In times past, being a gentleman was a thing of pride. It was expected that a man conform to certain standards; he should be well mannered, well dressed and well groomed. Prepared for any eventuality: he packed a handkerchief, pocketknife, umbrella, a book of matches and maybe, just maybe, something for the weekend.

Even my old man, only a generation removed, had a look of capability about him. A man who could fix a broken toilet or order a whiskey cocktail just as easily as he could bribe a cop or snap a deers neck, if his aim was off.

Alas, the halcyon days have passed and now it’s really more a matter of personal choice how a man goes about his business. If you’re lucky enough to live in Vancouver, however, you have no excuse for not looking your best, because since the Belmont opened rain city has one of the premier clip joints on the continent. Master Barber Dustin Fishbrook offers the finest haircuts money can buy and by word of mouth alone he is already hooking up the hippest cats with Chops, Flops, Fades and Flat tops. At $25 it’s not hard to see why he has such large and loyal following.

Located next to its once glorious and now infamous namesake - The Belmont hotel- in the heart of Vancouver’s scenester Main & Broadway, this joint is a below street level gem. Unashamedly male in style, this is a place in which less fairer sex can take pride and enjoy the ritual of looking good.

The interior offers the same attention to detail that Dustin gives his clients barnets; authentic vintage chairs, a washroom library of adult interest magazines, stuffed animals and a thumbnail history of the barbers art. This is a place to put men at ease. Even the sevice is simple;

Haircuts are walk up - just put your name on the chalkboard (call ahead if your smart) - the wet shaves by appointment only. Dustin is a man who takes his art seriously - he already has an apprentice in training and is looking to branch out into making sure men have everything they need to survive these modern times.

Rumor has it he has a suit line and umbrellas to follow.

Visit www.thebelmontbarbershop.com today and book your appointment or head on down and tell Dustin the StyleHeist boys sent you!

To go forward, sometimes you just gotta go back. Sounds crazy, but when you peep Ken Diamonds leather things become a little clearer.

Fighting out of the downtown east side of Raincity, Ken is an old school heavy weight. He puts his faith in the traditional ways of time and effort and the result is the best and most original skin collection around.

There are no machines in Kens world but for muscle and bone. Every piece - from bags to cuffs to belts - is cut, stitched, dyed and punched out by hand. Each item is an individual masterpiece as unique as the person whose lucky enough to own it. Ken’s approach to the leather craft has already bought him a notable clientèle - check out the Crew wallet at W hotels gift shop - and a queue of fashion colabs. His work with Megadestroyers has produced hands down the best hat of the decade and a belt sick enough to hold Jim Morison’s gut in check. And thats just start of it - crazy deconstructed/reconstructed Vans, bike seats and more, Ken D is a name to watch.