Essential Style for Men. » Style

TIMEPIECES: TSOVET SVT-GR44

ESM — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:36:39 +0000

The TSOVET SVT-GR44 limited edition watch. Image from http://www.tsovet.com/GR221010-7750_p_85.html.

We’re suckers for limited edition timepieces commemorating motorsports greatness.

From the Tag Heuer Monaco to the BRM R50-VT to the Chopard Jacky Ickx Edition, there’s something about expensive watches that are built for people who love to go really, really fast.

For those that share our same passion of fine timepieces and motorsport, we would like to introduce the TSOVET SVT-GR44, built in dedication to the incredible accomplishments of the Chip Ganassi Racing Team.

According to TSOVET’s official website:

With multiple cars competing in various classes for the IZOD Indy Car Series, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and the Grand-Am Sports Car Series, Chip Ganassi Racing is familiar with victory lane.

14 championships & 145 victories, including 3 Indianapolis 500 wins, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400, and 4 Rolex 24 at Daytona victories.

Unable to overlook the dominance of Chip Ganassi Racing Teams in 2010: 19 victories and two championships, Racer Magazine named them Team of the Year.

In 2011 it was more of the same as Chip Ganassi Racing brought home two more championships and another victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Pretty impressive.

The TSOVET SVT-GR44. Dedicated to the accomplishments of the Chip Ganassi Racing Team. Only 51 will be made. Image from http://www.tsovet.com/GR221010-7750_p_85.html.

Limited to 51 pcs worldwide with expected delivery in May 2012, The TSOVET SVT-GR44 lives up to the team it represents. It’s beautiful, made from some of the best materials and embodies the winning spirit of the Chip Ganassi Racing Team.

STYLE: Christian Louboutin Daddy Flat Loafers

ESM — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:16:05 +0000

Christian Louboutin Daddy Flat loafers image from http://robbreport.com/Paid-Issue/FrontRunners-Body-Art-and-Sole/MediaAlbum?aid=986770&iid=986771.

If the Devil were a man, he wouldn’t wear Prada.

He’d wear these Christian Louboutin Daddy Flat Loafers with a black, double-breasted Hugo Boss suit (with red lining of course).

We’ve seen this shoe on a lot of sites, such as the Robb Report (http://robbreport.com/Paid-Issue/FrontRunners-Body-Art-and-Sole/MediaAlbum?aid=986770&iid=986771) and HypeBeast (http://hypebeast.com/2011/05/christian-louboutin-daddy-flat/) and are undoubtedly attracted by the color and material combo.

I mean, a black corduroy loafer with red tassles made of leather? Straight up evil.

There are only two problems:

When we checked out the official Christian Louboutin website, we couldn’t find the shoes (might still be coming soon)
Given the opportunity, we don’t think we have the ‘nads to pull these $995 shoes off

For more information on Christian Louboutin’s men’s shoes, you can check out their official website at http://us.christianlouboutin.com/mens.html.

If you’re one of the lucky folks who can both afford the shoe and pull it off – our hats off to you. You and the Devil can match your outfits at your next dinner party.

TIMEPIECES: Ernst Benz by John Varvatos Limited Edition Chronoscope

ESM — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:46:04 +0000

The Ernst Benz by John Varvatos Chronoscope Special Edition. Image from http://www.ernstbenz.com/.

The Ernst Benz by John Varvatos Limited Edition Chronoscope.

What a mouthful.

The watch is basically a limited, special edition chronograph created by Ernst Benz for John Varvatos. In our estimation, it’s probably because he carries their watches in all their stores.

Quite honestly, I would have never known where to buy an Ernst Benz if it wasn’t for John Varvatos.

This particular timepiece is beautiful and worthy enough to match up with your brand-spanking-new John Varvatos suit. As always, we love the contrast stitching on the strap and the classic arabic numberals on the face.

Our color option? We’d select the black face because real rock & roll studs always wear black.

For all the horology whores (can we say whorologists?) out there, here are the watch details from http://www.ernstbenz.com/:

CALIBER

Automatic Valjoux 7750 Incabloc
Glucydur Balance
Nivarox Alloy Hairspring

FUNCTIONS

Hours, Minutes, Subsidiary Seconds, Day and Date
Chronograph: Hours, Minutes and Central Seconds

CASE

47mm brushed stainless steel
Bezel: Angled and polished
Pushers: Square polished
Crown: Knurled, double O-ring sealed
Crystal: Domed sapphire glass with anti-reflective treatment on the lower side Exhibition back with sapphire glass
Water Resistant: 5 Atmospheres – 50m/165ft

DIAL

GC10410-1 Black Vintage Matte w/vintage luminous numerals
GC10410-2 Anthracite Vintage w/vintage luminous numerals

STRAP

Calf Leather
Aviator Leather
Handmade Alligator
Handmade Aviator Alligator

BRACELET

47mm – 22mm brushed stainless steel

To purchase the Ernst Benz by John Varvatos Limited Edition Chronoscope, you can go to the official John Varvatos website at http://www.johnvarvatos.com/Ernst_Benz_by_John_Varvatos_Limited_Edition_Chronoscope__/pd/c/41/np/41/p/1160.html.

For more information about Ernst Benz, you can check out their official site at http://www.ernstbenz.com/.

GEAR: Aether Apparel Space Hoodie 60

ESM — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:49:17 +0000

The Space Hoodie 60 from Aether Apparel. No, you can't really use it in space. Image from http://www.aetherapparel.com/shop/mens/insulated/space-hoodie-60/.

Have you been looking for an awesome hoodie that doesn’t make you feel like you’re a 16 year-old pro snowboarder? If the answer to the question is “yes”, then the Space Hoodie 60 from Aether Apparel is the jacket for you.

When we saw this Space Hoodie 60 from Aether Apparel we loved the clean lines, simple design and fully functional aesthetic.

Available in 5 colors, the Space Hoodie 60 will keep you warm, look ultra-stylish and send out the message “I’m a grown up who doesn’t live at home with his mom”.

According to Aether Apparel’s official website:

Its slim-fit gives the Space Hoodie a uniquely refined look, while the 60 grams of PrimaLoft® fill delivers a substantial amount of insulation. Made with a silky ripstop fabric for an incredible soft feel, it functions as a stand-alone piece during milder days and doubles as a high-performance mid-layer during the cold winter. Unbelievably lightweight and extremely packable, the Space Hoodie is one of our most versatile all-around pieces.

Never heard of Aether Apparel?

The company was started by Palmer West and Jonah Smith - two film producers that were outdoor sport enthusiasts who wanted a performance-driven clothing line with great style. In their words:

Aether is a pure expression of form and function. By utilizing technologically advanced fabrics in a more sophisticated form, the collection offers sportswear for the outdoor enthusiast who wants function without sacrificing modern design and aesthetics.

For more information on the Space Hoodie 60 from Aether Apparel, you can check out Aether Apparel’s official site at http://www.aetherapparel.com/shop/mens/insulated/space-hoodie-60/.

GEAR: John Varvatos Large Stretch Duffle

ESM — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:42:27 +0000

John Varvatos' Large Stretch Duffle. I think I need an intervention. Image from http://www.johnvarvatos.com/Large_Stretch_Duffle_/pd/cl/972/np/35/p/1777.html.

I’ve got a sickness.

I am almost ashamed to admit I have a penchant (see: addiction) to high-end leather overnight bags. I am on the web all the time just looking at them.

When I was in Vegas for Thanksgiving, this was all my mind was focused on.

I went in store-by-store and headed straight for the men’s luggage section trying to find the penultimate overnight bag. Nothing too flashy, something that would last for a really long time, something made with care and the utmost quality.

Coach. Louis Vuitton. Zara. I checked ‘em all.

The one that really caught my eye was the John Varvatos Large Stretch Duffle.

It was simple. The size was perfect. The leather looked sturdy enough to last over a decade. The color was amazing and I knew it would get an amazing patina over time.

But of course I didn’t buy it.

So here we are in January. I am still obsessing. But now I am sharing my obsession with you.

Do you think it’s time for an intervention?

For more information about John Varvatos and their Large Stretch Duffle, you can check out their official site at http://www.johnvarvatos.com/Large_Stretch_Duffle_/pd/cl/972/np/35/p/1777.html.

THE GILROY: Moonshine, a gentleman’s cologne

ESM — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:39:41 +0000

Moonshine for Men. "Repeal her prohibitions" is a great tagline. Image from http://www.moonshineformen.com.

Last week the folks from EastWest Bottlers hit us up to see if we would feature one of their latest fragrances called “Moonshine” on our website.

The first thing we thought to ourselves was: “With a name like that, why wouldn’t we check it out?”

So they sent us over a small sample and from the first moment we opened the package, we found Moonshine to be surprisingly light and refreshing.

According to their website:

MOONSHINE is a gentleman’s cologne, with woodsy notes, including black pepper, leather, tobacco, gin, and patchouli. All of our bottles are hand filled and packed in our home office of Greensboro, NC.

For us here at ESM, we especially loved their marketing. The “Moonshine” name is unique, the burlap sack it is packaged in is pretty sick and they have the best tagline ever: “Repeal Her Prohibitions”.

So brilliant.

Because the scent is so light and airy, our recommendation would be to use Moonshine as your “go-to” cologne on a daily basis.

Here’s a great idea – maybe an alternative tagline should be: “Get the ladies drunk on your Moonshine. Just make sure they’re over 21.”

No? Fine – we’ll just stick to writing ESM articles.

For more information about Moonshine, a gentleman’s cologne and to purchase your own bottle of Moonshine cologne online (a 3.4 ounce bottle costs $72) you can check out their official website at http://www.moonshineformen.com/#!purchase.

BECOMING BOND: Introduction to the idea

ESM — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:32:30 +0000

Join Essential Style for Men as Luigi takes his 6 month journey trying to become his favorite super spy. Image from Burke/Triolo Productions/Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock.

James Bond is the man.

Our hope here at ESM is that all our readers love all the James Bond movies. So much so, in fact, that they want to become him.

I love James Bond (in the platonic dude kind of way) and always fancy myself James Bond when I am wearing a suit, drinking a martini, or driving a nice car.

So I thought to myself: why not take this bitch to the next level and really try to “become Bond”?

What would it really take to make it happen?

I know what you're thinking and I don't care! We're going to do it anyway! Image from http://obamapacman.com/2011/03/james-bond-daniel-craig-ipad/.

So we did a little bit of research and found a list of things that made up the James Bond character (since it’s 2011 we picked the Daniel Craig version) on the James Bond Wiki page:

Blond, short hair
5’10″
In extremely good shape
Scottish heritage
Royal Naval Reserve Commander
MI-6 secret agent
MI-6 bankroll
Wears Tom Ford suits
Expert in hand-to-hand combat
Expert marksman
Expert swordsman (80′s and 90′s version)
Expert in evasive driving
Expert in Baccarat and Poker
Expert ballroom dancer
Drives an Aston Marin DBS
Awesome with the ladies
Killed 2 people to get double O status
Can do any imaginable physical activity with ease
And much, much more

So obviously there were things that I can’t do, such as get a license to kill or become a commander in the British Royal Navy.

But if you think about it, there are things a person can do to get as close to the dream as possible. Here are some ideas we came up with:

Get in shape in a short amount of time by doing p90x
Take ballroom dance classes
Take evasive driving classes
Get a few nice suits
In my case, getting a haircut
Taking classes on how to handle a firearm
Renting an Aston Martin for a day

So over the next 6 months, I am going to try to fit everything I can (on a budget of course) to try and become my favorite super spy, James Bond.

I know it’s crazy, but it gives me a perfect excuse to try and do all these things I have always wanted to try anyway.

Furthermore, I know I am going to have a blast..

Additionally, with the opening of the latest installment in the James Bond franchise Skyfall coming out next year, the timing is going to be perfect.

I should be pretty close to done with my 6 month journey.

And who knows? If this works out, our next article series can be titled “Becoming the Most Interesting Man in the World in a Year“.

Why not, right?

Finally, if any of our readers have any suggestions on what you think I should try out, let us know!!!

Special thanks to Brian Mauleon (http://www.myspace.com/brianmauleonmusic) for the track used in our video.

STYLE: Tom Ford featured on Visionaries: Inside the Creative Mind on OWN

ESM — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:41:53 +0000

Tom Ford, featured on Visionaries: Inside the Creative Mind on OWN.

Tom Ford has always been someone we admired and is a source of inspiration for us here at ESM.

We love how he has pursued his career, his designs, his overall style and what he has accomplished in his lifetime.

Fortunately for us, the show Visionaries: Inside the Creative Mind on OWN does an amazing job featuring all of these things in one episode.

What we especially liked was his philosophy on style and how it can have absolutely nothing to do with how much money you make. In his words, “the outer expression of your character is style” and he often found that people with a lot of money actually did not have a great sense of style.

We also enjoyed his philosophy on how he creates things which makes him happy instead of focusing on what other people want. It was impressive to see how his own personal pursuit of perfection helped him achieve all of the things he has accomplished to date.

In a nutshell – the entire episode was pretty awesome to watch and we highly recommend you check it out.

Haven’t seen it yet? Here you go:

Style Forum Special from Music Guy on Vimeo.

The feature was so good, we’re probably going to be watching it over and over again whenever we need some sound advice on what to do with our lives.

For more information about Tom Ford, you can check out his official site at http://www.tomford.com/.

For more information about the series Visionaries: Inside the Creative Mind on OWN, you can check out the official OWN site at http://www.oprah.com/own-visionaries/Visionaries.

STYLE: Zara Jacket with Leather Applique

ESM — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:58:05 +0000

The Zara Jacket with Leather Applique. Killer for everyday. Image from http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/us/en/zara-us-W2011-s/172079/685501/JACKET%2BWITH%2BLEATHER%2BAPPLIQUE.

As we’d mentioned in a previous article, Zara isn’t great at creating names for their clothing.

But with items liks this “jacket with leather applique”, we’ll make an exception to their disability for unique nomenclature.

The jacket is essentially a brown nylon zip bomber with a shearling collar. It’s a great jacket for everyday use and can look good with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt as well as a pair of nice slacks and button up polo.

Detail of the Zara jacket with leather applique, a.k.a. nylon bomber with zip.

What I especially like about the jacket is the small zipped pocket on the left arm. You can use it to store something small, like keys.

The shearling collar is also great because it will keep your neck warm on colder days.

For more information about the Zara “Jacket with Leather Applique” for men, you can check out their official site at http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/us/en/zara-us-W2011-s/172079/685501/JACKET%2BWITH%2BLEATHER%2BAPPLIQUE.

TIMEPIECES: Baume et Mercier Capeland 10006

ESM — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:11:14 +0000

Beautiful. Baume et Mercier Capeland image from http://www.baume-et-mercier.com/collection-Capeland/Capeland-10006.

True story – when I first graduated from college and got my first real job the first thing I bought was… a watch.

Probably the dumbest thing for me to do financially (since I financed it), but I didn’t care. I had loved high end watches since I was in high school and the moment I had even a remote chance to buy myself one, I took it.

The watch? It was a steel Baume et Mercier Capeland with a chronograph, black face and steel bracelet.

It was beautiful.

When I saw it in the display at the jewelry store in the mall, I knew I had to have it. It was something I wore with pride every day and made me feel nothing short of awesome.

This was about 11 years ago and since then the Baume et Mercier Capelands have gone through a bevvy of facelifts, none of which I found appealing.

Fortunately for us, Baume et Mercier’s most recent version of the Capeland - especially the 10006 model with a flyback, white face and blue steel (woot!) dials - is the business.

The Baume et Mercier Capeland (10006) chilling. Image from http://www.baume-et-mercier.com/collection-Capeland/Capeland-10006.

It has a classic design with arabic numbers and markings (of which most people will probably never use) that harks back to the 1950′s.

I especially love the white contrast stitching on the leather strap. It adds that certain je ne sais quoi to the entire package.

With this new Baume et Mercier Capeland 10006, I guess things have come full circle.

And if you’re wondering what happened to my original Baume Capeland? I gave it to my father-in-law.

He is now the caretaker for the watch and it still looks awesome. Maybe it will go to my kids someday.

For more information about the Baume et Mercier Capeland, model 10006 you can check out the official Baume et Mercier site at http://www.baume-et-mercier.com/collection-Capeland/Capeland-10006.

STYLE: Ben Minkoff Nicky Leather Messenger

ESM — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:21:49 +0000

The Nicky Leather Messenger from Ben Minkoff. Image from http://www.benminkoff.com/all-bags/nicky-leather-messenger-260.html.

It’s tough finding a classic bag worthy for a dude.

Some of them look too feminine, some built too poorly, some just not worth making the investment. Every once in a while, however, we come across a bag we wouldn’t mind stuffing our laptop (and other stuff) into.

Introducing the Nicky Leather Messenger from Ben Minkoff. According to the official Ben Minkoff website:

The Nicky Messenger bag combines functionality, durability, and laid-back style. It’s outfitted with rugged cotton lining, and abundance of interior and exterior pockets for maximum organization. The high quality leather construction and classic design make it a stylish choice for work and for everyday.

Yeah, we could see how it can be used every day for a really, really long time. For $495, you probably should get your money’s worth.

For more photos and information about the Ben Minkoff Leather Messenger, you can check out the official Ben Minkoff website at http://www.benminkoff.com/all-bags/nicky-leather-messenger-260.html.

TIMEPIECES: Graham Chronofighter Oversize GMT Black Steel

ESM — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:53:19 +0000

Maybe this should be your next watch. Graham Oversize Chronofighter GMT in black steel image from http://www.graham-london.com/en-gb/collection/chronofighter/oversize-gmt-steel/2ovgsb39a.aspx.

We’ve been seeing ads for the new Graham watches all over town.

Surprisingly, the billboard is almost the actual size of the watch (well almost – the watch is 47 mm).

As we see it more and more we’re starting to like the bulkiness of it all, especially with the clasp for the (nuclear bomb-esque) controls of the chronograph and time-setting.

You must feel like the U.S. President getting ready for war when you use the chronograph timer.

But I bet you’re asking yourself this one very important question: “Who the hell is Graham and do they make good watches?”

Don’t worry friends, ESM did the due diligence for you. Well, at least the online due diligence.

According to Graham’s website:

Graham is an unrepentantly English name for an exquisitely English watch. If you’re interested in the minutiae of watch making, Graham was the surname of George Graham, born in 1673, master watchmaker who lived in Fleet Street in London.

Like many Brits before and after him, Graham was more interested in generating lots of ideas than in making money. He created several inventions but never patented any of them.

For example, he created the first stopwatch. He devised a mercury pendulum system for making clocks more accurate in very hot and very cold weather. He also invented the dead-beat escapement which made clocks more accurate in general and built the master clock for Greenwich Royal Observatory. The escapement he invented is today simply known as the Graham Escapement and still used in high-precision pendulum clocks. It is actually a predecessor to the Swiss anchor movement almost universally used in wristwatches.

Graham became a veritable pillar of the scientific and clockmaking establishment and in 1721, he was elected as aFellow of the Royal Society and contributed over twenty papers to its scientific journal, the Philosophical Transactions. George Graham became Master of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1722.

So what they’re trying to say is, their heritage has been around for a while. Like over 300 years.

Here are some more details about the Graham Chronofighter Oversize GMT in black steel:

Chronograph (seconds, 30 minutes counter). GMT / second time zone. Big date with double discs at 12 o’clock
Hours, minutes, seconds
Calibre G1733, automatic bi-compax chronograph, 28’800 A/h (4 Hz), Incabloc shock absorber
28 jewels
Power reserve: 48 hours
47 mm steel case
Steel with black PVD left hand fast-action start/stop trigger and reset pusher
Steel and sapphire bezel – Black and silver with GMT scale
Domed sapphire crystal, anti-reflective coating on both faces
Smoked sapphire case back
Water resistant to 330 feet /100 m
Black dial with silver counters
White Super-LumiNova central, seconds counter hands and numerals, white skeleton GMT hand with white Super-LumiNova head and red contour, red chrono and minutes counter hands
Integrated black croco strap

For more information about Graham watches and their Chronofighter Oversize GMT in black steel, you can check out their official site at http://www.graham-london.com/en-gb/collection/chronofighter/oversize-gmt-steel/2ovgsb39a.aspx.