Welcome to The Classicist, our new column devoted to timeless style, enduring elegance, and true, built-to-last luxury as opposed to mere extravagance....
Savile Row stalwart Anderson & Sheppard, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, is steeped in tradition, to say the least. Yet while other old-fashioned bastions of upper-class masculine British taste have been sold off or hideously modernized, A&S has managed to adapt and survive -- thanks to a strong-willed woman.
Anda Rowland, daughter of the firm's longtime owner, natty British millionaire Roland "Tiny" Rowland, who took over the business a few years ago, has set about bringing it into the 21st century without sacrificing one whit in the way of elegance.
The firm not only outfitted the great Fred Astaire - perhaps the best dressed man the modern world has ever known - but also Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, authors Evelyn Waugh and Somerset Maugham, Gary Cooper, Noel Coward, Sir Laurence Olivier, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Duke Ellington.
Sometimes I worry that French cuffs are going to become an artifact of a more graceful age, therefore it's exciting to know that today's young designers still have an interest in cufflinks. Cody Bradon is a new brand started by a couple of friends attending Parsons School of Design in New York, NY. Their mission is to reinvent the classic man with a modern twist. Their first collection of silver cufflinks is done is a style they call Streamline Moderne, a nod to Art Deco styles of the past. Each cufflink style is named after an example of Streamline Moderne design from the past and features gemstones set in sterling silver. The cufflinks sell for $25 to $35.
I'm amazed that it hadn't happened before this but Justin Timberlake is finally going to have his own fragrance. Parfums Givenchy has announced that Timberlake will be fronting a men's fragrance for the company. Timberlake joins actress Liv Tyler as a celebrity pitchperson for Givenchy. Timberlake's new scent will debut in fall 2008. Timberlake, who is working on his acting career, also has a fashion line, William Rast, as well as a restaurant.
While the celebrity men's fragrance market is nowhere near as packed as the female celebrity fragrance market, more and more stars are lending their names and faces to scent lines either as the celebrity spokesperson for a perfume or for their own line. Our gallery below list just a few of the sweet-smelling men in the fragrance arena.
Porsche designed what they called the perfect man's kitchen, and now Hoesch has done what just might be the same thing but in the bathroom. Start with clean lines and the simplest of color schemes and combine it with cutting edge technology and you've pretty much made any guy (and many women for that matter) happy. It has a Mirror TV Cabinet, a Duo bathtub roomy enough for two, a walk-in shower with a drying area and special grid floor that eliminates puddles, and both a shallow and a deep sink. All displayed and surrounded by classic white porcelain and your choice of walnut or macassar. What do you think guys, yay or nay?
Manolo Blahnik is much beloved of the ladies but he hasn't done much for the men lately.That's about to change. Vogue UK reports that Manolo has created a six-piece collection for men. The designs that Vogue shows are not for the average man. Sure, the red Oxford isn't too far out there but it would take a special man to pull off the leopard-print sandal or the lace-up peep-toe slingback. The collection should be out in stores in February.
Think Manolo is the only one with daring designs for men's shoes? Check out more intriguing men's shoe options in the gallery below.
Sometimes guys want a little bling too, you know? But it's hard to find that right balance of flash and masculinity, and although I'm not claiming this Pavé Diamond Dog Tag by David Yurman does the trick (it's all about personal preference and I'm not even a guy) the mix of pave diamonds and dog tag style seems to at least be in the right ballpark. It has a total of 1.15 carats total with a sterling silver logo, cable trim, "925" inlay, and a sterling silver chain pulling the whole thing together. Available at Neiman Marcus for $1,950.
Manly men who love to cook: here comes the kitchen of your dreams. That's the idea anyway behind Porsche Design Group and Poggenpohl's new "man's kitchen" (there's no official name yet). It's been created and crafted with the male cook in mind, which apparently means modern and sleek monochromatic stying complete with details like no-handle cabinets, high-tech audiovisual system and aluminum-finished everything. It will be available starting sometime next year.
I think it looks sleek and manly, but what do I know? Guys: did they get it right?
Hmm, I really don't know how I feel about this War Bowl. Designed by Mosley meets Wilcox. It's representative of something, but you'll have to decide what it means to you. Created by melting plastic soldiers together -- half French infantry and half British artillery from the Battle of Waterloo -- the end result is a sad but interesting looking dish that I doubt anyone would actually use to keep anything in. It kinda looks like an accident to me, like a pile of children's play soldiers ended up getting melted somehow and ruined. It also reminds me of the "Fall of the Damned" lampshade and might look interesting placed directly beneath it...
The War Bowl measures 4"x17.3" and is only available in blue for this particular soldier version, but the Mosley meets Wilcox website has other versions of War Bowls including red ninjas and black knights. $229
A company in Beverly Hills, California has launched a new service for men. Hemancipation is an interior design and concierge service that specifically caters to wealthy men who are in the midst of a divorce. The company offers newly single men the services of a realtor to find a new home, an interior designer to decorate the home, an image consultant to help you prepare for the single life and a concierge to handle shopping and travel arrangements. Each client is assigned a lifestyle consultant who creates a customized plan based on the customer's individual needs. I wonder if in the past wealthy men just had their assistants help with this sort of thing.
Earlier this month the Tom Ford New York store opened its doors for the first time, located on Madison Avenue. Tom Ford himself was present giving personal tours of the 1930's inspired shop full of not only the designer's menswear creations but also decor from his own collections, such as beaver-skin rugs and Lucio Fontana artwork. According to Tom the store's appeal will be based on "exceptional service and immaculate clothes." Other features available to you while you shop include the fact that everything is customizable (from clothes to fragrances), a wet bar, and if you get hungry during your appointment? Well there's lunch delivered by a maid or butler.
Frank is a small, artisanal fragrance house that specializes in scents that will appeal to modern men. They even keep their packaging as streamlined and minimal as possible, although they maintain a traditional feel to maintain a look of masculinity instead of going for an ultra-modern look. The Los Angeles Fragrance is sexy and carries an air of comfort. It has notes of citrus over a spicy, woodsy base made up of ginger, clove, cardamom and sandalwood, brightened with a bit of peppermint and green tea. Price: $80.
How much would you pay for a pair of jeans from Abercrombie and Fitch? The retailer that is so popular with the high-school aged crowd is offering a pair of "specially handcrafted with premium denim fabric" jeans that are retailing for almost $400 per pair. The high price tag is a bit of a stretch from the brand's usual pricing, but each pair of the limited edition jeans will be completely unique and individually numbered to guarantee authenticity. As with just about all of their other clothing, the jeans are heavily distressed and come in several shades of dyed blue cotton.
I'm always on the quest for man jewelry that looks beautiful but not too feminine (like the tire ring I found a while back). Brussels-based designer Christa Reiners creates beautiful silver and gold jewelry that emphasizes sculptural form. She is a self-taught designer who finds inspiration in nature, translating organic shapes into intriguing patterns. Case in point, this men's ring with a coral-like look. It is available in sterling silver for 235 euros or yellow or white gold for 1,500 euros.
Some may think that skulls are best saved for Halloween, and while it's true that you can't go wrong with a little bit of the macabre in October, the skull trend is still going strong, so they're fine for the holiday season, too. Deakin & Francis Skull Cufflinks are handmade in England of solid, 18-karat yellow gold. Intriguingly, the tiny skulls have movable jaws. Try to avoid the temptation to play with them like little ventriloquist dummies during boring meetings - or at least practice silent laughter first. Price: $3,900.
The Louis Vuitton Taïmyr is a bag that is designed with the young, modern business man in mind. It is very lightweight and large enough (14.2" L x 11.1" H x 6.3" W) to be practical for traveling without being a pain to carry around. It is made of textured leather and canvas with a smooth leather trim. The top pocket has an unusual, slightly forward-facing zipper, which provides easy access to the main compartment and the contents of the bag, though there are several exterior pockets that are perfect for items that require easy access. The LV logo appears subtly on the front flap and on the adjustable shoulder strap. Price: $1,210.
Welcome to The Classicist, our new column devoted to timeless style, enduring elegance, and true, built-to-last luxury as opposed to mere extravagance.... 
The Louis Vuitton Taïmyr
