Some Companies Just Get it Right!

Apple, RIM, Lexus, Meridian, Miele, Braun. What do these companies and many others have in common aside from their typically higher price tags? Attention to detail, high quality, and creating products that thoroughly and precisely fulfill their purposes.

This came to mind recently when I decided to replace my travel-weary luggage which had served me well for years of travel across much of the world. I had been thinking about getting a set of Tumi's "Ducati" luggage, and as luck would have it, that series was recently discontinued so I got a screaming deal on a couple of pieces.

When I got home, I, or rather a friend, had a really good chance to discover all of the subtle design features that really show how thoroughly Tumi and others serve their customers, and why I'm such a believer in "You get what you pay for. (But don't pay any more than you have to!)"

Tired of your suitcase hitting you in the heels as you pull it behind you? No problem, the handle is offset, and easily adjustable for either left or right handed people, and it still keeps the bag balanced. Tired of your suitcase falling over when it's standing on end? This one is deeper at the bottom so that the center of gravity is lower. Can't grab your bag off the carousel because the bottom is facing you? No problem here. There's a inset handle on the bottom of the bag. And let's not forget the urethane wheels that absorb shock and don't slide. I could go on and on.

The point here is that companies like Tumi and Apple listen to their customers and design their products to serve their purposes extremely well. They use excellent materials and elegant designs and provide all of the features you and I require of the item, and then some. Ease of use is also high on the agenda for companies like these. With clothing, this might mean subtle design features or manufacturing techniques that improve the fit. Such attention to detail makes a world of difference in how satisfying a product is. Just look at how loyal and enthusiastic Apple's customers are as a result of this approach!

Obviously, making products like this is expensive, and their prices reflect the higher cost of manufacturing and superior materials. But that doesn't mean you have to pay a lot for them if you have some patience and do some digging. Getting more enjoyment without spending more for the things I need is so worth it! I highly recommend that you do the same! Maybe we'll talk more about how to do that in the next post.

A Little Primer on Collecting Art

In my last post, I talked about what elements to look for in visual art. This time, I'll talk about how to go about buying it.

I first began appreciating art many years ago by visiting museums and galleries. More recently, I have gotten directly involved by supporting local art organizations, galleries, and museums, and I buy art. A large percentage of my friends are artists, art dealers, and museum directors, and over the years, I have learned a lot from them about appreciating and collecting art that I want to share here.

Why people buy art

Two of the greatest questions about collecting art are "what should I buy?" and "why should I buy it". For many collectors, though, it's just a matter of buying work that they respond to, and before long they realize that they have an art collection.

When it really comes down to it, people collect art for these reasons:

1) Emotional attachment to a piece
2) To beautify their homes and create an atmosphere that reflects who they are
3) Investment purposes

They're all good reasons to collect. Bear in mind however that very little art appreciates significantly in value, so I recommend that you buy art for the pleasure it gives you rather than buying it as an investment. If you want to invest in art, you should seriously consider hiring a consultant to help you build your collection.

Keys to Collecting

• Do some research by looking at a lot of work
• Try to discover what types of work and styles you like
• Ask a lot of questions
• Build relationships with collectors, art dealers, and artists if you can

When you're first thinking of buying and collecting art, you should begin by doing some research. Look at a lot of art to get a sense for what you appreciate and the variations in terms of quality, price, and styles. Check out the local museums, galleries, and studios that showcase the kind of art that interests you the most, whether it's paintings, sculpture, photography, video, etc. You might want to make several visits to a venue that you like so that you begin to feel more comfortable with the art, and to see what new work they bring in. When you see a piece you like, ask yourself why you find it compelling, and ask someone about the piece. The dealer, curator, or artist will be happy to tell you about it and the artist. Don't be afraid to ask about the merits of an artist or any a piece that interests you.

You might also want to look through magazines like "American Art Collector" which covers a lot of artists across the spectrum from the Old Masters' styles to the most cutting edge contemporary art and artists.

What to expect from art venues

There are basically three types of places to find art, and each has a different purpose:

• Museums - Museums are simply showcases for art. Many of them specialize in art from specific periods in history, some are private collections that became public upon the death of a significant collector, and others specialize in a specific medium, such as sculpture or photography. Major museums will usually have a lot of everything. Just check out the museums that have the type of work you're interested in, and be sure to get a program if one is available. The staff at most museums is very helpful and they will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
  

• Galleries (Art Dealers) - This is the most obvious place to start looking for art. When you visit a gallery, you should try to get a sense of what type of work they show, and what the dealer would be like to work with. Some dealers are not very helpful, and have little interest in developing a rapport with you. Those dealers won't do much more than ask if you have any questions when you make your first visit. They don't realize that most of us don't even know what questions to ask.

The best dealers won't simply ask you if you have any questions. They will approach you to tell you about the piece you are looking at and the artist who created it, without you having to ask. This can lead to a very interesting and informative conversation that helps you to understand the work. Those dealers aren't just waiting for you to buy something. They have a passion for art that they want to share with others, and the sale is almost secondary. They know that you might come back many times over the course of years before you buy anything, and they are fine with that. It can be very rewarding to have a relationship with such a dealer who is excited to share his knowledge and excitement about art and enjoys building a relationship with you.

• Artists' Studios - Visiting an artist in his or her studio can be a fascinating experience. It can be wonderful to hear about art from its creator, and it gives you the opportunity to develop a relationship with the art through your relationship with the artist. Generally speaking, you will only be able to visit the studios of independent artists who sell their work themselves. Art dealers will not grant access to their artists' studios unless you are a good repeat customer because they don't want you to try to go around them and buy work directly from the artist. If you happen to be in Austin the weekend of November 22 and 23, I urge you to take part in the East Austin Studio Tour. Over one hundred artists will be opening their studios to the public, and the tour is free. You'll get to see a huge variety of art and meet the artists where they work. It's a great way to spend a day or two and learn a lot about art. You're bound to see work you like, and much of it will be very good and very affordable. In many cases, the studios are in complexes like the Pump Project, Big Medium, Tillery Studios, and the temporary show at Sustainable Waves which will feature the work of about 15 local artists who are in the Bootstrap Art group. Sustainable Waves, located near the corner of Springdale and Cesar Chavez, will have live music, food, and drinks, as will many other studios and complexes. Visiting one of these group shows makes it easy to see a lot of work on one stop.
  

A few pointers

• Don't be afraid to make several visits to a gallery or studio before you make the decision to buy a piece you like. If there is a piece that truly interests you, you can usually arrange to borrow it for a few days to get a sense of what it would be like to "live" with it. You'll usually have to put down a deposit in order to do this, but it will go a long way toward reducing the chance of having "buyer's remorse". You will also have the opportunity to see whether it looks and feels right in your home with your decor. If a piece doesn't fit in, you'll probably regret buying it. If you already have a collection, you may want to see how the work fits in with what you already have, and perhaps move a few pieces to different places to see how they work together. (Congratulations! You've just become a curator!)

• If you think you might want to be a serious collector at some point, then it might be good to focus on artists who have some combination of representation in a respected gallery, presence in a museum, or coverage in a major art publication. Of course, you can expect to pay more for the work of artists who have these "credentials". Keep in mind that you can always find great original works of art from emerging artists at very reasonable prices.

• It's generally not a good idea to buy the work of one or two artists exclusively. That can get a little too boring. Another thing to avoid is focusing on one genre, as in only collecting portraits or landscapes. You want to have some focus, but you need variety, too, in order for your collection to remain fresh and interesting. One thing you might want to do in a photography collection is to collect works in which the photographers have contrasting styles in their use of light or composition. Juxtaposition is good! For paintings, you might want work from artists who use different subjects and textures.

• Prices are rarely if ever negotiable. The artists need to make a living, and in the case of talented emerging artists, the price may be considerably lower than it should be due to their lack of experience or self-confidence. Art dealers have to cover very high overhead expenses before they can even think about making a profit.

Building an art collection doesn't have to be a daunting task. It should be fun, and it should happen over time. Learn as you go. You may find that your tastes become more refined or focused as you continue to see more art that you like. Your collection is likely to evolve and become more interesting and personal in the process.

By the way, the painting you see at the top of the post is one of my favorite pieces in my collection. It was painted by Rob Harrell who is represented in Austin by the Wally Workman Gallery. Wally represents one of the best collection of artists in town.

So what is art and why should you buy it?

Art is one of my passions. I find that owning original art greatly enriches my life through the emotional impact it has on me, and how it makes my living space more comfortable and interesting. My collection includes paintings, photography, and sculpture that were created by brilliant artists who are based in Austin. I proudly own works by Andrew Long, Eliza Thomas, Ethan Diehl, John Langford, Hank Waddell, Shawn Camp, Steve Dubov, and others. All of these artists have a style all their own, and are very highly regarded not just in Austin, but nationally and internationally. Some of their work can be found in museums and galleries around the country, but as a general rule, they only sell locally directly from their studios or through Marcy Hoen of Austin Art Start.

What is art?
Art is work deliberately created to evoke emotion in the viewer. It's that simple. A piece may be created to evoke feelings of contentment, happiness, anger, disgust, wonder, confusion, sadness, etc., or to deliver a message of some sort. If the artist succeeds in moving the viewer in the desired manner, or causes the viewer to give pause and ponder the piece, then he or she has succeeded. You don't need to understand the piece, and maybe you're not supposed to, especially with abstract art. The reaction and meaning you find personally are all that matters.

Painters have many means of expressing themselves through their art. These may include the choice of color (their "palette"), the use of lines and forms, their use or abuse of symmetry, symbols, texture, and other elements. For example, greens and blues may be used to create peaceful feelings, while reds and oranges can be used to evoke tension. You will often find all of these colors in one painting, and they will be combined in such a way as to create a specific feeling or perhaps ambiguity. Similarly, tight groupings or loopings of lines will create tension, while loose, flowing lines will promote a sense of peace.

Photographers use many of these same elements in the same way, though they are constrained by the physical world from which they extract their images unless they manipulate the image afterward using computer software. Composition, or the placement of the subject in the image, can have a profound impact on the way the viewer reacts to the piece. The composition may be symmetrical, or more likely will be creatively asymmetrical to make the photograph more interesting. Depth of field, i.e., the degree to which the image is focused relative to its distance from the lens, can emphasize or de-emphasize the subject according to the photographer's intent. The creative use of color, or of light and shadows, are often used to create a certain mood.

Sculpture is a physical representation of an object, feeling, or both. It might be a faithful representation of a person, place, or thing, but it may simply be the artist's impression of the subject. The artist's interpretation of the subject is an emotional reaction which may render the subject difficult or impossible to recognize in the finished piece. As with painting and photography, a sculpture may just represent a feeling. A sculptor may employ some of the methods described above to translate his vision, and because he is working in a 3-dimensional space with a 3-dimensional material, or "medium", he may also use hard or soft contours or the texture of the material in order to evoke a certain atmosphere around the piece. The choice of whether to use stone, metal, glass, ceramic, etc., or a combination of materials for a piece will have some impact on the impression it makes for the viewer. However, many sculptors specialize in the fabrication of only one material, such as bronze, and that may be a reflection of the sculptor's personal sensibilities. The sculptor will also place a great deal of emphasis on the size, or scale, of the piece and how it will occupy the space in which it is viewed. The manner in which a piece will occupy its space may be considered to be roughly analogous to composition.

How much is it worth?
The value of a work of art is based on a number of factors. These will include the cost of materials, the amount of time the artist put into making the piece, the popularity of the artist, and the technical skill with which he or she creates the piece, as well as some intangible factors such as the originality of the style or techniques used to create it. A good way to determine what a piece is worth is to see what similar works by similarly well-regarded artists are selling for. If an artist has work in a museum, or representation by a well-respected gallery, or if the artist has been featured in a national publication, then that artist's work will tend to command higher prices because their work has been officially "sanctioned" by the "powers that be" in the art market. HOWEVER, some of the best art you are likely to find will have been created by artists who have little or no formal recognition. Their work is usually very reasonably priced relative to the work of well known artists.

Since the appreciation of art is largely a subjective matter, the primary consideration of the buyer should be whether owning a given piece will add value to your life through the response you have to it every day as you live with it. That's what art is about. Ultimately, a piece is as valuable as you believe it is based on your emotional response to it.

Next week, we'll discuss where to find art and how to start your collection.

These Shoes and Boots (all 56 of them!) were made for ...

Wow!  I just realized that I have 28 pairs of shoes and boots!  Not that there's anything wrong with that!

For me, it's actually a good thing.  You see, what a lot of guys don't realize is that the right footwear can make or break your outfit and the impression you make on others.  Shoes say a lot about who you are, what you value, what your status is, and your attention to detail.  Women are very attuned to this, so if you want to set yourself apart from the other guys, you should really take this to heart.  I've also found that it's important in business.  As I went up the food chain in the corporate world, I found that the better I dressed, shoes included, the more positive the impact I made even before I said a word.  On the other hand, I've seen many professionals wearing cheap shoes with decent suits and it really throws off the whole look.  

How to Start your Footwear Wardrobe (or any other wardrobe)

If you decide to upgrade your footwear or expand your collection, the first thing you need to do is make sure that you have solid core wardrobe to expand from.  Your needs will vary according to your lifestyle and the environments you work and play in.  Decide what situations you need to be well-dressed for, and then focus on finding classic styles in blacks, browns, and/or tans that fit those situations and your personality.  Always make sure that the materials and workmanship are the best you can afford.  If you don't know the difference between average and exceptional shoes, then go to a high-end retailer or boutique to look at their most expensive, highest quality shoes.  Pay close attention to the materials and construction and try on a pair of shoes that you really like.  You should be able to tell the difference immediately.  If you can afford them, buy them.  If you can't afford them, find the next best shoes you can afford and buy those.  Once you get the core footwear wardrobe together, then you can expand from there to get shoes that serve other purposes, such as just looking cool!

I have found myself in so many different social and professional situations that I've found it to be advantageous to have quite a variety of shoes, each for different purposes.  I'm able to fit my footwear to the situation, my mood, and the weather.  I have formal shoes for black tie events, dress shoes in black, brown, and tan to wear with suits or slacks and sport coats (Bruno Magli, Allen Edmonds), classy casual shoes in various colors (John Varvatos, Paul Smith, Bruno Magli), ultra-cool shoes and boots in various colors for when I feel like rockin' (Mark Nason and Lucchese), stylish sneakers for when I'm just kickin' around (Prada and Cole Haan), hiking and riding boots (Timberland and Ariat), and others.

By the way, take advantage of clearance sales, Bluefly.com, and Zappos.com to save yourself a LOT of money.  Good shoes tend to be expensive.  The good news is that they look better and last longer than inexpensive shoes as long as you take care of them.  The impression you make in them will be priceless.

How to Use your Shoes

One pair of shoes might dress up your outfit, while a different pair might dress it down.  A cheap, unflattering pair of shoes always send the wrong message, and makes every outfit look bad.  One of the biggest mistakes I see when it comes to men's fashion is for a man to wear cheap and/or ugly shoes with a nice suit or slacks.

It's also very important to keep your shoes clean and/or polished and to use shoe trees to make sure that your shoes keep their shape.  If you're spending a lot of money on them, you want to make sure that they last.  Another important thing to remember is to keep an eye on the heels and soles of your shoes and boots.  If they're worn down or have holes in them, you need to have them repaired.  If they can't be repaired, then replace them.

Remember, your shoes are a critical part of your wardrobe.  Don't scrimp on them!

So how do I know about all this stuff?

Some of my friends have asked me how I know so much about what the best "this" is or "that" is. It's a very good question, so I'll address it here.

When it really comes down to it, when I need something, I want the best representative of that item I can find.  I really started to learn about the finer things in life about 15 or 20 years ago just to satisfy my curiosity. I read many magazines, including the Robb Report, GQ, The Perfect Vision, Dwell, Cook's Illustrated, etc., and do a lot of research online. I also had a great mentor in Chicago who taught me how to appreciate wine and cigars. (Thanks, Tony!) I often wonder why things cost so much or so little, and the engineer in me is always wondering how things are made. I have also learned by experience that, generally speaking, you get what you pay for. The big question for most of us is whether the additional benefits derived from the more expensive item is worth the additional cost. For example, I will gladly pay top dollar for shoes because I've learned that more expensive shoes tend to be more comfortable, last much longer, and look better. I'll pay extra to get Riedel stemware, because I know that wine really does taste better from their wine glasses. I will not, however, spend big bucks on a gold plated "this", or designer "that" just for the sake of spending more money. In fact, once I figure out what the best product is to meet my needs, I'll do my very best to find it at the lowest price I can, and if it's still too expensive, I'll buy something else that comes close to that item in terms of function and style but at a price I can live with.

One example of a cost/benefit question in this context is what makes one suit cost $400 and another one cost $4,000 (or $40,000, but we won't go into that here)? The answer is that the materials and manufacturing processes are dramatically and tangibly different. The quality of the fabric and the amount of manual work that go into a $4,000 suit are enormously different from what you get in a $400 suit. In the more expensive suit, the sleeves and collar are attached by hand, with the tailor using different tension in the thread at different areas where the sleeves and collar join the body of the suit. This results in a suit that moves with you much more readily and that can feel more like a second skin. I have an Oxxford suit like that and I can't tell you how much of a pleasure it is to wear it! No machine can duplicate that process. The inner and outer fabric that form the lapels in an inexpensive suit are glued ("fused") together and can be prone to puckering because of that. That's not the case in a more expensive, better made suit in which the lapels are distinct layers separated by a lining material. (You can determine whether or not your lapels are "fused" by trying to gently pull the inner and outer fabric apart.) Now, on that basis, I definitely want the $4,000 suit, but I can't justify the expense, so I look for suits that come as close to that level of quality as possible, and then try to buy them at clearance sales or online. Canali, Corneliani, and Zegna fit the bill for me. (Helpful hint: If you are looking for the best names in designer clothing at great prices you need to check out Bluefly.com. Alternatively, you can go to the big clearance sales everyone has in January and June/July.)

Over the years, I've researched or just learned about virtually every category of product that I've needed or that piqued my curiosity. That would include things such as audio and video equipment, footwear, small appliances, furniture, food and wine (I like to cook), watches, BBQ grills, even women's lingerie! (Yeah, I'm a lot more interested in women than in lingerie, but it was fascinating to read how La Perla makes their finer bras! The looms date back to the 1700s, and modern looms can't work with the fine threads they use and get the same results.  Or so they say.)

That, in a nutshell, is how I came to know about all of these things I'm going to be blogging about. It really comes down to a matter of personal tastes, research, and budget.

P.S. Look for my upcoming blogs on the Big Green Egg and the Harman Kardon Go + Play.

Continental Flair

I just had a new set of tires installed on my car. This is my second set of Continental Conti-Sport 3s. I had forgotten how much I like this tire until I put the fresh set on my car. The ride, handling, wet and dry weather traction, and tire wear characteristics are the best I've found for this car.

I've a hard time finding tires that are suitable for my Volvo S60R because it's a high-performance sport sedan, like the M3 and S4, that requires very high performance tires with a high load rating. The high load rating is the hard thing to find in a tire in this class. I've only found 3 tires that are acceptable for this car: Pirelli P Zero Rosso (OEM tire on this car), Michelin Pilot Sport PS2, and the Continentals. I knew and loved the Pirellis, but they wear out very quickly, and the Michelins didn't do anything for me. When I stumbled across the Continentals on Tire Rack, my first thought was "I don't know anything about these tires." With a little bit of research I found that they are original equipment tires for Bentley, Mercedes, Porsche, and a few other cars you might have heard of. The tires are made in Germany, and I figure that if Continental tires are good enough for Bentley and Porsche, they're good enough for me.

I love these tires because of the great ride and handling they offer, and they last longer than the Pirellis and Michelins. They also happen to be the least expensive of the 3 choices by about $30 or $40 per tire. I highly recommend looking into them if you have a sport sedan or sports car. The reviews on Tire Rack are excellent, and I can vouch for them personally. Word of warning: these tires are intended for summer use only. Thankfully, it doesn't get cold enough in Austin to degrade the performance in the winter. These tires would have virtually no traction in ice or snow like all other tires in this class.

Why Settle for the Ordinary?

The finer things in life can offer a very personal and satisfying means of self-expression and a great way to be content in your own personal space. While a few people have been fortunate enough to be raised in an environment in which they were tutored in how to live well, most of us have had to learn about the finer things of life by osmosis or by chance, if at all. Consequently, we have been missing out on a lot of wonderful experiences that anyone can know and enjoy if they had a guide to explain the how, what, and why of what distinguishes the average from the exceptional.

Some of the best things that life has to offer are about indulging your senses. Pleasing the senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell isn’t about hedonistic self-indulgence in this context, it’s about deriving a sense of well-being by savoring exceptional products made from the best materials and processes. This is about the exquisite fit and feel of a hand-made Italian sportcoat versus a typical generic machine-made (and glued) department store jacket which is little more than functional. This is about the glorious and exciting sound of an audio/videophile’s high-end home theater system as opposed to the merely serviceable sound of a home-theater-in-a-box system you can pick up just about anywhere. This is about the aroma, complexity, and structure of a well-crafted wine rather than the bleekness of a thin and insipid wine. The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to pay top dollar for these experiences. You just have to know what to look for.

In case it isn’t clear yet, this blog is not about how to impress others with your expensive tastes and how much money you throw around. This is a blog about discovering the finer things in life and developing your tastes and discernment for your own enjoyment and gratification. To put it another way, anyone can buy a pair of expensive designer shoes or sunglasses and think that they “make” him look good, but there’s a good chance that he’ll come across as someone who has money but no taste. However, if someone who inherently embodies style and attitude wears those same shoes or sunglasses, those items looks like part of congruous and tasteful extension of the person who wears them. Then again, that same person might look even better and be better served by some really great shoes and sunglasses from another source that cost a fraction as much, but are of comparable or better quality. What you need to be looking for is whatever makes you feel good and projects who you truly are and what you enjoy rather than how much money you spend.

For a related post on the Bootstrap Austin blog go here.