VERITAS | Men's Style Blog

Put This On: Denim

Finally, a well-made — and entertaining — web video series for dudes "dressing like a grownup." I hear these guys are looking for some dough/sponsorship to continue the series. I hope they get some dinero por mas videos 'cause this pilot episode is promising....

Chair in the Sky

Here's comedian Louis C.K. with an unexpected Thanksgiving message:

A man of high style is sharp in looks as well as character. So if you're "that guy," stop being an oaf, will you? Instead, how about a little gratitude — or at the very least, some respect — for the amazing miracles happening all around you, all the time!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Full Metal Jacket

The holidays are upon us, and for many of you, that means traveling back to the place where you were spawned. Or something like that.

Well, whether you're a frequent flyer or just making your yearly pilgrimage to visit the fam back in the 'burbs, airport security is a total drag at this time of year. I myself just flew out of JFK this morning at an ungodly hour, and the place was already totally bumpin'. Let's just say I'm glad I won't be there tomorrow. Or Friday. I'll stay put here in the sunny 'burbs of Los Angeles, listening to lawn mowers (like right now) for the first time in a decade, thank you very much.

As you know, the best thing to do while flying these days is to pack lightly, with the least number of bags as possible.

Enter the Scottevest SevFleece 5.0 Jacket.

From the exterior, it looks like any other sporty fleece jacket comparable to styles by Patagonia, Columbia, and the like. But don't let the unassuming outer appearance fool you: The SevFleece 5.0 comes with 24 specially designed interior pockets to keep everything with you ON you (even magazines!), possibly eliminating the need for a carry-on.

Imagine blowing through airport security simply by sending the jacket through the x-ray, then putting it back on. No more emptying anything — just take off the jacket, put it on the tray, and you're done. For your cell phone and/or iPod, there are 2 clear-touch interior chest pockets for not only screening calls or seeing what's on your playlist, but for actually operating the gadgets directly through the cloth. And for added convenience and efficiency, there's the patented Personal Area Network (PAN) that allows you to thread your earbud wires so they stay put and tangle-free.

And even with an entire bag's worth of stuff, this jacket is crafted with NoBulge™ engineering, which means that you won't be mistaken for a suicide bomber or a drug mule. And if you do get pulled aside for something weird you did (or stupid, like leaving your 'lil stash in one of the special pockets), you'll be able to easily and quickly comply with the authorities by providing your ID, passport and boarding pass straight from the Secure Travel Documents Pocket.

The SevFleece 5.0 Jacket ($140) is also built with removable sleeves so you can wear it as a vest. If you're not a fleece guy, the company also makes a cotton/nylon blend vest ($100) that comes with 2 less pockets and all the features of the fleece version.

Now, is this a fashionable jacket? No, not really. But having said that, it's also not bad looking either. It's just a regular, generic-looking no-nonsense fleece jacket with super efficient interior design — which is actually pretty damn cool for times when the need for functionality trumps aesthetics.

One last travel tip: While the Scottevest gear does a lot for you, you're still gonna need to take off your shoes at security point. So make sure you wear a decent pair of socks, or at least ones without any holes. I've seen countless otherwise respectable-looking, respectably dressed guys humiliating themselves with their naked big toe peeping out. As this tricked out jacket shows, it's not always about how exceptional you look on the outside, but rather, how well you're engineered on the inside. So come correct and wear some decent socks, will ya? That's just the right — and stylish — thing to do.

On the Street

Here's a wonderful video column by Bill Cunningham, revered fashion photographer and journalist for The New York Times, best known for his street photography. If you know about The Sartorialist (see sidebar, under "Men's Style Sites"), then Bill Cunningham is the godfather of this street-style fashion photography.

I've read that he spends 30 hours a week on the streets with his trademark bicycle and camera, and has done so every week for the past several decades. Designer Oscar de la Renta has said, "More than anyone else in the city, he has the whole visual history of the last 40 or 50 years of New York. It's the total scope of fashion in the life of New York." (Quote lifted from Wikipedia)

In this video, Bill walks us through the current state of men's fashion as seen on the streets of his stomping ground, Manhattan. He speaks about the evolution of menswear from the rigidity of the 50s to today's state of boundless freedom. Not only do I love these photos of real-life stylish men, but the addition of Bill's voice truly doubles the pleasure. The man is in his 80s, but his exuberance, joy and love for his work and for fashion is very energizing.

The Times doesn't allow this video to be embedded, so ... sorry dear readers ... I'm going to have to ask you to exert your finger muscles and click here to view it. The extra click, I think, is worth it for such a delightful walk with Bill to the world of men's summer fashion.

If you're in New York and want to see this legend in action, you'll have a good chance finding him on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, or in that vicinity, where he's regularly seen shuttering away at the fashionable pedestrians that glut the area. If you spot an old man with white hair and a camera and bicycle, that's him. There's also word that a documentary is currently in the works for said man, bicycle, and camera.

Enjoy.

Your Talking Stain

Some of you may be familiar with this Tide to Go commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLII last year:

Don't let stains on your clothes screw your chances at important moments in your life! One thing I can't stress enough is attention to detail. No matter how impeccably you package yourself, one small oversight like a stain will render you utterly powerless in the eyes of people that you need to impress. First impressions are everything - make it about you, not about your stain.

Here are some top public submissions made to Tide's "Talking Stain Contest." Take these to heart. You may find them funny, but you won't be laughing when you're the jerky with the stain on your shirt.