It’s one of those movies that’s on practically everyone’s “Favorites” list.  25 years ago today, Marty McFly met Dr. Emmett Brown in the parking lot of the Twin Pines Mall, was introduced to a modified DeLorean, and the rest, as they say, is, or, uh, was, or rather, um — well, it made history.

It was the most popular movie of 1985 and the inspiration for two sequels.  And the film’s fun and quirky vibe has stood the test of time (Michael J. Fox said even people in Bhutan knew about “McFly!”).

Today you can get the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy Edition on DVD and blu-ray.  This special edition has many new features, including  a documentary on making the film (Robert Zemeckis called it the hardest film he ever made, due to the insane schedule and having to shoot almost the whole thing at night), commentaries, and clips, including Robert Stoltz playing Marty before he was replaced by Michael J. Fox.  You get a featurette on the physics of Back to the Future and a music video of Huey Lewis and the News doing The Power of Love.  Among a lot of other things.  The clip below gives you an idea of the enhanced image quality on the blu-ray edition, which I highly recommend.

 Get the Trilogy DVD from CD Universe, Buy.com, or Barnes & Noble (pick your price and delivery options). 

Or get the Trilogy blu-ray from CD Universe, Buy.com, or Barnes & Noble.

Of course, the videos are not all I’m going to mention (here at Best Stuff for Men we’re all about adding value).   Further enjoy the Back to the Future milieu with the following memorabilia.  Great Scott!

Below are: 

• Marty’s color-changing cap from the future.  Features ultra-refractive fabric and velcro closures.  One size fits all.
• The upgraded DeLorean from Back to the Future III.  This replica is brand new out this month and features time-traveling lights and sound.
• The coolest item of all:  the Flux Capacitor built by Doc Brown that made the whole story possible.  No corners have been cut in making this 16 x 11-inch prop replica as accurate as possible.  Of course, it lights up.  Put one on your wall and be the envy of your movie-savvy friends.

Marty McFly's color-changing hat

Time-traveling DeLorean from Back to the Future III

Flux Capacitor replica

Related posts:

1. “The Empire Strikes Back” Was Released 30 Years Ago Today
2. You THOUGHT “The Lord of the Rings” Was Coming Out on Blu-ray Today…

You’ll have a chance to impersonate a character you admire on October 31 without fear of social ostracism and, in support of that, here are a bunch of high-quality replica swords and knives you might want to equip yourself with in order to increase your authenticity. 

Plus, you know, giving anyone a katana automatically makes them cool.  (Just ask Neal Stephenson.)  And by the way, “replica” does not mean “not sharp.”

The sword was the most important weapon in the world for thousands of years.  Some people still swear by it (you don’t have to re-load a sword and, if you can master that cutting-a-bullet-in-half trick, you’ve got an edge).  I want to highlight two outstanding places to get swords and knives online, both replica and real (by “real” I mean you can use it as a serious tool in battle — should you ever find yourself in a battle).  The best with respect to choice, customer service, and price is True Swords.  And a close second is Swords.com (their prices are sometimes a little higher but they usually have a particularly good selection of serious Japanese swords).  Both sites are enjoyable and informative to read and to shop, and both have top-notch service.  (And I should add for overall broad range of merchandise, Budk.) 

Following are some swords and knives you might want to consider adding to your collection.  And if you don’t have at least one sword, why not?  Every guy can use a sword at some point.  Even if only on All Hallows’ Eve. 

The "Bride" sword

One of the most absorbing, stylish, kinetic, and fun modern martial arts films, Kill Bill is appropriately reverent when it comes to the katana.  And exuberant in portraying the mayhem it can cause.  Pictured at left is “The Bride’s Sword,” used by Beatrix Kiddo to implement her lethal “To-do” list.  This sword is a serious replica of the sword made in the film by Hattori Hanzo (played by Sonny Chiba, at his best), with a tempered high-carbon steel blade, full tang, ray skin and black leather handle, and multiple engravings.  Get it from True Swords for under $100.

Bill's "Demon" sword

On the other hand, maybe you liked Bill’s “Demon” sword, also made by Hanzo.  You can get that one, too, and for less than $60, which is a great price for this well-constructed replica.

Or you can get the two swords (Bride and Bill) as a set, made of stainless steel, with a wooden stand.

And the stylish O-Ren Ishii sword is also available.  And how about the boot-stashed straight razor Beatrix used to cut her bonds in the coffin (might not work that great for shaving, though).

Of course, when it comes to movie swords, we couldn’t leave out a movie with a title like Blade.  Here’s the sword of the Daywalker (Wesley Snipes).  Yes, it’s got that secret dagger in the handle.  Doesn’t come with the wooden stand, though.

Morpheus katana

Another iconic movie franchise that featured cool Japanese and Chinese edged weapons is The Matrix.  Here is the katana Morpheus wielded in The Matrix: Reloaded.  This is a well-made replica sword. 

G.I. Joe "Snake Eyes" katana

A movie that didn’t achieve quite the popularity of those above, but still had some pretty cool swords, was G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.  Pictured at left is the katana used by “Snake Eyes,” who took a vow of silence when his master was killed by his arch-enemy “Storm Shadow.”  This replica is a faithful reproduction of the sword used in the film.  It has a high-carbon steel blade, a rayskin and leather grip, a wooden scabbard with full detailing, a display stand, and a certificate of authenticity.  Each one is individually numbered, so this is definitely a collectible.  And you can also get the Storm Shadow katana, with its distinctive white handle and scabbard (not pictured).

And finally to round out this collection of cinematic katanas, we should include the only notable TV katana of late, and that’s Hiro’s sword from Heroes.  The blade is hand-forged carbon steel, the scabbard is hardwood with a glossy piano-paint finish, and it comes with a display stand.  Yatta!

 For a sword from a little older TV show, well, movie, well, animated series, that’s sort of a Scottish katana, check out the Highlander Sword carried by Connor MacLeod, a beautiful 3rd generation version of the sword from the popular saga (not pictured).

William Wallace sword from Braveheart

Now let’s move in a westerly direction.  Thankfully for political freedom everywhere, William Wallace was pretty good at swinging a blade, as well as leading troops.  Here is William Wallace’s sword from Braveheart.  The sword’s overall length is 53 inches and the blade is stainless steel.  It comes with a scabbard.  

Entertainment Earth also offers a high-quality reproduction of the William Wallace sword that is quite popular and sells out from time to time, but click here to check it out – this is about as good as movie prop replicas get.

Black Knight's Rapier

A sword that gets heavy use in films is the rapier, a gentleman’s sword that came into wide use in Europe in the 17th century.  This is the kind of sword you see in movies such as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Princess Bride (both notable for their excellent dueling choreography).  The rapier at left is the Black Knight’s Silver Spiral Rapier.  This is a nice replica sword from True Swords that’s only about $60.  If you want a much high-quality rapier, try the Solingen Rapier from Swords.com.  This is the kind of sword you grab when you want to buckle some swash.

Anduril

Another famous sword with a western heritage — western fantasy, that is — is the sword Anduril from The Lord of the Rings.  This is the sword that was re-forged for Aragorn, heir to the throne of Gondor.  This is a beautiful replica with 24K gold fittings and it comes with a wall plaque. 

And as long as we’re in a Lord of the Rings mode, you may also want to get hold of Gandalf’s sword Glamdring (another very nice reproduction from True Swords) and Sting, the sword carried by Frodo, the elven-forged blade that turned blue when orcs were near.

Of course, one of the more badass characters in Lord of the Rings was Legolas, who didn’t carry a sword.  He was pretty handy at puncturing things with arrows, however.  And equally as handy with his two knives.  So let’s progress to some knife action and offer Legolas’s twin blades for your weaponry consideration.  These knives feature full-tang construction and sharpened stainless-steel blades.  The handles are oak with elven designs and they’re nicely displayed (when not busy eviscerating orcs) on a handsome wooden plaque.

Rambo First Blood 25th Anniversary Knife

As long as we’re on knives, let’s move on to one of the most famous movie knives in history — the “hunting” knife that Rambo used to take on the town of Hope in Rambo: First Blood.   Get the Rambo First Blood 25th Anniversary Edition Knife from Swords.com.  The blade is stainless steel and it includes a compass and survival kit.  Get this knife and you, too, can take on prejudiced, backwater police.

That's a knife

 And now for the knife used to the most humorous effect ever (for a knife) in a movie:  the bowie knife (on steroids) carried by Crocodile Dundee (“That’s a knife!”). 

Sweeney Todd's razor

We’ll wrap up our tour of cool fictional edged weapons (that have become real), with the instrument used by one notorious fellow:  Sweeney Todd’s razor (the movie version with Johnny Depp), with which he dispatched his unsuspecting victims.

The swords and knives reviewed here are some of the best of all movie and TV replicas.  But there are many more available from a variety of productions, from The Prince of Persia to Predator to Pirates of the Caribbean.  Continue exploring at True Swords, Swords.com, and Budk.

If you have found something interesting or useful here on Best Stuff for Men, please consider making a donation, so others can benefit, too.  Thanks!

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day: Get Something Good for Your Dad (or Yourself)
2. Kitchen Knives for a Lifetime of Cooking Adventures

Halloween is when you’ll want a costume most often, but that doesn’t mean the costume parties and balls end there (hey, maybe you just want to patrol rooftops in your favorite superhero outfit or do some role-playing with the missus).  “Whenever” can be a good time to wear a costume.  Find costume ideas and discounts for Halloween and more in this post.

Read carefully and explore all the links…

Any time you need a costume, you should check with the online retailers listed here — BuyCostumes, Costume Super Center, and Wicked Temptations.  They offer a huge selection, good prices, special deals, and excellent customer service (I wouldn’t recommend them otherwise).  The next time you need a Halloween or other holiday costume, or you’re going to a Renaissance Faire, or attending a costume ball, take advantage of the following ideas, resources, costume information, and party suggestions.  I’ve included a number of specific costume ideas, plus you can find targeted links to a variety of popular or unusual categories of costumes.

And this goes for your kids, too.  You can definitely save money while acquiring outfits that will make everybody happy.

Messin' with Sasquatch

First, below is a link to the current Halloween special from Costume SuperCenter, which has been supplying costumes (and meeting everyone’s needs for wigs and masks, beards, stage makeup, Santa suits, western wear, goth getups, and pet costumes) online since 2005, and currently stocks over 10,000 products.  Click the following links to save some money:

Click here to get 10% OFF Orders of $40 or More at Costume SuperCenter.  Use Code: SPOOKY

Enter the coupon code — SPOOKY — at checkout.

When you take advantage of this deal, you might want to check out this season’s sexiest costumes.

The next costume retailer you should be shopping at is BuyCostumes.com. (For example, get free shipping and guaranteed by Halloween delivery.)  Hitwise named BuyCostumes the #1 retailer of costumes on the Internet, and they have a deserved reputation for great customer service and unsurpassed selection, with over 10,000 costumes from which to choose.  They also offer a free exchange program — if the costume doesn’t fit, they will pay for the shipping cost to exchange it.

For Halloween, here’s one of the main deals:   Buy One Costume, Get One 20% off, plus FREE shipping at BuyCostumes.com using coupon code: BOGO20.  (Enter the code at checkout; good through 10/31/11.)

They can also supply all the props and decorations you need for your Halloween Party.  When it comes to saving money, check out their clearance costume deals.  Or check out their “5 Deals Under $5″ page, updated every Monday (click the banner below):

Costume Ideas for Halloween — or whenever

When it comes to popular costumes, BuyCostumes should have what you want in stock longer than just about anybody else:

• Harry Potter
• Star Wars
• Avatar
• Playboy
• Superheroes
• Vampires
• Pirates
• and Rennaissance

And of course, Ironman:

Click for Iron Man costumes

And you owe it to yourself (and her) to get the Black Widow costume for your lady (remember you can buy 1 costume and get a second one for 20% off, plus get free shipping, using coupon code BOGO20):

Iron Man 2 Black Widow Costume

How about vintage costumes?

Not really sure what you wanna be?  Need inspiration?  Then check out their Costume of the Week.   Or consider costumes from the ’20s, ’30s, ’40s, ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s.  (Who else offers that?)  They even have a special section of product videos, so you can see how they’ll look before you buy.

Click for horror masks

In addition, speaking of ideas, you can find out how to put together a cool Trinity costume from The Matrix, and also how to dress as Neo in my post Get Your Girl a Trinity Costume.

Here’s a site that is not for your kids:  Wicked Temptations.

They have what you need to have fun with your fantasies — whether it be pirate and slave wench or doctor and vampire nurse, or whatever.  After the trick-or-treaters are home gorging on candy, add some adult fun to your Halloween evening with your own trick-and-treating…

I'll need to see what you're hiding under your coat, ma'am

And if you’re going to an erotic ball, Wicked Temptations has what you need.

Check out ideas for costume parties for kids and adults below — click the links for hundreds of additional costume suggestions…

Related posts:

1. Get Your Girl a Trinity Costume (and Neo, too)
2. Mother’s Day Gift Ideas: Turquoise Jewelry and More from the National Geographic Store

February 16 is Mardi Gras day.   Zombie will be celebrating, because it’s Fat Tuesday and he’s hungry.  How about you?

Zombie T-shirt is customizable on over 60 different types of shirts in many colors.  Have some King Cake!

Zombie enjoys Mardi Gras as much as anyone by ericj9999 (Click to see other Zombie styles)

Related posts:

1. The Best Zombie Books to Get You Started Enjoying the Living Dead
2. Escalating Humans vs. Zombies: Here’s a Handy New Nerf Weapon That’s a Flashlight AND a Gun

A Trinity costume from The Matrix is fun for Halloween, but you can give this costume as a gift any time.  Listed below is everything you’ll need, and you can acquire it all from the links on this page.  Also included is how to create a Neo costume for yourself.

It helps, of course, if your girl likes The Matrix.   I put together this Matrix costume as a Christmas present for my GF awhile back and it was a hit.  The Matrix is one of her favorite movies.

Will it look good on anyone?  Carrie Anne Moss is definitely hot in her skin-tight black outfit, but she’s got that slender, college-pole-vaulter build.  How about on a woman that is a bit more curvy — someone, say, like Scarlett Johansson? Well, after seeing my GF in it, I just have to say, it works.

Any day of the year is a good day for her to dress up in her Matrix outfit.  And if you feel like doing a Neo thing (sort of like a catholic priest without the, uh, catholicism), that’s good, too.  (Scroll down to the see the section on how to look like Neo.)

Note: This post was updated with new info and additional links on September 21, 2011.

Trinity wore a variety of outfits in the 3 Matrix films but the one most people remember is what she wore when she and Neo attacked the military installation to save Morpheus in the first film.

Click here to get the basic Trinity costume coat

Several pieces comprise this costume.  For greatest authenticity, you’ll need to acquire them from different places.  Trinity’s full outfit consists of a coat, pants, top, black boots, and shades.  You can add elbow-length gloves to create Trinity’s look from The Matrix Reloaded.  First and foremost is the long black shiny coat.  This is the piece that will be the most “costumey” in quality – that is, it’s a costume coat that is not necessarily meant to stand up to years of daily wear.  But that’s not a problem, it’s not expensive.  And the Trinity sunglasses are included (though you’ll probably want to upgrade to a pair from Matrix Eyewear).  You can find the deluxe black vinyl Trinity jacket and glasses at BuyCostumes.com, one of my favorite online costume sites.

The real deal when it comes to the shades are these Trinity sunglasses from Matrix Eyewear.  They’re fully functional sunglasses at a good price, with a 1-year guarantee.

Next, you’ll need the pants.  Remember to keep to the “shiny” motif.  Generally, that means vinyl.

I (and my GF) like these straight-leg vinyl pants (at left) from Flirty Lingerie (a fun place to shop).  They are really flattering and look great with black boots.  However, it’s a discontinued style (i.e., they’re not producing them anymore), so eventually they’re going to run out of the remaining inventory.  You can still get them as this is written.  Don’t wait.  (When you go to the webpage, even though the product description says “Discontinued,” you can still click to put them in the shopping cart; they currently have size “Large,” which will work for most women.)

Vinyl Pants from Pierre Silber

The vinyl pants pictured at right would also fit the bill.  These are black vinyl pants from Pierre Silber, an extensive lingerie and adult costume site.  Right now you can get them for less than $50.  You might want to keep Pierre Silber in mind to explore other Halloween costume ideas.

An alternative pair of pants would be tight vinyl or faux leather (or real leather) leggings paired with thigh-high boots.  Try these:  Latex Leggings (not pictured).

Coffee Shop Junior's Stretch Leggings

You could go with leggings that she could also wear for clubbing, such as these stretch polyurethane pants:  Coffee Shop Junior’s Stretch Leggings, which are inexpensive at Overstock.

Or you could go in an even sexier direction and try this black vinyl catsuit (below), which has the perfect texture and shine, and would go well with the costume coat.  It would be a pretty warm outfit, though.  Good for a cold Halloween night…

If she already has some black boots, they should work.  However, if she doesn’t, or if you’re going with tight leggings, a provocative option would be  this pair of thigh-high black boots:

4-inch Heel Thigh-High Boots.   They should fit over a pair of tight leggings.  And they’re under $60 at Flirty Lingerie.

Funtasma Women's Gogo Boots

If you want something that looks more like the actual boots Trinity wore in the movie’s lobby shootout, you can go to MotorCowboy and have a pair custom-made for just over $300, or you can go with these Funtasma Gogo boots from Wayfair in black patent, which look almost identical and cost only $50.  These boots are also very similar to the ones Trinity wore in The Matrix Reloaded.  They are suitable for kicking butt and piloting helicopters.  If you want to go all-out with high-end leather boots, get her the Jenny Boots by La Canadienne at Zappos (yeah, she’ll love those).

Black Tank Top Unitard

Then you need a top.  Again, go with black and sleek.  Here’s another all-in-one option.  This Black Tank Top Unitard is just right.  It’s sexy, athletic, and she can wear it under other outfits.  She can also slip those thigh-high boots over it.

Joelle Cotton Wow Tank Top

You could also go with this cotton tank top (click the image at left).  It’s got a shaping fit and smooth texture.  It’s the Yummie Tummie Joelle Cotton Wow Tank from Revolve Clothing.  She’ll be able to wear it for many other uses, too.

For a less expensive alternative, check the Splendid Supima 2×1 Tank (not pictured) — a versatile tank with high-quality fabric you can find at Zappos.  Or the Fitzwell Annie Sleeveless Sweater, a very cool-looking garment, and only about $30.  Or, for a slightly different approach, the Calvin Klein Essentials Long Sleeve V-Neck, from Freshpair.  At least ONE of those tops should work for her.

Finally, round out the outfit with some long shiny black vinyl gloves (the photo’s a little risqué if you happen to be reading this at work).   

Remember, as you’re shopping for all these items, to check the merchant’s sizing chart, if they have one, plus customer reviews.  Since all these garments are tight, you can usually err on the side of ordering a size larger and they should still work.

You should be able to put a decent Trinity costume together for around $100, or a bit more if you go with all of the best options.

Add all the above elements together and you’ll have a kickass costume, a delighted girl, and some fun…  (I was going to include a photo of other girls wearing the Trinity costume, but decided not to — I don’t want to spoil the surprise.  You will not believe how cool she looks when she finally models all your carefully-chosen items.)

By the way, if you want to see more variety of Halloween costumes and get info on current good deals at some of the best costume shops online, see my post on Costume Deals and Ideas for Halloween — or Whenever.

How to create the most authentic Neo look for yourself

I’m going to assume you want to match the movie wardrobe as closely as possible.  So…

Matrix Lobby Trench Coat

First Neo’s coat.  The best coat I’ve found is the “Lobby Coat” made by AbbyShot Clothiers.  This is a high-quality coat and the design is very faithful to the coat Neo wore when he and Trinity attacked the military installation.  That’s it to the left (don’t worry, you’ll look cooler than their model).  Click the image or here to see more pictures.  This coat is made in limited quantities, so sometimes it must be pre-ordered; leave yourself plenty of time.  You can also see other high-quality movie and TV replica clothing (Firefly, Doctor Who) from AbbyShot, available at Entertainment Earth.

The easiest and least expensive way to get the Neo outfit is as a costume, which also includes the sunglasses.

Here it is from BuyCostumes (pictured below): 

Woodland Leather full-length Trench Coat

If the AbbyShot coat above is sold out or a bit pricey for you, there is a great alternative from JKL Clothing:  the Woodland Leather full length Matrix-style men’s trench coat (at left).  This high-quality leather coat is very similar to the coats both Neo and Morpheus wear in The Matrix.  Note that JKL Clothing is a British company and if you order from them you’ll pay in British pounds.  Multiply the price in pounds by about 1.6 to roughly convert the amount to dollars (as of now, the coat is approximately $335 plus shipping).  They accept all major credit cards and PayPal.  This is a stylish, well-made coat.

To get the most authentic Neo sunglasses (pictured at left), you should get them from Matrix Eyewear.  Click the image to the left.  These are good-quality sunglasses from Matrix Eyewear and will work for everyday wear, too.  Matrix Eyewear also carries sunglasses for most of the other characters in the Matrix movies.  And they’re very affordable.

To go with the look Neo was wearing in the lobby shootout in the first film, a fitted black T-shirt will work (you’re on your own for all the guns and holsters).  This fitted black T-shirt from Calvin Klein has a modern, sort of “cyber-punk” appearance, is not too expensive, and will look great under the long coat.  For an even more premium look, try the Long Sleeve Crewe from Icebreaker, which is made of Merino wool and has a similar texture to the shirt Neo wears.

Kenneth Cole Sateen Cotton Shirt

Neo also wears long-sleeve buttoned shirts under his long “cassock” and the one pictured at left should work.  This is a Kenneth Cole no-iron Sateen Cotton Shirt in black.  It’s got a spread collar, features a modern look, and is priced around $60 at Zappos.  You could also try the Blackhawk Warrior Wear Lightweight Tactical Long-sleeve Shirt from Cabela’s in black.

DC Chino 2 Pants from Killer Dana

The pants for your Neo outfit should be black work pants or field-style pants.  You probably own some black pants that will do the trick, but if not these are good:  DC Chino 2 Pants in black from Killer Dana.   They’re close in style and texture to what Neo wears in the film. (Tuck the pants into the boots.)  If they’re sold out, Overstock has a good selection of other styles that will work.

Another option for pants would be these  black “Best in Town” cotton canvas cargo pants from JKL Clothing. 

Corcoran 10-inch Tanker Work Boots

Now you need some boots to round out your Matrix look.  You can wear any black boots and be fine, but if you want boots that closely resemble the style Neo wore in the first movie (remember when he kicks Agent Smith down the hallway in the final fight-scene and holds his foot in the air — those boots), then these will do the trick:  Corcoran Men’s Tanker 10-inch Work Boots.  These Corcoran buckle boots might be even cooler than the boots Neo wore in the movie.  And they’re nowhere near as expensive as having a set custom-made at Motorcowboy.  Tuck the pants into the boots.

If the Corcoran boots are sold out, or you want something with more buckles, try these boots from Harley-Davidson:  the Harley-Davidson Side Light Boots (pictured below).  They have a lot of buckles and the heavy toe, as in the film.  If you need to, you can black out or remove the chrome plates on the toe.  Click the image below to acquire them from Zappos, the company with the best customer service on the Web.

Harley-Davidson Side Light Boots

Another alternative boot would be these Danner Striker II Side Zip Boots (pictured at right).  They have a quasi-military look and are black leather, with a zipper on the inner side.  Some people swear by Danner, and some say they could be more durable, but for costume purposes these boots would definitely work.

Finally, if you want a really substantial, cool-looking pair of black boots that would work for everyday use as well as for this costume (and are less expensive than the Danners), go with these 8″ Thorogood Jump Boots (at left).  Weinbrenner Shoe Company has been making Thorogood boots since 1892, so you know they’ve worked the bugs out.  They are known not only for their work boots but their tactical boots as well, and these boots obviously share that pedigree.  They’re leather and have a rubber-lug outsole — just the look to go for when you’re trying to subvert the Matrix.  You can find those styles and more at up to 70% off from Shoe Metro.

I hope you enjoy all your Matrix adventures with your lady and never forget:  the Matrix has you.

If you put one or both of these costumes together, please leave a comment below telling how it worked out.  Did she like it?

Hey, wait a minute…  You haven’t seen the Ultimate Matrix Collection on DVD or Blu-ray yet?  There is no future in that approach.  Please rectify that now, Mr. Anderson.

If you have found something interesting or useful here on Best Stuff for Men, please consider making a donation, so others can benefit, too.  Thanks!

Related posts:

1. Costume Ideas and Deals for Halloween — or Whenever
2. Father’s Day: Get Something Good for Your Dad (or Yourself)

Okay, so hardly anyone (less than 2 million out of 300 million Americans) is watching “Mad Men,” the critically-acclaimed, Emmy-award-winning series on AMC, but we’re not concerned about that right now…

What we are concerned about is the show’s hipness factor vis-á-vis vintage clothing.  Cognoscenti of style from coast to coast can’t get enough of blogging about and emulating the show’s evocative wardrobe, along with its depiction of early 1960′s America.  What’s the appeal?  Perhaps some of us just want to hark back to a “simpler” era, when wives stayed at home and men smoked, chased skirts, and drank martinis, all with negligible amounts of worry — a time when there were no warning messages on cigarettes, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris challenged Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record in a national sport devoid of steroids, Breakfast at Tiffany’s was a hit, and the very first James Bond movie, Dr. No, starring Sean Connery, was about to become a hit.  Whatever the reason, it’s interesting to consider wearing clothes in a way that doesn’t involve, say, pants sliding down your ass.  Or wearing a proper fedora instead of a trucker’s baseball cap turned sideways.  Sean Connery would not wear a trucker’s cap turned sideways (if he was a trucker, he’d wear  the bill forward).  Present-day fashion is often ironic.  Mens’ fashion in 1962 tended to evoke easy masculinity.

We get refreshing trends like this every so often.  Guys periodically go through “Rat pack” phases, for example, after discovering Sinatra or after checking out the original Ocean’s Eleven movie.  And the movie Swingers not only got us swing dancing again but started fashion trends that persist to this day (bowling shirts, wallet chains, tank top with an unbuttoned shirt, two-tone shoes).  (Haven’t seen “Swingers” yet?  This paen to club-scene wit, the quest for hipness, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and the paradoxes of dealing with honeys should be on every guy’s viewing list-of-films-that-launched-stuff.) Now we even have cruiser bikes again. Anyway, since we have to wear clothes, why not make it fun, involving some awareness and conscious thought?  What kind of image do you want to project?  What statement are you making with your clothes?  Some of the “default” fashion statements made by guys are:

• I don’t think about clothes
• I sometimes think about clothes but, you know, Dockers are okay
• I am a rebel, like all the other rebels
• Cage fighting is cool

Many guys are content to follow the herd (if you’re in the military and you wear a peaked cap, and if you’re a skate-boarder and you wear ripped jeans, in both cases you’re wearing a uniform).   Women think about their “style” all the time.  80% of guys never think about it.  If a guy puts some thought into what he wears, people, especially women, notice. So, whether you’re a noob or a jaded iconoclast when it comes to fashion, a great place to explore is Rusty Zipper,  the Web’s first vintage clothing store.  RustyZipper.com features clothes and accessories for men and women from the 1940′s to the 1980′s.  Want to dress like Clark Gable or Cary Grant?  Want to emulate a rat-packer or a “mad man”?  Rusty Zipper’s got you covered.  Want to look like one of the Village People?  That, too.  The Rusty Zipper sells actual vintage clothes from those eras – pants, shirts, jackets, suits, ties, shoes, belts, cufflinks, etc.  Not only is it a fun place to shop, it’s unique.  And, incidentally, you can find cool, one-of-a-kind gifts for your lady there, too.  At prices that are comfortable.  (The low prices allow you to have items that aren’t your exact size altered by your local tailor.)  

1960's Men's Combo Suit from RustyZipper.com

Here, for example, is a 1960′s men’s combo suit– gray heather blue plaid hopsack wool jacket with narrow lapels and contrasting Kruppenheimer gray wool poplin plain front pants.  Less than $75!  (Leaving you enough for a two-martini lunch.)      

1960′s skinny necktie

How about a tie to go with the suit — something like this jacquard acetate tie that’s 1¼ inches wide, for less than $12?                        

Really, this is a site you have to explore to appreciate.  Among other things, you’ll find 1950′s vintage socks (but in new condition)…                             

Of course, there is a lot more to the site than just stuff from the 50′s and 60′s (as the one-of-a-kind shoes above show).  Here, for example is a gorgeous gabardine sport shirt from the 1940′s:  

1940′s Men’s Green Gabardine Sport Shirt

A lot of this clothing is quite well-made, too.  You can find classic items at bargain prices — when new, they were rather expensive.  Put on a nice tuxedo from the 1930′s and feel the pre-WW II ambience of the era seep into you.  Or you can just go for the vintage bowling shirt.                                 

And remember that you can also take advantage of it to get the lady in your life some cool things that she wouldn’t even suspect you knew about.  Yes, women like that sort of thing.  Have fun broadening your style, chief.

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1. Costume Ideas and Deals for Halloween — or Whenever
2. How to Get Half Off On Perry Ellis Men’s Clothing