Easily the most common style of knife is the classic Swiss Army knife. I’m sure almost all of you are familiar with it. What’s not to love? It’s small, non-threatening, and is loaded with little gadgets for every occasion. It fits in a pocket, and is easily the most useful invention made with four inches of steel. The brand to look for if you are in the market for a Swiss Army knife is Victorinox. They are the original producers for the knife, and interestingly enough, have never laid off an employee. Not only is the quality of their knives commendable, but so is their corporate structure, and that is worth supporting.

If you have the complete and utter need to have a separate tool for every situation that might arise, perhaps a multi-tool is for you. These are the Swiss Army knives’ big brother, and are for the serious outdoorsman/gear hound. What they are essentially is a set of pliers, that are collapsible, with a full array of knives, screwdrivers, and the like built into the handles. The famous producer of these tools is Leatherman, and the pieces they produce are worth every penny you might spend. Mine has been through thick and thin, and hasn’t yet rusted, failed, or otherwise broken. The Leatherman multi-tool is an investment that will have you covered for years to come.

The final category of knives that are considered convenient for every day carry are the classic lock-back folding knife. Favored by hunters and most of the knife carrying public, a lock-back is simplicity at its core. One blade, one handle, many uses. These are considered the best knife for personal defense (though I never recommend finding yourself in a position to treat it as such), besides a fixed blade knife. They come in a variety of sizes and styles, so if you are interested, it comes down to personal preference. The brands the produce the best value knives in this category are Gerber, SOG, and Cold Steel.

When it comes to finding a knife, it is a bit like making a best friend. This tool is going to be by your side, every day, doing whatever you ask of it and only stopping when it dies. Because of this, you have to be completely comfortable with your knife. Never sacrifice quality for price, never sacrifice comfort and ease of use for aesthetic. Buy smart and use smart, because we’ll have knives until the end of our time in the universe.

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Obviously, the first step is to pick a language you want to learn. Each tongue has pro’s and cons, and it would serve you well to choose carefully. Fluency doesn’t come overnight, so liking and/or having a solid reason for the language you pick is key. Spanish for example is both useful and relatively easy to pick up, while Mandarin is an asset for business but incredibly difficult for a native English speaker. Consider how many people speak a language to gauge its usefulness. I have yet to find a more impressive language than Kanien keha:ka, and I’m sure all of the four hundred speakers feel the same, but unless you live on a reservation in eastern New York or Canada, maybe consider French as an alternative. By all means, if you have a passion for some obscure dialect then go for it. No one is stopping you, and you’ll probably impress a couple people at your next party; but if you are learning for personal advancement, or to be able to actually converse with people day to day, remember that the language you learn impacts whom you are dealing with. Does that sound silly to mention? You bet. Is it easy to forget? Still yes. Don’t learn Arabic for your job if you don’t want to go to the Middle East. Simple stuff.

It’s going to be easiest to learn a language if you love it. You have to absolutely embrace it, live it, feel it in your bones. Unlike other subjects, you’re not going to get anywhere without passion. You can fake a lot of things in life, but you can’t fake a language. Language is beautiful, its indescribable. Forgive me if I’m gushing, but until you really think about how important it is, you can’t realize its weight. In all seriousness, language is power. Luckily, we’re living in the easiest era of language learning since the time of pointing and grunting.

There are so many ways to learn a language nowadays that it’s honestly a waste not to at least try. There are a plethora of computer based programs, and even apps if mobility is your thing. I’m sure you’ve heard of Rosetta Stone, but you may not have heard of equally enticing options; like Babell, or the app Duolingo for your phone. All are good, but try the free trials before you buy. Everyone has a different learning style and each program engages you slightly differently.

Language is important. Ipso facto, knowing more than one is even more important. Learning a foreign language is by all means a lengthy and difficult endeavor, but it pays off in a big way. It can pay off professionally, socially, and really gives you a new perspective on other cultures. Let’s say arrivaderci to English gentlemen, the future lies in another language.

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Yes it’s jerky, which might not be a traditionally “gourmet” food (the lame truth), but let me tell you that it is every inch the artisan food. Perky Jerky has no msg and no preservatives, nothing but lean meat and flavor. It comes in beef and turkey (I challenge you to ask for Perky Turkey Jerky next time you’ve been drinking), and has flavors that fit every taste in both kinds. My favorite is the newest flavor to grace the tender strips of dried turkey a la Perky. The culinary creation of which I speak is their Jamaican Style, which plays on the flavors of traditional Carribean Jerked cooking. It’s spicy, with the exact right amount of sweetness to make a truly unique flavor experience.

I can’t sing the praises of Perky Jerky high enough. If you doubt me, you should know that I keep packs in my car; I even give it as gifts. Fruit basket? Nope, Perky basket. Seriously, the next time you have a hankering for jerky, or just a snack that you can feel good eating, grab some Perky. It’s all natural, all delicious, and we all know that Perkier is better.

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The Bean Boot saw its first incarnation when Mr. L.L. Bean, feet wet and cold from a hunting trip, commissioned a local cobbler to sew leather uppers to a regular rubber workmen’s boots. No doubt impressed by his answer to the Maine wilderness, L.L.’s brother allowed our favorite shoe pioneer to set up shop in the basement of his apparel shop. One year of artful propaganda passes and every outdoorsman with a modicum of self respect is wearing the “Maine Hunting Shoe.” This is the original Bean Boot, and is still available for sale today. Cue the inevitable, and after explosive sales, L.L.Bean opens its doors officially.

The Bean Boot, in whatever model you were to choose, is made from only the highest quality materials, and is still made exclusively in the U.S. of A. by employees of L.L.Bean. The construction of these boots have never been outsourced or otherwise cheapened. And if that weren’t enough for you, they have just about the best warrantee that you can expect on anything, ever. If your boots ever wear out, break down, tear, or otherwise fail, they are replaced at no cost to yourself.

If you find functionality to be beautiful, then there should already be no doubt in your mind that these are a necessity for your high latitude adventuring, but if you see appearances as more important in a boot, then you should heed my disclaimer. These are not in any way, shape, or form, fashion oriented. That however, is not to say that they are unwearable in social situations. Bean Boots are unique enough to only work with a specific set of clothing, but when worn correctly can tie together an outdoorsy outfit.

Bean Boots are a black and white concept. Either you love them, or you hate them. Even though statistically half of you will think I’m insane for singing such high praises of them, they are perfect for what they are meant to be, that meaning a functional outdoor boot that has eaked out a niche in the world of fashion. Love or hate, this boot deserves the respect that comes with a century of designation and distinction. I know that I’ll be wearing these to survive the frigid tundra that is Upstate New York in winter, and for between one and two hundred dollars, why wouldn’t you want boots to last literally the rest of your life? It L.L. Beats me!

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Jewelry falls into two categories. The first of these is “sentimental” or “personal”. These pieces include things like wedding rings, heirlooms, religious objects, and so forth. Frankly, if something has meaning to you, and you want to wear it, then do so. Far be it from anyone to tell you not to wear your grandfather’s watch because the band is starting to wear out. The key to all fashion is confidence, so be proud in wearing something that has significance to you.

The second category revolves completely around style, meaning what looks best on you. Obviously we all have differing tastes, but there is something to be said about a baseline that can be built off of. The baseline is as follows. Firstly, your jewelry should really only be gold, silver, or plain metallic in color. I find that niches like rose gold are incredibly difficult to match with other facets of your style, and tend to get lost in most people’s skin tone. The next key is to keep in mind that jewelry exists to show off what you already have, meaning if your ring is so flashy that it draws all the attention, it shouldn’t be on your hand in the first place. Lastly, jewelry should go with what you’re already wearing. Don’t base an outfit off of a bracelet, select jewelry that enhances the aesthetic you’ve already built.

Let’s start from the top, and work our way down. Firstly, ears. Some guys love them; some guys hate them, and just like every other part of fashion, its subjective. What I will say is that that they can be done very well, or extremely poorly. To correctly wear earring(s), the first decision is to decide what part of the ear you want to pierce (and yes, there is more than one). If you decide on the lobe, then pierce both. The middle school stigma about which ear has certain connotations is over, and piercing one just looks juvenile. In my opinion, the best way to pull off this look is to forget studs, and go as soon as possible to thin hoops that hug the bottom of your lobe. Often, these aren’t noticed outright from a distance and really draw attention to your face up close. In addition to this, they suit absolutely everyone. The only other place I can truly say a man should pierce is the cartilage slightly below the point of the ear. If this is your choice, then only pierce one ear, and again use a small hoop in one of our three cardinal colors.

What you wear around your neck says a lot about you, and people pick up on it very quickly. Some basic rules include no dog-tags unless you are in the military or they have very significant meaning to you. No chains that have links large enough to have a pattern. Leather or cord should not be worn with anything remotely formal. No chokers. If you can feel the weight of a pendant or amulet, and it’s significant, don’t wear it. Lastly, if you have a necklace made of twine/hemp with some kind of glass ornament, people will assume you are a stoner. Other than that, do whatever your heart desires, and keep in mind that sometimes it’s best to tuck it under your shirt.

Wrist jewelry is complex because it is broken up into two separate categories, watches and bracelets. As far as watches go, everyone has their own taste (even more so than any other specific piece of jewelry). One remark that I would have is to avoid digital unless you are in the great outdoors. If you want to disregard that for a smart-watch, that’s your prerogative; but for the most part go analog. If you decide to wear a bracelet or bracelets, avoid leather cuffs at all costs. They’re not edgy, just ugly. Leather, if worn, should be thin, or braided. Easily the most versatile look that I’ve seen is the use of plain wooden beads, which can even be stacked and look good. They can be dressed up (to a point), and dressed down with ease; but make sure to keep them on one wrist, and opposite from your watch. If you decide to stack them, keep in mind that one more loop can be the difference between stylish and tacky. Please, unless you are in the wilderness, leave paracord at home with your digital watch.

Last but not least, rings. If you’re not married, these exist solely to show off your hands, and or prove you won a Super Bowl. If you haven’t the latter, stick to bands that are either plain, or have a subtle design etched into the band itself. For the most part, stay away large stones, noticeable mountings, and general gaudiness. That means leave the class rings at home, unless you need to prove you went to high school. Furthermore, if a ring is uncomfortable on your hand, it’s usually a good indicator that it’s too big, or looks out of place.

When buying jewelry, keep these rules in mind, but more importantly, do what feels right. As we know, fashion is subjective. If you don’t feel comfortable in something, don’t wear it, and if you have a piece that isn’t on the list but you love, by all means, wear it. This is a baseline, meaning you should build off it. The goal isn’t to dictate what you should wear, but to help you develop the look that works best for you.

The post The Gentleman’s Guide to Jewelry appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Suits are coming back. True, they’ve technically never gone anywhere, but more and more we’ve been seeing lines of affordable, good looking suits become available to the casual gentleman. Of these lines I’d have to say that my all time favorite is Bertolini. Though they’re not by any means famous (or for that matter, well known), Bertolini makes a hell of a suit for the price. Just this weekend, I picked up a beautiful three-piece in a slate blue with charcoal pinstripes for under $250. Now let me tell you, I have a hard time finding a suit that fits how I want it to; everything seems either boxy or incredibly tight. This suit, however, fit perfectly off the rack and all that was needed was to hem the pants. It tapers in the right places, it hangs well off the shoulders, and the kicker is that I have three other friends who bought the same suit (different sizes of course), and despite our wildly varying body shapes they fit each of us perfectly.

Bertolini is an Italian suit manufacturer, meaning the fit is going to be almost unbeatable; so why doesn’t it break the bank? Well while the materials come from Italy, and the designs are put together by professionals, the suits themselves are hand-made overseas. This gives one the feel and look of a high end Italian suit at a fraction of the cost, meaning it is affordable for almost everyone – even students like yours truly. This is the best wardrobe investment I’ve made in a long time, and encourage you to follow my example. Whether you’re on a budget, or just looking for a great suit at any price range, do yourself a favor and get into a Bertolini.

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