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!