Six. / Contributor Two: Cory Ohlendorf, Valet
On Work Uniforms, Brain Tonics, and Wildlife Conservation.
Hello, everyone. I’m quite excited about this week’s edition as it comes from our second contributor: Cory Ohlendorf of Valet!
Valet launched as a little newsletter on June 29th, 2008, and for many years, it’s been one of my favorite blogs and digital magazines to read every day, start to finish. It’s a great mix of useful advice, product recommendations (across all price points), and general information to fly through the day. Along with a new daily newsletter (more on that below), Cory is based in Miami and when I kindly asked if he would be interested in adding an edition, he jumped on it instantly. Enjoy!
Cory Ohlendorf is the co-founder and editor in chief of Valet, a digital men’s publication helping men become the best versions of themselves. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post and New York magazine and he’s also a creative consultant for various brands. He and his partner launched Valet. in 2008 “to create the kind of magazine that we wanted to see, but couldn’t find,” he says. “One that was stylish and celebrated living well but was also inclusive.”
A fun fact: When he’s not writing or testing new products, you can usually find him cycling outdoors or playing with his beagle, Emdash.
What are you currently working on?
We recently launched The Daily Valet., a morning newsletter that delivers everything a man needs to know that day. A mix of style and substance, it’s a great way to kickstart your morning and be the most interesting man in the room. Of course, I’m biased because I write every email but the response from guys (and a fair amount of women) has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve heard from a lot of people that this fills a particular type of hole in their morning routine. In my opinion, the majority of these digest newsletters are a bit dry, they can bring you down and certainly lack a certain taste level. We wanted to make things a little more interesting.
What are you currently excited about?
At the moment, I think I’m most intrigued by how wellness is evolving into this unique blend of luxury, spirituality and technology. Simple things like meditation, journaling and post-workout recovery are all now enhanced by thoughtful apps and advanced gadgets that help streamline the process. I’m always game to try out new gear like the Theragun or down a few drops of Wooden Spoon Brain Tonic. And while I know some of it can go a bit far and feel a little too Goop-ish, but if this movement towards wellness gets more people to put self-care first, I’m all for that. We could all benefit from a relaxing steam bath or massage, right?
What’s a story or article that you're currently thinking about?
I’m always interested in this dynamic of “what we wear says so much about how we feel and what we want others to see in us.” And Fast Company recently had a fascinating story about why we dress the way we do for work. It covered the history of office-appropriate clothing, from 17th century breeches to the bright patterns of the ‘70s to the casual mix of today. It quotes a recent study which found that nearly half of American managers felt that employees dressed too casually these days. But I think what I found most interesting was how menswear often evolves by coincidence:
“Necessity also became the mother of inventive workwear … Army-issued wristwatches from World War I eliminated the need of a watch fob (or a vest pocket for the fob to be placed in). Under World War II’s rationing, men’s jackets slimmed down from double-breasted to single-breasted, with narrow trousers to conserve fabric.”
What’s a product you’re currently obsessed with?
As I round the corner into the tail end of my 30s, I’ve been paying much more attention to my skin and trying to take better care of it. That means prioritizing sleep over another glass of wine and investing in quality products that deliver results. Onekind is a new natural line of unisex products from the makers behind The Motley and I’ve become obsessed with their “Midnight Magic” retinol. If you don’t know, retinols refine skin and smooth away fine lines, while evening out skin tone. But some can be harsh on skin. Not Onekind, which mixes their retinol and peptides with soothing birch bark extract and Vitamin E to combat redness and irritation.
Wild Card: What’s an item you can’t shake your mind off of?
The environment is definitely something that’s been worrying me more and more. You see these intense wildfires burning (both here in the US and in the Amazon) and then hear that these recent months were some of the hottest ever recorded globally. I was actually just up late looking for organizations focused on combating climate change and wildlife conservation. I decided to give to 350.org (dedicated to reducing the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide concentration) and get involved with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (which safeguards Africa’s wildlife and works to preserve wild habitats).
~ C O L O P H O N ~
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