Tag: Living Smarter

A Comprehensive Guide to Watch Straps
[ad_1]
A complete visual glossary to the other half of a watch’s appearance.

A watch strap does more than hold a case to your wrist. It shapes the personality of the watch itself. Swap the strap and you change the entire feel, sometimes more dramatically than changing the watch.

By their very nature, watch straps are often considerably cheaper than an entirely new watch, so it is often more cost-effective to expand one’s collection of straps over splurging on another watch.

Building a small rotation of straps gives you far more versatility than adding another watch to the drawer. Leather for the office, rubber for the water, nylon for weekends, steel for something sharper. One watch can cover a surprising amount of ground.

There are dozens of strap styles, each with its own backstory and use case. Below is a breakdown of the most important types, where they came from, and when to wear them.

There is an absolutely humungous amount of watch straps available to you, and I will do my best to document the best watch straps here. Each strap has a fascinating history, so if one of them jumps out at you, the accompanying text will surely be an interesting read. Finally, be sure to check out the lists of available retailers; they should help you find exactly what you’re looking for, regardless of your price range. Don’t be afraid to spend a bit extra to get exactly what you want!

Without further ado, let’s get started!

What is the Difference Between Watch Bands, Watch Straps, and Watch Bracelets?

These terms are often used interchangeably, though there are small distinctions.
- Watch band is the broad umbrella term. It includes anything that secures a watch to your wrist, metal or non-metal.
- Watch strap usually refers to non-metal options such as leather, nylon, rubber, sailcloth, or fabric.
- Watch bracelet refers specifically to metal constructions such as stainless steel, titanium, or precious metal link designs like Oyster or Jubilee.
While these distinctions exist, it’s common to find these terms used interchangeably, especially in casual conversation or online retail. The nuances are often more recognized by watch enthusiasts and collectors who appreciate the subtle differences in material and design.

In the end, whether it’s a band, strap, or bracelet, the choice often comes down to personal style, comfort, and the occasion for which the watch is worn. Understanding these terms adds a layer of insight for those looking to explore the diverse world of watch accessories, allowing for a more informed and tailored selection.

How to Measure a Watch Band

Watch bands are sold in sizes measured in millimeters based on the interior width of the watch lugs. If you’re lucky, the size may be printed on the back of the current watch strap.

To measure, use a metric ruler or a free printable template like this one to find the distance between the lugs of the watch case or the spring bar end of the current strap. Do not include the spring bar in the measurement. As a refresher, there are 10 millimeters in a centimeter.

The Evolution of Watch Straps: A Timeline

The journey of using a strap to attach a clock to your wrist is a fascinating story, interwoven with history, fashion, functionality, and innovation. Here’s a glimpse into the key milestones that shaped the world of watch straps:
- Straps in the Late 1800s: In the rugged terrains and disciplined routines of military life, soldiers began wearing pocket watches on their wrists with leather straps known as “trench watches”. A practical solution that marked the humble beginnings of a trend.
- Women’s Fashion in the Early 1900s: Watches transcended mere timekeeping as women started treating wristwatches like jewelry, attaching them with ornate metal chains and bracelets. A fusion of elegance and functionality was born.
- Wristwatches Become Fashionable: The fashionable wave reached the shores of the United States, and in 1912, The New York Times reported the burgeoning trend of wristwatches among working women and leisurely socialites alike.
- World War I Influence: The trenches of WWI further propelled the trend, as soldiers relied on wristwatches, replacing delicate chains with rugged leather straps, turning a fashion statement into a symbol of utility and resilience.
- Luxury Wristwatches: From soldiers to celebrities, wristwatches evolved with initially produced leather straps, but soon metal bracelets like the Oyster, President, and Jubilee by Rolex became iconic, synonymous with luxury and prestige.
- Casual and Durable Options: As times changed, so did the straps. Rubber straps and nylon NATO straps were introduced for specific functions, also offering casual and durable options for everyday wear.
- Changing Straps: A trend emerged, changing straps became more than a necessity; it became a way to enhance appearance, functionality, and even breathe new life into old timepieces.
- Modern Watch Customization: Today, changing the strap is an easy way to update a watch’s look. Whether a DIY home adjustment with spring bar connections or professional assistance for integrated metal bands, the possibilities are as varied as the straps themselves.
This historical panorama sets the stage for understanding the multitude of strap options available today, from the classic NATO to the avant-garde Milanese. The watch strap, once a mere practical accessory, has become a canvas for style, identity, and a reflection of the times.

Watch Strap Types

Table of Contents Click on each to jump to its section

NATO Strap

Originally developed for British Army soldiers in the 1970s, the NATO strap originally debuted under the name “G10”, a title taken from the form for requisition. Although similar styles can be traced back to World War II, this was the first appearance of the strap under its contemporary title.

It quickly grew in popularity throughout the military, and over time, the general public gradually began to appreciate the strap for its numerous features and abilities. When the Cold War ended, G10 straps were sold in military surplus shops around the country, and they were all branded with a unique NATO Surplus Number. Surplus stores sold out quickly, but watch strap retailers sprung up to take advantage of the surge in popularity. The veritable storm of NATO straps never quite ended, and they are sure to remain popular for decades to come.

The most notable feature of a NATO strap is its single-piece construction; most other straps are composed of two separate pieces, and can only be applied by removing both of the spring bars that attach to the watch. Switching out straps is normally a time consuming process, but NATO straps are simply woven underneath the spring bars, so they can be removed or applied in a matter of seconds.

Finally, the addition of a watch keeper strap ensures that the watch case will remain firmly on your wrist even if one of the spring bars snaps. James Bond has famously worn NATO straps across films and actors. All of these characteristics make NATO straps an excellent choice for nearly any situation, and their low price is a boon to those on a budget.

Retailers:

One Piece Slip-Thru & Zulu

Timex Slip Thru Strap

Trademarked by Maratac, Zulu straps have surprisingly little background for such an interesting name. Although obviously inspired by NATO straps, there are a few minor differences that separate the two. Firstly, they are composed of thicker materials, be it nylon or leather. This slightly increases their strength and durability, but they also might not fit between the spring bars of some watches. Secondly, Zulu straps have larger, more rounded hardware to accommodate their increased girth.

In contrast, NATO straps have small, squared-off buckles and rings that better suit its reduced volume. Finally, the watch keeper strap is an optional inclusion on Zulu watch bands, so they are available in both 3- and 5-ring configurations. Either way, there is almost no aesthetic impact, so just go with whatever you find to be the most comfortable.

Thinner straps more akin to a NATO but without the keeper strap are also commonly found labeled as one piece or slip-thru, such as the Timex in the photo above.

What’s the difference between a NATO strap and a Zulu strap?

The generally larger dimensions Zulu straps make them especially good for large watches, since the face is more comparable to the hardware in terms of size. Conversely, NATO straps are excellent for small watches; the thinner material is more likely to fit through the spring bars, and they have a more proportionate appearance. Zulu straps also take a bit longer to break in, but at the same time, they will most likely last longer than a NATO.

In the end, it comes down to personal preference – some people can’t handle the extra bulk a Zulu provides, but others find NATO straps to be too flimsy. I recommend picking up one of each type and deciding which you prefer in-person!

Retailers:

Smartwatches and Apple Watch Bands

17 Things Under $50 that Will Improve Your Style

Smartwatches operate on a different attachment system than traditional watches. Most mechanical and quartz watches use spring bars and standard lug widths, usually measured in millimeters. Apple Watch models and many other smartwatches use easy-to-swap but proprietary slide-in connectors instead.

This means traditional straps will not attach directly without an adapter. Thankfully, adapters are widely available and allow you to use standard 20mm or 22mm straps on an Apple Watch case.

Apple’s own bands fall into several broad categories:
- Sport Band, a flexible rubber-like option for workouts
- Sport Loop, a lightweight woven nylon with velcro closure
- Milanese Loop, a magnetic mesh bracelet
- Link Bracelet, a metal bracelet with removable links
- Leather options, including modern magnetic designs
If you prefer the look of traditional straps, third-party adapters make it possible to wear leather, NATO, rubber, or even metal bracelets on an Apple Watch. Just make sure the adapter matches your case size.

Rally

The Watch Forum

Inspired by old school racing gloves, Rally straps can be easily recognized by the three or more large perforations punched out below the lugs. Automotive racing is primarily a test of speed, and weight plays directly into the maximum achievable velocity – as such, many early race cars were constructed of parts with holes drilled through them. This decreased the overall weight, so just about everything made of metal was perforated to some extent. To remain aesthetically consistent, driving gloves (and later, rally straps) were perforated, too.

Some might argue that the perforations existed primarily for ventilation and breathability, but it’s difficult to tell the true reason. Race cars are notoriously warm, and perforations helped to reduce both heat and weight, so it could have been either one!

Regardless of their origin, Rally straps are a great choice for summer wear. Even if it wasn’t the original intention, the perforations do substantially increase ventilation, which can be useful in the summer heat. Furthermore, there’s no better choice of strap to pair with a vintage chronograph, since they were frequently used to time races. If the style or history of the Rally strap appeals to you, I highly recommend picking one up.

How to Use Your Watch to Measure Speed and Distance

Retailers:

Oyster

Introduced by Rolex in the 1930s, the Oyster bracelet is an absolute classic in every sense of the word. The Oyster is characterized by its long and thick three-piece link design, and is by far the most popular bracelet model available. It has premiered on nearly every Rolex model to date, and has gained a massive following as a result.

While its storied history is one reason for its success, many people swear by it for its sheer functionality. The wide center bar makes each link strong and less prone to stretching, so the bracelet is exceedingly durable. Furthermore, the relatively small number of links reduces the number of possible break points. This does come at a cost, however; the reduced number of swivel points makes the strap feel a bit stiff in comparison to other bracelets.

Aside from this minor problem, the Oyster bracelet is a great choice for nearly any watch. The hefty links are often more proportionate on a large watch, but it looks great on a smaller one, too. The Oyster has a vast and interesting history, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. If you’re interested in experimenting with bracelets, this is a great first step!

Retailers:

President

Alpha Watch

Originally worn on the Rolex Day-Date in 1956, the President bracelet received its name from its close association with Dwight D. Eisenhower. As the story goes, Rolex offered Mr. Eisenhower the company’s 150,000^th certified chronometer as a token of respect, which he gladly accepted. The relative width of each link piece is similar to that of the Oyster, but there is a drastic difference in the number of total links. The President bracelet is markedly denser than the Oyster, so each link is much shorter in comparison.

This eliminates the problem of stiffness, but it does present a potential problem in terms of durability. The increase in total links also leads to a direct increase in probable failure points, but this should not be a major concern. You might notice a small amount of stretching after extensive wear, but this depends entirely on the quality of the strap, not its link construction.

The President bracelet is considerably more formal than the Oyster due to its compact links. This also increases the strap’s versatility, since it can be dressed up and down more easily. For this reason, it is an excellent choice when versatility is a primary concern. It typically works best with small- to medium-sized watches, but this comes down to personal preference.

Retailers:

→ read: My Life Story In 4 Watches

Jubilee

The Jubilee bracelet was first introduced in 1945 for Rolex’s 40^th anniversary – it premiered on the Datejust, one of Rolex’s most renowned dress watches. Though it was at first only available in gold, steel and two-tone versions were released soon after. The Jubilee is characterized by three narrow, highly polished links situated between the thick, matte finish side links. The total number of links is identical to that of the President bracelet, but the central portion tends to appear narrower due to its triple-wide construction.

When placed on a watch, the Jubilee draws attention to the center of the watch face, minimizing the footprint on the wrist. The two-tone variations exacerbate this effect, especially when the central links are a different color than the watch case. As such, a Jubilee bracelet (be it of mono- or duo-tone construction) is an excellent choice for large and small watches alike, since it brings out the best qualities in both.

The only true problem with the Jubilee is its propensity towards stretching over long periods of time. Just like the President, the Jubilee’s small links reduce its structural integrity. After a while, the pins holding each link together tend to expand and loosen, gradually extending past the wearer’s true wrist size. Thankfully, modern construction capabilities have fixed many of the structural problems, so the slightly decreased durability is only visible on vintage models. Unless you put it through some serious abuse, you should never have to worry about a Jubilee strap wearing out.

Retailers:

Engineer

Designed to be extremely chunky, Engineer bracelets have a notoriously large wrist presence. Believed to have been created by Seiko, the Engineer is a perfect match for hefty dive watches due to its proportionally sized links. Even though these links are quite large, they are stacked to a width of five total links, so they appear quite visually dense. The links themselves are often cut in a pseudo-hexagonal pattern, which makes them angular in a way that few other bracelets can match.

The sheer size of the Engineer bracelet also causes it to be exceedingly heavy and thick, so you might experience a bit of wrist fatigue when you first start wearing it. Of course, the Engineer does make up for its unwieldy volume with its incredible durability, so it’s an excellent choice for a beater watch.

While its bulky appearance might at first steer small-wristed folk away, one must consider that proportions are more important than physical dimensions. As stated previously, Engineer bracelets have an undeniable wrist presence, but this makes them perfect to pair with large divers like the Seiko Monster. The bracelet itself matches the width of the watch case, so it has a surprisingly low profile when worn on the wrist. The surprisingly small lugs help with this, too, since they are unlikely to hang over the edge of the wrist.

Regardless, the Engineer bracelet can work with any size wrist as long as it remains proportional the watch it is attached to.

Retailers:

Aviator / Pilot

Watch Talk

As its name suggests, the Aviator watch strap was popularized by the German air force during World War II. The first iterations were incredibly long so as to fit directly over the pilots’ flight jackets, and one or more rivets were added directly below the lugs to prevent the watches from flying off of their wrists. The watches themselves were also oversized (sometimes upwards of 55mm in diameter) for the sake of clarity in intense situations. Both of these items were greatly reduced in size when they reached the general population, but the basic features remained: the final result is an austere, black watch face with white Arabic numerals, attached to a leather strap with large rivets located below the lugs. While these rivets are now non-functional, they do add an interesting aesthetic flair with a fascinating backstory.

Due to their history in the air force, Aviator straps work best on pilot watches, especially those made by Stowa, IWC, Laco, and Hamilton. The stark contrast between the black dial and brown Aviator strap exudes a particularly militaristic essence, and the rivets act as a subtle detail harkening back to the watches’ original purpose.

This strap also pairs excellently with chronographs, which were introduced to pilots at a later date to help time flight durations. Either way, the Aviator is a beautiful strap that makes for a compelling conversation starter.

Retailers:

Bund

flickr

Like Aviator straps, Bund straps were also invented for German pilots in World War II, albeit for a slightly different reason. The single largest hazard in the event of a plane crash is the ensuing fire, and anything composed primarily of metal would quickly become superheated. Watches are always in direct contact with the skin, so a standard strap would allow the watch to scald the wrist.

Bund straps, on the other hand, are constructed with an extra layer of padding beneath the back of the case, therefore preventing it from burning the wearer. This was also useful in high altitudes where the temperature would drop dramatically, since the extra layer of leather would prohibit the metal from freezing to the skin. One final use of the Bund strap was its ability to absorb perspiration; early watches were not very water resistant, so sweat could easily enter through the case back and destroy the internal mechanisms of the watch. Servicemen led a very active lifestyle, so the Bund strap helped to drastically improve the lifespan of government-issued watches.

It is important to note that Bund straps are not for everyone – they are typically quite warm, which makes them difficult to wear in the summer, and they are often too large for small-wristed folk to wear on a regular basis. Still, they’re an excellent choice for those afflicted with a metal allergy, since they prevent all contact between the watch and the wearer’s skin. If your wrist is large enough to support this strap proportionally, you should give it a try, especially if you own a pilot watch or a chronograph! Remember, though: the Bund’s padding should trace the outline of the watch as closely as possible.

Retailers:

Shark Mesh

The name of the Shark Mesh bracelet might immediately conjure images of the fierce oceanic predator, but the strap itself has almost no physical relation to the vicious beast. The famous title was derived from a popular advertising campaign launched by Omega for their new ground-breaking dive watch, the Ploprof 600. Intended for professional use, this watch was built to withstand extended operations at extreme depths.

This watch was one of the most rugged and robust divers’ watches ever made, and its strap lives up to the hype. Although it is not literally “shark-proof” as the advertisements claim, it is more durable than a standard bracelet due to the lack of pins between links. Since the entire strap is held together by intertwined loops, there are drastically fewer break points. The loose and chunky chainmail design provides a flexible and snug fit to anyone’s wrist, and the easily removable links allows the wearer to remove all excess material.

While the strap is relatively heavy, it retains a high level of breathability by means of the large gaps between the interwoven links.

The most noticeable feature of the Shark Mesh strap is its comparatively large links. Most other mesh bracelets tend to be tightly woven with small links, but the Shark Mesh is the complete opposite. As such, many people tend to view it as the most comfortable option, since the relaxed nature of the links allows for a smooth drape around the wrist. I recommend pairing this strap with a vintage 1970s diver, but as long as the proportions are right, you can attach it to just about anything!

Retailers:

Milanese

As their name implies, Milanese watch straps were originally developed in Milan, Italy. The Milanese mesh design can be traced all the way back to the 13^th century, where it was used as a special kind of chainmail. The manufacturing process was completed entirely by hand, and remained an Italian specialty for over 500 years. Renowned German watch strap specialists Staib and Vollmer renewed production of these rare straps in the early 1920s, causing a skyrocket in popularity. This demand lasted late into the 60s, so Milanese straps are a common appearance on vintage dress watches.

The straps themselves are easily distinguished by their extremely dense and tightly woven mesh construction, which makes them some of the smoothest metal straps on the market. This does come at a slight cost to durability, but these straps are frequently worn in more formal environments, so resistance to the elements is less of a concern. Some people also may find that the tightness of the mesh causes a certain degree of rigidity, which might feel a bit less comfortable than looser weaves.

Regardless of these minor problems, Milanese straps are an excellent choice for all-around wear. Although some might view them as somewhat antique, they work just as well with contemporary watches as they do vintage ones. Remember to keep proportions in mind – the extremely thin links might appear disproportionate when worn with a large watch, so I recommend keeping the watch face under 40mm.

Retailers:

Tropic

Watchuseek

Tropic straps were originally developed in the 60s as a cheaper alternative to the metal bracelets used on sport-based Rolex and Tudor watches. Metal bracelets were certainly practical for underwater excursions, but they were very heavy and expensive to replace; luckily, rubber straps served as a solution to both of these problems.

The Tropic strap was the first rubber strap ever released, and it quickly began to corner the dive watch market. It was easily recognizable by the characteristic basket weave pattern stamped into the outward-facing side of the strap, in addition to the numerous perforations running lengthwise from tip to lug. This gave the strap a unique texture in addition to a copious amount of breathability, which was unexpected out of a strap built to be waterproof. Early models were somewhat stiff and brittle, but by the 70s, Tropic straps had been further improved to retain their supple qualities even after years of use.

One of the most amazing features of the Tropic strap was its incredible longevity – even though it was marketed as easily replicable, many models are still in use today (over 40 years later), and they feel and function just like when they were first commissioned. Furthermore, they managed to possess this durability while maintaining a very slim profile, which is rare even for modern variants.

Tropic straps tend to work best on vintage divers due to their shared history, but they also work exceptionally well with contemporary timepieces.

Retailers:

Perlon

Like Tropic straps, Perlon straps were also popularized in the 60s. Perlon straps are easily recognized by their tightly woven basket weave pattern, which is similar in appearance to the surface of a Tropic strap. Instead of being a stamped pattern, however, it is an actual weave composed of thick nylon-esque threads. This characteristic gives Perlon straps a magnificent three-dimensional texture while simultaneously providing extreme amounts of breathability.

One of the most unique features of the Perlon strap is its infinite resizability – there are no predetermined holes, so the buckles prong simply slides through an opening in the weave.

This makes the strap a perfect choice for peculiar wrist sizes, since any circumference can be reached exactly. Perlon is also very abrasion resistant, so it rarely fray from continued use. Finally, Perlon dries quickly and does not stretch when wet, so it is an excellent choice for diving when rubber is unavailable or unwanted.

Perlon straps were invented in Europe, and they never quite managed to cross into American culture. As a result, very few continental retailers offer these straps, so you might have to look into international sellers to find specific colors and styles. Perlon straps peaked in popularity in the 60s and 70s, so they tend to look best on vintage divers.

Regardless of their original purpose, they work beautifully with all manner of watches, from chronographs to dress watches. Their extreme breathability and durability makes them a summer favorite, and their cheap price makes them easy to invest in – I highly recommend picking up a few of them!

Retailers:

Waffle

Uncle Seiko

Premiering on the 6105 Diver in the early 70s, the Waffle strap is an iconic Seiko invention. This watch is widely regarded as the single most important diver in the companys history, and was a common choice for Vietnam servicemen. While the original army-issued watches failed in the humid jungles, the Seiko 6105s kept ticking long after the end of the war. As veterans returned to the U.S., their watches went with them, and they quickly rose in popularity among civilian circles.

The characteristic Waffle strap, obviously named for its distinct texture, adorned a majority of these watches, and was loved by many. Numerous small vents ran down the sides of the strap, which greatly increased its breathability. Since it was composed of rubber, it was entirely waterproof and easily cleanable, and also quite flexible to boot. Sadly, most vintage straps are now hardened and brittle, so many enthusiasts have turned to replicas and homages.

Obviously, the Waffle strap looks best on a vintage Seiko, but thats a pretty tall order. These watches (and their accompanying straps) are no longer in production, so they are ludicrously overpriced for any non-collector. Even so, comparatively inexpensive 1:1 reproductions have been made by multiple retailers, so if you’re looking for a historic Seiko experience, I highly recommend trying one out.

Retailers:

Finally, there are two more rarely seen straps that I will quickly gloss over:

Double Ridge

Watchuseek

Retailers:

NASA

The Other (Affordable) Moon Watch

This long velcro strap was provided to the Apollo astronauts to wear with their Omega Speedmasters on the outside of their spacesuit. Today, velcro straps are quite common, especially with the popularity of smart watches, which have adopted the style. Learn more about The Other (Affordable) Moon Watch.

Retailers:

Read next:
[ad_2]

Brad MacDonald

Source link
February 22, 2026
Begin Again: How To Finally Find Time For What Matters With Backwards Planning
[ad_1]
The trick to hacking time to get what’s actually important to you.

I don’t know you, yet I know this about you: You don’t have nearly enough time for everything you want to do.

The list is long. Enjoy a romantic date night. Get away for a weekend and hike through nature. Work out at the gym to finally get in shape. Watch your kids play their first little league match. Read an investment book and work on your financial freedom.

But you’re busy with your morning coffee, daytime job, and evening news. You go through your established routines day after day, trying to squeeze things in “somewhere.”

But somewhere is neither a time of the day nor a day of the week. At one point, you look back and realize that despite your efforts, you’ve spent most of your time on banalities and distractions instead of the important things.

If you want to do what matters, you have to plan backward.

Step 1: Start With the End in Mind to Determine Your Values

Most people walk through life without a clear plan, so they follow someone else’s.

Society has funneled them into the 9-5, two kids, picket-fence house narrative.

Instead of creating the life they want, they’re stuck in insignificant routines that lead to nowhere, briefly interrupted by painful awakenings and empty promises.

On New Year’s Eve, they look at their life and bad habits, wonder where they have gone wrong, and pledge to do better next year – only to end up in the same spot again.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

The best way to get to the end you desire is to think about your own.

Ask yourself: “When I die, what kind of life do I want to look back upon? How do I want others to remember me? How do I want to have spent my time?”

In simple words, death doesn’t screw around. When you realize that one day you’ll take your last breath, your excuses don’t matter anymore. Just the cold, harsh reality.

As I thought about my end, I realized that many things I spent time on didn’t matter at all. Who cares if I wore the fanciest sneakers, was the most hard-working employee, or had everybody praise me?

Instead, I realized I wanted the freedom to see the world, meaningful connections with a few select people, and the presence to consciously enjoy every moment of my life.

Whatever your end is, keep it in mind in everything you do.

Step 2: Use Small Commitments To Create Huge Change

Your dreams, goals, and ambitions mean nothing if you don’t act on them.

It’s simple – if you don’t make time for them, they turn into a dirty pile of should, wants, and wishes.

For years, I’ve wanted to improve the connection with my mom. I love her and don’t want to attend her funeral – or my own – with resentment towards her. But instead of letting it become another item on the long list of things I should do, I decided to cut to the chase.

I called her and told her about my plan to book a holiday together so we can soak up the Italian sun, eat copious amounts of pizza and pasta, and talk heart to heart. Now that we have a flight and hotel booked, the chances of this not happening are near zero. No excuses, no change of mind, no bullshit – just planning backward and forcing myself to do what matters.

Forward planning is trying to squeeze things in. Backward planning means having the end in mind and making time for what matters.

The reason squeezing things in is so stressful and prone to failure is it is inherently last minute. The Back Planning framework takes the values you identified in Step 1 and puts things onto your calendar that are important to you long term, forcing the rest of your life to flow around them when it’s finally time to do it.
- Put a date night with your spouse on the calendar for 3 weeks from now
- Want to spend more time with your kids outdoors? Choose a weekend in 8 weeks to go camping.
- Have a desire to be more social? Invite your friends to a game night next month.
- Want to be healthy and in good shape? Block three slots per week for exercise.
- Want to have a great connection with your family? Block time in 5 months for a weekend getaway.
- Want to be financially independent? Block a specific hour every day to work on your side-hustle.
It’s simple – yet most people still don’t do it.

Nothing will change if you keep going through your day-to-day and try to squeeze things in. Instead, you need to sit down and make time for what matters. You need to ask yourself what you need to do to get to the end you desire.

Do this every week, month, and year. Block the time. Put it in your schedule. Then, fight tooth and nail to protect it – because it matters.

The Choice Is Yours

Time management is simple – make what matters a priority.

But good intentions are nothing without actions. The waves of everyday life will always try to wash away your commitments. Keep the end in mind, plan backward, and stick to it.

Every day, you choose what your future looks like.

Will you say “I wish I had” or “I’m glad I did?”

Your time is your greatest wealth – make sure you spend it on what matters.
[ad_2]

Moreno Zugaro

Source link
January 12, 2026
Why Some Linen Sucks

[ad_1]

Fresh off the rack it looks like a hot weather upgrade, but a few spins through the washer and it hangs off your torso like wrinkly, wet cardboard.

Inspired by a reader question by Zak, a Primer subscriber since 2017.

Linen is always described like it was elected summer’s golden child. Airy, cool, soft, works with loafers, sneakers, under a suit, even as a suit. Then you buy a cheap shirt on sale, and after two wears the placket lays like the edges of lasagna noodles, the fabric feels like a loofah, and the whole thing looks like you’ve been using it as a beach towel.

The explanation is simple: linen is not one thing. It’s many things, and some of them are terrible.

1. The fiber itself: long vs. short, wet-spun vs. dry-spun

Linen comes from flax, and mills divide it into the long, glossy stuff called line and the short broken bits called tow. Line is strong, smooth, and ready to be woven into fabric you might actually enjoy touching. Tow is the sad leftovers: splintery, linty, and better suited to stuffing a scarecrow.

Cheap shirts lean hard on tow, which is why yours feels like it belongs in the shop towels bin. Industry definitions make it sound more dignified, but essentially, tow is fabric mulch.

Spinning matters too. Wet spinning long flax gives smooth, fine yarns that glide on the skin. Semi-wet or dry spinning short fibers creates scratchy ropes you could use to tie down a canoe. And that difference doesn’t ever wash out. Premium European mills, who own the reputation for nice linen, still wet-spin long-line flax.

Brands sometimes tout “European linen” which usually means flax grown in Western Europe (France, Belgium, the Netherlands). These regions have the climate and history for producing the world’s best long-line flax. It’s generally a good sign, even without paperwork. Certifications like Masters of Linen or European Flax exist, but they’re rare to see in normal stores Primer links to; think of them as bonus credibility stamps if you happen across them.

Other certs will appear such as OEKO-TEX Standard 100 like on Quince’s linen shirt, but those are different: they confirm the fabric has been tested for harmful chemicals, not that it’s soft or durable. Nice for peace of mind, but unrelated to hand feel.

It’s possible to find 100% linen shirts at budget brands, but for options on the cheaper end, I actually prefer a linen-cotton blend. The cotton takes away some of the scratchiness and stubborn creasing you get with low-grade linen, even if you lose a bit of the airy texture and drape.

Left: a 55% linen / 45% cotton blend. Right: 100% quality linen. Cotton smooths out the surface, reduces the bad wrinkling found on cheaper linen, and makes the fabric feel softer at the cost of losing some of linen’s crisp texture.

So what to look for when shopping? On a tag or product page, “European linen” is worth noting. If you happen to see certifications like Masters of Linen, even better, though unlikely. In person, trust your hands: smooth and silky usually signals long-line, wet-spun fiber, while rough and bristly points to tow, dry-spun.

Our New Favorite Summer Pants Can Be Worn Instead of Sweatpants or Dress Pants (?!)

2. Yarn engineering: count, twist, and ply

Two shirts both say ‘100% linen.’ One feels soft and drapes, the other can almost stand up on its own. That’s twist. Higher twist yarns are wound tighter, so the fabric turns out stiffer and creases into sharp lines. Lower twist yarns feel smoother and fall into relaxed folds, like the darker fabric in the photo.

Two versions of linen: one crisp and structured, the other softer with looser, natural draping folds. Same fiber, different spin and weave.

But when cheap shirts use short tow fibers, it’s a different story: the creases set hard and scratchy, less soft rumples and more cardboard bends.

Then there’s ply. Singles tend to torque, which means your shirt spirals like soft-serve. 2-ply balances the yarn, and the fabric hangs the way a shirt should. Textile engineers have documented this in ways that would bore you into an early nap.

So what to look for when shopping? Most brands won’t mention twist, but “2-ply” will sometimes sneak into product copy the way “grass-fed” sneaks onto menus. If you see it, that’s a green light. Otherwise, trust your hands: fabrics that feel firm and papery are usually high twist singles, while those that feel smoother and relax in your grip are more likely lower twist or plied.

3. Weave and construction: why some linen hangs beautifully

Two levers: weave and cover factor. A tight plain weave feels crisp and stiff. A looser plain or a twill feels relaxed and swings better. Fewer interlacings also mean the wrinkles look less like origami disasters. If you want flowy shirts, go loose or twill. If you want collars that stand like little soldiers, go tight. Researchers have entire charts on this.

So what to look for when shopping? Hold the shirt up to light. If the fabric looks dense and blocks most of it, expect crispness. If you can see a bit of daylight between the threads, it’s looser and will drape more.

Live Action Getup: Golden Hour Linen

4. Finishing and dyeing: where a lot of the “hand” comes from

Soft linen is not just good flax, it’s good chemistry. Amino-silicone softeners and enzymes strip away the fuzz and slick the surface. Garment dye programs and controlled tumbles give that day-one softness, the way some jeans come pre-faded for people who want the lived-in feel on Day 1.

The downside: anti-crease resins. They help wrinkle recovery but leave fabric stiff, sometimes weak. If your shirt feels like it’s been starched at the factory and stays that way, you’ve probably got resin in the mix or a synthetic-linen blend.

Wrinkle-free blended linen: crisp and polished for office wear, but it skips the soft drape and lived-in creases that make untreated linen stand out.

Wrinkle-free linen does have its place. If you’re wearing a shirt for long days at work, you get the breathability and lighter weight of linen with the smoother, more polished surface that wrinkle-free production locks in. What you give up are the big, rolling creases and the drape that make good untreated linen look alive. It’s less relaxed Mediterranean holiday, more office-ready compromise that serves as a lighter alternative to a standard oxford cloth.

Wrinkle-Free Beige Linen Blend Shirt: Wills / Straight Fit Black Jeans: Amazon / Suede Chukkas: Clarks Desert Boots – from These 4 Outfit Ideas Show How Color Blocking Makes Creating New Looks Effortless

So what to look for when shopping? Scan product descriptions for “garment dyed,” “enzyme wash,” or “soft wash.” Those usually mean softer linen from day one. If the tag brags about being “wrinkle resistant,” be prepared for fabric to lack the softness and drape linen is known for.

5. Make quality: why your placket curls

That potato chip placket usually comes from a shirt that cuts corners.

We’ve talked about the difference better yarn and weaving make, but how the shirt is actually put together matters just as much. What makes a nicer shirt different isn’t always obvious from the outside. Even with the same sewn-on placket style, better makers cut on grain, stitch with even tension, and preshrink before sewing, so the placket holds its shape instead of curling or twisting after a few washes.

A nicer linen shirt that still had a properly flat placket after washing.

That extra money usually buys the works: long-line fiber, wet-spun yarn, clever yarn engineering, better weave, softer finishing, garment dyeing, and factories that actually check their work. Look for words like wet-spun, 2-ply, garment dyed, or those European certifications. They’re breadcrumbs leading away from shirts that feel like sandpaper.

So what to look for when shopping? Unfortunately (and obviously) more expensive doesn’t automatically equate to quality. Generally, brands that are known to have a decent quality to price ratio like J.Crew can usually be trusted for their 100% linen. Unfortunately below that (Gap, Old Navy, Uniqlo, etc.) and you’re going to run into cheaper linen or blends.

The price jump usually covers things you can sometimes spot in the description: “long line,” “wet-spun,” “2-ply,” or “garment dyed.” Those keywords hint that you’re getting smoother fabric, softer finishing, and shirts that behave better after a wash. The smart move is buying from one of these trusted quality brands when the linen is on sale. For that, make sure to subscribe to Primer to stay up to date on all of our deal coverage.

8. Fixes for a stubborn shirt

A warm iron, steam, and a press cloth will help revive cheap linen, but that becomes routine maintenance. It’s usually more time and cost effective to spend a little more on a shirt that drapes well and needs far less fuss.

[ad_2]

Andrew Snavely

Source link

September 4, 2025
What Terms on Alcohol Labels Really Mean: The Words You Trust and the Tricks You Miss
[ad_1]
Some words are carved into regulation, others were invented during a lunch break in brand strategy.

You could wallpaper your bathroom with the promises printed on liquor bottles. Words like “authentic,” “heritage,” and “handcrafted” get tossed around like cilantro at a taco bar, but they rarely mean what you think they mean. Some are written in stone by government lawyers. Others were invented during lunch by someone in marketing whose main qualification was owning a pair of Warby Parkers.

Let’s crack the label open.

Bottled-in-Bond

In 1897, the US government took a break from railroads and robber barons to pass the Bottled-in-Bond Act, America’s first real consumer protection law for booze. It guaranteed your whiskey wasn’t secretly made from kerosene, tobacco spit, or the 19th-century version of drywall dust and fentanyl.

Before that, most whiskey came from rectifiers, middlemen who bought raw spirit and “improved” it with neutral grain alcohol, syrups, iodine, or whatever else was handy. Genuine distillers hated it, consumers couldn’t trust a label, and the government wanted a cleaner way to collect taxes. Bonded warehouses gave them all three.

Today, “Bottled-in-Bond” still means:
- One distillery
- One distillation season
- A minimum of 4 years in a bonded warehouse under government lock and key
- Bottled at exactly 100 proof
If your whiskey follows those rules, you’re drinking something even the federal government agrees is legit. Which might be the first and last time that happens.

And far from being a dusty relic, Bottled-in-Bond became a badge of honor during bourbon’s 21st-century comeback, with distilleries proudly stamping it on labels as proof that their bottles were both historic and trustworthy.

Tequila vs 100% Agave

Mexico owns the word “Tequila” the way France owns Champagne: by law, geography, and the power of being deeply unimpressed by shortcuts.

Under NOM-006, real tequila must be made from Blue Weber agave in very specific regions like Jalisco and a few side gigs in neighboring states.

Now, here’s where things get slippery: Tequila only needs to be 51% agave sugars. The rest can be cane sugar, corn syrup, or whatever legally counts as fermentable, which means you’re drinking mixto, not the good stuff.

Bottles that say “100% agave” or “Tequila 100% de agave”? Those are required to be bottled in Mexico and made entirely from agave sugars. But even then, a splash of oak extract or glycerin is still fair game.

And then there’s the NOM code. On tequila, it’s a four-digit number that points straight to the distillery where it was made. Different brands can share the same NOM, which is a bit like discovering your fancy artisanal jam was made in the same factory as Lunchables.

Tequila is one branch of the larger mezcal family. Mezcal stretches wider, with more agave types and traditional methods that often lead to smokier, earthier profiles. It’s not about better or worse; it’s closer to Scotch regions with different rules, different flavors, and different traditions.

Mezcal runs on the same regulatory backbone but under a different rulebook, NOM-070. Instead of just a number, mezcal NOMs include letters that reveal the state (O for Oaxaca, M for Michoacán, D for Durango), a sequence number for certification, and a final letter tied to that state’s system.

For example, NOM-O191X on Madre Espadín and Madre Ensamble shows both spirits were certified in Oaxaca at the same facility, even if the bottles or agave blends differ. Some labels choose not to display it prominently, or sometimes not at all. The producer might lean on the Denomination of Origin (DO) hologram, QR codes, or other verification marks instead.

So whether you’re drinking tequila or mezcal, the NOM is the same kind of thing: a regulatory ID that tells you where it was certified, not how good it is.

Bourbon vs Straight Bourbon vs Kentucky Straight Bourbon

If bourbon were a person, it’d be the guy in a perfectly ironed Oxford shirt who’s quietly been following the rules since 1964. For something to be legally called bourbon, it has to be at least 51% corn, distilled under 160 proof, barreled in new charred oak at no more than 125 proof, and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV. No flavors. No coloring. Just legal Protestantism in liquid form. Regulation here.

Straight bourbon takes it further. It must age at least 2 years, and if it’s under 4, the label has to say so. It’s the difference between someone who shows up on time and someone who also brings their own clipboard.

Kentucky Straight Bourbon is where the clipboard guy inherits family land. Kentucky has been the center of bourbon since the late 1700s, when settlers discovered that the region’s limestone-filtered water, corn-friendly soil, and humid summers with cold winters made whiskey practically raise itself in the barrel. By the late 1800s, Kentucky was producing so much that “Kentucky Bourbon” became a shorthand for the good stuff. The state leaned into it, passing its own law that you can’t use “Kentucky” on a label unless the whiskey was distilled and aged there for at least a year. So when you see “Kentucky Straight Bourbon,” it means all the federal straight-bourbon rules, plus the weight of two centuries of local bragging rights.

Proof and ABV

Here’s the trick: in the US, proof = ABV × 2. If you see 90 proof on a bottle, it means it’s 45% alcohol. Nothing mystical. Just arithmetic.

The word proof comes from old English tax law. In the 1500s, inspectors tested spirits by mixing them with gunpowder and striking a flame. If the powder still ignited, the spirit was “above proof” and taxed more. Too weak and it fizzled, too strong and it flared out. The system stuck long enough that by the 18th century Britain fixed 100 proof as 57.15 percent ABV, the point where gunpowder would reliably ignite.

When the US codified its own system in the 1800s, the government cut through the math and made it simple: proof would be exactly double the ABV. So 80 proof is 40 percent alcohol, 100 proof is 50 percent, and nobody needs to light gunpowder on their bar counter to figure it out.

Cask Strength, Barrel Proof, Overproof, & Navy Strength

Barrel proof is the label’s way of saying, “We didn’t water this down.” According to the legal fine print, the bottling proof has to be within two degrees of the original.

Cask strength means the same thing but is technically unregulated.

Most spirits settle at 40% ABV, the legal minimum in the U.S. for calling something whiskey, rum, or gin. Anything stronger than that is considered overproof. It just means “above the standard,” whether that’s a bourbon bottled at 110 proof or a rum that clocks in at 151. Overproof doesn’t have a legal cutoff, it’s more of a warning label that you’re holding firewater.

Navy Strength is the one fixed point. The legend says the British Royal Navy kept rum at 57% ABV so if it spilled on the gunpowder, the powder would still fire. It’s a great story, but it’s mostly marketing lore. By the mid-1700s, the Navy was already using hydrometers to measure strength, and rum and gunpowder were stored in separate compartments of the ship. No one was sloshing rum on cannon charges below deck.

The real “navy strength” number, about 54.5% ABV, came later. When hydrometers replaced the old gunpowder test, officials compared a batch of rums that had historically “passed” the fire test. They averaged the hydrometer readings and locked in 95.5 proof, which translates to 54.5% ABV. That became the official issuing strength, and modern “Navy Strength” labeling keeps the myth alive with a rounder 57% figure. Difford’s Guide explains.

For flavor, overproof spirits hit hotter and carry more concentrated character. Bartenders prize them for cocktails that need backbone, since the extra strength holds up against citrus, sugar, and dilution. Straight, they’re not subtle, they’re intensity in a glass, showing off every edge of the spirit. Personally, I prefer overproof ryes for my old fashioned so I still get that whiskey flavor in balance with the ice and simple syrup.

Small Batch

“Small batch” sounds artisanal. Like someone made it wearing an apron and sells it at the farmers market. But it means nothing legally. Could be ten barrels. Could be two hundred. There are no rules. Just vibes.

Single Barrel

Unlike small batch, single barrel usually means what it says: all the whiskey came from one barrel. No blending. No filtering. Just one moody cask doing its best.

The implication for flavor is huge. With a single barrel, you taste the quirks of one cask’s life, such as where it sat in the rickhouse, how the wood breathed, and how the climate hit it. One barrel might lean rich and oaky, another bright and spicy, another soft and sweet. It’s as close as whiskey gets to a fingerprint.

Single barrel bottles are often positioned as premium not because the rules demand it, but because they let you taste individuality instead of a recipe. It’s whiskey with no safety net, and that’s the appeal for some.

Single Malt

In Scotland, single malt means malted barley, made in pot stills, all from one distillery. It must be aged at least three years in oak. There’s an actual regulation for it.

In the US, we finally caught up. In December 2024, The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approved American Single Malt Whisky: 100% malted barley, made at one distillery, stored in oak (new or used), bottled at 40% ABV or more.

Single Grain

Despite the name, single grain doesn’t mean one grain. In Scotland, Ireland, and Japan it means whisky from one distillery, made mostly in column stills, with corn, wheat, or unmalted barley in the mix along with malted barley. All three require at least three years in oak. The style is usually lighter and cleaner than single malt, which is why it rarely takes center stage on its own.

In the US, “grain whiskey” means something else entirely. Federal law defines it as a whiskey made from a mash bill that is at least 51 percent of a specific grain other than corn. Rye whiskey, wheat whiskey, or barley whiskey all count here. American grain whiskey leans on a single dominant grain rather than a multi-grain mix, making it more about one flavor profile than a softer blend of several.

Blended

Once you’ve met single malt and single grain, blending is the next move. Blended Scotch is a mix of those two, all made and aged in Scotland for at least three years.

“Blended” doesn’t automatically mean worse, even if that reputation has followed it for decades. In Scotland, blending single malt with single grain created a whisky that was smoother, more approachable, and, most importantly, consistent. That reliability made blended Scotch the global standard, and it still accounts for almost 90 percent of all Scotch sold.

In the US, the word picked up baggage. American blended whisky can legally contain up to 80 percent neutral grain spirits, essentially vodka, with just enough whiskey for flavor. The result was thinner, cheaper bottles that turned “blended” into shorthand for “budget.” Blended bourbon is stricter, at least 51 percent straight bourbon with the rest made up of other whiskey or neutral spirits. It’s a blend, not a dilution. Usually.

In Canada, blending is the house style. Whisky must age at least three years, and most of it is a mix of grain whisky and flavouring whisky (lower proof but with stronger flavor). Some bottles lean soft and velvety, others land squarely in beige.

So does blended mean worse? Not in Scotland or Japan, where blending is treated as a craft and master blenders are celebrated for creating balance out of dozens of whiskies. In the US, the legal shortcut built its own bad reputation, and the word never fully recovered.

Natural Flavors

According to FDA law, “natural flavors” must be derived from a natural source like fruit, bark, dairy, whatever, but it doesn’t have to taste like that thing. “Natural lime” might contain actual lime oil. “Lime with other natural flavors” could be lemons pretending to be limes.

‘Artificial flavors’ are lab-built, not inherently toxic. The real question is whether it tastes like lemon or like the stuff you mop with.

Real Fruit vs. 100% Juice

If your canned cocktail says “contains real juice,” it could legally mean 1%. The real law comes from 21 CFR §101.30, which says if a product shows or implies juice, it has to disclose how much. Only “100% juice” is guaranteed to be, well, 100%. The rest is just fruit-adjacent optimism.

Non-Chill Filtered

Chill filtration pulls out fatty acids and esters that make whiskey go cloudy in cold glasses. That’s all. If your bottle says non-chill filtered, it might look a little foggy, especially on ice, but that haze contains flavor, body, and a trace amount of smugness. More on that.

Reserve

In the US, “reserve” is completely unregulated. It can mean older barrels, or just that someone liked how the word looked in cursive. In Rioja, Spain, Reserva means red wine aged at least 3 years, with at least 12 months in oak. But that’s Rioja. Your whiskey’s “Grand Reserve Edition” might be aged in nothing more than ambition. Rioja DOCa explanation

Estate Bottled

In wine, estate bottled is real. Under US wine law, it means the grapes were grown, crushed, fermented, aged, and bottled on the same estate, inside the same AVA (American Viticultural Area). This is a federally recognized grape-growing region, mapped out for its particular soil, climate, and geography.

In spirits, “estate” is just a word. Could mean anything. Could mean nothing.

Age Statements

If a bottle says twelve years, every drop inside must be at least twelve. It’s a minimum, not an average. Spirits under four years old must list the age.
[ad_2]

Andrew Snavely

Source link
August 26, 2025
What Nobody Told Me About “That Feeling” We Keep Trying to Feel in Relationships

[ad_1]

Is it a compass or a chaos agent? And which one is actually more disappointing?

There’s a feeling that sneaks in early, usually between “What do you do?” and the second drink. It whispers, this could be it. They like to travel, you like to travel. They “yes, and” your jokes. Your brain starts casting them in every future plan, “what would they be like meeting your friends?”, a dog, Costco runs. You start noticing the signs: green light, green light, slightly delayed text response (fine), green light.

For some, it can show up frequently as quick fireworks that send plans with a new potential partner sprinting ahead of facts. My pattern ran different: I had felt the rush before, just not while I was actually going on dates. I kept hoping for that old voltage and left good first dates feeling satisfied but neutral.

There is a name for this, “limerence”. Clinical psychologist Dorothy Tennov, who deserves a plaque or at least a gift basket for trying to label it, described limerence as “an involuntary interpersonal state involving an acute longing for emotional reciprocation.”

That’s one way to put it. Another way is: the person texts you “hey” after ghosting you for a week and you suddenly feel like God has a plan again.

Limerence is tricky. Not in the sense of, “Is this mayonnaise still good?” tricky, but in the way your brain turns into a group of unpaid interns who start storyboarding your life together the moment someone you find attractive offers you gum. It’s that full-bodied infatuation, occasionally obsessive, mostly absurd, and deeply human.

I have treated that rush like a screening tool. No spark, no second date. Even when someone felt thoughtful, funny, steady, I would leave uneasy, convinced some vital ingredient was missing. When you have tasted that intensity even once, everything else can read like a copy with the volume turned down. Some people feel it all the time, constantly let down.

The real view comes later, after the fantasy gets downgraded to a memory of you pretending to like hot yoga because they once mentioned it. Eventually, the haze lifts and what you’re left with isn’t love or depth or meaning, it’s the sobering realization that being obsessed with someone doesn’t mean they’re a good fit.

Often, it’s a kind of false advertisement your own brain designs, and suddenly you’re stuck trying to return a product you can’t prove was ever actually sold to you.

There’s guilt involved, too. You like how it feels. You want more. You start asking if this is how it’s supposed to feel when it’s right and maybe you’re supposed to feel like this forever and if not, does that mean something’s wrong? You try to chase it, keep it alive, squeeze more juice from a rind that’s already been wrung out. You end up addicted to the high, like the guy who won’t shut up about the first time he did mushrooms and keeps trying to re-create the magic with a broken French press and some expired rooibos.

Something shifts, though, once you stop worshipping the feeling. One day you’re writing poetry in your Notes app, and the next you’re realizing the person in question doesn’t use turn signals and is cruel to waitstaff. The fog clears. limerence evaporates, and you’re left with what therapists might call “clarity.” It’s like going out at night and thinking you’ve met your soulmate, only to realize the next day, in the clinical setting of Panera Bread, that the unstoppable chemistry was mostly gin.

That brings me to equanimity. A word that sounds like a drug treatment center but is actually a foundational principle of Buddhist mindfulness. It’s about emotional steadiness, the kind that lets you want things without needing them to pan out exactly as you imagined. Joseph Goldstein, one of the West’s most respected mindfulness teachers, describes equanimity as “a balance of mind that is unshaken by life’s vicissitudes.” Which is a fancy way of saying “if a detour wrecks you, that isn’t wanting; it’s kid-meltdown-in-the-Hot-Wheels-aisle needing.”

Jonny Wilkinson, a rugby player with a surprisingly sensitive inner life, once said, “If I need things to be a certain way, I am hostage to them.” That one lands. It explains so much. Like why I’ve historically refused to submit writing unless I was absolutely sure it wouldn’t be criticized, or why I’ve stayed in relationships longer than I should’ve because I’d already told people it was going well. If I couldn’t guarantee success, I opted for silence. If I couldn’t guarantee romance, I tried to engineer it. As if life is a vending machine and I’m just bad at choosing snacks.

What I realized was my needing was so intense because disappointment is, for me, the boss level. It arrives with the weight of a grandfather’s sigh and the subtlety of a marching band. I’ve built whole scaffolding systems to avoid it: Don’t pitch if rejection stings. Don’t hope if you can’t handle loss. Don’t start if you can’t promise the ending.

But these safety measures become cages. The more elaborate the rules, the less room I had to live inside them.

It used to show up in dating, too.

Every new connection carried the weight of permanence. Each early text felt like an SAT question. Every pause between replies, an omen.

I’d think, “This has to be it,” because the alternative was sitting with uncertainty, which felt about as pleasant as standing up from the toilet after watching 30 minutes of Youtube.

When the spark stayed quiet, I treated the quiet like a coffin nail. Part of it was a fear calculation, that whatever you feel at the start is the strongest it will ever be, and from there it only dulls with time and routine. What I needed was more time, more information, simple curiosity.

Eventually, I saw what was happening. Limerence is fine, even fun, as long as you don’t hand it the keys to your judgment. It’s a guest, not a landlord. You can enjoy its company without letting it renovate the place.

Here’s where it all clicked for me: if limerence isn’t a reliable indicator of long-term potential, then it’s not required to have a fulfilling relationship either. For a while, I didn’t realize that. I mistook limerence for “having a crush,” for the early butterflies and late-night overthinking. But they’re different creatures. One is desire with a working memory. The other is a carnival ride you can’t steer.

Joseph Goldstein talks about craving: how it’s fine to want something, but if you need it to feel whole or certain or safe or content, then you’re caught.

Jonny Wilkinson would call that being a hostage. And that’s exactly how I’d lived, waiting for limerence to show up so I could finally feel confident about someone, only to realize I’d handed over all the power to a feeling that doesn’t even answer emails.

At first, this realization was awful. Not in a tragic, cry-in-the-shower way, more in the quiet devastation of learning that Santa isn’t real and the guy dressed as him at the mall is the same guy from the Orange Julius. It felt like all those past intense connections, the ones that burned bright, then scorched the earth, had been previews of something great that just got away. But they weren’t. They were flashy trailers for movies that shouldn’t have been greenlit.

Eventually, I saw it: I’d been prioritizing the presence of limerence over actual relationship health. Things like mutual interest, communication, humor, shared values, basic human kindness… all demoted because someone once made my stomach do gymnastics. Never mind that they might have forgotten my birthday or vanished mid-conversation for days at a time.

“But the chemistry…” I’d say, as if that alone could book the vet appointment or calm an argument.

Limerence, I’ve come to think, is like getting a surprise upgrade to a suite on vacation. It’s thrilling, a delightful bonus. But not getting one shouldn’t ruin your trip. And getting one doesn’t mean your partner won’t spend the whole time fighting with you about where to eat.

It’s fine to enjoy limerence. Be grateful when it shows up. It can feel electric, intoxicating, like a song you can’t stop playing. But don’t use it as an excuse to defend bad relationships or stay tethered to someone who doesn’t actually want to meet you halfway.

Just as importantly, don’t interpret its absence as a dealbreaker. “I don’t know… I’m just not feeling it” might mean you’re expecting limerence when what’s available is something more grounded, something slow-cooked.

If I could pass a note to my younger self, it would be this: the love I feel now, almost ten years into my relationship, is richer and more alive than anything I felt in the first six months. Which, looking back, makes sense. Why would I assume my brain and body could instantly identify my most loving and compatible long-term partner after two dates and a clever text exchange? That’s not love. That’s casting.

Real connection isn’t a lightning strike. It’s something you build, sometimes in messy conversations about nothing, sometimes while arguing about IKEA furniture. It grows through shared history, open wounds that heal together, and the mundane rhythm of choosing someone, day after day, even when it’s inconvenient. If limerence is a spark, earned love is the fire that keeps your house warm.

Equanimity helps with that. You still get to want, to love, to be thrilled but your peace isn’t dependent on whether it all works out like a screenwriter’s third-act montage. You stop building castles out of glances and start living in something closer to reality.

Movies like 500 Days of Summer or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind get it. They show people spinning themselves into emotional knots over projected feelings, only to find, on the other side, a quieter truth. It’s not tragic. It’s freeing. It’s the difference between being high and being awake.

You can feel things deeply without needing them to prove anything. That it’s ok to want connection but not let the fantasy of it replace your actual standards. Limerence, like glitter, is best enjoyed in small quantities and under supervision.

When the spark feels scarce, stop grading by it. When it shows up easily, enjoy it, but set the pace with facts and standards.

And when it leaves, you get your vision back. You stop squinting at the idea of someone and start seeing the world again. Turns out, there’s a lot more to enjoy once you stop mistaking intensity for intimacy.

[ad_2]

Andrew Snavely

Source link

August 11, 2025
Your Closet Setup is Sabotaging Your Style: The Easy Fix That Takes 30 Minutes
[ad_1]
Most men own sharp clothes they barely see. Swap the hiding spots for prime real estate, flood your sightlines with the good stuff, and fresh outfit ideas will appear before the coffee finishes brewing.

“Hi Andrew, do you have anything that talks about the best way to organize a closet? What to hang, what to fold, how it should be laid out, etc? I want to redo my closet and I have no idea where to start.” – Primer reader Chris S.

What you’ll hear most often: hang what wrinkles, fold what stretches. This approach has been recommended for generations by fathers and professional cleaners.

Their logic is simple: shirts, suits, jackets, and items made from linen or rayon are best hung to avoid wrinkling that looks like they were stored in a clenched fist. Heavy sweaters and thick knits are folded because hanging them can distort the shoulders and cause them to lose shape. T-shirts? Folded. Tossed in drawers. Forgotten. Replaced with more t-shirts. It’s the circle of life, but with worse music.

That system works if the goal is to preserve the garment. But sometimes preservation is only half the equation. The other half is actually wearing the thing.

Here’s what I’ve come to believe: a closet functions as a compact visual catalog. The more you see, the quicker your mind can see patterns and latch onto ideas. The less you see, the easier it is to forget what you own.

This problem is specifically an issue in a community you might not expect to be on the cutting edge of wardrobe planning: people with ADHD, myself included. ADHD brains, according to every article that features a cheerful graphic of a cartoon brain juggling clocks, are wired for “out of sight, out of mind.” Meaning, if they can’t see it, it doesn’t exist. Not metaphorically. Literally. They don’t own it. Never did. Never saw it. Who are you?

Organization experts who specialize in ADHD-friendly design say you need to hang the things you need to see to make decisions. Use clear bins instead of solid drawers. Maintain general categories, keep items visible. Scan-ability is the new sacred metric.

This, it turns out, is a good system for everyone, even the neurotypical men with six identical pairs of pants and a sincere confusion about what the big deal here is. When visibility goes up, mental friction goes down.

You waste less time hunting. You wear more of what you already own. You stop buying duplicates because you thought you lost something that was actually just behind a stack of hoodies from college.

To apply this practically, rethink the priorities:
1. You want to be able to see your foundational pieces immediately, and ideally grouped by what they are. Shirts with shirts. Pants with pants. Group and hang similar types together and by dressiness level.
2. Items that require no decision like socks, undershirts, or gym shorts can be out of sight in drawers. Same for belts and other items you will grab regardless of mood. Drawers are suited for items that you select quickly and routinely.
3. Cut down on visual chaos. Use one color of hanger. Group items by category or color within their type. It’s calming. Like looking into a well-behaved crayon box. The advantage, like crayons, is you know exactly where something is supposed to be based on already seeing where everything else is.
These priorities will shift what you hang:

I now hang things like jeans, chinos, casual button-ups, and graphic tees. The kind of things clothing care experts would gasp about with a pinky up over a Chardonnay spritzer. But the alternative is letting them languish in a drawer like cast members of a buried alive horror movie.

What’s worse: slightly stretched denim or never wearing half your pants? I’ve made my peace with my choice prioritizing utility.

Folding still has its place. However, traditional stacked folding allows you to see only the top item. This limits visibility of the remaining items. File folding, where garments are folded and stand vertically in a drawer like file folders, greatly improves visibility. You see everything and you pick without digging.

Now for the crown jewel: Hot and Cold Zones.

Most men have never heard of this. It sounds like something a pickup artist uses to divide and conquer a club. But it’s actually a brilliant way to organize your closet based on visibility and effort.

Hot zones are the parts of your closet that are easy to see and reach. These are the areas you access daily. Cold zones include high shelves, floor corners, and that strange pocket in the back behind your partner’s ski gear, among other areas.

The trick is to use the physical shape of your closet to define these zones. The idea is to give your best real estate to the core items you’re choosing when building an outfit and place everything else into less prime areas. This is how your closet becomes a tool instead of a storage unit you paid up for in advance and forgot about.

For me, my hot and cold zones proved to be opposite of what I assumed them to be. I used to keep shirts and jackets on the top rod and pants on the bottom, the default approach for most people. Flipping them, shirts and jackets below and pants above, made the whole rack easier to read. Looking down, collars, patterns, and pockets present themselves clearly, looking up colors and fabric weight line up in a way that makes comparisons quick.

The change was noticeable for me, it sped up choices and broadened what I reach for, and it’s an easy experiment to run in your space (your eye height and lighting may steer a different result).

A few more practical upgrades:

Start with category, not color. Put like with like. Jackets with jackets. Pants with pants. Once you’ve done that, then you can group by dress level (casual button ups together then dress shirts) and finally a loose ordering by color. It helps you see combinations. You go from “What do I wear?” to “Ooh, that works.” Which, in adult life, is a kind of luxury.

Next, hangers. Toss the wiry free ones and the rainbow-colored plastic ones from your college move-in day. Get a matched set like wood. It reduces unnecessary visual distraction when scanning, and will help your clothes last longer, which is the least we could do for the screaming clothing care experts.

17 Things Under $50 that Will Improve Your Style

Use double rods if you’re short on space. Install a valet hook to stage outfits. Move seasonal stuff to high shelves. Use clear bins or baskets for small items. Label them if it helps.

And once you’ve got it all set up, maintain it. I do a 5 minute reset weekly. Turn the hangers the right way. Re-stack what’s toppled. Move neglected items forward.

There’s also the reverse hanger trick: start with all hangers backward, then flip them after you wear something. By the end of the season, you’ll know exactly what to keep and what to donate.

All of this adds up to something bigger than just a neat closet. It builds a dressing environment that encourages readiness. You start your day faster. You feel more put together. You stop wearing the same three shirts repeatedly.

So try one thing this week: identify your hot and cold zones or hang your jeans. File-fold your t-shirts. See if getting dressed feels just a little less like a pop quiz and more like a win. That’s the goal. And if not, you can always wear the same three shirts again. No one’s judging. Except maybe your closet.
[ad_2]

Andrew Snavely

Source link
August 5, 2025
What Dressing Intentionally Actually Means

[ad_1]

Looking good isn’t the hard part. Feeling like yourself, reading the room, and still getting out the door on time is where it gets real. This is the framework for making that easier.

I’ve never considered Primer a “fashion” site. It’s a guide to showing up for yourself and others in a way that feels thoughtful and unforced. Personal style is both who you are and how you enter rooms.

I’ve used the term dressing intentionally, plainly and often, because it signals something deeper: how you show up, how you carry yourself, how you decide what matters. It gets to the root of what personal style is actually all about.

For longtime readers, this probably isn’t a new concept. You already care about what you wear. You’ve already made the shift from stressing over dressing up to dressing with purpose. But like anything else we do often, it’s easy to lose touch with the why behind it or to get stuck on autopilot without realizing it.

We all follow unspoken scripts: how we shake hands, pause before interrupting, put our phones away in a group. Not because we were explicitly taught, but because we’ve absorbed what’s appropriate.

Style works the same way. It’s one more layer of cultural fluency. Whether you’re heading into a pitch meeting or grabbing coffee with someone you might want to date, you’re saying something with what you wear. The question is whether you’re choosing and owning that message or just hoping you’ll get by with nobody noticing.

Dressing well and feeling like yourself shouldn’t be opposing goals. But that’s how it often feels, like you’re stuck choosing between polish and comfort, personality and appropriateness, effort and ease.

The reality is more nuanced. You’re balancing a shifting set of variables: what you’re doing, how you want to be seen, how you want to feel in your body and your head. That’s what dressing intentionally actually offers: not a fixed aesthetic but a process for resolving that friction in real time.

This piece breaks down the simple system I use to do that every day. It’s not about overthinking. It’s about thinking at all.

Consider where you’re going.

The first step to dressing with purpose is knowing the context. Most of what you’ll wear hinges on practical details:

Are you eating outdoors at a restaurant?

You’ll want a light layer and sunglasses.

Going to a business event?

You might need a blazer, or maybe something more casual, depending on your industry or if it’s a mixer of young professionals.

5 Blazer Alternatives

Heading to a movie theater that’s cold and then dinner afterward?

That might influence your desire to have layers.

My point isn’t just about temperature, it’s about the context.

Context isn’t always obvious. Some environments pull in multiple signals at once: a business event that’s also a rooftop bar and also kind of a dive, or a family gathering with new in-laws and old friends.

One person’s “underdressed” is another’s “relatable.” The goal isn’t to get it perfect; it’s to make an educated guess about the tone, then dress in a way that lets you move confidently through it.

Live Action Getup: The Everyday Outfit You Can Count On—Sweater, 501s, Loafers · Primer

Once you understand the context, it becomes easier to answer the next question: What kind of impression do you want to make in that setting?

Consider how you want to be perceived.

Personal style is visual communication.

As I’ve said, it’s as much a social exercise as it is a form of personal expression.

Do you want to be perceived as chill and artsy? Refined and elegant? Carefree and bohemian? Rugged and no-nonsense? Playful and attractive?

Jacket / Shirt / Jeans / Boots

All of these things can shift, not just based on your personality or general style, but also based on where you’re going and who you’ll be around. I wear all of these archetypes as a part of my own personal style, but it depends on the scenario.

Shirt / Necklace / Pants / Sneakers

I don’t wear a flowy open shirt with a necklace when I’m visiting my fiancée’s parents, and I don’t wear a tech polo to a birthday party at a poolside bar in August in Los Angeles, but I wear both of those looks in different contexts.

One of the most liberating realizations in personal style is that even if you’re maintaining some consistent aesthetics, you can still choose who you want to be perceived as based on where you’re going.

That freedom actually supports what you feel like wearing rather than restricting it.

Consider how dressy you want to be.

You’ve thought about where you’re going. You’ve considered what you’re doing. You’ve decided how you want to be perceived. Now, within that context, choose how dressed up you want to be.

The setting gives you the range. You pick your spot within it.

It’s a small choice that locks everything else into place

For example, I’ve been to many conferences full of guys in blazers, and there’s always at least one guy wearing a leather jacket with a dress shirt. He’s not out of place, but he is making a statement. His combination of an edgy element with business casual is an intentional choice about how he wants to be seen.

This is the Leather Jacket Style Every Guy Can Pull Off · Primer

Similarly, I’m often overdressed when I visit my fiancée’s parents because I want to convey competency and respect.

If you’re going on a first date, your personal style becomes a tool: If you’re a buttoned-up office guy, you get to decide if you want to lean into that or intentionally lean away from it to signal something different. Even on casual dates, how put-together you are can communicate social fluency, polish, or intentional nonchalance.

The risk of sending signals is they might not land the way you intended. A leather jacket with a dress shirt might read as confident to one person, try-hard to another. An untucked shirt might feel effortless to you, careless to someone else. Forgoing a belt may seem modern and rakish to me and unfinished to every Primer reader who always comments on it.

Blazer, No Tie: 5 Specific Tips for Hitting the Dressy Sweet Spot in a Casual Age

But dressing intentionally isn’t about getting it right every time. It’s about knowing why you did it. And even when it doesn’t hit, that clarity keeps you from second-guessing yourself all day. That’s why I emphasize the term “intentionally dressed” and not “well dressed”.

Accidentally Rediscovering Bond’s 2006 Casino Royale Venice Look in My 2024 Style

Understanding the context of the event and then tweaking the dressiness level to align with what you want to communicate is essential.

Our 37 Favorite Jean Jacket Outfits: Save This Massive Outfit Swipe File for Inspiration · Primer

Consider what’s comfortable today.

Then everything starts to fall into place.

Some days, I wear penny loafers when I don’t have to because of what it adds visually.

Office to Afternoon Rooftop Outfit: 1 Look, 3 Budgets · Primer

Other days, I feel like sneakers for comfort even if loafers would be more appropriate, and then adjust the rest of the outfit accordingly. It’s a push-and-pull equation.

You’re balancing variables. Swap a hoodie for a chore coat to elevate it. Swap a dress shirt for a t-shirt under your shawl collar sweater to make it more casual. Swap in chinos for jeans to add classic polish without overdressing.

What is Smart Casual? Complete Guide with Lots of Outfit Ideas

Comfort isn’t just physical. Sometimes an outfit technically fits but doesn’t feel like you today. If you’re fidgeting or second-guessing a piece all day, that’s useful data. Feeling confident in what you’re wearing is part of being comfortable too.

And sometimes, comfort conflicts with presence. You might reach for something familiar because you’re tired or anxious, but it doesn’t always help you show up fully. Other times, something slightly outside your usual comfort zone can actually pull you into alignment, like posture following a well-cut jacket. That tension is part of the equation too.

You’re not stuck choosing between dressing well and feeling comfortable. You get to have both when you understand how to swap in certain pieces to balance the look. That’s the real power of dressing intentionally: it gives you options instead of tradeoffs.

Dressing intentionally means you’ve considered the variables. And this framework helps you know what those variables even are. That’s what gives you freedom, not restriction.

Because how you get dressed is how you decide to show up. And showing up with intention, quietly and consistently, is what makes style feel like your own. ▪

[ad_2]

Andrew Snavely

Source link

July 28, 2025
Gen Z, Crew Socks, and a Needed Perspective On Style Trends as We Get Older [Reader Question]
[ad_1]
The surprisingly challenging aspect of style: navigating changing trends when what’s ‘cool’ isn’t designed for you.

Long time reader Matt sent an email with the subject line “Gen Z Socks”:

Apparently ankle socks are out and crew socks are in. As a millennial, I’m devastated. Is this true Andrew??

The most important thing to consider, when asking yourself this type of question – especially as we get older – is, “crew socks are in, for whom?”

Gen Z, like every new generation, has taken what’s come before them and decided how to edit/augment/create their own thing. The 18-30 set will always command the attention of clothing trends, retailers, brands, and designers, and they inevitably push the overall cultural aesthetic forward. It’s interesting to see how pervasive these trends become over time; take the older men in my life, for instance. I’ve noticed they’ve started to adopt the same style of fit that I was wearing about ten years ago because these trends have become so culturally widespread.

Most of them would never have considered the looks or fit when millennials started wearing them, but as the overall cultural aesthetic slowly morphs and shifts, they feel more standard or inclusive for the demographics outside of the 18-30 set.

Personal style is a tool used for two things: Tell the world about our personality and who we are; and also to incorporate ourselves into the community. This is a spectrum, where both of those things are in opposition at the extreme ends. I’m ok wearing ankle socks because if a Gen Zer were to judge me as a millennial, I would embrace it as fact and not an insult. The reality that they mean it as one is a reflection of their age.

It is always up to us to choose what works with our personal style and on what timeline it evolves. What’s most important is that you’re wearing things that you like as well as being open to evolution, even if it’s slow.

So while it’s cool to see what the younger generation is into, at the end of the day, it’s about what feels right for you. Whether you’re slowly integrating new trends into your wardrobe or sticking with what you know works, the most crucial thing is that your style feels good to you.

It’s important to realize that as people, we don’t live within a monoculture. What is true about my Gen Z counterpart, even if we’re nearly identical otherwise, will still be wildly different because I’m at least 13 years older. What I’m experiencing at this life stage, the types of people in my immediate community bubble that I value being included in, and what I consciously or subconsciously do to attempt to be viewed as a part of it, is significantly more nuanced than the general question, “how do I look culturally appropriate by American humans aged 10-100.”

The essence of personal style lies in this delicate balance—it’s not just adopting what’s in vogue but interpreting it to match your personal narrative. Something to emphasize about Primer and the “style advice” we provide, is that it still needs to be transposed to your own reality. The examples and aesthetics we show match mine and the other contributors; it isn’t right, I could list 10 types of people without even trying who would find Primer’s aesthetic recommendations incongruent with their experiential observations within their immediate communities. It’s how you tweak these ideas as well as the broader influences to resonate with your personal ethos and aesthetic.

In this way, style becomes a powerful medium for expression, not specifically in an artistic way, but a deeply personal and inherently social one. It allows us to signal our identity and values to the world while also finding our niche within a community. This dynamic is where the true art of fashion lies: not in us as individuals darting from fashion change to fashion change like a school of fish, but in recognizing how it relates to me.

Music has always been a helpful metaphor for me. It seems strange to stop listening to a style of music you connect with because it’s no longer popular with 18-30 year olds. It similarly seems strange to start dressing in a style you don’t connect with because it is popular with 18-30 year olds. And yet, in 10 years I will more than likely enjoy that music as its influences have slowly evolved the overall sound of music into something else.

Take country music for example. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania in the 90s, and artists like Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, and Toby Keith were superstars. Consumers of that music didn’t connect with the musical sensibilities of artists in other contemporary genres like Eminem and Foo Fighters. Today, the entire country genre has shifted dramatically, heavily influenced by hard rock and rap, with a bit of twang and steel guitar thrown in. Many of the same people who listened to country in the 90s likely still listen and enjoy its current form.

The overall color of a music genre or fashion aesthetic shifts in hue as each generation and community adds their contribution.

All of that is hyper-philosophical; on a practical level what I enjoy about shifting trends is finding the opportunity in them.
- Slim and skinny jeans had been a core component of my (and our generation’s) style and a more fitted silhouette still feels more refined when I’m hoping to look “well-dressed.” But I’ve really enjoyed the benefits of including straighter/looser fits now that they’ve become more popular again: I can wear chunkier shoes, they’re no doubt more comfortable and maneuverable, and there’s more clearance as to whether they “fit right” or not.
- Similarly light jeans have provided a new tool to dress down other dressier elements like a blazer or button up shirt.
- And for as much as we all defend ankle and no-show socks, there’s no question they can be an absolute headache sometimes. No-shows slipping down and bunching up or finding that precise height for an ankle sock where it’s visible but not too high(!). The re-emergence of crew socks gives me the opportunity to use them as a part of an outfit, not just a necessity that I’m trying to avoid drawing attention to. Similar to how Daniel used lighter socks with his loafers in a way I would have never accepted 10 years ago, crew socks with shorts provide different comfort/convenience benefits as well as adding a vintage aesthetic touch.
For me, regarding crew socks or ankle socks specifically, it is not whether I wear them but when do I wear them. I get to use them to my advantage for my personal style. And in a way, that’s a privilege I get as a person not in the pop trend age range. If I were 22 today and surrounded by other young people with a strict vision of what is in or out of style, my sense of what is socially acceptable may be so concentrated that it’s crew socks only.

With every new trend that emerges from the 18-30 set, whether that’s today with Z, tomorrow with Alpha, or in fifteen years with “The Third Greatest Generation” or whatever they’ll be known as, the question isn’t, “ankle socks are out, is that true??” it’s “young people are wearing crew socks, to what degree and on what timeline am I open to including them?”

My advice for this, or any change, is just to make sure the answer isn’t “never”.
[ad_2]

Andrew Snavely

Source link
June 10, 2024
7 Style Picks That SOLVE Annoying Clothing Problems

[ad_1]

Dressing well would be easy, they said.

There are two voices in the men’s style world. One is that fashion is really hard and it takes dedication and a passion for the art form to get it right. The other is that dressing well is incredibly easy, all you have to know is the basics and you’ll be the best dressed man in the room.

But any guy who has, well, ever worn clothing, knows there’s another, frustrating aspect: Practicality.

You’re doing your best, you bought the thing that people said was good. But either because of your line of work, lifestyle, or unique body, something about your style is obstructing instead of doing its job—make you look and feel damn good, then be out of the way as you get on with your day.

You’re not alone, in fact, based on all the talking about men’s style I do with guys, it’s more the norm than the outlier.

So today I’m running down some specific style picks that address common frustrations Primer readers and friends have reached out about. These include struggling to look presentable in a job that requires a lot of moving around, options for sizes outside of the frustratingly narrow scale found at most stores, and more.

Nice-ish Business Casual Work Pants for Guys Who Move A Lot for Their Job, Get Hot, But Don’t Want to Wear Shorts or Hiking Pants

Take for example, my friend Eric who had an issue I’ve heard multiple times from Primer readers. Eric was wrestling with finding work attire that was practical and kept him presentable. Eric is the co-founder of a business that builds testing equipment for the aerospace industry. On any given day, he could be in a 90 degree airplane hanger wrestling heavy gear, running cables, troubleshooting over here and over there – and then have to give a presentation to the client in a boardroom an hour later.

“I need to work and not overheat, have some stretch, but have a fit that is intentional enough that I can still throw it on with a button down and not look like I’m wearing hiking pants,” he told me.

The find he’s been most happy with is the Free Radikl pant from Khul, which are technical pants offering stretch, reinforced construction, lightweight and quick-drying – and come in a modern, tailored fit without the zippers and pockets of many similar options on the market.

Stylish Pants for Guys with Inseams Longer Than 34

Men who wear larger sizes have always struggled to find options. But our tall, slim brethren perhaps have had it harder than most.

It’s true that common stores like J.Crew and Banana Republic offer an inseam length as long as 36 in some styles but only for larger waist sizes.

Stillman takes a 36 inseam

For guys like me who prefer an awkward 29-29.5 inseam, it’s annoying, but at least I can pay someone to remove fabric. If you need anything in an inseam longer than 34 that isn’t also accommodating a higher waist size, you can’t just pay a tailor to sew on extra denim to the bottom. (I mean, I guess they’d take your money, but I wouldn’t recommend the outcome.)

Stillman Brown is the perfect example of this. At 6’7”, Stillman’s 36 inseam makes one of the foundational requirements of participating in society – wearing pants – a significant challenge. “Levi’s has it for some, but it ruined pants shopping for me for a long time,” he told me.

Fortunately, in the last couple of years there have been more options than ever for taller guys. Recently when we were hanging out he told me about some new brands he’s come across. One is American Tall – it’s essentially a Banana Republic aesthetic and price but for guys 6’ to 7’1” (and women up to 6’6”).

So If you need a smart casual pair of stretch chinos in a 32×40 or a budget-friendly $129 pair of suede boots in size 16, now there’s a place to look.

PRIMER PARTNER

Underwear That Actually DOES Something

If you’re a guy that has to move a lot, the struggle of heat and chafing is real. From sweat to irritation to honest-to-goodness medical problems – the external male anatomy wasn’t designed for an extended lifespan cooped up in pants.

Primer readers save an additional 20% on their first order at Sheath with code Primer24

And while every iteration of the modern under garment, from boxers to briefs to boxer briefs, has been an attempt to silo those parts of the body from the legs, all were half measures with flaws of their own.

If there’s one type of guy that would know this alarmingly well, it’s a US Army veteran doing two tours in Iraq in 2007:

“I was under extremely hot conditions and all I wanted was a pair of underwear with a pouch or pocket to separate my balls to keep them from sticking to my legs. The male groin generates more heat than any other part of the body. Similar to the skull and the armpits. I had a hat and sleeves but my balls were out of control,” Robert Patton told Primer in 2017.

The undefeatable temperatures, heavy gear, and inherent stress meant life was a sweaty, chafed disaster. The soldier-turned-inventor got to work with the supplies he had on hand in the desert, fashioning his first prototype of the pouch underwear that would be the foundation of his eventual raving success, Sheath:

Patton’s first prototype, created in Iraq

Now 17 years later, Sheath is the official underwear of the UFC, relied upon by world-class fighters, Olympians, and law enforcement; and Inc. Magazine labeled the company one of the 100 fastest growing veteran-owned businesses in the United States. From that initial makeshift prototype, Patton’s Sheath brand now offers 5 versions, including single or dual pouches, differing lengths, material options like modal or bamboo, and a palette of colors and patterns.

I can personally vouch for them. I still have pairs from 2017(!) in my rotation because they’re in great condition. I was initially skeptical of how comfortable this could possibly be but they really do work as advertised. You completely forget you’re wearing anything different – except for the lack of swampiness and chafing. I didn’t recognize how beneficial the extra support was until I actually wore them.

Sheath offers styles with single or dual pouches as well as different lengths and patterns.

Fortunately, you don’t have to take my word for it. Sheath offers a no-questions-asked 100% refund on your first pair, and a 6-month manufacturer warranty on defective items, plus Primer readers get an extra 20% off their first order.

Sunglasses for Low Nose Bridges

Stephen reached out to me frustrated about sunglasses. As he’s gotten more into developing his own personal style, he’s taken to the plastic sunglass frames common in a more refined aesthetic, but none of the ones he’s tried fit right.

“Every pair I’ve tried looks good for about 60 seconds but they always end up sliding down my face and sit on my cheeks,” he told me, “I’ve always been an aviator guy just because I can pinch the nose pads to force them to fit.”

The plastic acetate-style of sunglasses use the shape of the bridge, versus adjustable nose pads on metal styles like aviators, to hold them in place. So if you have a low nose bridge, there’s just no way these things are gonna stay up.

Fortunately, mainstream framemakers have started addressing this frustration. Brands like Warby Parker, Maui Jim, and Ray-Ban make acetate frames with wider, or in some cases, adjustable nose bridges so they stay put and don’t sit on your cheeks. Look for terms like “low nose bridge sunglasses” or “Asian fit sunglasses”.

Chinos for Guys Who Carry Things in Their Pockets (Everyone)

You know, we gave the old guys a hard time for their belt clip phone holders but at least they were doing something about a terribly annoying problem: Pants with side pockets like every pair of chinos, khakis, and dress pants cause your $1,000 smartphone to fall out CONSTANTLY.

We all smirked yet provided no alternative.

The Dockers Ultimate Chino is not only a budget-friendly, comfortable work pant that is widely available, it also features a sneaky hidden zip pocket right next to to the side pocket so you can keep your phone or keys or whatever else you want to haul without the risk of it sliding out every time you sit down.

It’s completely unnoticeable while zipped up and the pants can easily be worn dressed up or down.

Nicer Summer Shoes to Replace Boat Shoes

Connor messaged me with a plea more from his wife than him, “I grew up on the east coast but have lived with my wife in Ohio for 10 years. Every date night gets my go-to boat shoe treatment. She has been politely nudging me for years to get something a little less dock-ready.”

For some areas the boat shoe is akin to a white sneaker: It’s a perfectly acceptable uniform regardless of where you go. If you’re looking for something a little more refined, I’ve got just the thing, and for your part, you won’t even notice a difference.

Swapping your boat shoe for a suede loafer will give you the same summer comfort you’re used to but give off a little bit more of a dressy vibe. The right pair can still be worn with jeans and even in cooler temperatures, making them just as versatile as your go-to.

Dress Pants That Aren’t Dry Clean Only

Dress pants are usually made out of wool because of inherent temperature properties, ability to maintain shape, natural wrinkle resistance, and its ability to be woven in a variety of textures giving it a sophisticated look and feel.

Unfortunately, wool dress pants are typically labeled as “dry clean only” because the material can easily shrink, distort, or become felted if exposed to water and agitation. Linings and interfacing can also be damaged by regular machine washing.

“I have to wear dress pants almost every day of the week but I hate that I have to pay to have them cleaned so often,” Primer reader Jeremy lamented in a conversation we were having. My recommendation is textured cotton pants. The ones I’m wearing here are from Bonobos, and brands usually offer them in the fall. The benefit is since they’re cotton, they’re machine washable.

While not quite the same level of dressiness since they lack the fine, shiny weave of the dress pants, I’d argue they’re pretty interchangeable in a modern context for all but the dressiest situations. For a different option that’s currently available in a bunch of colors, check out the Weekday Warrior from Bonobos.

What are your solves for your clothing frustrations? Chat with me in the comments!

[ad_2]

Andrew Snavely

Source link

April 28, 2024
Do These 2 Easy Things to Make Your Shirt Collars Last Infinitely Longer
[ad_1]
Regrettably, all dress shirts have a life span. At some point, no matter their quality or how lovingly you take care of them, repeated wear and washing have irreparable effects. And it’s not always a dramatic rip along a seam or a huge stain on the chest that forces a shirt into retirement. Oftentimes, it’s something small that sneaks up on you – usually something on or around the collar. There are many important steps to take when it comes to caring for collars on button up shirts but the best place to start is to simply unbutton button down collars and flip them up before throwing them in the wash.

This technique has three invaluable effects:

It ensures that your collar tips and button holes will not get stretched out while in the laundry, helping them continue to lay flat, snugly button down, and retain sharp, clean edges all the way around. If you’ve ever had a shirt where you have to try to “re-crease” the collar because it’s riding up, it’s because you’ve been washing and drying them with the collars buttoned.

The collar’s buttons avoid being subjected to undue stress during the wash cycle, which will subsequently reduce the chances of the button’s stitching later coming loose at an inopportune moment.

With the collar unfastened and flipped up, both sides of the collar (particularly the oft-neglected underside of the collar crease) will get thoroughly cleaned (and dried).

The benefits of this practice may not be immediately obvious the next time you check yourself out in the mirror but your collar will retain its off-the-rack crispness and fold for a much longer time, which is a priceless feature for a wardrobe staple like a button-down shirt.

Bonus tip! In a crowded closet or cramped garment bag, flipped-down collars can get flattened, deformed, and creased. So, after washing and drying your shirts, hang them with the collars flipped up to ensure they remain pristine while in storage.
[ad_2]

Justin Brown

Source link
April 24, 2024
The New Dad’s Guide: 8 Tips to Surviving the First Year

[ad_1]

Where the rules are made up and the sleep schedules don’t matter.

If you have a baby on the way, then congratulations, my guy. You are in for so much fun. The cuteness, the poops, the pukes, the baby talk, the chunky toes, the baby baths, literally all of it is wonderful, and fulfilling, and hilarious.

It’s also overwhelming, and emotional, and exhausting.

And trust me, you can do it. If you’ve just had a baby, or you have one on the way, here are a few ideas to consider to get you started.

You Can’t Be Perfectly Prepared

You got the crib, the wipe warmer, the stroller, and you put some money aside. But you need to embrace the fact that you can only be so prepared for this baby.

You’re going to need more diapers. You’re going to run out of butt cream when the baby has a rash, and you’re going to stand over her at 2am just to make sure she’s still breathing. Oh and that baby is definitely going to have a full, green-poop blowout when you’ve forgotten to replace the backup onesie that she soiled last week.

It’s ok.

The point isn’t to be prepared for any scenario – that’s impossible. The point is to live in the moment with your partner and your baby. The poop, the rash, the anxiety, it’s all par for the course, and whatever happens, I promise you’ll figure it out. You’ll call your mom, or your best friend, or your older brother, or the pediatrician, and they’ll walk you through how to handle it.

It’s wise to be as prepared as you can, but at a certain point, you have to accept that the next few months will be rife with curveballs. You can handle it.

Sleep When You Can

I know, everyone says this, and it’s easier said than done. But considering you now have a tiny human who has NO respect for the usual rules of wake time and sleep time, you really do need to sleep when you can. When the baby goes down for a nap, give yourself forty-five minutes on the couch. And I don’t mean forty five to scroll on Instagram. Turn your brain off and close your eyes. Even if you don’t fall asleep, you can do some deep breathing and give your body a rest.

After forty-five minutes (or an hour if you’re so lucky), get up and swiffer the floor, load the dishwasher (yes, you should do regular household activities while the baby sleeps so she is used to sleeping through the noise), and catch up on that report for work.

It’s better to already be awake when the baby wakes up. Trust me: there’s nothing worse than slipping into a deep sleep and being woken up by a baby who you’d hoped would sleep for another hour.

You Need a Date Night

Those first couple of weeks, you’re going to cocoon: You’ll stay in the house as much as you can and soak up every single moment with your partner and your baby. And that’s damn right.

If you can afford it, order in a few times so that once the baby goes down, you and your partner can sit and have some sushi or pizza. Talk, reconnect, watch one of your shows that you’ve been binging together. You’re going to be tired, but this is a critical time in your relationship, and you need to let the stress and exhaustion bring you closer together, not farther apart.

Once you’re comfortable, have a date night out of the house. This is going to give both of you anxiety, but there are ways you can manage it. Hopefully you have a support system in place that allows for someone you trust to come hang with the baby while you and your partner get out.

Start small – no one is saying you need to do dinner, the club, and movie. But maybe just dinner, and maybe some place within fifteen minutes of home in case something comes up. Give each other grace with checking in with the babysitter. My kids are 6, 10, and 10, and we still check in at least once with the babysitter whenever we have a night out.

It’s Ok to Say No

When my daughter, Izzy, was born, my dad and I had lunch in the hospital. He said, “You know, the time will come where I’ll suggest that you come over, and you’ll have to remind me that it’s easier for us to come to you because you’re the one with the kid.” And he was right; I played that card plenty of times when Izzy was a baby (obviously as the kids get older, it gets easier to travel). The fact is, there’s no such thing as a quick trip anywhere with a baby.

When you have a baby, people understand you’re busy. But they don’t always know how tired you are. Remember that it’s ok to say no.

Your friend will find some other guys to help him move his pool table, and that couple you like to hang out with can take a rain check on dinner. And when your parents call and ask you to bring the baby over, sometimes you can say Actually, how about you come to us?

Get Yourself a Dad Bag

I’ve talked about this before, but it’s a good idea for you to have a dad bag. At any given time, you need a handful of diapers, wipes, an extra outfit for the baby, and according to the comments in my original article, an extra t-shirt for yourself as well. No need to break the bank on the bag; grab a cheap one that will get you through the next two years.

You Still Have to Take Care of Yourself

Before Izzy was born, I was in the best shape of my life. I lifted six days a week, and I ran 3-5 miles every other night. I was in my late twenties and I had all the time in the world. I also ate like a king (a healthy king). Meat or fish and veggies with every meal, protein shakes, constant hydration. Yes sir, I was jacked.

And then Izzy was born.

Suddenly working out was a luxury for which I seldom had the time or energy. And as far as eating, I don’t even want to talk about it. A few scrambled eggs and half a glass of milk became an ordinary meal for me in between bottle feedings, playing, catching up on sleep, and trying to keep the house clean.

The fact is, you’re no good for your kid or your partner if you’re not taking care of yourself. You need to exercise, and you need to eat right. No need to suddenly become a fitness influencer; just a few adjustments can keep you in check. Instead of binging your favorite show for two hours, take the baby for a walk in the stroller and listen to your favorite podcast or an audio book (you have to keep your mind sharp too).

If you know you’re not going to go to the gym or down to the basement where you keep the weights, then bring two 25-pound dumbbells up into the living room. Do curls in between folding laundry. Throw on some ankle weights while you cut the grass. The point is that you can exercise while you complete other tasks.

As for your diet, it’s probably going to suffer a bit – that’s fine: it’s survival for the first few months. Remember that Oreos are an easy snack, but so are baby carrots (so hey, have both).

More importantly, just make sure you’re eating. I can’t count how many times I’ve had my girls out for hours at a time only to realize my hands were shaking because I hadn’t eaten all day. Keep your caloric intake up; you need energy and patience. When you take a bottle for the kid, take a snack for yourself too. Protein shakes and granola bars are your friends. And give yourself some grace on this one: When push comes to shove, it’s better to have a Big Mac than nothing at all.

One last thing: If you don’t have a therapist, start seeing one now, before the baby is born. You want mental health care to be a normal part of your routine before you’re over tired, overworked, and generally overwhelmed.

You don’t see a therapist because there’s something wrong with you. You see a therapist because you recognize that mental health matters and you want to be the best version of yourself for your partner and your baby.

Your Partner Still Comes First

I might catch some hate for this one, but your relationship with your partner must remain your top priority. Your partner is your equal, your soulmate, and even though you love this baby more than you ever thought possible, it’s a different kind of love.

A birthing coach once told me, when you come home from work, you kiss your wife first, then you kiss the baby. At first, I balked at this. I thought, if I’m spending all day at work, I’ll do what I want when I get home. But the birthing coach was right: While I was at work, my wife was at home, exhausting herself attending to our baby. She deserved my attention and the first kiss. She also deserved for me to jump into action when I walked in the door. I got the baby; you go get a manicure with your best friend, or pour yourself a drink and sit on the porch.

Today, our girls always get grossed out when they see Katie and me show affection, but they also know that while I love all of them endlessly, mom is my number one, ride-or-die girl. She’s my partner, my equal, my companion.

Don’t Underestimate Your Power

Sometimes I lose my patience. I raise my voice. I get so tired that I can barely think straight. But I also remind my girls how strong they are. I make them say aloud that they are brilliant and beautiful and proud. I play charades and sing goofy songs, and draw them pictures, and I clap when they do cartwheels and show me magic tricks. I make nutritious dinners, and once in a while, I’ll grab them a happy meal (if they’re good listeners while we’re in Home Depot).

None of these make me a great dad, but I’m engaged, and engagement is everything.

You have the power to build your kid’s self-esteem (a power that a lot of our dads didn’t use well). You have the power to protect your kid but also to love them unconditionally, to encourage them to accept whoever they become and celebrate their own accomplishments. Use this power healthily, so your kid can become the person they want to be.

Congratulations, dad. Take a deep breath. You got this.

[ad_2]

Mike Henson

Source link

March 11, 2024
9 Things Every Guy Needs to Know About Trimming, Shaving, or Growing Facial Hair – But Probably Doesn’t
[ad_1]
Nine things I had to learn about facial hair the hard way.

Thanks to Brio for partnering with us and offering Primer readers a free Zero Blade attachment ($25) with their Beardscape purchase.

Shaving and taking care of facial hair is a lot like doing our taxes: It’s one of those things we have to do but we’re never really educated on how to do it. Some of us might have been lucky to get some preliminary instructions from a father figure, but even then, if your facial hair growth or style is any different from his, you’ve had to figure it out for yourself.

What on the surface seems like it should be simple – hair on face too long, make shorter – actually has quite a bit of nuance.

1. Don’t Trust Your Bathroom Lighting Alone

Take my word for it: If you do all your grooming in the same bathroom, in front of the same mirror, with the same lighting every day, you may not be getting the full picture.

About 10 years ago, I was chilling with one of my closest friends at home and he politely told me I had a hair growing out the side of my nose, coincidentally (and perfectly timed) with our conversation about our frustrations with the LA dating scene. Not out of my nose – out the side of my nose. I went to the bathroom, and even doing that thing where I’m inches from the mirror, I couldn’t see what the heck he was talking about.

I didn’t even know hair could grow on the side of noses

I pulled out my cell phone flash light and moved it across my face, and sure enough, there it was, a hair that must have been a third of an inch long just straight up growing out the side of my nose. Its length made clear it had been there for some time and I could never see it because it just happened to fall in this awkward blind spot that my bathroom set up caused.

To get a better picture of what’s going on, especially for potentially embarrassing things you’d prefer to avoid like nose and ear hair, but also for catching beard strays, occasionally give your face a sweep with lighting that breaks up your normal perspective.

2. Achieve a Naturally Rounded Upper Cheek Line by Pulling Your Cheek Up Then Shave a Straight Line

Your face isn’t flat, and neither should the top of your cheek line. An upper beard cheek line that has a natural contour allows you to neaten up your facial hair appearance without looking like you just squared off the bushes with a hedge trimmer. The trick to cleaning up your cheeks while giving it a natural look lies in a simple but effective technique:
- Start by pulling the skin of your cheek upward
- Then, with your skin still taut, shave or trim in a straight line where you want your cheek line to be.
- The magic happens when you release your skin; the straight line you’ve just created will naturally adopt a slightly rounded appearance that follows the natural shape of your face.
This method does more than just create a visually pleasing line; it also helps in defining the cheekbones and framing your face in a way that enhances your facial structure.

3. Cut Into Your Mustache, Don’t Cut It Straight Across

While much of facial hair grooming comes down to improving presentation, trimming the ends of your mustache hairs is a more practical, “GET OUT OF MY MOUTH” operation.

It’s easy to think of it the same way you do your sideburns or the way the barber trims the bottom of your hair on your neck: Straight across with the trimmer.

But for a more natural edge, treat the mustache more like bangs instead, and cut into the ends of the hairs with your trimmer or scissors to reduce length in a more organic way instead of giving your ‘stache the equivalent of a bowl cut.

4. My Preferred Easy Clean Up Technique

The clean up is one of the most annoying parts of shaving and trimming. Whether you’re living with a partner, roommates, or simply cherish a clean bathroom like an adult, those tiny hairs seem to have a talent for finding their way into every nook and cranny, clinging stubbornly to sinks and countertops.

One thing I’ve found that makes things easier when using a trimmer is to place a damp paper towel in the bottom of the sink. The wet surface acts like a magnet for facial hair clippings, making them stick to the towel rather than flying off into the unknown.

There are also dedicated sink covers for those inclined, but they seem kind of expensive for what are essentially the same as toilet seat covers. For men with routines dealing with a lot more density, a dedicated product like the various beard bibs available, while looking silly, offer a larger and reusable solution.

Brio Bearscape V2

When it comes to what really matters in a trimmer, there are a few non-negotiables: it needs enough power to glide through your hair without snagging and pulling, blades sharp enough to minimize the number of passes you have to make, construction that prevents it from getting too hot on your face and in your hand, and perhaps most crucially, a battery that won’t betray you by dying halfway through a trim, which always seems to be right before a big event.

Frustratingly, just about any trimmer you come across locally isn’t going to have any of that.

Ceramic blades, like those on the Beardscape V2, are a rarity in the world of trimmers, where metal blades are standard. The advantage of ceramic over metal is significant: they stay sharper for longer, resist heat build-up, and are quieter during operation.

This is in stark contrast to the more common metal blades, which can dull quicker, get uncomfortably hot with prolonged use, and often create more noise. The use of ceramic blades in the Beardscape V2 ensures a trimming experience that is not only more comfortable but also more efficient, reducing the need for multiple passes over the same area and thereby lessening the risk of skin irritation.

Buying a trimmer comes down to investing in a tool that you can rely on for years, and the Beardscape V2 is precisely that. It’s what you upgrade to when you’re tired of burning through plastic-y, off-the-shelf trimmers that share the same motor as the electric toothbrush in the next aisle and instead are ready for a serious tool designed with longevity and performance in mind. Its unique features set it apart from the more commonly available trimmers that might offer a lower upfront cost but fall short in durability and efficiency. The Beardscape V2 is a tool that not only meets your grooming needs today but continues to perform for years to come.

Brio is offering Primer readers a free Zero Blade attachment worth $25 with the purchase of a Bearscape.

5. Nail Where Your Beard Hair Should Stop On Your Neck Every Time With This Guide

More so than how to grow facial hair, or choosing which style to go with, or what products to use, it seems like the absolute one thing most men are never taught and is not inherently obvious is: Where on your neck should your beard or scruff stop?

Go too low and you start looking like a werewolf. Go too high and you run the risk of drawing attention to the underside of your chin, like this TV show poster I came across in the grocery store:

Left: A beard shaved too high on the neck Right: Photoshopped to show how leaving the hair on your chin draws the eye up

Here’s an easy guide to get it right:
- Your facial hair should not extend passed or below the back corner of your jaw. The hair should wrap around the corner, but not extend further.
- From there, use your comb (or eyeball it if you’re adventurous) to visualize a line from the corner of your jaw to just above your Adam’s apple.
Adjusting the line slightly based on your facial structure can further optimize your beard’s appearance. For those with rounder faces, a slightly higher line can elongate the face, while individuals with longer faces might benefit from a lower line to add fullness.

For men who lack a defined separation between their jaw line and their neck, my recommendation would be to follow the same guide but taper the hair below the jaw line to create the illusion of contour.

The key is to ensure that the end point complements your natural features, rather than adhering rigidly to a one-size-fits-all approach.

Keeping your shavers, trimmers, and razors clean isn’t just for professionals and the OCD among us: It’s a critical part of avoiding skin irritations and infections. Every time you shave or trim, your tools come into contact with bacteria that can proliferate if left unchecked.

A simple and effective method is to use isopropyl alcohol. After each use, take a moment to wipe down your razors or trimmer blades and any other non-electric parts with a cloth dampened with alcohol. This kills off bacteria and keeps your tools in ready condition. For electric trimmers, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for safe cleaning practices, as direct application of liquids can damage some models.

→ Pro-tip: Put your solution in a small mister bottle so that cleaning is a breeze

For guys with a clean shave, using isopropyl alcohol on the blades can sanitize and help displace water. Replace razor cartridges or blades often – at least every 5-7 shaves for most men. Dull blades are harder to keep bacteria-free.

Whether it’s sticking with what his father used or grabbing whatever was available when he first needed one, it’s easy for a guy to just kind of fall into using a specific grooming tool, not realizing that some work better for certain men than others.

It should be based on the type and style of your facial hair – as well as your preference for an experience or convenience.
Electric Rotary Shaver:

Best for close shaves cutting through curly or thicker facial hair

Technique: circular, rotating motions

Direction: small circles across the face to catch and cut hairs growing in various directions

Beard Trimmer:

Best for trimming various lengths of facial hair from stubble to beard maintenance

Technique: use with or without guards for desired length

Direction: lightly go against the grain
Safety Razor:

Best for a close and precise shave

Technique: use short, straight strokes

Direction: with the grain of the hair growth

Straight Razor:

Best for experienced users seeking a close shave

Technique: careful, smooth strokes

Direction: holding the razor edge at a 30 degree angle to your skin and going with the grain on the first pass, optional across or against the grain on subsequent passes
Cartridge Razor:

Best for convenience and quick shaves

Technique: light pressure with longer, steady strokes

Direction: with the grain for the first pass, optional across or against the grain for closer shaves

Electric Foil Shaver:

Best for clean shaves with less skin irritation

Technique: long, straight strokes

Direction: over the face in the direction of hair growth
8. Wash Your Face Before Trimming or Shaving to Lessen The Chance of Acne, Ingrown Hairs, etc.

There’s a reason nurses wash the surface of the skin before a surgeon gets started with the scalpel: The skin is home to plenty of things that can cause problems if they get inside an incision.

When you shave or trim without first cleansing, you’re not just cutting hair. You’re potentially dragging bacteria across your skin, inviting it into tiny nicks or inflamed pores, which can lead to acne, ingrown hairs, or worse. A pre-grooming wash with warm water and a gentle cleanser does more than just rinse away these bacteria; it also softens your facial hair and opens your pores, setting the stage for a smoother, cleaner cut.

Just because we’re not trying to cut our selves when shaving and trimming doesn’t mean it’s not an inherent fact of facial hair maintenance.

9. Don’t Endlessly Cut Flyaways, Use Hairspray on a Comb

Before you frustratingly take scissors to that lone beard hair that insists on going its own way, no matter how much you brush it, there’s a simple yet effective trick that can bring them into line: using hairspray on a comb.

Spritz a fine-toothed comb with whatever hairspray you have around, not directly onto your beard. This allows for a more controlled application, ensuring you don’t end up with a stiff or sticky beard. Then, gently run the comb through your beard, focusing on the areas with flyaways. The hairspray helps hold the hair in place without weighing it down, without having to constantly deal with the now shorter fly away as it grows back.

What are your shaving, grooming, and facial hair tips you had to figure out the hard way? Keep the list going in the comments.

→ Primer readers get a free Zero Blade attachment when they order a Beardscape 2! Thanks to Brio for supporting Primer’s mission.
[ad_2]

Andrew Snavely

Source link
March 5, 2024
The Most Life-changing Experiment I Ever Did
[ad_1]
This simple question will help you truly love yourself.

Every year, I set a guiding principle to live by for the next twelve months.

Last year, I chose self-love.

“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” – Lucille Ball

Before my experiment, I would not have understood this quote. Today, I believe these are some of the truest words ever spoken.

But let’s rewind.

At the beginning of last year, I realized I had unhealthy behaviors and was in unhealthy relationships because I chased external validation and love.
- I beat myself up for my mistakes
- I coped with self-medication and social media
- I didn’t express my needs because I thought they didn’t matter
- I had low self-worth and compensated by working my ass off
- I tolerated disrespect from others because I was afraid of losing them
Then, I saw a video by Teal Swan that suggested a simple experiment.

“For 365 days, ask yourself ‘what would someone who truly loves themselves do?’ and do that.”

It was a good start, but I didn’t stop there.

Over twelve months, I dove deep into the topic of self-love and what it means to love yourself unconditionally.

The results were mind-blowing – better relationships, faster business growth, and a deep feeling of inner peace.

While the journey wasn’t easy, it turned my life upside down in so many ways.

Just Ask Yourself The Question

It seems easy – “What would someone who truly loves themselves do?”

That person wouldn’t:
- Stay up scrolling social media until the wee hours – they’d rather spend the time doing something that serves them
- Beat themselves up for mistakes – they’d be compassionate and learn to do better next time
- Stay with people who don’t respect and appreciate them – they’d have the courage to cut off these relationships and create better ones
Asking myself felt uncomfortable in the beginning, which was a true sign that I had starved myself of the love I needed.

In some situations, I didn’t even know what to do, so I did what Swan’s video suggested:

“Just feel into it – do what feels good intuitively.”

See, the mind is very good at rationalizing things. The ego tells stories to keep you in old patterns because they feel safe. But your intuitive feeling?

It’s always right.

You know already that social media, self-loathing, and toxic people aren’t good for you.

You just have to act on it.

Asking this question is like a self-improvement sledgehammer – it hits hard and produces massive results.

There was no way out, no explaining, and no excuses when I asked it. I had to make a fundamental choice – love myself or not.

I chose – and my behaviors, thoughts, and relationships changed quickly.

But I knew I wasn’t done.

The Three Pillars Of True Self-Love

Like for most people, self-love was an airy-fairy concept in the beginning.

Asking myself the question made it more tangible, but I was still confused – what was self-love? How do you describe it? Grasp it? Explain it? Live by it?

I dug deep – books, videos, speeches, mentors, spiritual guides, Ayahuasca ceremonies, and the occasional talk with voodoo priests.

In the end, I came up with three tangible pillars I could live by.

Pillar #1: Self-appreciation

I’m a “push harder” kind of guy.

I’ve worked for 21 days without a break, hit the gym for 30, and achieved 300+ day meditation streaks.

I’ve built a business from scratch, stepped on stage in a bodybuilding competition, and lived on five continents.

Not bad for three decades on this planet – but one thing was missing.

I rarely appreciated myself for what I did.

I simply pushed harder because I felt like I was never enough.

When you don’t appreciate your efforts, you burn out. It’s like climbing a mountain and instead of enjoying the view, you run down the other side to tackle the next peak right away. You attach your self-worth to your achievements.

So I forced myself to slow down a little. Instead of just journaling about my mistakes, I also recorded the efforts I was proud of. I paused to take a deep breath and give myself a pat on the shoulder.

And it felt incredible.

It helped me realize how great I was – not in an arrogant, ego-driven way, but rather from a place of compassion and “you’ve done well.”

“Self-appreciation is the foundation of self-love.” – Amy Leigh Mercree

For the first time, I saw myself as worthy of praise.

For the first time, I gave myself the love I had chased for so long.

For the first time in ages, I appreciated all the hard work my body, mind, and spirit had put into my life.

Appreciate yourself – you’ve earned it.

Pillar #2: Self-respect

There’s nothing more important to me than respect.

I don’t mind if people don’t like me, women don’t love me, or my parents are disappointed – as long as they respect me.

It hurts when someone crosses that line. I removed friends and partners from my life because of it. Yet, I kept running into the same struggle of people disrespecting me.

They kept showing up late, lying, and taking me for granted.

I didn’t know why until I took a long, hard look at myself and realized they were merely a mirror of my inner world.

I made empty promises to myself – “I won’t stay up late/scroll social media/watch porn again.” I didn’t hold myself accountable. I lacked integrity and self-respect.

So I started with that – keeping promises, drawing boundaries, and holding myself to a higher standard.

It didn’t take long for the results to show on the outside, as well.

“Respect yourself and others will respect you.” – Confucius

I left the relationships where I wasn’t appreciated and started living life on my terms.

Was it scary to draw these boundaries and let go of clients, friends, and partners? Yes.

Was it worth it? Also yes, big time.

Respect yourself and life will start respecting you, too.

Pillar #3: Self-acceptance

This was the hardest part out of the three.

Why?

Because it forced me to dive deep into my shadow and everything I had buried in the dark.

We all have parts we don’t like about ourselves. Things we hide because we don’t want others to know about it. Stuff that we’re ashamed of.

But you cannot love yourself if you don’t accept yourself fully.

You will forever pretend to be someone else – a fake version of yourself.

Instead of acting like someone I wasn’t, I faced the truth.

It was tough in the beginning because I forced myself to look at all the parts I didn’t like. The mistakes I made, the trauma I carried, and the insecurities I had.

But step by step, I got better at facing the pain, sadness, and disappointment I had buried.

Step by step, I cleared out my basement.

And step by step, I learned to meet these parts of myself with love.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I stopped being dependent on others’ validation and stopped acting like someone I wasn’t. Instead, I embraced myself fully.

This helped me to finally attract the people who were a good match and to move my business forward in a direction I was truly aligned with.

At the end of the day, I could look at myself in the mirror and love the true me.

Your authentic self is where your true power lies – so shine light on the shadow.

These Were The Biggest Lessons I Learned

This experiment was one of the most powerful ones I ever did.

It took everything I could give – and I learned so much in return.
- Self-love is the basis for everything.
  All you’ve been looking for – success, a home and loving family, feeling good about yourself, and being the best man you can – they start here.
- You can only love others as you love yourself.
  This was the scariest insight I had. If you don’t love yourself, you can’t love others. If you love yourself conditionally, that’s how you will love others. The same is true the other way around.
- Everything starts with you.
  There’s good and bad news about self-love. The bad news is, you’re the only one who can do it. The good news is, nobody can stop you from showing up for yourself. So start with you and everything else will follow.
I never thought this year would change me so much, but it did.

I’ve chased someone who was unavailable for two years – that will never happen again.

I’ve tolerated disrespect because I was afraid of losing people – that will never happen again.

I’ve pretended to be someone I wasn’t and denied my true self appreciation, respect, and acceptance – that will never happen again, either.

Life’s a lot better today. I’m at peace. I love myself – truly, authentically, as I am.

And you can get there, too.

Just ask yourself:

“What would someone who truly loves themselves do?”
[ad_2]

Moreno Zugaro

Source link
February 29, 2024
What is Smart Casual? Complete Guide with Lots of Outfit Examples

[ad_1]

The single best fashion tip for dressing better: how to incorporate smart casual outfits and elements into your wardrobe so that you’re the best dressed – wherever you go.

→ Smart casual is a fashion dress code that focuses on a balance between casual and formal wear, emphasizing well-fitting, polished pieces that are less formal than traditional business attire but more elevated than everyday casual clothes.

The goal is to look refined and casual based on where you’re going, versus adhering to specific clothing pieces in the way business casual or corporate professional might. Blending elements like dark jeans or chinos with blazers, simple sweaters, and low profile boots and sneakers that are casual, but offer a “put-together” look.

This modern style approach allows for personal style expression while maintaining a sophisticated look adaptable for most settings the modern person will find themselves in.

This guide was rewritten in January 2024

In the past, someone’s personal style mainly depended on their work clothes. Think about previous decades when middle managers wore suits less formal than the company’s lawyers but more formal than its copywriters. You could infer a person’s professional status simply by their style uniform.

Today, fashion is about a lot more than the office. We have freedom to build our own personal style and live in a world where it’s possible to have a wardrobe that is equally appropriate and modifiable for a day at a graphic design firm, a dinner at a nice restaurant, or an evening at the theater.

If you’re free to create your own look, why not create a wardrobe that can work in almost any situation? This desire to create a sharp, versatile wardrobe has given rise to smart casual.

Smart casual sits between casual and dressy clothing, without the defined uniform business casual has:

Jump to section:

What is the Smart Casual Dress Code?

First and foremost it’s important to understand that unlike the “professional,” or “business casual,” or “black tie” dress codes, for example, that specifically dictate what clothing items should be worn, smart casual is more about an approach to what to wear: Creating an overall look that feels put-together, respectful, refined, yet casual and not over-dressed.

What does “smart” in “smart casual” mean?

“Smart” refers simply to appearing intentional. The look is the appropriate level of dress for where you’re going and has an air of sophistication while still being overall a casual outfit. Synonyms for smart casual could be “dressy casual,” or “refined casual”. At a smart casual function, everyone could be dressed differently, but they would all feel like they are dressed equally appropriately.

Smart casual is a pair of well-fitting jeans, a blazer, and desert boots:

Smart casual could also be a topcoat, sweatshirt, dressier pants, and white sneakers:

Simple outfits in darker or neutral colors are an easy way to start creating casual outfits that feel “dressy”.

Done right, a smart casual look can work in “casual,” “business casual,” and even some “dressed up” environments while still standing out from the crowd. At a casual bar night, you’ll look sharp. In a low-key business meeting, you’ll look bold but professional. No matter where you go, you’ll have the confident look to impress.

These days, almost everything you do in life doesn’t have clearly defined style expectations. Treat this as an opportunity. You have a chance to plant a flag with your fashion intentions.

Even the enduring denim trucker jacket can be worn in a smart casual way. Mastering Spring Layering

Examples of Smart Casual Outfits

Some could confuse smart casual as anything dressier than a hoodie, but less formal than a business suit. That doesn’t give us much to work with. You could also get hyper-specific, checking off a box to create your smart casual outfit: a blazer, dress shirt, neat jeans and brown loafers. Looking at it that way is far too confining.

It’s better not to look at smart casual as a set of rules or a list of particular items. Your intention is to look great in your environment. A smart casual outfit should feel adaptable, sharp, and ready for anything.

Smart casual can even mean the right t-shirt (perhaps accompanied by a sophisticated jacket) or even the right sneakers (probably solid colored and lower profile).

Combining dressier and more casual elements like a blazer and crisp t-shirt is the cornerstone of the smart casual dress code

Smart casual is like art: you know it when you see it. Or rather, you know it when you feel it. You’ll know you nailed it when you feel like you look good but not overdressed for wherever you’re going.

Take for instance this Ryan Reynolds-inspired style: The combination of subdued colors and the mixture of dressier elements (tucked-in button up shirt, chinos) with more casual items (bomber jacket, low profile brown high top sneakers) feels like you got ready on purpose, but not like you’re dressed up.

How Any Guy Can Style High Tops and How They Alter an Outfit + 5 Looks

Using a similar color scheme but swapping the bomber for a blazer, and the high tops for suede dress shoes creates a more professionally focused, but still smart casual, aesthetic:

What to Wear to a Smart Casual Office

Tricks for Making Smart Casual Outfits

Swap the jacket and shoes of a dressier outfit with more casual or rugged options:

Taking a more dressed up base like this dress shirt and pants and swapping the blazer and cap-toe shoes for a leather jacket and Chelsea boots makes the more casual pieces feel more refined.

Swap the shirt and shoes when wearing a suit or blazer for more casual options:

Alternatively, swapping a dress shirt and tie for a fine knit sweater, and dress shoes for suede chukka boots, brings down the overall formality of the suit into a more smart casual appearance.

Let the pants be the dressier focal point:

A minimalist look that fits the smart casual bill with the tucked, fitted henley, chinos with tab closure, and crisp white sneakers. Dressing Up the Henley

Choose dressier versions of casual items and more casual versions of dressier items:

When just getting started with making a smart casual outfit, it’s far easier to combine dressier versions of casual items with more casual dressy items like swapping dress shoes for suede boots and a golf shirt for a knit polo.

In fact, those items make a GREAT smart casual outfit by focusing on a limited or subdued color palette:

This outfit strikes a balance between elegance and comfort. The colors are well-coordinated using a style hierarchy of dark to light, with earthy tones that complement each other, not too formal yet not too casual.

Smart Casual VS Other Dress Codes

Since the smart casual dress isn’t defined by specific clothing items, sometimes it can be hard to fully grasp the idea. One method that can help is to visualize a smart casual outfit alongside other dress codes:

Casual Style Dress Code VS Smart Casual

Casual, of course, is your most relaxed look. It isn’t necessarily as simple as waring whatever you want. If you receive an invitation that reads “casual attire,” you probably shouldn’t show up in gym clothes. For our purposes, “casual” means no pretense of formality.

Simply swapping for a more dressed up jacket, and subbing loafers for sneakers makes the same sweatshirt and pants feel more dressed up while still remaining casual.

Business Casual Dress Code VS Smart Casual

A traditional business casual outfit

Smart casual: Here the white button down shirt and linen dress pants would usually be a more “dressed up” style, but by pairing them with the brown leather sneakers and lightweight olive field jacket a smart casual balance is achieved.

Though some workplaces have moved to a more relaxed environment, many offices still have a business casual dress code. Business casual probably doesn’t mean a suit; touches of formality like blazers, khaki pants or suit pants, a button-down shirt or polo, and dress shoes are hallmarks of the classic business casual look.

Dressed Up, Professional, Semi-formal Dress Code VS Smart Casual

Dressing down a navy linen suit with a striped t-shirt is the perfect smart casual wedding outfit.

This is the clothing you wear on special occasions or if you have a career that still requires a daily suit. When you are “dressed up,” you are matching your attire to specific standards, locations, and conventions. We all know how you dress for a job interview, a wedding, an anniversary, or a funeral. Each of these events comes with social expectations, and we have a shared style language around these important occasions.

Smart casual can still be comfortable, but there’s an added layer of attention and *intention*. You’re thinking of smaller details and adding layers. Maybe you’re still in jeans, but you’ve chosen a fitted t-shirt made from a finer cotton without any graphics on it. Or you’ve swapped out the tee for a button-up shirt and slipped on some higher-end sneakers.

Smart Casual Style: A Feeling

This room for creativity is what makes smart casual so great. Rather than defining smart casual by specific items, think of smart casual as a feeling.

What is that feeling?

When you’ve done smart casual right, you should feel like you can walk into any room and have people think, “Damn, he looks good.” With a few exceptions, like a trip to the courthouse or a wedding reception, smart casual can work in most modern situations.

The best advice we can give for perfecting a smart casual look is allowing space for experimentation. If you’re feeling too dressy, a lighter color jacket or simple switch to a more casual shoe might do that trick. If you look in the mirror and feel like the look is too casual, swap out your bomber for a blazer or your jeans for some slim wool trousers.

At the end of the day, smart casual is about empowering yourself with your best look.

Two Winter Outfits That Will Get You Through 90% of the Rest of the Season

FAQ: Other Smart Casual Questions

Is a polo shirt smart casual?

Generally speaking, a traditional pique polo is not smart casual. The collar and texture gives it a whiff of business casual formality, but evaluate the way you would a t-shirt to determine if your favorite polo is “put-together” or “informal”. Pique polos are generally a little looser, with a robust weave and an uneven–or ‘tennis tail”–hem, stylistic nods to the shirt’s sporting roots.

Why the Knit Polo Will Change the Way You Dress + 11 Picks

If you want to incorporate a polo shirt into your smart casual wardrobe, choose a dressier, more refined style like the knit polo. Look for details like a more structured silhouette, finer materials (such as silk or linen), and a clean hem:

What should you wear to a smart casual wedding?

Smart casual weddings are the perfect time to inject a little bit of fun into an otherwise more traditional event. That means dressier sneakers or loafers, dressing down a suit with a t-shirt or short sleeve button up, or if it’s in the summer, embracing the more colorful (and heat appropriate) Garden Casual.

Where Does the “Smart Casual” Dress Code Come From?

The first known usage of the phrase “smart casual” was in 1924. The writer was describing a “sleeveless dress with three-quarter overblouses, in smock appearance completing it for streetwear.” The women’s look, somewhere between flapper chic and office modesty, was conceptually similar to what we consider smart casual today.

In the 1950s, you started to see the term used in menswear. At that time, the term was simply used to describe a suit that was more casual than what you would wear to the office. Even though the look was different, the concept was the same. A smart casual suit was something a man could wear in almost any situation and feel good.

Smart casual as we know it today first emerged in the 1980s. Shifting standards of formality and the rise of informal workplace attire blurred the line between work wear and street style. It was now possible to create a look that was entirely personal and extremely versatile.

The modern version of smart casual was born.

More Smart Casual Inspiration from our Getup Series

Finally, for more advice on how to build a smart casual look, check out Primer’s long-running outfit inspiration series, The Getup. We’ve been running the series for 14 years, as we attempt to offer great looks for a variety of occasions and seasons. Whether you’re trying to dress for a smart casual office, prepare for a “spring weekend adventure,” or yor just want to find your “smart summer casual” look, we’ve got you covered. With the Getup, we won’t just tell you about a look, we’ll tell you how to make that look your own.

→ See our smart casual outfits in The Getup series

This outfit is a masterclass in juxtaposing extreme casual and dressy elements together in a way that looks great. Style contributor Daniel Baraka pairs a vintage camo jacket with dress pants and bold velvet slippers and makes it work. The well-fitting simple white t-shirt and gray pants act as the perfect neutral base to build on.

There’s no question this outfit is put-together but it is a chameleon in terms of formality: Daniel could be going to a work event or a winter coffee date. The ambiguity of the formality is the key benefit of smart casual. The Only 4 Ways to Tie a Scarf You’ll Ever Need

A clean, minimalist leather jacket is a long-term piece that can span casual and smart casual attire.

Here, the casual light wash denim jacket and black pocket t-shirt are dressed up by the slim, no-break chino pants and brown dress Chelsea boots.

Get Smart

We’ve told you what smart casual is, we’ve given you advice on how to build your smart casual look, and we’ve showed you where you can find style inspiration. Now it’s time to figure out what smart casual looks like for you.

It’s time to to build that sharp look that can work no matter where life might take you.

[ad_2]

Andrew Snavely

Source link

January 21, 2024
Yes, You Should Switch to a Cheap Hard-sided Travel Toiletries Kit + How (And What) To Pack
[ad_1]
The busiest travel season ever is coming – here are 5 hacks to make it easier.

Thanks to Brio, the makers of my ride-or-die beard trimmer for sponsoring this article. Primer readers get a free silicone travel sleeve plus a discounted price when you buy a Beardscape V2!

It seems like there are two types of packers. And I don’t relate to either of them.

The first is the packer who proudly takes barely anything. Nary more than a toothbrush and deodorant. Maybe a comb, but probably not. This packer is proud to pack light and boasts that they travel on a three week work trip with only a backpack, and assails anyone who suggests needing to pack more than that.

The second type of packer is the complete other end. They would gladly pay for a second checked bag so that they can just bring everything in case of emergency – and they’ve never even experienced any of those emergencies. Part of it is probably anxiety but the other part is just not wanting to have to think about what they need to pack. So they hold their bag up next to their bathroom shelf and dump everything in.

If you’re in the middle of those two like I was, you probably carry more than the first but rarely feel like you have your normal routine like the second. You probably have a small dopp kit that has a couple travel-sized products from Target and a mishmash of things you’ve had to pick up on the last 10 years of trips because you often don’t have what you need.

But awhile ago I decided to more intentionally take that middle path: I don’t want to have to stress when packing, I want all of my normal things, and I don’t want to take up a lot of space.

What I Want in a Travel Kit

I like my grooming routine. I like being able to do what I do at home when I’m somewhere else, especially if I have to give a presentation or speech because I’m traveling for work or I’m in a wedding.

Not only does having my usual supplies make things quicker and more effortless when getting ready away from home, it allows me to be more comfortable and it certainly reduces stress.

There’s nothing easy or fast about trying to get ready from a bag like this. “THIS ISN’T HOW WE’RE SUPPOSED TO LIVE,” my adult brain shouts at me.

What I want is a compact, organized, but easily packable kit. One that allows me to determine what I bring based on my actual routine:
- Not only do I want to be able to do my normal routine, I want to be able to do it with the tools I normally do it with. I want to take my electric toothbrush because I like my electric toothbrush. I want to take my regular beard trimmer because I trust it and I know it.
- Maintainable organization is important to me so that when I’m packing I can easily look at my kit and know if I forgot something or not.
- It needs to be compact so I can use the same kit for almost every trip, which means it fits in both a suitcase and a backpack.
- It needs to be organized so that when using the grooming products I don’t have to dig for things and stuff isn’t falling out all over.
I want a kit that gives me my normal routine, that can fit in various travel bags.

Problems with Existing Dopp Bags & Toiletry Kits

Surprisingly, when you look up guides to packing and traveling with your grooming supplies, a lot of them are just bag recommendations. Most of those recs are dopp kits which are usually just one-section pouches, like a glorified leather pencil holder that everything just gets dumped into. I don’t want to be digging around looking for a specific medicine or tweezers or whatever every time I need something. Plus traditional dopp kit bags hardly hold anything. You can barely fit a beard trimmer and some toothpaste in that thing.

The advantage of using a hard-sided kit like this is you don’t have to unpack everything in your hotel or Airbnb to be able to see and access all of your stuff because it’s organized as you go. All you need is an area that’s big enough for the box to be able to sit on it, then open it up and flip through it like a book. Put it back when you’re done and you don’t have to be digging around all kinds of stuff. That’s awesome.

Small and nimble

Recommendation: The Hard-Sided Toiletry & Grooming Kit

It’s amazing to me that the hard-sided dopp kit barely exists. Why? Because obviously nobody wants to have liquids squeezed out everywhere when your toiletry bag gets yanked around by whoever’s handling your baggage. Or when you stuff it in the back of a trunk and everybody else’s luggage gets put on top. Or someone bumps into you on the subway while you’re carrying your backpack. Why would I use a soft sided bag to house 6 tiny bottles of liquid? That doesn’t even make sense.

If you look for hard-sided toiletry cases, they’re basically just makeup kits, and even those wouldn’t work for our purposes because of their size and shape. So I started digging and I finally landed on this small hard-sided electronics organizer.

Budget-friendly hard-sided dopp kits are hard to come by, but this cheap electronics organizer works perfectly.

Its unpacked weight of 11 ounces is light: Equivalent to 12 ping pong balls. It’s got two main sections with a two-sided divider in the middle creating 4 total sections. The first has a shallow full mesh zipper pocket on the left that fits flat things like combs and small cases.

The middle has MOLLE-like straps on both sides and another half zip pocket on one side. I use it to hold a set of third party travel bottles, more on that in a second.

But the fourth section really is the best part. The big section on the right is about 1.5″ deep and is configurable with three Velcro dividers to perfectly section your space for your full-size grooming gear. For me, that’s the Brio Beardscape, my electric toothbrush, and beard brush.

All electric grooming tools should have an engageable travel lock like the Brio Beardscape that prevents them from accidentally turning on when bumped in transit. This allows you to pack a fully charged item and not have to bother with making space for the charger.

Grooming & Toiletry Kit Packing Tips

How to Take and Use What You Normally Use

One of the core problems I wanted to solve with my travel kit was being able to use the products I use at home, while traveling.

Why? Because if you’ve ever been to Walmart or Target to buy your travel-sized goods, you’ve got about two choices for each thing. If you don’t want whatever shampoo comes in a travel size, well, then you’re out of luck.

The easy and surprisingly cheap option is to find a set of plastic travel bottles and fill them with what you’re currently using at home. Depending on your trip that could be just a little bit – why lug around enough shampoo for 10 trips?

Even better, many of these come in a clear plastic bag themselves so that on flights where you have to separate your liquids, you can separate them in the clear case and continue to pack all your other grooming goods in the kit.

Similarly, one of the things I always miss on trips is my normal cologne because I don’t want to take the space of packing a full size bottle. You can pick up a cheap “atomizer” and pour in a little bit of your cologne to take with you.

Three Approaches to Organization

1. By Function

Much like organizing a kitchen or workshop, it’s instinctive to arrange your travel kit in a way that enhances the convenience and usability of your essential tools. For as much as the case’s space will allow, you keep dental stuff all together, shower stuff all together, and so on. For some, this will be the most obvious and preferred.

2. By Packing Order

I organize my toiletries kit by packing order: Everything that stays in the kit while not traveling is stored together, and things I have to pack every time get stored in a separate section. That way I always know if I packed it without having to take inventory.

This is my new favorite strategy. For me, most of the things I end up forgetting while traveling are some sort of toiletry or grooming product. The method of organizing your toiletry kit by packing order means you pack all of the things that are stored in your kit in one section, and all the things you have to put in it each trip like your toothbrush and beard trimmer in a separate section.

This way, when you’re packing last-minute like I always do, it’s very easy to see if you packed all of those things without having to review the entire travel kit.

This packing method is more effortless but you don’t get the same streamlined use-sense as packing by function, meaning when doing your dental routine, you may have to flip among the kit to get your toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, or floss. But at least with this method, I know I have them.

3. By Travel Restriction

If you’re a traveler who needs to keep liquids separate for going through security, my recommendation would be to divide your things into two kits: Liquids in one compliant clear bag, and everything else in the other. That way, the second can be left alone for the most part and just grabbed when packing.

List of Things to Pack in a Toiletry Bag or Dopp Kit

Pick and choose based on your needs:
Added each time you pack

Toothbrush

Prescription medication

Beard trimmer or shaver

Razor and extra blades (if not using an electric shaver)

Contact lens supplies (if applicable)

Permanently packed

Toothpaste

Deodorant

Shampoo

Body wash or soap

Mouthwash

Dental floss

Moisturizer or face lotion

Hairbrush or comb

Hair product (gel, pomade, or styling cream)

Hair styling tools if needed

Shaving cream or gel (if clean-shaven)

Nail clippers or trimmers

Cologne in travel atomizer

Earplugs (for noise reduction)

Wrinkle releaser / odor eliminator spray (for clothing)

Travel-sized stain remover pen or wipes

Travel-sized lint roller (for clothing)

Wipes (e.g., cleansing wipes or sanitizing wipes)

Pain relievers (e.g., ibuprofen or acetaminophen)

Adhesive bandages for wounds and blisters (various sizes)

Antiseptic wipes

Tweezers (for splinters)

Travel-sized sunscreen (if traveling to sunny destinations)

Lip balm or chapstick

Eye mask (for better sleep during flights or in unfamiliar accommodations)
Use a Label Maker

If you have more than two liquids bottles and you don’t want to navigate by smell, use a label maker to identify what your new travel bottles contain.

Use Plastic Wrap Under Caps to Ensure No Leakage

A simple mom hack to make sure that none of your liquid bottles inadvertently leak or pop open is to take the cap off and place a piece of plastic wrap over the opening and screw the cap back on. This is especially important if you’re using cheap-o bottles, but with enough motivation, any bottle can pop open.

I really use these two items from Brio. I have used the Beardscape and the the electric toothbrush for years. The cool thing is, Brio also understands the annoyances of travel for guys. They have designed features like a travel mode on the trimmer that you can engage by holding down the power button for 5 seconds. If it gets bumped in transit, it won’t turn on and eat the battery until you get to your destination however many hours later.

They also have something I haven’t really seen elsewhere, which is a silicone sleeve that slides over the the clipper blades and the back to protect the blades while traveling. This means the shaver can go right in the hard-sided case without its own case, while also keeping any stray hairs from getting into your kit.

The silicone sleeve is an easy packing solution. Primer readers can get one free when you buy the Beardscape V2.

What are your grooming kit and toiletry bag travel hacks? Chat with me in the comments!
[ad_2]

Andrew Snavely

Source link
November 14, 2023