Whilst we don't encourage outright stealing, we're certainly not against extended loan periods. Girls do it all the time - from their friends, sisters, mothers etc - so it's about time we advise the guys on the top timeless items they can "borrow" from their fathers & grandfathers.
Tortoise Shell / Horn-rimmed Glasses
Irrespective of whether or not you actually need spectacles, if some ancient family member has a pair of vintage tortoise shell / horn-rimmed glasses just lying around - we suggest you take them. Punch out the lenses and take them to your optometrist to get the right prescription for you. Whilst the most popular kind is still a thick rim around the entire lens, a lot of 1950s originals were the browline kind (as pictured). This is also a great money saver and no modern day re-make of the classic will ever look the same.
The Fountain Pen
Fountain pens are high quality, carefully crafted writing instruments that are not very commonly used these days firstly because we have become a generation of computer addicts who rarely find the occasion to wield a pen but also because they have become very uneconomical to produce. The mere fact that we barely even use a pen these days is even more reason for that one writing instrument we do use to be special. We know that a Mont Blanc pen hanging out of your shirt pocket screams money but that's not necessarily what you want to be showing. Restoring an old Parker 51 in the family... now that screams class.
The Pocket Watch / Fob Watch
A classy man knows that good taste in style is all about subtlety and if you have a vintage timepiece like a Waltham pocket watch, do anything but hang it around your neck for the world to see. There's a pocket on every man's suit vest which you may have thought was for your mobile phone, but is actually for the pocket watch. Attach the fob of your pocket watch to your lapel or waistcoat for that hint of old school charm.
Vintage Pocket Squares
You can often tell that a pocket square is vintage because the patterns are a bit simpler than the outlandish ones on the market these days. The best ones are the simple florals, polka dots, or just plain white silk or linen just like the ones seen on Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan and Winston Churchill.
Argyle Sweaters
The argyle pattern seems to have been in fashion for the last 200 years with Pringle, the iconic Scottish argyle brand still a favourite today (See 1960s Pringle advert below). The checked pattern adds a bit of character to an otherwise plain outfit. And if not a sweater, get yourself a pair of argyle socks (we advise against your grandfather's vintage argyle socks for this one).
This one doesn't really count but we thought we'd put it in anyway...
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Modern Vintage Glasses: www.warbyparker.com
