Things Our Friends Say That Are Worth Remembering #1

"Renting a U-Haul is the second milestone of manliness, after shaving."
-R. Thomas Court, a man that doesn't even shave much.

Totes Magoats

Twin Cities Luxury and Fashion, NAY, Twin Cities Statement has a fancy new men's section, creatively titled The Men's Book, that is styled by the delightful Christopher over at Brian Graham Salon. In his almost maiden outlined photo set, he's feature not one but TWO bags from MartyP's. We've also got a couple other flavors as well and more autumnal styles on their way. Pick up a copy in your nearest grocery store checkout line or dentist's office coffee table.

Things We Like #2

Alright, I have a confession to make. Despite my position at the helm of an accessory shop and my propensity to overdress myself with hats, ties, boutonnieres, belt buckles shaped like birds, funny socks, tie bars, cufflinks and lapel pins, I've never really been that into jewellery. I went through a necklace phase a very long time ago, but for the past few years I just haven't really gotten behind bracelets, rings or necklaces (that being said, I am really excited about our newest line, Nikolai Rose). The above list features a few things that technically are jewellery, but I think you get the gist. I'm certainly not opposed to men wearing such adornments, and in fact I've admired a number of well designed pieces that we've had in the store, especially from Tateossian, that I could just not bring myself to wear. It just isn't my MO... save for one very specific type: the ID bracelet.

The primary reason I like ID bracelets is kind of tacky. Most people know that I go nuts for things that have some type of back story or historical pretext (case in point, things we like #1). The thing that tips the scale for me on such a specific piece of jewellery is that its very rare to find a person older than the age of eleven that has engraved anything on the ID plate itself. We have an item that is intended to identify its owner and yet the vast majority of such pieces live their lives unpersonalized. This fascinates me.

Now, I'm a fan of most ID bracelets, but this one has such a feeling of inconspicuous consumption that I just can't help but gush about it. If you see it on a person's wrist, its just a stainless bracelet. With a closer look though, you'll notice that this particular model has 18 karat gold studs in it: a subtle and unique take on something so recognizable.

We have several things with ID links and all are new, so the interesting lack of back story doesn't really apply. But, I hope the next person to buy one will think a more about that little plate.

$115

You'll Have to Come to the Store to See the Resterfield

There I go with stupid puns again. Whatever.

We just pulled out some new artwork for our bare walls, although they aren't really artwork in the traditional sense. We have a series of 6 framed and matted Chesterfield cigarette ads, which had formerly been prevalent in American media but of late have been more or less invisible. These particular ads are pulled directly from the Saturday Evening Post circa 1942 and feature illustrations of prominent ladies of the era. Unfortunately, as they are from the SEP, the illustrations are sadly tame and clearly not targeted at American GIs. I guess I don't really know if Chesterfield ads got all that racy, but I'm sure some of them were a little bit wilder than Patsy Garret. These must be the family-friendly, safe-for-kids cigarette ads. Right?

$175 each

Things We Like #1

Anyone that has been in the store recently, or ever really, knows that we're pretty much bursting at the seams with merchandise. Enough that when we moved everything down from the original location, I would still find new things one whole month after we were up and running. To this day we still have frequent patrons discovering 'new' things in the store. So it is with this in mind that I'm officially starting our first recurring feature here on the mp3 blog:

Things in the Store That We Really Like and Feel The Need to Point Out Because They Might Otherwise Get Ignored

Or for short:

Things We Like

For our first things we like feature, we'll be taking a look at my absolute favorite single item in the whole store: The Mr. Winter Document Envelope.

The first thing you should know about Mr. Winter's wares is that they are not really designed with convenience in mind. They are the kind of items that generally require the user to adapt to the function of the piece. Usually this isn't a good thing, but in the case of Mr. Winter it feels like adapting to using a certain piece will make you a better person for it. Mr. Winter are the possessions of tough, well traveled men who have seen things the rest of us have merely read about. This particular item is very simple. It is a leather envelope, but it is a leather envelope that must contain documents important enough to be kept secret from the prying eyes of fellow travelers. Not sales orders, but instructions for something no body knows about. Perhaps that is all a bit dramatic, but like I said you'll feel like a better person for using this.The second thing you should know about Mr. Winter is that each piece is adorned with a recast medallion of some kind, usually religious in origin (mostly St. Christopher). This particular icon is a little bit more unique - a two inch image from Shrine of Mary in Holy Hill, Wisconsin. This may not mean much to most, but being that I was raised both Catholic and in Wisconsin it tugs a bit at the nostalgia strings. Holy Hill, in addition to being naturally quite beautiful, has a legendary history. Tradition has it that the hill was first discovered by Father Marquette in 1673 on his return with Joliet from the discovery of the upper Mississippi. A German priest who had been recreant to his vows seeking to do penance in the new world found a reference to this hill in a strangely discovered portion of Marquette's diary; that on his way to find the hill, he was taken ill in Chicago, and when he recovered he was paralytic. He persisted in his efforts to find the hill and when found he crawled to the summit on his hands and knees and was cured of his paralysis. Every year a good number of pilgrims, some only curious, others with faith that they will be healed of their diseases, visit the hill.

Whether you believe all that is really secondary to the fact that for many people that story carries quite a bit more importance than a leather envelope, and paying a little bit of homage to that is exactly what makes it so cool.

$325

I'll take Buster Keaton over Charlie Chaplin, but that's because I like porkpie hats.

And speaking of depression era dandies, we received a pretty fantastic new jewellery line in the store this week. The collection, named Nikolai Rose for an amalgam of the founders' elders, was designed with men like the actors above in mind. Whether the line makes you think of foppish prohibitioners or of grunge proper, the rings, key chains and necklaces feature nicks dings and a health dose of patina. The coolest piece however, is a little pin that could be used to either hold one's tie on his shirt or to call attention to his lapel conveniently shaped like a housefly. And conveniently, you can purchase it with or without yellow diamond eyes.

$35 to $ 145

Born on the 14th of July

Ah Bastille Day... everybody's favorite non-American independence day that isn't Cinco de Mayo. To think that revolutions could be started by storming a fort with seven prisoners using guns that aren't loaded -- only the French. I think that's why we love them.


Of course in the Tour de France its the day where all the French riders go on silly long attacks that never succeed. This morning when I left the house, there were three French rouleurs and the Russian Ignatiev off the front with a tenuous lead. Clearly that means that Ignatiev will ruin the break by not working and then going solo too early.

Enough about bicycle racing though. The main problem with le quatorze juillet, at least from a martinpatrick3 mindset, is deciding what to drink. You could just drink wine, but that seems a little pedestrian. There is always champagne, but flutes are just so formal feeling (not that has really ever stopped me, but I tend to get too dressed up for things). Besides, champagne alone seems a bit generic and year round. I mean, the only day of the year where everybody drinks champagne is New Year's Eve and it is usually quite cold in December. What we need here is something quite festive yet decidedly summery. My proposal: The French 75!

Now, I could really only find one that was in a flute, but rest assured, they are much less fussy on the rocks. In particular, the name is what draws me to this (okay, I do happen to love both gin and champagne, so I might be biased). Revolutionary holidays call for drinks named after guns and this, like its namesake, works quickly and doesn't require much precision. The best part, if you trust my feeble knowledge of French history, is that the aforementioned revolutionaries invaded the Bastille in order to obtain gunpowder and ammunition. The prospect of a French 75 or three leads me to believe that even 220 years later, their efforts should still be considered a success.