Health

10 Luxury Accessories That Are Worth The Money

It can be tempting to save some cash when shopping for men’s accessories. You tell yourself it’s not a big purchase because you won’t wear it as much or because you’d rather spend your money on the more visible parts of your wardrobe, like knitwear and outerwear. Rookie mistake.

Accessories are worth splashing out on precisely because you buy them less often. An automatic watch is a genuine heirloom. A proper pair of shoes can outlast many a long-term relationship. The right leather weekender is a bag for life. Invest wisely, is what we’re saying. You’ll get something that will last for years, with zero buyer’s remorse and plenty of feel-good serotonin every time you pull it out.

Table of Contents

Cashmere Beanie

Personal insulation doesn’t get much more effective or sophisticated than a cashmere tea cosy popped on your head. Beanies have, in recent years, become a man’s de facto winter headgear, one of the few truly practical hat designs that looks as good as it works. You can’t say that about trapper hats, can you?

By upgrading to cashmere, you’ll get a warmer, lighter, more breathable fabric and, because it’s softer, it’s also less prone to itching than wool. Neutral shades of black, grey and navy will go with everything you own, but this is also that rare accessory that looks good in pop of colour. Anyone bold enough for a mustard yellow?

Premium Cap

Don’t let Succession’s Roy family put you off, a cap made in elevated fabrics doesn’t have to be associated with corrupt and dysfunctional media moguls. Done right, it’s a modern way to add a touch of sports luxe to a smart-casual outfit. Designers have been busy upgrading this humble accessory in recent years. The classic baseball cap now comes in cashmere or various wool blends, with the option of subtle and not-so-subtle branding if you want to flex some designer clout.

Wear with upmarket puffer jackets, dressed-down blazers or overshirts for a look that spans modern office and days in the city, or switch to something in corduroy or twill to lean more into casual, outdoor or traditional workwear territory.

Cashmere Scarf

There is nothing luxurious about the biting winds or driving rain we all endure in the winter, which is why an indulgent scarf is a completely justified example of cold-weather self-care. Cashmere against the skin feels great just about anywhere, but it’s a real comfort against a bare neck in a cold morning in January.

Block-colour designs are the safest pairing for suits and smart commuter overcoats, but don’t dismiss a colourful check or stripe pattern, which can add warmth to boring office uniforms in more ways than one.

Automatic Watch

It’s a myth that you have to remortgage to get a ‘proper’ timepiece. Automatic watches do remain an investment, especially in the age of wearable technology, but they also offer something tangible, lasting and meaningful. You’ll use it every day and mark memories with it. And one day, of course, you’ll pass it on to somebody else to love.

So what to buy? Classically styled sports watches are about as versatile as they come: solid and masculine for everyday wear but, with a leather strap or steel bracelet, just about smart enough to pair with a suit. Look for timeless chronographs, retro-inspired divers or driving watches or, if your style leans more Scandi, try a minimalist everyday watch instead.

Leather/Suede Gloves

One of the most common style mistakes that men still make to this day occurs in winter, when we pull out our best overcoats but pair them with tatty woollen gloves that are better suited to casual outfits. Smart coats deserve smart gloves.

Invest in a good pair in suede or leather gloves and not only will they complete your commuter wardrobe, they’ll last for years, too. Match the colour to the coat you wear the most and stick with a smooth leather for wool overcoats and trench coats. Opt for suede with more casual styles like pea coats and waxed jackets.

Goodyear-Welted Shoes

If you know, you know. Goodyear-welted shoes are one of those subtle marks of quality that genuine menswear connoisseurs understand and appreciate. It’s all about the stitches: a strip of leather (the welt) is stitched to the perimeter of a shoe’s upper, and the sole is then stitched to the welt. Because the sole and the upper aren’t stitched together directly, it offers an extra layer of protection to keep water off your feet, while a cork footbed within adds to the comfort.

A Goodyear welt also makes it much easier to resole a shoe, making it a truly sustainable, long-term choice.

Handmade Leather Sneakers

It’s one of the lightbulb moments in recent menswear history: what if sneakers were made with the same artisanal skill, the same obsessive attention to detail as an Oxford shoe made in Northamptonshire? Since around the start of the 21st century, sneakerheads have been able to buy exactly that. Most of us wear sneakers more often than we do formal shoes anyhow, so why wouldn’t we want the same quality of leather and best-in-class construction methods?

Look for ethically sourced leather and brands that use a selective number of factories (usually in Europe), where craftspeople hand-stitch the uppers piece by piece.

Premium Weekend Bag

For weddings, business trips, short breaks and every other kind of upmarket weekender, you need, well, a good weekender. Invest in the right travel bag and as well as practical luggage, you’ll have an essential accessory that completes an out-of-towner aesthetic and ages like a trusty pair of leather shoes.

Look for styles made from leather, ballistic nylon, suede, wax canvas and other materials that belong in the first-class carriage. We also go weak at the knees for a discrete exterior pocket.

Full-Grain Leather Wallet/Cardholder

Here’s a good rule of thumb when talking yourself into an extravagant purchase: if you’re going to use it every day, it’s worth the money. Your wallet is a prime example. You’ll lay your hands on it daily and it’s the kind of accessory other people can’t help but notice – so if you want the full-grain leather then by god, have the full-grain leather.

Slimline cardholders are comfortably the most practical style in our increasingly cashless society, but billfolds offer a little more discretion. Your money, your call.

Handmade Glasses

For those of us who wear glasses, eyewear is a fundamental part of our look. So it’s one of those purchases where you can justify the extra spend on sheer visibility. Going handmade with your glasses means you’ll get something sturdy, usually with additional design details you simply don’t get with cheaper alternatives. A lot of the handmade brands will also go the extra mile to ensure your frames fit your face perfectly.

The post 10 Luxury Accessories That Are Worth The Money appeared first on Ape to Gentleman.

—————————————-
By: Graham Jones
Title: 10 Luxury Accessories That Are Worth The Money
Sourced From: www.apetogentleman.com/luxury-accessories-for-men/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=luxury-accessories-for-men
Published Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:00:30 +0000

Jason Harris

I’m Jason, and I write for ValleyNewspaper.com!

I love to travel and enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking or working remotely from quaint little coffee shops.

The best thing about the blog for me is the ability to discuss anything, from personal life to current events.

I enjoy spending time with my Wife, 2 boys, and my Pug, Patty. I love traveling and speaking at social media events.

If you want to know anything else, ask!

Health

New York tech workers are flocking to a coffee shop across from OpenAI’s new office. I checked it out to see why.

The author holds a matcha latte and bagged treat outside La Cabra in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood.

Melia Russell/Business Insider

The next Blue Bottle has hit New York's tech scene.
La Cabra's popularity has soared since ChatGPT-maker OpenAI put down roots across the street.
The Danish coffee chain is famed for its $9 pour-over brews and cardamom buns.

The line to La Cabra stretches onto the sidewalk, a tidy queue of office workers and shoppers sauntering through the warm, muggy embrace of a New York City spring.

Inside, at least twenty patrons hover near the bar like caffeinated moths around a flame, clutching iced matcha lattes and croissants. A barista weaves through the standing-room-only crowd, hoisting a tray of pain suisse aloft.

Welcome to New York's hottest club: the café across from OpenAI's office.

La Cabra, the latest export from Denmark's high-end coffee empire, has inspired a cult following among Manhattan's coffee cognoscenti. Led by founder Esben Piper and head baker Jared Sexton, a Dominique Ansel alum, the sleek, minimalist chain entices crowds with its $9 pour-over brews and cardamom buns worthy of sonnets. Since the ChatGPT-maker moved into SoHo in the fall of last year, the line to get in seems to grow longer each day.

The Puck Building is becoming the red-hot center of Manhattan's tech scene.

Melia Russell/Business Insider

Nestled caddy corner from the Puck Building, La Cabra finds itself in illustrious company. The red-brick structure is owned by Kushner Companies, a real estate developer founded by Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, and Josh Kushner, founder of Thrive Capital. The outdoor gear retailer REI covers 36,000 square feet over three levels. Above it, employees of Thrive and a smattering of its portfolio companies badge into their offices.

Thrive Capital, with nearly $25 billion in assets under management, has a small staff of about 75 people. Plaid also leases the entire sixth floor, while OpenAI occupies 90,000 square feet of office space at its first New York City outpost.

Together, their proximity to La Cabra has turned the Danish coffee roaster into an unofficial think tank for anyone in the mood for a latte with a side of world domination.

The counter at La Cabra in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood. La Cabra offers limited seating around the counter, where baristas prepare pour-over brews and matcha lattes.

Melia Russell/Business Insider

Amanda Herson, a tech investor at Founder Collective, says she's been buying coffee and cardamom buns for her office since La Cabra opened on Lafayette Street. She goes in the early morning "when there isn't much of a wait." Tech consultant Jason Liu agrees that mornings tend to have lighter traffic. On frequent trips to New York from San Francisco, he holds office hours at the Puck Building and dashes over to La Cabra for a chocolate croissant and iced espresso with milk.

First Round Capital is a five-minute walk from La Cabra, and partner Hayley Barna goes for the pastries and trendspotting. "Honestly, it's tricky to make it a meeting spot because seating isn't reliable," Barna said.

The line at La Cabra spills onto the sidewalk. I went to La Cabra twice and found the line was much shorter on a Thursday morning.

Melia Russell/Business Insider

When I stopped in on a Thursday morning, I took in the scene from a stool at the counter, sipping a cardamom latte from a handleless stoneware cup. With its natural color palette and cabinets inset with panels of rattan, La Cabra feels like a Japanese ryokan meets Ikea. Baristas floated behind the counter wearing the de rigueur Danish uniform of beige shirts with three-quarter sleeves designed by Copenhagen clothier Another Aspect.

The pastry case at La Cabra in Manhattan's Soho. The pastry case at La Cabra.

Melia Russell/Business Insider

First, I dug into a $7 ham-and-cheese croissant baked to a medium brown and speckled with sesame seeds and parsley. It had a crisp, caramelized exterior so that when I bit in, a gust of flakes fell like helicopter seeds, which I picked up and popped into my mouth. The beauty of the laminated spiral gave way to a satisfying buttery crunch with a scant portion of ham. I found it skimping on cheese but recognized that more filling would make the interior soggy.

The ham-and-cheese croissant at La Cabra.

Melia Russell/Business Insider

I couldn't resist trying the $6 Swedish cardamom bun I'd read about online. This knotted pastry was delightfully unexpected: chewy and dense like a cinnamon roll, yet airy enough to puff back into shape with each bite. The recipe goes heavy on the cardamom, infusing the pastry with a piney warmth and gentle sweetness.

The cardamom buns are known to sell out, though Piper, La Cabra's founder, says the chain makes deliveries from its East Village bakery three times a day to restock the pastry case. To expand its operations, the company has secured a fourth location in Manhattan, Piper told Business Insider exclusively.

The cardamom bun at La Cabra.

Melia Russell/Business Insider

As I licked my fingers clean of sugar, I scanned the cafe in search of employee badges or logo apparel, hoping for a glimpse of a startup executive in their natural habitat. In New York, unlike San Francisco, it seems that such overt displays of corporate allegiance are not as prevalent. Here, the tech elite and builders blend into the street milieu, swapping hoodies adorned with company logos for more voguish attire.

Feeling the caffeine buzz kick in, I left knowing that I'd return soon — if not for a meeting, then to try the pain suisse.

Read the original article on Business Insider

——————————————-
By: [email protected] (Melia Russell)
Title: New York tech workers are flocking to a coffee shop across from OpenAI’s new office. I checked it out to see why.
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/la-cabra-coffee-shop-review-openai-new-york-office-2025-3
Published Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:00:01 +0000

Jason Harris

I’m Jason, and I write for ValleyNewspaper.com!

I love to travel and enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking or working remotely from quaint little coffee shops.

The best thing about the blog for me is the ability to discuss anything, from personal life to current events.

I enjoy spending time with my Wife, 2 boys, and my Pug, Patty. I love traveling and speaking at social media events.

If you want to know anything else, ask!

Health

We scouted 2 popular vacation spots in Mexico as possible retirement destinations, and both left us feeling impressed

La Isla Shopping Mall in Cancún Mexico There's much more to Cancún, Mexico, than just shops and beaches.

Roberto Machado Noa/Getty Images

My husband and I retired to Cuenca, Ecuador, but always wondered what other options were out there.
We spent time in Cancún and Playa del Carmen to see why many American expats retire in Mexico.
We were pleasantly surprised and impressed by the weather, shops, and more in each place.

In 2010, we left the United States and retired abroad to Cuenca, Ecuador.

Although we're fortunate to enjoy a fabulous retirement life abroad, we've always wondered if there's an even better place for us out there.

So, over a decade later, we set off on an adventure that lasted more than two years to explore other potential retirement spots around the globe to find out.

Our journey started in Mexico, a popular spot for American retirees in part due to its proximity to the US, generally lower cost of living, and its warm weather.

While there, we spent two weeks each in Cancún and Playa del Carmen, two of the country's popular Caribbean vacation spots.

Although we chose tourist-heavy cities, we tried to get a taste of daily life by staying in neighborhoods outside the main vacation and hotel areas.

We were pleasantly surprised by Cancún

Sunset over Cancun buildings Cancún is more than hotels and tourist spots.

WisKay/Getty Images

Located on the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancún is a major tourist destination in Mexico. That said, Cancún has a "hotel zone" along the beach that's miles away from the city itself.

Most visitors (like us on an anniversary trip years ago) arrive at the airport, take a shuttle to their hotel, and never leave the vicinity before departing for home.

On this trip, though, we rented an Airbnb in a residential section of downtown to attempt to see what it might be like to live there.

We found downtown Cancún to be quite different from the miles of fancy resorts, boutiques, and eateries in the hotel zone.

As we walked around, we passed numerous modest single-family homes and locally owned shops and restaurants. We liked that the downtown had everything we could need for daily life within walking distance.

In addition, the area had some popular American chains, like Walmart, which had a surprisingly impressive selection of affordable products and produce.

Plus, there's a major international airport just 20 to 30 minutes away from downtown — ideal for American expats who want to visit family back home.

Our apartment was miles from the beach, but an inexpensive bus ride made getting there a snap. However, once we got to the miles of public beaches, we were disappointed to find very few designated access points.

It was harder to enter the beach than we expected, especially since we'd been used to walking from an oceanfront hotel directly onto the sand when we'd stayed in Cancún as tourists. This was definitely a drawback, but not an insurmountable one.

Overall, though, we were pleasantly surprised at how similar downtown Cancún felt to our current neighborhood.

Playa del Carmen seemed to offer the best of both worlds for American expats

Aerial view of water by Playa del Carmen Playa del Carmen has beaches, businesses, shops, and more.

Arturo Peña Romano Medina/Getty Images

Located about an hour south of Cancún is the coastal town of Playa Del Carmen. Unlike Cancún, Playa del Carmen doesn't have an isolated hotel zone separate from its residential areas.

This city has beaches, the famous 5th Avenue a couple of blocks away, and then local housing and businesses all the way to the major highway that runs from Cancún past Tulum.

I liked that nearby neighborhoods could easily access the beach and popular spots like 5th Avenue. The lively area felt like Mexico's version of Bourbon Street in New Orleans, filled with tourists, vendors, and live music. This was fun, though I worried it could eventually be annoying to navigate while trying to do chores and run errands on a daily basis.

Even so, the area felt overflowing with outstanding food and shopping options.

In addition to local offerings, we found popular American chains like Walmart, Sam's Club, Office Depot, and many familiar chain restaurants in the area that US expats missing home would surely enjoy.

Although Playa del Carmen doesn't have its own international airport, the one in Cancún is only about an hour away.

Overall, we can see why retirees would choose either place

It was exciting to see what else is out there for other Americans looking to retire abroad.

We appreciated how Playa del Carmen and Cancún both felt beautiful and walkable, with fairly easy access to airports, which is great for retirees moving away from family.

We can definitely understand why the warm weather, beaches, and other perks would bring expats to either place.

That said, we also realized the area's generally hotter temperatures weren't quite an ideal fit for us. For now, we still call Cuenca home.

Read the original article on Business Insider

——————————————-
By: [email protected] (Cynthia Staton,Edd Staton)
Title: We scouted 2 popular vacation spots in Mexico as possible retirement destinations, and both left us feeling impressed
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/popular-american-retirement-destinations-mexico-cancun-playa-del-carmen-2025-3
Published Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2025 14:35:01 +0000

Jason Harris

I’m Jason, and I write for ValleyNewspaper.com!

I love to travel and enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking or working remotely from quaint little coffee shops.

The best thing about the blog for me is the ability to discuss anything, from personal life to current events.

I enjoy spending time with my Wife, 2 boys, and my Pug, Patty. I love traveling and speaking at social media events.

If you want to know anything else, ask!

Health

How To Have The Perfect Day For Yourself

This original article was first published here: How To Have The Perfect Day For Yourself

Do you keep pushing yourself to do more and more, and do you feel guilty when you stop? If so, you’re not alone, but you might be causing yourself some health issues. It’s far better to take some time for yourself and relax than it is to keep going, but knowing that and doing that are two different things.

The fact is that if you never take any time for yourself, you’ll burn out, and that’s going to affect your health and happiness even more. So why not take a perfect day to yourself and relax, have fun, and re-energize? It will help you more than you could know, and you’ll have a good time too. If that sounds like a great idea, here are some things you could do with your day to make it perfect. Read on to find out more.

Wake Up Early

If you want a day to relax, the idea of waking up early might sound like a bad idea when sleeping in might be something you don’t normally get to do, but if you wake up early, you can do more with your day, and you won’t feel guilty for wasting any time.

The best thing to do is to go to bed at a reasonable time the night before. In that case, it will be easier to wake up early, so plan ahead and make sure you get a good night’s sleep. Not only will you get more done, but you’ll feel healthy and energized too.

Do Something Fun

You don’t have to do anything at all on your day off when you have your home all to yourself, but if there’s something fun that you do want to do, this is the perfect opportunity to do it. You might want to go and see a movie that none of your friends and family are interested in, or perhaps you want to go for a walk in the woods and enjoy nature in peace and quiet. Maybe you want to rent a luxury car in Montreal and go for a drive in the city, enjoying the fact that you’re doing something just for you that you’ll look back on and feel happy about in years to come.

Whether you do nothing at all or you plan a day of activities, just make sure you’re enjoying what you do and that you’re not getting overwhelmed and stressed, or the good you did by taking some time to yourself will quickly be undone again, and you’ll be back to square one.

Disconnect From Technology

As tempting as it might be to spend time on your day off scrolling through social media or checking emails, try to resist and do anything else instead. Social media can be fun and even good for business, but it can also be bad for people’s mental health, so disconnecting and doing other things is a much better option.

When you’re not constantly distracted by notifications and worrying about missing out on things that other people are doing, you’ll be able to enjoy the present moment much more. When you’re more mindful – which is what enjoying the present moment means – you’ll become less stressed and more relaxed, and your day off will be worthwhile.

Please visit: Men Style Fashion for more articles like this.

—————————————-
By: Men Style Fashion
Title: How To Have The Perfect Day For Yourself
Sourced From: www.menstylefashion.com/how-to-have-the-perfect-day-for-yourself/
Published Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:31:33 +0000

Jason Harris

I’m Jason, and I write for ValleyNewspaper.com!

I love to travel and enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking or working remotely from quaint little coffee shops.

The best thing about the blog for me is the ability to discuss anything, from personal life to current events.

I enjoy spending time with my Wife, 2 boys, and my Pug, Patty. I love traveling and speaking at social media events.

If you want to know anything else, ask!