kotmj, I asked myself those same questions. I used to put on a more dressy look, although not quite as styled as yours, but changed it dramatically.



So here I am, answering the same questions you asked. Big chunky Panerai watch, leather bracelet. Plain looking white T-shirt (still Emporio Armani brand though =), branded necklace, etc. I am also wearing a big pair of shades.

I used to favor a nice, crisp, and well tailored dress shirt (or bespoke), a pair of chinos or slacks. Of course when I do my business meetings, it's the complete opposite.

I do not know how you can pull off a blazer in the M'sian heat.

**EDIT**

On a side, note, I would say that I get reactions from different kinds of women with this look. I always attempt to make small talk to strangers (I am naturally quite shy) to practice my in person demeanor, communication, etc. The business women (ones who I do not know) in an office building will be more flirty and let themselves loose vs when I'm suited up, they are definitely more reserved.

But, interestingly enough, the most interaction I get from men and women, is when I am wearing my leather motorcycle jacket and carrying my Shoei helmet (I ride a supersport bike on occasion). Everyone seems to want to comment.

Men "what kind of sport bike do you ride?"
women "you ride a motorcycle?"

Note: this does not work with a half face kapchai helmet and street clothes.

This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jun 10 2011, 10:01 PM

well, there are definitely different levels of the look. i suppose we all enjoy some level of attention (why else do we post as much as we do), and myself, probably more than the average Malaysian. that being said, you can most certainly get away with a more casual look, and sometimes you adapt to projecting against what you are wearing and begin to feel comfortable with it.

and yes, people judge us by our persona, what we wear, etc etc - and if you want to avoid undue judgment and criticism, you can change your look over the course of a few months and have some fun doing it.

age is certainly a factor, and the extent to what you can get away with depends on such. for myself, in the very late 20's, i personally do not yet feel comfortable with moc toe loafers with tassels, but there will most certainly be a time when i will wear those (assuming still fashionable) and can't get away with my current look.

i also concede to the fact that i spend considerable time in the LA/Hollywood scene, where the range of fashion is quite extreme. my look is definitely different when I'm in M'sia, and drawing too much attention to myself may not always put me in the best situation. as a non-Malaysian i had to learn this the hard way - having been surrounded by Punjabi (i think) gangsters because I am dressed up and driving a nice car in the small island of Penang.

i challenge you to approach a different look.

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Added on June 12, 2011, 7:20 pmspeaking of LA.

Just arrived back in the states for work. Here are some pictures I will share in the Men's Style and Fashion forum.



I love these shoes. Calf grain, Bally Alexa's.



Enjoying some cocktails and the W Hotel and Lounge in LA. This place is legit. Kind of hidden but a good crowd.



And what do men like to share with other men? Perhaps our attempts at success with women (for those of us that are single - for those that are married, maybe with a bit more discretion)

I think it's a bit ingenious, but there's a lady walking around with a bucket full of long stem roses, selling them for USD 5.00 each! But sometimes the occasion is appropriate.



LA is full of very attractive and successful women. Notice that this girl is wearing a Ulysse Nardin Caprice with Mother of Pearl face and diamonds. RM 28k watch that she bought on her own.
She is an Investment Banker. I am attracted to high-powered women.

And yes, I did succeed in getting her digits and spending quality time with her.

Malaysian girls are just as cool. They will give you digits. Taiwanese girls from Taiwan - much harder but if the approach is good, success can be found.

Sorry the last few pics a bit OT, but for the straight men, we dress up to look good, and women are a big part of this reason.

This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jun 12 2011, 08:04 PM

wow, thank you sir! i really do enjoy sharing, with friends, people on the forums, etc.

and i will do just that!

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Added on June 14, 2011, 5:41 pmi used to have one, but there is just not enough time. if you look at my previous track record of posts - i post a lot, then a huge gap, then post a lot again.
my readers would probably not appreciate it.

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Added on June 14, 2011, 5:44 pmi have some knowledge, but i do not profess to know a lot. ck77 and patryn33 in the watch forum know a lot more.
but i suppose if one is to spend RM 18-30k on watches, he or she should know a thing or two about the finer timepieces.

**EDIT**

but yes, i do understand that earning potential is significantly different depending on where you live and (obviously) what type of work is available in that market. i definitely understand the typical earning potential in Malaysia, and I am very clear on the salary ranges. Here in Penang, the salary is much lower compared to KL folks working in big offices. I actually worked for a company in M'sia under their salary range, and it was only a fraction of what I earned in the states, but the experience was worth far more.

i suppose it is not important to get caught up in these things, as there's always people with more money. i have several acquaintances who do not think twice about buying anything they want. there's a billionaire family from Indonesia that spends time here in the states. the daughter of the family was dating my friend, and he was offered several gifts, including expensive watches, just in the short time he was with her (and this was many years ago). they had a huge estate in one of the most recognized areas, and even though they only occasionally visited, drove Bentley's and other exotics. what am i compared to these people. if measured by my material possessions, very little.



This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jun 14 2011, 06:05 PM

hi LiLFreaK

no, most women in the states do not spend this type of money on material goods. in fact, I have never met a girl with a Hermes Kelly or Birkin bag. It is considered extremely high fashion, and many girls do not even know what this is.

Malaysian and Singaporean women will spend a higher percentage of their salary for recognition by brands, looks, etc. They are more fashion forward than the typical American girl.

average salary in the U.S. is about RM100-120k/year. because the cost of living is higher, this does not leave much left for luxury goods and other expensive items. i think, in comparison, Singaporeans are doing much better than this.

A white collar investment banker from a metro area will earn substantially more, about RM 240-300k/year in their first year, but this is considered extremely competitive and there are only a small number of spots available. It most certainly requires education from a well known (and very expensive) school and very high scores/marks.

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Added on June 14, 2011, 6:16 pmanyways, to compensate for OT, here's today's look:



this is a no shame, full face photo, so pls excuse me. now you all know what i look like, and can flag me down on Jln Bukit Bintang, or Lebuh Farquhar/Upper Penang Road.





This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jun 14 2011, 06:16 PM

heheh, true - i suppose most of the people on these forums are of a much younger crowd. I am 29 yrs old, so probably older than many. although, in this photo, maybe i look like im 35?

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Added on June 15, 2011, 4:59 pmI have no issues with wearing this color combination to a meeting. I don't mind drawing attention to myself, especially if the crowd is older and I need to stand out a bit.

Plus it's an unmistakable and classic Hermes Orange.

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Added on June 15, 2011, 5:01 pmyes, i most certainly do. Celebrity Fitness.

need to stay in shape to keep up with the rest of you.

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Added on June 15, 2011, 5:02 pmcorrect, that would not be very wise of me to post photos. in western culture, a ring worn on the right hand, ring finger, is purely for fashion. but yes, alpha males do some strange stuff, and i would say that we men definitely get into more trouble as a result.

funny you mention it, interestingly enough, the alpha male trait somehow attracts and drives women. in their mind they are thinking "no way can i be anywhere near this guy" but their body language, attitude and action is always the complete opposite. sometimes you can see them trying to be cautious, but i think gravitating towards being an alpha male, triggers some instinctual response in women.

of course, there are just those women that won't have anything to do with you, so what do you do? just move on. although at my age, i have to narrow things down and settle down soon.

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Added on June 15, 2011, 5:05 pmhaha, i probably won't post many more full face photos. but it would look fairly strange for a half body shot with no face. plus i rarely wear the glasses but thought it "completed" the look. normally i'm "stunnin" with some big blingin shades.

knot might be a bit loose, which is what i prefer. in fact, i generally rock our with a double windsor which is really chunky, but looks very good on a spread collar.

This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jun 15 2011, 05:21 PM

It's a Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Calendrier Retrograde. It normally comes with a black croc strap but I switched it to the brown one. I thought it was more appropriate with the white face.

I think price is still around RM18k which is very reasonable for the complexity of the movement and the "pocketwatch" handwound style. The movement is made by Unitas, and it is a heavy modified ebauche with the added seconds subdial, power reserve indicator and complex retrograde date movement. Attention to detail is very high and for a company that *only* produces 90,000 watches per year - still pretty respectable.

Here's a few pics back when it had the black strap.





omega deville is a very nice watch and more expensive that this ML. I prefer the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean - they've got a brilliant orange leather or rubber strap that would match perfectly with my tie. =)

thank you! i liked it too. so i bought it.

seriously though, Strawberry <3 welcome to the mens thread.

men (most) love women, so i'm sure you're welcome to share your pics and let us know what you think about ours as long as you're okay with the occasional objectification of women <-- pretty much only me at this point.

i know there's a whole forum section dedicated to women, but as we all know, women have much more fun hanging out with men, so we understand that you are here posting. and don't worry about the ads in your signature, most of us will do our best to ignore them, but some might click on them (like how i already did...darn)

as you know, these forums work best when people share. so post away!

This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jun 15 2011, 06:11 PM

MIGHT = probably won't post, but we'll see.

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Added on June 15, 2011, 7:13 pm

This is the new look. The belt has to be so new that you wear the tags with it and not yet sized. And you have to walk around with fashionable underwear and NO SHIRT. Also a business card with your username is a must.

See, this is how I do it.

Also, your belt must cost more than your jeans as in this case here.

Go!



This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jun 15 2011, 07:13 PM

IT IS NOT THE JOB THAT YOU PICTURE IT TO BE.

I know you're a jeans whore, so post some pics up and help me contribute to this thread. We need to get the Men's Style and Fashion to 50 daily users.

PM me with any questions.

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Added on June 15, 2011, 8:11 pmtrue. true.

This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jun 15 2011, 08:11 PM

i've only bought a *few* nike sneakers recently. Most were from at least 4-5 years ago, some are 10 years old. =)
they are more collectors items that i rarely have the chance to wear. i'll probably sell the less valuable ones in the future.

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Added on June 16, 2011, 12:27 pmlol, good one. although that's a huge jump. let's all hope he becomes that genius then!

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Added on June 16, 2011, 12:28 pmgood eye. the bezel screws off and can be replaced with the full diamond bezel that it comes with. the value of the watch goes up 2x when you screw that piece on, lol.


This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jun 16 2011, 12:28 PM

just got to the shoes sandals sneaker forum and scroll back a few pages and you should see some posts. i think i started posting there a few years ago.

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Added on June 18, 2011, 6:20 amheheh, we all know you are the king of sneakers! but you can't just pop in and post, you need to post a pic up now.

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Added on June 18, 2011, 6:21 amYes, good mechanism and good movement. Just recently started pushing their marketing, so I think prices will be up in the next several years and they'll start producing in the hundred thousands, but this is not instant. A lot of brands have tried and failed but I think ML is poised for some serious growth.

Still a relatively unknown brand in Western markets, but they're pushing hard for it.

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Added on June 18, 2011, 6:22 amall class!

i remember the days when i used to sport a pair cufflinks. but none of my bling blau like that!

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Added on June 18, 2011, 7:08 amthis is true, and slightly unfortunate. the watch forum is full of posts like the one you mentioned.

but that is sort of the point, because watches and cars are the ultimate expression of success and wealth (even if one does not yet have it).

HOWEVER, just as there are obscure, high quality but reasonable priced clothes, the same can be said about watches. you do not have to spend 6 months worth of savings to get a decent watch.
There are intelligent choices. A Hamilton Chronograph uses almost the exact same movement as a Panerai Luminor Daylight Chrono (Valjoux 7750 vs 7753) at 1/10 the price. Quality is good, and the brand is well known - and amongst us with more expensive watches, we are constantly reminded of the quality of ebauches that these Hamilton's use, often displacing our pride of quality of movement in our own watches.

There are a ton of such brands that exhibit perhaps even better quality, smaller production volume, and nearly the same price. It just takes some research and a few questions to get the information you need.

But a watch is veblen good - meaning the preference for buying increases as a direct function of price. So your statement is largely correct despite there being exceptions to it.

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Added on June 18, 2011, 7:19 am

This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jun 18 2011, 07:26 AM

'cause nobody can have the same shoes as kotmj!

there was a post prior to his comment that was removed.
the lyn member claimed to have an identical pair of shoes.

Carmina! Nice. Big on quality. I would love to own a pair of their double monks.

Love the brands. Love the look.

I've got some heat to show off too! More to come.

Just got back from a splendid event.

lol i'm shameless. that's how i roll. i want these mofo's to know exactly what i'm wearin. keep in mind that when i'm back in the states, i'm doing business with an extremely superficial crowd and the business of earning more business somehow resides on the appearance of success. i work with a lot of entertainment clients - so the superficiality is through the roof. that is why i am constantly buying new things here and there. its like the cost of doing business.

i'll do a little sharing while trying to put it into context. i was having a lunch meeting at beautiful restaurant in Beverly Hills.



The press photos end up here: http://kls.com/tag/djimon-hounsou

Kimora Lee was a model before she became a businesswoman. She was married to Russel Simmons who's worth over $350 million USD.

So in context, my flashiness is seriously barely noticeable. Not sure if I adequately defended myself, but hopefully there's some perspective. The life here is a stark contrast to anything I've ever experienced anywhere else. BTW, NYC bankers life is also extremely flashy.

when i'm doing business in Tanjung Manis, it's the complete opposite.

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Added on July 8, 2011, 4:28 pmyes sir. good eye!


[Moderator]: Pardon me for taking the liberty to edit your post but considering the number of pictures you have posted and their sizes, a spoiler tag is appropriate. It will allow other users to scroll through the thread much easier.

[CHiNO730]: Not a problem. Although, IMO there aren't really enough photos for a thread that should be dominated by photos. I think photos are the most relevant piece of content on this thread, so they should be full featured in their prominence. If anything, all text should be spoilered. But I've never moderated a forum (just an IRC channel back in the days) so I could be way out of line.

This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jul 10 2011, 08:33 PM

I'm a salesman of the sorts, but also a business owner and operator. This unending job puts me at various points around the globe, but most frequently, the Philippines, Malaysia, and the United States.

As a salesman, my job is to convince the other party (person, usually a corporation) that the services I offer are far superior to anything my competitors might be able to provide, and that they should pay me large sums of money for such services because of the carefully crafted skill that my company provides. I will do whatever I can to earn their business, from sending a simple email and proposal, to getting the decision maker drunk off of expensive champagne at a rooftop bar on top of some obscure beachfront hotel in Southern California. The interesting thing is that I own four separate companies, and they all basically operate like this, even though the service or good may be vastly different.

I developed this fine art through rigorous training at several of the most well capitalized Wall St. firms.

Another story:

Recently, the newest client I acquired was, who I thought, a small business owner. His attire would make the kotmj's of this forum writhe in disgust, and his down-to-earth and muted demeanor would make you wonder how his business could afford my overpriced services. A month after we had been working together, I did some research and learned that this man was in fact the founder and CEO of a publicly traded corporation worth USD 55 million and growing. I was in fact doing business with one of his smaller side businesses. He is obviously far more successful than I am, and yet he doesn't need to overcompensate for anything by wearing fancy clothing and expensive watches (like me). I am also nearly certain, that my Gucci loafers and JLC watch have zero affect on him.

In M'sia, my client is a man who is worth at least 4-5x what the man above is worth, and finances properties worth more than the aforementioned guys entire company. His former neighbor is the owner of a well-known Malaysian electronics company (who is worth about 1/10 of this guy), and as a result I was invited to their house warming party. The owner of said company does not even speak English, and my Hokkien and Mandarin are .... well, lets say non-existent, but I was able to converse with his sons who speak fluent English. The sons girlfriend regularly shows me her collection of Panerai's and Cartier's, so I suppose my watches have some affect on her.

True story.

This post has been edited by CHiNO730: Jul 11 2011, 12:24 AM

I have some level of skill, but I would not say that I am particularly better than a lot of other people that do what I do.
The key is to have the consistent opportunity to pitch to the right people, and have a constant flow of such people. Purely a numbers game.
I suppose I am just fortunate that I get to have this opportunity. Unfortunately, there is nothing to prevent this from slowing down or stopping, so one has to be careful in assuming that such success occurs in perpetuity.

so what watch was he wearing?