Casual| Social| Business| Wedding| Stylists| Made to Measure| Barbershop| About| Press| Location

Guest Bloggers

Seperator

Benefits of a Man’s Best Friend

by reggie in Guest Bloggers on June 22nd, 2010 Discussion

After going to Woofstock last week, I have come to realize that there is simply no better accessory a man can adorn then having a dog with him. Obviously dogs were on my brain and I was noticing the startling amount of men with their furry friends on the subway and streetcars. And every single one suffered an onslaught of inquisitions from me. Conversations generally would go as follows:

Me “Oh my god! He is soooo cute. Can I pet him?”

Guy (startled by my enthusiasm) – “Uh…ya.”

Me“What kind of dog is he? Are you going to Woofstock? You should be.”

Guy (confused) – “Where? What? He’s a _________(fill in the blank)”

Me“Ohhh such a good boy, such a good boy! Hello, hello baby, yes you wanna come with me? You wanna be my pet at Woofstock? Ok, let’s go. Soooo cute.”

Now charmed by my love for your pet or not, if you are going to walk around with a big fuzzy creature, I’m going to talk to you. And I know there are some men out there who fully realize how much of a chick-magnet their dog is. If you are well dressed and respectable looking, don’t worry about over-accessorizing with designer finishing touches. Add dog and the women will come.

That is one of the reasons these poor folks at Gotstyle can’t seem to get rid of me. Have you met Hector, the gorgeous Burmese Mountain dog that acts as Gotstyle’s mascot? He just hangs out there all day. I would too, if I could. And now another dog has been added to the Gotstyle family. Little Elliot sleeps all day in the corner by the cash. Of course I want to hang out there. I know it’s a men’s store, but man, it certainly has the “chick-magnet” factor as well. Word of advice, Gotstyle. Lose the dogs and the hot guys and the cozy couches and the awesome parties and only then will you get rid of me.

Follow Valerie on Twitter (@ValTorontoGal) and on her blog: I’m Charming You

Seperator

Neale’s Close Call with a House Fire + Safety Tips

by reggie in Guest Bloggers on June 14th, 2010 Discussion

On the 2-4 weekend, 6am in the morning, I was woken up to my neighbour frantically screaming that there was a fire in her apartment. So I shot out of bed just to see what the hell was going on, not actually thinking there was a fire. As I caught my bearings, I started to smell smoke and got worried.

I told my partner to get out of bed and quickly organize himself while I ran upstairs to see what was going on. Ran into her apartment to see it completely engulfed in black smoke and a wall of molten lava.

We hurried out of the apartment and ran back downstairs as the neighbours tried to get us out of the house. Ran back into the apartment to quickly decide what were the three most important things in my life. So first and foremost, my partner, my dog, and my wallet. And anything else I could manage to grab. Not even thinking about my entire wardrobe or other worldly goods.

Quickly proceeded out of the house and onto the street, only to watch as the roof burst into flames. Immediately we all thought the same thing: there goes our entire lives.

As the twelve (!!) fire trucks arrived they quickly entered the house to try to get control of the blaze. And tried salvaging what they could of our apartments. Luckily they got the fire under control and saved most of our possessions from going up in smoke (not to mention my extensive Gotstyle wardrobe).

Upon talking to the fire chief, if it had been a minute later, the whole house would have went up in flames.

As we re-entered our apartment 5 hours later, we had noticed that luckily all of our stuff was OK, but the structure was severely water damaged. The woman upstairs is now out of her apartment for the next 5 months while they rebuild it.

Three weeks later, we’re still living in a construction zone outside of our bedrooms. Thankful that our lives, while disrupted are otherwise undamaged.

Important things to make sure you have in place if a fire should ever happen to you:

  1. A plan to exit the house & meeting area
  2. Keep ID and passport, phone, key in the same area for quick access (ie. fire proof safe or bed side table)
  3. Always pay attention to alarms or people frantically screaming. Don’t dismiss someone’s cries for help or warning
  4. Get renters insurance – landlords typically have their own to cover the physical space but not your personal belongings
  5. Have a support group you can contact when in distress
  6. Ultimately your possessions are tangible – what’s more important is the people and their safety
Seperator

Joa on World Cup: For the World Cup Novice

by reggie in Guest Bloggers on June 11th, 2010 Discussion


With Mexico tying up the first match of World Cup 10 minutes from full time (what a memorable goal by Siphiwe Tshabalala for South Arica!), the city is buzzing in excitement. For those who are interested in the World Cup but haven’t had the time to really break down the who’s who in the tournament, here’s a guide to get you started.

Fun Teams to Watch
The most exciting teams to watch out for are Argentina, Spain, Brazil, the African teams, and Mexico. They always attack in matches.

The Big Players to Pretend You Know All About
Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Wayne Rooney (England), Robinho (Brazil), Arjen Robben (Holland), Franck Ribery (France)

TV Channels to Order this Month
TLN for some funny Spanish commentator, CBC, TSN, and Justin.tv if you’re at work! Check out the games from 10am to 2pm.

Websites to Bookmark
Soccernet.com, Goal.com, Livescore.com

Places to watch the World Cup in Toronto
Queen & Beaver
Football Factory
Brazen Head
School Cafe
For the Passive Follower: Gretzky’s – especially if you want to watch while having a pint (sorry if I’m wrong!)
For the Rowdy Fans: Any bars on St Clair, Dufferin, College, Dundas West – remember to wear a neutral shirt!

Stay tuned for details on a really cool game-day at the Mod Club two Sundays from now!

Seperator

Sylvie on Style: Put a Lid on It

by Sylvie in Guest Bloggers on June 9th, 2010 Discussion

Men in hats. It’s something I’ve loved from a fairly young age — most probably because both of my grandfathers wore them — and looked quite dapper, might I add (fedoras, by the way). In any case, I’ve been observing (and rather enjoying) the resurgence of men, young and old alike, sporting the ol’ chapeau.

Hats can definitely add character to your look. And that’s when finding the right style of hat comes into play. Listed below are my top 5 pics for hats that are trending at the moment:


The Trilby Hat

Many have mistaken the trilby hat for the fedora, but there is a slight difference. A fedora hat’s brim is typically larger and isn’t sharply upturned in the back. Popularized by the likes of Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson, one can evoke spirits of the past, and wear it Sinatra style, or dress it down with a jeans and a T. However you choose to wear it, this hat oozes a cool, carefree attitude.


The Ivy Cap

The ivy cap, also known as the flat cap, has its origins in the United Kingdom back in the 14th century. Most commonly made from fabrics such as tweed, leather or cotton for the summer, the ivy cap has grown in popularity among the punk & hip hop subcultures. But just about anybody can sport this cap, as it seems to carry a universal mass appeal.


The Cadet Cap

To say that Fidel Castro had a small hand in this hat’s popularity, would be an understatement. What started out as a ‘standard issue’ item for military personnel, has turned into a standard part of the popular wardrobe culture. This hat carries a hint of rebellion and whole lot of attitude.


The Newsboy Cap

As its name suggests, the newsboy cap was a casual cap worn by young newspaper boys in the late 19th and early 20th century. Wealthy golfers of the time, have also been known to wear the newsboy cap. But it’s large, floppy quality has proven to be popular among the artsy crowd as well.


The Porkpie Hat

The porkpie hat got it’s name from its resemblance to a pork pie. It’s similar to a trilby hat, only it’s brim is upturned all the way around. Think, early Run DMC. Jazz/Blues musicians. If you want to give off a funk/slick/hip vibe, this hat’s for you.

So there you have it, fellas. Now there’s no excuse not to give hat-wearing a try! Find your inspiration — then, find your style. Easy-peezy ;) .

Curious to know more about Sylvie? Feel free to visit her website at sylviepamphile.com.

Seperator

Joa on World Cup 2010: The Bets

by Joa in Guest Bloggers on June 8th, 2010 Discussion


Who is your pick for the World Cup?

Well, I think Brazil has the best chances – but the dark forces will help England and Spain to maximize their talent. It’s probably between Spain and England (but truthfully I think Brazil is going to win).

What will be the biggest surprise in the World Cup?

The ball. This ball really sucks – if you ever played with this ball, it’s unreal. It bounces a lot and as you kick, it gains a lot of speed. Players will have a really hard time controlling the ball, getting passes, timing, and kicking. That being said, it will give an edge to teams that do not have a technical experience. Teams with finesse characteristics will suffer most from it.

Biggest upset?

France & Argentina – their coaches are their worst enemy and might get knocked out by smaller teams.

What is your dream scenario in the World Cup?

England playing against Portugal in the quarter finals and ends in penalty kicks. With the last kick by Cristiano Ronaldo, he’ll go to the crowd to yell at them to shut up. Then Portugal moves on to the semi-finals against Brazil, only to get knocked out. And Dundas/Dufferin will have their quietest day ever.

Places to watch the World Cup in Toronto

Queen & Beaver
Football Factory
Brazen Head
School Cafe
For the Passive Follower: Gretzky’s – especially if you want to watch while having a pint (sorry if I’m wrong!)
For the Rowdy Fans: Any bars on St Clair, Dufferin, College, Dundas West – remember to wear a neutral shirt!

Start your team rivalries & leave some tips in the comments below.

Seperator