Manolo for the Men

These cufflinks from Fender, one of the most famous makers of electric guitars, should pluck the heartstrings of any would-be rock star.

Whichever of Barack Obama’s campaign staffers found those sleek black-and-white bowling shoes, the least objectionable pair possible, ought to get a raise, even the promise of a cabinet post.  (Izzy notices that Obama is a lefty who wears his watch on his left arm, the political connotations of which are…?)

Thanksgiving is here, which means that the collective madness known as holiday shopping has already begun. In no particular order, here are some gift ideas for inspiration. Of course, it’s the thought that counts, but some thoughts are more valuable and stylish than others.

Up first, some simple, classic Brooks Brothers ties.

On the formal bow tie front, there’s nothing blacker than velvet, which isn’t seen much nowadays.

And for a change from the usual cufflinks, how about silk knots, which, unlike ordinary cufflinks, are never stuffy? They’re so inexpensive that you can collect them in every color. Also, they’re easy to put on, even if you don’t have a manservant.

Another interesting alternative are these woven cufflinks from Thomas Pink, which have a delightful feel.

Speaking of formal wear, it might be worth experimenting with these Frenchback boxers, which look like just the thing to wear under white tie and tails. They’re perhaps the only undergarments that deserve to be starched.

Not exactly the tallest man in the world, Izzy, like Tom Cruise, is a sucker for dressy boots.

And as for boots that will keep your feet warm and dry on an Arctic expedition or merely a schlep to the mailbox, Sorel is one of the brands to count on. The company was founded in Canada, after all.

These are totally off-season, Izzy knows, but why where white bucks when you can wear white buck wingstips?

For that special someone who thinks he has everything, surprise him with this Brooks Brothers sportcoat made from “Coarsehair,” a custom Loro Piana blend of cashmere and goat hair.

Happy hunting.

With the gape in his shirt collar, the 1970s-sized bowtie, and industrial-sized watch, musician Nick Cannon is ready for the prom, not an awards show. 

Although few still follow it, there is a hoary rule that a gentleman never wears a watch with formal wear—after all, on those occasions he would never need to take notice of the time.

Modelled on the guts of vintage watches, these cufflinks put a different kind of jewel on display.

On the other wrist, this “internal watch” is perfect for the man with all the time in the world.  Either that or smothering fantasies.

Today’s New York Times contains an disappointing article about the current widespread use of skulls in fashion. Although the paper is right to note the trend, one Izzy touched upon a while back, it fails to give any recent history of the death’s head as decoration, including its use on Nazi S.S. uniforms or its place in the iconography of heavy metal, something the British shoemaker Jeffery West tries to market. The article claims that the skull has largely lost its edge as a symbol, but Izzy thinks its connotations depend upon the sex of the wearer. It’s one thing for a woman to borrow style cues from pirates or Hell’s Angels—she is clearly playing dress-up. But when a man does the same, he is liable to come across as threatening or uncivil—far from a good thing in Izzy’s estimation.

Some novelty cufflinks for the World Cup fan.

A power tie for the paterfamilias.

Or one for the dandy in the family.

Manolo says, one of the Manolo’s many internet friends has asked the question about the links of the cuff.

Manolo, I own a number of super fantastic french cuff shirts and very nice - not flashy or outre - cufflinks, but I was under the impression that one was only to sport such hardware with a suit or sportscoat. Do super fantastic males break out the cufflinks without the coat?

Manolo says, this person, he understands the fashion for the man. Even with the coat of sports, the cufflinks they set the tone of formality and business, and because they call attention to the cuffs they should only be worn with the starched shirts of the high quality and jacket.

However, although the Manolo he believes that cufflink it should be worn with the jacket, it does not require the wearing of the tie, in the fact, for the business casual Friday, this rich cufflink from the Thomas Pink, with the shirt of the high quality and the blue blazer could be the perfect accessory.

Manolo says, the Manolo he is the minimalist with the regards to the jewlery for the man. The man who wishes to be taken seriously he should eschew the ring for the pinkie and the chains of the gold. (There are the exceptions to this banning of the bling, which the Manolo he will discuss at the later time.) Because of this the cufflinks they are one of the few items of the jewlery that are acceptable for the man of business.

Manolo says, one of the problems with the world today is that the men, they do not often enough wear the shirts that require the cufflinks. Or, if they do wear the shirts that require the cufflinks, the links of the cuff they choose are too large or too flashy to be taken with the seriousness the man of business he deserves.

Below are two pair of the cufflinks from the Masini Gioielli that deserve to be taken with much of the seriousness.