The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

What to Wear: While Surfing

By Ann Binlot Published August 6, 2021

Surf’s up! Eager to catch some waves this summer? No matter what part of the globe you’re on, there’s always somewhere to go surfing. Whether you’re hitting the waves of Orange County, Far Rockaway or the beautiful beaches of Thailand, you’ll want to pick something surf appropriate. First of all, throw on some sun block so you won’t burn up under the hot sun. Next if you want your hair to stay put, ABL’s Surfwax for Hair is a useful 2-in-1 product that you can use on your head and your board. Put on some board shorts, and don’t forget to wear a rash guard so you don’t chafe your skin. Now grab your board, get up and go!

L-R: Watermans Zinc Oxide Surfers Face Stick Sunblock SPF 55, $16 at ridershack.com; ABL Surfwax for Hair, $14 at abeautifullife.com; Quicksilver Men’s Coastal Short-Sleeve Rashguard, $27.97 at overtons.com; Vans Lanai Flip-Flop, $15 at swell.com; RVCA Flower Blood Boardshorts, $54 at rvca.com; McCallum Narrow Chub Sub Surfboard, $1,125 at saturdaysnyc.com

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle…

Fashion & Style

Wicked Director Jon Chu wears custom made from exclusive members only brand

The most exclusive luxury menswear makes an appearance at the Oscars

Jon Chu in custom

The 97th Academy Awards was a show stopped by Adrian Brody's acceptance speech that beat the record for the longest ever, and Kieran Culkin reminding his wife that she agreed to have four children with him if he ever won an Oscar. While Brody beat out the likes of Timothee Chalamet, Sebastian Stan, Ralph Fiennes, and Coleman Domingo and Culkin beat out Edward Norton, Guy Pierce, and Jeremy Strong, we had our eyes keenly planted on Wicked Director Jon Chu and his custom dinner jacket made by one of the most exclusive luxury menswear brands in all of Hollywood: NB44.
Only 44 lucky members as of now

Wicked is one of the year's biggest phenomenons. After years on the stage, the Wizard of Oz prequel finally made it to the big screen and landed ten nominations, including Best Actress (Cynthia Erivo), Best Supporting Actress (Ariana Grande), Editing, and Best Picture. The winning nomination paid tribute to the best costuming of the year, and Chu led the charge with one of the best looks on the red carpet. Of course, he wore green, which paid homage to his Best Actress nomination, but that isn't the only thing that made this dinner jacket stand out. It is a custom piece from NB44, one of the most exclusive LA brands. Launched by Nicolas Bijan, only members get access to his exclusive three or four collections a year. While you can apply to be an addition to the small 44-member brand, it costs a cool twelve grand just for access. No matter the cost, Jon Chu's was the best red carpet costume, making the twelve grand almost worth it.
NB44

Fashion & Style

How to clean leather shoes and protect them from wear and tear

Clean and maintain leather shoes

man wearing leather boots in rain puddle

With shoes like loafers, dress shoes, and leather sneakers rising, it’s easy to give in to the leather footwear trend. Regardless of whether it’s patent or full-grain leather, this fabric is notorious for its sophisticated and stylish look. No matter the occasion, leather continues to be an easy way to add style to even the most casual looks. The rise of leather sneakers has also allowed many to upgrade their looks with a comfortable and practical shoe. While leather certainly has many benefits, it’s a material that requires some care to maintain its sleek look.

As with most leather goods, proper care allows you to extend the lifespan of your shoes throughout the years. While cleaning leather shoes isn’t drastically different than cleaning other materials, keeping in mind the characteristics of leather will help ensure you take the proper steps. With the occasional maintenance and required cleaning, your leather shoes can easily withstand any trend and secure a spot in your wardrobe for seasons.
Maintaining your leather shoes

Fashion & Style

Here’s what to wear on a plane (with the help of travel experts)

Insights on what to avoid when picking a travel outfit

Person rolling luggage through the airport

From the days of flying in your Sunday best to wearing those velour tracksuits, plane attire has changed a lot over the years. Picking out what to wear these days could mean wearing your pajamas or choosing your favorite outfit to go out in right when you land.

But there are some definite don'ts when it comes to your wardrobe for the flight, no matter what. I’ll never forget when I decided to wear brand-new, tight jeans to the airport without thinking twice. Big mistake. Halfway through my flight, I was shifting in my seat and counting down the hours until I could peel them off.