Every guy has his favorite sports team (Go Pistons!).  This love, most often, stands the test of time, no matter how bad they may suck during a particular season (I’m talking to you, my beloved Detroit Pistons!). We all express our love and support for our favorite teams in different ways. Some of us go all out and dress like complete idiots.  Some of us play it a tad more lowkey, and just throw on a polo shirt the same color as the uniform of said favorite team and relish in the comfort of a $5,500 court-side seat.

Sometimes we strike a perfect balance like my man Bruce Pearl.

Bright? Check. Obnoxious? Check.  Should the volume be turned waaay down on that infamous orange blazer? Nike Swoosh.

Nonetheless, he is the head coach of the University of Tennessee Volunteers Men’s basketball team, so he gets a pass. Of course he could play it more lowkey and just wear a tie with the school colors like Roy Williams, who might I add is one of the top three best-dressed coaches in all of collegiate or professional sports.  But Bruce wouldn’t be Bruce if he didn’t rock that tacky blazer as if it was a hand-made Brioni.

But you my good friend, my dear follower, my Instructions shirt and tie wearer, you are not Bruce Pearl. He is the head coach of a NCAA team that reached the Elite 8 and did my brackets some good might I add. You are a casual fan just like the rest of us, unless you’re one of these guys… I mean they’re clearly cut from a different cloth than the rest of us, lol.

But most likely, you’re just like me and you’re not going to dress like you’re part of Raider Nation. Nonetheless, we all the know the type: the working-class stiff that foolishly tries to strike a balance between Raider Nation and Bruce Pearl. Do you know what that looks like? It looks a little something like this… and let me tell you something my friend, dressing like this is just like war: it is NOT the answer.

My 0.02? Be yourself. Don’t try to be Bruce Pearl.  When you know better, you do better. Consider this a lesson learned. Veritas.

See, I bet when you first saw the title of this blog, you thought it was paying homage to some bad Tyler Perry play.

This is dedicated to bringing light to something that most men, even the most well-dressed of men often ignore: a good bag.

No, I’m not talking about a bag worn by the likes of Mr. West here, I’m talking about having a good briefcase for everyday use, and an overnight back for those weekend excursions.

I know many of you can relate to my story. I like to consider myself a well-dressed guy I mean c’mon, if the Salvatore  Ferragamo shoe fits. Nice watch. Italian loafers. Banana Republic Trench Coat. Instructions shirts and ties. I’d like to think I know what I’m doing. But what do I carry my laptop  in? A rinky-dink , work-issued laptop bag. When I travel what do I use? Quite possibly the world’s oldest Samsonite roll-away bag.

Since most of us aren’t in the market for a Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite Overnight bag, let’s try this duffle bag by Kenneth Cole as pictured here; and while you’re at it, step your briefcase game up as well.

Cue this song on your i-pod, throw your new bag over your shoulder, and go stylistically forward into your future. When you know better, you do better. Here at Instructions, you already know our modus operandi. Veritas.

The Vitruvian Man. They say a picture speaks a thousand words, but to me, it only says four: the search of perfection. For many of us, this idea of “perfection” is becoming as well-rounded as possible.

As you guys know, we salute any and all things that represent the essence of male masculinity. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of being well-versed in politics, culture, and other issues of the day and not just being a well-dressed s.o.b.

However, in order to know where we are today and where we’re going tomorrow, we need to know where we’ve been.  Accordingly, I’ve always asked my elders where and what should I go to that will make for a more well-rounded me.  If you want to be well-versed and conscious about the salient matters of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, allow me to recommend the following:

CD’s you must own:

1)Miles Davis- Kind of Blue

2) Steely Dan- Aja

3)Curtis Mayfield- Superfly: The Original Movie Soundtrack

4) Jimi Hendrix- Are You Experienced?

5) Marvin Gaye- What’s Going On?

Books you must read:

1) A People’s History of the United States by: Howard Zinn

2) Invisible Man by: Ralph Ellison

3) Guns, Germs, and Steel by: Jared Diamond

4) Notes Of A Native Son by: James Baldwin

5)The Art of War by: Sun Tzu

Movies you must see:

1)The Godfather

2)Schindler’s List

3) Usual Suspects

4)Malcolm X

5) Scarface

When you know better you do better. Listen, read, and watch and become your best ‘Vitruvian self’.  You know if you’re here, you’ll already have the fashion part down. Veritas.

It’s not just about shirts and ties with us. As you have seen with our previous blog entries such as Habits To Live By and the Rat Pack, it is our prayer that when we provide the apparel and advice that ensures you look the part, you will act the part accordingly.

Where am I going with this? Well since you asked…

Last Tuesday as I was at my desk  spending my morning perusing ebay working diligently, I remember a phone call from my woman where she expressed frustration about how she and many other high-heeled women have to stand up majority of their morning and evening train rides to their respective destinations, although multitudes of rude ass men sit comfortably in their seats like they don’t know they have a de-facto affirmative duty to offer up their seats to said women. Frankly, this pisses me off.

It’s not about my woman or any other woman in particular, it’s much bigger than that. It’s about the men of my generation and our failure to emulate the style, class, and dignity of the generations before us.  As we’ve discussed at-length in prior posts, the men of the generation(s) before us were cut from a different cloth. Much to my chagrin, in this instance, the more things have changed, the more they have NOT stayed the same.

I know, I know.  To be a man, you have to see a man, and a lot of guys my age haven’t unless you count Don Magic Juan or Marion Barry and the like, lol. I get that and accordingly want to send a special shout-out to Reaganomics and the Prison Industrial complex for the lack of a male presence in many brown and black-homes.

To you, our faithful followers of the blog and more importantly our loyal customers, make sure you act the part. We”ll make sure you are dressed the part.

Let’s get back to throwback manhood. Let’s do better.

In life, we always have two options: be a part of the problem or a part of the solution. Choose wisely. Veritas.