In-Depth Review: Harry's Shave Set

I'm pretty knowledgeable about beauty and grooming products intended for women, but when it comes to the guys sometimes I'm clueless. In fact, until Harry's reached out to me to see if my husband would be interested in trying their razors and men's grooming products, I didn't even realize how expensive a single razor cartridge could be. Luckily for the fellas, online shaving subscription services like Harry's are changing the game. If you're a guy who's looking for a close shave at a better price or you're looking for a Father's Day gift idea, you're going to want to bookmark this review!

0

Gift Guide For Him

The key to picking out the perfect gift for the guy in your life? Choose something he wouldn't necessarily buy for himself, a treat that makes him feel warm, loved, spoiled, entertained—any or all of the above.

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Introducing JACHS

Sartorially speaking, most guys don't need anything more than a beloved, worn-in shirt that goes with fitted jeans and sneakers on weekends. JACHS—a New York-based clothing company whose shirts are carried in Nordstrom, Saks, and now their new Bleecker St. flagship store—seems to understand this inherently. Their vintage-inspired button-downs and striped tees are perfect for leisurely hours spent doing a whole lot of nothing. Casual but classically preppy, in a variety of fabrics, colours, and patterns. It's the shirt he'll always want to reach for in his off hours.

Shown above (left to right): Brussels classic gingham ($60), Brussels classic mini check ($60), Frankfurt chambray work shirt ($75), Seoul vintage reverse stripe tee ($50), Sydney indigo printed western ($89), Seoul vintage stripe tee ($50)

P.S. No need to steal his shirt; JACHS offers a women's collection too.

0

Introducing Generic Surplus

Nowadays, stylish girls are just as likely to reach for a pair of oxfords or wingtips as a pair of ballerina flats or stilettos. (Blame it on Alexa Chung's tomboy cool vibe.) So it's small wonder that I'm kind of coveting the spring/summer 2012 collection from Generic Surplus for myself even though their shoes are, strictly speaking, for the gents. An offshoot of The Generic Man, the LA-based label takes "casual dressy" to a whole new level with their men's shoes. The resulting aesthetic is classic but modern.

For their latest collection, Generic Surplus drew inspiration from "how the cityscape changes with the transition from winter to spring's warmer weather and longer days" as well as "the laid-back outdoor culture of 1960s Los Angeles with the cutting edge urbanity of 1970s New York City." I love how sleek and simple these shoes look.

In Vancouver, Generic Surplus is available at The Block and Livestock.

3

Gift Guide for Him

I'll admit, I was thinking of the boy when I put together this gift guide. But if the man you're shopping for is anything like my guy, you can't go wrong with cozy and stylish additions to his closet, a gadget or two and, of course, food.

• Banana Republic black wool top coat ($263.50). This single-breasted style slims and flatters. It's a classic topper he'll want to wear year after year.
• Coach House shortbread ($11.95 a roll; available at One of a Kind). I have yet to meet a guy who'll say no to food. A roll of shortbread cookies makes a great inexpensive gift for guy friends.
• Converse All Star Leather Slim ($75). Upgrade his standby sneakers to a sleek new pair.
• Banana Republic striped edge scarf ($55). Add some colour and warmth to his winter ensembles.
• Tretorn 'Strala' ($79 at Rowan Sky). These low-profile ankle-length rubber rain boots will keep him warm and dry in rain, slush and snow.
• iPad 2 ($520 and up). It's an iPad. Enough said.
• Crown Shaving Co. shaving cream ($26 at BeautyMark). This luxe shaving cream contains spearmint, eucalyptus and shea butter among a slew of other natural ingredients. It's perfect for an invigorating shave experience.
• A home-cooked dinner. If you're a dunce in the kitchen, Michael Ruhlman's roast chicken recipe is super easy and tasty.
• Herschel Supply 'Novel' weekender bag ($79). Make his business trips and quick getaways a cinch with a bag for all his essentials. It even has a separate zip compartment for his shoes.
• Gap mariner stripe crewneck sweater ($49.95). You can't go wrong with stripes.
• Panasonic Lumix G3 ($728 at Dunne & Rundle). I'm probably biased because I love my Lumix G3, but the boy--who researched my camera and works with it when taking my outfit photos--likes it too. It has the same functionality as an entry-level SLR but in a smaller micro four-thirds format.

What are you getting the men in your life for Christmas?

7

Product Review: Burt's Bees Skincare

Today's product review comes courtesy of my little brother Gary, who was kind enough to try some of the newest Burt's Bees skincare products and share his thoughts on them. (Hey, guys need good skincare products too!) Here's what he had to say.

Burt’s Bees is known for their naturally sourced beauty products, the most famous of which is their beeswax lip balm. Over the years, they’ve expanded their line to tackle other areas of the body. But one thing remains the same: Burt’s Bee’s strives to use natural ingredients that are not petroleum-based such as beeswax, honey, almonds and mangoes. For several weeks, I had a chance to test drive some of their latest offerings.

Burt’s Bees excels at producing effective skin nourishing and moisturizing products, so I was very excited to try out their Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme (12.99). (As a barista, my hands are always dry from frequent exposure to water and hand washing.) The hand cream goes on thick and heavy with a pleasant scent and the beeswax in the formulation prevents further drying of the skin. After only one application overnight I noticed significant improvement in my fingertips and hands. Some people might not like the texture as it feels greasy on the skin because of the sweet almond oil in the formula, but that feeling goes away as the cream absorbs over time.

Their Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter ($4.49) is quite different compared to the regular beeswax lip balms. It feels oilier and thinner and glides on really easily. The mango butter formula doesn’t feel like it lasts as long as the original, so it’s probably more suited to people who like frequent applications. Otherwise it does a fine job of moisturizing and protecting the lips.

For acne- and blemish-prone skin, Burt’s Bees offers the Anti-Blemish Clarifying Toner ($14.99) and the Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub ($12.99). The toner contains witch hazel, salicylic acid and other astringents to help unclog pores. It performs as advertised; my pores looked smaller after several uses, although this toner is drying and should only be used once a day. I had high hopes for the Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub, but it falls short in comparison to similar products. The product left a greasy film on my face—probably a result of the glycerin and grape seed oil in the formula.

Are you a fan of Burt's Bee's products? Have you tried any of the ones Gary tested? What do you think of them?

4

Solo Lisa Reads: Anything Other Than Naked by Glen R. Sondag

To all the men out there: If you've ever been confused by the subtle differences between suit and shirt styles in a menswear store, then Anything Other Than Naked by Glen R. Sondag is for you. This breezy 86-page read promises to be "a guide for men on how to dress properly for every occasion" and largely delivers on its promise, although not without a few missteps.

You might be wondering, "Who is this guy to be calling himself a style expert among men?" Although he's not a well-known fashion expert or blogger, first-time author Sondag prides himself on looking put-together. He credits his sartorial flair to the early influence of his seamstress mother; his years spent working at a menswear store while in college; and the 38 years he spent working in the New York Stock Exchange and having to look sharp while on the job. Through these experiences, he learned the basic rules for dressing well that not all men may know.

As a straightforward tome on dressing well, Sondag's book is quite well done. Chapters are short, organized into easy-to-read sections and laid out clearly. Subjects covered include suiting, shirts, sweaters, trousers, and so on. Sondag also includes plenty of helpful illustrations showing the difference between dress shoe styles, types of shirt collars, or various tie knots, as well as how-to diagrams for things like how to tie a bow tie. Those who are clueless about menswear will definitely learn a thing or two. After all, you have to know the style rules before you break them with aplomb à la one of the dapper gentlemen on The Sartorialist, right?

That being said, I did find myself getting annoyed at Sondag's didactic tone more than once. Anything Other Than Naked began as a manual for his four sons and escalated into a bigger project, so perhaps the authoritative, and sometimes patronizing, tone was a legacy of his "I'm speaking as father to son" narrative voice. Sondag rarely strays off the beaten path of tried-and-true edicts such as "The bottom button on a suit should always be unbuttoned" and "Your belt should match your shoes." I also wish that the visuals were of better quality. Many of the images, though helpful, are low-res black-and-white thumbnails that look as if they were pulled off the Internet.

If you're a guy who wants to learn the style rules your father never told you, or a girl who wants to better help a guy shop, then Anything Other Than Naked is for you. However, if you're already familiar with the rules and are looking for some fashion-forward inspiration, you should look elsewhere.

1

COMUNE Corduroy Shirt

So, it's Groundhog Day today, and whether we have six more weeks of winter or this cold harsh weather will be ending soon, how can you go wrong with getting the man in your life the 'Jeremy' shirt ($104) by COMUNE? Made of lightweight corduroy, this olive-and-black plaid number is the perfect alternative to the hoodie, cardigan, or flannel that he continually reaches for. He can wear it now buttoned up under a polished wool coat for winter. Then when the mercury rises, he can put it on over his favourite tee and wear it open as an alternative to a light spring jacket. With a versatile basic that works for all seasons, can spring really be that far behind?

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Geek Chic Guys' Tees on Threadless.com

Tthe boy will always remain a T-shirt and jeans kind of guy. When we first began dating, I had secret visions of transforming him into a suave facsimile of GQ fashion spreads, visions which have since vanished. But if he were to change he wouldn't be the same guy I fell for, right? (Plus I'd probably lose respect for him if he were backbone-less enough to let me make him over completely.) These days we're more likely to be found shopping for the perfect tees to replace his worn-out ones than pocket squares and suspenders.

Speaking of the perfect tee, do you know how hard it is to find one? The boy refuses to spend more than $20 on a tee that will get worn to shreds and he regards those from mainstream retailers with disdain. "They're so generic," he complained the last time we shopped. "Every other guy has the same shirt." Add to that issues of quality control (hello, shrinkage) and we have a serious challenge on our hands.

Enter Threadless.com. I'd heard great things about their tees from the software developers at my previous company, but never looked at the site until now. What I found there delighted me. The graphics were unique and sometimes dorky but rarely douchey or overly ironic. The prices were reasonable, plus having seen the T-shirts' quality firsthand (i.e. admired them on my coworkers) I knew they weren't flimsy.

The Day The Fire Brigade Went On Strike, $10

Failed Launch, $10

Pillow Fight, $10

All Alone, $20

Homework Evidence, $20

In other news, guess what the boy's going to get this Valentine's Day.

Have you ordered anything off Threadless before? What do you think of their tees?

14

Product Review: Crown Shaving Co. Men's Grooming Products

Attention male readers (and female readers looking for gift ideas for the special men in their lives), this post is for you! When Crown Shaving Co.--a line of men's grooming products based in Toronto--contacted me and offered to send me a shave kit, I enlisted the help of my brother and occasional contributor Gary to help me review the kit and write a guest post. (You might remember him from this other post about men's grooming products.) Let's see what Gary has to say about their products.

Gary

Men’s skincare products have evolved within the last few years, so why are we still subjecting ourselves to razor burns, cuts and rashes on our faces with our daily grooming routine? I suspect the answer to this question is that it saves time to use foam from a can. However, based on previous experience these products are heavily scented, they have no moisturizing effects and they can irritate sensitive skin. Crown Shaving Co. has responded by reviving the traditions of old barber shops where a man can get the closest shave without irritation. The company stands by their slogan of “Old World Luxury- Old School Charm.” Even their packaging (brown glass jars and bottles) is reminiscent of old-fashioned products.

Their line of shaving products is all part of a very effective system. The Supreme Glide Pre-Shave Formula ($18) contains aloe and other naturally sourced dermal moisturizers and emollients. It provides effective lubrication for the razor blade to effectively glide on top of the skin, and its “no added fragrance formula” is non-irritating. After the application of the Pre-Shave Formula, you apply the actual shaving cream ($26). While the label states that it can be used with or without a shaving brush, using the brush produces a nicer lather. The shaving cream’s rich thick lather effectively lifts and suspends the hair follicle to make it easier for the razor to cut. The after shave lotion ($18) provides the finishing touch. It soothes and moisturizes to reduce further irritation. All of their products are alcohol-, artificial colourant-, artificial fragrance-, paraben- and sulfate-free. This is a welcome feature as most products geared towards men are heavily scented.

Crown Shaving Co. also offers shampoo/body wash ($22) and conditioner ($20) with tea tree oil and peppermint. The shampoo/body wash falls short as a body wash unfortunately. It didn’t provide a rich lasting lather and I always felt I needed to use more product than necessary. However, the tea tree oil and peppermint do act as a mild antiseptic and can reduce odour-causing bacteria on the skin, plus it leaves a nice cooling sensation on the skin after use. As a shampoo it did a good job cleansing the scalp and hair. The conditioner leaves hair soft and smooth. All of their products leave a light natural scent that eventually dissipates. Again, I applaud the company for not adding any strong and supposedly “masculine” scents.

In summary, Crown Shaving Co. products provide quality and effective products that aim to please the modern man with “Old School Charm” and imbibe him with confidence so he can walk out the door feeling like a king, with a crown atop his head.

To purchase Crown Shaving Co. products, check out their website for a list of retailers or to buy online directly. In Vancouver, Crown Shaving Co. products are sold at BeautyMark in Yaletown.

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Product Review: Dove Men+Care

Attention male readers, this post is for you! When a publicist from Dove contacted me and offered to send me free samples from their new Dove Men+Care line of bath and skincare products, I was reluctant to accept. Men's products are typically formulated with stronger ingredients than women's products because they have to work on thicker skin. Since I couldn't test Dove Men+Care myself, I enlisted the help of a special product reviewer and guest blogger, my brother Gary. As a sartorially smart guy who also knows his way around skincare (he bought me the Garnier caffeine eye roll-on pen after I kept swiping his), I couldn't think of a better person to take on this assignment. Gary kindly agreed to contribute the following review despite his busy schedule.

A round of applause for my little bro, please!

The Men+Care line by Dove is designed and marketed towards males. This was a smart move by Dove as other major cosmetic brands have developed their own male-specific line of products.

For two months, I got the chance to test some samples from their new line: body washes, bar soaps and the showering tool. The products came in simple and aggressive packaging. Grey bottles and boxes instead of the usual Dove white packaging definitively separated the Men+Care line from other Dove products. The products that I tried for two months were Clean Comfort body wash, Deep Clean body wash, Fresh bar soap, and Invigorating bar soap. They all claim to gently cleanse the skin while leaving no soap scum residue, and purportedly contain “micro moisture” technology to moisturize the skin on contact.

My first impression of the body washes was that they have an overpowering scent. (The bar soaps did not smell as strong.) The fragrance itself wasn’t bad, it’s just that there’s too much of it. I could still smell the scent three or four hours after showering. Otherwise the body washes performed as advertised. They didn’t leave any slick soapy residue behind, which usually induces skin irritation.

My favourite items during the test were the bar soaps as they simply performed without any fuss. The soaps didn’t leave my skin feeling tight and dry afterwards. Both the body washes and the soaps claim that they can be used on the face as well. However, it wasn’t effective in deep pore cleansing of the more fragile facial areas. Therefore, they should not replace a face specific cleanser. Males who suffer from facial acne should forget about using it on their faces. Clean Comfort body wash is a milder cleanser, while the Deep Clean body wash contains an exfoliant.

A front and back view of the showering tool

When used in conjunction with the showering tool, my skin felt and looked softer and less dull. The Dove Men+Care showering tool is mighty impressive. Instead of a wimpy-looking shower puff, Men+Care’s version looks like a robust heavy duty tool. This triangular shower puff and exfoliator hybrid is framed by a thick rubber casing which is easy to hold and use with wet soapy hands. On one side is a very compressed version of a shower puff and on the opposite side is an abrasive, almost loofah-like exfoliator. The showering tool has stood up well through the two months of use and it’s easy to clean.

9

Luxe Or Less Gift Guide: Cufflinks

Another year, another round-up of holiday gift ideas! From now until my year-end hiatus, I'll be highlighting one gift idea each day with stylish picks for different budgets. If you're still stumped about what to get someone, you might find your answer here in the days leading up to Christmas!

Item: Cufflinks
For: A brother, a guy friend, a significant other, a father with a sense of humour
Why cufflinks: The right cufflink can add sass, style, whimsy, and humour to even the most staid of business and formal wear ensembles. Dapper dressing on popular TV shows such as Mad Men (the camera loves close-up shots of crisp French cuffs) and Gossip Girl (think Chuck Bass) have made cufflinks even more covetable among the young and trendy.



Go luxe: I've had my eye on Wendy Brandes's sterling silver memento mori cufflinks ($1,000) for as long as I can remember, and coming from a girl who's not really into skulls, that's really saying something. The intricate shading and detail lend depth, sensuality, and a unique character to a design motif I'm otherwise rather indifferent to. If you can afford to drop the dough, these are an excellent option.



Spend less: Looking for a quirky choice that won't break the bank? Etsy has cufflinks with everything from Lego storm troopers to vintage clockwork mechanisms; most are under $60. The ones that caught my eye and won my heart are these silver-plated Transformers cufflinks ($20) from Sydney-based Fink Studio. Featuring carved Autobots and Decepticon faces, they'll appeal to the recipient's inner nerd and garner a laugh of astonished delight.

10

Menswear-Inspired Looks I'd Love To Try

Picture courtesy of The Sartorialist

Ladies, we lucked out when it comes to fashion. Not only do we have a plethora of options (skirts or pants? shorts or dresses? capris or skinny jeans?) in our own wardrobes, we can dabble in menswear-inspired looks and look smoking hot doing it. Think shrunken vests, pinstriped trousers, military coats with rows of brass buttons down the front, oxfords, suspenders...the list goes on. Our brothers and boyfriends may not want our miniskirts and LBDs, but we gleefully borrow their dress shirts and perfectly slouchy sweaters and jeans.

With menswear on my mind lately, I'm dying to try these looks some time in the next couple of months.

1. Cuff links. Cuff links are too nice for the boys to have to themselves! I like the adorable androgyny of the Brooks Brothers' 'Scotty' cuff links ($125) in sterling silver.



2. French cuff shirts. Cuff links are nothing without a French cuff shirt to show them off . The Victoria's Secret version ($28) features a deep V and a touch of spandex to highlight your curves--definitely not for the gents. Alternatively, I'm toying with the idea of donning a men's shirt. Cinched with a studded leather belt and worn with a denim mini, opaque black tights, and tall leather boots, I think it might look pretty good. This Ted Baker plaid shirt ($36.54) might do the trick.



3. Panama hat. One of these is on my must-have list for spring. I keep gleefully imagining how it'd look with a white cami layered under my black satiny halter vest and floaty turquoise cotton skirt, finished off with my gold leather wedge sandals and Tashi teardrop earrings. I like the look of this Panama fedora ($80) with its black band and jaunty red feather, but I want to see what I can find in local hat shops first.



4. Men's fedora. Why, why did I give the Russian his fedora back?! I'm definitely regretting it as I contemplate the 'Blake' fedora ($45) by Goorin Bros. once again. The website shows an old Latin gentleman wearing the Blake, but I think I can rock it.



Are there looks you want to steal from the boys? Do you "borrow" things from your boyfriend/brother/dad?

16

Hats To Warm Male Ears

Last week, an anonymous commenter on my Goorin Brothers fedoras post asked:

"Other than a toque, what kind of hat can a guy wear to keep his ears warm?"

Anonymous, that's an excellent question! My thoughts immediately jumped to the bulky furry or shearling hats with very obvious ear flaps, which, honestly speaking, I'm not too crazy about. Styled in the right way and worn with confidence, these hats might look good, but to me they've always had undertones of fur trappers and the Soviet Union. I instead opted for sleek options that could keep ears warm while looking right at home in an urban setting that isn't Moscow.

Aside from the furry ear flap hats, the most obvious alternative would be a toque-like knit hat with a brim similar to the 'Urkel' by Goorin Brothers ($25). Its alternating rib knits create dimension and visual interest, while its overall style is versatile enough to pair with a wool peacoat or a down parka.



Another option is a wool cap with hidden ear flaps, such as this one ($28-30). In extreme weather conditions, the hidden ear flaps can be let down; at other times, you can wear it as an ordinary cap.



However, my favourite find of the bunch has to be the Stormy Kromer cap, a 105-year old design created by a railroad engineer and baseball player. Sick of his engineer's cap flying off in windy work conditions, Stormy asked his wife to sew ear flaps on an old baseball cap one day, and the rest is history. Outdoorsmen swear by the hat's comfort, warmth, and ability to stay put on one's head. I love how it basically looks like a warmer version of a baseball cap. But the best part for you, Anonymous, is the cap's patented ear band system: Those bands that wrap around the front of the hat can be pulled down a bit in the back so that they cover the tops of your ears. Very subtle, no? The 'Rancher' cap ($44.95) comes with an extra Thinsulate layer beneath the wool and slightly longer ear flaps to keep your head extra toasty.



In other news, I always love trying to help someone out with a style conundrum. If there's a question you'd like answered, leave it in the comments or email it to solo.lisa.blog@gmail.com!

18

Goorin: It Ain't Borin'

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I was introduced to Goorin Brothers hats in a rather serendipitous way. More specifically, I got a bit drunk one Friday night and, emboldened by alcohol, I kept stealing the fedora off the head of some guy I'll call the Russian. Eventually, sobriety and mortification made me give the Russian his hat back, but now that I look at a picture of it online I wish I hadn't. That was one great fedora.

The India Blue fedora that I stole from the Russian repeatedly. It's nice to know I have good taste in accessories even while intoxicated, no?

According to their website, Goorin Brothers has been making hats since 1895 and is a family-owned company spanning four generations. Although they make cute cloches, knit caps, and little brimmed caps for women, it's the men's fedoras I'm really in love with.

The patterned band gives the Moretti a unisex vibe, and its simple black/white colour scheme makes it versatile and sharp--a great contrasting accent for a feminine outfit.

Seeing the blue madras print band on the Blake, I can't stop picturing myself wearing this fedora with a black halter top and my floaty turquoise skirt.

How cute would the Yucatan be with dark denim capris, a crisp white tank top, and espadrille sandals in the summer?

Note to self: When spring shopping, look for a fedora and a straw Panama hat with a black band (another type of hat I've been craving since forever).

11

Vivir Solo Es Eso

Carrie found Big Love in the form of Mr. Big. I say phooey. (Image from imdb.com)

Remember last week when I said that I had an earth-shattering 2009 resolution to discuss in a subsequent blog post? Well, here it is: I'm giving up on love in 2009--as in toe-curling, heart-pounding, soul-shaking, goosebumps-inducing, turn-your-world-upside-down Big Love. I simply don't believe in it anymore.

Before you denounce me as a heartless heretic, just hear me out. I've already gone through 2 major relationships where we looked too far forward, promising our entire lives away without knowing what will happen tomorrow. Both times it ended in disappointment. And when I reflected on 2008, my one regret was how much time and energy I wasted being anxious over my single girl status. Ironically, though, I enjoyed the giddiness, the fun, the intrigue of my 2008 flirtations. It was only when I became anxious about where something might lead that I lost all perspective.

Instead of being anxious and forward-looking, this year I choose to revel in small moments--the moments you spend with the other person here and now, the moments you savour and look back on. If these moments add up to something, like small grains of sand at the bottom of an hourglass, then it will have been the most gradual of miracles. And if they don't, well, I'll always have those moments.

In one of my favourite songs ever, "Cuando Nadie Me Ve," Alejandro Sanz sings: "No darte la vida entera/ darte solo esos momentos/ por que es tan dificil/ vivir solo es eso." (Translation for non-Spanish speakers: "Not to give you my entire life/ to give you only these moments/ why is it so difficult/ to live is only this.") I've now adopted this as my guiding motto of 2009.

Here's to living in the moment. Goodbye, Big Love. Hello, the moments that count.

22

Diego, Me Encanta

Forget the new James Bond movie. I'm more excited about Milk, the Harvey Milk biopic starring Sean Penn which comes out on December 5th. The film recounts the story of the first openly gay man to be elected into office in California during the 1970s. Sadly, he was assassinated the following year. The timing of this film's release is uncanny given the recent results of the Prop 8 vote in California.

Milk's allure for me lies in the fact that this is the first major English-language release that Diego Luna has done in years. According to various sources, Diego plays Sean Penn's lover. (I was pursing my lips with envy as I typed that last sentence). Watch the trailer below; you'll see Diego at 0:58, sporting big hair, aviators, and skintight jeans with his arm wrapped around Sean Penn.

I know it's typical of girls with massive celebrity crushes to gush about how great the objects of their affection are; nevertheless, I honestly admire Diego for the audacity and variety of his project choices. Of his more prominent film roles, he's played:

• A hormonal teenager out to seduce an older woman on a road trip (Y Tu Mama Tambien)
• A lovelorn journalist with few ambitions in life (Solo Dios Sabe)
• A dancing teenage heartthrob in pre-revolutionary Cuba (Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights)
• An airport employee who feeds Tom Hanks (The Terminal)
• A Michael Jackson impersonator (Mister Lonely)
• The guilt-ridden best friend of a suicidal schizophrenic (El Bufalo de la Noche)
• A rookie con artist learning the ropes from a seasoned pro (Criminal)

If Diego isn't enough yummy eye candy for you, Emile Hirsch and James Franco ought to sweeten the deal. Yep, they're in movie too.

12

Quoted: Anonymous Guy Friend

***** says:
i hope you can make it
Lisa says:
oh :-(
Lisa says:
i'm supposed to hang out with [NAME]
Lisa says:
count me in as a tentative
Lisa says:
if [NAME] can't get his act together, i'll tag along
***** says:
[NAME] is ?
***** says:
[WRONG NAME]?
***** says:
you have too many boys in your life i cannot distinguish them based on names
***** says:
only actions and events

- My anonymous guy friend commenting on my ever fluctuating and virtually non-existent (but extremely entertaining) romantic life

2

An Open Letter to Terminally Single Guys

Dear Terminally Single Guys (TSGs),

I feel your pain, I really do. It sucks being single sometimes, and to top it off, it's often difficult to meet people and form meaningful connections. I count some of you TSGs among my good guy friends, so I hear your complaints often. I also hear this refrain too many times for my liking: "When I meet the right girl, I'm going to treat her like a princess." Why, in the last week, I must've heard this one from 3 separate TSGs alone!

So, why does this rhetoric bug me so much, you wonder? It boils down to the underlying assumption that you guys are going to get over your boneheaded narcissism for The One when She comes along, and express your love in the form of grandiose gestures (hotel beds sprinkled with rose petals and all that). That's all fine and good, but until you find The One, how about extending some common courtesy and human decency toward the gal pals in your life? Too often I feel as though you TSGs treat us like second-class citizens unworthy of everyday thoughtfulness.

Case in point: After one of my TSG friends broke off a short-lived long-distance relationship, I invited him out for a party. He hemmed and hawed about it all week, saying he wanted to see if his friends were going and so on. I left him messages on voicemail and MSN last Friday saying that I needed a final head count by 8pm that night because I could pick up tickets from the promoter for him and anyone else coming. Not only did he not respond on Friday, he seems to have gone MIA all weekend. I received nary a message on MSN, Facebook, or my cell. WTF? I can't believe he could devote hours out of his day for 3 months straight to a girl he never got to see, yet couldn't take a mere 10 seconds to call a gal pal and say, "Sorry, my friends and I couldn't get our shit together. We're not coming."

Here's the thing you TSGs need to understand in order to not be terminally single. The high-quality girls who are truly worth it are looking for guys capable of courtesy on a daily basis, not guys who will shower them with diamond earrings and roses and poorly written love poems on certain days of the year and treat them like crap the rest of the time. If you find a girl you're crazy about, your romantic fervour will propel you into being extra good for the first few months. But what happens after the fervour fades? You revert to the non-courteous habits you've mastered in all those lonely months and begin treating her like you treat everyone else in your life. How you treat family, ordinary friends, and complete strangers reflects on your innate goodness as a person. If she's a smart, discerning, attractive girl--the type whom you hope to make your wife and the mother of your children someday--she'll see shabby treatment of others as a major red flag.

So, how do you TSGs stop self-sabotaging and start attracting the right kind of girl? There are many things you can do to get positive karmic payback. Start by responding to messages.

Sincerely,
Lisa

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Guys' Style Advice: What to Wear with Colourful Sneakers?

Recently, a coworker of mine sent me a link to a pair of great blue, yellow, and green Adidas sneakers with a brief message that said, "So I bought those, but what do they go with?"



Hmm interesting question. First off, I have to commend him on his sartorial flair and choice of footwear. While I know my share of stylish guys, I also know many guys aren't adventurous enough to try a colourful sneaker. He's taken the plunge and bought the shoes, and his outfits will be the better for it.

Some fashionistas and more daring dressers would tell him to wear the shoes with anything, including lots of bold clashing colours, and just own the look. However, it's a well-known truth that guys are notoriously afraid of looking stupid in front of other guys. Whereas girls may admire the Olson twins for their eccentric sense of style and "try anything once" attitude, guys will and do rag on each other, especially after a couple of pitchers at the local watering hole.

That being said, here are two looks--one for cold weather, one for hot weather--that could work with such fabulous statement shoes.

Polo/shorts combos. For the summer, nothing says casual cool like a pair of shorts that comes to the knee and a polo. I like how these shorts are in relatively lightweight fabrications that slouch and crinkle a bit. The neutral colours don't detract from or clash with the sneakers, while small details such as ties, zippers, and grommets add visual interest. I like how the side cargo pockets don't bulge out and add unnecessary bulk to the leg. As for the polos, a crisp white number is always classic, but ones with bright green stripes or black graphic embellishments (with a touch of pink embroidery) are fun alternatives. The key to pulling off this look is white ankle socks: no tanlines, no tackiness.

From left to right:

• Bench 'Urbanique' polo
• SoulCal Baha shorts, 19.99 pounds
• Green striped polo, Old Navy
• Bench 'Aeriels' shorts, 39.99 pounds
• White polo, Abercrombie and Fitch
• Abercrombie and Fitch 'Dickerson Notch' twill shorts, $29.90
• Men's 3-pack ankle socks, $6

The fun prepster. Sneakers and jeans go together like cookies and milk; they were great when you were a kid, and they still deliver today. To add some polish to a tried-and-true combo, take a cue from Ralph Lauren and layer a classic zip-up cardigan or a V-neck sweater with a crest over a collared white shirt and a tie. Avoid predictability and up the ante with some funky premium denim and the aforementioned sneakers.

• Big Pony collection black zip-up cardigan, Ralph Lauren
• Polo crest rugby sweater, Ralph Lauren
• True Religion 'Joey Super T with Flap - Dark Wash' jeans

If anyone else has advice for my coworker, we'd both love to hear it! Leave your two cents in the comments.

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