpose but at the same time is observant of current trends. I think an appropriate place to start is in the area of old clothing companies and why you should patronize them.
Let me start by saying companies that have been in business for more than 50 years have been successful for a reason. They make great quality items that stand the test of time both physically and in the realm of currentness, if you will.
I'm sure Ryan could see this post coming from a mile away but my main focus of interest in today's post is going to be L.L. Bean. What a great example of how a style of clothing can stand the test of time. If you've never had the chance to look at their "Signature" division of clothes I highly recommend it. Sweaters that keep you warm and snap necks when you walk around campus.
So let's build this from the ground up. I'm going to assume, since this is the first post, that your current collection of clothes includes nothing from any brands like this. (L.L Bean, Levis, Carhartt, Red Wing, Filson, Barbour, just to name a few) The best place to start and in my opinion, stay, is with these brand's original items. The items that they built their respected empires on. Great designs like these are timeless and they are and will forever be good looking.
Ok, so I think the next step would be to create a sort of "buyers guide" to these brands. I'll give you a couple of items from each brand and let you explore the rest. This is the best way to build your own mental file on what you like and what looks best.
Let's start with L.L Bean. Leon Leonwood Bean built one of the biggest distributors of outdoor clothing on two items, the Maine Hunting Shoe and his Original Field Coat.
1.) http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/71105?feat=775-GN1&page=12-leather-maine-hunting-shoe&attrValue_0=Brown/Brown&productId=1193039
2.) http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/65099?feat=778-GN1&page=bean-s-1947-field-coat
The next company I want to outline is the ever so familiar Levi's Denim brand. The success of Levi's can be pretty much reduced down to a single pair of pants. The Levi Strauss original 501 selvedge pant. A completely raw, unwashed piece of pure denim that can be left unwashed and will fit accordingly to the customer after a few days worth of wear. Selvedge denim is always a good choice no matter the brand. Although it can get rather pricey, companies like GAP offer a comparable pant for a mere $88.
1.) http://us.levi.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10948887
Next on our list of essentials is Carhartt. Built out of Detroit, a traditionally blue collar city, Carhartt, specifically their WIP line, is a perfect example of the fusion between form and function. (http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3rqidt/)
1.) www.carhartt-wip.com
Third on our list of Form and Function essentials is the Red Wing boot company. First started as a company aimed specifically at the blue collar skilled worker, Red Wing has skyrocketed in recent popularity with their products being included with some of the most respected high end fashion brands as being the new trend. Red Wing boots still manufactured and sold as they were in the 1850s are available for purchase now on their heritage website.
1.) http://www.redwingheritage.com/legend
Fourth on my list is the heavy hitter, Filson. Known for their signature "Tin Cloth" pieces, Filson brand offers some of the most durable and at the same time fashionable clothing on the market today. With recent collaborations with brands like Burton Snowboards and Levi's Denim, theres no denying that this stuff is worth its weight in gold. And looks great too.
1.) http://www.filson.com/products/tin-cruiser.10005.html
Lastly, Barbour of England. Founded in 1894 Barbour set the standard of what a classic Wax Jacket should be. Still hand-made in England, Barbour only churns out a little over 100,000 jackets a year so expect to pay a little more. But like most everything I have and will cover over the course of this blog, you will get what you pay for. No shoddy craftsmanship, just well made, fashionable items that will continue to stand the test of time like they have all the years before I sat down at my kitchen table to write this entry.
1.) http://www.barbour.com/us/mens-clothing/jacketscoats/heritage
This is what the hell is going on,
Nathan
Let me start by saying companies that have been in business for more than 50 years have been successful for a reason. They make great quality items that stand the test of time both physically and in the realm of currentness, if you will.
I'm sure Ryan could see this post coming from a mile away but my main focus of interest in today's post is going to be L.L. Bean. What a great example of how a style of clothing can stand the test of time. If you've never had the chance to look at their "Signature" division of clothes I highly recommend it. Sweaters that keep you warm and snap necks when you walk around campus.
So let's build this from the ground up. I'm going to assume, since this is the first post, that your current collection of clothes includes nothing from any brands like this. (L.L Bean, Levis, Carhartt, Red Wing, Filson, Barbour, just to name a few) The best place to start and in my opinion, stay, is with these brand's original items. The items that they built their respected empires on. Great designs like these are timeless and they are and will forever be good looking.
Ok, so I think the next step would be to create a sort of "buyers guide" to these brands. I'll give you a couple of items from each brand and let you explore the rest. This is the best way to build your own mental file on what you like and what looks best.
Let's start with L.L Bean. Leon Leonwood Bean built one of the biggest distributors of outdoor clothing on two items, the Maine Hunting Shoe and his Original Field Coat.
1.) http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/71105?feat=775-GN1&page=12-leather-maine-hunting-shoe&attrValue_0=Brown/Brown&productId=1193039
2.) http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/65099?feat=778-GN1&page=bean-s-1947-field-coat
The next company I want to outline is the ever so familiar Levi's Denim brand. The success of Levi's can be pretty much reduced down to a single pair of pants. The Levi Strauss original 501 selvedge pant. A completely raw, unwashed piece of pure denim that can be left unwashed and will fit accordingly to the customer after a few days worth of wear. Selvedge denim is always a good choice no matter the brand. Although it can get rather pricey, companies like GAP offer a comparable pant for a mere $88.
1.) http://us.levi.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10948887
Next on our list of essentials is Carhartt. Built out of Detroit, a traditionally blue collar city, Carhartt, specifically their WIP line, is a perfect example of the fusion between form and function. (http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3rqidt/)
1.) www.carhartt-wip.com
Third on our list of Form and Function essentials is the Red Wing boot company. First started as a company aimed specifically at the blue collar skilled worker, Red Wing has skyrocketed in recent popularity with their products being included with some of the most respected high end fashion brands as being the new trend. Red Wing boots still manufactured and sold as they were in the 1850s are available for purchase now on their heritage website.
1.) http://www.redwingheritage.com/legend
Fourth on my list is the heavy hitter, Filson. Known for their signature "Tin Cloth" pieces, Filson brand offers some of the most durable and at the same time fashionable clothing on the market today. With recent collaborations with brands like Burton Snowboards and Levi's Denim, theres no denying that this stuff is worth its weight in gold. And looks great too.
1.) http://www.filson.com/products/tin-cruiser.10005.html
Lastly, Barbour of England. Founded in 1894 Barbour set the standard of what a classic Wax Jacket should be. Still hand-made in England, Barbour only churns out a little over 100,000 jackets a year so expect to pay a little more. But like most everything I have and will cover over the course of this blog, you will get what you pay for. No shoddy craftsmanship, just well made, fashionable items that will continue to stand the test of time like they have all the years before I sat down at my kitchen table to write this entry.
1.) http://www.barbour.com/us/mens-clothing/jacketscoats/heritage
This is what the hell is going on,
Nathan
Introductions
I always struggle on how to kick these things off. I guess I should start by introducing myself. As Ryan mentioned earlier, my name is Nathan Colombo. Son of Morgantown, West Virginia with a Freeport, Maine mentality. I haven't always been a culture addict but I certainly am now. Clothes, food, smokes, hotels, cars, travel. All things culture I love and study religiously.
Even more than just fashion, I am aiming to bring a easily looked over hobby into the light and expose it for its greatness. We love and are passionate about the things we write about here at Form and Function and I hope you all find something here that you like.
This is what the hell is going on,
Nathan
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Welcome
Welcome to Form and Function. My buddy Nathan and I have created this blog to give ourselves a bit of an outlet.
Let me set the scene.
We're college kids from a small town in West Virginia where we've developed a relationship based on basketball, food and clothes. We've been best friends ever since we won the county basketball championship at Suncrest Middle School. I'm a walk-on basketball player at Eastern Kentucky University and Nate is a marketing major at West Virginia University.
As you've probably figured out by now, West Virginia and Kentucky aren't the most stylish places in the world. And when you're as passionate and interested in clothing as we are, it can get a little frustrating.
I've developed my interest in men's clothing (menswear if you will) from different places. Whether it's listening to Jose from Porta Bella's in New York talk about the difference between single vent and double vent blazers with my dad and his co-workers or searching the web for good deals on desert boots and pea coats with my sister. The person who is most responsible for my addiction to menswear is the guy who will be posting on here as well, Nate.
In a society where a man being interested in the way he presents himself is looked down upon, we are here to tell you that it's ok. We promise. As we progress we're going to post what we like, what we hate, why we do what we do and for the love of good please don't use the word "fashion".
So I'll leave you with one of our motto's, "Dress yourself like you know what the hell is going on."
Ryan
Let me set the scene.
We're college kids from a small town in West Virginia where we've developed a relationship based on basketball, food and clothes. We've been best friends ever since we won the county basketball championship at Suncrest Middle School. I'm a walk-on basketball player at Eastern Kentucky University and Nate is a marketing major at West Virginia University.
As you've probably figured out by now, West Virginia and Kentucky aren't the most stylish places in the world. And when you're as passionate and interested in clothing as we are, it can get a little frustrating.
I've developed my interest in men's clothing (menswear if you will) from different places. Whether it's listening to Jose from Porta Bella's in New York talk about the difference between single vent and double vent blazers with my dad and his co-workers or searching the web for good deals on desert boots and pea coats with my sister. The person who is most responsible for my addiction to menswear is the guy who will be posting on here as well, Nate.
In a society where a man being interested in the way he presents himself is looked down upon, we are here to tell you that it's ok. We promise. As we progress we're going to post what we like, what we hate, why we do what we do and for the love of good please don't use the word "fashion".
So I'll leave you with one of our motto's, "Dress yourself like you know what the hell is going on."
Ryan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)