VERITAS | Men's Style Blog

Buzz It Up

It's September, and that means it's time to let the summer go. Here in NYC, the the air has already made a swift switch to that distinctly "fall" atmosphere - you know, that special "feeling" you sense when something in the air changes with a new season.

I don't have to be psychic to know your plan for this weekend: Have one last chance to do it up for the Labor Day bash, and from there, start fresh and ready to get back to business. So I'm guessing the first order on your agenda is to clean up nice and good, right? ... Right?

The great thing about fall is that you'll have stupendous options for dressing well. But before I get into the clothes, let's start with the grooming - namely, your facial hair. Time to clean up the summer's-long worth of free-spirited growth for a more streamlined aesthetic.

To get you started, here's a review of six beard trimmers from the NY Times's The Moment blog. I actually have the Philips Norelco Turbo Vacuum and I agree on all points, except ... I can't vouch for trimming a 5 o'clock shadow. I actually checked out the "dorky" video link. Yes, I agree, it's geeky as hell, but I think the guy did a good, thorough job at describing the product and it looks like lot of people found the video helpful. Norelco should pay this fella.

Happy Fall. I'll see you around.

[Photo by Tony Cenicola for The New York Times]

Shield Those Pits

The last post was on how abnormal, excessive sweating may be caused by a medical condition. Fortunately, most of you won't need a visit to the doctor. But even with your "normal" sweating, that giant pool of sweat under your arms two minutes into a client meeting doesn't convince anyone of the cool, unflappable confidence you need to project.

Especially welcome during stressful situations, hot seasons, and for everyday, year-round semblance of calm, collected, underarm dryness, try Garment Guard. A disposable cotton disc that adheres to the inside of the underarm area of the shirt, Garment Guard mops up your sweat so your shirt stays dry, and you save face.

They come in two colors: Black or Beige, and in two sizes: Regular and Grands. $10.95 for a 5-pair pack in regular size, it comes out to a couple of bucks per pair - worth it considering you'll likely make fewer trips to the cleaners, which not only extends the life of your shirts, but also helps the environment. The more you buy, the bigger the savings, but I recommend ordering the smaller quantity first  to make sure it works for you and the types of shirts you wear before committing to the bulk 288-pair pack. Wear black ones on black or dark clothing if you like to match, but practically speaking, beige will work on all colors as long as you wear long sleeves where the discs won't peek through.

Good for any day, but definitely stick these on for times when the pressure is on, like that presentation you need to kill, or that dream job interview - and that first date - you need to nail.