The Haute Spot

Everybody knows one of the cardinal rules of fashion: your belt should match your shoes. And while this rule will never steer you wrong, it is important to know when it O.K. to break it  (for casual outfits). It is also just as important to know when to follow it religiously: In the office, at formal events, and working on the road, following this rule extends beyond the simple matching belt and shoe combo. Your leathers from head to toe should match. Even the metals on your accoutrements should share a similar hue. This level of detail should not be overlooked, and can honestly make the difference between looking like Cary Grant or a Car Salesman. We will explore several combinations of metals and leather patina and explain the function of all of them.

Black Leather with Silver Accents

Your bread and butter

Black leather with silver accents. The quintessential leather/metal combo. Chances are you already have this look covered. This collection will cover everything from conservative days at the office, to weddings, to anchoring your jeans and blazer combo. Extremely versatile and nearly foolproof.

The black and silver collection may be nearly foolproof, but somehow some guys still manage to screw it up. The one mistake, you can make, in this particular collection, is not recognizing the level of formality a particular piece has, and failing to stick to the same family. This goes beyond wearing a silver banded watch with your tuxedo (always wear a leather banded watch), but wearing rubber soled shoes with a suit, an athletic watch with your blazer, or a jean belt with your slacks. These are all mistakes-that while not incredibly important, prevent your outfit from becoming truly world class.

Porsche Design Cufflinks $540: Cufflinks exude power and class. Even if you don’t have the corner office yet doesn’t mean you can’t dress like you do.

Cole Haan Attache $775: Keep your dad’s briefcase at home. Your attache should be slim, and only carry the essentials.

Piaget Watch $12,000: Cufflinks and a Brietling are too much. Keep your watch subtle and elegant.

Salvatorre Ferragamo Shoes $550: If you don’t have a pair of Italian leather shoes, go buy a pair now. We mean it.

Persol Sunglasses $360: No need for a gaudy brand slapped on the side, keep it classic.

Calvin Klein Belt $325: High quality leather with a simple buckle that will never go out of fashion

Church’s Breast Pocket Wallet $320: Keep the bulge out of your pants, and go with this much more formal breast pocket wallet

Black Rubber with Silver Accents: Casual Edition

For Jeans and Blazer Days

If you’re lucky enough to work in a place that allows jeans, then tone your formality down a notch. Swap leather for rubber. This look implies that no one can tell you how to dress, because chances are– you’re the boss. That you park an Alfa Romeo, and not that sedan you actually drive. Subdued, but elegant, this collection is as rugged as it is refined.

Banana Republic Shoes $158: Not only are rubber soled shoes more comfortable, they look more casual too.

Cartier Santos Watch $5,900: The ultimate sport watch. The rubber strap completes the theme of this look.

Fabien Baron Sunglasses $375: Jeans? and Aviators? Who is this guy?

Louis Vuitton Messenger Bag $1500: Swap the briefcase for the shoulder bag and don’t look back

Dior Key Ring $165: Something has to hold your car keys right?

Church’s Belt $165: A little thicker of a belt to prevent your jeans from rolling down

Ermenigildo Zegna Case $275: Yeah. Just because.

Gold with Brown Leather

For the classiest of gentlemen

When we were younger, and obviously much more naive, we avoided gold like the plague. Considering it too gaudy, we now recognize it’s timeless appeal and it’s synonymous nature with class. Other then black leather with silver accents, no other look demands more respect. Some may even argue that this collection demands even more respect (us).

It is a slightly more difficult collection to complete as your hues of leather may vary, gold is a little more expensive than silver, and simply the pieces are harder to come by- but we believe that once complete, no collection looks better with a navy suit (the staple of a man’s wardrobe).

Prada Briefcase $1,900: Make sure that it cuts slim, and only holds your essentials. You want to make it seem like you bring some work home, not bring work to home.

Hermes Belt $600: Cut slim for your flat front pants, and anchored solid with that beautiful buckle.

Prada Aviators $270: Wire rimmed and horn accented. These puppies make anyone look like a movie star.

Constantin Durmont Skeleton Watch $3,700: You don’t own this watch. You merely hold onto it for the next generation.

Ferragamo Shoes $550: The high vamp on this shoe makes it look like a demi-boot. The gold accent doesn’t hurt either.

Mont Blanc Cufflinks $190: For the real power players in your office.

Silver with Chocolate Brown Leather

If you work on the road, or travel often, this collection is calling your name. The ultimate paradox, classic yet casual- brown leather with silver accents. It remembers that this country wasn’t built by men wearing suits, and rebelliously call out to this time past. Unpretentious. Unassuming. This look shows that if you are waiting for something to turn up, you should start with your shirt sleeves.

Blinde Sunglasses $425: Wire frames match the on-the-go mentality of this collection

Rolex Watch $4,400: The tie-free look should come with an equally casual looking watch

Calvin Klein Attache $650: Matches your shoes chocolate brown and the pebbled leather borrows from the cowboy that inspired this look

Tag Heuer Cell Phone $4,565: Tag over values it’s brand. Don’t buy this overly expensive piece of equipment- we just couldn’t photoshop this out of the picture.

Want Les Credit Card Holder $115: Cash in your breast pocket, cards in your back.

Gucci Shoes $595: Wear them in but keep them shined. Wrinkles look good.

Tod’s Billfold $245: Once again, yeah. Just because.

Camel Leather with Silver Accents

European Elegance

If chocolate brown leather with silver accents is unpretentious, then camel leather says “Money is no object.” Wear this collection wisely because very few men have a single piece in camel leather, let alone a whole matching outfit- and once you do, you will be pegged as a fashion forward man forever. Worn with a charcoal, navy, or shark skin suit, this look exudes the utmost in modern luxury.

John Varvatos Shoes $395: It always starts with the shoes

Delvaux Folio $1,756: The attache that will bring this look together, once again cut as slim as your suit.

Goyard at Barney’s Wallet $515: Pulling out a camel colored wallet might be overkill. That’s why you’re gonna do it.

Gucci Watch $1.895: If your going for a look that says money is no object then an alligator banded watch is only appropriate

Belt, $550, by J.M. Weston. Sunglasses, $350, by Cutler and Gross. Card Case, $190, by Valextra at Barneys New York, Paul Stuart Clip $78

Feel free to mix and match to your heart’s desire. Build your collection slowly, and you will be ready to go for any occasion.

Popularity: 46% [?]

It seems like advertisers are recognizing a new era of masculine identity. Long gone is the mass appeal of shows like “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” and instead have focused on the resurgence of rugged outback. America has traded in its idolizations from the boyish Spiderman, to the lumberjack Wolverine.

Paul Walker to Jason Stratham.

This subtle shift in culture over the past couple of years is being reflected in everyday culture, most notably how advertisers try and target the male demographic.

Mitchum Man has used a clever campaign littered with matching, borderline sexist, slogans like: “If they look real enough, you’re a Mitchum Man,” “If you still order your coffee Small, Medium, or Large, you’re a Mitchum Man,” “If your socks kind of match, you’re a Mitchum Man.”

One shift that has been particularly pronounced has been liquor commercials. Grey Goose commercials showing scantily clad women partying have been replaced by Ketel One commercials emphasizing male bonding. A girl dancing in a club for Beck’s, to the “Most Interesting Man in the World.” In fact, the majority of new commercials coming from liquor distributors have not featured women at all. They’ve centered around the relationships men have with their friends, their fathers, and their ego.

So without further ado the Top 5 Liquor commercials of this era:

5.)

A father-son relationship emblazoned.  Can’t get better then that. We’ll excuse the poetry.

4.)

Although this commercial breaks the mold, and does have women in it, the focus is on being a gentlemen, and not being a pig. We like the simplicity, admiration, and the subtle plug for drinking responsibly. Very well done.

3.)

You really have to watch this one twice, because the jazz overpowers the message. “It took him 12 years to get the gig in this joint, and now he’s been headlining for 25″ We love the mentor, protege, relationship in this one. Truly phenomenal.

2.)

We have shivers down our spine.

1.)

A little predictable we know, and beer is technically not liquor, but you can’t deny the alarming success of this campaign. He exudes masculinity, and probably has never even heard of the term metrosexual. It captures the essence the advertisers were trying to employ perfectly. Blends the perfect amount of humor and message. It is for this reason, we consider “The Most Interesting Man in the World,” the top liquor commercial of this era.

Feel like we’re missing a commercial? Let us know, we’d love to keep this list updated.

Popularity: 31% [?]

Socks are some of the most easily overlooked articles of clothing in a  man’s wardrobe. Admittedly, you can simply buy a pair of dark blue or black dress socks and know they are going to function adequately with whatever you put on, but why not go beyond the whole “adequate” mindset get a pair of socks that you can be proud of? These socks are from Aspinal of London, known for their quality goods, are made in the lisle style. This just means that it undergoes a process where lint, stray threads, and fiber ends are burned off to get a smooth finish. I really dig the contrast toe and heel design, the white and light green play off each other well. These socks are handmade with high-quality cotton that’s been blended with a little bit of nylon for extra durability. Treat your feet to some sweet new socks.

BUY IT Cotton Lisle Heel & Toe Socks by Aspinal of London $16.00

Popularity: 19% [?]

With the winter fast approaching, now is the time to start stocking up on the threads you will need to stay warm and comfortable. A sweater isn’t just to retain heat, it can help make you look stylish and suave. This cashmere sweater from the Brunello Cucinelli collection is a very handsome piece. It has a great simple overall design and superb mix of colors. It is a great casual piece, something to wear after you change out of a heavier coat. The sweater is pure cashmere, which means it will be incredibly soft and warm. I really enjoy the gray and brown zig-zag pattern. I also like how big the buttons are, I love big buttons in the front of a coat. It has a stand collar and long sleeves with a ribbed trim. The sweater also has side slash pockets so you can stash your hands out of the wind. Keep out the cold and bring in the class.

BUY IT Brunello Cucinelli Fancy Cashmere Sweater $1,845.00

Popularity: 16% [?]

I am really digging the aesthetics on these pitchers, Ona’s signature off center handle is both pretty original and very eye-catching. The line of vision just seems to naturally float to the handle. The pitchers themselves are made of hand blown  crystal-clear glass with a thick cut and a polished rim. These would be great to use for an intimate dinner party, something to impress your friends and have them thinking . I would serve a big helping of some show-stopping cocktail, just to prove that I have taste and skill. The pitchers, being the great-looking glassware that they are, paint a fine portrait as a simple display. You could fill them with colored stones or potpourri and use them to heighten the mood in your home. I prefer to use these babies as the great modern take of the pitcher that they are. Keep in mind that they are glass and you should never pour a hot liquid. Glass is a great conductor of heat and trying to grip one of these filled with, let’s say, scalding hot coffe will only end in tragedy. They’re made in Turkey and are hand-wash only.

Change up the pace in your glassware and snag yourself one of these Ona Pitchers.

BUY IT Ona Pitchers $16.95- $26.95

Popularity: 12% [?]