Men Of Style - Tom Waits

In this series, I will look at men who possess a certain innate sense of style, a personal style all their own, so defined that it has become a kind of personal architecture. When one takes this style and refines and sculpts it, that style can become a character unto itself. There have been many men of distinct style throughout time who have displayed such artistry at developing their look. Three men that stand out as examples are Klaus Nomi, David Bowie and Karl Lagerfeld. In the world of music and performance, this sort of transformation is an expected facet of stagecraft. More often than not, this is a put-on, a façade. In the case of Tom Waits, here is an artist that can, in one instance, look like a Bowery bum, a ranch hand, or like the coolest guy in the world. He is the genuine article.

Some men wear a hat in a way that looks so right, as if they had been born with it on. Tom Waits wears a hat with derelict panache. When he performs, he captivates with his storytelling, vaudevillian gestures, and carnival barker enthusiasm. His songs can be brutal and bawdy, cool and bluesy and tragically heartfelt. The lyrics take you on a trucker's cross country haul, on a soldier's debauched shore leave and end up with a drunk's barroom tirade, all sung in a voice like broken glass, gravel and a million cigarettes.

If you happen to be in Europe over the summer, check out the Anton Corbijn photography exhibition "Inwards and Onwards" in Amsterdam. Many of these photos were taken by Anton Corbijn, who is one of the finest photographers of rock musicians in the world. The exhibition is located at the Foam Museum, Keizersgracht 609.

A Mixologist's Bounty

A proper gent knows how to mix a stellar cocktail. To do the job right, he needs the right tools. Having one's own bar is an advantage. I have selected a few choice pieces that would be a perfect foundation for a handsome lounge.

Above is a very sleek and sexy free standing bar cabinet designed by the great Jacques Adnet in 1950, in France. This piece is offered by i4d, priced at $7,600.00 and is available for purchase here.

The above set of four lucite and brass barstools from the 1970s is offered by Thomas Brillet Inc. Priced at $3,250.00 for the set and available for purchase here.

 Above, the curving lines of this machine age bar cart by Wolfgang Hoffman call to mind the architecture of the Bauhaus. This piece is offered by High Style Deco, priced at $3,475.00 and is available for purchase here.

The above art deco gyroscopic serving rack is a wonder of ingenuity and engineering. The rack features slots to hold glasses that keep them level, both horizontally and vertically. This makes this piece ideal for a yacht. You will never spill a precious drop again. This serving rack is offered by Bizarre Bazaar Ltd, priced at $550.00 and is available for purchase here.

Above is a fantastic lucite bar cart made in Florida in the 1970s. The cart features a built in ice bucket and glasses. The look is cool and fresh. This piece is offered by Sarlo, priced at $1,800.00 and is available for purchase here.

The lucite ice bucket above, made in Italy by Guzzini, is a genius design that looks like both Steuben crystal and like something from outer space. This ice bucket is offered by Buy Design, priced at $1,100.00 and is available for purchase here.

The ice bucket above was designed by Alessi and features smooth ball handles that make it easy to carry. This piece is offered by Design Within Reach, priced at $57.50 and available for purchase here.

Below is a truly superb scotch decanter in both clear and jet black crystal with cylindrical grooves that give the piece a sense of spinning movement. This decanter is offered by David Redman London, Priced at £630.00 and is available for purchase here.

The above Jet Double Old Fashioned Tumbler matches the decanter above, made by David Redman London. The silver straw is not included. The tumblers are sold by the pair, priced at £155.00 and are available for purchase here.

The above 1940s art deco polished chrome & glass tantalus was made by United Metal Company, Brooklyn, NY. The cut glass decanters feature chrome shot pumps. This tantalus is also known as a liquor locker, and can accommodate a small padlock. This set is offered by Pearl Modern, priced at $135.00 and available for purchase here.

The Smoke Highball glasses above were designed by Joe Colombo in 1964. They were designed to be comfortable to hold while smoking a cigarette. They are manufactured by Arnolfo di Cambio in Italy and are offered by Moss, priced at $300.00 per pair, available for purchase here.

The very attractive Tambien Smoke barware from CB2 (seen above) comes in two sizes, the 18oz. cooler is priced at $3.95 per piece and the 12oz. double old fashioned glass is priced at $3.50 each. These glasses are available for purchase here.

The Libertini martini glass above is hand blown and beautifully designed. The glass is offered by CB2, priced at $3.95 per piece and is available for purchase here.

Above is an art deco hammered chrome cocktail shaker and six cup set made by LB. The design of the shaker is fantastic, a perfect set for an intimate party. The set is offered by Pearl Modern and available for purchase here.

The above cocktail recipe shaker from Fishs Eddy is an essential tool for making classic cocktails at warp speed. Priced at $16.95, it is available for purchase here.

The above horse head bottle opener wins the race to open the bottle every time. The opener is offered by Fishs Eddy, priced at $15.95 and is available for purchase here.

Just like the classic French Laguiole steak knives, the Laguiole corkscrew below is built to last and looks terrific opening a choice bottle of Bordeaux. Offered by Posh Chicago, priced at $34.00 and available for purchase here.

For a portable bar for the gent on the go, we recommend the above Wentworth Round Pewter Flask in the 4oz. size, expertly hand crafted in Sheffield, England and offered by Kaufmann Mercantile, priced at $54.00, available for purchase here.

Good Timing Is Essential

Timing is everything. From meeting deadlines to catching an international flight, having a good watch is crucial to the modern man. A watch is not only a status symbol, but is a good indicator of a man's character and personality. A watch is also a fashion accessory which can and should be worn in rotation to fulfill the needs of different activities, whether at the office, in the club, at a black tie event or in a sporting environment. I have chosen a number of timepieces that meet all of these requirements and look fantastic.

The vintage 1970s modernist Heuer Monaco Chronograph pictured below features an extremely rare dial configuration. The watch is offered by Matthew Bain Inc. and is available for purchase here.

As seen below, the smooth, clean lines of the Rado Ceramica black and gold-tone subdial watch separate this Rado watch from the rest. The gold-tone accents are reminiscent of an airplane control panel. This watch is priced at $1800.00 and is available for purchase here.

The vintage 1960s Omega Seamaster watch shown below features a deep blue dial, 12-hour and 24-hour, chronograph and date, making this watch an ideal yachting timepiece. The watch is offered by Matthew Bain Inc. and is available for purchase here.

This new Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Automatic Chronometer watch (seen below) is an updated version of the classic Seamaster. This would be the perfect choice to wear on that fishing trip to the Sea of Cortez. This watch is priced at $3,395.00 and is available for purchase here.

Classic styling and German made precision make this TX T3C205 watch (below) an excellent choice for an everyday timepiece, taking you from the boardroom to cocktails in style. This watch is priced at $375.00 and is available for purchase here.

The new Diesel DZ4201 XXL Triple Time Chronograph (seen below) is made for the man on a mission. This rugged timepiece is built like a tank and functions like a perfectly designed piece of gear, utterly reliable in the field. This watch is priced at $249.00 and is available for purchase here.

Below is the LIP Mythic Jump Hour watch in Green and Black. It features a modern, French design with a graduating ring face that is unique and stylish. The well designed steel band is built for comfort, an all around great looking watch. This timepiece is priced at $325.00 and is available for purchase here.

The Gucci name is synonymous with finely crafted Italian made goods. With this Gucci watch (seen below) they have excelled in creating a sporty and elegant timepiece that would look perfect paired with tennis whites. This watch is priced at $784.03 and is available for purchase here.

If you want your watch to reflect your art collection, contemporary and cutting edge, this is the watch for you. Pictured below, the Nixon Newton watch in the Green/Blue/Navy combination is brilliantly designed with features such as a digital compass, computer capability and even a heart rate monitor. The smooth polyurethane band is cool and comfortable. This watch is priced at $84.95 and is available for purchase here.

And now for the curveball! As seen below, massive technological advances in design have gone into the space age design of this Japanese made Seahope Ever Increasing Series watch. The watch features a state of the art graph display with the time climbing upwards on three separate lines. This is a truly unique timepiece, the go-to choice for the tech savvy. This watch is priced at $169.00 and is available for purchase here.