The pea coat is one my favorite designs in the entire history of men's wear. Like many garments we wear today, this distinctly masculine, iconic garment has its roots in the military. Characterized by its dark blue color, broad collar…
Tom Ford recently did a series of style upgrades for eight different British men from different walks of life for GQ Magazine. (Project Upgrade: Tom Ford Edition – GQ) When the guys were still in their “before” stages, Tom asked each of them questions that were unique to their respective situations, but asked all of them one identical question: “Where do you see yourself in ten years?” – reinforcing the adage Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have. The results are striking.
There is a scene in American Gigolo in which Julian (Richard Gere) takes a little taste of cocaine from his nightstand and turns to his closet and dresser drawers to pick out his clothes. With “The Love I Saw in You Is Just a Mirage” by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles playing on his stereo, he lays out jackets, shirts and ties in various combinations as he carefully considers the evening’s ensemble. It’s immediately obvious that he performs this ritual every time he gets ready to go out. It’s glorious.
American Gigolo is the first movie I can remember that depicted a masculine and reasonably sophisticated male character actively taking care and pride in choosing and wearing his clothes. Maybe the only movie. Written and directed by Paul Schrader and also starring Lauren Hutton, this 1980 noir-ish crime drama is about a successful Los Angeles male escort to older women (Gere) who gets pinned as the prime suspect in the murder of a wealthy client in Palm Springs. His liaisons have entangled him at the crossroads of the dark underworld and those who wield political and financial power, and he gets in over his head. In a role originally offered to (and turned down by) John Travolta, Gere turned his performance as Julian into a defining career move.
When I was in college, I had a beautiful Harris Tweed jacket that my sister had gotten me as a gift from Bergdorf Goodman. From a distance, it registered as a rich brown, but it was really a small check…
The way I see it, smart city men see the bicycle like other men might see a hot little convertible coupe. It gets you where you need to go with style, ease, open air and flair. And like the convertible, the smart city bike is a serious investment when you consider the essential components of craftsmanship and style. And unlike the car, the bike doesn’t require continual lifetime expenses like insurance, gas and parking*. Of course there are accessories you will want to purchase, such as helmets, bike locks, and various items of clothing. To make purchasing the right products easier, you could check out this comparison site of bike gear – Fahrrad Vergleiche. That important difference can justify spending more on a fabulous bike since it’s a one-time investment with minimal subsequent expenses for maintenance. Aside from blown tires, cable adjustments and other minor touch-ups over the years, the only real required accessory is a good lock. (Go Kryptonite on that one.)
Below are five bikes available as of this writing that offer a lifetime of timeless, classic and stylish city bicycling. They come in a range of prices, from just under $600 to over $3,500. The higher-ticket bikes may seem over-the-top, but when you consider that the bike is a one-time investment and that some specialized racing bikes cost much more for very limited usability, a $3,500 bicycle that you will have forever and can ride virtually anytime might seem more reasonable.