The Six Blogs Every Man Should Know and Read

Inspiration can come from anywhere, regardless if it's good or bad.  I once decided  to wear absurdly loud floral shirts and brown jeans because I thought myself the real life incarnation of Eric Foreman from That 70s Show--helplessly skinny, "oppressive" veteran father fluent in detailed threats to kill me or break his foot off in an unmentionable part of my anatomy, a friend group that included idiots, geniuses, and foreign kids....you understand.  In hindsight, however, this was an unforgivably poor sartorial decision that luckily only lasted a few nine months.  The point is, the truly refined man finds positive inspiration for every facet of his being.  Be it style or just general manly knowledge, the wrong information can shame even the most dapper.

So it with this in mind that I present my favorite blogs for drawing information in both of these areas.  Now as a disclaimer I should mention that I will not be listing the ridiculously abstract, intellectual-acclaimed, hipster jolly-exploder "blogs" that merely post out-of-focus portraits of street signs and grub worms from which to draw "color inspiration."  The information and inspiration in these blogs are practical, helpful, and downright swagger-boosting.  Now, let us begin.....

1.  Inspiration for Your Digs    

• TheStyleBlogger: Practical street style of the business and business casual variety from an up-and-coming New York designer.  His posts are as sharp as his wardrobe, and I've yet to read a post without an insatiable desire to steal at least one of his looks (see right).
• Street Etiquette: These guys are veterans of the street style scene and have been featured in everything from newspapers to GQ--and with their undeniable knack for style centered around their cultural heritage, it's not hard to see why.
• TheMidwestyle: Owned and operated by three friends from the Midwest, this style blog is by far the one I find myself admiring  the most.  The looks are simple, yet refined, and still have enough emphasis on youth and bargain resale pieces to interest those on even the tightest of budgets.

2.  Inspiration for Life 

• ManMade: You've heard of Pinterest, right? This is Man-terest. And no, there's no cute wedding ideas or sewing patterns for skirts--this blessed miracle for grown men is saturated with absolutely brilliant manly skills from building a rustic coffee table out of 2x12's to carving a 1-foot Darth Vader from carrots! Making a coat rack out of a tree you sawed down in your front yard; Creating a radio out of spare parts; the complete, detailed guide to creating the perfect double-barreled rubber band shotgun out of common office supplies in your cubicle--their How To section will seriously blow your mind! Trust me, check this out....but give yourself at least an open window of about 8 hours--or a whole day at work to soak it all in.

• The Art of Manliness: Exactly as it says. This blog provides skills, advice, and essential knowledge for recovering the lost art of manliness. If you want an all-inclusive encyclopedia of what it means to be a gentleman, this is your place.

• The American Gentleman: Quick and to the point. If you're not into all the pictures and ramblings (in which case I'm sorry you're reading this blog) then you might have a look at this site. Written by a veteran lawyer and cultural enthusiast, the American Gentleman answers countless questions a day from readers who post relevant questions from all sorts of manly topics from fashion to date etiquette. 

Of course, I should also take this moment to mention that if you're reading this, you've so graciously given your time to read THIS blog, for which I am truly grateful. Please feel free to send any friends you may make along your blog-reading journeys back this way. And until next time, happy reading, my friends!

A Gentleman Always Makes Time to Help a Lady in Need

Exhibit A:
One of most chivalrous men in Hollywood, actor Colin Firth proves that even in the midst of a televised awards program, a true gentleman is always ready to lend a hand to a lady in need. Even if it means getting down on your knees in an Armani tuxedo...

Valentine's - The Gentleman's Boot Camp: Part II

Read Part I Here.

Survival.  I suppose that is as near an accurate description as one could give for the purpose of the first installment of this post written slightly over a year ago at the hand of a still blossoming husband of the "newly" variety.  Avoiding the cliches, amping up your style for the night out, inciting ravenous co-worker jealousy with a rose bouquet---all splendid, if slightly obvious, pieces of advice to ensure you earn the Purple Candy Heart of Survival for your service in what is generally regarded as one of the most dangerous holidays of all time for a man (if not approached strategically).

But yet as of late, I'll be completely honest--this year I find myself inconsolably bored with the whole lot of it.  No, not the romance and affection or the roses and the nice dinners, I mean the absolute drudgery of the traditional Valentine's Day norm that morphs what should be a moment of realization for the gentleman at how blasted lucky he is, into a responsibility, a duty, the culmination of required actions within one's role as a boyfriend, fiance, husband, whathaveyou.  Blame it on too many viewings of 500 Days of Summer or the constant closed-captioned reminder of my inadequacy as an educated male when confronted with unrealistically talented men like Neal Caffrey and Dr. Gregory House, but I've simply got to raise the bar--for myself and for my relationship.

In short, I want our Valentine's date to be as eventful and adventurous as this one:

Now I'd be lying if I said the above gentleman's wicked sharp suit and knack for being incredible at everything has nothing to do with my approval.  But what is unmistakeably inspiring in this clip is his ability to take his lovely date on a marvelously unique and (frankly) unbelievable journey through what would otherwise be merely another Chinese restaurant with a live band and on-hand magicians.  I suppose it got me thinking--what if Valentine's day, rather than a couple's yearly chore, was instead more like the yearly Olympics of Love?  What if the mundane ritual involving a 3-hr. wait at the nearest Olive Garden were to be replaced by the culmination of everything the two of you had learned to do over the previous year?  The skills, the interests, the talents, all combining into an epically fantastic adventure that would have literally been impossible in years past but now bursts into a triumphant, drudgery-killing night for the history books.  That, my friends, I feel has become my mission.  

What to Learn?

• Gourmet cooking, scuba diving, motorcycle riding, safe cracking, mountain climbing, skydiving, dance moves, opera singing, painting, sculpting, archery, bomb disarming, hang-gliding, hardcore parkour, dog whispering, zoology, horticulture, martial arts, spelunking..... The list is endless! Whatever your two adventurous minds can come up with.  Learn it over the next year, and then start a St. Cupid's adventure encompassing all of it.

What Are My Plans?
What are my plans? I can't tell you. First of all because I'm not yet entirely sure myself, and I'm a heck of a little broke at this moment in my life.  But secondly, I don't trust my wife's undeniably mischievous nature (a reason in part why I fell for her) not to read this post despite my firm instructions.  And to be honest I don't know what I want to learn first--I just know I'm seriously lacking in the awesome gentlemanly skills bank.  I don't even know how to start about it.  Maybe I'll blog my progress, who knows?

All I can say is that the end reason is the same--to take the woman I married on a journey through life filled with wild, unexpected adventures that will evoke a re-learning of everything we thought we knew about each other.  My promise as a gentleman is this: To strive my hardest not to bore my wife all the way til death do us part.  I want this Valentine's to be the beginning, the beginning of an inspiration.  Each year bringing its own February 14th filled with a brand new adventure, and a brand new proving ground for my dedication to never stop learning, never stop impressing, never stop wooing the love of my life.

I challenge you, my friends, to do the same.