Go-To Guys
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
A nice reader recently wrote in asking me for more male-focused recs, and that really got me thinking. I definitely feel like I could dig up some interesting stuff for my dudes out there, but obviously it’s not my area of expertise or anything; plus, it’s been a while since I’ve brought on a guest, so I reached out to a few of my guy coworkers at the Strategist, all of whom are extremely stylish and discerning. Today’s issue is brought to you by Daniel Varghese, who’s currently an associate editor at Strat and has previously worked at GQ and Wirecutter. I can assure you that Daniel is very cool and chic (just take a look at his Instagram) and I personally would not hesitate to follow any and all of his recommendations. Take it away, Daniel!
Fresh as a Daisy
SHI_SO - NOMENCLATURE ($100 for 1.7oz)
Even before I had ever really tried cologne or perfume, I had a pretty strong idea of what I wanted. I knew that most colognes worked in a rich, darker scent palate, prioritizing notes of chocolate, tobacco, and wood. I also knew that wouldn’t really suit me. I wanted something fresher, almost invigorating, like plunging into a cold pool on a warm day. The first time I smelled this perfume on a test strip, I was unconvinced. Its shiso leaf bouquet was a bit fresher than I expected, and kind of made me recoil. But when I spritzed a bit on my neck and walked around the store, it unfurled into the lush bounty of fresh mint, spring rain, and candied fruits. It was exactly what I had been looking for. I’ve acquired more perfumes and colognes in the three years since I bought it, but it is still the one I wear most often.
Spoon It Up
BLACK LITTLE DIPPER (6 PACK) - UMESHISO (from $32)
These are technically coffee cupping spoons, designed to maximize the aroma you’ll get while slurping coffee into your mouth during a professional tasting. But ultimately, they’re just very cool looking spoons. I recently purchased a set to keep in a small glass jar near my stove, so that I always have a utensil to check the salt levels of my pasta sauce handy.
The Ties That Bind
YOUR LOCAL VINTAGE SHOP
I don’t wear almost anything I bought before 2013. I was a diligent shopper, but I was overly reliant on a set of Style Rules enshrined by the freaks on 4chan and Reddit that insisted there was one single proper way for a t-shirt to fit. I would go to the mall after school, usually alone, and try on everything that fit me from the GAP sales rack. I came home with colored chinos, heather gray henleys, and oh so many plaid poplin shirts. Some of this felt okay — I still practically live in a white oxford cloth button down — but I regretted the vast majority of my purchases almost immediately. After all, I was basically buying off a checklist I had printed from the internet. It was all bound to be deeply replaceable.
There is one thing, however, that has not only remained part of my wardrobe, but actually gotten better with time. I almost never found anything in the vintage or secondhand stories in Louisville that suited me, but I decided to check out one on a whim while I was in Princeton, New Jersey for a summer camp. The vibe was far more Ivy than I would have really gone for at the time, but I was enjoying rifling through the collection of tennis sweaters and rowing blazers when I saw it: a brown knit tie. I don’t know what it was, but the tie lodged itself into my brain. Maybe it was the perfect chocolatey shade of brown, maybe it was the sturdy, but soft knit tie texture I had never seen before, maybe it was the fact that it was 90 degrees and I had just eaten a sandwich called the Dirty Sanchez. Needless to say, I bought the tie. I wore it to our final celebratory dance, and several performances, date nights, and weddings since. And so I say to you, dear reader, walk into a vintage store and let yourself be moved by something. It might just stay with you for the better part of a decade.
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!