You know how a really beautiful woman can be distracting? Like if you are walking around with a gorgeous woman on your arm, it doesn’t really matter what you’re wearing. You could have on the world’s ugliest suit and everyone one think you look good, because they’re distracted by the beauty on your arm. Imagine if you were walking around with, I dunno…Bea Arthur. No one’s gonna care what you’re wearing. Why?! Because you have a super hottie on your arm making you look good…Yes she is! Bea Arthur is gorgeous! Sure, she may not fit into your “conventional” beauty types, but she has a unique handsomeness to her…FINE! Then how about… let’s see here…who do the kids like these days?…Sally Fields, you know she played Gidget. No love for old Sally, huh? Okay, how ‘bout Charlize…I think we can all agree on Charlize.
What was I even getting at…OH YEAH! Just like a beautiful woman can make any guy look good, a drop dead gorgeous necktie can do the same for your suits. Just like this beauty from my friends over at General Knot & Co. – this handcrafted beauty makes every suit I own a big fat winner!
If life hates you like it hates me, then you were also born needing glasses. All the beautiful people skipping about without things sliding down their nose…all the rich folks using futuristic lasers to fit in with the beautiful…and the rest of us stuck being four eyes. But companies like Warby Parker have turned the tables and made us the belle of the ball. And Waltmanco is providing the perfect accessory! They’re even offering you a discount on their amazing ties. So take a minute and check out my interview with the man who married function and style to bring something new and beautiful to the tie game.
So I ask this of everyone, where did the name WaltmanCo come from?
The simple answer is that my last name is Waltman. But the story behind is that it started out as Tommies Ties because I started it with my cousin Tom. Then we got a letter from Tommy Hilfiger’s attorney asking us to change the name. So, we did.
Your ties are unique, they contain a microfiber cloth on the back. So, where were you when you came up with that idea?
The idea came up a few years ago while on vacation in Sun Valley, Idaho with several of my cousins. We wanted to try something new, and this seemed like a simple enough idea to do.
You launched through Kickstarter, tell us about that experience.
That was the very start of it all, and we weren’t sure how committed we would be to the idea. In hindsight, we should have spent a lot more time preparing for the Kickstarter campaign than we did. For the amount of time we put into it, though, it went very well, and we received good exposure.
So you’re a genius, as far as I’m concerned, do you agree with my assessment?
I wish I could agree, but I’m afraid it’s just not true. Actually, I do think the idea for the ties with microfiber lining was genius, but that came from my cousin!
Your ties aren’t just functional; they’re also quite fashionable. So, were you a fashion guy from the start or more of a technical guy?
I’m definitely not a fashionable guy, so it’s a good thing I’ve partnered with my sister Katie. She’s a jewelry designer, and has an amazing eye for fashion. She has more of an influence on the designs than I do.
You are a family business, so who’s in charge of naming the ties?
This has been a team effort. We don’t really do a lot of research or anything. We pick up the tie and blurt out the first thing that comes to mind and see what sticks.
One of your ties is named Mugatu. Is that from where I think it’s from?
Yes! I had already come up with a different name for that tie, but my younger brother made a special request to name it Mugatu. It’s turned out to be one of our most popular designs.
Will you ever make the move to microfiber pocket squares or do you think you’ll just stick with ties?
Our concept is making ordinary things more useful. We actually have ideas for several different “ordinary” products such as wallets that we’d like to improve on. Pocket squares would probably make a lot of sense.
And now Five Signature Questions with Christian:
Who is your Favorite Superhero or Villain?
I’m not sure if this fits the category, but I’ve always really liked King Kong and Godzilla. The recent movies of these are especially cool with the new CGI technologies!
Who wins in a fight Batman or Superman?
In any normal situation, it would have to be Superman. Is there really any question?
Which Star Wars Character would you be?
Don’t know. Yoda had some awesome skill in the more recent ones. And he lived a long time. So maybe him.
What’s your Favorite cereal of all time?
Probably Reese’s Puffs.
Are your dirty clothes on the floor or in the hamper, right now?
Over the years men have embraced the color pink. And with very good reason, it’s an amazing color. It can add power to an otherwise bland outfit or it can be a soft, subtle compliment to a well curated combo. But not all colors are as highly revered. For instance, take the color purple. Not the Whoopi Goldberg movie…that color purple is awesome! Sistaaaa Rememba Ya Naaaaaamme!
Okay so not that purple, the actual purple. Unfortunately purple is often overlooked. Like pork, and I’m not talking about bacon or ribs, I’m talking about pork, the other white meat. You know it exists, but you’re usually like I think I’ll just have chicken or beef…keep that pork to yourself. But pork can be delicious! And purple can be fantastic.
Dapper in Purple – @theamateurprofessional
Where purple gets a bad rap is in the way it’s often presented or showcased. A lot times, it’s shown in an obnoxious or abrasive manner, when in fact, it’s a marvelous color. Much like pink, it can strengthen or calm your attire. And much like pink, it’s available in a variety of amazing shades and hues.
I urge you to give it a try, but be careful, because for men, purple is also like sesame oil. You only need a little…if you use too much then you get Chopped! And you’ll be all like, I think the judges made a mistake, I made an amazing dish, Scott and Amanda were way off….blah blah blah, wah wah wah. Yeah I know not everyone will get that reference, but it’s worth it for those of you that will.
Do you remember when you were young and you would get in trouble for saying something, and you’d be like “what’d I say?” and some adult would fire back “It’s not what you said, it’s how you said it!!!”
In those instances they were referring to your attitude, which in the moment elevated you from child to certified bad boy! And as we all know chicks dig bad boys.
Well that concept has somewhat translated to fashion by way of Johnny Li founder of the men’s wear brand Dappertude. Dapper style for men with a little attitude. In fact you could say: it’s not what you wear but how you wear it…sort of…well I guess in this case it IS about what you wear. Because Dappertude sells men’s accessories and they have some pretty great items…this line of thought is kind of unraveling…QUICK!!! CUT TO THE INTERVIEW! What do you mean I’m being mean? All I said was, cut to the interview. What do you mean it’s not WHAT I said?….Oh OH! I get it. Well played.
Dappertude Founder, Johnny Li
I always like to start with the name…so how did you come up with the name Dappertude?
There isn’t much story behind how I thought of Dappertude, I wanted a unique name for my business which had the word Dapper in it and also meant something. After a while of brainstorming, I came to the conclusion of Dapper Attitude, motto: dress so that you have the Dapper Attitude. I noticed that it was a long name so I shortened it to DAPPERTUDE.
What inspired you to start up Dappertude?
It all started when I was working on Hong Kong, I was shopping on day discovered the so called pocket square, at first I didn’t wear it a lot but after getting compliments from friends and strangers, I started buying more and more. When I came back to Sydney I noticed that people were wearing suits without the pocket square and I even asked a stranger (who was looking really dapper) why he didn’t wear a pocket square, he just replied “ I don’t know where to get them from.” That’s when it hit me to start DAPPERTUDE.
Just one of Dappertude’s amazing lapel pins. To see more head to www.dappertude.com.
You’re based in Sydney, Australia, but you have quite a following in the US as well. What’s it like serving customers from all over the world?
It’s fantastic to see that the dapper style isn’t just 1 country’s style but a style that is universal.
Since you are based in Australia, perhaps you can settle an argument for me…who is more dreamy, Hugh Jackman or Chris Hemsworth…AHEM, I mean…who wins in a fight, Thor or Wolverine?
Definitely Thor will win with his crazy hammer and the more dreamy one would have to be Hugh.
Your product selection includes both lapel pins and pocket squares, what’s more popular with your customers right now?
To be honest, right now the popularity between the both is 50/50. Some people only like pocket squares while some people love the lapel pins.
For your limited edition pocket squares, you teamed up with The Bespoke Corner tailors, tell us about that collaboration.
It just started off with a chat and then I blinked an eye and “hay its ready.” It was so quick but a great collaboration.
Dappertude has a sweet pocket square collection – including this bad boy.
Okay, if you can only wear one or the other, for the rest of your life, do you keep lapel pins or pocket squares?
I’m sorry lapel pins but the pocket squares has been beside me since the beginning, its time to part ways.
Your lapel pins are divided into the Monday, Friday and Sunday collections…so which one are you?
Like any other Aussie, I’m definitely a Friday person. J Fridays are the best days of the week!
What’s cuter, a baby Kangaroo or a baby Koala bear?
They are both cute, very cute.
Here are Johnny’s Dappertudists.
I love Crocodile Dundee!! I mean I LOVE that movie! Wally, Nugget and Donk! But how do the Australian people feel about Mick Dundee? Is he beloved like he is here? And when I say “here,” I am pointing to my heart.
I’m not sure about the rest of Australia but I certainly loved Dundee, its unfortunate that kids these days wouldn’t have a clue who he is… which is a shame because they won’t know that “The funnel web spider can kill a man in eight seconds, just by lookin’ at him.”
Is there anything you’re not currently selling that you would like to see Dappertude carry in the future?
There is a big list of things which I would love to see Dappertude carry in the future. Ranging from cravats and cufflinks to bespoke tailoring of suits, shirts and even shoes. Anything that will bring out the Dapper Attitude in a gentleman.
Johnny is so cool he even has monogrammed shirts! Look at that cuff!
And now Five Signature Questions with Christian:
Who is your Favorite Superhero or Villain?
Saitama from One Punch Man
Who wins in a fight Batman or Superman?
Superman all the way… he’s like invincible….unless batman has kryptonite in his belt… then it’s Batman.
Which Star Wars Character would you be?
I would probably want to be R2-D2….*Big Grin*
What’s your Favorite cereal of all time?
Crunchy Nut!! I could eat this for breaky, lunch and dinner.
Are your dirty clothes on the floor or in the hamper, right now?
Definitely in the hamper, you can’t be dapper without clean clothes.
