Category Archives: What to wear

How to look swell, Men’s Fashion

Don Draper’s Omega Watch

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After five seasons now, many watch enthusiasts have been wringing their hands in anticipation for a good enough glimpse of Don Draper”s wrist. We have all wanted to see what watch this 60s leader in style  has chosen to wear. Well, all of our patients paid off, and last night (Season 5 , Episode 6) we were rewarded. In a scene where Don was waiting for his wife, he took a nice long look at his watch. In what I am sure was a product placement for Omega, we had a unobstructed view of a beautiful early 60’s omega seamaster with a cross hair dial. A gorgeous watch in gold over stainless steel on a black leather strap.

When I saw the camera pan across the watch I paused the screen and admired it for a moment. Then I did some searching on the Omega Vintage database and discovered what I believe is the correct model. The cross hair is not a common model so it was easier to distinguish against other watches of that vintage. I believe this piece is a Seamaster De Ville reference number 166.0020, it is an automatic with the 24 jewel caliber 565. This is a beautiful example of an Omega as the brand was becoming one of the top quality manufacturers in the world. You can still find this watch and similar models online, if you are looking for that vintage look. Sites such as Ebay list many for under $1000. Know what you’re looking for, use the Omega database if you want to be sure of what you’re getting. When you find just the right one, just like Don Draper and his Seamaster cross hair, you’re going to look swell.

Louis Cartier XL Slimline-Tank

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The Cartier design house has a long history of serving royalty, stars, and celebrities. The one time Prince of Wales, Edward VII, called Cartier the “Jeweler of the Kings, King of Jewelers”.

Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier when he took over the workshop of his master. In 1874, his son Alfred Cartier took over the company, but it was Alfred’s sons; Louis, Pierre and Jacques, who were responsible for establishing the brand name worldwide. Cartier has since become a world renowned fashion house for jewelry, watches and other goods. Louis retained responsibility for the Paris branch, and he was responsible for some of the company’s most celebrated designs, such as the fashionable wristwatches and exotic oriental flavored Art Deco designs. This year they created this beautiful advertisement highlighting their history and icons, notably in the ad is the journey of the Cartier panther. 

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Montblanc-Legend

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The history of Montblanc dates back to 1906 when a Hamburg stationery trader, a Hamburg banker, and a Berlin engineer decide to produce fountain pens. The gentlemen eventually created the Simplo Filler pen Company, based in Hamburg Germany and co-owned by the three; Claus-Johannes Voss, Christian Lausen and Wilhelm Dziambor. In 1910 they introduced the”Montblanc” fountain pen and by 1913 the Montblanc star was trademarked. In 1935, after nearly 25 years of business in pens and stationary, they branched out and began a separate leather goods production works in Lämmerspiel Germany, to make small luxury leather goods and to build upon their existing products.

Meisterstuck pen

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Wrighteous Jewelry

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Let me introduce you to an awesome jewelry designer. I am really a big fan of Wrightous Jewelry, not only do I like their style and quality, but I also like what they stand for. Their company credo includes vintage ideas of pride and patriotism, faith and love for your country, It is American made jewelry with an American spirit.  They are born in the United States and made in Detroit-the motor city. They follow a similar marketing idea to the Chrysler “Imported From Detroit” theme, which I love. To give you a feel here is a quote from their website:

The Wrighteous Lifestyle is about taking your past and creating renewed vigor for your life with genuine intentions toward your future.  Embrace your life, it’s in your hands, you make the choice on which path you will travel. America has been built on many foundations and principles, hard work, sweat and tears. Grab ahold of that spirit and create with us a New American Renaissance. A renewal in what is the American Spirit.

But, what it’s really about is the style. They have big men’s and a women’s lines, that are both fantastic. The men’s is of particular interest here. The styles are royal, gothic and rock&roll all mixed together. There are some very masculine cues; antiqued silver, crosses, skulls, fleur-de-lis, and the like. All of the pieces are in sterling silver, some have 14 karat gold. Wrighteous makes rings, pendants, cuff links, belt buckles, and a lot more. I think it is one of the best brands in men’s jewelry that I have seen in a long time. They bring back that rugged and bold look to mens jewelry. On top of that it is great to support an American company from a down ,but not out market in Detroit Michigan. As of now Wrighteous Jewelry is pretty exclusive, but I know you can get it at Diamonds & Gold.

Support this brand, They call themselves Wrighteous, I call them Swell.

Hamilton Limited Edition Khaki Navy Pioneer

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Some of you may be thinking that I am spending a little too much time talking about watches, for a fashion and style blog. You might be right, but with Basel World coming up, and SIHH just passed there is so much going on in the world of horology this time of year that I have to talk about it. Besides it’s all about me, right? Continue reading →

Mad Men Season 5

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Don Draper

If you think that Donald Draper is a swell dressed guy, then you have Janie Bryant to thank. Janie is the costume designer for award-winning show, Mad Men. Takes place in the mid 1960’s the show follows the lives and goings on of a team of Madison Avenue advertising execs. This show has been on an extended break giving its fans ample time to build up excitement for season 5 beginning on March 25th on AMC at 8pm central time. The writers and designers have done a fantastic job of recreating that vintage feel in the show. There are incredible sets and costumes for the show all through out. The story is pretty captivating, even though I am not promoting the behavior of some of these characters (how not to be swell). It’s worth a watch, its well written and will immerse you in that period, if only for an hour.

I have been watching Mad Men since its inception and I will definitely be watching season 5. I will be on look out for some of the styles in the show and sharing them with all of you as advice on how to be swell

A Swell Briefcase

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I am not normally one to get hung up on labels, but in this case (pun intended), if I want to tell you about this briefcase, I have to tell you a little about Gucci the Iconic luxury brand.

 
Founded in 1921, Gucci is one of the world’s most famous fashion houses. The company is based in Florence, Italy Under the creative directorship of Ms Frida Giannini. They have numerous lines, and an extensive ladies collection, but we aren’t interested in that. I want to show you what they have for guys. The men’s collections remain true to the brand’s original sense of luxury, updated with a taste of color. With great offerings of suites, shirts, shoes and the like, but the bags and accessories are superb.

Italian luxury designer since 1921, Gucci’s leather-crafting history goes back over 90 years, but this briefcase has thoroughly retro-modern appeal. It kind of reminds me of the luggage you would find associated with a vintage Le Mans racer, thanks to its dark red and cream stripes, or perhaps something Steve Mc Queen might carry while wearing his Tag Heuer Monaco Continue reading →

Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Vintage Chronograph

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Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Vintage Chronograph

Due to the traditional dive watch design and to its ability to evoke turquoise blue seas and deep reef dives, this luxury watch will certainly help to kill your winter blues. If you’re about to go snorkeling in the great barrier reef, or sea diving in the any ocean paradise, you maybe shouldn’t consider the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Vintage Chronograph. You don’t need to be a great diver to wear this watch, In fact, you don’t need to be a diver at all, because The Deep Sea Vintage Chronograph is not a diving watch! It has a fixed bezel, and it is water-resistant only to 10 bars (100m).But it makes a serious statement lying on your wrist beach side.

This watch seems quite simple. It looks very sporty, but has a gorgeous vintage flavor, and the black on stainless on calfskin leather makes a bold statement. It is masculine, but not alike the enormous monsters people wear today. The case measures 40.5mm which is a very appropriate size for this style. I love that it is tribute to the original Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox Deep Sea, one of the first diving watches ever purposed. Only 1,061 models were made in 1959. Continue reading →