The Brand: Good Guys Vegan Shoes

I am a shameless carnivore; always have been, always will be. There was this one day though that I thought about going vegan. Not for food, though, but for shoes! I discovered this French shoe brand Good Guys at Tangs on Orchard Road a few weeks back and I was initially drawn in by the classic suede and red-brick combo that their shoes showcased quite well. Picked a pair up to inspect closer and turns out, theirs wasn't your ordinary, run-of-the-mill buck. The tasty suede is synthetic (gasp!) and yet having known this, I remained intrigued. Interesting marketing strategy on emphasizing the positives by saying they don't murder animals. Great looking shoes, admirable cause. All lovely, lovely stuff. Now someone please get me a damn burger!

Navy and tan suedish bucks + monkstraps. Great color choice!

Another look of the lineup. The chunky soles give the shoes some presence.

And a handsome red-brick sole never hurt nobody too!

"Good Guys Don't Wear Leather." This makes me a good guy, sometimes.

The Brand: The plain + simple Lookbook!

After months of working and years of dreaming, our menswear project, plain + simple, has finally come to fruition. All those long nights spent editing every detail have paid off. I'm proud to say that our line is everything we wanted it to be - a chock-full of basics that look good together no matter what combination you throw on. In many ways, it's as much a tribute to the past as it is a nod to the present; based on 60s classics, but updated to meet the fit standards of the now.

Our first ever lookbook, shot by the analog lenses of Your Evil Twin, is raw, unpretentious, and timeless: traits we believe plain + simple exactly embodies. Our clothes don't want to draw attention. We don't want to turn you into blazing fashionistas. We just want to make dressing easy. Oxford shirt here, tailored shorts there, check shirts everywhere, chinos too if you care - all day, baby, all day. Same basic formula as those well-dressed gents from my favorite style era, same dashing results. plain + simple, just as menswear was always supposed to be.

For the full lookbook, visit plain + simple's official Facebook page here! Our flash lookbook's also up after the set. All items will be available at Rockwell's Moonlit Bazaar from December 10-12, so hope to see you all there, folks! Just in case, do confirm attendance here!

White oxford shirt + Navy Blue Tailored Shorts

Blue Gingham Shirt + White Tailored Shorts

Blue Gingham Shirt + White Tailored Shorts

Blue Oxford Shirt

Pink Oxford Shirt + Tailored Khaki Shorts

Navy Blue Tailored Shorts + Red Checkered Shirt

Yellow Oxford Shirt

Maroon Checkered Shirt

Khaki Chinos + Blue Chambray Shirt

Blue Checkered Shirt + Khaki Chinos

Blue Chambray Shirt + Khaki Chinos

Pink Oxford Shirt

Pink Checkered Shirt + Gray Chinos

White Oxford Shirt + Navy Blue Tailored Shorts

The Happening: plain + simple Teaser!

Here's a little taste of the awesomeness that is to come! White oxford shirt + navy tailored shorts look great together, all day, every day, every damn day. Stay tuned for the full lookbook by Your Evil Twin soon! plain + simple, just as menswear was supposed to be.

The Happening: What We've Been Up To!

If you will notice, my posting rate has steadily declined in recent months. No, I'm not holding out some good finds from you, boys. Rather, my girlfriend and I have been busy working on giving you more. You see, we've been burning the midnight oil these past few months to accomplish a dream of ours - own our very own clothing line. And we're oh so close. Just recently, we had a shoot with the ultra talented ladies of Your Evil Twin and here's some behind-the-scenes shots. plain + simple is coming so very soon, sirs, so do keep a look out!

The Brand: Sebago

I just love it when a brand makes shopping easier by putting all the stuff you love together in one place. In case you didn't know, a brand called Sebago has been doing it, way back when your grandpa was still a strapping young man on the prowl. Started in 1946 with only their penny loafers to show for, the company has come a long way, now offering all the kinds of shoes I love, from Docksides (their version of boat shoes) to tasseled loafers to even sweet high-tops.

Needless to say, with all the recent attention, the brand's been focusing on their Docksides the most. I recently wrote about their colored Dockside laces, but apart from these, they have a plethora of colors and materials to choose from. My personal favorite would have to be the cordovan leather boaties. Gotta love that blood red color!


Their penny loafers aren't shabby too. They've been making them for more than 60 years now after all, so that's to be expected. Just like the legendary Bass pennies, they have different models with varying shapes and penny slots too. And don't worry too much about the price. When it comes to the damage, I can confidently say they're worth every "penny" (so sorry).


As you will see, Sebago's not all about boat shoes and penny loafers. Take a gander at their tasseled loafer interpretations and you'll see what I'm talking about. That nubuck option is quite the looker, and I say this despite already having a black Bass pair in my life. As for those high-top shoes, which look to be a boot and boat shoe fusion, well, it's certainly more universally beautiful than any done-to-death Nike Dunks you see everywhere.



It's settled then. Every time I visit the mall, Sebago's always to be up there when it comes to must-visits. Putting together an impressive lineup which rivals Sperry, Bass, and to some extent, Timberland all in one store? I wish for nothing more than more branches of this much celebrated brand. Paging somebody in power, let's make it happen!

The Brand: Urban Outfitters Shoes

Ever since I walked into my first Urban Outfitter store, I was in love. Never have I gone into a shop and not known exactly what to check out first. All the brands I liked were there. And the shoes, oh the shoes, they will be the end of me. Vans, Chucks, Sperrys, they were all lined up, but my greatest discovery were the house branded UO shoes.

The kicks were solid, but what really got me was the unfair price they were charging for 'em. Unfair on their part, of course, because the shoes were a goddamn steal! $20 for plimsolls? $25 for penny loafers? I mean, you gotta be kidding me right? Of course, there's a catch. The quality is probably suspect, but from the looks of things, these beautes are really hard to pass up. Next time I go stateside, I'm definitely copping these for some instant gratification!

Blue waxed canvas (love the sole!) and faux leather plimsolls

Sweet canvas slip-ons and a rugged suede desert boot

Mocs and a penny loafer both in tasty tan suede

Photos courtesy of Urban Outfitters

The Store: 5cm

Finally. After months of trying, I finally got to document the greatness that is 5cm. Coming to us from the all-world fashionable streets of Hong Kong, the brand is a breath of fresh air to the local menswear scene with their trademark blend of classic pieces made interesting by some fine quirky details.

Finally! An official non-ninja style picture!

When I first entered the store, the first thing that caught my eyes were (surprise, surprise) the shoes. They're the first things I look for because more often than not, they're a good gauge about the quality and direction the store wants to achieve. Judging from their lineup, you could already see that the brand gets it. It's kicks have reached that elusive middle ground of sneakers that manage to look dressed up. Again, it's all about the details, baby!

These white wingtip sneakers are at the top of my list!

The black leather with touches of suede mesh together nicely

Ditto for these, but in white

Oh, and the clothes ain't half bad too. Just like the shoes, the blazers don't try to do too much, but still they make quite the statement. The fit is slim without being constricting and the interesting variations like a shorter cut and the lightweight cotton they used was exactly what I've been looking for. The basic shirts are nothing special. They just fit well, but what else can you ask for right?

Love the shorter blazer length more than anything!

The thin lapels streamline this one-buttoned number

Polka dot shirts, again. But why the hell not?

The sweet accessories are a just a bonus at this point, but still they're quite the treat. Some of the bags may look girly at first but do give them a chance. One look at the mirror of your manly self holding them bags will surprise you. Because they're fresh as hell and yeah, you can pull 'em off! The belts? They've got a lot of options too and there's no point in convincing you anymore. Just look at it. Understated awesomeness!

A tote I wouldn't mind calling my man bag

Ah, I'm a sucker for belts like this. Love the stripe!

My only beef with the brand is they aren't more accessible. Just two branches so far with one in Megamall and a freshly opened Mall of Asia branch just today? Well, at least they're taking a step in the right direction. The important thing is that they've brought their beautiful clothes here. The ball's in your court now, dear reader. Do yourself a favor and go check out what the hype has been about for all these months!

The Brand: Gourmet Sneakers

I was going to include these sweet Gourmet sneaks in my previous post about the Trilogy store, but decided after one last look that these babies deserved their own. A mish-mash of elements from American sportswear and Italian tailoring, these shoes boast clean lines, interesting details, and unmatched quality that can only come from being made out of the finest materials.

Helmed by veterans in the streetwear game - Jon T. Buscemi (Girl/DC shoes), Greg Lucci (Zoo York) and Greg Johnsen (Situationormal/Hall of Fame) - the brand aims to combine technical and athletic elements like air technology and memory foam insoles with high-end materials like quality leather and hand-woven custom canvasses to create the perfect blend of sportswear and sophistication.

True to its name, Gourmet kicks are downright appetizing to look and at and just like a fine meal, you'll want to have it over and over again! Luckily, the buffet's always open at Trilogy, so feel free to dig in, people!

The Il Due also gives me that Chukka boot vibe, but remixed in a more modern way

The zipper that seals the Il Due is a nice touch too, yes?

The L'uno reminds me of the Nike Huarache, but I'd much rather have these!

A refreshing color makes this Il Tre stand out!

Available now at:
Trilogy Boutique + Canteen
110 Alvion, Rada Street
Legapi Village, Makati

The Brand: Generic Surplus

I'm a lover of clean lines and classic looks. That's why my excitement shot through the roof when I heard that Generic Surplus was going to be available here via the awesome Trilogy Canteen/Store in Makati.

A mainstay in Urban Outfitters outlets all across the US (lucky bastards), these babies were made with the mindset of being simple yet with a focus on quality, fit, and refinement. Mission accomplished, I say. As you can see, these ain't your ordinary garden variety trainers. Four models are currently available, and frankly, they're' all you'll ever need.

Want: Gray Canvas Boat Shoes (even better than Vans' Del Barcos!)

These white wing-tip sneakers perfectly evoke casual refinement

Everybody needs plimsolls, and these navy ones will work with everything, every time

I've no idea why they call these "Military" Hi-Tops but I for one will salute it!

Available now at:
Trilogy Boutique
110 Alvion, Rada Street
Legapi Village, Makati

Photos courtesy of Generic Surplus' Facebook

The Store: Ben Sherman

I've been noticing lately that I gravitate a lot towards British brands. I mean, by now you must probably know about my love for Fred Perry. Not so well-documented in this blog, however, is my affection for the other top mod choice: Ben Sherman. Founded in 1963 by Arthur Bernard Sugarman, it has found its way to Manila about 2 years ago via their beautiful branch in Shangri-La Mall.

The Ben Sherman store in Shangri-La

Admittedly not a new store by any means, I just felt like I owe it to the owners to write about it. You see, ladies and gents, I am a big fan of interior design. And the Ben Sherman store clearly thought a great deal about theirs. Houndstooth accents on the doorway, funky pieces (see the union jack chairs), and splashes of the mod lifestyle all around (the Vespa scooter!) - this is how you create the right shopping atmosphere. In my opinion, one of the best I've been to, and I haven't even talked about the clothes yet.

Houndstooth table, union jack chairs, tarnished logo - I love it!

Peep the awesome wallpaper of their changing room!

Indeed, more than the expert design of the stores, the brand is all about fine clothing. And what I love about Ben Sherman is how youthful their clothes feel. I attribute it mostly to their use of patterns and color, at which they're one of the best in the game. I singled out the polo below for its unusual graphic.

The big circles are mesmerizing...

The check pattern on the driving cap is a nice touch

When it comes to fit, their shirts are spot on. Not suffocating, but slimming. And when it features such nice twists like this striped minimal rounded button-down collar, it makes its offerings all the more irresistible.

Button-down collars are a personal favorite

The same shirt zoomed out: might just come back for it!

While lacking in footwear options, I did like the few they had. I loved one especially, though. Reminiscent of a post I did some weeks back but from a different brand, I discovered this beautiful mash-up of a sneaker and a boat shoe that was very seamlessly executed.

Can't remember the name of the shoe, but I've not forgotten what it looks like!

Above everything in this great store, I have to say that my favorite was the Ben Sherman and Baracuta Harrington jacket collaboration. Already making an appearance in a previous post last week, these babies will cost a pretty penny, but, strangely, you won't wonder why. Two classic brands teaming up to offer an iconic piece? Man, you gotta shell out for that.

Ben Sherman x Baracuta = Unparalleled Awesomeness!

Overall, Ben Sherman gets checks for every standard I have for a clothing store: Fit, innovation, quality, interior design, a great staff, and excellent service; theirs is an establishment that feels fresh and new every time I visit. If by some ungodly way you haven't yet, drop on by and prepare to be hooked to the fine point of British style.

The pants display against the cool houndstooth wall

The Vespa and a beautiful blue shirt

Another Ben x Baracuta sighting + a fine madras shirt

Carlo of Ben Sherman looking cool in casual garb

3/F Shangri-La Plaza Mall
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
(+632) 638.5873