The Discerning Brute: fashion, food & etiquette for the ethically handsome man » mooshoes

Step Right Up, In Novacas.

joshuakatcher — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 22:42:51 +0000

I'm pretty excited about the Autumn-2010 collection of men's shoes from Novacas. From the tan, sleek soles and the gray, brown, and black uppers in classic, handsome styles to edgy details like an asymmetrical opening on the Emmett, to the fold-down throat on the Milo, these shoes and boots showcase a welcomed shrewdness from Novacas. The profiles are trim and elegant, and I also really enjoy the contrast of the high-polish toe on the gray Milo against the rest of the matte upper. The best part about a well-made men's shoe is that it looks good with anything: shorts, jeans, slacks, a suit. Novacas' shoes are 80% biodegradable (on their way to being 100%), totally vegan, and made under fair conditions in European factories. To top it off, sister designers Erica and Sara Kuberski own MooShoes, NYC's only 100% ethical shoe store.

Back To School Shopping: Paul Iacono Goes Eco with Joshua Katcher

TheDiscerningBrute — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:45:09 +0000

I went back-to-school shopping with actor Paul Iacono of the reinvention of Fame! Teen.com TV asked me to take Paul on an eco-friendly shopping spree, where we went thrifting at Buffalo Exchange, checked out some organic cotton at Kaight, explored some cruelty-free accessories at MooShoes, and finished off the day with some vegan ice cream banana splits at Lula's Sweet Apothecary!

Brogue Basics

TheDiscerningBrute — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:56:43 +0000

These Portuguese-made, eco-friendly, vegan microsuede "Simpatia" wingtip shoes from BoBo are my new obsession. Great with a tux or just a pair of skinny jeans - wingtips, otherwise know as the brogue, are a boys best friend. Wanna know why we steer clear of leather at The Discerning Brute, Click Here, and don't have a cow! Check out all the other vegan wingtips & brogue shoes:

Suki, Blood, Retro Sneaks & Sample Sales

TheDiscerningBrute — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:13:49 +0000

1. The Choosy Beggar can show us dudes where to hit up all the NYC sample sales. Thanks to Chloe from Girlie Girl Army for this info! 2. I recently got to try the tart, sweet, and totally original, organic blood orange juice from Italian Organics. My roommate said it would make an amazing mixed drink, but I enjoyed the bottle on its own. It also has almost twice the vitamin C as regular orange juice. Get some HERE. 3. A little while back I mentioned the mostly vegan, all organic Suki skin care line. Well I've been using the toner, chamomile moisture oil, sugar exfoliating facial scrub, and vitamin C Serum, and my skin is literally supple and glowing. Thanks Suki! 4. Retro Hi-Top. These babies from Autonomie Project are slick, classic, and pretty affordable. $56 at MooShoes gets you fair trade, organic canvas with sustainable rubber, and eco-friendly dyes. Duh! Fits perfectly in a Christmas stocking!

Vegan Gladiators & Their (Supposed) Sandals

TheDiscerningBrute — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:03:06 +0000

Did you know that the real-deal Gladiators were vegans? These overweight warriors who ate nothing but barely and beans shatter the pervasive stereotype of frail, weak herbivores. Analysis of the bones of more than 70 gladiators found in 2004 near Ephesus, the Roman capital of Asia Minor, contradicts traditional Hollywood images of macho carnivores with the physique of superheroes as well. Forensic anthropologists revealed these fighters had thicker bone density than their omnivorous counterparts - shattering yet another stereotype of the vegan diet; the calcium myth. How did they treat animals? That's another story - and apparently, they didn't actually wear sandals either. They fought bare-foot! But in accordance with the popular fantasy that they did don stylish, strappy sandals - here are a few styles to choose from that will certainly not get you a thumbs down.

Commodus in 'Gladiator', played by the vegan Joaquin Phoenix

If you want to look like a barbarian without actually treating cows like one, check out these Splaff Gladiators at MooShoes, made from recycled tires and hemp:

When in Rome, do as the Romans didn't - show up in a brown toe-post sandal from Vegetarian Shoes UK. Lightweight cork mid-sole, handmade in Portugal with a padded and contoured footbed, arch support and a deep heel cup. Lined with super-soft micro-fibre fake suede. Lightweight, patterned, Microcellular outsole. Adjustable strap lined with Soft-feel synthetic felt.

If you are more of an eco-warrior into the strappy buckles thing, these Birkenstock-inspired 3 Strap Sandals with faux-suede from Vegetarian Shoes UK should do the trick.

Ladies, do not fear, your veg gladiator days are here as well from designers like Cri De Coeur, Steve Madden, and Burgois Boheme.