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5 of the Worst Fashion Suggestions for Men Ever Heard

“Clothes make the man.”

That’s according to the legendary American author, Mark Twain, at least.

And honestly?

He’s right.

In many ways, a man’s fashion look defines him – certainly in the eyes of society, at least.

Whether you’re Justin Bieber or Tupac, Ted Mosby or Steve Jobs or James Bond – fashion imparts meaning to the man.

There’s no going around it: the watch your wear, the shoes you step into, the shirt you button yourself into – they all send a message to the people around you.  

Which is why bad fashion advice can be particularly disastrous – especially on the social front.

Chances are, you’ve heard some pretty questionable fashion advice yourself – handed down to you by well-meaning friends or co-workers, perhaps.

Or maybe you encountered such dubious style suggestions from the internet.

We at JWLS have stumbled upon some of the bad fashion advice on the internet – and wanted to share some of it with you (source: reddit.com).

So, prepare to get your cringe on as you read some of the worst men’s fashion advice ever heard.

“There was a guy who said his friends told him he looked good wearing a red polo tee with a black tie.”

Just…no. Where do we even begin with this one? This fashion un-advice makes us think that this guy’s friends might have been pulling a fast one on him just for laughs. Whatever the case might be, let’s just say that a polo tee and a tie isn’t a dashingly-good look. (You know what does go well with a black tie? A fine-fitting suit paired with a stylish watch.)

“As long as your shirt matches your shoes, nothing else matters.”

Actually, there’s a lot more that matters fashion-wise than simply matching your shirt with your shoes. Such one-dimensional fashion suggestions are quickly discarded by well-dressed gentlemen.

“Tuck in your t-shirt – untucked t-shirts are for slobs.”

Let’s see. A tucked in t-shirt is a look that some guys can pull off, but it’s not for everyone – and untucked t-shirts are definitely not the sign of a slob. Lots of fashionable dudes walk around with untucked t-shirts – without inducing a wave of cringey feelings in passerbys.

“Your socks should match your shoes and your belt.”

No, they shouldn’t. That’s all we have to say to that one.

“Socks with sandals can work. You’re missing out!”

Reality: 9/10 times socks-and-sandals are a look worthy only for the Fashion Hall of Infamy (if there was such a place, that is).

These are all, obviously, pretty eyebrow-raising fashion suggestions.

Right?

Now, if you want to do something that’ll raise not your eyebrows but your fashion game, take a look at the men’s watches in the JWLS 2018 collection.

Did You Know: When it Comes to Mortality Rate, There’s a Cystic Fibrosis “Gender Gap”

Did you know:

There’s a gender gap when it comes to cystic fibrosis mortality rates?

It’s something that’s been known for quite some time – practically ever since hospitals began recording mortalities resulting from cystic fibrosis complications.

In short, a “gender gap” here means that girls and women with cystic fibrosis have a greater risk of death than males do.

For example, a 1997 report concluded that, between the ages of 1 and 20, females with cystic fibrosis were 60% more likely to die than their male counterparts. A study published two years later noted that the median age of survival for males with cystic fibrosis was 4 years higher than that for women.

So based on studies like these (and others), it’s pretty clear that there is a “gender gap” when it comes to cystic fibrosis mortality – and a significant one at that.

Medical researchers have long puzzled over this enigmatic gender gap. What, after all, could be responsible for the higher mortality rate among women with cystic fibrosis?

As it turns out, several hypotheses have been advanced to explain this mysterious phenomenon. Some have suggested that this gender gap is the result of behavioral differences between women and men (caused by the still-rigid gender roles of Western society).

For instance, the authors pointed out that a simple act like spitting after intense sports activity is considered “masculine” and not at all feminine; thus, even after vigorous exercise, women are far less likely to spit on the ground than men are. Yet, for people with cystic fibrosis, spitting is often an essential way to help regulate the flow of mucus in the body. Thus, women with cystic fibrosis can be harmed by gender roles that tell them that a simple act like spitting is “gross” or “unwomanly.”

That might explain the gender gap.

But not so fast, say other researchers, because there are other possible explanations – perhaps a gender bias exists in the medical system, such that girls are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a later age than boys are. This was the idea put forward by a paper published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. In that study, the authors discovered that there was a delayed age of diagnosis for girls with cystic fibrosis.

Then there’s the hypothesis that the hormone estrogen – a major hormone of the female body – is related in some way to this nefarious gender gap.   

Of course, this all goes to show that – at this point – researchers aren’t totally sure what’s behind the gender gap in cystic fibrosis mortality rates. In fact, it’s possible that it’s caused by a number of factors – perhaps all of the ones mentioned here play some kind of role.

The good news is that the cystic fibrosis gender gap is not invincible – forever unable to be closed: a 2005 study, taking place in a London hospital, found that when medical practices at the clinic were standardized across the board – for both girls and boys – the gender gap was no longer detectable.

And whether or not the gender gap is getting smaller as we head into the third decade of the 21st century, one thing is for certain: there is a need for a cure for cystic fibrosis, so lives won’t continue to be lost to this devastating disease. To support the search for a cure – and look chic in the process – have a look at JWLS’ elegant, edgy line of watches. 

Explaining the “Quartz Movement” Watch Preference

Take a look around the JWLS online shop and you might notice this: all JWLS watches are powered by Japanese quartz movements.

That could, naturally, spark a question such as this: why do some watch connoisseurs prefer quartz movements, while others are much more enthusiastic about watches with automatic movements (also known as mechanical watches)?

For many watch-lovers, quartz watches are seen as possessing one particular advantage over mechanical watches: quartz watches, because they keep time through a battery (which, fascinatingly, electrifies a tiny crystal of quartz), are much more reliable time-keepers than automatics. The quartz crystal vibrates at a consistent frequency anywhere in the world, and this fact was used by watch engineers to devise remarkably accurate timepieces.

Automatic watches – which have a history spanning over 300 years – are built to track time by the intricate movements of precise, miniature mechanical parts (coupled to springs) which get their power from the natural, daily motions of the wearer.

And because automatic watches are mechanical – not battery powered – they have far, far more parts than a quartz watch. If you placed both a quartz watch and an automatic under an X-ray machine – getting a look inside these watches – you’d see just how enormously complex an automatic is compared to a quartz watch. Indeed, the automatic would look quite like a microscopic factory, with gears spinning and whirring; the quartz watch, on the other hand, would look dramatically simpler in design.

Since quartzes don’t have nearly as many moving parts as automatics, they can reliably keep time – even in rough, less-than-friendly conditions (whether that’s skydiving or mountain biking or some other adrenaline-spiked activity). Watches with quartz movements are well-known for their extreme time-telling precision.

Meanwhile, because of their intricate inner architecture, automatic watches generally require servicing every four years or so; in addition, the day, date, and time must be reset whenever the watch exhausts its power.

So which type of watch should you get? A rigorously accurate quartz movement, or an automatic?

Ultimately, the answer to that question all boils down to the main reason why you’re investing in a watch: as a “testament to an artform,” as someone said about automatics, or because you want “to always know the exact time regardless of sleet, deep water, or a 30 foot fall,” as a quartz movement enthusiast said.

Of course, if you’re in the mood for an elegant watch with a quartz movement, then JWLS may have a stylish timepiece that exactly suits your taste.

A Year in Review, and the Search for a Cure: Cystic Fibrosis Research Highlights from 2017

The life expectancy of those with cystic fibrosis has been on an upwards swing for quite some time now, thanks largely to medical advances in diagnostic and treatment capabilities. However, the search for a cure is still very much an urgent necessity, as cystic fibrosis continues to claim beautiful lives and shatter families.

In light of this, it makes sense to keep an eye on ongoing research towards a cure for this deadly genetic disease. So here you’ll read about research on cystic fibrosis that was rolled out last year, in 2017. What follows is a brief summary of two 2017 studies on potential cures for cystic fibrosis.

Study #1, January 2017 – “Can Cystic Fibrosis Patients Finally Catch a Breath With Orkambi?”

This study took a good look at the Orkambi treatment protocol – which consists of a drug combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor. In principle, at least, these drugs are able to correct many of the molecular causes of cystic fibrosis (read this for a friendly guide to the biology of cystic fibrosis).

Since cystic fibrosis is fundamentally caused by a malfunctioning protein – the CFTR protein – both lumacaftor and ivacaftor act on the protein in distinct ways to improve its function (such that this protein behaves in the way it does in healthy human cells). This drug combo is dubbed the Orkambi protocol, and requires a daily oral dose of lumacaftor and ivacaftor every 12 hours.

The study referenced above reviewed all available clinical data on the Orkambi protocol, and concluded that – at present – this is not much of a cure for cystic fibrosis, but more of a strategy for managing symptoms. As the study noted, “Orkambi therapy displayed only modest improvements in lung function and pulmonary exacerbations.”

Furthermore, the cost of this therapy is quite prohibitive – around $259,000 USD per year.

Nonetheless, this study ended on an upbeat tone, with the conclusion that “…the long-term benefits of Orkambi require further assessment and we are all curiously awaiting the results of long-term…studies for these two revolutionary CF drugs.”

Study #2: June 2017 – “Correcting CFTR folding defects by small-molecule correctors to cure cystic fibrosis”

Released in the summer of last year, this report began with the following premise: since cystic fibrosis is often caused by a damaged, misshapen CFTR protein – how can we correct the shape of this protein, such that it functions correctly? (Just like a few mismatching gears can destroy the functionality of a watch, a few badly-shaped proteins – like CFTR – can wreak havoc on the human body.)

The report went on to answer that question it posed by reviewing current research drugs that could “fix” the badly-shaped CFTR protein in individuals with cystic fibrosis. For example, it noted that two therapeutic research medicines – Cavosonstat and Riociguat – have shown promise in correcting the function of damaged CFTR proteins.

However, this review of available research medicines showed that none of them individually are able to completely correct the badly-shaped CFTR proteins; hence the need for combination drug protocols (like Orkambi, mentioned above).

The study wrapped up with the following note: “The near future will see a number of these drug combinations approved for CF, with the expectation that significant rescue, close to a cure for CF, will be obtained.”

As you can see, there’s still much research that must be done to finally cure cystic fibrosis. This research requires funding, which is why JWLS donates a portion of all profits to Cystic Fibrosis Canada. To shop JWLS watches and help the fight against cystic fibrosis, go here.

(For other ways you can support research on cystic fibrosis, read this.)  

Simple Things Anyone Can Do to Fight Cystic Fibrosis

In the effort to vanquish the scourge of cystic fibrosis, anyone can help.

Even if you don’t have any friends or family members with cystic fibrosis, you can still take steps to fight back against this devastating genetic disease.

As the saying goes, after all, it’s the little things that count.

Wondering what you can do to help?

Well, you won’t be wondering that for very much longer – because here are a few simple, practical things you can do to help crush cystic fibrosis.

• Read up on cystic fibrosis – Learn about the struggles and hardships that those with cystic fibrosis endure. Poke around web articles and even scholarly, scientific papers to discover more about the disease – why it occurs, and what treatments currently exist. Doing this kind of research will allow you to better understand how those with the disease are affected (and how whole families are impacted), giving you even greater insight into how you can help in this fight.

• Participate in walks – Every year, walks are carried out in Canada, the United States, the U.K. – and other nations – to turn the spotlight on cystic fibrosis and raise funds. Participating in these walks is an important (and invigorating!) way to support medical research on cystic fibrosis.

• Raise awareness by sharing stories on social media – In this day and age, social media is just about everywhere. So tap into the power of social media to raise awareness about cystic fibrosis. Whether it’s through Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube, or some other platform, you can – by pressing just a few buttons – bring attention to the realities of cystic fibrosis. One of the best ways to do this is by sharing the stories of those who are living and contending with cystic fibrosis.

• Donate funds – Every donation helps, no matter how small or how big! Contributing funds to organisations devoted to researching and curing cystic fibrosis is an extremely effective way to combat the disease. If this is something you can do, we strongly encourage you to donate to an organisation like Cystic Fibrosis Canada (go here to donate).

Also, if you’re into stylish watches that make you look particularly hip, then getting a JWLS watch is an excellent way to both elevate your wardrobe and fight cystic fibrosis. The reason why? With every purchase of a JWLS watch, a portion of the profits are donated directly to Cystic Fibrosis Canada. It’s a fantastic way to look good while doing good.

What Causes Cystic Fibrosis? A Quick Guide to the Biology of Cystic Fibrosis

If you read some articles on what causes cystic fibrosis, it can all seem rather confusing and esoteric – with technical jargon flying left and right.

To the rescue: this piece here, which explains – in simple English – the biology of cystic fibrosis. We’ll answer the question of what it is, exactly, that happens on a biological level to trigger the onset of cystic fibrosis.

Here’s what you need to know:

In people without cystic fibrosis, their airways – from the respiratory tract down to the lungs – are lined with a sticky, slippery substance known popularly as “mucus.”

This mucus lining, as it turns out, is actually incredibly important to the body.

Why?

Because the air we breathe is not pure. It’s filled with microscopic dust particles and bacteria. But whenever we take a breath, all of this dust and bacteria gets caught by the sticky mucus lining – preventing these particles from flooding into our lungs. What’s more, this mucus lining is actually in a constant state of motion – propelled by tiny molecular motors known as cilia, which transport the mucus (along with all the particles it has caught) into your gastrointestinal tract (which includes the stomach, among other organs).

It’s easy for the body to clear out old mucus – and replace it with new lining – because your airway surfaces are constantly hydrated with a water-based coat of liquid. This liquid makes it easy for mucus to move from the airways to the gastrointestinal tract.

But things don’t work like that in a person with cystic fibrosis – not at all, in fact.

Essentially, in someone who has cystic fibrosis – their airway surfaces aren’t hydrated with very much water at all. This is because of a mutation which destroys the function of a gene known as CFTR – or, in technical parlance, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator.

This gene is responsible for regulating the flow of chloride and bicarbonate ions throughout the body’s cells. Proper flow of these ions is absolutely necessary for cells to be well-hydrated (think of these ions as tiny “magnets” which help control the movement of water throughout the body’s tissues).

Without this adequate hydration, airway surfaces are unable to rid themselves of old mucus lining. So the mucus stays put, all throughout the airways, collecting more and more bacteria (and other microbes), dust, and debris.  

The result? Microbes begin multiplying rapidly in the body’s air passages, and after years of microbes colonising the body in this way, they begin to produce inflammation and infection – severely damaging lung tissues which are only supposed to come into contact with pure air (and not an army of microscopic invaders). This, ultimately, makes breathing increasingly difficult.

That’s the gist of it – the underlying reason why cystic fibrosis occurs. Treatment strategies have evolved over time, but a cure is urgently needed. That’s why every JWLS watch purchase supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – providing funds for the research and development needed for a cure.

Friday Q&A: What is Cystic Fibrosis? (And more)

“What – exactly – is cystic fibrosis, and why is it so deadly?”

This is a question that people often ask those who are deeply engaged in the fight against this genetic disease. Despite the devastating lethality of cystic fibrosis, not much is known about it by the general public. It is our view that spreading awareness about the exact nature of CF – its main features, its progression, treatment options, and so on – is an effective means of combatting the disease over the long-term.

And recently, a report was published by the American Thoracic Society entitled “Twenty Facts About Cystic Fibrosis.” Using this resource, and others, we have created the following, brief Q&A to address a few questions you may have about cystic fibrosis.

Q: What causes cystic fibrosis?

A: All humans are born with a protein known as CFTR (proteins are molecules found in all of your cells, and they perform a vast range of essential cellular functions). CFTR regulates the movement of salt and water within cells.

Some individuals, however, have a defective version of CFTR – purely the result of a genetic accident, or mutation. This less-than-optimal version of the CFTR protein is unable to effectively regulate cellular movement of salt and water molecules. Consequently, individuals with this form of CFTR experience dehydrated airways and an often deadly build-up of mucus – making breathing extremely difficult.

Q: What is the life expectancy for individuals with cystic fibrosis?

A: The average life expectancy for those with cystic fibrosis varies based on the nation under consideration. In Canada, for instance, the average life expectancy is slightly above 50 years of age. On the other hand, in the United States, the average life expectancy is around 40 years of age.

What these numbers do not reveal, however, is this troubling fact: half of those who pass away as a result of cystic fibrosis are 30 years of age or younger.

Q: How is cystic fibrosis detected?

A: One of the most common ways to detect cystic fibrosis is through the sweat test – which measures sodium levels in sweat (people with cystic fibrosis have an elevated concentration of salt in their sweat).

Q: What potential cures for cystic fibrosis show the most promise?

A: Currently, gene therapy appears to be a promising avenue for curing cystic fibrosis. The basis of this technology is the ability to replace defective genes and proteins with better functioning ones. However, there is still much more research and funding required to make this cure a reality – which is just one of many good reasons for getting a “timepiece with a purpose.”

Stepping Stones to a Cure: $10,000 Donation to Cystic Fibrosis Canada

“Having CF, on a good day,” writes Jo-Anne Giles, who’s lived with cystic fibrosis for 48 years, “Is knowing your body is highly unusual, a mutant body because of a mutant gene. CF isn’t like cancer or influenza; it isn’t the result of a foreign pathogen invading your body; it’s your code; it is a fundamental condition of your existence.”

Jo-Anne is not alone in this fundamental condition of her existence; approximately 1 out of every 3,600 children born in Canada are born with this incurable, and deadly, genetic disease. And worldwide, tens upon tens of thousands of people are afflicted with cystic fibrosis.

The lived realities of those with cystic fibrosis is not well-understood by many people; children diagnosed with CF often begin their mornings at earlier hours than most – as demanded by a regimen of breathing treatments and medications. And, on top of the physical stresses imposed by CF, the psychological ravages of the disease – heightened anxiety, for example – take a toll of their own.

These are realities which Emily Lyons – CEO and founder of JWLS – is all-too familiar with, having witnessed her sister Julia endure through these and other hardships of cystic fibrosis.

Now, more than 6 years after Julia passed away, Emily is determined to make an impact by channeling financial resources towards organizations involved in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis.

One such organization is Cystic Fibrosis Canada, a not-for-profit charity which – for years – has accumulated a vast storehouse of information and data on cystic fibrosis. Known as “one of the world’s top three charitable organizations committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis,” Cystic Fibrosis Canada – which has existed for more than 50 years – was recently been selected by Emily Lyons as the recipient of a $10,000 donation.

With these funds – and other funds the organization receives from donors – Cystic Fibrosis Canada will be in a strong position to continue its quest for an effective cure for cystic fibrosis.

(Indeed, largely thanks to the efforts of Cystic Fibrosis Canada, the prospects of long-term survival for those with cystic fibrosis is steadily increasing.)

Emily isn’t stopping at this donation, either. Her company JWLS, which was launched earlier this year, is expressly devoted to providing funds to organizations engaged in the fight against cystic fibrosis. This, in fact, is the meaning behind the JWLS slogan, “Timepieces with a Purpose.” Every time a JWLS watch is purchased, a percentage of the company’s profits are donated directly to relevant organizations. Emily sees this approach – harnessing the power of capital created through business activities – as a powerful way to eliminate cystic fibrosis once and for all. It’s her hope – and the hope of thousands of people across the world – that cystic fibrosis will soon no longer be a fundamental condition of anyone’s reality.

Advice from JWLS: How to Choose a Gift Your Loved One Will Love

Now that the holiday season is upon us, it’s time to start thinking about gifts for your loved ones. But let’s face it: some of us aren’t the best at gift-giving. It’s the thought that counts, of course, but one of the best ways to show someone your appreciation for them is through a well-thought-out gift.

So suppose you want to improve your gift-giving skills – and learn the art of finding gifts for people in your life that they really connect with on an emotional level.

How do you do that?

Here, straight from our gift-giving experts at JWLS, are some tips for you (of course, if you or a loved one would like a watch for the holidays, don’t forget to check out the JWLS collection here):

• One of the best ways to hone your gift-giving skills is by developing the ability to pick up on hints that people drop (consciously or subconsciously) – things they say that clue you in on what sort of gifts they might love. For example, if you’re at the mall with them – or perhaps browsing the web together – and they see a watch and make the comment that they love watches, then simply make a mental note of this. People will unintentionally drop these sort of hints throughout the year, too, so it may be a good idea to keep track of such comments on a notepad app on your smartphone. Then, when the gift-giving season rolls around, you’ll have a good idea of what they like – and it’ll make you look unbelievably thoughtful, too.

• Not everyone has this – but if they have a wishlist somewhere (like Amazon Wishlist), then don’t forget to have a look at that.

• It’s also a good idea to record the gift ideas that spontaneously occur to you. Sometimes, you might get struck by an epiphany of a possible gift to get them – and when that happens, it’s useful to collect these ideas somewhere. To that end, picture boards like Pinterest (and other boards) are ideal – simply find a picture of the gift that occurred to you, and add it to your board.

• You may also want to try a brainstorming exercise to come up with good gift ideas for your loved one. Start by making a list of things you know about them. Begin with something simple – for example, list their favourite colour, preferred kind of music, TV shows they enjoy, and so on. Then, continue listing even more things you know about them – the first items you jot down will help jog your memory so your brainstorming can move forward. Use this brainstorming list to find a gift that is personalized to their tastes; for example, knowing what their favourite colours are can allow you to choose a watch with those colours. Your gift, then, will appeal specifically to their tastes, sense of fashion, and so on.