Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Gentlemen!

TheFirstOne: Luxury Bluetooth Headset

Fashionable people are tired of having their personal style insulted by ugly gadgets, lol, that's the philosophy Novero had in mind when they created TheFirstOne.

In winter white and chrome, TheFirstOne combines a minimal fashion aesthetic with high-level functionality. It brushes effortlessly, stylishly, and conveniently into anyone vying for a higher lifestyle. This one of a kind Bluetooth earpiece includes a wide range of in-box accessories: a car cradle, wall and computer chargers, a necklace and a wearable clip.

This is hands down the best looking Bluetooth headset I have ever seen, which makes sense being that the luxury technologically savvy device retails for $149.

TheFirstOne would seriously be an ideal holiday gift for anyone that constantly wants the best digital gadgets. It'll pair great with an iPhone or a new Blackberry... speaking of Blackberry is anyone else impatiently waiting for the new Blackberry Bold to come out, it was supposed to be out on the 11th... geez I wish they would hurry up.

For more technical information on TheFirstOne Bluetooth headset visit their website or check out the indepth review on CNET.

Gentleman: A Timeless Guide to Fashion, and more Gentleman Reads

In modern times everything one needs to know can essentially be found on the internet. Well not everything-- that's an embellishment, but you know alot of basic facts and "how-tos". And even though the web makes us feel as if information is at our disposal there is still a need for real-life tangibility, you know, magazines, papers, books. Sometimes looking at a screen just gets... dreary. Blogs and websites are indeed the the easiest sources to use when wanting to retrieve information on style and fashion, but books make for great companions to the information and advice you read weekly on the net. They also come in handy when your wireless connection is going on and off or when your laptop is in the shop and you need to know how to tie-a-tie or what dress shirt and shoes go best with a navy pinstripe suit. There are a few great books out there that I suggest owning just so that you can have an at-hand resource and reference guide to men's style.

1. Gentleman: A Timeless Guide to Fashion by Bernhard Roetzel

This book is very classic, from the cover, to the photos, to the sections on bowlers and top hats. If you want to know the proper ways to wear certain clothing, where to wear it, and the history of why its worn that way, then Gentleman is the book for you. Written with a focus on the English Gentleman this book is a sort of staple or all-inclusive guide that will last you a lifetime.

Here are two snippets from the book that I enjoyed, click to enlarge:

(How trousers got their cuffs and
matching particular materials/fabrics with shoes)

Purchase Gentleman: A Timeless Guide to Fashion
at your local bookstore or HERE.

2. Dressing the Man, Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion by Alan Flusser

This book focuses on creating style for the individual. It includes advice on what patterns, colors, and styles to wear for each body type. Much like Gentleman, Dressing the Man also focuses on building a classic wardrobe, but with a modern overtone.

Buy it at your local bookstore or HERE.



Other notable books that will help a man class up his wardrobe:

- Esquire The Handbook of Style, more info here.

- The Indispensable Guide to Classic Men's Clothing, more info here.

- Tom Ford, more info here.


These are books that you can purchase for yourself today and pass down to your nephew, son, or to a friend in the future. They would also make for great stocking stuffers for Christmas or as a just because gift to yourself or someone in need of style and wardrobe help.

Urban Gent Poll: Whose Style Do You Like Best

The results from the latest Urban Gent Poll are in... this was sort of a mini poll since it didn't run for that long:

The Question: Whose Style Do You Like Best?

Zac Efron	20 (17%)
Nick Cannon	3 (2%)
Channing Tatum	10 (8%)
Kid Cudi	53 (45%)
John Legend	25 (21%)
Robert Pattinson	5 (4%)

Votes so far: 116

1st place goes to Kid Cudi, 2nd John Lengend, and 3rd Zac Efron.

I'm not surprised at Kid Cudi winning first, the Winter/Fall Fashion Guide has been posted front and center for the past month or so, and he's posted as my example for Assorted Swank. Plus, alot of Urban Gent readers are big fans of artist like Kid Cudi, Lupe, Pharrell, etc etc. I'll look into doing a more in-depth Kid Cudi style article later.

Zac Efron at UK premiere of 'Me and Orson Welles', Nov 18th

I honestly thought Zac Efron would get 2nd, if not 1st, but he got 3rd. He's been pretty consistent with his style for the past two years and he constantly updates his looks; sometimes its a big update while other times it's subtle. Zac's perfectly polished look from the beginning of 2009 was, well, perfect. And his messy, swept-over hair do from mid-2009 was oookay, not one of my favorites, but I appreciated the update and experimentation. His current look is pretty great as well. Hmmm, I guess when I think of Efron's changing styles I think of his hair. But besides his hair his attire is always perfect... his jeans fit well, as do his button downs. He and his girlfriend always look flawless on the red carpet.


John Legend always look nice. His suits are usually custom-fitted, he wears trendy bow-ties, and just keeps himself well-groomed (hair, skin, clothing) like an Urban Gent should.


***Don't forget to vote on the new poll... What's Your Favorite Fall/Winter Trend? (located on the right side of the page)

Men's Fall/Winter 2009-2010 Trends & Style Guide

We've gotten many many emails inquiring about the Fall/Winter trends post, we're sorta tardy with it, but hey we have lives-- busy ones at that. Nevertheless, without further ado we present to our stylish/intelligent/fly/super-cool readers... The Official Urban Gentleman 2009-2010 Men's Fall Winter Trends.

Conservative Dapper

(above: clothing by designer Calvin Klein)

Being polished, being perfect, being well-groomed-- these are the makings of a conservative man. He gets his haircut every week, he gets his shoes shined, he opens the door for a lady, he knows to undo the lower button on his 2-button suit jacket when sitting down, and to just as quickly button it up as he stands. This, is the man that women dream of.

Editors notes: There has been so many colors, so many styles, so many... well, there is just so much going on with men's fashion these days. You have guys bringing back the eye-catching hairstyles, the cross colors, the bright plaids, and much more. So this, Conservative Dapper, is like a break, a relaxing break from it all. It's a return to simpler, easier, classic times. This is my favorite trend for the fall and winter.

To get the look: Trench coats, suits, crisp white button downs, tip-clips, white pocket squares, perfectly polished lace-ups.

Hard Studded

(above: clothing by designer William Rast)

Hard times call for drastic measures. Some people are recession proofing their lives literally, while others are taking the figurative route. This means roughing up the wardrobe, showing the world that "you got this", you're hard and you know it, you're tough and a few troubles really don't phase you.

Editors notes: To me this look is like Pony Boy meets Michael Jackson. You take the main edginess and ruggedness from the guys of the Outsiders and mix it with the jeweled/metallic/shiny/studded MJ from his "Bad era". The late world icon has inspired alot of us this year and this trend is where his inspiration is placed for the fall and winter.

To get the look: Torn/ripped/worn jeans, leather jackets, studded everything- shirts, shoes, accessories, jackets, white t-shirts.

Assorted Swank

(above: artist Kid Cudi)

The men of the world are pleased with the fashions they have been dealt over the past year or so; therefore many of them have decided to just combine what they have learned. They mix their military jackets with their nerdish glasses, they combine their college cool tees with their Thom Browne inspired pants and oxford shoes. This season many guys are opting to be fashion connoisseurs, their phrase "we collect fashion, we create style".

Editors notes: I've said it once, I've said it twice, and I'll say it again-- men are lucky. Why? because their trends change so slowly allowing them to revel in trends for quite some time. And more than ever I have seen stylish guys mixing it up quite nicely- Retro Bandstand mixed with Geometric Retro Nerd mixed with Clodhoppers Delight with a little College Cool on the side. It's like whatever is necessary to look fly is what guys are doing... daring to be to different by adding their own spins on the hottest trends. To that I say "touche'."

To get the look: band-jacket, cardigan, loafers, glasses, graphic tees, harem pants, torn jeans.

It's a Man's World

(above: actor Brad Pitt)

As men's.style stated "enough with the skinny shit". I think we're all tired in some way or another of going out and seeing grown men in girl jeans, v-necks so low we can see their belly-buttons. We know there was a call for androgynous looks last year and men wanted to express their feminine side, but some people took it too far and now we have to re-instate manhood.

So that means get inspired by the manliest men you know then get either rugged or classic. Think Ocean's 13-- Rusty, Danny, Rueban, Basher, and the whole crew- all men, all masculine, all stylish, but in their own way. We're not saying be cookie-cutter models of gq men, but we do want you to "man up".

Editors Notes: "Ahhh (pleasant sigh of relief)" I feel like I just drank a nice tasty soda pop after being parched for an hour... well not literally, but that's the feeling I get when I think about this trend- it's just refreshing. Starting from this summer we saw all the men in Hollywood roughing it on the beaches- letting their beards grow in, chest hairs grow out. They were indirectly telling the world- it's time to be men again, so let's continue this trend for the fall. (I was going to make this apart of the summer trends and I did touch on it a bit in some posts, but I knew it would be better placed in Fall/Winter.)

To get the look: dark denim, perfectly fitted suits, ties, elegant and serious fedoras (none of that funny colorful ish), wing-tips, boots, blazers.

More 2009-2010 Fall Winter Styles:

Other trends: Band/Military jackets are still at large, v-necks (there's a boycott against deep v's though), velvet ( ties, jackets, loafers).

Accessories: tie-clips, brooches/buttons, gold watches, knit ties.

Colors: Grays and dark tones.

Stay Tuned for places to get these looks.

Winner of the Orient Watch Giveaway

Congratulations....

Thomas Robinson (aka the guy with two last names).

Take a look at Thomas's answer on what he does to make it to school, work, or general engagements on time:

to get places on time and to be on time in general i:

1. set all clocks about 12 1/2 minutes fast, which usually gets rounded to 10 minutes when im thinking about it being fast.

2. take the train generally, since i live right next to a station. and i give myself cushion time or the train or shuttle to mess up

3. i prepare everything i need the night before- ironing clothes, lunch, everything... this saves me alot of time in the morning- so all i have to do is get ready and im out the door.

4. eat and exercise daily. this may seem random, but what your health plays a big role in your body functions and its easier for me to wake up now than back in the day 3 or 4 years ago when i would eat pizza chips and soda for dinner. now my dinners are usually fish or turkey, with fruit smoothies and/or huge salads.

5. i make sure my car is always filled up. i fill up my car when its on 1/2 tank- sometimes 3/4th just so i wont ever have to worry. my mom would always be running late when i was young, then shed have to stop and put in gas making her more late- so you can say i learned from her, but i just learned to do the opposite.

6. keep my house, office, car clean and organized. be organized saves time. i know where everything is so im never searching for "my blue and white tie" or "my cologne" etc.

Random Assortment.

Hey Gentleman, sorry for the 1 week+ hiatus. Let's just say, there's alot going on (with me and the other urban gent associates). We should be back to our regularly scheduled postings next week at latest.

Lots of good post coming next week, in the meantime enjoy a random assortment of music and photos:

Rat Pack.

Tom Ford Fall 2009 Ad Campaign.
(featuring Jon Kortajarena).







Tom's collection is, as always, masculine yet sexy. Modern, yet classic.


Have a great weekend guys.

Urban Gent Giveaway: Orient Watch

This is the last day to enter to win a gold or silver Orient watch.
To enter to win, go here.

SWANK or DANK: Christopher Shannon Tri-Stripe Nylon Bomber Jacket

Color blocking has been a popular trend among many designers over the past year. The combination of bold colors are meant to give off a confident 'happy' look. Personally, I'm a fan of the trend- especially when the designer does it right... I'm contemplating this design... What's your take on this flouro red, orange, and grey nylon/jersey bomber?

So what do you think
SWANK or DANK?

Christopher Shannon Tri-Stripe Nylon Jacket,$384.99.
*(get matching Christopher Shannon here. )