HIT: Baxter Blue Steel "Not a Replica" Straight Razor

Use this bad boy daily, and walk around with that 007, "I just cheated death, bitches," chip on your shoulder.

From their site,"The Hart Steel razor blade is predominately a hand made product, and all of the processes are completed in Northern Michigan by skilled artisans. Hart Steel is tested at a Rockwell hardness of 63, which gives oneʼs razor the sharpest and most long-lasting edge possible. Artisan Technicians, from start to finish, hand grind, mark, sharpen and assemble each razor. Each AT personally stamps each razor to indicate his craftsmanship. The Horse Butt Leather used was chosen since it has a natural beauty and durability."

Get one here.

HIT: Silver Retro Airplane Cufflinks

Neither my father nor grandfather was much of a French cuff guy, so I'm not going to be inheriting any cuff-links. And although I've been getting by on those silk barrels for a few years, it's time that I get in the game.

Now, of course, I plan on remedying the dearth of heirloom cuff-links in the fam by one day investing in a nice monogrammed set for my kid or nephew or whatever. But for now, I'll happily settle for these from Fine and Dandy Shop. They're affordable (Tiffany sells a similar set for $200), silver, art-deco, and fun-without-being-silly.

While you're there, check out the rest of Fine and Dandy. They've got great stuff at reasonable prices.

HIT: Florsheim Veblen

Wingtips are super hot at the moment, but almost any pair worth having is going to cost well over $200.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think that's too much to pay for a fine pair of shoes. But when you walk to work every day, your kicks take a beating. It's hard to justify shelling out serious cash for something you'll tear up in a few months.

Enter the Florsheim Veblen. Modeled after their legendary Kenmoor Long Wing ($225), these look great but retail at $160. Use your trusty 15 percent-off discount code - try 1012 or 8052 - and they're only about $136.

I've got one pair already, and I'm already toying with the idea of getting a second. They're that nice.

Order direct from Florsheim here.

HIT: The Zenith Christophe Colomb

One of the coolest watches I've ever seen, brought to you once again by Hodinkee.

I couldn't load their video, but check it out here. It's only 9 seconds long.

HIT: Harris Tweed at TOPMAN

Harris Tweed is the only fabric in the world governed by its own Act of Parliament and it's now available at TOPMAN. Who knew?

They've got Harris Tweed ties for about $30(!) and I love this slim cut, elbow patch, Harris Tweed blazer for $300.



These gloves, $50, ain't bad either.

HIT: Stick Umbrella from Lands' End Canvas

When it rains, lots of guys reach for that Gore Tex parka, which basically kills any look they might otherwise have going. Gore Tex stuff is sportswear, so it only looks good when you're coaching, golfing or hiking.

Instead, get yourself a proper - not the folding kind - umbrella. You'll be shocked by how much drier it keeps you than your parka, and you'll love carrying it around. Trust me.

This one from Lands' End Canvas is a beauty. It also comes in navy blue, and is super affordable at $39.95.

HIT: Burberry Prorsum Single Breasted Woolen Peacoat

I love the Eastern Bloc look of this coat. Sure, it's way outta my league at $2500, but you know how these things go. The design trickles down to more affordable lines and, with a little digging, you can get the look.

If you're in the market, try this one at Top Man - $300.

HIT: Omega De Ville X2 Big Date

This is a gorgeous tank-style watch that moved into my number one Most-Desired-Dress-Watch slot over the weekend.

I love Omega. And in addition to its aesthetic, the De Ville really stands out with its quirky mix of Roman and Arabic numerals. Plus, it features an automatic movement.

It also comes in black.

HIT: Michael Williams and Mister Mort Covering NYFW for Gilt MANual

Michael Williams of ACL and Mordechai Rubinstein, aka Mister Mort, shot NY's fashion week for the new men's style blog by Gilt, Gilt MANual.

Do yourself a favor and check out both slideshows. Each is like a crib-sheet for picking up your game.

Mister Mort's show.

Michael Williams's show.

Both Williams and Rubinstein understand that when it comes to (capital-S) Style, "God is in the details." Few of the guys they shot are wearing anything terribly unique, and yet every one stands out by adding a small - I don't know - touch? Or something.

The best part? There's something democratic about the "touches" these guys caught. I mean, it doesn't cost a dime to leave a button undone or roll your trousers, but doing so in the right way can add millions to your look. I know I didn't say that well, but you'll see what I mean.

My favorite is Michael Williams's shot of Cory Ohlendorf of Valet, above.

HIT: J.Crew Factory Online

Outlet shopping sucks. Sure, you might find the occasional deal. But more often than not, you waste the day hunting through stacks of leftover sizes and weird styles. It all feels too much like work.

But now J.Crew is putting their outlet online at the J.Crew Clothing Factory. The shop features a solid stock and decent discounts. Best of all, you don't have to drive anywhere and finding your size is just a click away.

Beware - the shop is only open on weekends, from 12am Friday to midnight Sunday, and supplies are limited. So, if you find something you like, don't sit on it for too long.

HIT: Tsovet SVT-FW44

Styled after a WWI infantryman's field watch, the Tsovet SVT-FW44 is one of the finest and nicest-looking watches you'll find for under $1000. (And it's well under $1000 - try $350.00 retail, direct from Tsovet.)

While it doesn't have an automatic movement, its sapphire crystal, screw-down crown, super beefy 44mm case, brushed steel finish, and cowboy-leather band render it an elegant, affordable alternative, reminiscent of the Fortis Flieger Chronograph I featured several posts back.

They come in a few different colors, but this is my favorite. If you're interested, act fast. Today is the first day I've seen them back in stock in several months.

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.

HIT: Coleman Camping Lantern Lamp

A few years ago, a buddy of mine moved into a new apartment and furnished it with a few items from Uncommon Goods. I had never heard of them at the time, but every once in a while I'll head back to see what's new.

These days, I've been hunting for a small reading lamp. Uncommon Goods didn't have the right animal, but they did have this guy.

A paragon of American-kitsch, it is not beautiful and would look silly in most apartments. But it certainly conjures nostalgia. Plus, imagine the cool bedtime stories you could invent about that bear and his cub as they look down into the valley at that lone, tasty vict- er, I mean, fisherman.

HIT: No. 10 Opinel

I had an Opinel when I was a kid, but had completely forgotten about them until a year or so ago when I walked into a small farm supply with family in Chagford, England. Of course, I didn't have my wallet on me. But I promised myself to return later that week to pick one up. I never did and, once again, forgot all about them.

Then GQ featured Psycho Bunny's Robert Godley in this week's installment of their 10 Essentials series. Number 9 for Godley? Sure enough.

Opinel's beauty and utility make it the perfect pocket-knife. It's extremely lightweight, holds a decent edge, and the locking mechanism - if you want to go so far as to call it a mechanism - is infallible. (It's that metal cuff at the top of the handle. Open the knife, rotate the cuff, and the knife is locked.)

So, I've finally placed my order. The No. 10 refers to the length of the blade - 10cm. The little guy cost less than $20, including shipping, from OpiKnife.

HIT: Levi's Made & Crafted

Levi's jeans are everywhere at the moment. Walk into Urban Outfitters, and they've got piles of Levi's in every flavor imaginable at a price point somewhere in the neighborhood of $50-$60 or so. Cross the street to J.Crew, and there they are again. Only now, instead of the skinny 511s in more colors than a bag of Skittles, you're looking at the eminent 501s in premium denim retailing between $100 and $150. Down at Brooks Brothers you'll find a similar line. Finally, go online to Unionmade and drool over their stuff from the Levi's Vintage collection. Price point? $230-$450. (**More news - ACL announced today that Levi's has partnered with Filson.)

None of this is as bewildering as it sounds, I guess. Levi's is huge and different divisions are designed to appeal to different customers. I get that. What I'm confused by is the absence of their Capital E line for men. I can't find it anywhere and my local Barney's Co-Op lady says the line is dead. Maybe I was the only one who liked it.

I buy a new pair of jeans every other year or so, and it's getting to be about time. So, today, I checked out their new Made & Crafted line. (The Reference Council did a piece on them a while back.) I thought for sure this would replace the Capital E line. And it does - kinda.

I tried on a pair in their "standard" fit - great look and the quality of the denim, I tried the "rigid," seemed fine.

But what I still love about my old Capital Es is that they were purportedly hand-made in the USA, so they have all these cool artisanal details. (Who knows where they're really made - I'm a sucker for a good story.) The Made & Crafted, on the other hand, were made by machines in Turkey and they look it. Kind of a bummer. The price point is somewhere in the neighborhood of $150, which isn't too bad for premium denim.

In the end, I guess this is a HIT with an asterisk. When I get new jeans, I'll probably end up with a pair of these. But only because they killed the better line.

Here are a few shots. Apologies for the crappy quality.

HIT: Billykirk Mechanics Belt

Two words to describe Billykirk leather goods? Simple quality. Chris Bray and William Kirkland (he's Billykirk, get it?) founded the company in 1999 in LA, and then moved their operation to the East Coast. Now, much of their stuff is made by Amish leather workers in Pennsylvania Dutch country. "It has, no doubt, been one of the most interesting business relationships of our career," Kirk says in an interview on the company's website. Bray adds, "They have no idea who the Rolling Stones are or that we are at war."

They carry an array of leather accessories including bags, belts, wallets, and - if you're so inclined - cuffs.

This is my favorite product of theirs - the No. 117 Mechanics Hidden Buckle Belt. With the buckle tucked behind the leather, so as not to scratch the paint-job of whatever you happen to be wrenching, it's the epitome of anti-bling.

HIT: LL Bean Signature Saltwash Canvas Tote

When you're a little guy, every trip feels like an adventure. This notion lingers through college until you finally realize that you don't need an expedition-grade bag to go couch surfing for the weekend in New York or DC.

This tote from LL Bean Signature (more about them later) is the perfect replacement. The design couldn't be simpler. No straps, zippers or buckles to mess with. Just one monster compartment in heavy duty canvas with beefy handles.

HIT: Brooks Brothers Fall 2010 Look

This shot is for the Fitzgerald 1818 Corduroy suit. I've owned that suit - in wool - and didn't love it. The cut was a bit fuller than I'd like. But I love this kit and I must admit that I'd never be bold enough to put it together myself.

The gingham shirt with tartan tie, the suede long-wings with the dark belt, and a white pocket square. Nothing "matches," and yet it makes for a great look. Also, to my eye, this is further evidence of the breadth and depth of J.Crew's influence.

Finally, how much does this guy look like the guy from HBO's Hung? Weird.

HIT: Linus Bikes

I'm lucky enough to be in a situation at the moment where I don't need wheels of any kind. I walk to work and hop a train or cab just about anywhere else I need to be.

Right. Wheels? Me? Don't need 'em.

But I really want some.

Most of my buddies got into cycling in their late twenties and have these sexy road bikes. I've not yet caught the bug, so I'd be going for something less aggressive that I don't need to finance and can ride without special shoes.

Retro bikes are seriously in vogue, but the right animal is elusive so you're going to pay a lot for it. Enter Linus Bikes out of Venice, CA. Inspired by European bicycles of yore, these guys have created a line of commuter bikes that are solid, gorgeous and a great value. They're not selling online yet (they say they will be "soon"), so you might have to go on the road to find one. But it'll be well worth the effort.

I'll have a Roadster Classic in black (above). No gears, a pedal break(!) and an absolute steal at $389.

HIT: UniQlo Easy Care Oxford

Recently, UniQlo released their Fall/Winter 2010 look-book. Not surprisingly, they paired items in an edgy, fashion-forward way. Yawn.

While they're not doing anything new or exciting, I thought I'd take a second to mention a product of theirs I love - the Easy Care Oxford. As far as non-irons go, these can't be beat.

UniQlo's material and craftsmanship are not nearly as fine as everyone's favorite non-iron over at Brooks Brothers. But they fit well, are positively wrinkle free after a tumble in the dryer and, at $29.99, cost less than half as much. (I did that math in my head.)