BellaMantra.

we, at dripcult, enjoy looking dapper as fuh. It's just a fact. And you've heard us say it over and over, that the key to taking your look to the next level is the fine details. That is, once you've covered the basics of course. Get a suit that fits. Get it tailored. Get a tailored white shirt to go with it. Find the right tie for your suit color. Then, add a tie bar and boom, you've significantly improved your look. 

Currently our favorite tie bars come from the etsy wizard BellaMantra

Take a gander at what she has to offer:

Stop by BellaMantras online shop and grab a tie bar from one of a billion options. I mean, at around $22, you can get some christmas shopping done at the same time.

- dripcult

belting.

Originally, the purpose of a belt (and suspenders/braces) was to keep your trousers from falling off your body. Now granted, in those days, when this was the entire purpose, pants didn't come in quite as many styles, and so they also didn't always fit too well. 

Today, if you're a grown man, you should be capable of buying a pair of pants that fit yourb ody and do not require a belt to stay on your body. This is one of the reaosns we still don't consider Justin Beiber a man. 

So what is the purpose today? While there may still be some requirement to making pants stay put, given minor fluctuations in wheight and whatnot, the main purpose is to pull an outfit together, and give it a more finished and complete look. So here are some tips:

Sizing: a belt's size is "measured from the buckle to the mid hole – which is where it should be fastened, allowing for slightly higher or lower waist trousers and the natural variations in waist circumference we all go through"

Color: Whenever dressing formally, and often in casual attire, your belt, shoes, and watch band should coordinate colors. Obviously, when wearing a metal-banded watch, I wouldn't suggest weating a metal belt or boots made of steel. There is a bit more leeway in casual wear here. Feel free to wear off-color (generally brightly colored) D-buckle belts or webbed belts as an accent item. 

Side note: is it just me or does the guy in this picture ^ in the middle, on the second-to-bottom row look like a young, smirking, bearded Jim Carrey?

Moving on.

Suspenders: Don't you dare wear a belt in conjunction with suspenders or braces. You can't trust a man who can't even trust his own pants.

going beltless: if you think you can pull it off, go for it. Just keep in mind that a beltless look works best on a slender build, with well-tailored trousers. Beltless is always better than a belt too much. I recommend steering clear of heavily branded belts, belts with a lot going on, or anything that looks like it was made by the people makking Affliction shirts. 

- james

abc's of men's fashion - 59.

accessories.

In principle, your accessories, such as ties and shoes, should be more expensive than your basic suit, which in this way can achieve some reflected glory from them.

This gives more than a chance to play dress up. Certainly, it gives men access to what women, with their famed love of shoes and bags, have always known: that a single accessory can be worth a thousand shirts, or at least several suits. A good bag is more than something to carry stuff in; a hat – once customarily worn by any and every man of good breeding, remember – more than a way to keep the rain off; the significance of solid, well-buffed shoes (as mothers traditionally tell their daughters) more than a means of protecting one’s pretty feet.

That’s not simply because, unlike a shirt or suit, an accessory is harder to wear out and so better value. It’s because an accessory gives newness to otherwise everyday attire, a touch of flare to an otherwise pedestrian or conservative mode of dress. And for all that menswear has moved on in leaps over the last 20 or so years, it remains largely conservative – refined in the way Hardy Amies identified as at the heart of good dressing.

More than economy, freshness and colour, however, is the accessory’s real power: to provide individuality. Of course, this can go very wrong indeed: there is a fine line between accessorising with character and wearing a Daffy Duck tie, even if it’s a seven-fold silk number. No amount of novelty hosiery will make its wearer the dapper dandy he hopes to be. It will make him look, to say it straight, like a fool. Wear it well, however, and the accessory in all its 21st-century variety – something Amies would have appreciated – will belie its smallness with its power to transform.

- Hardy Amies, Josh Sims, 
  and James 

the brixton messer.

cult, meet my favorite hat: the brixton messer.

the right blend of folk/americana and modern appeal.

Brixton calls it the messer fedora, but I don't think anyone would mistake you for kevin federline, or a brittney spears obsessed tween girl. You can scoop one up here in green or black or beige for $52

- james

The Scandinavian Bikehook.

bikes are one of the greatest machines to ever be created. you really can't argue that, it’s less of an opinion and more of a fact these days. 

Bicycles are ridden all over the globe. It’s a reliable source of transportation and let’s be honest, they’re fun. I love bikes. I have a stable of them in my room. Yes, my room. They are so loved they can’t be stored in a dark, dirty garage. Even though my mountain bike is currently covered in dirt and mud which makes no sense for it to be in my room – I digress. Some of my bikes are hanging on my wall and others are propped up against my wall. This is where The Scandinavian Bikehook would come in handy. I have a wall hook that I hate. It’s a pain and its made in China, that really says it all. 

The Scandinavian Bikehook is a simple, solid design that makes storing your bike easy. I mean look at it, it’s not a complicated product – and that’s good. The Bikehook comes from a place that’s no stranger to the bicycle, Denmark. I spent some time over in Copenhagen this summer which is basically the bike capital of the world and let me tell you, you need a bike over there. Public transportation is fine, cars are a pain and walking sucks. The bicycle is king in Copenhagen and I lived on my bike while I was there. Quick shoutout to the homie who, uh, lets say ‘lent’ me his or her bike, I thank you and sorry. 

The Bikehook’s simple design allows it to be utilized in any space, big or small. Use one hook to hang the bike vertically or take advantage of both hooks to store your bike horizontally. The Bikehook is also made out of solid wood. You’re not getting some cheap plastic piece of shit. You’re investing in something that’s built to last. 

We’ve got a few images in the post and the video at the bottom for you guys to check out, but head on over to the kickstarted to get a little more info on Scandinavian Bikehook project here. Don't forget to back the project while you're there. 

- taylor

mint bands.

our friends at Mint Bands sent us some bands to try out. now if you're like me, a few weeks ago you had no idea what a mint band was.

Believe it or not, your first guess probably isn't too far off (assuming that your first guess is a wrist band that smells like mint). Mint bands are slim, anassuming bracelets/wristbands with subtle, yet gorgeous scents built in. 

I'm still in the process of trying them out, so look for a full review next week. All i can say is, so far these things are awesome. Stop by their site to check them out by clicking here.

- james

ellsworth & clyde review.

And then I tried this clip, now I'm a believer. Our friends at Ellsworth & Clyde hooked me up with a gorgeous wood and leather tie bar to try out for myself, and I must say, I'm impressed.

One of the things I noticed and respected about the company right off the bat was the attention to detail. Even the packaging shows extensive time and thought being put into their craft, and for me, that says a lot about a company. 

The way I see it, any company could start crapping out cheap tie bars and packaging them in little tiny ziplock bags to save on production costs and get every single cent out of customers. For a company to spend extra time, extra money, and extra care on the packaging and overall quality of a product...i dig that.

Ellsworth & clyde offer three main color and styling combinations: teak and brown leather, ebony and black leather, and rosewood and black leather. I went with the rosewood because I felt that it blended formal and casual looks without leaning too far in either direction. 

The idea behind these tie bars is actually super simple: two pieces of wood, one strip of leather, and four brass pins, all treated and assembled by hand by a 98 year old man in an antique work shed (okay the part about the old man isn't true, but they really are handcrafted). Sometimes the best things in life are the simplest. I've heard that the best things in life are free, but I've also learned that you get what you pay for, so let's just agree that the whole "free" concept isn't really a good idea when it comes to menswear.

After wearing the e&c clip a few times, it was apparent that the functionality on this thing is on a whole other level. a strong magnet pulls the wood together, holding your tie against your shirt. The magnet strength is spot-on too--not too strong to where the tie is pinched tight, but also strong enough to stop your tie from flapping around in the wind.

the other brilliant feature is the adjustability. The clip features two pieces of wood of different lengths. No, it's not an oversight; this just means that you can wear it on ties of various widths without a problem. It fit my 3" ties like a glove, and my 2.5" ties like a different, but equally perfect, glove.

I've had the clip for a few weeks now, and i've worn it on numerous occasions. It hasn't worn down at all. Nothing is falling a part or fading or breaking. I guess it just goes to show you, making stuff with your bare hands, when done correctly, adds a bit of longevity to product lifespan. Translation: this thing is going to last forever. 

I really can't say enough positive things about this tie bar, which probably means I should stop while I'm ahead. I'll just say this: these tie bars are awesome and I highly recommend you stop by their website and pick one up right here. 

 - james

ellsworth & clyde.

Use of the tie bar became prominent in the 1920s, and remained virtually unchanged (with a few exceptions) for the next 90 something years. Ellsworth & Clyde decided to do something about it.

The ellsworth & Clyde tie bar is crafted from high quality woods and premium leathers and made entirely by hand. The tie bar features a magnetic clasp instead of a bulky clip or impossibly tight metal fold, creating a much simpler tie bar experience. Simple, yet effective.

Until I get my hands on one, I can't speak to the quality, but so far, I'm digging the idea. Granted, it may not be suitable for every occasion, but I definitely love to have one to mix things up from time to time. 

- james

lace up.

I think I've officially found the best bargain on shoes laces for dress shoes. At $3 a pair, and a formidable selection of colors, you really can't beat the shoelace situation going on at ties.com. 

All of their laces come in a 28" length, and are made from woven cotten and waxed for durability and shape. they come in 16 colors, including a few multi-packs to save you some dollars if you plan on purchasing more than one or two pairs.

If you aren't quite ready to branch out into bright, bold colors, they've still got you covered--you can also find the standard black, brown, tan, and gray to replace your worn out laces or add just a small touch of style without demanding attention.

Now that you've found your laces, there are a few things you'll want to remember. 

• Don't match too much. Don't match your laces (exactly) with your tie or shirt. you want to tie your pieces together without giving off the idea that you stayed up all night planning it out.
• make sure that your bely matches your shoes, but not your laces. You don't want people to think you bought everything you're wearing from Mike's Monochromatic Merchandise Market. 
• Don't clash. I hope this is common sense by now.

So what are you waiting for? Stop by ties.com and pamper yourself with the $3 you earned by reading this while you're at work.

- james

tie bar 101.

I found an amazingly comprehensive and complete guide to the correct and effective use of the tie bar on the gentlemanual. Allow me to break down the main points:

length.

For the modern man, a tie bar should extend 1/2 to 3/4 of the way across the width of your tie. For a more classic or retro look, select a tie bar that matches the full width of your tie. No matter your preference, never wear a tie bar that extends beyond the width of your tie or the Gods of Style will smite thee with a bolt of lightning.

location.

The ideal placement for a tie bar is around the middle to bottom of your sternum. Clip too high and this functional accessory is rendered ineffectual.  Too low can look awkward and even a bit silly. Within “the sweet spot,” a lower placement is more classic while a higher placement can create a slimming effect.

color.

If you prefer to play it safe, pick a simple silver or gold tie bar. Try to match the metal polish of your tie bar with your jacket buttons, cufflinks, watch or belt buckle. If you feel it compliments your style, don’t be afraid mix up metals and go with patterned, colored or novelty tie bars. 

when.

The right time to wear a tie bar is always and forever. Not only does a tie bar help keep your necktie out of your bowl of cornflakes, it is the simplest and time-tested way to stand apart from the herd.  Whether you’re wearing a three piece suit or a pair of blue jeans, a tie bar is a welcome addition to any outfit that includes a necktie.

Personally, I'm a big fan of tie bars. I think it's actually pretty safe to say I'm a big fan of any subtle little thing you can do to set yourself apart. The nice thing about this particular accessory is that you can find them for dirt cheap all over the interwebz. My favorite places to look are on thetiebar, etsy, and ebay. I definitely recommend picking up a few in different colors and materials. Here are a few examples of what it looks like when it's done right:

- james