Man Made DIY

Perfect for that OCD friend of yours that wants to become the most symmetrically perfect… read more

Some of the most frequent kinds of questions ManMade receives are inquiries like, "I just graduated college and finally have a real income and I'd like to start investing in some long-lasting goods..." or "my fiancée's birthday is coming up, and I'd like to buy him something every guy should have..." In 2013, I've been giving my take on those essential items, offering a new collection of ten each season: winter, spring, summer, and fall.  Some of these you might already own, some of these you might need to upgrade to a quality version, and most of these apply to women and households too. Please let me know what you think, and what you'd add or take away in the comments below.… read more

Summer is fast approaching and, after long hibernation, you are working your butt off to get in shape. Protein smoothies? Check! Workout plan? Check! Cool gym bag?

Um, no? Worry not, friend. In this roundup you'll find fit different bags that will fit your budget and… read more

Look, I'm no handyman. Sure, I'm pretty comfortable around power tools, but if you ask me to look under your sink or which staircases need a handrail according to code, I'ma just Google it with the best of 'em. 

And that's kinda lame, I'm… read more

Pour over is one of coffee's simplest methods, and one of the most preferred by tasters and coffee geeks. You simply pour heated water over the ground beans through a filter...kinda like a drip machine, except it tastes way better.… read more

There comes a time in every man's life when, offering a rum and coke to your guests simply doesn't cut it. You may be able to fake your bar knowledge with a few recipes from Google, but that can only last so long. Like a scout needs a map to wander the world , a true modern connoisseur needs some solid cocktail books to guide his journey.

This roundup will take your bar skills to a whole 'notha level. Let's get… read more

Designer Ross Moody of 55 Hi's, who last year brought us the birthday card that turns into a shot glass, now shares this cool typographic coaster set dubbed "Pick Your… read more

Look - I'm not implying I only have fifteen things in my kitchen. I love to cook, to the point that I ask for new tools and gadgets for Christmas and birthday presents. But, I also cook three meals a day at home, and for 90% of them, it's with the same basic handful of utensils and… read more

Sure, there are lots of these sorts of "everything you need to know about buying suits," or "X number of rules of men's style," posts all over men's blogosphere. They'll tell you that fit is everything, that gray is the most versatile color, and to never button your bottom… read more

There was a time when the professional man had but one look, and when he was dressed for work, things were clear. Along with the suit and topcoat, there was the standard briefcase - the hard, angular, leather box, with bright, shiny metallic accents.

Now, with the traditional office dissolving and the 9-5 work week being constantly reimagined, it's time for a new briefcase: one that will still look professional, just not like Gordon… read more

I mentioned last week that I'd traveled to my hometown for my grandmother's funeral, and to help begin the process of cleaning and organizing her home where she'd lived for the last fifty-two years. I found all sorts of interesting stuff (more to come soon), most of which was still as functional as when my grandparents bought it decades ago, with only a bit of dust or rust to show.

So, when I stumbled across this old booklet in a filing cabinet, I was particularly drawn to the quote on the back, which begins, "It's unwise to pay too much...but it it's worse to pay too… read more

I have no shame in saying it: I think blankets are great. If that's not manly, I don't care. Being cold is stupid, and being stupid definitely isn't manly either. I work from home, in a city that gets quite cold in the winter, and there's absolutely no reason to heat the whole house when it's only occupied by me, crunched up with my laptop. But you know what else I like? Picnics. And not freezing in case I have car trouble in the winter, or when I go camping. And snuggling up with my wife. (And pretending my urban townhome is a mountain cabin retreat...but, you know, personal preference). The common factor: blankets. So, I like… read more

In 1981, outdoor clothier L.L. Bean published The L.L. Bean Guide to the… read more

For those of us in the middle of the country, we don't always know what to call ourselves. Sure, there's the Midwest - but living in Ohio is pretty different than Kansas, and the landscapes of Nebraska and Michigan look nothing alike.

So, I like the designation "The Great Lakes States," and I love this new Great Lake States Project by artist and designer Meng… read more

Though the quality and integrity of handmade selvedge jeans made of raw denim is apparent to anyone who actually owns a pair, their steep initial investment price can hold many of us back. Including...me. I've got my eyes on a few different styles from a variety of makers, but that initial $250-350… read more