The Watch: Daniel Wellington

So this one basically was a no-brainer. I'm from Wellington and my brother, well, he's called Daniel. Need I say more?

Apart from that little coincidence (is there ever such a thing?) I'd be lying if I said I wasn't loving this watch. It's got an unoffensive preppy thing happening and it's very sophisticated. But more than that it's also easy. And by easy I mean it goes with everything - honestly.

Daniel Wellington, who actually was a real person, inspired Filip Tysander (the founder of Daniel Wellington - confused yet?) to fuse classic timepieces with weathered Nato straps. Why? Well Mr. Wellington wore his Rolexes this way, as did James Bond in Goldfinger. The idea was about being unpretentious while remaining gentlemanly (you know, the whole je ne sais quoi relaxed debonair thing). Essentially the strap has the unique ability to dress-down any dressed-up look. De-formalizing if you will. And all while staying sharp - which, by-the-way, is alway the point. 

If your budget is more dash than cash then Daniel Wellington is the perfect option. I usually pair mine with several bracelets and charms because nothing beats a good wrist party. What's more the strap is completely interchangeable and each is named after a prominent British university town. Technically I should have worn this one (because I went there) but instead I chose both the Exeter and Belfast straps. After all, two straps are always better than one...

Learn more about Daniel Wellington and shop the collection here.

- Photos by Alexander Atkins

On Haight Street: Camouflage 2.0

I guess the whole let's-walk-around-town-with-a-small-dog thing is a bit passé. But an iguana as a replacement - really?
In short, yes. Really. This is the twenty-first century. No judgement here. I mean one minute you're walking down Haight St. browsing Wasteland (where I scored a vintage Versace blazer, just FYI), the next minute you're practically confronted by a dragon. On the street. On a Saturday. I know it's San Francisco, and everyone is notoriously, ahem, eclectic (to phrase it conservatively) - but this is beyond.

I'm into this 'look' (if we can call it that?), and not just for the whole updated pirate's parrot-on-one-shoulder thing. Or even for my love of exotic skins. No, I love this because it's legitimate camouflage. Living, breathing premium-grade, pure camouflage. Obviously I'm going to be a fan. Besides, the lizard's name was Yoshi - my all-time favorite Nintendo character. Like ever. Phrased simply, it was a fait accompli.

Yoshi the iguana, in a birthday suit like none other, photographed by Alexander Atkins on Haight St. in San Francisco. 

For more snaps, musings and general rarities be sure to check-out @MrEssentialist on Instagram.