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Bills Khakis: An American Classic
Bills Khakis is the definition of fall and winter wear. Whether you are looking for a leather jacket, a flannel shirt or the perfect pair of khakis, Bills has your back. The collection is made in America and ranges from casual wear to dressier items. Bills Khakis also makes some impressive accessories – like the […] -
Badass Sunglasses for the Modern Motorist
Watching cult movies such as The Italian Job and Bullitt, we can’t help but feel that driving has lost the golden pizzazz that it once possessed. iPhone leads that plug into car lighters and plastic cup holders have superseded creaking and that reassuring whir of classic sports car acceleration. Naturally then, we were near ecstatic […] -
Wolf vs. Goat Does Menswear Right
As much as we love heritage brands and heritage ‘inspired’ brands, it is always refreshing to find a company that is taking a fresh approach to menswear. Wolf vs Goat, founded in 2009, is just such a company. Owned by industry expert Mauro Farinelli, theirs is an offering to men of beautifully tailored suits, button […] -
The DOs & DON’Ts of Mixing Prints
We are huge fans of prints here at The Manual. Who doesn’t love a great plaid blazer or go-to striped shirt? With the weather getting colder and holidays on the horizon, we’ve been experimenting with our layers, mixing some of our favorite prints for a look that really catches the eye. But there are some […] -
Worn Out Wednesday – JP Collett
Some guys just have all the luck. JP Collett grew up in Newport Beach, California and spent 90% of his time in the ocean or at the beach surfing, lifeguarding, swimming, you name it. “We cruised with our crew on bicycles from May to September and just indulged in our surroundings,” JP explained. His crew […] -
Style + Tech = Ray-Ban Shama Shade
Face, meet palm, because you were not the genius to think of putting a solar panel on your sunglasses and turning them into a phone batter – Sayaleee Kaluskar was. -
Best Dress Boots for Fall 2013
The perfect finishing touch to any outfit this season, fall’s ruggedly handsome dress boots pay homage to classic footwear styles ranging from the brogue to cap-toe as well as the casual styles, palettes and treads of last year’s moc, hiking and duck style boots. Here, 10 exceptional styles that work just as well with a […] -
Handsome Holiday Picks from Bills Khakis
Whether you’re shopping for someone or creating your own wish list for the holidays, we’ve discovered a company that might turn your head as much as it did ours. It’s Bills Khakis headquartered in Reading, PA and was founded in 1990 way before Made in America was a hot ticket. Their handsome renovated old warehouse […] -
There’s Nothing Basic About Goodlife
After reviewing our fair share of jogging pants, tees, Henley’s and hoodies we had the grand realization that ‘basics’ are anything but. There is a plethora of fits, fabrics and of course backstories. While we are stoked that guys are thinking more about even their most basic attire, there is a lot to wade through. […] -
BOFFO Building Fashion: Michael Bastian X Bittertang
Every year, the non-profit arts organization BOFFO fuses fashion and architecture through BOFFO Building Fashion. The program connects a fashion designer who has never had a retail space with an architect who designs the space. The first of this year’s partners, menswear designer Michael Bastian and Bittertang, debuted their collaboration this week at New York’s […] -
East Dane Launches Holiday Gift Shop
Admit it. You’ve been curious about that website your girlfriend is constantly checking. You’ve wondered why your female coworkers always receive packages of clothing at the office. Yes, it’s Shopbop, the extremely popular and omnipresent women’s online shopping destination. Don’t worry though, now you can get in on the action with the launch of East […] -
Trask Launches E-commerce Site & We’re Buying
Rugged yet refined, Trask is one of those manly brands of which we can’t get enough. And luckily for everyone, their awesome leather goods are now available no matter where you live, thanks to their newly launched e-commerce site. Born in Bozeman, Montana in 1992, Trask is inspired by the great outdoors and American way of life. […] -
Go Westerlind, Young Man
Talk about the ultimate site to shop some well curated indie brands. Think of it as the intersection where technical outdoor gear and apparel meet a style-minded store. The brands showcased are known for their forward-thinking design, functionality and style including: Jungmaven, Makr, Scout, Stutterhheim and Aigle. The sites approach is to inspire through a […] -
Target’s Fall Collection is a Winner (And you can be too!)
We are all big fans of the summer season but sometimes we get tired of just wearing tees and flip flops when it’s one billion degrees outside. So when fall blows our way we get excited about layering, boots and a cozy knit cap. We also know fall dressing can make our bank account want […] -
Worn out Wednesday – Kwesi Blair
If you want to know how to make it, get your mama to give you one hell of a memorable name. Take Kwesi Blair for instance. Originally from South Carolina, Kwesi (a Ghanian name meaning conquerer, but his parent are Caribbean) went to Duke University and then headed to New York City where he landed […] -
Best Coats for Fall 2013
From varsity jackets to quilted puffers to parkas and biker jackets, casual outerwear styles are having a moment. Part of the reason is that so-called “business casual” style is now the five-day dress code across most companies, and guys have learned that there’s nothing more effortlessly stylish than pairing, say, an all-purpose parka with a […] -
Style + Tech = Proof NY Surface Pants
Proof NY is a purveyor of well tailored clothing designed to survive the apocalypse, and with their new Surface pant, you don't need to be a bike commuter or a commuting biker to appreciate them. -
More Bang For Your Buck : Buck Mason Launches
Wow. What can we say about Buck Mason? The all-American-made brand is like a mash-up of Netflix and Warby Parker – but for your wardrobe. The premise behind Erik Schnakenberg and Sasha Koehn’s brainchild – men hate shopping for clothes (in the traditional sense) – so why do it? Well guys, Schnakenberg and Koehn are […] -
Lacoste reinvents the crocodile
Lacoste makes its mark on fashion this year as it celebrates its 80th birthday. So naturally they asked iconic artist, Peter Saville, who has worked with everyone from Dior to Joy Division to help them, help you celebrate. Together they add a spin on what they do best – the Polo. Instead of changing the […] -
Scottish Heritage at Strathberry
Scotland is having quite a revival as of late with Brooks Brothers promoting their dapper Highland Heritage Collection and many a menswear designer looking for tartans from the Hebrides. And don’t get us started on the Whisky boom. So it’s the perfect timing for two Scots to launch a premium accessories line for the lad […] -
Betabrand’s Bike to Work Collection
There’s fashion and there’s safety gear, and never the twain shall meet, right? Wrong. A small SF-based clothing company known as Betabrand makes a collection of pants and shirts that straddle the line between safe and stylish. In broad daylight you wouldn’t be able to tell their Bike to Work collection from any other brand, […] -
One Less Illegal Gun with Liberty United
No matter where you stand on politics, we can pretty much all agree on one thing: gun violence is a problem in this country. There are too many illegal firearms landing in the hands of the wrong people, those who don’t know how to use them or have violent intentions. Unfortunately, it’s one sad story […] -
Just Incase
Certain products make our lives more efficient or better. Incase does both. This San Francisco based firm believes in “a better experience through good design”, and we here at The Manual, couldn’t agree more. Plainly said, InCase has something for everybody. Their bags, in addition to their mobile phone and tablet cases, make getting to […] -
Worn out Wednesday – J.P. Mastey
If you think the men’s grooming explosion is a new thing, get out your Funk & Wagnall and look up Baxter of California. This brand blew up back in 1965 and was in the dopp kit of every leading man in Hollywood. Fast forward to the dawn of a new millennia for men’s grooming when […] -
Style + Tech = Garmin Fenix
You better hope your wrist is worthy enough to carry the Garmin fenix, a GPS-enabled watch that crunches serious data while looking seriously badass. -
Best Cords for Fall 2013
One of the best known staples of cold-weather dressing, corduroy has come a long way from the ’70s when the classic cotton-blended fabric, known for its then-wider wale fabric, supreme warmth and plush feel, might have doubled for drapes. Today the fabric has never looked more sophisticated in lighter pinwale offerings and colors that, thankfully, […] -
What to Wear: Fall Wedding
The leaves are turning, pumpkins are showing up on doorsteps and romance is in the air. Before you know it, it’s time for that fall wedding that has been on you calendar for the last few months. What should you wear? Ditch the seersucker suit you work to that summer wedding and go for something […] -
Feel Good Fridays – Levi’s WasteLess
We have mentioned Waste<Less in the past, but never profiled the company as a whole. After attending Levi’s press preview last week in New York City, we really got a deeper understanding of the line and thought it a worthwhile topic on which to focus. The idea stemmed from Levi’s Water<Less jeans they launched in […] -
Suitsupply x Baldwin Denim
Suitsupply is a brand that ties quality and affordability together with suits made from Italian fabrics. Baldwin Denim is a Kansas City-based lifestyle brand that makes high quality, tailored denim – so what happens when the two merge? Something fantastic. Suitsupply x Baldwin Denim is a collaboration that celebrates the importance of casual sophistication. The collection was designed specifically to be worn […] -
A Fall InVestment
There can be nothing better for that first chill of fall, than a vest. They can range from sporty to functional, and you can find the right one for any outfit. Throw them over a sweater with sport shirt, or pair one with hoodie, or a sport coat. From country gent to city nomad, for […] -
Pack This Now: Craft Atlantic
Traditional business travel has long required guys to master the art of packing. Enter Craft Atlantic, the smarter travel solution for guys on the go or, as co-founder Pierre Mordacq of the line puts it, “Off-duty sportswear, but not performance.” Frustrated by the lack of travel options while crossing the Atlantic back and forth for work, Mordacq, a former […] -
Worn Out Wednesday – Brad Lande
BIRCHBOX is one of those companies we have to high five. They saw how much the girls were digging their boxes, so they had the brilliant concept to cater to us guys. And guess what? Guys are gaga over these little boxes. For a reasonable price you get a box of neat-o things you probably […] -
Style + Tech = Burton Ion Leather boots
Let's say you've just finished building the most high-performance snowboard boot available, but it's missing a certain something – what do you do? Duh … wrap it in Red Wing Leather. -
Best Sunglasses for Fall 2013
Straddling mid-century modern style and groovy futurism, fall’s best sunglasses—squarer in shape with an earthy influence—are perfectly designed to pop against the season’s subdued collections. Here, eight brilliant options you won’t want to leave home without. From L-R: Seoul in camouflage, Prism London, about $415; Volta, Raen Optics, $112; Ellison in marbled sandstone, Warby Parker, […] -
Stantt Is Making Your New Favorite Shirt
We admit it, we are on the fence about Kickstarter companies. We don’t want our readers to have to wait six months to get the product they are craving, and what if the company never reaches it’s goal? We also realize there are some pretty sweet ideas popping up on Kickstarter and we are always […] -
For You Blue: Sunspel’s Fall Collection
Inspired by a photo of English businessmen visiting Japan in the 1920s, Sunspel’s latest collection—Japanese Autumn, English Winter—elevates the t-shirt to new heights of luxury. This fall line takes the concept of craftsmanship beyond the mundane constraints of modern mass production to the realization of an art form so pure its roots reach back to […] -
Aether Lands in SoHo
Crosby Street in New York City’s buzzing SoHo district has, in less than a year, been transformed from a sleepy forgotten back lane off Broadway into one of the best shopping destinations in Manhattan, with the addition of Saturdays Surf, Bonobos and Carson Street Clothiers. Now there’s another good reason to brave the weekend crowds […] -
Feel Good Friday – The People’s MOVMT
In keeping with our profile on Joshua Katcher on Wednesday, we aren’t hopping off the eco train just yet! For today’s column we are featuring The People’s MOVMT, a sweet looking shoe and accessory line that is made with natural, organic and upcycled materials from plastic bags found in Bali and California. Five percent of […] -
From BrandBlack To The Future
Have you heard of BrandBlack yet? Well, you might not have – but only because the lifestyle company doesn’t officially launch until November – November 12th to be exact. Luckily for you, we here at The Manual are in the know. BrandBlack is a new performance footwear and clothing line company founded by David Raysse. […] -
Edwin AW14: No-nonsense Clothing for the Street to the Slopes
We can hardly believe its time for all our favorite brands to show us what they got for AW 2014- has 2013 been the quickest year yet? Nevertheless, here’s one of the standout collections from Japanese denim brand Edwin. The best way to ‘feel’ the collection is to watch the awesome accompanying film created by […] -
The Best Baseball Jackets for Fall
There are some classics that never die: The Godfather. Marilyn Monroe. Hot dogs on July 4th. Baseball jackets. From little league to MLB, this uniform staple isn’t just for the game. Men and women alike have rocked the sporty style for decades. It’s worn by people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Hell, you might […] -
Brenthaven –The Ultimate in Form & Function
When Brenthaven began making wilderness packs over 30 years ago, their products were aimed at explorers and adventurers. Now the way we explore and seek adventure has evolved. Today, they craft their bags, and more, to survive the rigors of our active lives and digital lifestyles. Their new collection named Collins is a true pairing […] -
Worn Out Wednesday – Joshua Katcher
When we think of vegan fashion we usually roll our eyes; And for good reason. We want to save the Earth as much as the next dude but we don’t want to wear a beige tee with a globe on it. Well neither does Joshua Katcher, who is a strict vegan so he recently launched […] -
This Fall Burgundy Pours Over
Fall menswear is sporting richer color palettes. We are seeing a move away from the brighter colors of summer fashion to navy, black, olive and especially burgundy. The dark red adds subtle and sexy to the vocabulary of your wardrobe. And paired just the right way it shows a little panache. We picked out several […] -
Frye Celebrates 150 Years
Frye boots have always been in the American vernacular when discussing the working man’s boot. Well, since March 10, 1863 that is. That’s when John Frye opened his shop on Elm Street in Marlboro, Massachusetts. The shoes were developed to ease the daily grind of hundreds of local factory workers and became a staple for […] -
Best Suits for 2022
From the classic double-breasted to the allover tile print three-piece suit, top designers cut the suit every which way for fall. Above, five off-the-rack styles that nail the new streamlined proportions and patterns of the season. For a forward look, pair them with a white collared shirt buttoned at the top sans tie or with […] -
Feel Good Fridays – Sperry’s The Sea Project
All this do-goodery in the menswear world is making us very happy at The Manual, hence our weekly spotlight on brands making a difference. But we always like to see companies who think out of the box when it comes to giving back. More than just giving a percentage of profits or a ‘pair for […] -
Lodge Goods — Accessories & Grooming Done Right
Getting their name from an 1840-built lodge in Springtown, Pennsylvania, Lodge Goods has traveled the world over, and what they discovered is that many of the best brands are right here in America. They’re focused on accessories (and whiskey), and by working with designers, craftsmen, artists and artisans, they’re able give their unique perspective to […] -
Boo Ya Britain:The Pop Up Flea Hits London
Any man who has been fortunate enough to be in New York for one of the Pop up Fleas created by ACL founder Michael Williams and his bud Randy Goldberg has had a taste of what heaven is probably like. Started in 2009 there are heritage brands, vintage goods, new designers crafting quality products, booze, […] -
Worn Out Wednesday – Shorty Maniace
In case you haven’t heard, barber shops are the new well, barber shops. Remember when your pops used to go to get a little off the top and see all his pals and talk gals and games? That whole era faded out with the roll out of Super Cuts and mall hair salons where men […]
