Dapper Scout – A lifestyle web magazine for men

If you find that throwing a messenger bag over one shoulder just feels a bit unbalanced, then consider the Duluth Flap Top Backpack (available at Barneys for $235).  Made of an olive cotton canvas cut in a simple rectangular design, the Duluth Flap Top comes with fully adjustable leather flap and shoulder straps as well as polished nickel hardware.  And though it may look like the ideal rucksack for a leisurely hike through the woods, the editors at DS find it a much more appropriate means of carrying your stuff through the iron and concrete wilds of whatever urban center you happen to live, work and explore on a daily basis.

Accessories, Bags, Style

Before you know it, it’ll be time to put away the boat shoes and pull on a pair of sturdy boots.  If you’re ready to get a jump start on the fall, check out the Buttero Strap Boot (available at Barneys for $450).  Made in Italy, the Buttero Strap Boot features a lug sole, round toe and buckle strap at the inset (a detail that sets these boots apart from others while ensuring a snug fit).  Available in a rich brown leather, this lace up boot is simultaneously rugged and stylish (the ideal combination of attributes whether you plan on getting dressed up or keeping it casual for the weekend).

Accessories, Boots, Style

Whether you fill them with fresh cut flowers or a couple goldfish, the Halve Glass Bookends (available at Satinbox for $50) are a unique way to keep your books upright and organized.  Made of heavy glass and measuring 5″ x 7″, these stable bookends are functional yet whimsical and are unquestionably the right home for all those summer reading books you just haven’t gotten to quite yet.

Loft

If your best friend just happens to have four legs and has a penchant for running after tennis balls (and hopefully bringing them back), then reward your canine companion with a place to rest i.e. the HEX Tennis Dog Bed by Hugh Hayden (available at Hugh Hayden Design for $285).  The HEX is constructed from re-purposed tennis balls (sourced from the New York metropolitan area) which have been tightly bound together.  Measuring 26″ in diameter, this dog bed is ideally sized for smaller breeds weighing up to 25 lbs and includes a removable two-sided cushion that’s red on one side and black on the other (matching the ink on the tennis balls themselves).  There’s little doubt your four-legged friend will be spending nights happily dreaming of chasing more tennis balls (even as they lay flush in a bed of them).

Loft, Pets

We’re not saying that you’ve got a problem.  That said, we’re also not suggesting that you start intaking dairy if you happen to be lactose intolerant.  But if you know you’re going to have a little issue with flatulence and more importantly, you’re going to be in close quarters with others who may not appreciate that fact, then it wouldn’t hurt to apply a Subtle Butt Garment Guard (available at Solutions that Stick for $12) before your day has gotten underway.  Each 3.25″ square filter is made of an antimicrobial fabric that’s not only soft, but also just 1/32″ thick, meaning you’ll barely even notice it’s there.  Activated carbon components neutralize odors and allow you to go about your business without raising any alarms (just make sure to keep things quiet and the Subtle Butt will do the rest).

Gear

While you’re getting cleaned up, you might as well clean up the clutter around your shower by getting rid of all those bottles (toiletry we have to assume) you’ve got laying around.  Take what was a source of visual disorder and instead, add a touch of modern organization to your bathroom with the simplehuman Wall Mount Pumps (available at simplehuman starting from $30).  Rustproof and corrosion-resistant, these high grade stainless steel dispensers come equipped with a t-bar lever that allows you to control how much soap you want with just a squeeze of one hand.  An optional side hook lets you store a razor or loofah, and whether you need one dispenser or three (each of which has a 15oz capacity), these simplehuman Wall Mount Pumps are the ideal means of storing your shampoo, conditioner and body wash.   

Bathroom, Loft

Our fanaticism over anything PVD-coated continues with the Porsche Design P’3700 Swiss Army Knife (available at Wenger for $475) and it does anything but disappoint.  The handle and all seven implements are seamlessly coated in black PVD, giving the P’3700 an understated “cloak and dagger” aesthetic we can appreciate.  Among the implements, which include (but are not limited to) a large blade, corkscrew and can opener, we find the patented locking screwdriver and springless scissors with a serrated, self-sharpening design especially appealing just based on their practicality.  And weighing just 3.8 oz with a 3.25″ length, the P’3700 is probably the most lightweight, compact and affordable Porsche-designed item you’ll likely be able to afford as well as fit into your pocket for the foreseeable future.

Camping, Gear, Outdoors, Tools

The editors at DS have always paid attention to the details (almost to the point of obsession).  So it’s no surprise we find the work of UK-based Martin Wilson so provocative.  Working with 35mm film (which seems like a throwback these days), Wilson constructs each one of his pieces by fastidiously taking each picture in sequence (usually a process that takes months), the subject matter of which focuses on the images captured during Wilson’s everyday travels, ranging  from produce to street and building signage.  He then develops the film, scans it, and puts together a large contact sheet (without using the magic of Photoshop).  The results are simply evocative as each piece brings together disparate colors and imagery into a collective whole that’s easily greater than the sum of its individual components.  And with prices starting at approximately $150 (unframed), there’s no reason an original Martin Wilson piece shouldn’t be hanging up somewhere on your (in all likelihood) bare walls.

Art, Loft

Whether you’re predisposed to slipping your bare feet into your boat shoes without thinking, or you do it quite deliberately based on the aesthetic appeal of the “no sock” look, our recommendation is simple: put on a pair of Mocc Socks by MS&Co. (available at Mocc Sock & Co. starting from $8) before you take one step forward.  The rationale is as straightforward as our suggestion: your feet sweltering in a confined leather space under the duress of summer humidity results in only very bad things.  And since nobody but you will know you’ve got on a pair of Mocc Socks (at least until you take off your shoes), do the right thing and put on a pair before things start getting funky down there.

Accessories, Style

Whether you’re roughing it outdoors in monsoon-like conditions or just enjoying some down time in or around a body of water, the Aquapac Waterproof iPhone Case (available at Aquapac for $30) guarantees you’re able to stay connected to somebody to bail you out of trouble or just to call up a friend for a leisurely chat.  Regardless of the situation, this waterproof case lets you make and receive calls as well as take photos right through the case without any diminished signal strength.  The patented Aquaclip ensures a waterproof seal that keeps out water as well as sand and dust and ensures your iPhone’s viability (and perhaps your own) no matter how inclement the weather may be around you.

Gear, iPhone Accessories, Outdoors