Man Made DIY

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

With Valentine's Day on the horizon, I thought I'd share some of ManMade's favorite tips for dressing for a night out. Though they're certainly… read more

Some of the most frequent kind 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..." So, in 2013, I'll be sharing my take on those essential items, offering a new collection of ten each season: winter, spring, summer, and… read more

The patterned shirt/patterned tie combo isn't going away anytime soon, and when it's right, it's right. But, matching non-muted colors and patterns isn't always obvious, so be sure to bookmark this helpful cheat… read more

While the name is a little...uh, overt, the concept behind "The Man Ring" is pretty much brilliant: a more-or-less traditional metal band… read more

Many of my earliest creative memories are sitting on that awful burnt orange rug in our basement floor, listening to LPs on my brown plastic Fisher Price record player, and putting together [seemingly] elaborate edifices with construction toys. Honestly, though the specifics have been slightly updated, it's basically how I spent last evening - in the basement, listening to music, and putting stuff together.

See, both my parents were science teachers, and I always had many more engineering-style toys than action figures, and while many kids love their LEGOs, I was always into the (sadly discontinued) Construx and Ramagons, and that kinetic masterpiece, the Erector… read more

These cold winter months, with their insane wind chills and 5:00 p.m. sunsets, are the season of curling up with a tumbler of, as Don Draper says, "something big and brown." No mixers, shakers, or bar tools required - just a heavy glass, and a quality whiskey that can stand up on its own for some serious sipping. And if you know what you're looking for, there's no reason you have to spend more than $40 a bottle. Single malts… read more

The team at Pop Chart Lab has released their latest cultural compilation: famous guitars from throughout music… read more

We've featured a DIY technique for making your own wooden bow ties on ManMade, but if you're in the market for a high-end handmade piece created from exotic hardwoods, check out Two Guys Bow… read more

"Constellations of white ink on black paper create a world of typography so mesmerizing you’ll have to be careful not to get lost."… read more

Chances are, you've got a nice, solid stack of post-holiday gift cards sitting on your dresser or in your junk drawer. Yeah, you could save them up for something big, or add them to your account and slowly spend them on books or other goodies as you stumble across them.

Or, you can make a few wise investments in your wardrobe, and snag some of these stylish best buys, each under $100...and most much less… read more

Whether you're trying to uphold a resolution for 2013 or just need a little more swear words as you check out the nutritional value of various foodstuffs, you should check out "Should I Eat This… read more

There are lots of kinds of beer drinkers...those who wouldn't be caught dead with an American Pilsner from a major brewery, those who wouldn't consider anything else, and the entire spectrum in between. But in the race to taste every micro, spring-water brewed ale with as many IBUs as possible, the question still deserves discussing: which cheap beer is actually worth drinking. And by cheap, we mean cheap...like, wherein Bud Light - the United State's best selling beer - is too expensive.… read more

Happy Holidays, ManMakers! Each year, I make this confession: I'm a total obsessive geek about collecting "modern rock" holiday songs: seasonal tunes by alternative, indie, and otherwise not-Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole artists. This year, my collection broke 500, making for thirty-two hours of non-cheesy holiday goodness.

No, they're not all completely amazing, but most are solid, and they serve as the soundtrack to my season, and, coupled with a candy cane, the most immediate way to inject the holiday spirit into my home and...uh, self. So, each year, I pick a few of my favorite tunes to share with ye merry gentlemen and women.