Morning in Paris

The phone rings right next to the alarm clock that reads 7:32am.  Jones picks it up to answer.  "Thank you" he says, and then puts the receiver back down to hang up.  He's been awake for more than half an hour already.  He walks back over to the window and stares blankly towards the dim horizon.  Most of the city hasn't even gotten up yet, but he's been awake, standing by the window, poised, and ready to do what he must in order to be successful today.

Today he woke up in Paris.  Yesterday he woke up in London.  In forty-eight hours he'll have to be in Milan where he'll stay for at least two nights before flying home to New York City.  He doesn't not enjoy Europe, but he misses home.  And even though he's seen it all before for the last fifteen years of his life, it's the woman who's waiting for him back home that he misses the most.  Only, does she know that he's missing her?  And does he know if she's actually thinking about him?

As Jones lathers his face with his Edwin Jagger shaving cream in the bathroom he pauses to look the man in the mirror in the eyes.  The man before the shaving cream with the thick stubble is hardly the man he knows or used to be.  He wants to go back to that man - a man of conviction, purpose, and ambition.  Just thirty more seconds of this staring contest and he begins grazing the shaving cream off his face along with the hair.  Stroke-by-stroke he revealed the better Jones again - the Jones that got him here; the Jones that defined the last two years of his life.

Opening up the closet door he's faced with the very simple choice of either a black Dunhill suit, a Belstaff leather jacket, two crisp dress shirts - a white one paired with a black tie, or a pale blue one paired with a gray tie - and an Alexander McQueen t-shirt.  Since he was going to a formal interview, the black suit with the white shirt and black tie was probably most appropriate.

Jones always enjoyed getting dressed.  He compares it to putting on a suit of armor.  He felt stronger in a suit; nearly invincible.  It sure helps when you're wearing fancy clothes, though, but it was the respect that came with being well presented that motivated and encouraged him to be as put-together as possible all the time.  No matter what he was doing, he would always prefer to be in a suit.  Now of course, he would never wear a suit to the amusement park or a baseball game, but there wasn't much more outside of those things he wouldn't wear one to.

There was always a systematic process for putting on his clothes, too.  First came a splash of cologne onto the raw skin (Cartier Roadster on this particular trip), then the shirt, then the trousers, then the socks, then the tie, and lastly the jacket.  This routine has been rarely broken for as long as he's been wearing suits.  He thinks doing it any different will only waste time because of the pauses taken when deciding on what to actually wear, or simply what the next step should be.  This way, with the routine, he could actually take his time to button up his shirt properly and tie a great tie knot every time.

He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out his Montblanc billfold wallet.  When he opened it all he discovered was forty dollars US - two twenties.  He checked his pant pockets to see if there was anything in them, but there was nothing but old receipts.  He gives off a dull sigh, but at the end he pulls out one of the twenties and places it on the desk.

He reaches to his pen pocket inside his jacket and pulls out his Waterman Exception roller ball to pen a quick thank you note for the housekeeper.  He's had this pen for nearly six years now.  It was the first nice pen he bought with his first semi-decent paycheck.  Since, he's written short poems in his notebook with it, a few love letters, and of course signed a few bar tabs.   He reaches for the hotel notepad and writes a simple "Thank You" on it with a smiley face - the same smiley face he's been replicating on almost every thank you note, birthday card, or even quick post-it message for the last three years simply because a good friend drew one at the bottom of a birthday card to him three years ago and he liked the way he drew the eyes.  They looked closed, but paired with a smile, so imagine a guy having a very pleasant dream and smiling all the way through it. 

Jones walks into the bathroom one last time to check if the man who's about to walk out of those hotel room doors is going to be a presentable one - he is.  He fiddles with his tie knot a little before he walks out; getting it just right.  Of course, adjusting either the tie knot or the length of the tie has always been a huge waste of time considering the fact that there is no such thing as a perfect knot or length.  Anyhow, that has not stopped him from, every now and again, being late after starting off on-time, or even running early.  He gives the knot a quick adjustment and simply leaves it the way it is after that.  One of these days he's just going to have to learn to let go of his sense of perfect and just let it be.  One of these days he's simply going to have to accept imperfection as a gift of life.  And with one last, long look at himself in the mirror, he rubs his right cheek with his right hand.  It was smooth - a great shave.  He buttons up the top button of his suit, closes the light in the bathroom, and walks out the door.

Edwin Jagger shaving products, Montblanc wallets, and Waterman Exception pens are all available at CHARALS in Vancouver.

Rimowa Topas Stealth

Since 1898 Rimowa has been known as makers of the quintessential hard shell luggage. They were the originators of the grooved luggage. Rimowa has always been made for strength and durability. There were never too many bells or whistles that came with it. It was by far the strongest hard shell luggage on the market and the company could have cared less about how "pretty" the cases looked. Only recently did the company gain international notoriety as the official fashion luggage to the stars. All of a sudden that harsh, industrial aluminum case with dings and scratches that it collected through constant abuse by baggage handlers and negligent bellhops is a fashion statement.

Over the last few years, however, Rimowa has come out with luggage that is slightly easier on the eyes, yet retaining their core brand aesthetic. The introduction of their lightweight Salsa collection offered travelers both light weight convenience in polycarbonate, and a vast choice of colors. Considering the weight restrictions in today's air travel and the ever expanding size of airports, ultra light weight luggage is a great idea. But Rimowa is always going to be known for their bread and butter - aluminum cases.

The Topas collection is the epitome of what performance luggage should be. This is the stuff you take with you on a whirlwind world tour, a trek through the Australian outback, or an African safari. A Topas case will hold up to almost anything and will chronicle your journey in every beautiful nick and scratch that it accumulates through the journey. For the longest time the Topas collection was only offered in the traditional silver aluminum. Recently, a special matte black finish has been made available and they aptly call it the Topas Stealth collection.

With the paint job very much resembling that of a B2 Stealth Bomber and/or an exotic sports car you might see on the road today fitted with the matte black coating, the Topas Stealth cases look like they mean business (in case they didn't already). Made of the same, practically bomb-proof, aluminum as the original Topas collection, the matte black gives the Stealth pieces a certain contrasting edge. If the silver Topas cases are for the high profile international jet-setter, then the black Stealth cases are for the low profile international jet-setting spy. The Stealth collection is both incognito, but highly recognizable at the same time. Of course, hiding within that matte black paint, it will take a closer look for someone to recognize it's a Rimowa, but once you see those famous grooves, there is no denying what it is. Every case comes with not one, but two TSA combination locks, an add-a-bag holder, two shoe bags, one laundry bag, and of course a luggage tag. The Topas Stealth collection can be found exclusively at CHARALS in Vancouver, or on their online store.

Old English

To many, Alfred Dunhill is nothing more than a tobacco brand that also happens to make very nice lighters to light those dynamite sticks of theirs. Others think of Dunhill as a driving accessories company which is how it actually got it's start when Alfred took over his fathers saddlery business back in 1893 due to the rising popularity of the automobile. Today, Dunhill is so much more.

Currently owned by the South African luxury goods conglomerate, Richemont, Dunhill, in the past few decades, has moved into the business of writing instruments, clothing, timepieces, and even fragrances. And although their product range as grown significantly over the years, their core image has not changed - Dunhill is still the quintessential brand of the classic English gentleman. The brand represents everything a sophisticated and refined man of wisdom and taste should have and use. Everything from their classic Rollagas lighters, to their Sentryman and Sidecar pens, to their watches (which now run on Jaeger-LeCoultre movements), and to their impeccably tailored clothing are accoutrements to the life of a modern, successful man. And these things take time to make (a Dunhill Tradition Double Document briefcase takes dozens of steps and two days to assemble).



Furthermore, Dunhill offers up their flagship retail locations as more of a gentleman's club. More accurately, they're called the Dunhill "Homes". There are currently four Dunhill Homes around the world: London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. One can walk into one to purchase a shirt and tie, get fitted for a bespoke suit, get a haircut, or even watch a classic film in their screening room while sipping on a fine scotch whisky. Yes, the homes come equipped with a spa for men, screening room, and a full service bar. This is not exactly a new retail concept for Dunhill either. This is merely the Dunhill way of life - believing in the idea that the finer things in life must be enjoyed in order for them to be consider luxuries. In today's world where technology is every evolving, and the speeding up of people's lives have been a direct result of it, Dunhill strives to slow things back down just a tad. Not to be counter progressive in any way, but to constantly remind us that great things in life take time to develop, and traditions are a reminder of our past and our roots.

The Gentleman's Essentials

Some would argue that the classic gentleman is dead; that the dapper, courteous, and romantic man died a long time ago when society deemed it appropriate to wear sneakers with dress pants, let the lady pay for dinner, or budge in front of lineups. Well, we find this to be an outrage. Basic guidelines set forth generations ago by the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Paul Newman, and James Stewart - the icons of sophistication, elegance, and cool - must be preserved in order for society (and quite possibly humanity) to stand a fighting chance at staying, well, normal. Without the most basic of manners and proper gentlemanly conduct, we might as well be moving backwards in evolution and eventually find ourselves back in the cave. Having said all of that, here is what the modern gentleman should have to set themselves apart from the rest; not in a competitive way, but simply a unique way:

Use a real pen, one that is made of something other than clear and cheap plastic, and has a clip so you can carry it with you at all times. It doesn't have to be super nice or expensive either. A Parker or Faber-Castell would do just fine! Because searching around your general vicinity for one is time consuming, and breaking out your own to sign a credit card receipt at a restaurant is so much cooler than using their house Bic.

Wear a watch, but use your cell phone to tell the time. In this day and age, nobody actually needs to wear a watch anymore because we all have cell phones, they all tell the time, and they're all probably more accurate than our watches anyway. That's not the point, however. With the rise of the cell phone, the wrist watch has been reduced to nothing more than an accessory - almost like a bracelet. But a Casio calculator watch is like wearing a hospital tag, and a cheap $40 Carnival you got at Zellers is like a string made of metallic thread wrapped around your wrist. You don't have to go drop $5,000 on a Rolex either, but a slightly sporty Momentum, elegant Ingersoll, or a truly masculine and authoritative TW Steel won't break the bank either and will provide you with that perfect gentleman's accessory for years.

Carry your stuff in a bag, not in your pockets. We all know how it feels and looks when we over stuff our pockets with the things we need to have with us on a daily basis: cell phone, wallet, glasses case, pack of gum, whatever. Sure, there are at least four pockets on your pants, and if you're wearing a jacket of some sort you can add at least another two, but nobody said you had to use each one! The best thing to do is actually use none of them. That way your clothes fit you the best they can and flatter your body - your legs will look longer and you won't look like you have a huge tummy in your mid section. Don't just go and buy yourself a fanny pack, throw everything in it, and hook it up around your waist now, either. No. Get something that suits what you're wearing. If you're mostly in jeans and a t-shirt or hoodie, use a tote or a duffel. If you're a young professional, use a nice Rimowa. And if you're a corporate guy who ever steps into a meeting to meet people of any level of importance, carry a briefcase; preferably something from Bosca or Tumi. I cannot stress this enough. If you want people to take you seriously, look like you want to be taken seriously. Because that Nike gym bag just says you can't wait for the meeting to end so you can hit the gym, and that MEC bag says your weekend hike is more important than the task at hand. Enough said.

These are merely accoutrements to make a man stand apart from the boys. How a gentleman conducts themselves is paramount as well. When entering or exiting through a door with a lady, open and hold a door that swings in towards you, and push, step through first, and hold on the other side a door that swings out. Stand up when a lady leaves a dining table even if you're the only other person there with her. Always make sure you're presenting the best version of yourself to the world everyday as a sign of respect to the people around you. And always shake hands with a firm grip and smile.

Happy living. Cheers.

The Modern Traditionalist (Handwriting)

These days most of our "writing" is done digitally either on a keyboard in front of a computer, or on the small touchscreens of our smartphones. Even when we need to take down a quick note or memo, we simply do it with whatever we can muster up within our immediate vicinity, and it could be anything from a Pilot fine liner to a Bic ball point. But what happened to actual "hand writing"? What happened to the kind of writing that one took time to form the shape of the letters and was written using a fine writing instrument like a Montblanc coming in contact with good quality paper like that of Crane's? I'm pretty sure it still exists. All the journal writers, calligraphists, and people who still prefer planning their lives using an agenda like a Filofax are testaments to that. All of these activities are performed not as necessities, but rather by choice, and they're are done without the care of consumption of time, expenditure of energy, or inefficiency. They're done because the person doing it gets a true sense of enjoyment when doing it. The preparation of the act, whether it's the twisting off of a cap and the posting of it, to the filling of ink into a fountain pen, to the fluid lines created by your penmanship, and even the sight of ink drying before your eyes seconds after you've laid down your thoughts and effectively setting them "in stone" can bring great satisfaction and pleasure to a writer. So even though no one actually hand writes anything anymore, good penmanship and the desire to write can be considered more of a hobby these days. It's a hobby enjoyed by true connoisseurs and enthusiasts; an activity performed with a passion and a respect for something truly old world and traditional.