In the 1920's, a great fedora or derby was a staple of adult male clothing. Unfortunately, over the years, their popularity has dropped significantly. As was the case with finely tailored suits and vests, modern society essentially slid the fedora to the back-burner in favor of a more casual look. But, men looking for a smart, classic look have never quite abandoned them (particularly those with less than perfect hairlines). I have never been moved to buy myself one, but I must admit, its a great look.

If you really want to see this hat work, take a look at the men who have made them iconic. Great examples are Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart & Michael Jackson. In recent years, Johnny Depp, Justin Timberlake and Ne-Yo have pulled the look off very well also.

There have been a few notable attempts to bring the fedora back over the years, most notably by Michael Jackson. Recently, those attempts have been sticking. Both men and women looking to class up otherwise very casual outfits have turned to the fedora (and very often, the vest).  The most important thing to remember about the fedora is that it is an accessory. In other words, buy the hat that matches your style, don't try to build your outfits around it.

Before I sign out, a tip of the fedora to the greatest entertainer of all time.

Cheers,

-JM

I recently found myself in a conversation with an old friend of mine from college. As is always the case with these "catch up" sessions, at some point we had to reminisce on the good old days. The clothing, movies, politics and (of course) the music. I think anyone over 22 feels like music has completely fallen apart in recent years, particularly the once revolutionary hip hop genre.

The days when lyricism, originality and showmanship were requirements have dissolved into an era where an artist's worth is determined by how many ringtones he can sell or how fresh his wardrobe is. Hip hop has degraded from the voice of a culture to simply a reincarnation of pop music. The sexually ambiguous pop stars of the 80's have been replaced by metro sexual "trap stars." As I type this, I know that some will take offense to that characterization. But, the simple fact is that social issues and storytelling have been replaced by songs about white bricks, Gucci scarfs and man bags.

The young hip hop artists out now don't concern themselves with making classics. There is no pressure to push the envelope... or even be original. There was a time (not too long ago) when if you sounded anything like another artist, fans called you on it. Hell, I remember that Fabolous and Shine's careers were overshadowed for years by their vocal similarities to Ma$e and Biggie (respectively). Nowadays, these new guys sound like they are doing impressions of Lil Wayne, Plies, Jay-Z or whoever the top guy is on the radio that month.

This will be a short post. But, before I wrap it up, I want to discuss one more concerning aspect of this whole thing: the lowered expectations of young rappers. Both from a talent and maturity level. The number 1 defense that I hear for Soulja Boy, Bow Wow, Yung Berg or any of these other guys is "They are still young. Give them a break." How did we get to that point as a culture? Do we really look at 20 something year old men as too young and immature to put together intelligent music? What about Michael Jackson? Tupac Shakur?  LL Cool J? Haven't there been plenty of urban artists turning out great music at this age.

It's easy to forget that the guy that made THIS ..

...is older than the one that made this...

Cheers,

-JM

I am an admitted watch addict. So, it should be no surprise that my first fashion post would deal with men's wrist wear. If there is one place worth splurging in your budget, it's your left wrist.

Being such an avid watch fan, I find myself surprised at how little many men know about watches. So, in today's post I am going to take time to introduce one of my favorite lesser known brands, TX. Despite having some of the highest quality and most stylish watches in their price range, TX doesn't have the market saturation of some of the other lower-mid range luxury watches. Their 2009 line up is flat out incredible.

Launched under the Timex umbrella, watches from the TX brand feature exclusive quartz movement & classic (yet refreshingly innovative) designs. TX delivers a luxury that is generally only found in the most elite watches. Most of the pieces featured on this page retail between $450 - $700 USD. Not a bad price for a single piece of machinery that can restore your faith in American industry.

The real inspiration for this post is one of their newest pieces, the Linear Duo Chronograph (pictured below). It is sleek, cool, modern and features the only quartz analog movement to indicate the chronograph minutes on a vertical line (if that makes no sense, just check out those 3 bars on the face).  I really can't say enough about this one. Just check out these specs:

-Solid 316L stainless steel or titanium carbide case
-Genuine leather strap, natural rubber strap, or titanium bracelet
-Linear hand indicates chronograph minutes, singularly and 5 minute increments
-24 hour second time zone
-Patented 6 hand movement
-4 independent motors
-Water resistant to 10 ATM

Linear Duo is scheduled for a Fall 09 release. So it should be in stores very soon.

Cheers,

-JM

Anyone that knows me personally knows that music has always played a major role in my life. Even taking my career in music off the table, I have always felt a deep connection with the art form. In the car, the office, the gym, in bed... I always surround myself with music.

Lately, that music has consisted heavily of tracks from my favorite album, John Forte's “I,John.” That disc (yes, I still listen to music on CDs) has always resonated with me in way that no other single collection of songs has. To the point that now, some 7 years since I bought it, I still play it on a regular basis.

The first song on that disc is called “What a Difference a Day Makes.” It chronicles a man who has given up his clubbing, partying and fair-weather friends for a more conscious, aware and mature life. All of this while staring down a long (and unjust) incarceration. Now, in 2009, Mr. Forte is writing for The Daily Beast, has a new album coming out and has just given a commencement address; only months after receiving a presidential pardon. What a difference a day makes, indeed.

It got me to thinking about where my life was when I first heard the song, in comparison with where it is now. What have I done right? What have I done wrong? Most importantly, what has changed?

After some serious introspection, I can say that I am happy with my life. Family, love and career are all in place (with the expected turbulence that comes with with them). I can say that I have played the last 7 years to my satisfaction. But, the question I should be asking myself is: What difference can a day make? What can I do today to ensure a better tomorrow? My problems are surely many, but as I have seen in the past, a day can make all the difference in the world.

As I ponder this, let me just take the time to raise a toast to John. What a difference a day makes.

Cheers,

-JM