Better Living Through Style
Photographer Henrik Jauert has ventured back to the shores of Lake Como for the annual glorification of the classic car. The BMW-sponsored Concorso d’Eleganza at the Villa d’Este has evolved into a social high point and an automotive blender, with the very best examples of classics from decades past and their contemporary rivals on show.
Read More: http://www.wallpaper.com/cars/2011-concorso-deleganza-villa-deste-lake-como/5293
As a product of the 1980s, I grew up with the turntable and the record … talk about a sign of the times. I was too young to appreciate the true sound of music produced in that decade so let’s move on to the 1990s. Although they were really introduced in the 80s, CDs (aka compact discs) were what my generation was all about. In middle school, I recall begging my parents to buy me the 311 album for a “school project;” I couldn’t get enough of the circular ground-breaking, laser-reading, rainbow-throwing invention that entered my life. Enter the passing of another decade and you now have the mp3.
Music certainly has evolved over the course of a (not just my) lifetime, and it’s time to bring back the oldies but goodies if you ask me. Not just the way we not just listen to music, but must appreciate the way it was meant to be enjoyed by the masses needs a complete makeover. What I’ll do is suggest top of the line equipment in two categories (speakers and turntables), then suggest alternative affordable options in the same category … you know, the kind of home entertainment that won’t break the bank. [Read more...]
Dear Debonair,
What is the difference between water-resistant and waterproof watches?
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Dear Debonair,
When wearing a pocket watch attached to the vest of a
3-piece suit, is it ok to wear a wrist watch, also?
This seems redundant to me. Even though a timepiece is an integral part of a man’s wardrobe, you must remember that the wristwatch was first created to alleviate the hassle of taking a chainwatch out of a pocket. Carrying and wearing a watch simultaneously seems like too much. If your three-piece suit is formal enough to call for a pocketwatch, don’t waste time wearing one on your wrist. The best outfits are the simplest, and two timepieces just complicates things.
Best,
There are some timepieces that are so classic, so well-respected and so legendary that any modern man should have them on his radar. This goes beyond just being able to identify them when he sees them adorn the wrist of a colleague or boss, but rather he should be able to speak to their provenance, what makes them interesting, and what makes them worth owning. In this must-read list, we’ll run through ten of the most unmistakable and unforgettable watches on the planet. Study with close cause, because we can guarantee you someone you know owns one of them and our guess is they love to talk about it. Enjoy.
1. Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso: This dual-sided watch was designed in the 1930s for professional polo players in colonial India. The face is hinged and can be hidden away so that it won’t be scuffed during competition. The Reverso is considered a very aristocratic timepiece.
2. Patek Philippe Calatrava: Patek Philippe is often referred to as the finest watch company in the world and the Calatrava is their least expensive yet most popular piece. Originally produced in 1932, the Calatrava is a simple watch that rarely features anything more complicated than a simple date window. It is the quintessential “dress” watch.
3. Blancpain 50 Fathoms: The archetype modern diving watch, this was the first timepiece designed to be worn under water for a lengthy period of time. It was quickly adopted as standard issue for many nautical fighting teams around the world.
4. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Steel: A classic watch if there ever was one; worn by everyone from Brad Pitt to Paul Newman. The Rolex Daytona is the most identifiable chronograph in the world and it has remained an icon since its release in the late 60s, although it did not gain cult status until the late 1980s.
5. Omega Speedmaster Professional: The first and some say only watch ever worn on the moon. The Speedmaster Professional beat out 5 other chronographs (including one from Rolex) to become NASA standard issue. The Speedmaster is still made today just as it was back then.
6. Tag Heuer Monaco: This Heuer represents a first in watch making. Until the release of the Monaco in 1969, all chronographs were manually wound. In addition to being the first automatic chronograph, it became iconic when Steve McQueen wore it during the filming of 1972 racing classic “LeMans”.
7. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak: The Royal Oak was introduced in 1972 as the only true “luxury sport watch” in the world. Less of a diving watch and more of a yachting accessory, the Royal Oak continues to be one of the most respected timepieces on the planet.
8. Panerai Radiomir: The Radiomir was Panerai’s first watch and was designed in the late 1930s for use by the Italian Navy. The original Radiomir featured a Rolex movement and they are now considered some of the most sought after vintage watches in the world, but luckily Panerai makes a modern-day Radiomir that is much easier to obtain.
9. Cartier Santos-Dumont: When aviator Albert Santos-Dumont complained to his friend Louis Cartier that it was difficult to check his pocket watch during performance flights, little did he know that he was about to change timepieces forever. It was the Cartier Santos that first popularized wristwatches for men in the early 20th century and the Santos is as much an icon in timepieces today as it was 100 years ago.
10. IWC Ingenieur: IWC’s most iconic model, the Ingenieur was introduced in 1955 as the first anti-magnetic watch marketed to the public. Originally popular with engineers and military personnel, the Ingenieur is still made today and it remains one of the best all-purpose watches in the world.
“Ben Clymer is a noted wristwatch expert based in New York City. He is the Executive Editor and Publisher of Hodinkee.com, as well as a widely regarded journalist in the field of luxury timepieces.”
Though Trek Bicycle representative Eric Bjorling claims that the 2009 Trek District ($1099.99) is aimed at the “urban, progressive market,” we at Debonair know exactly who the new low-maintenance, ultra-quiet bike is really meant to please: ninjas.
That’s right, we can read between the lines. Trek’s own web site describes the District’s ride as so quiet as to be “ninja-like.” Fortunately, you don’t actually have to be a ninja to ride one.The District is the first single-speed produced by Trek to utilize the revolutionary Gates Carbon Belt Drive system. The system does away with the chain in favor of an all-carbon belt, creating a bicycle so silent you can actually hear yourself getting more awesome as you ride.
Perfect for urban commuters who have been getting their pant legs greasy for years, the belt drive system doesn’t require any lubrication and rarely needs to be serviced, since it will never rust or stretch. The District is the ultimate low-maintenance bike.
On top of all that, the sleek, minimalist design, beautiful color scheme, light aluminum frame and leather wrapped seat and handle bars make the District a must buy for all you progressive urban types out there (not to mention the nunchuk-wielding, sneak-around-at-night-killing-people types).
This summer Victorinox commemorated the original Swiss Army Knife, a now world famous tool, by releasing the 125th Anniversary Heritage Knife ($495.00). The Heritage is a beautifully crafted and elegantly simple replica of the original knife carried in the pack of every soldier in the Swiss Bundesheer starting in 1891.
The original Swiss Army knife was the Swiss soldier’s go-to gadget for anything from rifle repair to dinner preparation. The multi-purpose tool was ingeniously perfected by Swiss patriot Karl Elsener for use by the soldiers of the Swiss Army. Today’s lavishly outfitted Swiss Army Knives- like the One-Hand Trekker, designed with twelve tools for the German Army- make the original’s combination of knife, reamer, screwdriver and can opener seems deceptively simple. Elsener’s multi-spring design, however, was revolutionary at the time.
The Knife’s four tools are made of tough stainless steel and are housed within a 4-inch ebony hardwood handle. The Heritage comes packaged in a matching black wood commemorative case along with a certificate of authenticity. With only 1,884 units coming to the United States (out of a worldwide total of 7,536), each knife is individually numbered, making this a true collector’s item.
With September here already, Anthony Logistics For Men announces the launch of an oversized (32 oz) Sea Salt Body Scrub created to support the fight against Prostate Cancer during Prostate Cancer Month in September. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this product will be donated to the Aureon Protocol Study at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City for its Prostate Cancer Research program.
The Sea Salt Body Scrub is an Anthony Logistics favorite – sea salt exfoliates, sea kelp extract nourishes, aloe vera gel soothes, nutmeg oil tones and vitamin C nourishes. Now available in a jumbo-sized 32 oz. bottle, it’s more bang for your buck while giving back to charity all at the same time.
Anthony Sosnick, the founder of Anthony Logistics, has made Prostate Cancer Awareness his cause since launching the brand in 2000, and has become a vocal advocate, encouraging the men that he meets giving skincare consultations all over the country to get PSA tests. The 32 oz pump is adorned with the fight against Prostate Cancer’s Blue Ribbon, further highlighting Anthony Logistics For Men’s support and involvement with Prostate Cancer Research.
Price: $15.00 (Retail value is $35), Available September 1st at www.anthony.com
Back by popular demand, Patagonia’s 2009 MLC Burrito bag is just what the young professional ordered. After being out of production for years, the Burrito now sports a new and even sleeker design.
Why name a $180 bag after a messy Mexican meal, you ask? Simple: the bag starts out flat, like a tortilla, and folds in three to fit in the overhead compartment (MLC stands for maximum legal carry-on).
The bag’s bar-and-hook system has room for eight hangers, and the smart design keeps your clothes wrinkle free even when it’s folded up. It also sports four sleeve pockets inside for toiletries and other knick-knacks and a separate mesh pocket for shoes.
The bag is made with recycled polyester with a polyurethane coating and a water repellant finish to keep your clothes dry even in the rain. Unlike a real burrito, the Burrito bag will keep your clothes wrinkle, dirt and moisture-free, making it a much better choice for your next business trip or vacation than its bean filled namesake.
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