WORDS: Drink What You Know

When you think about it, rules for drinking are not so different from rules for writing. Many of these are so familiar they’ve become truisms: Write what you know. Write every day. Never use a strange, fancy word when a simple one will do. Always finish the day’s writing when you could still do more. With a little adaptation these rules apply just as well for drinking. Drink what you know, drink regularly rather than in binges, avoid needlessly exotic booze, and leave the table while you can still stand.
--Geoff Nicholson

I finally started watching Mad Men. I definitely dig the pretty clothes and all that, but I'm more impressed by how much those guys drink at work.

The brilliant little excerpt above is from a piece that ran in The New York Times earlier this summer. It is an absolute must read.

Find it here.

SOUNDS: Write About Love, Part 2

Download Belle & Sebastian's new track in exchange for your email address.

SOUNDS: Belle & Sebastian Write About Love

The new Belle & Sebastian album, Belle & Sebastian Write About Love is due October 12th. Hooray for that. In this half-hour video, see them perform two new songs.

(Sorry the video looks weird. Working on it.)

INTEL: Gilded Again

The New York Times's style guy Bill Cunningham has done a few pieces this summer about Jazz Age inspired parties throughout the city, the latest of which he shot last weekend at Governer's Island.

The parties look super fun and stylish, but Cunningham implies that this could be the seed of a new trend. I think they're more a reaction than anything else. Grandpa's stuff is everywhere these days, isn't it? Pop into an Urban Outfitters, Top Man, J.Crew, H&M, or Gap, and it's wingtip brogues, trilbys, tweed, and bowties. We're all loving it, and a few are taking it to the extreme in a celebration of our more stylish former selves. Pretty cool.

See Cunningham's video, here.

HIT: J.Crew Men's Shops

J.Crew Upper East Side Mens Shop from Michael Williams on Vimeo.

I'm constantly trying to convince my nay-saying pals that J.Crew has changed. Yesterday, Michael Williams of A Continuous Lean posted this beautifully shot video of the new Men's Shop at 79th and Madison that bolsters my argument, I think.

Right now, the Men's Shops only exist in New York, but they're indicative of J.Crew's renewed commitment to sharp, mature, sophisticated menswear.

MISS: Man Make-Up

The New York Times reported yesterday that the men's cosmetic market is "bullish."

Men are not using cosmetics to add color to their lips, cheeks or eye-lids, but rather to cover up blemishes and other imperfections, according to the story.

NO. No, no, no, no, no.

Sure, we all need a little moisturizer and if you like a fancy type designed specifically for men, knock yourself out.

But men don't wear make-up. Period. When you look like crap, just wear it. You think Newman wore make-up? Or McQueen? C'mon ladies. Get it together.

INTEL: Steven Alan and Dockers Team Up

I have this love/hate relationship with khakis - love the idea of them, pretty much hate wearing them. Why? Because while they have all this potential as an alternative to jeans during the summer, they always have a billowy, sloppy fit.

So, I was thrilled today when The New York Times announced that Steven Alan and Dockers are getting together to offer a new line of khakis for Barney's due out this October. They'll be available in three fits, and, yes, they'll be expensive - $128 according to the article. But as the Times points out, Alan has this knack for nailing the perfect balance between "fitted-ness" and "slouchy-ness." Here's hoping he delivers.