Category Archives: Style

Deals, Movies, Photography, Style, Technology

Happy Thanksgiving + Black Friday Deals

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Happy Thanksgiving from PRAKTICALA!

We hope you spend the holiday with friends and family. On the other hand, we acknowledge the rush one gets from Black Friday shopping. So why not compromise a little and do your shopping at from home, in your pajamas?

We’ll compile some of our favorite Black Friday deals here, so come back often for updates!

TECH:

Need a tablet? You can get the Kindle Fire from Amazon for a measly 35 bucks!! WHAT?!

If you’re into streaming TV, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is on sale for just $25!  You can steam Netflix, Amazon Video, and much more to your TV.

Low on hard drive space? Get a blazing fast solid state drive from Sandisk – 240GB for only 60 bucks! No spinning disks or other moving parts to wear out!

MOVIES:

My favorite movie from 2015, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD for $16.81 at Amazon! Read our review here!

JURASSIC WORLD Limited Edition Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD is only $10 on Amazon! Free shipping with Prime!

Or if you need the whole series (all four movies), the JURASSIC PARK Collection on Blu-ray  is only $25!

Need more sci-fi? EX MACHINA on Blu-ray + Digital HD is only $5, also shipped free with Prime!

Also, the STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy is also only $5!

MORE sci-fi! The ALIEN QUADRILOGY Blu-ray, including all four ALIEN films, is just $15 on Amazon! Awesome deal on one of the greatest film series ever!

One of our favorite comedies from the last few years, BRIDESMAIDS, is on Blu-ray + DVD for $5 from Amazon!

BOOKS:

One of my favorite books ever – The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes – only $4 for the hardcover on Amazon with promo code HOLIDAY30! If you have that one already, you can also get the great The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes (hardcover) for $4, or The Essential Calvin and Hobbes for $5!

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Photographers – Adorama has the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens starting at $249. This is a great price on a fast wide angle lens! Available for Canon, Nikon, and more.

STYLE:

Looking for a pair of shoes or some AWESOME dress shirts (review coming soon)? Get 20%  off your order at Charles Tyrwhitt by clicking here and entering the code CYBER20 at checkout! Or, get 15% off plus free shipping by clicking here and entering the code CYBER15! (expires 11/30)! Read my review of their Clarence Cap-toe Semi-Brogue shoes here!

Great watches don’t all need to be expensive. Take 50% off the Timex Weekender watch with promo code TIMEXGIFT to make it a cool $11 (multiple colors available!

OUTDOORS:

Amazon has a folding knife with Speedsafe from Kershaw for $10! A great name in knives if you are into camping and the outdoors. Might need to refresh a few times to see the price!

Stay tuned for more Black Friday deals throughout the weekend! Have a tip on a hot deal? Leave a note in the comments!

Have a safe and fun Thanksgiving!

Photography, Style

Review: Double Monk Strap Dress Shoes by Meermin Mallorca

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Now that you know about the James Bond test, it’s time to talk about monk straps. I have these double monks from Meermin Mallorca.

Be honest – sometimes you don’t want to hassle with shoelaces. What do you do? One option is to wear loafers, like these from Beckett Simonon. OR… put on a pair of monk straps!

Continue reading Review: Double Monk Strap Dress Shoes by Meermin Mallorca →

Movies, Style

Would James Bond Wear This?

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If you’re wondering where PRAKTICALA takes its style cues from, the answer is JAMES BOND.

If I’m dressing professionally or want to be taken seriously in any way, I just ask myself, “Would James Bond wear this?”

Continue reading Would James Bond Wear This? →

Photography, Style, Video

Review: Hamilton Khaki Aviation Swiss Automatic Watch H76565835

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Looking for an entry into the world of Swiss watches? There’s the Tissot I reviewed a while back. There’s also Hamilton, a brand with proud American origins, having provided timekeeping devices for the American railroads during the rail expansion of the late 1800s, as well as for U.S. troops during World War II.

EDIT: Added new video review below!

Hamilton was eventually acquired by Swatch Group, and moved their manufacturing to Switzerland. Like Tissot, Hamilton is a reputable and well-known name in Swiss watches, yet won’t kill your wallet (too much). The brand is notably a favorite among filmmakers and can be seen during critical plot points in several movies, from MEN IN BLACK to BURIED to INTERSTELLAR, making it a popular household name in watchmaking.

Continue reading Review: Hamilton Khaki Aviation Swiss Automatic Watch H76565835 →

Deals, Style

Beckett Simonon Premium Dress Shoes on Kickstarter

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Image courtesy of Beckett Simonon.

UPDATE: These shoes are in! Check out my review here!

EDIT: Now, take 20% off your order with our exclusive promo code PRAKTICALA20!

Beckett Simonon must be doing something right because their business is really starting to take off: recently, they announced yet another line of “premium” shoes that are being funded initially through Kickstarter. So what about the shoes that I already have? What are they, chopped liver??

Though I’m not 100% sure about what makes the upcoming line more “premium” than the Beckett Simonon shoes I’ve reviewed in the past, I do know that they’ve added a ton of new styles and colors, most notably burgundy (which you need to wear more often) and pebbled brown. The assortment of styles include monk straps (cool), loafers WITH TASSELS (FAHncy), brogues (can’t beat ‘em), and chukkas.

Continue reading Beckett Simonon Premium Dress Shoes on Kickstarter →

Photography, Style

Review: Cohen Loafers by Beckett Simonon

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Last year I reviewed Beckett Simonon’s Caine Oxford cap-toes and determined that they provided a decent value for the price, offering many high-end features (full-grain leather and goodyear welting) normally found on much more expensive shoes.

Beckett Simonon’s shoe lineup has since been updated. I was able to get my hands on a pair of their Cohen loafers to see some of the changes in person.

EDIT: Now, take 20% off your order with our exclusive promo code PRAKTICALA20!

EDIT: Beckett Simonon is launching a somewhat new, pre-order based business model, so the Cohen loafers are no longer available. You can read about the relaunched business here, or visit here to see Beckett Simonon’s current lineup of products.

Continue reading Review: Cohen Loafers by Beckett Simonon →

Photography, Style, Technology

Review: Citizen BL5250-02L Titanium Eco-Drive Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Watch

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I’ve already mentioned what I think is the best watch ever. Some of you, however, probably care less about the timeless elegance of an automatic movement and more about the accuracy and functionality of an everyday timepiece.

Nothing wrong with that! If that’s you, here is perhaps the last watch you’ll ever need – the Citizen BL5250-02L Titanium Eco-Drive Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Watch.

Super long name, but it is practically bulletproof,  never needs batteries, and has a crazy accurate quartz movement. And once you set the calendar, it will never need to be adjusted again. Not even for leap years. WHAT?!

Continue reading Review: Citizen BL5250-02L Titanium Eco-Drive Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Watch →

Photography, Style, Women

Shoe Review: TOMS Black Canvas Cork Strappy Wedges

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After some positive feedback from my recent post on the Clarks Ashland Alpine shoes, I learned that, shockingly, women are more interested in reading about shoes than men. So I figured that there could be a substantial niche at PRAKTICALA for content targeted at women.

It just so happens I have these Black Canvas Cork Strappy Wedges from TOMS that I think you people might be interested in. Hey I won’t fight against the basic laws of economics. Supply and demand!

Continue reading Shoe Review: TOMS Black Canvas Cork Strappy Wedges →

Photography, Style, Video

Review: Carter Wingtip Boots by Jack Erwin

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I got these Carter wingtip combat boots from Jack Erwin a while ago and gave them a good test run. I wear them to work or school when I have to ride the motorcycle.

UPDATE: Added a new video review below!

Continue reading Review: Carter Wingtip Boots by Jack Erwin →