Shoe Shine Please!

Posted on March 9, 2016March 8, 2016 Posted in TipsTagged dapper, dapper fashion, men's shoes, men's wear, mens fashion, mens style, shoe shine, shoes, vancouverLeave a comment

So here’s the thing, most people either don’t clean their shoes at all and let it die a slow miserable death or they don’t clean their shoes properly. So i’ve teamed up with a shoe shine expert to help you and I do things the right way.

So I’ve asked to help of Harry Sima, a shoe shine expert at Nordstrom Vancouver to give us some pointers on how to do a proper shoe shine. By the way he has his own youtube channel called The Shoe Show so show him some love.

Anyways, without getting any sidetracked, here are the steps!

1) Wipe down the shoe with saddle soap, using a gritty cloth

2) Apply cream to condition the leather

Don’t be afraid to use a lot
Spread evenly by hand, cloth, or dauber
The leather will only take in what it needs
Brush off the cream with a horse hair brush

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3) Apply polish and let the layer sit

Ideally, the polish should sit for about five minutes
let it sink in

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4) Apply sole dressing

Don’t get it on the upper
Go slow

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5) Work in the wax with cloth or brush

The key is to use little dabs of polish and rub in small circular motions
Use small amounts of water when cloth is dry

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6) Buff out the shoe

Makes them POP!

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So here’s the end result!

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Basically good as new!

Here are some pro tips on why you should get your shoes shined!

It prevents leather from drying and cracking
Extends the life of shoes exponentially
It looks good and feels good

So if you guys liked this article and would like some more posts like this, please leave comments and share it with your friends and i’ll make some more!

Vancouver Art Gallery Throwback

Posted on June 4, 2015June 4, 2015 Posted in Dress to Impress, OOTDTagged bespoke, blogger, canada, clothing, dapper, dapper fashion, dress to impress, everyone's a model, everyonesamodel, mens fashion, mens style, menswear, summer fashionLeave a comment

So here’s a bit of a throwback for you guys, a friend of mine recently acquired a new lens for her camera and she had asked me to be her test subject and to give her some pointers. Since i’m so nice and awesome, I obviously said yes (haha).

Here’s some of the shots! Enjoy!

Pocket Square is by Sebastian Cruz Couture

Socks are by Wits and Beaux

Shoes are by Allen Edmonds

Jacket by H&M

Watch was purchased on Ebay, it was a refurbished vintage watch!

Oregon Trip

Posted on May 31, 2015May 30, 2015 Posted in Casual, Lifestyle, OOTDTagged casual, dapper fashion, fashion blogger, fashion writer, flowers, international rose test garden, mens fashion, mens style, menswear, oregon, pink, portland, red, summer fashion, usa, vacationLeave a comment

So my Auntie and cousin from Vegas came on a spontaneous trip as usual and we have decided to go to Portland to visit the Grotto and the International Rose Test Garden. This was our second attempt at the International Rose Test Garden, because during our last visit, it was during the winter time and the roses were already all gone. This time around though we got lucky with our timing! Knowing the trip would involve some nice flowers, I wanted to compliment what I was wearing along with it! Here are some of the photos!

Shirt: Stockhomme | Pants: David Bitton | Shoes: Cole Haan | Bag: Flyye Industries | Watch: Citizen

Remember to follow me on Instagram @ramirphoto and on twitter @ramirphoto

Parker Sample Sale

Posted on May 28, 2015May 29, 2015 Posted in Events, LifestyleTagged bespoke, blogger, canada, dapper, dapper fashion, dress to impress, everyone's a model, fashion stylist, male fashion blogger, male fashion stylist, mens fashion, mens style, menswear, sale, sample sale, vancouver, vancouver fashion, vancouver fashion blogger, vancouver stylistLeave a comment

How’s it going everyone! I just want to let you know of a event that’s happening right now!

Parker Sample Sale!

While you’re there be sure to use the promo code “SIDEBUY” to get a additional 10% off your entire purchase.

So I went to the second floor since the 1st floor was all for women and found Kent Bitz’ area and did my search! Kent was there who gave me a very warm welcome and actually showed me around and talked about some of the pieces that he has and what makes them so unique! (Very informative guy and he does know his stuff) after his spiel I went on by myself and found my one item which I promised myself I will just keep to one item only haha since I just came back from a vegas trip for a bachelors so i’m running low on funds. (by the way, he has one section at his store that is on a really good deal which is everything is $45 but if you buy two items its $80 and if you buy 3 it’s $100 PLUS if you use the SIDEBUY promo code you still get the 10% OFF!!! WHAT A CRAZY DEAL FOR SUCH QUALITY PRODUCTS!

I can’t emphasize enough on how much of a great experience this was and how nice the products were! It is a definite must to check out!

So here are some photos!

photo with Kent and the David Bitton Pants I bought!

Summer Whites

Posted on May 22, 2015May 28, 2015 Posted in Dress to Impress, OOTDTagged bespoke, blogger, canada, clothing, dapper, dapper fashion, dress to impress, men's clothing, men's wear, mens fashion, vancouver, vancouver stylistLeave a comment

Summer’s here and it’s looking to be a real hot one! For the past few weeks the weather has been consistently hitting over 20 degrees and i’m loving it! This past May 22, I had to go for a friend’s Convocation and help take photos of her family as she celebrates her momentous day. As for me, I didn’t feel like wearing a full suit as i’m going to be taking photos and wanted more comfort and not to get too hot as well. I still wanted to dress up since it is not just a regular event.

So here’s what I did.

My first piece of inspiration was my white V Neck shirt from H&M then I worked my way down to my Club Monaco pants.

Since I have a whole white thing going on already I decided to add my white Ferragamo Shoes and added some other bright colors with my socks. (You know I always have to get funky with my socks).

I just have to praise Ferragamo for this awesome shoe of theirs, I love the logo it’s very simple and it doesn’t scream their brand, it just looks like a very nice emblem on the shoe. Super clean detail!

So while we got the shirt, shoes, socks and pants out of the way it was time to get on the suit, and since I noticed the blue emblem on the shoes, I decided to wear a blue suit to go along with it. This suit was part of a bespoke suit that was made for me by “Be Custom Suited” and the fit is just amazing! With all being said and done, I just added my white Ceramic Citizen Eco Drive watch to complete the whole outfit (I love my Eco Drive also since it runs on any source of light for power, no need for batteries and its not automatic so it’s not pricey also and not as bulky).

So there you go, my outfit for the day when I have to take photos but still want to dress up! haha!

Almost forgot, rockin my awesome pocket square also by Sebastian Cruz Couture!

Hope you guys like this post and please spread the word by sharing this around!

More to come!

Happy Air Max Day

Posted on March 26, 2015March 26, 2015 Posted in Casual, LifestyleTagged air max day, blogger, canada, clothing, dapper, dapper fashion, everyone's a model, everyonesamodel, fashion, gq, men's clothing, men's shoes, men's wear, mens fashion, nike, nike air max day, shoes, sneakers, women's fashionLeave a comment

Nike Air Max 1

“It’s a shoe that’s older than we are, but it remains handsome and relevant to this day. In 1987, Nike released the Air Max 1 – a piece of groundbreaking design, which, for the first time, gave consumers a view of the Air Sole unit that underpinned the comfort and performance of designer Tinker Hatfield’s celebrated Nike Airs. Yup, this was the birth of ‘visible air’, inspired by the architecture of Paris’ Pompidou Centre – a building that looks like it’s been sprung inside out, boasting inner workings that are visible through its exterior.” – from Asos.com

So here’s the inspiration

I just find it amazing how one architectural design influence another now iconic shoe design. The Air Max line of shoes by Nike has got to be one of the most reinvented sneaker line that I know of along with Chucks which is also owned by Nike.

With this being said, here’s a photo of my own Nike Air Max

Ain’t it so cool? Haha!

Now here are some of the ones that I like from the world of Instagram

Screenshot_2015-03-26-11-00-46-1 — Nice clean white with powder blue swoosh!

Screenshot_2015-03-26-11-01-14-1 — Floral and Cork! Just an awesome and unexpected combination! I’d rock this anyday!

Screenshot_2015-03-26-11-02-07-1 — Here’s a lady with quite a collection!

Screenshot_2015-03-26-11-03-09-1 — MMMMM purple!!!

Screenshot_2015-03-26-11-04-07-1 — Classic black and white!

Red and white paired with Marvel themed socks!

Screenshot_2015-03-26-11-07-29-1 — Just an epic shot!

Screenshot_2015-03-26-11-04-33-1 — Even the kids are on it!

Screenshot_2015-03-26-11-07-45-1 — All white, super clean!

Screenshot_2015-03-26-11-07-59-1 — Floral overload, but just WOW!

Screenshot_2015-03-26-11-08-41-1 — Just the sheer contrast of colours. Nice!

As you can see, the influence alone of these shoes transcends gender and age! From the most muted designs to the brightest of colours even the use of different materials such as Cork! Nike Air Max has come a long way!

How about you, do you own a pair? Share your photo on the comments!

OOTD | Nature Everywhere

Posted on March 7, 2015March 6, 2015 Posted in Casual, OOTDTagged bespoke, blogger, canada, clothing, converse, dapper, dapper fashion, fashion blogger, fashion writer, men's clothing, men's wear, mens fashion, mens style, streetwear, vancity, vancouver2 Comments

Waking up on a Friday morning and all I could see was this glorious bright sun! I feel so happy and energized! after all the horrible horrible rain Vancouver has been getting, there’s finally the light!
So with this, I thought i’d pay a tribute to our Mr. Sun and Mother Nature.

I started off with wearing a patterned t-shirt with a design that resembles the sun with its rays beaming out of it. From there I paired it off with another green patterned slacks (it was just something that I felt appropriate since I haven’t worn green for a while, yes, I’m weird like that). Since I had the whole earth and green thing happening already, I just decided to wear my green wooden watch and also my green jade ring. For my shoes I just wore my white and green chucks with a sock top (limited edition, from what I could remember).

So here are the photos!

The pants are actually longer than this, I just decided to fold them on the inside to make it look cropped just to show the hi-top shoes a bit more. Shirt is from Play Cloths

Guys, if you like what you see please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or suggestion. So i’ll know what type of content I should be adding.

Once again, i’m still getting used to my new equipment and there will be more to come and thanks to the guys from Samsung Canada for helping me out with getting this new NX1 mirrorless camera.

Holiday Essential gifts for your man for under $50

Posted on December 17, 2014December 18, 2014 Posted in ListsTagged bespoke, dapper, dapper fashion, fashion, gift ideas, gifts, gifts for men, gifts under 50 dollars, holiday gift ideas, men's clothing, men's wear, mens fashion, shopping, tech, technology, vancity, vancouverLeave a comment

We know its that time of the year again and finding the right gifts for your special guy can get a bit tricky. He probably has everything that he wants and needs and you wouldn’t know what to get him. Well here’s a short list that I have made that would probably give you some options that he probably doesn’t have yet and would love to have.

1. Kent Street Apparel’s MERDE IL PLEUT (Shit it’s Raining) UNISEX UMBRELLA $44

I just featured this on my blog and I can’t help but rave about it. Especially if you’re living in Vancouver you know we are always blessed with this “awesome” rain on a regular basis. This works if you know he has that dry sense of humour also since it actually says “shit it’s raining” in french on the umbrella itself. It comes in other colours as well.

2. Zara Black Mini Messenger Bag $39

This one is for the guys who carry a lot of things with them on a regular basis or just have super thick wallets and you know it’s not good for their posture if they always put it on their back pocket and sit. This avoids that potential back problem and would help them in the long run. I personally own a few mini messenger bags and I find them very useful especially when I travel and I would put my wallet and passport and other important documents in them and small camera inside.

3. Express Dress Socks $11 for 1 or $25 for 4

This one is another no brainer. All grown men or even teens should own dress socks and not plain white socks. Its basically a “right of passage” if you ask me. A man can’t be taken seriously if he’s wearing a suit while wearing white socks. He’s better off not wearing any.

4. Victorinox HOK Exclusive Blackcomb Climber II Sapphire $49

Here’s another essential. I think every man should own a Swiss Army Knife. Having the basic tools is just key to “being a man”. It would also be a nice touch if you could get their name engraved on the plastic part if you ask me.

Now we’re coming to the tech side of things. If your man is into tech, i’m sure he either owns one like this or if he doesn’t, he would like to own one and love you for giving it to him.

6. Google Chromecast $39

I own this little guy and I LOVE IT TO BITS! This gadget basically attaches to the back of your TV and makes it a smart tv. You are able to connect your phone, tablet and even your computer wirelessly to this device and mirror it onto your tv. If this might seem too complicated for your i’ve provided a video made my google to give you a better idea.

6. Motorola P4000 Portable Power Pack $30

Now this is just another essential. I’m sure all of us could relate to our smart phones running out of battery on the most important time. Well look no further, this guy is your life saver. This power pack actually comes with its own cable so it can charge basically any smart phone except for iPhones, but you will just have to use your own usb chord because it does chard any product with a usb plug built-in. It can fully charge any smart phone out then from 0-100% and still have some left to charge other devices.

So these are my list, I truly hope you find them helpful and share it with your friends. If you like this article please leave a comment or any suggestions. Happy Holidays!

Ramir

Shit its raining

Posted on December 17, 2014December 17, 2014 Posted in Collaborations, Dress to Impress, OOTD, Product ReviewTagged bespoke, canada, dapper, dapper fashion, fashion, fashion photography, gentleman, lifestyle, men's clothing, men's wear, mens fashion, model, photo, photography, photoshoot, vancity, vancouver, vintage1 Comment

Most of the people here in Vancouver can relate to this expression on a very regular basis. We don’t have the nickname “Raincouver” for it for a reason. Especially in this time of the year, we can experience a very generous amount of rain coming our way. This doesn’t mean that our sense of style and our rain gear should suffer. I notice that most people here in Vancouver stick to the very safe and simple black umbrella to protect themselves from the rain, but I have a solution for you.

“Merde Il Pleut” – Shit it’s raining (in French) umbrella

When life gives you lemons, you make lemon juice. So when it rains, why not make the best of the situation and throw in some sense of humour while you’re at it.

Why just stick to the norms of a black umbrella when you can make someone’s day with a funny yet still stylish and classy one.

The strong wood handle, wood shaft, ferrule, and wooden tips help prevent wind damage. I haven’t tested this guy against strong winds yet but with the feel of its construction I can say it stands a good chance of handling the occasional winds of Vancouver.

Let me just say, it does look good when matched with a pair of tan coloured shoes and brown belt because of the wooden accent on the umbrella. It just gives it a very vintage yet modern feel.

So the next time you buy an umbrella for yourself or even as a gift for someone you might want to consider this umbrella. I got this at Kent Street Apparel which is a Vancouver based online store.

If you guys like these kinds of content please leave a message. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Ramir

Power of Women (Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with Sebastian Cruz Couture)

Posted on November 10, 2014 Posted in Events, InspirationalTagged breast cancer, canada, canadian breast cancer foundation, dapper, dapper fashion, fashion, fashion photography, inspirational, lifestyle, men's clothing, men's wear, mens fashion, vancity, vancouverLeave a comment

I’m very pleased to tell everyone that a company that i’m currently collaborating with is supporting my friend’s event.

Sebastian Cruz Couture Vegas is kind enough to sponsor “Power of Women” a Pink Ladies Event that’s going to be held in Vancouver this November 30, 2014.

Here’s the good news:

When you buy any Sebastian Cruz Couture product from November 1, 2014 until November 30, 2014 half of the profit goes to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. More details are available if you click on the images below.

link to the event (click the image above)

To check out the rest of the line of Sebastian Cruz Couture (click the image above)

Photo of myself, rocking one of their awesome pocket square and flower lapel (click the image above)

I’m very proud to say that i’m also sponsoring this great event and will be taking photos of the festivities. A full review of the Sebastian Cruz Couture pocket square and lapel flower is also almost done and i’m very excited to share it with you guys! Stay tuned and please support the good cause!