It’s time…

Well my fellow Dandies, I think it’s time to make it official…  As you could tell from the huge lack of posts, the blog has taken a bit of a back seat because of work and having two kids.

As one of Buffalo’s original bloggers, I have taken great pride in the opportunities and friendships forged through this site and it will forever hold a special place in my heart. I hope this site has helped some of you along your style discovery, as I myself have grown along with it. Alas, the bow ties and wingtips have been traded in for kimonos and wide brim fedora’s, but a true Dandy evolves his style to make it his own and stay true to himself, as I hope you all have.

Keep following my Instagram account for outfit posts, adventures with our kids and the occasional “ooh I want that” post if you are so inclined. I’ll keep the site up for a while in case anyone is feeling nostalgic and for the steady stream of google searches the site still gets daily, but for now, it’s time to say goodbye. It’s been an amazing ride.

See you space cowboy…

-BD

Oscar Wilde NYC

[photos via dailymail.co.uk]

This June one of the Dandiest bars in New York City is set to open it’s doors and we could not be more excited. The Oscar Wilde Bar, named after the famous Irish author, is an extravagant Victorian-style bar which inspired by the life of one of the most infamous Dandy’s in history. Boasting the longest continuous bar in NYC (120 feet) and over $4 Million in design features, the Oscar Wilde Bar is sure to be a favorite among lovers of opulence and decadence, like Mr. Wilde himself.

Full of stunning ornate features, sculptures, portraits and whimsical hidden features (like the 26 clocks throughout preeminently set at ten to two, the time at which Wilde died), the bar will feature many of Oscar Wilde’s signature beverages, like champagne and absinth, over 300 types of whiskey and of course, Guinness. There is even a life-size statue of Oscar Wilde at the bar that patrons can buy a drink for. There will be no seats at the bar, since the owners want visitors to stand and talk to one another instead of looking at their phones all night, something we are 100% behind.

If you happen to find yourself in NYC this Summer, we highly recommend stopping by dressed in your Dandy best. Because as Mr. Wilde famously said: “Looking good and dressing well is a necessity.”

Check out the full of story (as well as some stunning photographs) about the Oscar Wilde Bar here.

Rowing Blazers Launches Clothing Line

Jack Carlson, author of the Dandy-favorite Rowing Blazers, has just launched his very own collection of rowing-inspired apparel line aptly named Rowing Blazers, and it looks AMAZING!

Comprised of classic rowing blazer styles and distressed shirts (all hand-made in the USA) as well as ties, belts, hats and wide range of vintage books and accessories, the collection blends classic ivy league style with a modern twist. The blazers have crossed-stitched latin motto’s hidden under the lapels, while the button down shirts have the same distressed look and feel as many of the blazers featured in Jack’s book. The tongue and cheek graphics used throughout the collection are spot on and I love the mixing of classic hip hop culture with vintage rowing books, pins and diving watches (more on that below).

As far as his inspiration behind the line, Jack has this to say:

” This collection is inspired by the traditions, myths, and rituals I discovered while writing the book Rowing Blazers. It’s also inspired by my collection of vintage blazers; my research in archaeology, heraldry, and classics; and my time at Oxford.

Today, virtually everyone owns a blazer. But few realize that the blazer has its origins in the sport of rowing. The original blazers-unlined flannel jackets with patch pockets, no vents and metal buttons-where the hoodies of their time. Everything about them served a practical function; even the loud colors were designed to help spectators tell which crew was which.

It was the one of these early rowing jackets – in “blazing” red – that gave us the word “blazer”. Early oarsmen developed an attachment to their blazers, and incorporated them into their daily dress on terra firm, where the were soon imitated by rugby players, cricket players and others. By the end of the 19th century, the blazer was s tape of any gentleman’s wardrobe.

Like the court liveries and armorial devices of medieval Europe, the street gang colors of Compton, and the patches and badges of the Hell’s Angels, rowing blazers are tribal totems. The are ceremonial vestments, worn to emphasize both community and difference: to impress, intimidate and influence.

Menswear is supposed to be meaningful,-every detail considered, nothing random. That’s how I approached this collection: meaningful, thoughtful, irreverent, cryptic.”

Take a look at some of the beautiful detailed shots and favorite pieces from his collection (which is already selling out) below. Seriously, this whole collection is fire. I want everything even though I’ve only ever rowed in Dragon Boat races. That counts, right?

The End is Nigh: The RompHim

Now I’m all for short shorts, button downs and pastels during the Summer, but this… this is something. Introducing The RompHim. Currently setting the internet ablaze with an overwhelming sense of “wait, are they serious?” the RompHim is looking to start a fashion revolution by basically creating a Romper for guys. Complete with a shirt pocket, adjustable waist, back pocket and a zipper fly, the Romper is exploding their Kickstarter goal after just one day. Sure to be a hit with Frat bros everywhere this Summer, I’m not sure if this is something we can get behind. But hey, fashion is all about risks right?

Find out more about the RompHim here.

Trend Watch: Cropped Pants

Fighting back every urge to call these “manpris”, one of the most daring trends out there this season for #menswear is the return of cropped pant. Brands across the board have adopted this style made popular, undoubtedly, from alt-leisure sweatpants and fellas looking to show of their kicks and perhaps a little ankle as the temps heat up. Many of the styles I’ve seen are cut like many of the latest high-end sweats, with a wider “athletic” fit in the thigh, dropped crotch and extra narrow leg opening.

The baggier fit I feel is essential to keep these from looking like you are wearing capris, which is why I decided to go a size up from regular when I picked up this 90’s stone washed pair from Abercrombie on the cheap. Good thing I did because from the sounds of things, this brand, which has been a guilty pleasure of mine since high school, might not be around much longer.

Abercrombie Cropped Athletic Jeans : $78 $39
Zara Cropped Linen Trousers: $50
H&M Cropped Pants

Thankful for Warmer Days Ahead

Thankful for warmer days ahead as it appears Spring is more or less here for good in Buffalo. Sadly, this means wearing less of the heavier-weight kimonos I’ve grown so fond of during the winter months. Thankfully H&M came out with this lightweight organic option as part of their Coachella Collection which I snagged during a recent trip to NYC.

Dandy Endorsed: Mikol Marble iPhone Case

I’ve been a fan of leather iPhone cases for a while here at Buffalo Dandy, but after being introduced to Mikol’s luxury marble iPhone cases, I might have had a change of heart.

Mikol initially began as a manufacturer in San Francisco, building other people’s designs. After getting frustrated when designers would create stunning products but would then be hindered by budget constraints, the folks at Mikol decided to design and produce beautiful products themselves and not let cost be the primary concern. They specialize in creating marble iPhone, iPad and even MacBook cases, as well as providing marble covered notebooks, cufflinks, tie bars, necklaces and even bow ties.

After Mikol reached out to me, I admit, I was skeptical. After all, I’ve seen these types of marble cases before and was never really wowed by them. Plus, like I said, my distressed leather iPhone cases always held a special place in my heart. However, when my Nero Marquina Marble iPhone Case arrived, the first words out of my mouth was: “whoa”… Clearly, this was not your average phone case.

The stone used in the case is 100% natural marble (complete with a certificate of authenticity) and measures in at around .7mm, which is as thin as a credit card. You would think that it would be fragile, but Mikol uses a special processing technique that reinforces the marble with a micro fiberglass webbing for added strength and durability. Their logo is etched into the marble, which further heightens the luxury feel of the case. Encased in a PC + ABS molded thermoplastic, the overall design is chic and classic looking. It feels great in your hand and has elegant weight to it. I can honestly say, that this is the nicest iPhone case I have ever owned. If you’re looking to up the luxury level even more, Mikol also offers custom engraving on their products.

Check out more colors and styles on their online store here and many thanks Mikol for sending me this truly stunning iPhone case.

$100

 

 

 

Listen to this now: Tash Sultana

If you’re looking for some fresh Spring beats, we highly recommend checking out Austrailia’s Tash Sultana.

At just twenty-one years of age, Tash is creating waves and generating massive street buzz by playing sold out shows all over the World. Tash has made a name for herself busking on the streets of Melbourne and having homemade videos go viral getting millions of views online.

Since having her hands wrapped around a guitar at the age of three, the self taught artist quickly developed her own unique style that has people lining up to see her perform live. Her vocal shines with a magical quality, she has a natural gift for melody and her virtuosic guitar playing is from another planet. Oh, and it’s just her on all the songs playing every instrument and looping all the beats. Check out the video of her recording her hit “Jungle” in her bedroom and give her debut album a listen below.

Dandy Endorsed: Classic Knot Bow Ties

Looks like I’m going to have to hand over the title of “Buffalo Dandy” to young Shelden Gibbs, the 11 year old CEO and Founder of Classic Knot. This Buffalo-based entrepreneur has been handcrafting his own line of custom bow ties since May 2016 with no signs of slowing down. Under the watchful eye of his mom, Shelden selects his own fabrics and makes all the ties himself. He also offers matching neck tie and pocket square combos which he sells at trade shows and online via his website.

Big props to this stylish young Dandy for making some truly handsome neckwear and we wish him luck in his endeavor of “creating style that makes statements”. Visit his online shop at classicknot.com and check out some of our favorite ties below. Keep up the great work Shelden!

Clear Weather Brand Sneakers

During my search for a new pair of sneakers I recently came across a company called Clear Weather Brand. Founded in 2014 by brothers Brandon and Josh Brubaker (who have a combined 30+ years of shoe design experience) Clear Weather seeks to recreate footwear classics for the future by redesigning vintage styles that look modern and distinct. The idea is to appreciate the comfort of wearing a familiar sneaker while still feeling the thrill of rocking an original and fresh design.

History influences the look and feel of everything Clear Weather does, including their logo; a curved line inside an equal sign which is a Native American pictograph that means “clear weather”.

With an impressive library of styles to choose from in a variety of colors and fabrics, hands down one of my favorites is their Santora Collection. Check out my top 5 styles below and be sure to visit their website if you are in the market for a new pair of kicks for Spring.