eyefivestyle.com

Tanner Goods Camera Strap

2011-11-29T10:57:00.000-08:00

-I've been looking for the perfect leather camera strap for years, and almost every photographer I know has been on the same search. Stock straps are made of neck-gouging nylon and turn you into a walking advertisement for your preferred brand of camera. There are a few solid looking leather versions on Etsy and a from a few leather crafters on the web, but I'd never seen any that I thought I could buy for life and be done with it.

A month of two ago I heard through the grapevine that Tanner Goods would be making a camera strap and I effectively ended my search. Given the quality of their previous products, I knew that their camera strap would address my needs, my preference for local goods notwithstanding. The 4/5 oz Horween Chromexcel (the color I purchased is "Russet,") is soft but durable enough to carry a heavy kit. More importantly the guys at TG found away to get rid of the metal clasps used on most straps, which scratch up your camera body, opting for heavy-duty cord attachments instead.

Yesterday I slung my FE2 around my shoulder and went out shooting for a few hours to give it a test run and as expected it was comfortable and unrestrictive. I'm stoked too see how the leather ages with use. It wouldn't be too much of a hassle to switch the strap around between my three camera bodies, but I'm contemplating getting two more colors so that each camera has its own unique accoutrement. A few more photos after the jump.

Mark McNairy San Salvador Burro Boot

2011-08-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

-Awhile back Lawrence at Sartorially Inclined offered a first look at an unexpected shoe from Mark McNairy. The San Salvador Burro boot, inspired by the footwear of Central American working men and manufactured by ADOC, the largest shoemaker in Central America, the boots sparked a bit of controversy in the comments. McNairy's designs are no stranger to criticism and style blog comment threads are well-known for hyperbole and dissent, but I was nonetheless intrigued by the boots.

-When I got the opportunity to check out the boots hands-on I was stoked, but in knowing that 90 percent of the blogosphere wouldn't dare criticize a McNairy product for fear of... (I'm not quite sure? Page view retribution?) I was a little excited at the possibility that these boots would in fact be trash and worthy of a thorough trashing. But alas, after wearing the San Salvador's around for a couple weeks, I found that they are exactly what they were purported to be, what my grandpa might refer to as "real, shit-kicking boots." My thoughts and more photos after the jump.

-All the other boots I own are high and heavy, so I was keen on having an option that bridged the gap between work boots desert boots or chukkas. The suede uppers are soft around the ankles, but make no mistake, the toe box and sole are substantial and can take a beating.

-The two above photos show what seems to be a sticking point for a lot of people on these boots, the ADOC tag on the side. While I agree with most that footwear should remain free of tags and branding, in this case the adherence to authenticity gets the nod. It's not a McNairy tag, it's an ADOC tag, just like on all of ADOC's other boots. If anything, the tag just solidifies that the Burro is definitely not for the office, a true workman's shoe. Some may be inclined to comment "Didn't you hear? The workwear trend is over!" But to those of us who sometimes do work that doesn't consist only of car->cubicle->repeat and (gasp!) actually need a rugged ass shoe, the affinity for workwear was never about trends. Being that they are true to their roots, the one addition I'd make to the boots is an insole, as the construction is pretty bare-bones; suede, sole, done. (aside: look up Mitch Hedberg's Dr. Scholl's joke.)

-I've been testing these out during the (albeit tepid) summer, which isn't really the ideal season for boots. Come fall I expect to choose the San Salvador's often when the weather and circumstance calls for something in between hard-bottom and high-boot.

Spring Quarter: SS Looks featuring Wharf Shirting

2011-04-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

-I've written a few times about how I prefer fall/winter style, but this winter has been brutally cold and wet, and I'm ready for some sun. With graduation (and having to find a job) on the horizon, I needed to upgrade my SS shirt game, so I turned to my friends at Wharf for a helping hand. Having been thoroughly satisfied with my Wharf "ONE" last season, this year I sprung for the THREE linen spread-collar and the TWO BD club-collar in seersucker. Aside from my purple chambray Gitman, I didn't have any shirts that were both light enough for the summer heat but refined enough for whatever formal tasks the summer might bring (job interviews, weddings, etc.) But I am legitimately stoked on these two shirts. The fabric choice is perfect for warm weather and collar type is versatile in its own way. I built a few SS looks around the two shirts, check out the photos and further commentary after the jump.

-On the new episode on No Logos (which will be out soon!) my colleagues express their affinity for an unbuttoned spread-collar. I have to respectfully disagree, I think spread collars should really only be rocked with a tie. That may limit the shirt's versatility, but I like that it forces you to dress up your look a bit, especially in the SS seasons when people tend to lean toward casual too often. What I like about the linen is that from any distance it looks refined, but it feels a bit rugged and breezy.
-Above: Jacket - Rugby. Knit - The Tie Bar. Tie Bar - Vintage. Pocket square - The Hill-Side. Belt - Vintage. Pants - Topman. Shoes - Alden. Watch - Bertucci.

-Above: Some random leftover shots with the spread collar. The spread on the Wharf version isn't incredibly dramatic, which I think is a more accessible shirt for most guys, especially those making their first spread-collar purchase.
-Above: Jacket - Rugby. Pocket square - The Hill-Side. Jeans - Naked & Famous.

-This was my first club-collar purchase and what I'm really digging is the ability to go from dressed-up to casual easily. The BD club can be worn just like any other button-down collar.
-Above: Tie - Blackbird. Tie Bar - vintage.

-Above: Vest - vintage. Tie - Topman. Socks - Happy Socks. Sweater - J. Crew. Bow - Rugby.

School Supplies: Navy Waxed Canvas Bean Boots

2011-03-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

-I was ready to post some spring content, but then the weather extinguished my preemptive enthusiasm and dropped some flood-warning inciting rain, forcing me back to my bean boots after a few weeks of Vans and Sperrys.
-When L.L. Bean Signature first launched their waxed-canvas hunting boots, I saw a lot of people talking about wanting them, and I saw a few people who picked up the tan pair, but I hadn't seen many people talking about the navy. To me the navy option jumped out immediately just because it's not in the same brown/tan tonal range that we're used to seeing on beans. Washington is more wet than it is cold, so the waxed canvas has worked fine in place of the heavier versions of the boot.

-Bean boots, and L.L. Bean in general, inspire a sense of nostalgia in a lot of people; but not me. Despite growing up in the perpetually rainy Northwest, I never saw bean boots as a kid, or if I did, I didn't notice them. I think the first time I ever heard of the name L.L. Bean was on one of those bean Subarus they used to have, and even then I probably wasn't aware of what the company actually was until sometime in high school. Despite a lack of history with the product, I've fully embraced this pair. The purchase, and the aesthetic attraction that precluded it, was definitely influenced by things I read and learned on the web. You could call that being "dressed by the Internet." I call it making an informed purchase. Traditions have to start somewhere.

Home Ec: Eat Local

2011-03-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

-The best milk on the planet. It was in a cow 15 miles from here last week.

-Obviously I, like you, get annoyed by food snobs and eco-yuppies, but I'd be stupid not to take advantage of the vast availability of great local food that exists in this hyper-eco-conscious community. If you like good food, then you want to the freshest food available. If you're reasoning is based mostly on matters of taste, then you remain pretty much free of the well-intentioned but often blowhardy moral arguments made by most organic advocates.
Eat well, be well.

School Supplies: Nikon FE2

2011-03-01T06:44:00.000-08:00

-My favorite purchase in a very long time, I got this Nikon FE2 (1983-1987) on eBay last month and have been making my way through my first roll. I'd shot film with an FM10 a bit but the weight and the feel of the FE2 are unmatched. The lens pictured here is one I bought a few years ago, but I'm researching for my next lens investment, and still looking for the perfect strap.

Yearbook: Winter Whites and Nostalgia

2011-02-28T06:41:00.000-08:00

-In the first episode of No Logos I talked about being a clothes hoarder and the fact that I still have a few things from high school (2002-2006.) The conversation got me wondering if I had a whole cohesive outfit of remnants from high school. Aside from the Sperry's here, which are new but basically otherwise basically the same as the pair I bought in 2005, this whole fit is from high school. I don't think I ever wore this combo together, but I did pair this tie and sweater pretty often. Abandoning guidelines, I'll probably wear this with loafers and different socks in the future.

-Pants: Levi's 514
-OCBD: Polo, thrifted
-Tie: Marquis, thrifted
-Sweater: American Eagle
-Socks: Gift

-In breaking out the winter whites I remembered a good tip I learned from a fellow Grime Time All-Star, my friend Goody, who told me that white jeans should never be pristine. If you're walking around fretting getting something on your pants, you're doing it wrong. Don't be afraid to let them get, and stay, a little dirty. They are jeans, after all, regardless of color.

Phys. Ed.: Nike Zoom Hyperfuse

2011-02-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

-If you follow me on Twitter you're probably aware to the point of annoyance that basketball is a big part of my life. As a kid, throughout my teens and during my first few years in college I made a point to play about every other day. As my schedule has been unceasingly hectic for the past two years, I haven't been able to play ball as much as I'd like, and so have consistently refused my desire to update the ragged pair of RBK kicks I'd been hooping in since early 2007. Partly to motivate myself to get back into dunking on fools¹, I started shopping and finally decided on picking up the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse. It's the first time I've had Nike basketball shoes, but I was sold on the overall lack of weight and excess mass of this model. The main reason I wanted to post though was just to mess around with my new Speedlight SB-700, and because I'm pretty stoked on this top picture. More photos after the jump.
1- By "dunking" I mean "laying it up soft."

-I'm morally obligated to only buy athletic gear that accords with the Trailblazer color-scheme.

-The light wasn't as great in the color photos, but I'm still getting a hang of the Speedlight (I think these look pretty good for shooting in my kitchen.)

-

-

-

School Supplies: My Denim

2011-01-31T06:12:00.000-08:00

-Here's a look at the jeans that I own. Not much to say, I just thought it would be interesting to compare them via their patch. Given my current hectic schedule, many of my posts for the foreseeable future will be mainly photographic.

Winter Quarter: Authentic Upgrades

2011-01-24T06:03:00.000-08:00

-This quarter I've had to cycle more than ever, and it being winter in the rainiest part of the country, the commute usually involves a good deal of precipitation. I decided to take a cue from Ryan of YHBTI and wax my Authentics. I was about to apply some Martexin wax that I purchased from the Archival Clothing store, when I realized it would be pretty pointless to wax my sneakers given that they had holes in the toes. I've got a big pair of Carhartt pants I bought at a thrift shop specifically for use as a patching fabric, so I just cut out a couple squares, superglued them beneath the holes, and then applied the wax. I've been wearing these exclusively while commuting for about a month now and they've held up pretty well. I expect the wax will have mostly worn off by the time summer rolls around.

-In related news, I picked up my second pair of Authentics, though I probably won't break them out until the weather warms up so they don't get needlessly muddied. Follow me after the jump for a few more photos of both pairs and some info about my choice of laces.

-I I bought these red laces at J.Crew. I'm not ashamed to admit I was straight copying what they've been doing in their catalog with colored laces in desert boots. I don't have desert boots but I have Wallabees and I planned on putting these laces in them. I was disappointed when I brought them home to find that the laces were way too long for the Wallows. I wasn't really feeling the white laces that came with the new pair, something about true white against off-white was amiss, so I decided to put my forgotten red laces to use.

-This post was a little dry. Sorry. I'm busier than ever, so upcoming posts will probably be more photographic than textual. Check back soon.

School Supplies: Levi's for J.Crew Rinsed Indigo 511

2010-12-28T13:55:00.000-08:00

-If you've been a reader for any length of time you probably know that I'm a big fan of Levi's 511 cut. Though I love my raw denim, lately I've been looking for a pair of clean, dark jeans that I can wear on occasions that are casual enough that denim will suffice, but nice enough that I want to wear something without a faded back pocket and noticeable whiskering. I haven't been buying a ton of clothes lately, my wardrobe is pretty solid for this juncture in my life, but I had a J. Crew gift card so I was perusing the site and stumbled upon, and bought, this pair. They're dark indigo so they look clean, but they're a washed denim, a phrase which LAS insightfully pointed out awhile back has become unfairly stigmatized amidst the raw denim resurgence. I still love my Baldwins, but the 511 remains the best cut I've found from any jean, and these will make a nice back-up to my go-to denim.

Winter Break:

2010-12-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

-Posting has been a bit sparse as I had a pretty hectic finals week, but in case you missed them, I've had a few recent posts elsewhere: a look at my Baldwin 77s few weeks ago over at Denim Debate, and the one from which the above photo is taken, my review of Bertucci field watches over at the Wharf blog. I mentioned on my Tumblr yesterday that I just sold my primary camera, but that doesn't mean I won't be blogging over winter break, it just means that any photographic content will come from iPhone photography or the unlikely chance that I get some film developed soon. In early January I will be getting my hands on a new camera and I'm very excited about what it will mean for the blog. Look out for even better photos and a lot more video projects in the coming year. As always, thanks for the continued support.

Fall Quarter: Super Layering

2010-11-26T15:31:00.000-08:00

-I live in the northernmost moderately-populated city in Washington, so I'm no stranger to cold weather, but usually we get to January before we see snow and temperatures in the twenties. This past week we got hit with an atypical snow storm followed by several days of sub-freezing temperatures, which when combined with wind gusts topping out at 65 mph, forced the telling "feels like" meter down to single digits. But alas, school was not cancelled, and I had to make a number of trips up to campus early in the morning and at night, when the high winds and low temperatures were at their worst. I found myself layering my thickest and chunkiest pieces with little regard for aesthetics, which might have been refreshing if it hadn't been out of necessity.

-I didn't take photos of everything I wore during the storm, but a few things struck me as worthy of documentation. For one of the evening hikes to campus I started with the incredibly thick Aran sweater I posted on awhile back, and topped it with this J. Crew chamois utility shirt I picked up a few weeks ago. I covered my face with my J.Press lambswool scarf and then went with my go-to winter coat as the outerwear. This combination was, without a doubt, the thickest and warmest layering I've ever performed. Follow me after the jump for one more set and a look at the boots that got me through the week.

-The above photo is from a day when I had a presentation, so I had to look at least marginally presentable beneath my armored exterior. I flipped the collar up on my Rugby sweater for the uphill trek to school, wrapped the scarf over my neck and mouth, and again topped it all off with my coast guard jacket.
-
-I like the idea of flannel lined trousers, a lot of people praise Filson's, but I haven't ever come across any in a slim enough fit for my tastes. Until I do, my go-to for cold weather is long johns under denim.
-I've been meaning to buy some Bean Boots this fall, but every time I've gotten close I've thought "well the weather hasn't really turned yet, I should save my dough." I should have pulled the trigger back in September, but luckily I've got a serviceable pair of boots in my possession. I bought these Band of Outsiders for Sperry boots about a year and a half ago and they've served me well in inclement weather. I know that they come from a pretty fashion-y collaboration, and I've even seen some people write about the lackluster quality of other pieces from the BoO x Sperry collection, but I am saying definitively that these boots are pretty fucking tough. The thick Vibram sole kept me sturdy on the iced-over sidewalks, and even though I've only waxed these boots once (last winter I think) they kept my feet dry. They aren't the warmest winter boots, there isn't much lining beneath the leather, but they're solid winter boots and I plan on keeping them for many years, even if I do snag some Bean Boots for truly torrential rains. And though they weren't pictured, wool camp socks were essential too.
-The weather seems to be returning to normal now, but actually glad I got to test out some gear against some truly brutal conditions.

Field Trip: Blue Owl Workshop

2010-11-17T11:47:00.000-08:00

-I was looking for a place to get my Baldwin 77s hemmed with a chain-stitch in the Seattle area when someone told me about Blue Owl Workshop in Bellevue, Wa. I checked out their website and found myself wondering how I hadn't heard of the shop yet. A few weeks ago I took a trip down to the Blue Owl showroom to drop off my denim and check out owner Jay Doughten's unique space. Follow me after the jump for some photos and thoughts from my visit.

-Seattle denim aficionados may remember Doughten as the owner of the shop's former iteration, a downtown retail location called Atsui Tokyo. After closing Atsui and taking a season off from sales, Doughten relaunched as Blue Owl Workshop and showroom, which sells through its website and appointment-only visits to the Bellevue showroom.

-Mr. Olive shirting.

-I don't consider myself a hardcore denim head, but I wanted to bring Blue Owl to the attention of my audience because of the stock they carry, which includes denim and a well-editied selection of pieces from hard to find labels such as Mr. Olive, Denime, Triple Works, Sunny Sports, and Man of Moods. The shop also carries denim from Kicking Mule Workshop, Left Field and Naked & Famous, which though they may be better known, are still relatively hard to find outside of the country's few worthwhile menswear locations.

-Triple Works denim.

-While I was at the showroom Doughten, who seemed to know more about the history and processes of the Japanese denim industry than anyone I've talked to, online or elsewhere, broke down some of the finer details or well-made denim for me. Comparing a few different pairs, he pointed out stitch placement and other things a casual observer like myself might miss. With budget always on my mind, I asked Doughten for his opinions on various brands and how they compare at certain pricepoints. Blue Owl's profile has continued to rise lately as they've come out with collaborations with Triple Works and Left Field. Momotaro just landed at Blue Owl, and the shop is slated to carry 3sixteen next fall. What struck me about Blue Owl was the rapport Doughten maintains with the people behind the brands he carries. The fact that a shop without a traditional retail location is one of few places in America, and in the case of a few brands, the only place, speaks volumes about the ownership and their commitment to serving the West Coast demand for quality denim. I might not be pulling the trigger on new denim anytime soon, but when I do I'm definitely heading back to Blue Owl to try on a few pairs before making a decision.

-Left Field chinos and denim.

-

-Some of the much sought after Sunny Sports shirts.

-

-

-

-Leather goods from Corter.

-
-This post sounds a little more PR-ish than my usual posts, but I was sincerely impressed with the selection, and I'm always pumped on gems in the Pacific Northwest.

Fall Quarter: Wintergreens

2010-11-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

-I start the majority of my posts with something like "it's well-established that I love military garb blah blah," so it's no surprise that my closet is full of green. The muted greens of army surplus have their place, but lately I've been seeing a lot of richer greens and wondering how I can get my hands on some. I think green has always been a pretty daunting undertaking for me; one false move and you end up looking like you're ready for the St. Patrick's Day parade. But after taking another look at the Close Up & Private A/W10 photos I've been inspired to try to work some non-military greens into my wardrobe. I stumbled upon these olive jeans from Rugby on sale and pulled the trigger almost immediately. I've been on the hunt for green denim for a long time. I haven't quite figured out what to wear the pants with yet, but I think I'll keep it pretty muted up top, stick grey or white, and maybe even try them with my Harris Tweed.

-Side note: I still haven't found a light crewneck sweater that isn't droopy in the waist like this one from J. Crew. Who has a recommendation?

-I like this patch. An absence of logos is rare among Rugby garments.

-Unattainably boss vest from Moncler.

-An old favorite from The Sartorialist.

-Two great images from Close Up & Private.

Fall Quarter: Big Ol' Navy Peacoat

2010-11-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

-I've never really been a fan of pea coats¹. If you live somewhere with incessant rain like I do, it's not your best cold-weather option (unless you're down with rocking a 50lb water logged wool blanket.) I also see an inordinate amount of guys walking around in ill-fitting pea coats (is this a national problem, or just a Seattle/Portland area problem?) so I've been subconsciously turned off from the aesthetic. But I happened upon a surplus pea coat for free about a year ago and have just recently been trying to work it into the rotation. Anyone whose ever handled an actual government pea coat will attest, these things are heavy. I'm not sure of the weight in ounces, but the melton seems to be about a half inch thick, so this coat is really only a viable option when it gets really cold. The jacket looks black in almost any light, but in full-on natural light you can tell that it's really a deep navy. The shoulders are a tad big in this one, and the old-school collar is bordering on Dracula status height, but I'm going to keep rocking it for super cold evenings until I have the spare dough for a Schott.
1-I mentioned this back in my Favorites Series piece.

Fall Quarter: Hickey Fair Isle1 Cashmere Crewneck

2010-10-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

-Continuing with my quick rundown of some of my favorite sweaters, here's another great cashmere piece that I got for much less than the suggested retail price. I blogged about this sweater back when it first appeared online with a lust-worthy but unattainable price tag of $450. But like all remnants of the sad tale of Hickey, this sweater ended up on Gilt last winter for $150 (and, like most things I snag off Gilt, it came back later at an even lower price, shmeh.) Typical of Hickey, the fit is great, and the made in Italy cashmere is super soft and warm. This crewneck is about twice as thick as the previously-posted Burberry knit, so it's one I save for the truly cold days. Though the fall of Hickey is a lamentable, I can't say I'm sad to have acquired four pieces from one of the best, albeit short-lived, lines in recent memory for about 1/4 the original cost.
1-Before somebody gets uppity about accuracy: No, the pattern on the sweater does not seem to be traditional Fair Isle, but that's how the sweater was marketed and therefore how I described it.

Dress Code: Epaulet Rivet Chino in Double-Faced Digital Camo

2010-10-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

-It's no secret that I've got a tendency toward loud style, but apart from my red Polo jeans, my pant game is relatively tame. I became aware of these digital camo chinos from Epaulet via a post over at Dreams of Perfection and I felt the impulse to pull the trigger almost immediately (which, as L.A.S. points out, is usually a good call when shopping Epaulet.)
-If you're reading thing you're probably aware that camo and cargo had a big year, and I might have even said a negative word or two about the trend. In my defense, I think digital camo can work in a casual setting with much more ease than its woodland counterpart, and the fact that these were camo but not cargo is one of the main reasons I was drawn to them. I stand by my... stance on cargo pockets: If you carry so much shit that you need more than five pockets, it may be time to reevaluate your life (or maybe just upgrade your bag.)
-As you might imagine, it took a bit to figure out what I'd wear the pants with, a task not aided by a bit of miscommunication with my tailor that resulted in the chinos being shorter than I'd hoped. Nevertheless, I tried to channel a bit of Josh Kissi's high-crop steeze and put together some functional looks, check out a few more photos after the jump.

School Supplies: Vintage Madison Senators Bag

2010-10-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

-Breaking out my yellow cableknit got me thinking about other things I've had for a long time but had never featured on the blog. This vintage gym bag from Portland's Madison High School is one of my favorite, albeit not entirely practical, vintage possessions.
-I bought the bag at Magpie, a vintage shop in downtown Portland I've mentioned here quite a few times, in early 2006. I don't have any idea of it's age, though once I was carrying it and had an exchange with an old guy that went like this:
   OG "Hey, you know how old that is?"
   Me "I dunno, like 70s?"
   OG "Naw man that's like 50s or 60s."
   Me "Word."
-I really dig the plastic handles and the bit of rust on the fasteners. Those details let you know the bag's age when compared to some similar modern bags (there are a bunch from Fred Perry that look just like this.) The color scheme is great, but obviously it's a bit loud for daily use. I do use the bag to carry shoes when I travel though. I like having a designated bag for shoes rather than trying to fit them in and weighing down my normal luggage. This isn't something I break out too often, but it's definitely a piece I'll hold onto for a years to come.

Elementary School: Crewcuts Inspiration

2010-09-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

-I've wrote in the past about my interest in iced out kid's style, and though I understand the complete economic idiocy of buying expensive children's clothes¹, I often find myself digging certain brand's boy's styling more than their men's.
-J.Crew men's styling is hit or miss, they've got to navigate the challenge of appealing to a varied audience that includes both sartorial obsessives and casual shoppers. But their children's styling is almost always on-point, mainly because it employs a sentiment that most of us could stand to remember; rules are made to be broken. If the catalog featured grown ass men with neon green laces in their desert boots the internet haterade would flow like crazy. But thrown them on some kids and nobody will care, because kids can do whatever they want. And that's the problem. You don't have to be a kid to stand out a bit. I, like most people, am glad that there's been a sort of underground men's style Renaissance in the past few years, but one side-effect of that movement has been young dudes trying to dress like Don Draper. Most of you (readers) are in your 20s. There's still time to throw something wacky into the mix every once in awhile².
-In the first picture, what I like even more than the laces, is the play on sleeve length and the mixing of tech materials with more traditional fabrics. I wouldn't put a windbreaker under a blazer anywhere that it might actually rain, but I've always tried to find ways to work in my nylon pieces without looking like a jogger from the future, which I think this look accomplishes. More than the use of the materials themselves, I love how the henley and the windbreaker give this kid some layers and some contrast at the cuff. I've said it before, but sleeve-length variance can add some much needed dissonance to your look.
-This might sound a little weird, but the sleeve cuff (along with the pant cuff,) is my favorite sartorial stomping grounds (which I was why I only mess with jackets with working button-holes.) My go-to uniform of OCBD/tie/crewneck sweater could look pretty Sunday if I didn't provide some variance in knot, tie color/material, and the way I roll/push/fold/whatever the layered cuffs of oxford cloth and sweater. There are few places in an outfit where several fabrics are revealed, the neckline and the cuff being the primary spots, and it is in those areas that I think men can best set themselves apart.
-This post diverted a bit, but the point is: take a cue from the kids, find your own quirks. Play with a few layers of varying sleeve length, reveal an unexpected color fabric at the cuff. You're (probably) not old yet. Chill out.

1- Glenn O'Brien wrote a great piece about this subject in City Magazine a few years back, but I can't seem to find it on the interweb anywhere.
2- I do think the neon laces in the desert boots looks dope, but I'm not suggesting you take your style cues straight from the styling of a major chain, I'm just saying to find something, some quirk that will piss off traditionalists and is yours alone.

Fall Quarter: Cashmere Burberry Crewneck

2010-09-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

-I have way too many sweaters, but most of them are just plain grey/navy/brown crewnecks and v-necks. So I thought, fall being in full swing now, that I'd highlight a few of my favorite fall/winter knits (in addition to the Aran knit a few posts down.)
-This yellow Burberry is probably my favorite sweater overall, and one of the best things in my entire closet, but I think it has only appeared on the blog once. I bought it way back in 2005 when I should have been saving my money instead of buying clothes. Years later, it seems the investment was worth it, as this is one of the warmest pieces in my FW arsenal. Made in Scotland, this sweater is definitely the softest of the couple cashmere sweaters I own. Bright yellow isn't normally part of my repertoire, but I love pulling this out every once and awhile and brightening up the typically gloomy FW style scene.

Fall Quarter: Blackbird Alden Shortwing Blucher

2010-09-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

-With so many Alden collaborations and custom makeups around, it's rare that I get too excited about any, but I like this pair from Blackbird for a few reasons. Mainly, I dig them because I think it's the first time I've seen a shop put their touch on the shortwing blucher. Alden longwings are almost universally lusted after, but I'm part of the small minority that prefer the aesthetics of the shortwing. Something about that uninterrupted stretch of leather down the side makes the style seem a bit bulbous to me. The shorter wingtip will also cost you quite a bit less than its elongated brother. I also appreciate that the folks at Blackbird chose this great looking burgundy calfskin, whereas most folks automatically spring for shell cordovan when doing custom Aldens. What I like the most about this shoe is that Blackbird kept their local climate in mind and went with the double Waterloc outsole, which will help the shoes hold up in the wet Northwest weather (though we've seen this same tactic in a few of Winn Perry's Alden collabs.) I'd still love to own some whiskey cordovan longwings someday, but if I were in the economic position to pull the trigger on some new Aldens, these might be my first choice.

U.S. History: Family Artifacts from WWI

2010-09-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

-Anyone who has been reading for awhile will know that I, like most men it seems, have a soft spot for military garb and artifacts. Predictably, my interest in such items is increased tenfold when they have a familial connection. I had dinner down in Portland the other day with my dad and grandmother, who happened to have a couple boxes of her father's things, most which were from his time in France during World War I. Everything she had, old journals and letters, dance cards and photographs, were things I'd love to have in my collection. But I've got nine aunts and uncles and 40+ cousins that all deserve a piece of our grandpa/great-grandpa's stuff, so I tried not to be greedy and picked out something that I really wanted; his first set of dog tags. In addition to the tags I selected this Army Air Service (a very early predecessor of the Air Force, est. 1918) pin, and an American Red Cross pin. Though I wear dog tags often and believe them to be one of the few masculine forms of jewelry, I'll resist the urge to actually wear this pair for fear that that the nearly 100-year-old canvas string would break. I might rock the pins sometime though, but I fully expect some streetwear kid to ask me if that A.R.C. stands for Alife Rivington Club.

Fall Quarter: Sperry 7-Eye Boot

2010-08-31T13:48:00.000-07:00

-In June I posted about a number of great looking deck boot options. Oddly enough, none of those options were by Sperry. That's because, at that point, Sperry was notably absent from the deck boot game. I don't know how long this 7-Eye boot has been out, but I spotted it while browsing the selection at Need the other day. They're the same price ($140) as the aforementioned Sebago collaboration, not limited edition, and certainly not made to the same quality specifications as Quoddys; but my general rule is, if you can go with Sperry, go with Sperry. They look a little awkward laced so tight, but I like that they're the only deck boots out right now with hooks¹ instead of eyelets at the top. If I end up getting these, I'll surely throw some sort of waterproofing treatment on them to help endure the Northwest winter.
1-I don't know the correct name for these things.

Fall Quarter: Authentic Aran Sweater

2010-08-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

-I recently had the opportunity to visit Ireland with my girlfriend and her family, who moved to the states in 1994. Traveling with natives of the isle was a great way to experience my first trip abroad, mainly because I got to see the worthwhile sights without having to resort to overpriced tourist traps. Apart from the history and the incredible food and drink, the best part of the trip was meeting the extended family, which brings me to the focus of this post: The hand-knitted Aran sweater that Grace's grandmother made for me.
-Originating in the Aran Islands off Ireland's west coast, the super chunky knits have been a part of Irish fishing culture for hundreds of years. Grace's grandmother knits hats and sweaters, which she sells for around $200 a piece, in her spare time. The past couple winters I've been looking for a similarly massive knit, and I'm lucky and grateful to have happened upon one for free. This sweater will definitely be in heavy rotation this winter, especially considering that we try to bundle up rather than pay for gas to heat our apartment. More photos after the jump.

Summer Vacation: Three Weeks in Ireland

2010-07-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

-I'm about to take off for a few weeks in Ireland (pictured above,) so it's not likely that I'll have any new posts. But I am doing some very cool blog-related stuff while I'm gone, so don't forget about us. I'll try to update my Flickr and Tumblr with some preview shots while I'm away, and I'll be keeping people up to date on the Class Act Twitter.
-If you're bored over the next few weeks, be sure to check out some vintage Class Act favorites:
-Newbury Chino Remix
-A visit to Winn Perry.
-A discussion of Chuck Palahniuk
-A cereal discussion.
-The Loose-Tie Lesson Plan.

Summer School Supplies: Gitman Violet Chambray

2010-07-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

-I posted about this shirt when I first ordered it, but I never gave any commentary once I had it in hand. Based on other chambray shirts I had seen and worn, I expected my first shirt from Gitman to be a bit heavier. In actuality, the shirt is the lightest of any in my closet, and in early March when I bought it, the weather didn't afford me many opportunities to work it into my wardrobe. However, as the mercury has been staying put at around 80 degrees for the past month, this shirt has become my go-to. What you see below is what I've been rocking most days this summer. I don't actually promote doing the half-tuck in most situations, I just wanted to show that the shirt can work both tucked or more casually untucked. I've kept my undershirt rotation tight, switching between light grey and dark grey v-necks, mainly because grey and purple always work well together. Most days my walking commute can get pretty hot, so I prefer to keep it open with a V rather than my usual white Hanes undershirt.

Summer School Supplies: The White Linen Shirt

2010-07-26T22:06:00.000-07:00

-I've mentioned often that, having lived my whole life in Washington, I've always felt more comfortable and more creative dressing for fall. Furthermore, I've been keeping it pretty casual this summer, so I haven't really felt compelled to blog my looks (though I did Tumble this one, this one, and this one.) Living in a temperate climate, I haven't invested much in summer-weight shirts, but I bought this white linen joint from J.Crew about four years ago and I'm really just starting to appreciate its value. I've only handwashed/air dried this shirt, so it has a kind of rugged, rough texture that I think contrasts nicely with its light weight. There's not a ton to say, but the shirt is steezy and breezy, and every guy should have a white linen button-down for summer. Now, if only someone would make one with a BD collar...
-As for the rest of the kit: I didn't have the dough for the Rogues swim trunks I wanted, but I did grab this pair from American Apparel. I wanted a really simple suit, and this navy pair with one pocket, a drawstring and a strip of velcro, is about as simple as you can get. Other than that, you saw my new Top-Siders two posts down, and I take my Duluth Pack everywhere I go these days. I'm going to post a few more of my favorite summer shirts in the next couple days, then I'm out of the country for a few weeks but will still (maybe) be blogging, stay tuned.

Summer School: Giving my first pair of raw denim their first wash

2010-07-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

-My first videos were relatively well-received mainly on the basis that they were marginally funny. You know what's a hard subject to make funny? Washing your jeans. A few people, upon seeing the great still-shot a few posts down, expressed excitement about the coming video, and to them, I am sorry. A combination of lack of forethought, planning, vision, concept, skill, etc. has left me with a video that I think is kind of bad. Sorry. BUT! The jeans did come out of the Pacific looking great, so maybe it's still worth sharing, even if it does wander about not knowing if it should be funny, artsy or neither.

eyefivestyle.com | Naked & Famous Ocean Soak from angelo spagnolo on Vimeo.
-Early on I committed to a kind of dumb and tedious editing decision about the split screen, which I realized about halfway through was a terrible idea, but lacked the motivation to go back and fix. Like everything, this was definitely a learning experience, which taught me that even on non-consequential videoblog posts a plan of action is terribly necessary. I've had quite a bit of video experience, but mostly in the realm of editing, and since I'm planning on upgrading my camera and doing some more video posts in the future, I definitely need some more content/shooting practice.
-In other denim news, I did just get a new pair of Baldwin 77s, so I'll be posting some more coherent denim-related content on DenimDebate in the next couple weeks.

Summer Vacation: Much Needed Sperry Upgrade

2010-07-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

-I finally got around to replacing my old Top-Siders. Unlike a lot of Sperry aficionados, I don't really dig the white sole found on most models, so I sprung for the Sahara colorway with the darker sole. Over the years I've heard of people recommend wearing Top-Siders in the shower or the ocean initially, something I didn't do when I bought my first pair back in high school. After consulting a few experts, I decided to go the shower route, which helps soften the leather a bit and also helps to keep the laces from coming untied. I also cut a few inches off my laces because I don't really go for the bunny-ear look. This time around, I'm going to make a point to shoe-tree my Sperrys after long days of wear to keep them from disintegrating and stinking too terribly.

Day Off: Video Preview

2010-07-10T21:10:00.000-07:00

-This is a snap from the aforementioned videopost coming this week.

Art School: Charcoal Patina

2010-07-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

-Summer weather has finally arrived in the Evergreen State, so today I'm finally going to get to something I've been needing to do for awhile; put on my 10-month old Naked & Famous denim and hop in the frigid (but oil-free!) Pacific Ocean and give them their first wash. I bought these jeans last August and wore them pretty much daily through the fall/winter season. Aside from getting caught in a killer downpour, and being covered by a spilled pitcher of Pabst, they've never had any sort of liquid contact. As much as the stink is demanding a wash, I'll be a little sad to let go of all that acquired grimyness.
-This summer I've been in a drawing class. I'd never worked with charcoal before, but soon found out that the shit gets all over your hands and clothes. I wore these to the first class and then, not wanting to subject any of my finer threads to the constant smear of black gunk¹, continued to wear them to the 4-hour class for the remainder of the quarter. Every time I've habitually wiped my blackened hands on my hips, the charcoal has gotten a bit more engrained in the fibers and has left the thighs of my Skinny Guys with a pretty cool matte look².
-Hit the jump for a few more photos of the jeans pre-oceanwash.
1-I know that charcoal washes out of fabric easily, but come on, I only do laundry like once a month.
2-Also, I know it's a bit a douchy to blog about a somewhat artificially acquired artistic accent³, but I am washing them, right?
3-That absurd use of alliteration was completely accidental.

Summer School: Our Legacy Versatile Parka

2010-07-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

-Can you guess what the weather looks like outside my window right now? Yeah. It's raining on July 2nd. The dudes at Our Legacy probably had the cool Stockholm summer in mind when they thought up this heavy-twill summer parka, but right now I'm wishing I had something like this to help get me through this wet (but not really cold) early-summer. In the previous post I said my new camo jacket was perfect for the light rain that's pervaded my summer, but a hood would be nice, and the neutral toned Versatile Parka might afford me more situational leeway than the military print. The jacket is on sale at Our Legacy's recently launched webstore, but I'd check around at some North American stockists before I risked messing around with customs, tariffs and the like.

School Supplies: Thrift Find Camo Jacket

2010-06-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

-My affinity for military gear is well-documented, and in a lot of recent posts I've noted that I need to get back to my high school thrifting habits. Looking for nothing in particular¹, I stopped by Value Village last week and found this Army jacket for $6. The jacket is thin and a little loose-fitting, so it's perfect to thrown over anything, especially when the temperature is decides to mimic fall (i.e. this week.)

-I don't have any idea what the patch with the sword means², but I dig little military details like that. I'm thinking about removing the name tag, as much as I like old stuff, I don't really like having someone else's name on my chest. Especially now that I'm doing some feature reporting again, and have to carry a number of notebooks, pens and pencils with me most days, I'm really stoked to have found a lightweight jacket with a ton of good-sized pockets.
1-Default things I'm always looking for at thrift shops: Carhartt pants, nice ties, old army shirts to turn into bow ties, old Levi's, blazers, etc.
2-Update: Our friend Tommy V. did a bit of research, and it seems the patch is likely the insignia of the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, which is located just a ways down I-5 at Fort Lewis in Olympia. The local connection makes the garment that much better.

Summer School: Oi Polloi Sale Outerwear

2010-06-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

-You're probably a seasoned enough shopper to know that summer is the time to find deals on outerwear. If you've been reading Class Act for awhile, you probably know that I'm on a seemingly endless quest to find the perfect parka, and since I'm always on the lookout, I thought I'd throw up some of the many outerwear deals available right now in Oi Polloi's sale section.
1- Barbour, Carbon Dry Fly Jacket, $197 down from $327.
2- Heritage Research, Longline Parka Millerain, $250 down from $313.
3- Fjallraven, Telemark II Jacket, $183 down from $260.

4. CP Company, Blouson, $615 down from $880.
5. Victorinox, Spring Parka, $224 down from $370.
6. Engineered Garments, Field Parka, $450 down from $640.
-This CP Company blouson is not quite 'bargain' fodder, but it's the first modern jacket I've seen with a window to see your watch and goggles built in to the hood for extreme weather conditions, which I think is pretty legit.

7-Nigel Cabourn, Packaway Coat, $394 down from $656.
8. Nom De Guerre, Trench Coat, $425 down from $708.
9. Engineered Garments, Nt Parka, $370 down from $530.
-As with all sale shopping, you have to get lucky with available sizes, but if you're in the market for some outerwear, hit up the summer sales before prices get inflated come fall.

Home Ec: Staying Stank Free

2010-06-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

-I finally got around to picking up some shoe trees this week at Winn Perry, and while I bought them primarily for my Alden loafers, I've found that the cedar trees are a really effective method for keeping the stank down in my Authentics¹.
-The main reason for this relatively content-devoid post is to remind people about our other sites. As you might have noticed, this blog doesn't update daily. I found that trying to blog every day led to some forced and not-so-great posting. But if you've got a hankering for daily Class Act goodness, you should check out our Tumblr² . My Tumblr is where I'd normally post a photo like the one above, that doesn't really have a blogable story behind it, but is still worth sharing. Tumblr also has a great Ask feature, where you can hit me with any style/shopping questions you might have. So, if you're interested in that sort of thing, and a bunch of other random but inspiring style images, hit up my supplemental blog. If you'd like to keep up on all the photos taken by Grace and I, visit our Flickr page. And if you'd really like more eyefive, follow me on Twitter, but be prepared for a lot of tweets about basketball, video games, food, tv, movies, skateboarding and really bad emo tunes (in addition to, obviously, clothing and style.)
-If you've taken the time to check out my other sites or to keep up with me on Twitter, I'm eternally thankful for your continued support.
1-See also: Lawrence's freezer method.
2-I know a lot of you are already following our Tumblr, so thank you, and sorry for the redundant post.

Dress Code: Thom Browne Square-Cut Ties

2010-06-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

-Thom Browne is, if nothing else, a brilliant showman. But because he takes the 'show' aspect of a fashion show to the extreme, his looks can often leave onlookers wondering "Is this dude fucked in the head?" Despite the wackness of his overall looks, I was actually digging on quite a few individual items in his most recent collection for Moncler Gamme Bleu, none more so than his square-cut ties. I only caught these two distinct versions of the tie, but he used them in quite a few of his looks throughout the show.
-I've never actually owned a square-bottom tie¹, and I kind of brushed them off as overly novelty, but the great chambray models from The Hill-Side, and now these two, are really making me reconsider. Especially in the SS season, I'm thinking a square-end tie with a bit of color and humor might be a great accessory to work into my wardrobe.
1-Aside from my knit ties (which these are not,) I should have made that distinction clearer.

Summer School: Sid Mashburn Green Canvas Shorts

2010-06-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

-Credit goes to Mr. Joe Gannon for finding these great looking shorts from Southern sartorial champ Sid Mashburn. Looking at my selection of shorts, they're all khaki, save a pair of vintage madras goodness. Though I'm a sucker for military green, my wardrobe is lacking¹ any real/sporty/prep greens. Maybe it's because I developed a sort of aversion to Lacoste as a teenager, or more likely, just because I'd never seen anything so perfectly green as these shorts, either way, I'm definitely on the lookout for some Irish flair now. You can snag these from Taigan for a reasonable $90.
-Now, speaking of $90 shorts, someone should really loan me a C-note so I can snag these Corduroy Supply Shorts from the soon-to-be defunct Hickey².

1- Darian drew this same "not-enough-green" conclusion the other day.
2- If you've been reading for awhile, you know that Hickey is one of my all-time fave brands. Sad days.

Summer School: Rogues Gallery Swim Trunks

2010-06-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

-It's still not warm enough to swim here, but it's definitely time to be looking for a pair of proper swim trunks. What I really dig about this line from Rogues Gallery is that they went simple, without being boring. Even though we, as adults men, should be looking for subtler options than the board-shorts of our youth, doesn't mean we should be avoiding bright colors. It is summer after all, and swim trunks should be an item where you can show a bit of personality. I like that these trunks allow you to shorten up and show an alternate color if you so choose. At $85, they're a bit more than I'm looking to spend on trunks, but I've had good experiences with Rogues quality in the past, so I'd wager that these would last you a while for your money. If I end up grabbing a pair, it will probably be the red ones shown here, but if I had the dough I'd get a few pairs.

Summer School: Topped Off

2010-06-08T21:44:00.000-07:00

-Though loose-hanging tank tops have become a staple of hipstergarb, I still get excited for the Northwest's relatively short window of tank top appropriate weather. I picked up this striped Apex Tank from Analog (top left) a few weeks ago, then today I came across this blue/red striped Obey piece at Blackbird, and now I'm really liking the idea of a pocketed¹ tank. I also like the 70s track feel of my American Apparel jersey ringer tank. Bring a light chambray or windbreaker in your bag and a great tank top or even a well-chose vintage basketball jersey can take you from a day at the beach well into a beer-fueled, bonfire-lit evening.

-There are some really nice tank tops from designers like Robert Geller and Patrik Ervell, but I actually think the skate and surf brands do a better job at getting the beach vibe right with with their color choices. And for an item that's so distinctly seasonal (in my region at least,) I'm not looking to break the bank on a designer shirt; $45 is probably as high as I would go. Karmaloop² has some gems scattered among the over-branded streetwear tanks, but as with the polo shirt, a great summer tank is an item you might be able to score at your local thrift shop.
1-For smokes, sunglasses, point-and-shoot, etc.
2-Karmaloop's models are a pretty blatant example of the stranglehold hipsterdom has on tanktops. Let's take them back.

School Supplies: Deck Boot Discussion

2010-06-03T23:46:00.000-07:00

-We've seen a lot of these deck boots in the past few years, and given my love of boat shoes, they've appealed to me a great deal. The first pair I saw were from Rogues Gallery, though I think the original deck boot was made by Quoddy (below.) The above pair, from Ronnie Fieg for Sebago, have been floating around the blogosphere in the past week, and even though I'm completely out of money, they're tempting my wallet. As a diehard Sperry aficionado, I really shouldn't be pumping Sebago, but $140 for a limited edition (120 made of both brown and black models,) hand-sewn boot is hard to pass up. The Quoddy version is undoubtedly better made than the Sebago, but it's also $300, and I actually like the look of the leather on the Sebago better. Any of these boots though, even this slightly more expensive but equally dope blue Sebago x Vane pair below, will look great after they've been worn in a bit. The blue boots are icy, but as I'd probably only ever buy one pair of the same style of boot, I'd stick with something a little more workable.

-Depending on how long the supply of the brown model lasts, I may be getting my hands on a pair of these pretty soon. But my one major trepidation is my aforementioned focus on the relationship between leg opening and shoe-width. I'm wondering how a boot that would be so narrow when laced-up would play against the leg opening¹. I keep my denim pretty slim, and I probably wouldn't rock these with anything besides jeans, but still think they might be a little to slim for a boot. My general rule when wearing boots is to roll my pants a bit and just let them fall how they may. Laced-up, these wouldn't really have any girth for the pant leg to snag on, and might look a bit contrived. The obvious solution would be to rock the boots a bit looser, a practice I support when one is cognizant of the fine line between rugged nonchalance and streetwear contrivance, but ultimately it would depend on how well the shoe fit below the laces. If they could be worn looser without flopping around, then there's really no issue, but I've obviously thought entirely too much about this. Anybody have experience with deck boots?

1- To recap, I'm all about break. Therefore, if you've got a narrow show, so narrow that your leg opening just hangs without break, you can look clowny. There are places where conflicting proportion can work effectively. I don't think the ankle is one of those places.

-Update: Blackbird recently posted this image of the Quoddy Deck Boot (below) and it shows the details a bit better than the images from the official Quoddy site. The Seattle shop is selling the boots for a $280. I'm not really a fan of black boots, but I didn't previously notice that the tongue on these is deerskin, which I think adds a nice contrast in look/texture to the Chromexcel outer. If you're considering buying Quoddy deck-anythings, be sure to check Jeremy's analysis, which exposes a bit of trouble with the insoles.

Professors: Bob Cousy

2010-06-01T21:17:00.000-07:00

-I shot some hoops in Chuck Taylors the other day and it hurt my feet. I can't imagine playing whole games in them. Having no other inspiration, I've resorted to the played out blog tactic of searching the LIFE archive for inspiring images¹. Basketball competes with skateboarding for the #3 spot in my list of passions (after music and style,) so I think I'll try to make something of this post²: Despite the obvious pain involved with playing in Chucks, I'm inclined to point out that the original All-Star is stylistically superior to anything modern ballers are wearing³.
-If you're still with me, take a look after the jump for a few more great Cousy⁴ photos by Yale Joel.
1- A tactic usually reserved only for the Class Act Tumblr.
2- If I lost you already, it's okay, this post is obviously reaching for something that's not quite there.
3- Though Rasheed keeps it old school by still rocking Air Force 1s in-game.
4-Cousy is legit, but I still hate the Celtics vehemently.

School Supplies: White Stag 4-Seasons Jacket

2010-05-27T01:49:00.000-07:00

-All week people have been talking about the 90-degree weather in New York. Yesterday I walked to school in a 55-degree downpour. I don't know if I've ever blogged¹ about the vintage White Stag 4-Seasons windbreaker I picked up last year for $12, but it's definitely been a lifesaver this wet spring. The jacket is super light, so I've just been keeping it bunched at the bottom of my Duluth Pack, ready to throw over whatever I'm wearing at the first sight of rain. The jacket is completely waterproof and has unique oily sheen and some nice little details like a hood that zips into the collar. With all the designer windbreakers out these days, and having not yet found the perfect parka, I'm stoked to have found this jacket for cheap.
-1: I guess I did blog about this jacket when I bought it.

School Supplies: Patrik Ervell Sale Items

2010-05-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

-There's some Patrik Ervell items on sale at Opening Ceremony right now and while browsing I was reminded that, though he does some wacky shit, I don't know if there's anyone making as refreshingly simple basics as Ervell these days. Now, if only I had an spare $320 for a windbreaker.

School Supplies: Polo Hunting

2010-05-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

-My wardrobe is pretty complete right now, and as I've mentioned previously, I'm trying to spend less on clothes in 2010 and save for some major purchases. But there are still a couple essentials I need to grab to round out my closet, one of them being a legitimate polo. My polo game is terribly weak; It consists of a $7 white polo from Wal-Mart, and an Abercrombie joint I bought in 11th grade (I still wear it though, buttoned all the way up a la Fred Perry.) For some reason I've never upgraded to a pricier polo. I know there are probably some workable polos from Gap, J. Crew or Rugby (shown.) But because I've loaded up on OCBDs as my go-to, I'll probably only buy 1 polo to last the next couple years, so I'm looking in the $75-150 range. If I'm going to spend that much on one shirt, I've got to do some thorough research. Here are a few initial favorites:
-Rogues Gallery, Engine Red Faded Seam $88
-Band of Outsiders, Trapped Pocket Polo $135
-Fred Perry, Italia World Cup Series, $86
-Rugby, Sun-Washed Polo, $65
-I'm leaning toward a simple blue or red, or maybe grey, something that works for summer but could be layered and add some color in the fall. I included the Rugby because I'm really digging the sun-faded look, and I know that Rugby fit works for me. I'm going to keep searching until mid-june probably, and may end up settling with a monogrammed joint from Polo. Any suggestions?

School Supplies: Newbury Chino Remix

2010-05-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

-A few weeks ago I blogged about the khaki Newbury Chino Jacket from Rugby, and then (if you've been following the blog you know this already) I bought the navy version of the jacket as well. With the navy jacket I did the same exact look as I did with the khaki, except that I swapped the regular Gap chambray with my new red Gap chambray, and I took the advice of my knowledgeable peers and swapped out my beat-to-shit Top-Siders for some Alden loafers. I've been getting a lot of questions about this jacket since I first posted, so more than just throwing up an image¹, I wanted to illustrate the differences between the khaki and navy models of this jacket.

-The lining of the navy jacket is actually pretty heavy. It's thick jersey, which adds some notable heft to the jacket, and obviously, makes it fit a bit more snug than its khaki counterpart. I pulled the trigger on the navy Newbury because of the sale, but it's definitely an item I'll be working into my wardrobe much more this fall (and I'll definitely shoot some of the looks I come up with, probably September-ish.)

-The navy jacket has plastic, skull-emblem buttons, whereas the khaki jacket has a more traditional button and the "Rugby, a sport of gentlemen" insignia on the inside cuff.
-Overall, I'm glad I purchased both versions of this jacket, though I won't fully appreciate the navy joint until the weather cools down a bit.
1- I know the photo is toned kind of oddly, we were having lighting/angle issues.

School Supplies: Riviera Club Perfect Henley

2010-05-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

-While I think it's a bit pretentious for any brand to call an item 'perfect,' this henley from Riviera Club looks to be pretty spot on. I could maybe do without the stitch detail on the pocket, but that could probably be easily removed, and the sun-faded color is great for spring. The henley is one of my favorite anytime items, and I'm surprised at how little it gets mentioned when people are listing their menswear essentials. I even occasionally throw a henley over an oxford/tie combo as a sweater substitute in transitional seasons (remind me to blog about that separately,) which is something I've never seen anybody else try. I'm trying to substantially limit my clothing purchases as I save for a major purchase, but the not-so-bad $73 price tag on this is seriously tempting me.
-Via Blackbird.

School Supplies: $26 Bold Shirt/Tie Combo

2010-05-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

-I'd forgotten that I even read about the Liberty of London for Target collaboration when I came across this shirt/tie last week. Apparently the collab wasn't a hit because a whole selection of shirts and ties were marked down to $13 on clearance. I probably wouldn't have grabbed these at their original price ($20) but I liked the idea of getting to try out something you see from Gucci and Etro pretty often, layered intricate prints, for a fraction of the cost. As you might expect, the quality isn't superb and the fit of the shirt is a bit off, but the super lightweight cotton is actually perfect for warm weather. This might not be the look for you, and I wouldn't suggest that anyone attempt it too often, but spring is the time to be bold in your stylistic endeavors. In the long run, I'm sure I'll end up wearing this shirt with a solid navy tie more often than as pictured here, but for $26, I'm pretty stoked to have found something to change up my spring routine.

Dress Code: Skatability

2010-05-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

-When the weather gets warm it's hard for me to resist the urge to skate to school rather than walk. That being said, it's hard to dress for skating without looking like a high-schooler. To skate, I need pants that allow for a full range of motion in my legs (not happening in slim raw denim,) and lights layers that move well and can be removed if I get too hot.
-Duluth Pack.
-Gap Chambray.
-The Hill-Side chambray scarf in 'natural.'
-American Apparel v-neck (my summer staple, I have about seven.)
-Levi's 511 trousers.
-Vans Authentics.
-I ride DGK, or sometimes Seattle's best, Manik.

Dress Code: Thinking of Fall

2010-05-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

-Today is sunny and the temperature has risen above 60 for the first time in months, but this photo from Opening Ceremony's FW10 lookbook has me thinking about fall already. Most of you are probably aware that Opening Ceremony can be hit or miss. They tend to ride trends a little too hard, and I had some issues with their customer service. But, I appreciate that they aim to push style rather than sit still, and everyone once in awhile they produce some baller garments and looks. I'm not saying that I'll be leaving the house in pink/aqua Navajo sweats this fall, but I'll definitely reference this image's take on nonchalant chunky layering.

School Supplies: Navy Newbury Chino

2010-05-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

-Having been thoroughly impressed with the fit and feel of the khaki Newbury Chino jacket from Rugby, I decided to snag the jacket in navy as well. I didn't really plan on getting the navy jacket too, but this week Rugby is having an insider sale of 25% off, which I combined with my student discount of 15% to get the jacket at a crazy-low price. I'll throw up a fit picture as soon as the jacket makes it to me doorstep.

School Supplies: Alden Horsebit Loafers

2010-04-28T18:32:00.000-07:00

-I've been on the hunt for some loafers for awhile, and I was lucky enough to snag these Aldens on eBay for about $40. This is my first pair of loafers and I'm pretty stoked on them, though I don't really like the word 'loafer.' I'd like to think of myself as someone who gets shit done, rather someone who loafs. Etymology aside, the price was right and I'm excited to see how these age. Check out a few more photos after the jump.

Extra Credit: The Badass Backpack

2010-04-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

-I love backpacks. I used to blog about a lot of great backpacks that I wanted, but then I bought an awesome bag from Duluth Pack, and my longing for the perfect backpack was sated. I decided that I should cool it on the backpack blogging. But then I kept finding more badass backpacks and decided, instead of clogging up this page with them, that I'd start a Tumblr just for badass backpacks. So if you, like me, enjoy looking at backpacks, click on the above link.
-In other news, posting has been a bit slow. I am very busy, and I apologize. These next two weeks are going to be hectic, but I've got some dope blog-related ideas to execute in the very near future. Keep checking back.

Dress Code: Rugby Newbury Chino Jacket

2010-04-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

-I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I was contemplating buying this khaki blazer from Rugby. When RL was offering 25 percent off all items, I couldn't justify not picking it up for about $130. After messing around a bit it's become pretty clear that this jacket is going to be a favorite heading into summer, but it's also heavier than I'd expected and it should make the transition to fall pretty easily. For this first look I very blatantly referenced the May GQ cover, going with the Gap chambray work-shirt and a dark tie (tie and clip are vintage.) I'm a pocket square novice, but pairing my chambray pocket square from The Hill-Side with the shirt/jacket was a no-brainer. I'm going to try this look again with my Naked & Famous denim and see if it still translates. I might rock the white denim a few times this summer, but it's probably not something I'll go with regularly.
-Check out three more jacket-based looks I came up with after the jump.

-Click the images to enlarge.

-This second look is from yesterday's post about 511s, I think it shows the jacket in a more collegiate assemblage.

-Despite the inadvertently douchy poses, this is how I might rock this jacket in late September when the weather is starting to cool down. The shirt is Gitman Vintage, jeans are Naked & Famous.

-It's rare that you'll see me wearing a shirt without a BD collar, but I've been meaning to give this J.Crew purple gingham more play this summer. A grey tie always works with purple. The jeans are my raw 511s.
- When I previewed this post on Twitter, Jeremy and Lawrence clowned on my shoe-game a bit, and I must admit that their admonishments were warranted. Shoes, like the dudes from PutThisOn say in their new video, are an investment. For that reason, upgrading your footwear is a challenge for those on a college budget. I'm always on the eBay prowl for Alden steals, but until I've got a spare $500 to drop on some quality kicks, I'm happy with my beat-to-shit Sperrys and my $68 DKNY wingtips (among others.)
-Anyway, this jacket fits great (mine is a small) and it was a steal, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

School Supplies: Levi's 511 Trouser

2010-04-20T11:00:00.000-07:00

-Slim khakis are an essential part of any wardrobe upgrade. I recently bought J. Crew's Ubran Slim-Fit chino, their slimmest cut khaki, and found that they were fuller than I'd hoped. Lawrence beat me to the punch espousing the merits of the Levi's 511 trouser, but I thought I'd throw up a hands on look at my new favorite non-denim pant. Since I 'graduated' from the 514 to the 511 about 2.5 years ago, I've acquired four pairs of the jeans and a pair of the corduroy version. A few weeks ago I came across the 511 trouser at Urban in Portland. I grabbed a pair (the khaki colored pair below) and didn't even bother to try them on because I knew that the 511 in a 32 would fit me perfectly.

-After about two weeks I realized that the 511 trouser was just the pant my wardrobe had been missing: A casual, slim and surprisingly solid feeling chino. I hit up the Levi's site and ordered the blue pair and I think I like them even better than the khaki joints. At $54, I really don't think there's a better go-to khaki out there right now.

-There seems to be a recurring debate between style-types about the cut of the 511 vs. the 514. I was pumped on 514s when I was in high school, but back then I was still wearing skate shoes regularly, so the larger 514 leg opening didn't really bother me. To me, upping your style game begins at the feet. When you slim down your shoes, the next thing you notice is the ratio of leg opening to shoe. As the Top-Sider became my go-to shoe, the awkward 514 leg opening didn't look or fall right, so I moved on to the 511 and have been satisfied ever since.

-One of the commenters over at Sart-Inc points out that the jean pocket makes these more of a chino-jean than a true trouser, which is definitely a valid point, they're not really office appropriate. But, as I rarely find myself in the types of places where such distinction are important, I'm keeping my Hill-Side pocket square in the jean pocket and digging that these pants cant be dressed up (relatively) or down with ease. These pants have given my denim a much needed rest this spring.

Dissertation: In Defense of GQ

2010-04-17T16:23:00.000-07:00

-My frustration came to a head last month. A realization that had been slowly building in the back of my mind, a betrayal by a good friend, had finally become clear to me: Most of the content in the April issue of Gentleman’s Quarterly did not interest me.
-I’ve read nearly every GQ since I became a subscriber in 2002. When I first left for college in 2006 I threw out four years worth of magazines. Every issue since then, save for a few that have been inexplicably misplaced, now sit organized neatly on a shelf in the last place that I’ll reside as a college student. Keeping all these issues doesn’t make me any cooler than any other dedicated or casual reader, but the ever-growing stacks serve as a great resource to me when I need them. I recently purchased a khaki-colored chino sport coat, and I was having trouble figuring out what to wear beneath it. I grabbed a couple spring issues from the past few years off the shelf and casually perused, looking for anything that might help me craft some sensible looks around my new jacket. Flipping through the pages from years past was strangely nostalgic. It’s odd how I could clearly remember individual pages, stories and editorials. I found what I was looking for, a couple ideas of how to wear a khaki sport coat, but I also found myself remembering why I loved the magazine. When I started reading GQ there were no blogs, no online magazines or style forums. As a young man trying to set myself apart from my peers through my style, GQ offered guidance and helped to keep me from pushing my stylistic expression a little too far. I tried to figure out what was different now. Why can’t I get into the issue? What's missing?
-Nothing is missing, except my younger self and the lack of pretentiousness with which I used to approach the publication. The pages still contain the same helpful advice and smartly styled editorials they are known for. It’s me that is different. Flipping through the April issue’s guidelines for budget conscious shopping, tailoring and eBay finagling I found myself, like I’m sure many of you did, more informed on matters of style and shopping than the intended GQ audience. I’m not suggesting that the editors and writers of GQ do not possess more knowledge and insight than myself, I am confidently certain that they do, it’s that they craft content for an audience that wants to know, not one that knows.

-So why should we continue to support GQ even if we know how to measure for a custom shirt, match patterned shirts and ties without looking like we got dressed in the dark, or how to roll our chinos to show just enough ankle peeking out of our ocean-soaked Top-Siders? Because the magazine isn’t for us anymore; it’s for the guy who might not spend hours reading blogs and forums researching which pair of raw denim is best for his build. Obviously, I love the style blogosphere. I love the proliferation of unique points of view the Internet offers. But I’m a GQ subscriber, and I’ll probably be one for life. Not only because the magazine initially fueled my desire to pursue a career in journalism, and not because I’ve been to a print-shop and smelled the oddly agreeable aroma of ink as it lathers huge sheets of uncut paper. But because it’s an important publication, plain and simple, and just because I feel like I could give much of the same advice as the magazine, doesn’t mean the kid ransacking the thrift shop for vintage ties won’t find the same guidance and inspiration in GQ that I once did.

School Supplies: A.P.C. Army Petit Standards

2010-04-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

-I can't believe I'd never run across these pants before, I've been on the hunt for slim army-green pants for a minute now. I've never been the biggest fan of A.P.C. (ubiquity, price, etc.,) But I'm really digging these. I always thought the Petit Standard would appeal to me more than the New Standard, given my taste in cut.
-Portland's Francis May has these, but it's probably a good thing they're out of my size, or I might be dropping $190 on a pair right now (but does anyone know anywhere else that has these in stock? 32.)
-Kind of a side note, but about five (ish?) years ago there was a spring GQ spread that had these great, dark green Gucci jeans. Ever since then I've wanted some dark green denim. It seems that, with all the great raw denim experimentation that's going on right now, someone could make a great dark green denim that would fade into some great hues. The pair above isn't denim, they're cotton gabardine, so more like a khaki but cut like any other Petit Standard. I had a pair of Levi's khakis cut like jeans that I thought were pretty ace, so the A.P.C.s could maybe sate my hunger until someone executes on my green denim idea.

Class Discussion: Product Shots

2010-04-13T22:18:00.000-07:00

-The topic of product shots comes up quite a bit when discussing men's shops with other bloggers/shoppers. I wanted to post this as a kind of initial research for future career moves, and I'm really interested in what people think. Do you necessarily need to see the garment on a model? For me, fit is the most important thing about any piece, regardless of the name of the label. But on the other hand, I think Nomad's shots are the most elegantly photographed of any shop's. Oi Polloi and a few others show alternate views of the item on a mannequin, but that doesn't translate as well as seeing the garment on a real model. But that brings up the issue, which has also been discussed at length amongst bloggers, of model body type. Sometimes it's hard to gauge how a garment may look on yourself when you're seeing it on a manorexic model.
-An added component to shots on models is how the looks are styled. When I look at the four different images of the Wings + Horns chambray parka, I try to notice the little differences like what's layered beneath the jacket and what color pants were paired with the jacket. Subtle differences in styling can have an affect on buyer perception.

-Of course the best way to avoid all these problems is to head to a reputable shop and actually try things on, but we're talking about high-end niche markets here, most of these shops do the majority of their business online. For many of the items in these stores you could refer to the brand's lookbook, but that just adds another step between shopping and actually getting your gear in hand. Though I'm not really a fan of anything they sell, the Japanese shop Utility Coop has the perfect product shot balance: Isolated products shot against a white seamless, and in-house lookbook style shots with models. To me, that's the most effective way to give shoppers a complete view of what they're potentially spending a good deal of money on. What do you think? Is there a shop that you think has exceptional product images?

-Update: The brand new Patrik Ervell shop is super clean, combining video, still model shots and isolated garment shops. It will be super frustrating if you're on a slow machine though, but I guess they assume if you're on a slow machine, you probably can't afford Ervell.

School Supplies: 10.Deep SS10 Shorts

2010-04-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

-I might never have blogged about 10.Deep before, but they're definitely one of the few streetwear brands that I consistently pay attention to. As with most streetwear collections, you've got to bring a discerning eye to the company's SS10 drop, but upon looking I was pretty stoked to see these great looking shorts. As you probably know, camo is making a pretty big push in 2010. I think camo is best utilized minimally, as it is here, to add a bit of character to a garment. I also really love the small cargo pocket on the right, and the button tabs that allow you to shorten these up a bit and expose more of the lining.

-I would expect these to come in at around $100 so, though I'd actually like to grab all three pairs, I might consider pulling the trigger on the navy pair.

-The chambray joints are pretty clean also, although chambray use is getting a bit out of hand as of late.

School Supplies: Vans x Giants

2010-04-06T20:21:00.000-07:00

-It's been a long while since I've blogged about limited edition kicks, but these appealed to me on a number of levels. Eras, the more skate-worthy version of Authentics (notice the ankle padding) are a classic, clean sneaker. I've always wanted a pair of leather Authentics or Eras, and the colorway here is dope. But mainly I'm wishing I could grab one of the 12 pairs of these because my large, California based Italian family are all huge Giants fans and, though I think baseball is terribly boring, if I were a fan my allegiance would lie with San Francisco.

-I'm gonna get on Facebook and try to convince one of my 30ish cousins to wait in line at HUF on April 9th to try to get a pair.
-Via Hypebeast

School Supplies: The New Pocket Square

2010-04-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

-I came across this photo over at Denim Debate and was inspired. The picture is from The Hill-Side's Sandy Corsillo, and I'm really digging his use of the pocket square in the jean pocket. I love how the indigo has rubbed off on the pocket square, and how the hint of green in the selvedge peeks above the pocket (I just ordered the scarf version of this natural/green combo the other day.) A lot of times find myself needing something to wipe my hands on, or maybe just something to cover up a cough. Utilizing one of The Hill-Side's chambray pocket squares in this capacity could help me out in that department, and add a little quirk to my back pockets the same way that a traditional pocket square amps up a suit-jacket. I'm a bit conflicted because my back pockets are usually alway occupied by my wallet and iPhone, but this picture has me considering changing it up a bit. Either way, it helped me refocus on the idea that little details and personal style quirks are what help us to stand out in a world where people are paying more and more attention to style.

-I'm sort of contemplating calling Blackbird and having them add this hickory striped pocket square to my order. I think the stripes would play nicely off of dark denim without being overly bold.
-Update: Check my later post to see how this idea translated in real life.

Classmates: Movie Style — Jake Ryan of Sixteen Candles

2010-04-01T03:07:00.000-07:00

-It's no secret that John Hughes' movies are stylish. But I noticed something interesting recently while watching the 1984 Hughes classic Sixteen Candles; Romantic interest Jake Ryan's style was icy, not just for 1984, but in a very 2010 manner. Check out this first combo, a standard (and admittedly baggy) oxford/vest combo, but it's paired with cuffed jeans and worn boots. Was there any item more prevalent on the scene in the past year than work boots?

-Continue on to the dance scene and check out what dude is rocking — slim, front-pocket cargos. Similar cargos were huge this year, though I'm still conflicted about whether or not that's a good thing. Still, the timeframe makes Jake's wardrobe selection very intriguing. I can't really tell what the shoes are though, this cap is taken from a downloaded version of the film, I apologize.

-At the end of the movie Jake returns to his go-to sweater vest and denim. Am I stretching too far here? Does this dude not look like he could have stepped out of a 2010 lookbook? Maybe it's just me, but the wardrobe choices here seem distinctly different from those made for the male leads in the other two parts of the Hughes holy trinity (Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club.) Maybe it's because Jake ends up being a nice guy and not a douche, even though he drives a 944, which everyone knows is the poor-man's Porsche.

School Supplies: Heritage Research for Oi Polloi Varsity Jacket

2010-03-31T19:50:00.000-07:00

-I've blogged about Heritage Resarch a few times now, and I have to reiterate that I think the British brand is making some of the finest (and expensive,) minimalist garments around right now. I've also blogged a few times about my affinity for toned-down varsity jackets. Given Heritage Research's other pieces, a varsity jacket seems like kind of a curveball, but like their other jackets, this one looks like it was executed brilliantly. You can't go wrong with heavyweight grey wool and cream leather. This jacket is made in America and hits the till at $530 via Oi Polloi.

School Supplies: Nom De Guerre SS10 Desert Corps

2010-03-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

-I usually try not to get too hyped up about Nom De Guerre, mostly because their pieces are rarely in my range. But these two coats from their SS10 collection — the Desert Corps Jacket, and the Desert Corps Trench — are two of the freshest looking items I've seen from anybody this season. It's pretty well established that I'm a sucker for military influence, and this collection is packed with service subtleties. At nearly the $500, the trench isn't too outrageous compared to similar coats, but it's still out of my budget. There's nothing wrong with wishing though, so that's my current stance. Nomad has the these and more from the collection, and as is their custom, the Toronto-based shop has the best product shots around. Though, I'd still like to see these on a model to get a sense of the fit.

School Supplies: Some Spring Rugby

2010-03-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

-I'm seriously considering snagging this Rugby Newbury Chino jacket. Ryan had a chance to try it on recently and has assured me that the fit is on point (Rugby fit has been great to me on other items.) I was thinking about getting the J. Crew khaki Ludlow suit, but I don't think I'm ready to make a move on a full suit just yet. This jacket is a little more casual than the Ludlow, and I like the little Rugby details on the collar and cuff.

-I don't know why I've never checked to see if Rugby had a club-collar oxford, since I've been looking for one for awhile. I think it's pretty safe to say this version ($69.50,) and this madras bow ($29.50,) are the most affordable models of each to be found (especially if you can take advantage of the 15% student discount Rugby offers.) As always, Rugby is a mixed bag, but if you stick to the classics, the label can provide some good snags for those of us on a college budget.

School Supplies: Navy Authentics

2010-03-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

-I'm gonna keep this post simple. I picked up some navy Authentics at a Vans outlet for $30. You probably already know that Authentics are the perfect SS sneaker. I love the nautical feel of the navy/white model. They're high enough not to fret if there's still a bit of rain on the ground, and skatable enough to hop on a board if you need to jet somewhere quick. Let them get a little worn and pair them with some rolled up chinos; If they're too clean and thrown with some stock raw denim, you're bound to look like every other streetwear kid. If you're going with a ubiquitous sneaker, make sure the rest of the fit has an individual flair.

Professors: Marcy Playground

2010-03-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

-Every time a Marcy Playground song comes up on my shuffle I remind myself to do this post. You probably remember the band for their hit Sex and Candy, but you may not know that the album from which the hit came is one of the best and most complete rock albums of the nineties.
-I wouldn't place Marcy Playground within my top-ten bands, but I would put their 1997 self-titled album in my top-ten all-time albums. I consider an album great when I enjoy every single song, there aren't any that I'm inclined to skip. Aside from Nirvana's discs, which heavily influenced Marcy's sound, this is one of the few nineties albums that I can enjoy all the way through. The band's sound is slightly softer than Nirvana's, but the songs that rock a little more heavily don't seem contrived. Littered with memorable lines and bits of PNW reference (derived from lead singer John Wozniak's time at Washington's famous fake university, Evergreen,) this is a quintessential nineties album for anybody's collection. Sadly, the band's two subsequent releases failed to achieve what the self-titled album did, both commercially and musically, but the first disc is one that will always have a place in my rotation.

A Cloak Of Elvenkind - Marcy P...

Dress Code: Cloudy Day Shopping

2010-03-23T00:08:00.000-07:00

-Yesterday the weather kept alternating between sunbreak and light sprinkles, but Grace and I headed to Portland to do some shopping before we head back to school. I'm posting this just to propose the idea of chambray (or any casual BD) over a light sweater as an early-spring (or early-fall) option. As far as a concept goes with this, I guess the main idea is protecting the refined shirt/tie/sweater with a more rugged piece. You might ask "Protecting from what?" and I might reply "a hobo's shiv." But really there's no concept, I just think it looks kind of cool, and I liked the three depths of blue in the complete look. I've done this before over a grey crewneck sweatshirt, but this was the first time I threw the chambray on as a shirt-jacket over a tie-combo. A bit unconventional, but I think this is something I'll try again when I'm in need of one more light layer.
-Chambray, Gap $40
-Sweater, J. Crew $40
-Gnar face, No sleep, priceless.

School Supplies: Yuketen Backpack

2010-03-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

-I thought I'd stop blogging about backpacks now that I've got my Inventory x Duluth Pack joint, but I'm still incredibly drawn to the rucksack aesthetic. I know a lot of people favor messengers/bookbags, but I don't really like having a strap dissect my chest, especially when I'm wearing a tie.
-I'm a bit less-fond of Yuketen's footwear styles then most people, but this pack is one of the best bags I've seen. If I had the dough I'd be making up excuses for owning two backpacks, though I might remove that round leather patch.

School Supplies: Sperry Wear

2010-03-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

-I've probably worn this pair of Top-Siders 86% of the days since I purchased them in the spring of 2006. One of the few Glenn O'Brien style rules I break is wearing Sperrys through every season. This pair has been with me through trips to the beach, hikes in the wood, tramping through campus in the snow and once when I got caught in a torrential deluge and they got completely reshaped. The bottom has worn all the way through to the insole, so I can't wear them when it's wet anymore, but they're still my go-to shoes when it's dry out. Check out after the jump for a some more shots of the damage.

Film Studies: Revenge of the Nerds

2010-03-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

-I wasn't alive in 1984, but I'm told Orwell's predictions didn't hold true. The year was, however, the year that the greatest college movie ever made, Revenge of the Nerds, debuted. I hadn't watched the movie for about 7 years before I decided to rent it this week and discovered the classic film contains some badass styling. Check out some screen caps of some of the movie's sartorial gems and a bit more insight into the movie's legacy after the jump.

-I'm really digging the color combo on this station wagon. But check out James Cromwell's (the dad) fit right here, looks like something we might see pulled off unironically in the current style climate.

-I'm feeling a bit conflicted about pocket protectors right now. Straight up, I think they look pretty dope. They could add a bit of flair to a look (especially if you actually need all those pens and pencils.) But alas, I have an odd feeling that the pocket protector may come back soon as a hipster trend accessory. Oh well, it might be a cool idea to throw into an editorial shoot. I might scope eBay for some cool pocket protectors. Lewis' glasses are fresh too.

-Booger's "Gimme Head Till I'm Dead" shirt. Best slogan tee in a movie. Ever.

-I promise you this: In my eventual collection of menswear, there will be a sleeveless varsity jacket. No joke. Maybe it will have zip-off sleeves. Ogre is played by Donald Gibb, who you might recognize from Blood Sport, the greatest Van Damme movie of all time.

-Booger rocking leather and joints. Wormser rocking the bow. Ballin.

-Jefferson from Married with Children as stock frat-douche Stan Gable. Great casting and styling.

-High-five to whoever can track down one these Lambda Lambda Lambda cardigans.

-I'm more into this for the Roland gear than the clothes.

-This character's name is U.N. Jefferson. Is that not the most badass name ever? U.N.

-Here's the slightly racist part of the movie: If you don't remember, a bunch of big black tri-lambs show up and the Alpha Betas are too scared to fight them. But given that earlier in the movie the nerds break into Pi's house, sexually assault them and steal their underwear, I don't think political correctness was a major consideration during the production of this movie. We'll let it slide though, because the movie is the quintessential college comedy, underdog story and now a major inspiration for some future designs.

School Supplies: The Early Spring Virtual Shopper

2010-03-10T17:04:00.000-08:00

-I was browsing End's Web site and found myself wishing I had quite a few of the items to help me navigate the daily weather variations of Northwest springtime. I don't do a lot of assembled looks because I think that actual fit on the body is the most important thing you can share if you're blogging about looks, but all of these items are things I'd snag without question if I had the dough. I blogged about Heritage Research parkas before, and of all the incredible high-end parkas out there, I think their versions are my favorite. I really love pairing denim or chambray shirts with bright red and that Edwin crewneck is about as good as a sweatshirt can get. I'm still on the hunt for some slim khakis, and though I probably wouldn't ever spend more than $200 on a pair, these ones look great. The loafers tie back in the navy from the parka, and I added the bag just for good measure.

-Heritage Research British millerain longline parka, $327

-Edwin corps sweatshirt, $117

-Levi's vintage sawtooth denim shirt, $187

-A.P.C. classic slim-fit chino, $246

-Surface 2 Air moccasin tassle loafer, $141

-Mismo weekend bag, $448

School Supplies: Ballantyne SS/10 Sweaters

2010-03-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

-Selectism posted looks from Ballantyne's SS/10 collection. I'd never heard of the Italian label before I saw the post, and the styling of the collection overall is a bit garish for my tastes, but I'm really digging the bright graphic sweaters. I'm wondering why graphic elements beyond pattern aren't used in sweaters more often? Sure there's the badass rustic wolf knitted kind, but why not throw a bit of simple illustration into a more refined garment? The label seems to only be available in Italy, so it's more likely that I'll find something like this in a thrift store, but I'll be on the lookout for a dope graphic sweater this spring.

School Supplies: Penfield SS/10

2010-03-06T20:25:00.000-08:00

-Continuing on my eternal parka quest, I find myself really liking some of the new jackets from Penfield. The Lockwood (left) is the perfect simple parka, and I trust Penfield's waterproofing skills more so than some of the parkas from higher-end labels. The Cambpell (center) is not quite as sweet as the Wings + Horns chambray parka, but at about $500 less, it's a nice substitute. The Penfield chambray isn't waterproof though, which is a bummer. The Vassan 2 tone (right) is on the verge of looking a little too snowboard-y, but the colors are soft enough that it could work as a go-to urban parka. The best of the deal though, is that all these jackets are under $200, which increases the likelihood that I'll be snagging one sometime this spring.

School Supplies: Gitman Violet Chambray

2010-03-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

-Everyone has been tripping over red chambray this year, but I prefer this violet version from Gitman Vintage. You probably know that I'm a button-down collar enthusiast, so that detail really drew me to this shirt versus many of the other quality chambray pieces out there. This shirt has been getting a lot of play in the blogosphere recently, and normally I wouldn't post about an item that others had already. But I'm posting this because I pulled the trigger and snagged this in small from Blackbird. I'll update with how it fits/feels/looks in person when it gets here.
-I know I've been posting stuff from Blackbird a lot lately, and if you're a long time reader, you know I've been critical of them in the past. For the record, I still think they have a lot of wack buying (Odyn Vovk, Julius, etc.) that sort of confuses me about who they imagine their customers to be. That being said, the Seattle shop is still, along with Winn Perry, one of the best stockists of dope brands on the West Coast.

School Supplies: Madras Madness

2010-03-02T00:08:00.000-08:00

-The madras tie is a spring must-have that I, somehow, don't have. I'll definitely be grabbing one soon, but the question is, which one? 3sixteen added these two madras pieces to their spring collection and I think the color mixtures are spot-on. Width: 2.5, Cost: $77 at the 3sixteen online shop.

-I'm leaning heavily toward one of these new ties from Gitman Vintage. The enlarged madras pattern is a rarer sight, and it gives the ties a less-busy look. Width: Not listed, but they look agreeable narrow, Cost: $68 at Blackbird.

-Lastly, I couldn't post about madras ties if I didn't peruse the selection at J. Press. If you're gonna do classic prep styling, you might as well stick with a classic prep retailer. Width: Probably a little more classic (i.e. wider) than the others, Cost: $59.50 at J.Press online.
-I'm hoping the Gitman ties will still be in-stock in a month or so when my bank account has recouped a little. If so, you can expect to see me: White BD collar oxford, loose tie, seersucker ballin this spring.

Dress Code: Same Day, Different Shit

2010-03-01T19:07:00.000-08:00

-Just thought I'd throw these up to illustrate something that has been happening to me lately (though I was reluctant to post these because the tripod height made me look wicked short.) Some days, like today, I have to walk to school pretty early. So I get dressed in my usual manner; 4 out-of 5 days a week I wear some sort of oxford/tie/sweater combo. Then I come home for lunch for about an hour before heading back to school, depending on the day. Lately, the change in temperature between the two times I head to school has been pretty significant, and I've felt like skating on my second trip to school. So I've been trying to figure out how to change into something skatable and not look like a douche bag who goes home and changes his outfit at lunch. These pictures show how I navigated that conundrum today (basically just ditching the tie and untucking so I could move fluidly.)

Home Ec: You're Gonna Need Stitches

2010-02-26T20:38:00.000-08:00

-The left pocket of all my jeans gets worn out. I walk with my left hand in my pocket usually, because my right is constantly busy fiddling with my iPhone (and before I had the phone, my iPod.) The left pocket on my favorite pair of Levi's is completely destroyed, so when the pocket of my Naked & Famous started to come unstitched, I decided to stop the destruction in its tracks with a bit of heavy-gauge thread.
-There are two reasons for this pretty insubstantial post. Firstly, I'm using this denim related item to tell people to check out Denim Debate. My column isn't live yet, but it should be this weekend. If you've not yet heard about the debate, go check it out, it's an inventive site that should become a great resource for style-minded folk.
-Secondly, I'm posting to say that the wireless network I've been stealing at my apartment has disappeared, and while I figure out what to do about that, insubstantial posts like this may be numerous. Bear with me, and be well.

School Supplies: Spring Hill-Side

2010-02-22T15:01:00.000-08:00

-The dopeness of The Hill-Side is nothing new to most of you. The label has been pushing the use of chambray beyond work shirts for awhile now. But when I first saw the brand's line of (then) scarves and ties (now expanded to pocket squares and bandanas) the one thought I had was "they need to add some color." I was perusing Blackbird's new stock and found this season's offerings from The Hill-Side. I'm very seriously considering grabbing this hickory-stripe number before it's gone. Most of my scarves are of the heavier winter variety. A light scarf can be a dangerous undertaking; it's easy to end up looking like an LA hipster. But if you employ a bit of Italian sensibility, I think it's a look that can be pulled off sincerely. I was a bit unsure about the 'natural' chambray, but the green stripe in the self-edge sets it off. The 'kyoto violet' dyeing is a bit deep for me to rock in the spring, but I would definitely consider it for early fall.

Dress Code: The Early Spring Plaid

2010-02-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

-Don't try to lecture me about quality suits. I know. Don't try to lecture me about proper footwear. I know. Grabbed this suit for $110 at H&M (don't lecture me about fast-food fashion, I know.) and thought it would be a fun piece to work into my spring wardrobe (after I find some workable black shoes.) Also, don't lecture me about vest-over-suit being a 'thing' that really shouldn't be tried. I know. Just working in a little early-spring PNW element. Grey is the ultimate complimentary color, really any solid shirt would work with this suit. I used the purple gingham, but probably wouldn't really take a patterned shirt/suit combo out in the street.
-As always, thanks to Grace for taking all my photos.

Dress Code: My Take Ivy Take

2010-02-17T23:18:00.000-08:00

-You've probably seen a few posts lately about bloggers' favorite looks from the iconic Take Ivy book (if you don't know what I'm talking about, check out this post on Start With Typewriters for a quick refresher.) Even though everyone is doing it, I decided to compile my favorite images from the book (though, I excluded many great images by only including style-related photos.) I usually differ a bit from most bloggers in my opinions on specific looks.
-As a child of semi-rural poverty, I've got a natural hatred of old money. But as a sartorialist, an appreciation for the importance of ivy style on American fashion is unavoidable. The thing that strikes me as brilliant, and that I think is probably absent on these campuses today, is the effortlessness. They didn't have to try to be stylish, or try to embody an ivy look, it was just part of their attitude.
-I also really dig that they, as I've often preached to the anti-umbrella Pacific Northwest, employ umbrellas as a means to wear what they want despite rain. They don't have to conceal their style beneath ugly raincoats. We need a return to this field of thought. Furthermore, I need to get some dope loafers. -Click the image for a huge version. That's all.

School Supplies: DGK Tees

2010-02-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

-I've been riding a DGK deck for about a year now and I love it. The pop has lasted throughout pretty regular sessions. Like most of us, I haven't rocked skate brand graphic tees since high school¹, but I'm endorsing this series of prints. You can't last long in the 'business' of blogging if you let haters get to you, so I'm all about embracing the Dirty Ghetto Kids' mantra.
-If you've got enough ego to put your personal style out there for the anonymous masses to criticize, you're probably not going to let the haters affect your pride anyway (which leads to the question, why do they persist?) But until everybody has reached internet enlightenment, I take comfort in the fact that I get a lot more positive feedback than negative, and let Fabolous speak for me: "I adress the haters and under-estimators, and ride up on em like they escalators."
-Here's to hoping #Ulysses reads this post.
1- I actually own and occasionally wear a DGK shirt, but it's a shirt referencing Mike Tyson's Punch Out, and I'm a sucker for Nintendo nostalgia. Sue me.

Dress Code: The Early Spring Militant Pacifist

2010-02-16T21:44:00.000-08:00

-I cut the collar off this safari shirt because it was awkwardly large. I've done that with two other shirts too. I like the end result. Try this tactic out if you've got an awkward collar. I probably wouldn't ever wear my dog tags like this, but they're aiding the military theme established by the safari/bow tie.

School Supplies: Sorel vs. L.L. Bean

2010-02-14T18:26:00.000-08:00

-It looks like Sorel is trying to come up with an answer to the highly anticipated L.L. Bean Signature duck canvas bean boots. I dig Sorel, their Caribou boots are the real deal when it comes to rugged-ass cold-weather boots (check out Grace rocking her pair here.) But at the exact same price point and with very similar materials, this one looks like an attempt to keep up rather than to innovate.

Design Major: Band of Outsiders NY F/W 2010

2010-02-14T16:21:00.000-08:00

-I'm not going to do much commenting on NYFW, mostly because I haven't really seen anything I've liked, and because there are a lot of bloggers there who will be returning with more thorough first-hand accounts.

-But I'm a bit mystified by a lot of my colleagues' dislike of the Band of Outsiders collection. People are saying it's the same old Band style. I disagree. It was consistent with past Band aesthetics, yeah, that's a good thing. But the outerwear here is stellar, and unlike anything we've seen from BoO in the past. That yellow vest is great. It's playing off the workwear vest trend of the past year, but the color gives it a west coast flavor and kills the pretension associated with workwear/Americana niche sartorialists. Those sweats are great too. The tailoring was on point as per usual, and the shoes (as always) were great. Those deep green trousers are killer. The parkas, working a bit of tech into the collection, were a fresh addition to the BoO line.
-I'm not going to spend too much time arguing, but Band continually makes great clothes that can be dressed up or down. Everyday staples, impeccably made and re-imagined.

Dress Code: The Earlier Spring

2010-02-11T12:41:00.000-08:00

Dress Code: Too Soon for Seersucker?

2010-02-10T19:06:00.000-08:00

-I put these two looks together because they're based on the same madras + loose tie idea. For me, the short-sleeve button up is a dangerous item. It's easy to end up looking like Michael Bolton in Office Space. If you're going to do it, go with something with enough flair that you won't be mistaken for an IT nerd (if you are an IT nerd, you'll just look better than the other nerds.) This is actually the only short-sleeve BD I own. I like that it has a button-down collar and I really love the button on the chest pocket.
-In the second look I just replaced the shawl-neck with a grey crewneck and my very under-used seersucker blazer. And if it wasn't clear enough, I'm definitely on the rolled jean sockless spring bandwagon.

Dress Code: Winter/Spring Whites

2010-02-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

-White jeans can be hard to pull off. When I do it, I make sure to make my other colors pretty muted.
-Check out Grace's take on the white/chambray look here.

School Supplies: Seeing Red

2010-02-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

-In middle school I wore an inordinate amount of red. I kept buying red and white skate shoes, and I had an unhealthy obsession with matching everything to my shoes. As I've matured, I think I've subconsciously avoided wearing red so as to not relive that dark sartorial period. But lately I've been really gravitating toward some bright red items. Whether it's used to add a pop of color on a cold winter day, or to usher in the beginning of spring, a singular piece of striking red will do you good.
-1 Inverallan for Inventory Items, I've regretted not buying this hat ever since it sold out. I've spent a lot of time looking for a suitable red beanie, but the shape and chunky knit of this one keeps me hoping they'll re-up.
-2 Wool Blend shirt from Aubin & Wills.
-3 Russel Athletic crewneck sweatshirt for a bit of childhood nostalgia (size down accordingly.)
-4 D.S. Dundee cardigan
-I would probably wear my red Polo socks with any of these pieces for a bit of added flair, but otherwise I would never put more than one bright red (or any other bright color) item in one look. I'm still looking for the optimum usage of my red Polo jeans though...

Dress Code: The Early Spring Weekender

2010-02-08T17:43:00.000-08:00

-I almost wrote about my yellow Burberry sweater for my COE Favorites Series contribution. In short, the sweater was a reckless purchase that worked out in the long run. It's probably my most under-utilized garment.
-As far as this look goes, I just got the chinos and have been trying to figure out what to wear with them (besides my go-to flannel.) The cashmere sweater classes up the chambray/chino ensemble a bit, and I included the windbreaker and umbrella to allude to the certain prevalence of rain as spring approaches.

Dress Code: Grey and Pink Early Spring

2010-02-07T21:53:00.000-08:00

-This spring, I'm rocking suspenders. I'll be sure to keep a smug grin on my face to let any potential haters know I'm serious about my steeze.
-I felt a little naked not wearing my belt, but I think the suspenders will actually do a better job at keeping my pants up. I've got thicker-band red pair I'm looking to pull out in addition to this pair.

Budget Cuts: Support the Future of Class Act Video

2010-02-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

-Nobody likes asking for money. But I've got a pretty sweet idea for the next episode in the Class Act video series, but I'm thinking that I'll need about $300 to pull it off effectively. So if you enjoyed our last video, and you'd like see what else we've got in store, donate using the badge on the right side of the page. Thanks for your support!

Dress Code: The Early Spring Field Guide

2010-02-06T23:47:00.000-08:00

-I'm the first to admit that spring isn't my strongest season. I've always been more inspired stylistically by the layering possibilities of fall and winter. But right now the magazines and blogs are all buzzing at the arrival of spring collections. I've got no money for any big time spring acquisitions. So I've put together a couple early-spring (meaning NW early-spring, aka still cold) looks with the hopes of discovering some new takes on a few of the items already in my closet. This was mainly just for me to not feel bad about not getting anything new for spring, but hopefully it can inspire some of you to think about how you can effectively ride the seasonal transition. I'll be posting the rest of what I came up with in the coming days.

School Supplies: The Sperry Upgrade

2010-02-04T18:44:00.000-08:00

-First off, check out these new drops from Sperry (above.) They've added some height to the chukka and deemed it the 'chukka mid'. I think it looks good. I also like the grey (what do they call that, crushed leather?) Icy. Okay, that's out of the way.
-My go-to Top-Siders, which I've worn probably 86% of the time since I bought them in 2006, have finally worn a whole in the bottom. Now I can't wear them unless the ground is completely devoid of moisture. So today I began looking for a replacement pair, which was a little harder than I expected. I can't seem to find the exact, dark brown (non-glossy) leather that mine originally were. Perusing the site I found a couple almost suitable alternatives (clockwise from top-left below). The 75th anniversary model has great color and a simple silhouette and I was almost set on them. But then I realized how big the heel is. Look at that thing! It's like twice as high as a regular Top-Sider heel. I don't get down like that. I also like the darker soled Top-Siders better than their white-soled brothers. Next is this buffalo-plaid infused model which was, predictably, on sale. This one is kitschy and trend-biting, which is why I like it, but not enough to buy it. The grey with the dope redbrick sole is icy, but I need a Top-Sider that's toned down enough for near daily use. I also like my go-to shoe to match my go-to belt, so I'm sticking with brown. I think this last one, the authentic original boat shoe in sahara, may be the most suitable replacement to my old favorites. The color is a bit lighter, but I think I can dig that.

-However, the disconcerting thing about this search wasn't that I couldn't find an exact match, it was how much the price of Top-Siders has inflated since they've grown in popularity. My first pair was $40 at Nordstrom, and my second pair (these icy white ones, also 2006) were $60 (which seemed a little nuts at the time.) For awhile I encouraged people to check out boating stores for better, less hipster-raided deals on Top-Siders. I can't seem to find any good looking models for less than $60 anymore, which is kind of a shame for a great everyman shoe.
-Check out these odd Sperry white bucks, these are icy too. I might snag them for spring, depending on how much money I make next quarter.

School Supplies: Rice Krispie Treats Cereal

2010-02-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

-If you're only interested in posts about clothes and style, check back tomorrow, or um, in a couple days probably. This one is not for you.
-Let's start this journey sometime in the mid 90s, probably around 1996. Kids across America are overjoyed at the introduction of an amazing new cereal, Rice Krispie Treats. The cereal goes on to become the best-tasting cereal in the history of taste. Fast forward to, I dunno, 2000 maybe? The cereal disappears without explanation. Kids everywhere cry themselves to sleep (little do they know in the coming years another best-tasting-product in the world, Sprite Remix (original flavor) will pull the same disappearing act.)
-Fast forward to like 2005 probably. My dad is working in Michigan and spots the cereal in a grocery store. He sends me four boxes in the mail and I start to believe there is some sort of conspiracy trying to keep me from enjoying life on the West Coast.
-Fast forward to 2007, I'm telling the lamentable story of the cereal to a friend, that friend does some research and finds that the cereal can be ordered on Amazon.com. You can even get it to come to your house every month like a subscription. I ordered two 4-box packages, but my lack of income could not sustain perpetual acquisition of the cereal. Fast forward to 2009. My cravings peak again and I order four boxes from Amazon. The fuckers take like 4 months to send them to me. Meanwhile I'm telling everybody about how cool I am for ordering cereal on Amazon, and someone informs me that they still have the cereal on the West Coat at fucking Wal-Mart! Fast forward to three days ago, see: me at Wal-Mart buying four boxes of the cereal. Fast forward to 20 minutes ago, see: me cracking open the third box of the cereal and deciding to post about it.
-See also: Frosted Mini Chex, Sprite Remix.

Dress Code: The Non-Initial Monogram

2010-01-31T21:07:00.000-08:00

-The badassity of monogramming is undeniable: Adding a bit of personality to your favorite items is almost always a good move. But I carry enough ego with my style as it is, I don't need to adorn everything with my initials. So, in my very small monogram collection, I've opted for a different route. Option 1 (top) I chose to rock the initials of a loved one/significant other. Only consider this option if said loved one/significant other isn't likely to be out of your life before the garment is. The shirt is a Rugby make-your-own oxford, it fits great and was only like $65 I think. Rugby has also taken the J.Crew route and started granting a 15% discount to college students.
-Option 2 (bottom) I chose to use an acronym from a personal motto. Don't ask me what it is, but it has to do with being a badass. The shorts are J.Crew. Think about getting your shorts monogrammed, it's a nice change of pace from the more-common sweater/polo mongrams. J. Crew offers monogramming on a lot of their items for $10 if you're shopping online, so the next time you're grabbing a plain crew neck sweater, think about throwing some initials on there. Just remember, you don't absolutely have to go with your own initials, your choice could be as simple as a set of letters that just roll off the tongue. I'm trying to have a large collection of monogrammed gear, and I'm trying not to let any of them have the same three letters, that way each is special in its own way.

Professors: J.D. Salinger

2010-01-28T10:23:00.000-08:00

-J.D. Salinger passed today at the age of 91. I just wanted to throw this post up quickly to honor Salinger, whose words influenced my young literary mind immensely. Inarguably one the most influential American authors of all-time, Salinger's understated style mimicked his prose in its ability to say so much with very little.

School Supplies: Sonic Lab

2010-01-28T09:54:00.000-08:00

-My pursuit for a quality big-kid backpack is never ending. I've posted about potential packs too many times to even link back to, just search backpacks in the search bar if you're interested. Also, my inclination toward military and military inspired gear is well-documented. So when I saw the Sonic Lab bags over at Mister Crew I was intrigued. I already own a military-inspired duffel, but this backpack could be just what I'm looking for. My only worry is that it might be slightly too large for daily use, but I mix up my bag choice depending on what I have to carry everyday. I'm also not completely into the branding (if you look closely everything is printed) but the backpack looks to have minimal text.
-The bags are priced fairly well ($175 for the backpack) but they are, as expected, only available via Japanese outlets as of now. I'm probably one of the last style bloggers to have not attempted making a purchase from Japanese retail via proxy. It would actually be easier and cheaper for me just to have someone who knows Japanese order for me then to use a proxy, so we'll see what happens.
-Photos from Uneven blog and Mister Crew

Design Major: Iceberg Fall 2010

2010-01-27T21:15:00.000-08:00

-Fashion week has been over for a few days but I wanted to post this one last set of looks from Iceberg. The past two Iceberg collections were two of my favorite showings of the past couple years. This particular collection didn't rank as high on my scale as the past two, but the brand is at least showing up consistently, which is more than can be said for a lot of wishwashy labels. Iceberg is a little more youthful and casual than a lot of the lines showing, but there's no reason the casual youth can't rock exquisitely cut jackets and waistcoats. There's nothing wrong with having an eye for what people are actually wearing on the street, as long as the product is well-made. As in the past shows, the cardigan usage was great here.
-Hat's don't ever really do it for me, and this show was no exception, but I dug the flower brooches. That buffalo plaid jacket is boss status. I've yet to actually see Iceberg in stores though...

Dress Code: D.S. Dundee Assembled by Class Act

2010-01-25T10:07:00.000-08:00

-British label D.S. Dundee just came to my attention via Sartorially Inclined's ENK coverage, and I found myself mystified that I hadn't discovered this brand sooner. With all this emphasis on outdoor gear in the states, I'm more drawn to Britain, where hunting and general ruggedness has been stylishly refined for generations. There's not really much else to say in addition to the looks. All of the items I selected were on sale except for the jeans. I didn't notice that the Camel Jacket picture included the same striped sweater until after I'd pulled both of them, but I added the colorful shirt for a pop of color out of the collar that would tie the sweater and jacket together. Dundee doesn't have ties on their web site, but I'm told they have a neckwear line, or I'd have obviously included those in my looks.