WW2 Belgian Map Case Replica (Very Cool!)

So I suddently got a yen for a bracelet. I've always been heavily opposed to men wearing jewellery of any kind - it just isn't my thing. So what's happening? Am I turning feminine? Am I loosing my head with all this fashion nonsense? The answers to those questions are "hopefully not" and "maybe" respectively... Both decidedly ambiguous and not at all reassuring.

Oh well. I want a subtle bracelet. Maybe a leather band, maybe a dull silver ringy clampy thing (like President David Palmer on seasons 1-5 of "24").

Whatever the result of my psychoanalysis of the reasons behind my sudden like for this sort of thing, the point of this post is leather goods. I got browsing some leather goods sites in my quest for bracelets that are suitably subtle and/or acceptable to my somewhat pedantic, OCD enhanced standards. I found something entirely different and decidedly more cool!

Meet the messenger bag with a twist. It's a "WW2 Belgian Map Case Replica" hand made out of a single piece of cow hide by Amish leatherworkers in Pennsylvania (probably spelled it wrong, can't be bothered checking). This thing is so cool. I could perfectly fit my miniature netbook, a texbook and some notepaper in this thing... It would be awesome! Look at the quality! Look at the uniqueness! Look at the price! ... ... say what? Ouch. That's a tad errr... Expensive. $325USD. GOOD CRIKEY.

I still want it. I WILL save up for it and report back when I have one.


Yes, yes. I hear you asking. It's made by "Billykirk" - they do a bunch of other leather stuff, all made in the same way (by Amish leatherworkers, apparently).

My Fit - 28/09/2009

This is actually from Friday. My computer has been totally borked for a few days - reformatted it, had trouble, then Windows Update decided to not like me, then I pirated some software which I failed to haz0r properly... You get the picture. But it's now working! Halleluljah! And a certain major software company hasn't sent the SWAT (actually, in Australia they're called SERT) team to break my door down. Happily... Those dudes scare me.

I have such long legs I always hesitate to tuck a shirt in... But the slightly-more-formal-than-casual occasion demanded it.

Shirt: Brooksfield (Aussie label) - $40AUD on sale from Myer
Belt: Home made
Jeans: Momotaro 0701 - $260USD from Blue in Green
Shoes: J. Shoes Mojave II Desert Boot - $158USD from ShoesXL (XL sizes only)

The jeans are a lot of money for a university student, I know. That would explain why they are THE ONLY jeans I own. Darn... Not enough $ to go around.

I notice I've lost a bit of shape due to some mid-section fatness (love handles). Time to eat less groceries and hit the gym.

A Lady Dressed Like a Lady

Do you know what I honestly wish, in the deepest recesses of my heart? That women would be feminine, dress as such and be known for the kind of elegance that becomes a true lady. Why do girls feel the need to dress increasingly like a freak show with gaudy face paint, bling bling accessories and makeup so deep you can loose your keys in it? They might as well tattoo TRASH or TRAMP to their forehead half the time. Harsh? Yes... Sadly true? Probably...

This is so refreshing... Beautiful.

Quite Grace Kelly-esque? [From The Sartorialist]

New Ted Baker Suit

Woa... What a day. I just got back home from a Japanese banquet in a ritzy riverside establishment, following a day of exams (which turned out to be easy, thanks for asking). I have to get to bed and be ready to go out for breakfast with old friends in 7 hours, so I'll be brief.

I got the following for my 21st birthday tonight (and hold your breath... I totally can't believe it either):

• A Ted Baker Suit - it's nice. Way nicer than I thought it would be. Fits a dream too. I just need to get it to the Tailor and have it hemmed and tapered. Then I'll post fit pics I promise!
• A PRL Polo - with no pony logo! Woot! I hate the pony. It makes me feel pretentious. But I like the fit of the PRL Custom Fit... Great for guys with larger shoulders.
• A Gigabyte T1028X 10.1" Tablet Netbook... What an awesome gadget... More on this soon for sure. Going to be great for carting to uni and taking notes by typing or handwriting! Woa!
• Tickets to see Andre Reiu in Sydney! At the Acer Arena! And a night in a ritzy hotel! WOW. Can't wait!
• And the best for last... A WORLD TICKET. That's right folks... A world trip. I get to choose my destinations. I don't know where to start or what to say. I'll be giving this some real thought.

As you can imagine, I spent the rest of the night grovelling at the feet of my parents, kissing their shoelaces and pledging my allegiance to their every whim for the rest of eternity. I can't believe it! This is beyond anything I ever expected. Apparently, if you're nice to your parents for 21 years and they happen to be a little bit wealthy, you get rewarded! WOOOHA!

Anyway, I'm verily stonkered and ready for some shut-eye. I'll report back with something more relevant tomorrow, I promise! (Maybe my flannel shirts will arrive?? Here's to hoping!)

My Picks from the Sartorialist

Not really suitable for my target audience, but I like to make a few picks from The Sartorialist every once in a while.

Here are the best ones that have come up recently in my opinion:
As a lawyer, maybe running my own firm, I'd dress like this.

Too awesome for words. I'd dress like this right now! Just need the correct occasion.

Nice, more casual look. I like the bold shirt contrasted with the plain jacket and pants.

Self Edge x Toyo Jeans... Crikey Nice!

I'm really not kidding either. Kiya, member of StyleForum and owner of Self Edge, a denim boutique based in San Francisco (SESF) with a second branch in New York (SENY), has provided a little teaser of a new product he expects to release during October.

Check it out!



Kiya says:
"Self Edge x Toyo = SEXT11 (Jungle Cloth / Denim Lined Pockets / 5-Pocket / Soft Inside, Hard Outside)"

I can see these going so well with my desert boots. Blue and grey are the two colours that suit be best. Crikey, I can't tell you how much I want a pair of these. unfortunately, my 37" inseam will likely mean I can't have them :(

For those interested, Self Edge are a great store. I have bought from them before and had great service. Free international shipping is also provided. The product will be released "late October."

I Forgot My Pin...

How can it be? Forgive me, please, for posting this. I know it's irrelevant and you don't care, but I need some space to complain.

I drive past a servo and intend to go inside to use the ATM (I think you yanks call them "teller machines" or something). My sister is in the passenger seat and requests that I get her some moolah at the same time. She hands me her card, prattles out her pin and I walk into the servo, card clutched in front of me reciting her pin over and over lest I should forget it, enter the wrong one and have the machine eat her card.

No worries. I make it to the ATM, quickly plunk in all the numbers and withdraw $100 successfully.

Step number 2 - insert my own card. "Please enter your pin." ... ... ... .... Erm... ... ... ... Um... ... ... ... I forgot.

Seriously now, this is weird. I've used this card for years now with no mishaps. Same card, same pin, same everything. I've never before hesitated to enter my pin on request. So why can't I remember it?

Frustrated, I buy a few things on credit and profer my signature, confident that it's just a mental lapse and my pin number will stand up from the piles of clutter in my brain, dust itself off and resume its proper place, ready for retrieval next time around.

Well... Here we are 3 days later and I still can't remember what my pin is. I have to call my bank and ask for a new card.

HOW??? WHY??? Am I secretly retarded? Is this the early onset of dementia or some other terrible disease of the brain? Surely this is not possible? My pin is GONE. A section of my brain is missing that was there before. Did little green men carry it out through my earhole during the night? PLEASE I NEED ANSWERS.

I guess I've always been a little eccentric. Maybe this is part of that. Either way, I don't want to think about the possibility of mental retardation this early in life. So I won't. I'll get a new card and forget this ever happened.