Smartphones

IPhone: Apple’s IPhone has revolutionized the way cell phones are used in our day to day lives. Apple had been rumoured for years about developing a “1-button” wireless solution, a feat many thought to be impossible. Over time apple has associated a       specific lifestyle and image into the face of their products. This image speaks of energy and youthfulness while innovative.  The IPhone change the way we view our cellphone, it has become more than just a tool for calling and texting, it has become a necessity of our daily lives.

Pros: User Friendly OS, Apps offer limitless potential, Portable PC, ITunes offers simple backup options, Camera, Multitouch touch screen

Cons: Touch screen is expensive to replace if broken, Apps cost money, Older IPhone models may not support newer IOS (IPhone Operating System) features, Expensive, Enabling 3G network lowers battery life, Touch screen may frustrate some users, Not available on every wireless network

Android: Android is not specifically associated with a model phone, but rather the operating system used by the phone. Google, has long since has an image of productivity via means of a happy workplace. The android sought to implement the best parts of Apple’s IOS while adding on extra features that google hoped would attract more of the wireless market. Unlike the IPhone, android is currently offered on a wide range of wireless carriers. The image associated with Android is: Young, Adventurous, Energetic, Professional, and up to date.

Pros: Apps, Portable PC, Google’s syncing software is easy to use, High Resolution Camera (2.0+ Megapixels depending on phone model) , Wide range of Wireless Carriers

Cons: Some QWERTY keyboard hybrids do not offer much use for touch screen, no Multitouch support for US models for touch screens, Expensive, Some models are bulky

Blackberry: Blackberries were the original Smartphone when Research in Motion (RIM) entered the wireless market in the 90s. Blackberries were the first portable device to offer email access to those who were away from the office. These phones became increasingly popular among the business and political elite, specifically in the US and Europe. Research in Motion (RIM) which is based out of Waterloo, Ontario, offered users a quick and efficient way to remained connected to the office, the introduction of the QWERTY keyboard in later models allowed those that were used to using a standard PC an easy transition.  To top RIM began offering a free messaging service to all blackberry users, a service dubbed blackberry messenger. With more professionals seeking to stay communicated, Blackberry messenger skyrocketed RIM as the dominate Smartphone producer in the market. Blackberry’s image is associated with the business and political elite. Maturity, Business savvy, Hardworking and Always on the go, come to mind.

Pros: Blackberry Messenger, Quick email access, QWERTY keyboard, Camera, Easy synchronization software, Easy transition from Laptops to Blackberry is what make the phone successful.

Cons: Touch screen models tended to have issues, newer models tend to offer high resolution cameras while other models don’t offer a camera at all, Expensive, Tend to be bulky, Limited App

Regular Phones

Clamshell (Also Known as Flip Phones): The Clamshell was a hit when it was first introduced in the late 1980’s. Back then people liked the idea of having a portable phone that you could flip shut when you were done making a call, making the phone both portable and efficient by having a microphone close to the mouth. Ironically the first flip phone (MicroTAC 9800X) offered little portability at all in accordance to today’s standards; in fact the reasoning behind the flip was just to give the consumer something around the same dimensions as a regular house phone. Flip phones over the years have given birth to several popular wireless options, the most famous being the Motorola Razr. On the negative side these phones tended to be more expensive because they sometimes include two LCD screen. Having two LCD screens in a slim phone did draw back on durability. Because of the introduction of Smartphones, Clamshells have gone down in price, making them an inexpensive option. The image associated when owning a clamshell phone is: Youthful, Spontaneous, energetic, and popular.

Pros: Portable, Lightweight, familiar design, Easy to use

Cons: Durability, Having 2 LCD screens does cut on battery life, texting may be confusing for those unfamiliar with T-9, Limited internet accessibility

Sliders : Sliders first made their introduction into the marketplace in the mid 1990’s, these models were first made famous by the movie “The Matrix” where neo is seen using a Nokia 8110 slider phone. Nokia did so well in sales for this phone that in 2003, Samsung decided to produce a phone specific to the movie. The Samsung SPH-N270 was offered during the release of the Matrix Reloaded, and is now considered collector’s items.  Previous issues of phone tending to break because of constant sliding have long since been resolved. Sliders do offer an inexpensive option because unlike Clamshell’s tend to only have one LCD screen.  For individuals that feel like they need to physically hand up after a call, sliders offer a mid-way solution. Some sliders do add the benefit of a QWERTY keyboard, which would attract those that like to texts. The image associated with slider phones is: Young, Connected, Tech Savy and outgoing.

Pros: QWERTY keyboard models offer a simple to use interface for texting and internet access, Battery Life, Easy to use

Cons: Slider may wear over time, not all sliders include QWERTY keyboards, Forgetting to lock phone may place unwanted calls

Candy Bar: Candy Bar phones were the original cell phone (Known today as bricks because of their size), these phones tend to offer a simple dialpad with a front screen display and no moving parts on the phone itself. Because these phones are limited with the equipment the carry they tend to be the most economical phones available. Indeed Candy bar phones are offered in a wide variation of colours and sizes allowing the consumer a diverse choice in selection, today they still hold a dominate grip in the cell phone market. Candy Bar phones offer simple taste with a sense of still being connected, these phones tend to attract people that just want a simple way to communicate. The image associated when owning a Candy Bar phone is: Connected, Simple and Social.

Pros: Simple to use, Inexpensive wireless solution, Durability, Portable, No Moving parts

Cons: Forgetting to lock phone may place unwanted calls, Some may find candy bar phones too small for their liking

Like in most things in fashion, a cell phone choice comes down to personal taste, a size, colour and features of a cell phone says a lot about a person. Given that each phone type and model offers it’s own advantages and disadvantages. We here at SuitUpp use a wide variation of phones we use among the staff, some us are dedicated IPhone users, while others like to keep things simple with a simple QWERTY slider phone, we find it interesting of how much a phone really says about a person’s personality.

What are your thoughts on cell phones? Reply to our post or send us an email at marco@suitupp.com ; we would love to hear your stories!

I Luw Fashion: http://iluwfashion.blogspot.com/
General Men’s Fashion.

The Urban Gentleman: http://theurbangent.blogspot.com/
The Urban Gentleman is the modern gentleman. He is a man of style, class, culture, and of course he has a bit of swag.

French Tuckers: http://www.frenchtruckers.com/
French Truckers is a collective weblog about Fashion, Beauty, Health and Seduction for Men. It’s the English version of the famous French website “Comme un camion” (“Like a truck”) taken from the French expression “to be handsome as a truck”.

Metro Style Men: http://www.metrostylemen.com/
The stylish opinion and advice from a Metro Man! Helping men look good.

She Knows Best: http://www.sheknowsbest.com/
Every man needs a little fashion help. Get lifestyle tips for guys and be hot!

Ask Men: http://askmen.com/fashion/
All Aspects of Men’s Fashion.

Mark Simpson: http://www.marksimpson.com/
The Father of Metrosexuality, Mark Simpson, blogs about trends and fashion for men, the self-proclaimed “lesbosexual father of metrosexuality” offers all sorts of advice for men.

The Poste Office: http://leposte.blogspot.com/
A woman’s perspective on men’s clothing.

UndiesDrawer: http://www.undiesdrawer.com/
The essential men’s underwear blog.

Mode Male: http://male-mode.blogspot.com/
Fashion for me. News, pictures, reviews, and the next big thing.

Gear Patrol: http://www.gearpatrol.com/
Gear Patrol. Men’s source for the best gear, grooming, style, electronics, entertainment, women, outdoor, sports, fitness, games and insider tips. We’re in the business of showing you why being a man has never been so good. Updated daily.

Diary of a LabelLover: http://diaryofalabellover.typepad.com/
A.Fashionista ponders about the fashion ecosystem, dishes the dirty details on the shows, designer consignment and most of all how to develop personal style.

See Jack Shop: http://www.seejackshop.com/
Men’s fashion and style on a budget.

Men’s Flair: http://www.mensflair.com/
Men’s style as seen by those living it.

Finally, there is actually a pretty good directory of all the fashion blogs out there (again, this list may miss some): http://www.blogged.com/directory/shopping/clothing/fashion/mens-fashion

This question comes from Tim McDonald from North Dakota: Should I wear a pocket watch?

In order to understand the fashion statements that a pocket watch can make, one must understand the origins. Back in the day, pocket watches were a statement of wealth and class. They were very accurate time-keepers and were great for any occupation that required accurate time-keeping and scheduling: think of guys on wall-street in the early 1900s.

Nowadays, you don’t see many touting a pocket watch, but when you do, it does draw attention and makes a fashion statment like no other. It is usually preferable to wear a pocket watch when you are also wearing a vest. SuitUpp.com displayed a great Sean John 3-piece suit that is perfect for the pocket watch. 

It is usually customery to wear the pocket watch on the left as most people are right handed. Make sure that the pants that you wear this watch with are not too tight so that you can access the watch with a simple yank and without having to pull. Silver and Gold are the best fit for this type of a watch but nickel can also work.

This week’s question comes from Kim Stevens from LA who asked us whether her husband should button up her suit all the way…

This is a great question and, frankly, we’ve been asked this many times before. Fortunately, the answer is not so difficult. In general, if you leave your suit unbuttoned it portrays a more relaxed and somewhat less formal look while buttoning up your suit all the way presents a more conservative and serious look. To see an example of how an unbuttoned suit can look a little less formal, check out the Sean John 2-piece suit of the week at SuitUpp.com.

If you are to leave your suit buttoned up, you generally want to leave the bottom-most button unbuttoned. This is a convention that has somehow developed in the professional world and while there could be many explanations for it, “everyone else does it” seems to be the common one to go by…

Hope this helps,

Marco Raynault
SuitUpp Customer Evangelist

John, the answer is, yes, you can do it. While most people don’t cuff their jeans, some do. It all depends on the look that you are trying to achieve. As long as you feel confident with the look and feel of the clothes, it is absolutely ok. Especially with the Tallia Blazer, we’re sure that you’ll be more than fine.

There are a few words of caution though. Don’t overdo the cuffing. If the jeans are really too long, then simple get them hemmed. Alternatively, you could try cuffing them in the reverse direction (i.e. towards the inside).

Welcome to the SuitUpp.com official Blog. Since we started selling our high fashion suits we’ve been getting many many emails asking us about specifics with regards to sizes, material, and designs of the suits that we sell on the website. We realized that its important to create a community around our store so that when we do answer a question, everyone can benefit from the answer.

So, here’s the deal, please submit all your questions directly to me at marco [[ at ]] suitupp [[ . ]] com and I’ll be happy to answer them here.

Thanks,
Marco

Marco Raynault
Suitupp.com – Customer Evangelist