Growing Up: Mind the Details
THE LITTLE THINGS CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING
By Nick Q.
May 1, 2012
First of all, I’d like to apologize for the huge gap between these Growing Up articles. We all remember the great crash and of course the down time, but there have been a lot of changes around this place since then and it’s time to get back to the important things!
The first Growing Up article that we posted here focused on creating a smooth transition from dressing like a young man to a grown up. I’ve got to say that since then, I’ve been able to change my style significantly and have built up a pretty good sized wardrobe consisting of a lot more mature clothes. My job doesn’t really warrant an excuse to wear most of my nicer items on a daily basis so I’ve really gathered a bit of a mixture of dress and casual clothes. The one thing that I quickly noticed was that it was hard to portray myself as an adult with just the clothes. There’s more to your style than just how you dress.
Timex Weekender
One of the first things I bought when my taste shifted was a watch. I was pointed in the direction of the Timex Weekender, the best watch ever. The Timex Weekender is a watch for all occasions. It has a very simple and classic face that comes in three different colors: white, black or grey. The beauty of the watch comes with the straps, though. With it’s slip-through style, it’s possible to easily interchange the straps and since it takes a standard 20mm NATO strap, your options are limitless. I purchased the grey and white faces and a small handful of straps to which I’m still adding more. The easy way to go is to grab simple, classic colors like black, blue and red but don’t be afraid to find more styles that can dress the watch up or down. My favorite pick up is the red, white and blue strap and I just got this leather version of the NATO strap in the mail. As you can see, this watch is very versatile and can be worn for any occasion with the right companion strap. J.Crew also sells their own NATO straps for their version of the Timex Weekender but they can be used on any slip-through face.
iPhone Wallet Case
Like most people in our generation, I love my iPhone. I’ve been a fanboy since the first generation and I can’t see myself owning a different phone for a very long time. Last year, I was attending a wedding and my phone felt so bulky in my suit that I decided to go caseless for the day and show off the sexy design of the naked phone. I felt like I dropped 20 pounds, but unfortunately I also dropped my phone. So yeah, I learned my lesson about not having a case on my phone very quickly. Fortunately there are plenty of options out there for a great looking iPhone case and you can get rid of the rubber one that you got for free during antennagate. Enter the iPhone Wallet Case by Leicester. This handmade leather case provides you with style, class and function by holding your cards and cash right on your phone. It’s perfect for keeping your personal items to a minimum without sacrificing protection of your phone. This would have been great at that wedding last year! For a more simple and natural option there are plenty of really cool iPhone cases hand crafted from wood. Root Cases specializes in making very cool and sturdy wooden cases for iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro. With a small variety of colors and a very pleased customer base, I’d say this is the way to go to add a unique aesthetic to your phone without sacrificing your newfound style. Also, since we’re on the subject, please change your ringtone. No one above the age of 16 should have LMFAO ringtones blaring from their phones in public. The classic ringer will do just fine. If you’re not satisfied with the options that come standard on the phone, try Cleartones. You will definitely see a difference in how you can change your image from immature to professional with something so small!
No. 215 Lunch Tote
Even though I spend the majority of my time at my 9 to 5, I feel like that time is my lowest point for feeling stylish. The sluggish mornings make it hard to want to dress nice and sitting at a desk all day feels like a waste of a clean shirt. Regardless of your workplace’s dress code, there are plenty of ways to bring your style with you. I can choose how I want to dress and sometimes I do decide to liven things up a bit with something a little dressier. One thing that has made me feel pretty stupid is walking through the front door of my office in a nice pair of oxfords, a clean ironed button up and tie, holding a plastic grocery bag with my lunch in it! Eating out everyday is impractical and can lead to unhealthy habits so taking lunch is very necessary. I was sick of feeling like an elementary student with a lunch bag so I decided to look up my options for a more adult lunch bag. Although I did find a very cool option online, it seems like this is still a very limited field. Artifact Bags has stepped up to the plate with a very good solution and the No. 215 Lunch Tote. The bag is shaped like your normal lunch bag but is made made of waxed canvas and sports a leather strap with copper rivets for detail. There isn’t really much more to ask for if you are looking for a more adult way to take your lunch to work.
These are just a few examples of how small details can make a big difference when it comes to showing off your style and maturing your image. There are plenty of other changes that you can make to help out your cause so be creative. Don’t get me wrong, you really don’t have to change things about your style that you are happy with, but I hope that this will inspire you to make some adjustments in areas that you are unhappy with. Everyone has different taste and different things will compliment who you are and your own personality. I wish you all the best in finding who you are and who you want to be.
Tell us about the changes that you’ve made in the comments below!
