Go-to Guest Blog: A Fella Tackles the New Birchbox Man
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to @hypergraffic aka Rob, one of my besties. He's giving us the scoop on the first Birchbox Man ever!
Check it out:
Listen up, gentlemen: Birchbox Man is finally here. If you’ve got a special lady in your life who happens to be on the fashion up and up then you’ve probably heard of Birchbox, the online subscription service that delivers beauty samples to her door each month. While I lack a special lady, and (let's just get this out of the way right here) ANY semblance of style, I do happen to have direct line of communication to none other than Your Go-to-Gal. When she mentioned the prospect of receiving a male-oriented version of Birchbox I gave in to my curiosity and registered for the waiting list.
“Well hello there. Oh you’re 49 CFR 173.4 compliant? Me too, I think.”
The Experience
Dat box. It's a nice box, guys. And it's fun to open. Brown and blue cardboard, minimalist design, and you even get to do a little unwrapping. You feel cool just opening this box.
There's an index card inside that lists and explains each of the products, as well as directs you to their website if you'd like to pick up a full sized version, which they ever so conveniently happen to sell. More on that later, though.
The Contents
Inside that box we have:
- .05oz sample of Costume National's "Scent Intense" fragrance. Described as "the mystery and sensuality of amber", whatever that means, the scent itself is a mellow, floral, yet masculine scent that would work well worn during the evening
-3.2oz bar of Kiehl’s Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap. Made with bran AND oatmeal (this thing will solve a lot of continence issues if swallowed, apparently) it has a fresh citrus scent and does not fail to live up to its name. This bar of soap is not for the fair skinned. Those oats? They scrape your skin. Brusquely, let’s say. And yet it feels great. And smells excellent as well.
-2oz sample bottle of Billy Jealousy’s Liquidsand Exfoliating Facial Cleanser. Liquidsand is right. The fine grain in this face wash is much more pleasant than the typical Clean n Clear that your humble writer might purchase at Target. This cleanser doesn’t have much, if any, fragrance, which is a nice change from that “I feel like I just rubbed toothpaste in my eyes” feeling that most facewash gives you.
-Finally we come to the coup de grace of this inaugural Birchbox Man ensemble: A pair of Richer Poorer socks. “Uhh, socks?” you ask? This is where the Birchbox Boy is separated from the Birchbox Babe. The ladies just don’t get this type of item in their boxes, which explains why the dudebox is double the price. As for the socks themselves, while simple, they’re comfy enough, and will add some pop to a boring work outfit.
The Problem
Ahh, but it isn’t all roses with Birchbox. While they invite you to visit their website to purchase full sized versions of their samples, their prices are a bit... exorbitant. Consider, for example, the Kiehl’s Scrub Soap, which is available for $13 on birchbox.com. I found it for as low as $9.99 on Amazon.com. I know that $3 isn’t much, but the Costume National cologne was almost half of Birchbox’s price on Amazon.com, for a savings of $63! Though I may find something interesting in my box each month, I can’t consider Birchbox.com a one stop online destination for both inspiration and shopping. Not when I can so easily find these products for less with a simple Google search.
The Future
A question that begs to be answered is: “Did you like what was in the box?” Well, why bother answering that? While I may have liked what was in this box, you could easily hate these products for whatever reason. So a better question might be: “Are you going to continue your subscription?” Yes, I will. And it was those socks that made up my mind. Birchbox played it just right for guys by including these. Standard beauty products probably won’t keep many men coming back. But the promise of a surprise such as this; an element of style the entire world can see, rather than just something you know you scrubbed your butt with, is what will keep your average guy subscribed.
Thanks for reading this guest blog, and thanks to our favorite Go-to-Gal for letting me write it! And find me on Twitter while you’re at it! @hypergraffic
Check it out:
Listen up, gentlemen: Birchbox Man is finally here. If you’ve got a special lady in your life who happens to be on the fashion up and up then you’ve probably heard of Birchbox, the online subscription service that delivers beauty samples to her door each month. While I lack a special lady, and (let's just get this out of the way right here) ANY semblance of style, I do happen to have direct line of communication to none other than Your Go-to-Gal. When she mentioned the prospect of receiving a male-oriented version of Birchbox I gave in to my curiosity and registered for the waiting list.
“Well hello there. Oh you’re 49 CFR 173.4 compliant? Me too, I think.”
The Experience
Dat box. It's a nice box, guys. And it's fun to open. Brown and blue cardboard, minimalist design, and you even get to do a little unwrapping. You feel cool just opening this box.
There's an index card inside that lists and explains each of the products, as well as directs you to their website if you'd like to pick up a full sized version, which they ever so conveniently happen to sell. More on that later, though.
The Contents
Inside that box we have:
- .05oz sample of Costume National's "Scent Intense" fragrance. Described as "the mystery and sensuality of amber", whatever that means, the scent itself is a mellow, floral, yet masculine scent that would work well worn during the evening
-3.2oz bar of Kiehl’s Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap. Made with bran AND oatmeal (this thing will solve a lot of continence issues if swallowed, apparently) it has a fresh citrus scent and does not fail to live up to its name. This bar of soap is not for the fair skinned. Those oats? They scrape your skin. Brusquely, let’s say. And yet it feels great. And smells excellent as well.
-2oz sample bottle of Billy Jealousy’s Liquidsand Exfoliating Facial Cleanser. Liquidsand is right. The fine grain in this face wash is much more pleasant than the typical Clean n Clear that your humble writer might purchase at Target. This cleanser doesn’t have much, if any, fragrance, which is a nice change from that “I feel like I just rubbed toothpaste in my eyes” feeling that most facewash gives you.
-Finally we come to the coup de grace of this inaugural Birchbox Man ensemble: A pair of Richer Poorer socks. “Uhh, socks?” you ask? This is where the Birchbox Boy is separated from the Birchbox Babe. The ladies just don’t get this type of item in their boxes, which explains why the dudebox is double the price. As for the socks themselves, while simple, they’re comfy enough, and will add some pop to a boring work outfit.
The Problem
Ahh, but it isn’t all roses with Birchbox. While they invite you to visit their website to purchase full sized versions of their samples, their prices are a bit... exorbitant. Consider, for example, the Kiehl’s Scrub Soap, which is available for $13 on birchbox.com. I found it for as low as $9.99 on Amazon.com. I know that $3 isn’t much, but the Costume National cologne was almost half of Birchbox’s price on Amazon.com, for a savings of $63! Though I may find something interesting in my box each month, I can’t consider Birchbox.com a one stop online destination for both inspiration and shopping. Not when I can so easily find these products for less with a simple Google search.
The Future
A question that begs to be answered is: “Did you like what was in the box?” Well, why bother answering that? While I may have liked what was in this box, you could easily hate these products for whatever reason. So a better question might be: “Are you going to continue your subscription?” Yes, I will. And it was those socks that made up my mind. Birchbox played it just right for guys by including these. Standard beauty products probably won’t keep many men coming back. But the promise of a surprise such as this; an element of style the entire world can see, rather than just something you know you scrubbed your butt with, is what will keep your average guy subscribed.
Thanks for reading this guest blog, and thanks to our favorite Go-to-Gal for letting me write it! And find me on Twitter while you’re at it! @hypergraffic
GTG's Spring 2012 Fashion Trend Report
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Fellas-- here is your spring 2012 trend report to keep you looking sharp and stylish throughout the sizzling months that lie ahead.
This season is defined by the revival of classic looks with modern twists.
The Essentials:
- Color Pants: It's all about pops of color for bottoms: trousers, chinos, jeans or shorts. Remember to wear these pants with classic items like polos (in the summer) and cardigan sweaters (in the fall) to achieve the perfect look.
- The Gingham Shirt: A classic staple in any gentleman's wardrobe. Gingham refers to the colored checks that are spliced with white checkers. Gingham originally started as a striped pattern, but by mid-18th century the checkered pattern became the norm
- Polo Shirts: are another classic staple in any man's wardrobe. It's easy to dress up or down. And it's the middle point in a spectrum of shirts ranging from dress shirts to casual t-shirst. They're great to pair with color trousers or your swim trunks.
- Denim Blazers: Tailored and structured but unlined, which you can easily style with every other article of clothing in this report.
- Loafers: Effortless, yet refreshing. Say bye bye to your sandals and replace them with a pair of casual loafers.
- Short Swim Trunks: Who wears short shorts? Hopefully you will! Swim trunks have gone short for a retro look.
Happy spring shopping fellas!
xo
GTG
Fashionable Footwear for the Fellas
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I'm such a sneakerhead when it comes men's footwear. Sneakers have come a long long way since my days in the playground. They're not just for running or casual looks anymore. Designers like John Varvatos and Creative Recreation have made sneakers fashionable for men.
As you might know, athletic wear is a huge trend this season and this pair of Giuseppe Zanotti sand colored python print high tops with zippers are a must in any fashionable fella's closet!
What would you wear these sneakers with?
GTG's Fall 2011 Trend Report: The Men
Monday, October 24, 2011
Fall weather means one thing: fall fashion. And yes that goes for the fellas too!
Designers have integrated colors and luxe fabrics to let men diversify their looks this season.
Here are my top 5 trends of the moment.
Still Marchin' in Military...
The trend has been around since last fall, but this year desingers like McQueen are injecting new life to this trend by using different fabrics and bright colors.
This red/navy military sash sweater is perfect for the man who wants to be trendy, without feeling like he's wearing a costume.
Finish this look with a pair of distressed boots.
The Bold and the Preppy...
The runway looks of Etro and Dolce & Gabbana were filled with casual comfortable preppy looks in bright bold colors.
Fellas, don't forget bright reds and blues are totally hot this season, so look for pieces in these colors.
Fancy Fabrics...
Cashmere. Furs. Leather. Velvet. Calfskin.
It's the year of the of the gentleman. If you don't feel comfortable rocking a calfskin or fur jacket, you can try out leather and velvet coats.
A velvet jacket can transform your entire look whether you wear it with jeans for a more casual look or with slacks for a more formal look.
Stylish Suits...
One-breasted and double-breasted suits also dominated the runways.
Try a single-breasted suit in any shade of a gray for a fresher and more fashionable take on this classic look.
Knits & Turtlenecks...
Look for chunky knit, cable or turtleneck sweaters. Don't forget to look for bright colors, textures and patterns.
Try a classic and luxurious wool-cashmere cable-knit sweater in green.
Fellas-- keep it classy and stylish this fall season!
Fashionably yours,
GTG
Accessories for Men
Thursday, July 21, 2011
A lot of my guy friends are always asking me about what they can do to update their current wardrobe, and my response is always the same: "accessorize."
Accessorize with shoes, wallets, sunglasses, ties, belts, cuff links, even socks can make a fashion statement!
The following are some accessories that I love to see on men. Do you see yourself with any of these?
Statement sneakers: Inject some color into your weekend wardrobe by wearing some daring sneaks. And you can play around with colors and styles to suit your taste and personal style.
Timeless Timepieces: I think every man should invest in a classic watch that can be worn over the years without ever going out of style.
A timeless timepiece should be worn on special occassions, important business meetings, or if you're just in the mood to show it off.
Some of my favorite brands of watches are Movado, Tag Heuer, Breitling, TechnoMarine and Piaget.
Men should also own a nice, but casual everyday watch that he can wear to the office or on the weekends when he's out with his buddies.
Personalized Cufflinks: Cufflinks used to be thought of as only worn by the affluent and older man , but that has changed.
The truth is that every man should own at least one pair of cufflinks, and it should be personalized with your initials or something that is a reflection of your taste.
Yuo can even customize your cufflinks to look like your favorite Star Wars character or favorite hobby.
These Paul Smith cufflinks are an actual English brand, but you get the point. And if you're name is Paul Smith, you don't won't have to pay extra for engraving. Winning!
A Great looking and fitting belt (or two, or three): Belts polish a man's entire look and it's not just about finding a great looking belt, it's about finding a great fitting belt.
Always go up a size or two in belts from what your pants size is.
Tip: Fellas make sure that you're shoes and belts are either the same color, or in the same shade family because a a black belt and tan shoes just don't go together.
A dash of elegance: How a man keeps his money says a lot about him, and is just as important as the money he has.
You might be asking yourself, "where's the relevance in this?"
Men who keep a stack of cash in their pockets are more than likely to get easy money and therefore, don't worry about losing it. A man who works hard for his money keeps his money tightly organized in a wallet.
You don't have to spend a lot of money on a wallet, but just go for one that looks nice to you.
Fun socks: You don't always have to wear uniform socks, and by uniform I mean the general black, brown and khaki pairs of socks you wear to work everyday.
Add some flair to your wardrobe with these cute, colorful and fun socks by Psycho Bunny.
Ties and bowties: are typically used during work or formal affairs.
If your work environment is seriously professional, I suggest you keep your taste in ties conservative, and maybe look for lighter shades of the season's trendy colors.
If you however, work in a place that's less restricting, feel free to dress in fun funky colors and even throw in some ties and bowties with patterns like the ones below.
Tip: Don't buy ties with your favorite Star Wars character or Snoopy on them. They're not attractive on you and they're even less attractive to look at.
You can also accessorize with dog tag chains, cell phone covers, briefcases, hats and sunglasses, don't forget to check out my Shapes & Shades for the latest styles in shades.
So what do you fellas think of your right to accessorize?
Don't be afraid and sound off! in the comments section below.
Until next time.
XO
your GTG! ;)
Awesome! Well written and all true. Sometimes we keep wearing the same ol' same ol' without realizing that we look dated and, sometimes, boring, right? So what about colognes?
ReplyDeleteG.
Thanks G! I have a whole list of colognes I love I guess that's a great topic to blog on stay tuned next week, but in the meanwhile try the new gucci Guilty. It's insanely good! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry but colored socks remind me of the days when my folks dressed me. My cufflinks would say 305 (that's right). My friend bought me a guess wallet with a change pocket inside, what does that say about me? I appreciate you taking time to write a little sonething for the fellas. Keep on riding this writing wave.
ReplyDelete@ShayDetta- LOL! Psycho bunny socks are nothing like the socks your folks put on you as a kid! I'm sure Pitbull has cufflinks that say 305! I'm trying to stay on this wave for as long as I can.
ReplyDeletethanks for reading.xoxo