Category Archives: What to wear

How to look swell, Men’s Fashion

Swell Neckwear: The Cordial Churchman’s Bow Ties

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Bow ties get a bad rap. Some people think they are just for little boys, or awards ceremonies. BUT THEY ARE WRONG.

Sure the neck tie is a standard-bearer, and the skinny tie is back with a vengeance, which I happen to think is pretty cool. To be truly swell you have to consider a bow tie. I am not talking the cheap clip ons or the pre-tied ones that button in the back but a real live bonafide bow tie that you have to learn how to tie. This is a fantastic vintage look that will never go out of style and looks great from casual to “black tie”. There are a few places to get one if you look a little bit, but there is one place  that has it down to an art form, I have a couple of these myself.  They are handmade in every color and pattern imaginable. Every wardrobe needs at least a couple of bow ties.

I took the liberty of borrowing a recent post from The Cordial Churchman’s blog and showing it to you here:

366 Bow Ties: Day 51

How to look swell in trousers.

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I feel the need to address a few quick rules on how to look swell in trousers. I wish to hearken back to the classic days of old Hollywood, when men know how to dress appropriately on and off-screen. Those rule still apply today, that is if don’t you want to look like a little kid wearing your fathers clothes.

First off I feel like I should address blue jeans, even thought this post isn’t really about them, they deserve mention. Blue jeans were invented them as a work pant, don’t forget this. Now, today they are more than just for work and I appreciate that. They are easy to wear and take care of, they usually look good, there is plenty of variety, and they are comfortable. There are still some Continue reading →

James Bond and The Watch – Omega Seamaster Diver 300M

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I was going to eventually get to this particular review, but something came across my screen this morning that was too cool to ignore. Those of you that know me, know that I am a huge Omega fanatic, borderline obsessive. I am also a big James Bond fan. There are some cool things happening regarding both of those topics together which makes this post so incredibly fun for me (and hopefully you too). Oh, and by the way check out the Bond lifestyle link as well.

This Year James Bond is celebrating its 50th anniversary. That is 22 movies on the silver screen, 6 actors playing the Iconic Bond; and of course numerous great gadgets, cars, and watches. To Commemorate this, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Twentieth Century Fox  are releasing  all 22 of the films on Blu-ray in a big boxed set. Continue reading →

Real Men Wear Pearls

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Okay, before I begin, I have to say I LOVE PEARLS, and Real Men do wear Pearls. Now I am not talking about your grandmother’s nice white strands. I am talking about masculine,  funky (yes funky), cool, eye-grabbing, and trendy styles.

Steven Tyler wearing Pearls

The other week, I saw a great validation of my belief that men do wear pearls, and make them cool. On American Idol in San Diego, judge Steven Tyler of Aerosmith had on a fantastic leather and pearl necklace with nice big Tahitian pearls.Steven Tyler is a rock icon, so admittedly he can pull off a lot, but, he is also quit the stylish guy. So I have to think if he can wear something hip like a black pearl strand , well then you can too. Weather a rock star or an average Joe, they look great. I have seen them more and more lately in the media and in jewelry, check out what Andre 3000 is wearing in the new Gillette commercial.

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A swell watch – Baume et Mercier Capeland Chronograph

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I just got this beautiful watch around Valentine’s Day. (By the way ladies here is a great gift idea for your man for V-day.) I am so pleased with it, I wanted to share it with you. It is the Baume et Mercier Capeland Chronograph.

It has a nice heavy feel, beautiful dial with arabic numbers, and a scratch resistant sapphire crystal. It is water-resistant to 100 meters, with the help of a screw down crown. It is powered by a Valjoux 775o automatic movement with some nice embellishments, unfortunately it has a solid case back so you can’t view it.

I always loved the classic black dial on stainless. Bracelet or strap, I don’t care which, however, this piece deserves a nice panther link bracelet. I also really love the strongly luminous hands and indicators on the dial. It is gorgeous.Valjoux 7750

I wore it today with a black french-cuffed shirt (French cuffs are the best) and my black pearl cuff links. Plays nicely don’t you think? The crystal has a nice slight bubble top shape that is kind of reminiscent of a pearl so I thought it was appropriate.

With Pearls

To top it all off I have to share this with you as well, not only does Baume Mercier make beautiful watches, but their advertising agents are genius. Here is the best watch ad ever:

Check out Baume Mercier, these watches know….how to be swell.

A lesson on How to be Swell

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Welcome to a lesson on “How to be swell”. I am a jeweler, a hopeless romantic, a diehard traditionalist, and a vintage fanatic. This blog is the day to day that I come across about “how to be swell”. Mostly I’ll stick to clothes, watches, music, and style, but I will address almost anything from cars to politics. It is a forum for the things that interest me and hopefully you too. I got the idea from the retro shorts that they used to play on nick at night .  Hope you like it and keep comming back, because…that’d be swell.