According to the LA Times, guys are getting more and more into jewelry these days. Sales of men's jewelry doubled in the US over the last couple of years, and the trend is certainly visible on trend settin celebrity types from Johnny Depp to David Beckham.

So, why are men suddenly flocking back toward the bling? Some are saying that men are becoming more comfortable with making a fashion statement. Whatever.

It's true that when it comes to fashion guys really don't have as many options as we do. As females we can vary our outfits with shoes, makeup and accessories galore. Sure, men have footwear too. But, honestly, how many pairs of black or brown dress shoes can a guy really own? That's why fun eyewear is a great way for a man to give that little somethin' extra to his look.

You know how the story goes. French women don't get fat. French women are among the most stylish in the world. Men love French women. And it's true. Johnny Depp, arguably once the most eligible bachelor on this planet is in a long term relationship with a French woman. Take what you will from that.

So how do they do it? Keep reading for just four little secrets that will help us all tap into our inner glam French woman.

The difficult thing about facial hair is maintaining a balance within your personal style -- not letting the beard take control. A beard that's out of control can make you look pretty silly, and you'd do better to shave that sucker off rather than be caught wearing it. I've seen cases wear once sharp-dressing, clean-shaven guys decided to grow a beard, and pretty soon it was flannel and torn t-shirts -- and they never came back.

For better or worse, stars set the tone in the world of men's facial hair -- it's not necessarily a bad thing. It allows us to take cues from them and their stylists, converting them into lessons about our own shaving techniques. When Russell Crowe grows a beard and it looks cool, every dude on the street quits shaving. Then again, sometimes celebrities screw it up -- then we can make fun of them and feel superior.

The grading system for celebrity beards is simple: it consists of 3 variables. First, is there a reasonably good balance between their facial hair and their hairstyle? Second, is the beard in harmony with the rest of the outfit? The third variable is the interpretive factor, i.e. what's the beard doing for them? and how effective is it?

Although he did get a nomination for his role as the 'Demon Barber of Fleet Street,' Johnny Depp's facial hair control was not quite up to his usual standards. The goatee/mustache combo is a proven look for him, he's stuck with it since his Don Juan days. While last night's goatee was definitely under control, it was lacking a little bit of the usual flair.

I think his shaggy hair took away from the goatee, I kept wanting to reach over a push the hair out of his eyes -- it looked kinda painful. I know Johnny's got to be sick of walking the red carpet by now, but his hair to goatee ratio makes him look like someone who just wants to hide from the media while Daniel Day Lewis takes home the Oscar for Best Actor.

In my opinion, the sulking 'I hate the media' look is never becoming to movie stars -- they should suck it up and try to have some appreciation for the media that supports them. At least Johnny is able to complete the ensemble with a sort of casually worn dinner jacket and bow tie. Personally, I like a more bubbly and colorful Johnny Depp, but maybe playing a serial killer has got him down -- no major fashion errors though.

(out of 5)
Beard to Hair Ratio: 3
Beard to Ensemble: 4
Brooding Artist Factor: 4

I know being masculine is back in fashion after that whole "metrosexual" thing. But just because it's OK to act like a dude doesn't mean you can dress like a slob in public.

Take Johnny Depp's new construction worker look. This is fine if you're, I don't know, building something, but somehow I'm not sure it quite goes with his expertly-tailored, absurdly expensive suit. Let's just hope it's mud, and not something worse.

Seriously, where the hell was he before the Sweeney Todd premiere (where this photograph was taken) -- walking through through a cow patch? Better yet, you decide.

[via Jossip]

When someone mentions the term "literary magazine", do you think of those periodicals relegated to the literary ghetto, shelved between gaming mags and graphic novels at the mega-Borders out by the airport?

If so, Conduit gives you reason to pause. "The only magazine that risks annihilation" (its motto), Conduit is a quarterly devoted to bringing the very coolest in art, essays, poetry, interviews and humor.

Whereas most lit mags are boring squares (in every sense of the word), every issue of Conduit is a long, slim volume (11 inches high by 5 inches wide) guaranteed to: 1) impress your less-than-literary friends; and 2) not fit into any of your bookshelves.

Put another way, at $8 a pop, Conduit is cheaper than seeing the current Johnny Depp-vehicle Pirates of the Carribean ... and it gets you a whole lot more credibility among your pretentious friends.