Men's Second Style

Every year, about this time, I find myself on the lookout for an outfit, ensemble, accessory—something—that’s at least vaguely Easter-y in theme or tone. I’m not really sure why. It’s not like I’m looking for Valentine’s Day outfits every time February 14 rolls around. How many times can you dress up like Cupid, anyway? Read the rest of this entry »

The snow crunched under Etienne’s feet as he slowly and deliberately made his way across the great open space that would, in warmer weather, be a verdant lawn. It was a long way from the manor house to the stand of trees on the south side of the grounds, and already he was beginning to feel the chill. It would not do for him to be shivering with cold; it simply would not. Read the rest of this entry »

When he stepped off the train into the empty station, he felt not fear or apprehension but, rather, simple annoyance. He hesitated for a moment and turned to signal the porter, but the porter had vanished back into the car and the train was already pulling out of the station in chuffing clouds of steam. He was annoyed because it had been no small task to secure passage to New Babbage on such short notice (notwithstanding the urgent nature and secretly noble origins of the request), especially in a style to which he was most comfortably accustomed. He was annoyed because he could see clearly that, in spite of all extravagant promises to the contrary, no one was there to meet him. He was annoyed because he could see that the nearby hostelry was the Mechanix Arms—no doubt a fine enough establishment, but it was not the Brunel Hall Hotel, where he had rooms reserved for his immediate occupancy. Read the rest of this entry »

Summer isn’t just about shorts, sandals and tees. I know, I know—it’s tempting, and it’s also how I dress pretty much every Saturday, all summer long. But there are still occasions and circumstances that call for something more. Do you have a job interview at which you must not fail to impress? An unexpected dinner invitation to the White House? What about that seemingly ill-advised September garden wedding? You’ll need something dressier. Read the rest of this entry »

Lo these many or at least several months ago, so long ago I’m not sure exactly when, I remember receiving an IM one evening from someone I knew by reputation, but not personally. “We’re making new stuff! We’re opening a shop! We’re so excited!” The “we” in question was Ghost Harris and Willow Caldera, and the ensuing chat was friendly, humorous and altogether enjoyable. In all honesty, at this point I’m not really sure which one of them I was chatting with that evening. Was it Ghost? Was it Willow? Does it matter? Nah, not really. It was good news, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Read the rest of this entry »

You meet the most interesting people when you take public transportation. Traveling by bus is always at least a potential adventure, and trains are both fun and fascinating, but subways are almost an ecosystem all their own. Maybe it’s the whole underground thing—it effectively separates and distances you from life on the surface, and with nothing to see outside the windows except the station stops, the city above retreats into mind and memory and ceases to be a presence. At least until you exit and return to the surface. Read the rest of this entry »

LTHOUGH MANY OF HIS OTHER products are not aimed at all of us, men of any orientation should know about and probably own some of Prynce Llewellyn‘s finely composed and hard-working suits. These are strongly-styled but structurally simple suits, with no fussy prim attachments but plenty of layers and options.

Tweed Suit is probably my favourite. Wear it with a retro, pale matching sweater, or a traditional white button-down shirt. Wear the shirt with the collar buttoned or unbuttoned or with a necktie of matching colour. Everything just matches, everything just works. Read the rest of this entry »

But hey, doesn’t everybody?  So I figure I’m not alone in that, not hardly.  Surely you yourself are fond of getting a good deal.  Here’s the thing:  there are any number of other great blogs that focus on the great freebies, dollarbies and other bargains you can find in SL.  As much as I like me a good bargain, bargains aren’t my main emphasis here.  That said, if as you’re reading this you’re thinking, “Well, I love bargains, I’m killer at finding them, and I wouldn’t mind writing about the ones I find”…hey, give me a shout.  We can do a deal, Mr. Bond!  Today, though, I’ve got some great (I think they’re great) all-but-freebie items to show off.  I’m hoping at least one or two of them will entice you do a little low-budget, high-value shopping.

The items making up my various outfits are all (with some few exceptions) from Slanted Fox.  I’m sure I had visited Slanted Fox at some point in the past, but if I took anything home with me I’ve lost track of it somehow since then.  I forget exactly what I was searching for the other day, when I ended up visiting again, but I think the phrase “3L$ Store” jumped out at me from the search listings.  Apparently I must have clicked the link because there was a telltale whoosh, and next thing I knew I was in Harajukubox Town.  You know, sometimes stuff just happens, and all you can do is roll with it. Read the rest of this entry »

The Dandy

His grandfather, Eustacio Babbage, had founded the great steamworks that had first allowed the great city of New Babbage to rise like a phoenix from the squalor of the grubby hamlet most now dismissed with no small contempt as Old Babbage, but which had then been simply Babbage.  He himself now ran that steamworks, greatly expanded since its initial construction, and was immensely proud of the fact that it provided the power that drove most of New Babbage.  Indeed, it was the steamworks that drove Industry itself and made life possible at their current impressive level of technological advancement, with all the accompanying creature comforts that the citizenry enjoyed so thoroughly. Read the rest of this entry »

The Ruffian

The kid had earned something of a bad reputation for himself in New Babbage.  He supposed that was due in no small part to his tendency to, shall we say, not always pay for everything he put into his pockets on Market Day.  Also, quite possibly, the fact that, when he did make payment  in actual coin, that coin had not necessarily been earned by way of actual honest labor.  He rolled his eyes and sighed; such distinctions were boring and tedious, and they made him feel tired.  And they were pointless as well, when there was such fun to be had! Read the rest of this entry »