Beards Timber & Leather TV Episode 1 - Laying the Groundwork

Cameron lays the groundwork for the BTLtv project.

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Good Lookin' Nerd Gear

I really enjoy adding a bit of whimsy, and irony to my style, I think that if people can pick up on those things, they are definitely worth meeting, you could say that these subtle points are a little test for friend making. I don't currently have an income, thus I don't have a very updated wardrobe, and so most of the things that I have posted thus far are a LOT of things that I don't own, but I do love, as is with the following.

Whimsy/Irony: I am a self proclaimed closet nerd. I love Harry Potter, Star Wars, And the Internet. Most people don't see me as such, but it is true, thus the whimy and irony of my style some days; I love bow ties, because they have been labeled as "nerdy", it's exciting to me that they are becoming more and more acceptable in fashion, and that because of that they are much more accessible. Bow ties for me, when coupled with my personal style say "Hey! I'm a HUGE geek, But I know how to dress myself!" Its such a fantastic look to see someone dressed super sleek with a bow tie slapped on there. It shows that you know what your doing, but you don't take it too seriously.

My current favorite bow ties:

     Diamond Tip Solid Cotton - two of my favorite attributes in bow ties; cotton, and diamond points. Both show your attention to detail in your clothing selections.

     Polka Dot Linen - Polka dots take the whimsy to the next level. When you see a guy in a movie that is nerdy, he always wears a bow tie with big polka dots. The small polka dots arent as goofy, but still fun.

     Checkered Slim - For the guys who have a fear of the big, floppy bow tie, there is the slim bow tie, all of these ties are slim, but this one is especially slim, but be careful when choosing a pattern with slim bow ties, the slim look tends to be more dressy and doesn't go well with more casual wear.


I realize that I've been saying a lot about stuff that pertains more to being fancy, and neck ties, but also, don't be afraid to wear neckties, and bow ties with more casual looks. One of my current favorite looks is a bow tie with a casual shirt, and a crew neck sweatshirt (not a sweater) over top of it. Just have fun with your style, get creative, and don't take it too seriously!

Tie Guy

I think it goes without saying that I spend an insane amount of time shopping online for things I do not have enough money to buy. I may have a minor obsession with apparel, but most specifically I am always on the lookout for great ties.

Ties are a funny thing to me, because people pay so much for them, it is just culturally acceptable to spend $100 or so on a tie. While I am not opposed to spending this kind of cash on a quality tie, and I can see myself doing if it is something I cannot live without, I am proud to say that at this current time in my life I have never paid more than $20 on a necktie. How, you may ask? I would like to let you in on three of the best secrets you will ever hear;

1. The Tie Bar: This little gem carries some of the best ties I have ever seen, and no matter if you are a skinny tie kinda guy (as I definitely am), or lean towards bulky knots, they have everything your looking for. The best part is that EVERY tie on their website is $15. My current favorite is the Coral and White "Dotted Dots" Linen Skinny Tie, check it out here.

2. Uniqlo: The tie selection here isn't quite as vast, but the quality is very impressive. For a measley $12.90 you can get a high quality, great looking skinny tie (sorry fat knot guy). Super cool, and all their other products are pretty great too. I dig the "Linen Cotton Tie" in navy, check it.

3. The next option isn't as easy as the first two, but I have gotten some of my favorite ties from outlet stores, and thrift shops. I reccomend goodwill's tie racks, because they offer some great vintage ties for about a dollar. It takes some time, dedication, and looking at a lot of ties that make you want to throw up, but when you find THE ONE, it makes it all worth it.

Beards, Timber, & Leather

There are some things in the world that just reek of masculinity. Those iconic items that say "I am a man". Everyone's "claim to manhood", if you will, is different. I could personally go on for quite some time about the things that make me feel like a man, but to narrow it down, the three things that are just plain manly are;

Beards
Timber
& Leather

Beards, what is more masculine than some good old fashioned facial hair? You will never see a man with a bald face wrestling a bear, or chopping down mighty trees in the woods. It's just not going to happen. Beards are sweet, but for me they are kind of a "man goal" I have; mother nature thought it would be funny to give someone who has an innate love for facial hair the curse of bald spots on their face. Well played, mother nature, well played.

Timber, sometimes, when I am just not feeling very manly, I put on some jeans, and a flannel shirt and go walk down the lumber isle at the hardware store. There is just something about the smell of fresh pine, the feeling of the wood grain, and the battle of trying to get tree sap off of your hands for weeks after you touch it that seem to boost your testosterone levels.

Leather intrigues me, there are so many different textures, and tones of leather, it can be worn as shoes, a watch band, or if you are Stephen Tyler it can be worn as skin tight pants, it can be used inside out or right side in, it can hold up your pants, or be worn as a jacket, it can add a rustic touch, or create a high end, classy look. The versatility of it is what makes it my favorite. It is something I cannot quite put my finger on why it is masculine, but the fact of the matter is that it is just a man's material.

I have started this project because I see a need for masculinity in an unlikely place. Two unlikely places to be more precise; blogging, and fashion. I love reading blogs, especially fashion blogs, and I have noticed that the idea people have of blogs, and most often fashion blogs, is that they have a very feminine appeal, and a feminine spin on things. I created this project to show men that you can be a man, and still be inspired by fashion, still care about how you dress, and still go out and wrestle with pigs, work on cars, ride loud motorcycles, and grow a beard. Here's to men.

Here's to Beards, Timber, & Leather.

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What is your "Claim to Manhood"? Making steel sculptures? Mud Wrestling? Caber Tossing? Comment below to let the world know what makes you a man!