the tings i see.

Up till now, most of the man gift suggestions I have brought up on here have been of the type that a man probably wouldn’t buy for himself but, would enjoy having.  This has a hint of the same idea but, takes it in a different direction.  It came out of a conversation I had with a good friend a few months back.  In this age of e-mail, texting, smart phones, and skype the idea of writing a letter by hand or having hard copies of photos almost seems barbaric but, think back to the last time you received a letter or postcard in the mail from some one.  There’s still something special about the effort that goes into it.  Anyone can send out an email or facebook message on your birthday but, a physical letter is exciting.

Its one of the simplest gifts one can give but, it can also mean the world.  Throughout the 20th century GI’s have carried pictures of their best girl for luck, going as far as to name their planes after them and painting likenesses of them on the side.  People carry pictures in their wallets and have framed pictures on their desks. A picture or a note can make a hostile place more comfortable on those inevitable hard days.  Plus we are by nature a prideful bunch and love to show off.  What better way then with a picture of the beautiful girl back home.

War is an extreme example but, the same applies to long days in the office or hiking trips.  Bear Grylls listed in the ten things he never leaves home without a picture of his wife and kids with a note that he keeps in his boot.  When it comes down to it we are very resilient as long as we keep our head in whatever we are doing and sometimes a picture and a few simple words can remind us why we’re there.

One last thing.  When I say a picture I don’t mean a printed version of a shot from some party you put on facebook.  The key is it’s special.  It’s not for everyone, it’s for that special person.  In that way anything can be meaningful.  The Art of Manliness, which partially inspired this post, has given a new years challenge to its readers, 52 love letters in 52 weeks.  Follow the link for more info but, if you have that special someone in your life I challenge you to participate.  Whats the worst that could happen?

When fall comes around and a lot of the heavier fabrics come out, work wear seems to take over.  The cold weather go tos of denim and corduroy are fabulous, and my opinions on them are well known.  But, corduroy and denim can only dress up so much.  Even with our dark selvedge jeans and designer corduroys they can only go so far.  So, what is to take the place of our chinos in the office when the temperature drops?

detail of Our Legacy’s Tweed Trousers

Tweed has always been country wear, mostly because of its heavily textured prominent weave but, modern tweed has evolved.  Some have become super posh and refined where as others have embraced the rougher sensibility and pushed the texture in more casual cuts.

Londons inaugural Tweed Run.  A leisurely winter bike ride through the busily metropolis in one of the more elegant winter fabrics.

Tweed is simply a rough, unfinished, woollen fabric.  It usually has a soft, open, flexible texture and is often found in a twill weave although a simple basket weave is also very common.  The well known mixed grey color that has been associated with tweed over the years isn’t necessary to make a tweed but, the heather mixtures where different colored wool strands are twisted together before being woven into the fabric, definitely add some awesome visual interest to an otherwise dull wool.

close up of Our Legacy’s fabric. check out that plain weave texture

Although tweed “professor” jackets are on point recently I think that majority of people still don’t wear sport coats on any kind of regular basis.  The idea of getting people out of there jeans with another equally comfortable and durable option on the other hand is very much in the realm of possibility.  So, I offer this, go out and give some plain tweed pants out his winter.  Wear them like you would wear your khakis in the summer of your dark jeans in the winter.  Get a pair with lots of crunchy texture that fits just right and has those little details that separate them from dressier trousers.  You’ll be just as comfortable as your friends in the jeans but, you will stand out from the crowd.  Give it a try and report back.

Cuff links originated in France during the reign of King Louis XIV.  Under Louis XIV the royal court was moved to the Palace of Versailles and subsequently became known for the lavish over abundance that would eventually lead to the revolution.  But, in the early years one of the marks of French high society was the ever evolving fashions of Versailles.

 silver cufflinks believed to commemorate the wedding of King Charles II to Catherine of Braganza in 1662

One of the more practical trends that has survived are cuff links or boutons de manchette as they were called.  Literally, “sleeve buttons,” these links tended to be simple colored glass buttons linked by a short chain.  Although these, boutons de manchette, were de rigueur at Versailles, the ruffles and ornaments on both the sleeves and the jackets were so over the top that the simple little buttons could be easily missed.

variety of tied silk links. these days silk knots are sometimes free when you buy a nice french cuff shirt.

As the innovations of the industrial revolution took their hold and the over the top styles of the 16th century were simplified, cuff links became more prominent as an expression of a mans personality on his sleeve.  Then in the 1880’s in America, George Krementz patented a device based on a civil war cartridge shell-making machine that could mass produce one-piece collar buttons and cufflinks. Suddenly every US business was commissioning cufflinks for advertising or as gift incentives for clients. 

(L) various types of cuff links (R) white tie occasion statement cuff links

These days cuff links are anything but required but, for the style set they are a good wet to set themselves apart since they are one of the few pieces of jewelry that men can pull off.  It’s sometimes said that a man should never buy his own cufflinks, but that they should always be gifts meant to mark an occasion. This is surely a custom that harkens back to the cufflink’s medieval history, to the time when they were made almost exclusively as items meant to commemorate royal affairs.  Although most of us go to very few formal events these days let alone royal affairs these small links can be as personal as any ring and make for great gifts.  Either monogramed or with pictures, there are so many different kinds of cuff links you can find something for anyway.  If you are really interested in the history of cuff links the Cufflink Museum in Conway, New Hampshire, is the place to go, they proudly displays over 70,000 pairs from throughout history.