The Choosy Beggar

Every man needs a single pair of sensible sterling-silver cufflinks. For that special occasion.

Through July 26, Links of London is reducing union link T-bar cufflinks to $140 from $200, rogue rubix T-bar cufflinks to $260 from $375, and rogue atomic silver rings to $175 from $250.

[TONY]

LoL – 535 Madison Ave at 54th St – 212-588-1177 – Map
LoL – 200 Park Ave at 44th – (212-867-0258 – Map
LoL – 402 W Broadway at Spring – (212) 343-8024 – Map

Rumor has it that Steve Alan has shuttered his 8^th Avenue annex for good. Breathe (!) you Oxford fiends, the store is just undergoing renovations, and will be back in business by August. We promise.

Until then, check out Alan’s ongoing sales at his uptown outpost and his Tribeca flagship.

Steve Alan UWS – 465 Amsterdam Ave between 82nd & 83rd – 212-595-8451 – Map
Steve Alan Tribeca – 103 Franklin St at Church – (212) 343-0352 – Map
Steven (Gone ’til August) Alan – 69 8th Ave between 13th & 14th – 212-242-2677 – Map

If you’re interested, Men.Style went to the trouble of descrambling the spring ’09 runway shows from Milan and Paris.

For our money, Best in Show went to Junya Watanabe for his ability to dress men how men like to dress without sacrificing an ounce of vision, charm or whimsy. For sure, Watanabe’s show exemplified the famous words of Sir Hardy Amies, who said, “A man should look as if he has bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care, and then forgotten all about them.”

At the beach or the beach house, hoodies come in handy during the summer months, but they don’t come any fresher than the ones made by downtown designer toymaker Kidrobot.

• Thursday through Sunday only, the art gallery/toy shop/streetwear mecca is taking 25% off the renowned pieces — We’re talking about $150. [Racked]

Kidrobot – 118 Prince St between Greene and Wooster – 212-966-6688 – Map

• Also, the equally-fresh boutique Built By Wendy is now taking up to 50% off spring/summer ’08.

Along with some very reasonably priced shirts, pants and jeans, their hoodies are going for just $35.
BBW’s new line of plaid shirts have yet to be marketed down — but their time will come this summer, a saleswoman promises us. We’ll keep you posted.

BBW – 7 Centre Market Pl between Broome and Grand – 212-925-6538 – Map
BBW Brooklyn – 46 N 6th St at Kent Ave – 718-384-2882 – Map

Nope, this actually isn’t Christopher Hitchens coming to after a brutal three-day bender, surrounded by complete strangers — one of whom just happens to be wearing a bondage-ready facemask.

Turns out, the Vanity Fair writer — and something of a rebel style icon for The Beggar — is subjecting himself to the U.S. government’s favorite interrogation method, waterboarding.

Regardless of your political leanings, or views on Hitchens’ always incendiary cultural critiques, this picture if just priceless. Keep up the good work, Chris!