Man Made DIY

I'll say it: fall is the best season for beer. That magical time of mid-September, October, November, and December where brewers get to uncorked their months of work and see what time has wrought. It's when beer tastes its most beer-y: bitter, spiced, and… read more

As part of our membership in this year's True Value Blog squad, I was asked to try out the Master Mechanic Swift Driver, a dual drive ratcheting screw driver. Now, I've had my share of gadgety, gimmicky screwdrivers, and ratcheting ones almost always fall into the category of 'cheap'. Usually they're shoddy affairs, not fit for a real toolbox.… read more

Me? I'm a seasonal desktop and mobile background changer. I update them about four times a year, and then I keep the "used" ones in a folder, and will occassionally look back on them. Like those who obsessively catalog their days on their calendars or datebooks, or who are much better at keeping a journal than… read more

Gone are the bright colors and shorts of summer, and men all over the U.S. are glad they actually know what to wear again...you know, things like actual sleeves, and socks, and jackets without having to sweat like a… read more

With temperatures cooling down, it's time to put the sandals and sneakers away an opt for something better suited for the season: boots. A quality pair of boots should be a staple in anyone's closet. They can be dressed up, dressed down, worn inside and outside, keep your feet warm, provide ankle and insole support, and most importanly, help you look sharp and manly at the same time.

The notion of a bespoke $4,000-$5,000 suit may evoke vibes of dashingly handsome rich men, scuttling around in dark lounges on Madison Avenue, smoking cigars and counting their money while getting inseams measured. With the obvious high-end clientele, it makes one wonder..."How can you not get rich selling $4,000 suits?" Turns out, regardless of the price of the… read more

Sometimes, a man just needs to look like a million bucks. But, of course, no one can actually afford to spend a million bucks, nor for most of us, a thousand bucks. But, like with all things, some smart shopping can net you a very sharp suit for around $300, while looking like you spent ten times as much.  … read more

Mountain Retreat is new(ish) handwritten printed typeface from designer Andew Clark...and it comes from the… read more

On ManMade, we've always made the argument to buy high-quality goods made with reliable materials, even if it means you ultimately end up being able to afford less. This applies to men's clothing and style items, which will last longer and be more versatile, and all kinds of quality goods created by skilled workers and artists. 

But beyond the ethical and aesthetic reasons, spending a little mre also makes financial sense as well, and will most often end up saving you… read more

With the evergrowing ubiquity of smartphones and tablets, designers and makers are having a ball coming up with ways to infuse some custom, handmade warmth to these digital devices. We've seen lots of smartphone/wallet combos before, but none have tempted my checking account like these designs by… read more

Pop Chart Labs, who make cool, highly organized graphic posters about nearly everything ManMakers like, have released their latest effort, "The Triple Distilled Diagram of Alcohols," a "A boozy chart of every variety of alcohol, from fermented… read more

When you work at home, there is no dress code. The only rule in my office is, well, make sure you put on pants before 9:00a. Otherwise, let the agenda dictate dress. 

Yet, there are still a surprising number of places where I'm invited to dress "business casual." Actual meetings with real humans (gasp!), conferences and summits, PR parties and events, and general social gatherings and celebration.

And, since I've never really had a job where business, uh, regular? is the standard, scaling back from that isn't… read more

Many travel for beaches. Some travel for mountains, and others for architecture, art, or anonymity. And then there's me, and others of a similar ilk, who when we pick our next destination or pass through a new region, though we're happy to take in a museum or two, travel for local food and… read more

I'm totally digging on this tiny little piece of brilliant design. First, it's a classic, perfectly-sized chrome bottle opener that'll easily slip into a pocket, backpack on the handle of a cooler. But more interestingly, it also allows you to reseal a beer bottle to preserve its freshness, fragrance, and taste.  … read more

In the summertime, sunglasses are more than just a fashion statement, they're an essential piece of safety gear. They not only protect your eyes from the sun's rays, allowing you see better when driving, walking, cycling, working outside, etc, but, more importantly, they protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and blue light, as well as the the skin around your eyes and preventing wrinkles and "crow's feet."… read more