Author: Battletag Ouchies

The Idle Man – Going Grey

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Article posted up on theidleman.com – How To Style Grey Hair

By Min A. Lee

From red-carpet celebrities to social media influencers; grey haired men, whether dyed or natural, have proven that silver is a stylish alternative to the norm’ when it comes to creative colouring. Check out our complete guide on how to take going grey from old to bold in no time.

Read more about men’s grooming.

It’s morning, and all is well. A quick look in the mirror, you feel great then suddenly you see it… a grey strand. For those of us with dark hair, that little sprout of contrast is blatant. Is it stress? Is it aging? A combination of both perhaps?

Hard to believe, but your hair is actually white before the proteins in the strands are hit with a dose of melanin. It’s this relationship between keratin and melanocytes that give the colour you see everyday. Genetic factors are the main culprits that cause a reduction in melanocytes, hence that dreaded first sprinkle of grey.

Your DNA maps everything, including where you will see changes begin. Don’t panic. Grey isn’t viewed the same way as it was before, there’s no need to hide it. The colour has been boosted with a new, modern life thanks to celebrities and social media influencers.

Emil and Rasmus V. Albrechtsen of the most followed youtube channel in the hair industry, Slikhaar TV, show us the process of creating silver fox perfection from their own Denmark studio with master colourist Ulises Garcia.

Completely switch up your hairstyle or gracefully streak some smoky tones into growing natural greys. Hair is a great experimental field. The best colourists can take any hue and turn it into a seamless balayage. We definitely suggest having a professional to help you achieve exactly what you want as they will take into account your skin tone and natural hair.

This is important to know whether you should go for warmer or cooler shades. If your hair is quite dark, you’ll have to go through bleaching. This alone could cause a lot of breakage if not done properly. Some will even bleach in stages over time to prevent major damage from happening. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help on maintaining your dye, silver and grey will be trickier.

Once you have the exact shade desired, it is time to consider the cut. The thickness of your hair, your face shape, how much effort you want to put into styling, all these factors are crucial. Fortunately, the Idle Man examined some classic hairstyles that will have you covered.

Read on for more going grey inspirations and maintenance guides for dyed or natural hair. Also, we examine the right wardrobe colours to elevate your silver.

For the full article click here to learn more styling tips, color preservation and shop grooming products at The Idle Man!

The Idle Man – James Bond

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Article up on theidleman.com – How To Dress Like James Bond

By Min A. Lee

“An in-depth look into 007 reveals a complex protagonist with immaculate style. We examined a selection of Bond films for some of the best lessons in tailored menswear and accessories you’ll ever receive. You’ll be dressing like James Bond in no time!

Read more Men’s style guides.

While we are obsessed with the current James Bond, Daniel Craig, the iconic style that has become vital to bringing the literary character to life on the silver screen began with three men: Terence Young, Anthony Sinclair and Sean Connery.

TerenceYoung coached Connery into portraying the Bond that would set the bar since his first film Dr. No. Using his own bespoke tailor, Anthony Sinclair, Young felt everything worn by Bond was a huge proponent of the persona.

We asked Remmert van Braam, founder of the popular Bond Lifestyle, from the clothes to personality, what is it about James Bond that attracts men and women:

Bond always knows his stuff, from the wine he drinks to the car he drives, he knows what he wants and wants the best. This is something Bond creator Ian Fleming already put in the novels, naming specific brands and Bond’s sartorial preferences. Usually these are high-end, quality products. It might sound materialistic, but what men and women might admire in Bond is that even though he gets all the best things, he just as easily ruins bespoke suits, handmade shoes, or expensive vehicles and he doesn’t seem to care. Except of course when it’s his beloved Aston Martin DB5 (or his Bentley in the novels).

— Remmert van Braam, Bond Lifestyle

Clean silhouettes, easy shoulders, a slight flare to the jacket and movable fit define the Conduit Street tailor’s aesthetics. The British style embedded by Sinclair still translates across all of the 007 films to this day.

Let’s break down all of Bonds’ main looks, and how to achieve them.

The Tuxedo

Tuxedos appear heavily throughout the Bond movies. It’s important to remember, tuxedos are notably different from suits:

  • Suits can be worn anytime of the day, while formal tuxedos are for evening.
  • Color plays a role; tuxedos are usually black or extremely dark blue. Suits can be lighter shades.
  • Traditionally tuxedos will contain satin: the lapels, buttons, trimming down the trouser legs, while suits don’t.
  • The jacket lapels themselves are different. You won’t see tuxedos with notched lapels.
  • Tuxedos should have a bow tie versus wearing casual neck piece for suits.

Whenever we think of ‘Dr. No’, the first scene that comes to mind is that epic moment when through a cloud of cigarette smoke, Connery introduces himself as, Bond. James Bond. He was wearing a Sinclair designed tuxedo in midnight blue with a Lanvin shirt, these moments were the start of many.

The Grey Suit

Throughout the Connery era, Sinclair’s clean aesthetics were at the forefront. A popular style was his glen check three-piece suit in Goldfinger, featuring narrow lapels, ticket pocket along with the slip of a handkerchief and notched lapel waist coat.

Here’s Roger Moore working a grey, chalk stripe jacket with a peaked lapel. What’s the difference between pinstripes and chalk stripes? The latter is set wider, and sewn at an angle to mimic a tailor’s chalk line.

As time progressed, Brioni dressed Pierce Brosnan in neutral, but with a wider lapel with a higher gorge and no waist coat. The pleated trousers of Sinclair disappeared for slimmer cuts with darting.

Brioni was switched out for Tom Ford by “Quantum Of Solace.” While Craig did wear the Italian brand for one movie, a change in costume designer also influenced the change to Ford. Though there is variation between the designers of Bond’s suits, the fact remains from Sinclair to the more modern take we see now—grey is timeless.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE AND SHOP THE IDLE MAN – TOP MENSWEAR DESTINATION!

Composure Magazine – Layout Design

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2 Page Layout Design For Composure Magazine – Read The Full Story By Anna M. Park HERE!

Composure covers the latest in celebrity, beauty and fashion news. Classic, compelling and in-depth features in the printed monthly issues are worthy reads.

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The Idle Man -12 Best Watches Under £100

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Fashion article up on theidleman.com – The 12 Best Watches Under £100 – Min A. Lee

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“A symbol of identity and status, watches provide major style flexibility, but can come with hefty price-tags. We rounded up the 12 best men’s watches under £100 to keep you looking sharp.

Check out more from our Men’s Style Guides here.

Previously The Idle Man brought to you a brief history on men’s watches and finds under £500. Overall, what is it about watches that has survived decades of technological advances?

It comes down to symbolism. Watches are common gifts for major achievements, whether it be a company promotion or a special birthday, think “coming of age.” They have become heirlooms to many, holding special memories as they are passed down through the family tree. It’s rather hard to pass down a tablet or apple watch. Technology doesn’t have the same longevity. Watches cross generational gaps. There’s a huge possibility you’ll treasure the same watch company that your Grandpa did.

No matter how the economy dips, watches retain value. The amount of time and craftsmanship that goes into creating a single mechanical dial pushes this value higher. Take a look at this in-depth video by Hodinkee, founded by watch connoisseur Benjamin Clymer, exploring Seiko manufacturers.

Now let’s take a look at the money aspect. Patek Philippe, need we say more? Who wouldn’t lust for a watch from the famous Swiss manufacturer, but we’re talking 5 figures at the very least. That is to be expected from a design house that has supplied royal families.

Style has gone far beyond dressing head-to-toe high end brands. Fashion moves quickly. This constant change has impacted how we shop. Many find themselves mixing high to low or favouring mid-tier designers.”

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View the video and read the entire article containing the best mens watches, more style tips and shop for all your menswear needs at theidleman.com

 

Composure Magazine Story – Mesh It Up

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Trend story written for Composure Magazine, read the full article and see the fashion here at composuremagazine.com.  Be sure to pick up a printed issue as well as view the newest Anniversary issue!

Design by Viajane.com

NOVESTA: Sneakers That Will Actually Last!

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Coachella preparation: 3 brands, a lot of sand and a rating system that will help you decide what footwear will truly survive festival turf.  – Min A. Lee

Don’t be fooled at the pristine condition of the shoes I will share, because everything I review gets truly worn so I can give a fair review of their durability, comfort and stylish appeal.

I live in the same uniform on a daily basis: denim-on-denim (due to a lasting love for Calvin Klein’s iconic denim campaigns) paired with any kicks that catch my eye, so for this round up I took four brands and tested them through an entire weekend of hot temperatures, walking and desert terrain.

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of why I found Novesta to be a highly-recommendable brand:

In my backpack:

  • GAP Leather Slip On Sneakers ($50)
  • Vans Perf Leather Slip On Sneakers ($60)
  • Novesta Star Master Sneaker ($89)
  • AllSaints Spitalfields S-99 Slip On Sneakers ($140)

GAP:

  • Leather, comfort B-, sole wasn’t as cushioned as others, over time leather expanding started to get blisters from inside rubbing, started to look worn down fairly quick…recommendation: if you’re looking for sneakers to just complete your streetwear look of the day…go for them.  Keep them for quick errand runs.
  • They’re only $50, so it’s not a total loss if you have to throw them away.  The other good thing is, GAP does huge sales, so if you’re lucky you could probably find a pair on sale with an extra 40% off!

VANS:

  • Leather, comfort B+, more cushioned sole, dirt collects in the perforations so have to wipe them clean…though being leather makes it easier.  Rubber started cracking at at the forefoot midsole section.  The problem with this is once the sole is compromised it just gets worse.  Eventually the leather starts to pull away in the area and you have a pretty good hole starting in the shoe.
  • I have tried out 3 pairs to test longevity with daily wear.  The pairs have averaged out to around 4 months before they looked extremely run down or the sole cracked.

NOVESTA:

  • Cotton, comfort A, it’s assumed that leather would be easiest to care for, but honestly the cotton fabric of Novesta was just as easy to brush off and keep in sharp looking condition.  What makes this shoe an “A” in comfort is the insole, contoured for arch and extreme support (while nearly all classic style sneakers and slip-ons are flat inside) you can walk for hours…literally hours.
  • Now let’s address the rubber sole.  The cracking you get with Vans, and in fact a lot of brands that produce slip ons, you DON’T with Novesta.  I’ve been drafting this post April 15th (13 days) and wearing these every day since for long periods of time-standing, sitting, walking and running.  I plan on wearing them continually to see the longevity, but the chances are good these will last a solid year.
    • It has to do with how the actual sole is pressed into the shoe. You’ll find there is a very thin layer of rubber extending into the body fabric.  It provides security and flexibility with movement, which means NO cracking, and helping maintain/extend the life of the shoe.  This is the beauty of handmade shoes.
  • Given the craftsmanship, the price is extremely fair and affordable.

ALL SAINTS: 

  • Suede/Cow hide, Comfort D, usually All Saints is synonymous with quality…but, their sneaker insoles need major work.  The inner soles of the shoe are extremely hard, so there’s not much to be said for comfort.  They aren’t the sneakers to wear for walking around a whole day.
  • They run narrow, so if you have wide feet…avoid.  You will end up with blisters.  My feet fall in between, but unfortunately blisters within the first day of wearing for an hour.  Once they were broken in after a few weeks—still getting blisters.  I tried sizing up to 38 from a a 37, and unfortunately as beautiful as they look…they’re comfort grade for me is still a D.  However, the sole has held up really well.
  • Now for the die hard All Saints cult fans out there, I will say that their other footwear has proven amazing at times!

FINAL REVIEW NOTES:

Definitely think about how much you want to wear your sneakers and where.  This really dictates how much you are willing to spend on your purchases.  If you are thinking about sneakers just for some blog posts and quick street style shots, any of these will work great. Though, if you are looking for sneakers to ride-or-die in…really take Novesta very seriously.  I am truly impressed with their durability and the fact they are now launched stateside at Madisonlosangeles.com makes me even happier.

Now I’m off to run a ton of errands in my indigo blues no less… I can’t get over the contoured inner sole, it’s proven its weight in gold.

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All Photos Courtesy Of Brands & Companies

 

 

 

 

Composure Magazine – Boring No More

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Trend story written for Composure Magazine, read the full story here!  Purchase the print issue here!

 

 

 

Composure Magazine – Sustainable Style

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Article & Layout For Composure Magazine – Sustainable Style: Eco-Friendly Fashion For Earth Day – Min A. Lee

Read the full article here at Composuremagazine.com

 

Favorites: Etnia Barcelona, Novesta, Beloforte, Alabama Chanin, Alexandra Koumba and Liberti.

 

 

Composure Magazine – Indio In Style

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Layout design and story for Composure Magazine featuring favorite fashion picks for Coachella.

Read the full story here, along with links to shop!

 

Fashion Writing – BePop’s Beijaflore Collection

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Fashion Articles For California Market Week During Los Angeles Fashion Week – Min A. Lee

BePop’s Beijaflore Collection:

Stunning paintings by Brazilian-born artist Christine Drummond turned into luxurious printed fabrics, unique triple-layered lapels and flattering cuts for every woman out there were just a few of the wonderful things that made us immediately attracted to BePop’s Beijaflore Collection.  Meeting with the Beijaflore representatives as well as Christine Drummond herself, gave us a first hand look at the love that went into each painting and then translated into the beautifully cut designs.  Listening to them share with us their passion for the line makes us remember why we love fashion and how hard designers and artists work to make their dreams a fulfilling reality.  The women behind BePop are Rachel Delahaye, Drummond, and French designer Caroline Denquin.  Flawless tailoring by France’s best and paintings depicting life in Brazil give the collection a worldly feel.