Shimmering Sack (Tod’s)

It was after the last show and we were walking toward the parking lot when we were drawn toward a store with very bright lights (much like insects drawn to a bug zapper).  The store was under renovation, but that didn’t stop us from mindlessly staring at the very bright interior.

I remembered that we set our things down on a bench without anyone watching them so I turned to check.  I’ve always admired the Tod’s tote in the photo, but it was just shimmering in the glow of the bright lights.  That conjured images of films I’ve seen set in the 70’s like “Carlito’s Way” or “Studio 54” where disco was in and the mirror ball would intermittently shine small cubes of light on the dance floor to reveal the glitter and glam of the crowd.

A survey of some of the present fashion trends would reveal that, indeed, some elements of the 70’s are back.  I have noticed some stylish women in very sexy jumpsuits on a night out in the town and women wearing very nice tops in psychedelic prints and oh, so tight jeans with subtle flares.  This Tote, with its ample storage capacity, light construction and metallic finish will be perfect to complete the look.

Ladies, it’s time to bring out those platform shoes.

 

The One Watch (Rolex)

It was 1989, dusk was approaching.  We were on the Star Ferry crossing over from Hong Kong to Kowloon.  The MTR would have been quicker but the rush hour crush was just too much to take.  Finally on the other side, we sliced our way through the huge Harbour City shopping complex and down onto Peking Road.  As we exited onto Nathan Road, known to the world as the “Golden Mile”, horns were blaring from the most number of Rolls Royces stuck in traffic I have ever seen.  After a moment’s hesitation, we crossed over to the other side and ducked into a basement arcade.

Sounds like the opening sequence to a spy thriller, but it isn’t.  It’s actually a pre-teen Me, being dragged around all over Hong Kong by my mother who was on a quest to buy a Rolex Submariner for my father.  Yes, we could have purchased the watch from any of the authorized dealers in the territory, but, it was the thrill of the hunt, and the store we were headed for provided the best deals in all of Hong Kong.

That first of several watches is the same one half-buried in the sand in the photograph.  My father handed it down to me back in university (probably as a reward for not getting kicked-out), and it has been the only watch I have owned since.  It is a classic.  The all steel construction ensures that it is robust.  Its double lock metal bracelet secures the watch to the wrist in all conditions and the white on black design of the watch face and the bezel is understated.  Not only does it look good worn with casual attire, this piece of steel peeking from under one’s shirt cuffs will get quiet looks of approval from those who know its true value.

If there is just one watch a man can own, this is it.

 

Colorful Staple (Paul Smith)

Shopping in Bangkok is an exciting experience.  The high-end malls and street side markets offer a plethora of choices.  People are everywhere and getting caught up in a crowd is not unheard of.  It did get tiring though and after a while we decided to catch a movie to cool off.

I’ve been told that the world standard for the temperature in a movie theatre is 21 degrees Celcius.  In tropical and humid climates, this is welcomed with open arms.  But, after baking in 35 degree mid-afternoon heat, a 14 degree sudden drop in temperature will be enough to give anyone hypothermia (women in tank-tops, cut-offs and flip-flops most of all).

Lest I dissapoint the regular male readers of this blog, I will not advocate nor encourage these women to wear more clothing.  Instead, I propose that they always carry scarves that will easily fit in their summer bags or act as an accent belt around their exposed mid-sections.

A scarf that would be just right for this kind of use is this iconic cotton Swirl Scarf from Paul Smith.  The multiple colors and the pattern of the scarf make it a good complement to many casual/summer outfits.  It is playful without losing its upscale appeal.  Its size is generous and the material used is light and soft against the skin.  Swaddling yourself in it makes you feel protected by a loved one’s embrace.

Excellent choice for a movie date.

 

Sleek (Salvatore Ferragamo)

I have a confession to make…  I like shoes.  I mean, I really like shoes.  This is not unheard of among males, but to actually confess it is something different.  It’s liberating to say the least.

Please don’t misunderstand.  I don’t have hundreds of pairs.  I just have a “few”.  And, it’s not an addiction because I do control myself.  I can go into a store and just browse the displays.  After a few minutes, I walk out.  The problem begins a couple of weeks later when I walk back in the same store and “browse” the same pairs.  At this point, I am hooked and the only way I pull myself out of the store is to think about all the bills I have to pay for.  This goes on for a number of times and after every “extraction”, I congratulate myself and give myself a pat on the back for having such discipline and self-control.

Then, one day, it just happens.  I walk into the same store, ready to do the “browse” and step-out routine as always, but it just feels different.  I can sense something is amiss.  I quickly turn to step out of the store, but it is too late.  The force exerted by the Salvatore Ferragamo boutique is too strong to resist.  With my weakened resolve, I am pulled back in.

The salespeople, sensing a kill, er, a sale, put on their best smiles and begin plying me with the most beautiful pairs of shoes they have.  Next thing I know, I am walking out of the store with 2 to 3 pairs of ridiculously expensive dress shoes that I will get to wear once or twice a year, thereby increasing my personal debt by several notches and helping Citibank hasten its way back to profitability.

One of those shoes is the pair in the photo.  It is called the “Amedeo” and it is just superb.  The design is clean and sleek.  The leather used is soft enough to be comfortable.  It also has a strap that adjusts to keep the fit snug and helps to maintain its slim profile.  Two things, though, stand out when viewing this shoe.  First is the hand-stitching, which must have been done by santa’s elves.  Second, and for me, the more important thing, is the absolutely marvelous smell of the calf-skin leather.

Recommended for male shoe addicts.

 

Immaculate Fragrance (Philosophy)

I remember during my university days walking from one building to another to make it to my next class.  The hallways would be packed with students jostling about, guys fondly remembering last night’s party and girls giggling among themselves (about what I have no idea).  Because of the few minutes between classes, everyone would be in a hurry and too busy to notice anyone else outside their circle, but every so often I’d get a whiff of the most immaculate smelling lady’s perfume I had ever encountered.

The scent was so clean, so pure, so feminine that I would stop in the middle of the crowd and be momentarily mesmerized.  I never did find out who that girl was who was wearing that scent, but recalling those moments would always put a smile on my face.

Recently, I was introduced to the scent Pure Grace by Philosophy.  The packaging and the bottle, though tasteful, was so simple that I couldn’t help but think that it would be another “run-of-the-mill” fragrance.  Boy, was I wrong.  If you’ve watched the movie “Ratatouille”, there was this scene where the food critic Antono Ego was transported back to one of the most memorable moments of his childhood upon tasting the Ratatouille.  It happened to me.  One whiff of this perfume transported me back to that moment in university.  I began to remember the clean, pure, feminine scent and, again, I was mesmerized.

Definitely something every woman should have in her arsenal.

 

Blue Suede Shoes (Massimo Dutti)

Well, my shoes are not exactly suede.  But, they are blue and they are leather.  I was wandering around the mall before catching the last show of a movie and decided to browse around the Massimo Dutti store.  I’ve always been attracted by their window displays (Yes, men are very visual) of comfortable, yet sophisticated looking clothes.  Aimlessly, I stepped inside to while away the time.

Honestly, I no longer had any inclination to make a purchase as I already had a shopping bag full of books that would fill my bedside table with a reading pile good for a couple of weeks.  But, seeing the pair of blue nubuck leather sneakers (its called the “deportivo nobuck”) just made me drop all of my defenses.  It transported me back to my teenage years when my infatuation with suede and nubuck leather Cole Haan shoes began.  My vain attempt at walking out of the store proved useless as I just found myself walking into the other entrance.  Neither did it help that the last pair of large size shoes were a perfect fit.

With one, smooth, fluid motion, my credit card made it out of my wallet and into the hands of the sales person who had a huge smile on her face because she just made a sale right before closing.

I’ve had the shoes for a couple of months now.  As can be seen from the photo, they are well-worn.  These shoes just hug my feet.  I wear them with or without socks.  I prefer wearing them without socks as the leather is so soft and the texture feels great against my skin.  The nubuck is getting a bit worn down, but it just adds to its character.  I especially like the way the leather inner lining resembles the material of those deep, soft leather arm chairs that make one think of an african safari lodge or an english drawing room.

This is definitely one impulse purchase that I feel good about.