Crazy-Smart Movie

A 30-second review of the film, Crazy, Stupid, Love 

So whether you've followed this blog for any length of time or just happened to stumble upon it by accident, you've probably gathered I have a bit of a man-crush on a certain Mr. Ryan Gosling.  Now my wife would probably want me to define "man crush" for all of you doubting the longevity of our marriage, but I've only got 30 seconds so I'll just sum it up by saying it's a completely heterosexual admiration of possibly the greatest swagger and style exhibited by a gentleman in our entire solar system.  I suppose what I'm getting at is...I've been quite excited for Gosling's new film Crazy, Stupid, Love to roll into my local cinema for some time, and the moment finally came last night while on a date with my wife.

Now I must admit, I am not a film critic, which is perhaps painfully demonstrated by the fact that I really expected to leave this movie with nothing more than a brain aneurism caused by an epic-sartorial overload and the need for a new shirt and trousers as a result of an hour and a half of cold sweat and drool.  To my surprise, however, I was absolutely blown away by a "romantic-comedy" plot that was altogether unique, sophisticated, hilarious, and yet often heart-wrenching in the most realistic and raw way I can imagine.  I can honestly say, that between the impeccable style of both Gosling and Carell (which believe it or not, absolutely kills in a suit) and the masterful awkward moments that induce rivers of tear-filled laughter, lies an urgently needed reminder to all gentleman to never loose focus of the importance of romancing the One you love.

And so, in my completely meaningless rating system, I give Crazy, Stupid, Love 10 solid gold tie bars for epic date-night greatness.

But even if you're a love-skeptic, at least go get blown away by Gosling's wardrobe.  I mean, geez, look at what the guy rocked at the premiere. Seriously?  Thanks for hogging all the swagger in the universe, man.

Happy 6 Month Anniversary!

....or lunaversary for you over-analytical grammar-idians.  Today marks exactly six months since this blog's inception on a brisk January morning that seems like a lifetime ago.  We've been through quite a bit together this past half-a-year, and I owe all of you an inexpressible amount of gratitude for your undying support in this endeavor.  From avoiding a pandemic of style transgressions to refining our musical tastes, we've nearly seen it all and still no sight of a bloody school district providing that aforementioned "rewarding career" we press forward. 

And so, as we join hands in celebration in the only manner this blog can afford, I present you two gifts that promise to enrich your life in a way you could never dream:

Gift #1:  Some Indispensable Advice

As is the norm here at the Mark of a Gentleman, I would like to impart some recently acquired wisdom to you, my good readers, on this momentous of occasions.  Should you ever find yourself naively image searching for an appropriate graphic with which to top an anniversary celebration post on a men's style blog, know this:  Any conceivable arrangement of the words "man," "suit," and "birthday" in said image search will inevitably lead you to a place where you do not wish to be, as well as cause irrevocable damage to your corneas.   

Gift #2: A Brief Escape for Your Mind

And finally, in celebration of this blog's monumental achievements over the past six months, I present you with a 20-second TV spot for the Mark of a Gentleman showcasing the endless array of sartorial advice and commentary we've covered since the initial post posed the question "What is the Modern Gentleman?" Look for it on all major networks once the Super Bowl Advertising Committee calls me back with a more reasonable price. Thank you all again for everything. It's been a great six-months and here's to six more! Cheers.

Featuring: "Odd Soul" by MuteMath

Your Wallet Just Got Jealous

"But it's a Fossil!" replied my friend, with an increasing air of disbelief in his own argument, "that means it's...it's good."  The realization of the true rash nature of his impulsive purchase had truly begun to register as he slid the monstrously thick, solidly packed millstone into the back pocket of his trousers and timidly sat down--lopsided on the chair opposite me.  "See now I never have to worry about my left side being--crap, who am I kidding?"

I've long been a proponent of wallets with a personality.  However, along with a charming demeanor, a wallet should be slim enough to ensure you don't slide off bar stools with your 45-degree-sloped buttocks and durable enough to last long enough to pass onto your grandchildren (or at least reasonably proportional to how much you threw down for it).  Unfortunately, the atrocious-looking wads of leather made from half a herd of Wisconsin livestock you find in your local Fossil outlet do little else than illicit concerns from passing physicians as to the tumorous growth on your right glute cheek.

So it was with these strong convictions that I recently acquired (through a generous donation from my wife), an exceptionally cool, Mighty Wallet (pictured above...and yes, I did opt for the Star Trek OS one because I am a super nerd and that show is legit!).  Made from a randomly interwoven plastic that gives it the appearance and feel of paper, the people over at Dynomighty have created a "paper" wallet that is both tear and water-resistant, can last up to 3 years or more, and comes in a endless variety of prints from classic comic books to a map of the London Underground--all for $15.  Not to mention, they are literally as light as whatever you put into them, and equally as slim.  I believe, my friends, it is safe to say, I am in love.

But just in case you find yourself unable or unwilling to part with that cyst-causing paperweight in your back pocket, at least do yourself a favor and invest in a slim leather card case for those occasions when you'd like your slim suit, dress pants, or jeans to be free of any attention-drawing bulges.  You can opt for the pricey Coach version above ($48) or grab one of these for less than $5.  In fact, even though my everyday wallet is equally slim, I keep one of these handy for the more elegant evenings out with the wife.  Throw in your ID, your debit card, and a five for parking and you'll be equally as ready to hit the town as your Fossil-obsessed counterparts who've brought their entire financial and medical history with them inside their 8-inch, back-pocket briefcases.

The Rain in Spain: II

A Recurring Study on the Etiquette of a Gentleman Through Examples in Modern CinemaLesson #3:  A Gentleman Holds His Temper
Nothing can demolish your reputation as a civilized man quicker than losing your composure among company.  One noted author wrote that if you, "Speak when you're angry...you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret."  And if you've ever made the mistake of attending a hockey game, you know that any muscle-headed imbecile can let people know he's angry.  It takes a truly refined man to maintain his temper in the worst of circumstances, even when perhaps something else entirely is brewing in his brain:

Remember to stay cool and collected.  It instantly puts you light-years ahead of the overly dramatic, millionaire brats from the NBA that throw toddler-worthy tantrums in a futile effort to elicit an apology from a faultless referee.  Keep it together on the outside, or at least go count to ten in your car, alone.  Not only will you be the sole, blasted grown-up in a room of ridiculous hot-headed morons, you'll also be the only guy leaving with a proper lady on his arm.  

Now I must admit that I wrote this post mainly as a sort of reminder to myself.  You see, last night my wife and I got caught in traffic on our way to catch a free show by one of my favorite artists (Lecrae) and arrived precisely as he exited the stage.  This, as you might imagine, was irritating. But while I did manage to restrain myself from drop kicking the nearest thug, I must ashamedly confess my frustration did overflow into a rage once we stopped for gas a few miles down the road.  In hindsight, I do feel bad for the poor convenience store owner who certainly thought a little gray sedan piloted by a deranged maniac along with his barrage of erratic wails on his horn where sure to be careening through his shop window at any moment. Then again, perhaps their "Pay at the Pump" option shouldn't have forced you to "See Clerk" only to surprise you with a firmly locked glass door underneath the brightly lit neon sign reading "Open."  My behavior was unfortunate...but I do feel a little better.

MOG Instructionals #2

The 2nd segment in the "MoG Instructionals" video series:  
How to Fold the Perfect Pocket Square

Music Credits: 
AC/DC - Shoot to Thrill
Kram - Good Love
Barry White - Never, Never Gonna Give You Up
Kings of Leon - Molly's Chambers

What I Learned About Style from Coldplay's Chris Martin

For as long as I can remember I've been a fan of an overabundance of wrist accoutrements.  Of course, when I say "as long as I can remember" I mean from the point in time in which I mentally became self aware of my style choices as a gentleman....also known as my sophomore year of high school.  As a novice of the intimidating world of men's fashion, I had begun searching for a role model of sorts, a gentleman of far superior style that I could draw influence from, and in short--shamelessly rip off. So, I figured, what better place to start, than with my unsurpassed favorite band at the time (and admittedly still to this day)--Coldplay.

Now, while sometimes the British boys in question have been known to wear looks that would perhaps be labeled as "unadvised" for civilians to very highly-televised events, one of the most notable trends I picked up on back in high school was lead singer Chris Martin's affinity for bracelets...absolute hoards of them (see above). And so it was, without question, that as a fashion-impaired American teenager, I quickly adopted this practice of encasing my twig-like, sun-deprived arms within an endless assortment of bracelets and watches alike, and have since continued the tradition well into my twenties as a sort of homage to my youth and a simpler time in this crazy little thing called life.

It was therefore to my pleasant surprise this month that GQ Magazine released an article entitled, "How to Pull Off That Wristband Thing" detailing the wrist-adorned super trend that has dominated the attendees of Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks for the past few seasons.  Here's a few snapshots of the trend in action by the Street Style photographer Tommy Ton:

Now believe me, I am far from one of those guys that always claims to have been sporting the latest trend years before it was "cool."  But as infrequent as it may be, it does feel blasted good to have the fashion world bashfully catching up with you for a change.

P.S. Oh, and be sure to click here and have a listen to Coldplay's newly released song, Moving to Mars...which is absolutely brilliant.