RYE & RIVET

Folks, we’ve got a confession to make: we thought we loved...

Sat, 18 May 2013 21:07:32 -0400

Folks, we’ve got a confession to make: we thought we loved rye. We’d tried just about every one we could get our hands on and enjoyed it all, and so we said without hesitation “we love rye”. But recently, something happened. We picked up some of Lincoln Henderson’s newest creation, the Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey, aged in Caribbean rum casks. And then we realized something, something huge— we had been calling “love” what was really only “like”. We had mislabeled an affinity as an affection. Because this—this—is love. This rye stands out among the rest. The unusual rum cask aging brings a surprising sweetness to its finish, making it positively a delight to drink. Here’s to learning to fall in love again. Find where to buy it through Angel’s Envy’s site here.

So you’re headed to Preakness in a few days, then...

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:52:51 -0400

So you’re headed to Preakness in a few days, then it’s off to a weekend on the cape, then a short sailing venture a la Purple Noon. Your summer plans are in full swing, you swank bastard, you. Okay, okay. So you’re not Mr. Ripley and you’re fresh out of monogrammed smoking jackets, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pull off this extremely refined double-breasted blazer from Intro Clothing. In light, breathable cotton that’ll feel as breezy as seersucker without making you look like Colonel Sanders, it’s the perfect companion for all that the summer throws at you— even if you have to postpone that sailing trip until another lifetime. Get it here.

EXCLUSIVE: Use code “RYE15” at checkout to pick up some spring essentials from Intro Clothing and get 15% off any order! Excludes sale items, expires May 11.

Life is full of uncertainty— where we’re headed, why...

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:01:01 -0400

Life is full of uncertainty— where we’re headed, why we’re here, etcetera etcetera. But this isn’t about that; this is about a jacket. A very nice jacket. A jacket that would be acceptable to wear out to dinner at that trendy new place down the block, or to a friend’s house for a casual get together, or on the weekend to meet your girlfriend’s folks, or to your buddy’s gig at that underground bar he’s been telling you about. It’s sort of the perfect jacket, but more than that, It’s a versatile piece of equipment. So no matter where you’re going, this Japanese selvage denim jacket from Bucks & Co. can go with you. Kinda takes some of the uncertainty out of things, doesn’t it? Get it here.

Maybe it’s because we’ve been watching too many...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400

Maybe it’s because we’ve been watching too many Great Gatsby teaser trailers as of late, but the other night, we had a dream. It was something like Midwest meets West Egg— partywear meets workwear, Manhattans in Mason jars. It was just a dream, we thought. But then we came across this clever button down by Amsterdam clothiers Scotch & Soda, and we fell in love. With the rolled-up sleeves held in place by those handy tabs, it’s casual enough that you won’t mind getting your hands dirty. But the contrasting pocket square brings a pop of sophistication to what is otherwise a basic wear-everywhere lightweight cotton shirt. To put it simply, it’s the perfect marriage of two worlds. Get it here.

EXCLUSIVE: Use code “RYE15” at checkout to pick up some spring essentials from Intro Clothing and get 15% off any order! Excludes sale items, expires May 11.

Wine. Cheese. Whisky. Some things, as the saying goes, get...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:35:00 -0400

Wine. Cheese. Whisky. Some things, as the saying goes, get better with age. Copper, it turns out, is also one of them— as copper ages, it acquires the lovely green-grey patina known as “verdigris”, from the French “Vert de Grèce”, meaning Grecian green. Once used as a pigment for paint, the ingenious folks at Tender Co. have brought its usage as a fabric dye back into style with this remarkable lightweight button down. And since it’s made by Tender, with all the quality details you’d expect, we’re willing to bet that this shirt will only get better with age, too. Not unlike yourself. Get it here.

Generally speaking, folks in the raw denim world are incredibly...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:51:00 -0400

Generally speaking, folks in the raw denim world are incredibly friendly and approachable. They appreciate raw enthusiasts from all walks of life, from the first-time user to the seasoned pro. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t, from time to time, engage in a little friendly competition. In that spirit, our friends at Railcar Fine Goods have introduced a contest that’s the first of its kind. With the release of their special-edition, made-to-order RDCX013 denim, they’re asking buyers to create a profile on their new forum and log their denim’s journey throughout an entire year. After that time, the contest will culminate in a juried decision of the final winner (and, yes, a prize will be awarded). Whether you’re in it to win it or not, this is a great community experience to participate in (not to mention, a great chance to get a pair of amazing RFG jeans in any style and cut, made from some top-notch denim). In the end, everybody’s really a winner, right? Read more and sign up here.

Denimheads of the world, listen up: if you’ve ever lain...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:48:27 -0400

Denimheads of the world, listen up: if you’ve ever lain awake at night obsessing over selvage denim and wishing there was some way, any way, that you could just envelope yourself in it from head to toe, well, your prayers have been answered. Thanks to the folks at Scout Seattle, that dream can now be a reality. Their new organic selvage denim and chambray field bed is eighty inches of 100% cotton selvage that you can crawl right into and sleep inside. It’s warm, durable, comfortable, and, unsurprisingly, outfitted with Horween leather pulls and tie-down straps. Use it for camping, as intended, or just unroll it on top of your mattress and resolve to never, ever let another night go by without being swaddled in denim. Get it here.

As self-admitted junkies for those objects that remind us of...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:02:00 -0400

As self-admitted junkies for those objects that remind us of times long ago, we think it’s nonetheless important to keep priorities straight. It’s a difficult task, but we try to avoid hoarding every old glass milk jug we come across at the flea market— vestigial as they may be, we just can’t justify collecting old things just because they’re old. However, there are certainly a handful of things that we yearn to bring back from decommission— personal effects like engraved lighters, heavy wooden shoe horns, etcetera. And, of course, the wooden shaving bowl, pictured above. This one from Taylor of Old Bond Street is, admittedly, new rather than vintage, but it still does a wonderful job of reminding us just what it was we liked about these things to begin with. And unlike that typewriter you rescued from the trash that glares at you judgmentally as you continue to clap away on your MacBook, it’s both old-fashioned and something you’ll use every day. Get it here.

Is it just us, or did Spring take the year off? Around these...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:00:58 -0400

Is it just us, or did Spring take the year off? Around these parts it went from being forty degrees and rainy to a balmy ninety degrees plus unrelenting sun, Baltimore-style. Generally we’re not the shorts-advocating type (call us old fashioned— go ahead, we don’t mind), but something about desperate times, and… well, here we are. If you must wear shorts, folks, at least have the decency to do a shade or two better than the ill-fitting khaki numbers you’ve had since your college days. This rather dashing pair from A Kind Of Guise, for instance— they’re not your grandad’s shorts. Actually, they sort of are— the classic stripe in this timeless colorway has a bit of an old-fashioned bathing costume look to it, while the updated cut keeps these shorts from being either too revealing (ugh) or too old-mannish (double-ugh). So yeah, forget what we said— long live the shorts. But, y’know, only when absolutely necessary. Get them here.

We’ve all had that moment: you’re sitting around...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:53:03 -0400

We’ve all had that moment: you’re sitting around enjoying a beer with some friends, talking about the difference between the sixty-minute and ninety-minute IPA, discoursing on the subtleties of a good Rauchbier, when it happens— somewhere between beer no. 1 and beer no. 5, you’ve forgotten the term for…what was it again? Embarrassing as the situation may be, it can be avoided. Just pick up a handy set of these coasters from Pop Chart Lab— they tidily subdivide all your favorite beer styles into their more common variations (and maybe one or two you didn’t even know about), and have style to boot. And speaking of boots, they’re made of what you might ordinarily find underneath yours—concrete—giving them a sort of hi-brow meets industrial vibe. It’s really quite postmodern, if you think about it…so you can feel free to toss that terminology around with your pals too, if you so choose. Who knows, you might learn something. Get them here.

Finesse— now that’s a word you don’t see much...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:00:56 -0400

Finesse— now that’s a word you don’t see much anymore. Webster defines it as “refinement or delicacy of workmanship or structure”. Maybe the reason we don’t see that word very often is that few products these days elicit this descriptor. “New”— we see that word a lot. But whereas “finesse” tells you something about the product itself, “new” only tells you something about its position in time— something is “new” only until something else is “newer”. Finesse, on the other hand…finesse is forever. Finesse is to New what Style is to Fashion. And if there’s one thing we can say about this artfully simple carryall from Materials + Process, it’s that it has finesse. It lacks both complication and gimmick, replacing these with an understanding of classic, purposeful understatement. In other words? Finesse. C’mon, folks. Let’s bring it back. Get it here.

So, it’s spring. Time to re-inject some color into your...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:35:57 -0400

So, it’s spring. Time to re-inject some color into your closet, shy away from the blacks and navys, hit up some light grays, some blues, some reds. In other words, it’s the time of year when things are re-born, and your wardrobe is no exception. But what if you’re just not that guy? What if brights remind you of kindergarten and pastels make you feel like an easter egg? What are your options? Are you damned to remain in mourning-clothes for the entire season, until summer eventually forces you out? We say nay. And so, too, do the folks at Stalward Ltd. Sure, we’ve been enamored with them before, but we feel the need to say bravo yet again for this subtle yet decidedly springy color-flecked tie. It has enough playfulness and color to make it stand out among a closetful of neutrals, yet it won’t make you feel like you’ve joined the peacocking crew. An added bonus? It sort of reminds us of those “fun-fetti” cakes of our youth, the ones that everybody who was anybody brought in for their birthdays back in grade school. But, y’know, decidedly more mature. Ehem. Get it here.

Not to brag, but when it comes to the hard stuff, you know what...

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:51:05 -0500

Not to brag, but when it comes to the hard stuff, you know what you’re talking about. You know your whiskey from your whisky, your scotch from your “notch”. You’re comfortable tossing around terms like “sour mash” and “peaty”. Which is why these handsome rocks glasses by Vital are perfect for you. More importantly, though, they’re perfect for educating your less-knowledgeable drinking buddies about the differences between rye whiskey, scotch whiskey, bourbon, and the “everything else” category of just plain old whiskey. Snobbery? Not at all. Drinking has long been the forum for sharing (and debating) one’s areas of expertise. Knowledge is power. Get them here.

Growing up, it seemed like somebody or other was always scolding...

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:37:39 -0500

Growing up, it seemed like somebody or other was always scolding you for being too loud— whether it was your grandfather telling you to pipe down at dinner, or your folks critiquing your new look during that punk phase. But you know what? “Loud” gets a bad rap. Loud isn’t something to be afraid of— Loud is the Rolling Stones coming through on the airwaves. Loud is kids at a war protest in Washington D.C. Loud is the volume of revolution, and of revolutions-per-minute. So, yes, maybe these special edition Record Store Day desert boots by Clarks are a little loud. But so are you— all the best things are. Get them in Clarks stores while they last— pick ‘em up on your way to go flick through vinyl because, hey, brick & mortar is sorta what Record Store Day is about.

T.S. Eliot maintained that April is the cruelest month, but oh,...

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:20:48 -0500

T.S. Eliot maintained that April is the cruelest month, but oh, we beg to differ. February is downright vengeful. We can almost feel it—spring is definitely out there, somewhere, teasing us from afar—but it sure keeps its distance. Every once in a while we get a whiff of it, a faint, “did-I-just-imagine-that?” glimpse, just enough to be vaguely maddened by the sheer promise of it. An afternoon in the sun followed by a week of wintery drizzle. Don’t toy with our emotions, February. But while you wait it out with the rest of us, go ahead and pick up this great chambray shirt from Frank & Oak— its springy cranberry hue and lightweight material will make it the perfect button-down if spring ever does decide to show its face around here, but it’s only $45 so you won’t feel too put out if you don’t get to wear it for a while. And while you wait, you can keep yourself busy by making up “chambray”/”cranberry” portmanteaus. Y’know, like writers do. Get it here.

We’ve been seeing a lot of “men’s totes”...

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:01:26 -0500

We’ve been seeing a lot of “men’s totes” around recently, and to be honest, we were never entirely convinced. It takes a certain something to be able to effortlessly pull off the tote bag look, a certain something we just weren’t sure that everyone possessed. But that was before we came across Chester Wallace. With a unique, elongated tote bag shape that reads like a mix between a tool bag and a lunch bag, we’re pleasantly surprised by how masculine it really looks. Add in the subtle color-blocking of the waxed canvas and the fact that you can interchange the contrasting straps, and we’re sold. Hey, nobody ever said it wasn’t manly to want options. Get it here.

Mom always told you that smoking is bad for you. And she’s...

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:43:04 -0500

Mom always told you that smoking is bad for you. And she’s right— we don’t encourage that type of behavior any more than your folks did. But, if you must smoke (we mean really, really, must smoke), the least you can do is try to be refined about it and clean up after yourself (another of mom’s favorite catchphrases). The easiest way to achieve both in one fell swoop? Bureau of Trade’s brass pocket ashtray, one of the more unique trappings of a bygone era when folks had the good sense to accessorize their vices (and the medical ignorance to justify it). Just remember, kids— smoking doesn’t make you look cool. Owning this vintage brass pocket ashtray, however… Get it here.

What’s up with this crazy weather, right? One minute...

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:43:12 -0500

What’s up with this crazy weather, right? One minute we’re barricading ourselves in against the storm of the century, and the next, the smell of hot pavement is permeating the air on clear, warm evenings. It doesn’t take much to get us to start fantasizing about spring and so, against our better judgment, we’ve already begun. But before you start digging out all your warm-weather goods only to further tempt fate and ensure disappointment, cast your eyes downward for a second— that’s right, look at your ankles. Those trusty socks that got you through winter’s worst are looking, well, a little worse for wear. Our suggestion? Usher in the return of the visible ankle (bye-bye, boots) with these socks by Richer Poorer x Del Toro— they’re both a practical enough purchase to help you avoid buyer’s remorse when the temperatures once again take a nosedive and a colorful little reminder that, yes, there is a springy light at the end of this tunnel. Still not convinced? Buy ‘em before midnight tonight to get 30% off your purchase with code “LOVE”. You know, love— the other thing that’s in the air, besides spring. Get them here.

February means two things: bone-chilling weather, and...

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:12:42 -0500

February means two things: bone-chilling weather, and heartwarming valentines. Whether you’re on the corporate love-bus or not, we’ve rounded up some tracks that’ll help you stop singing those wintertime blues…unless, of course, that’s how you prefer to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Strange Powers (Magnetic Fields cover)— The Shins

Love Will Tear Us Apart— Joy Division

Wishes and Stars— Harper Simon

Beta Love— Ra Ra Riot

I Don’t Love Anyone— Belle & Sebastian

Girlfriend— The Modern Lovers

She Loves Everybody— Chester French

New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down— LCD Soundsystem

Love In Vain (Robert Johnson cover)— The Rolling Stones

Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand— Primitive Radio Gods

Ask— The Smiths

Up The Junction (Squeeze cover)— The Decemberists

All links to Hype Machine.

So, it’s cold out. Real cold. Pretty much too cold to make...

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:00:55 -0500

So, it’s cold out. Real cold. Pretty much too cold to make us want to do anything but make ourselves a nice drink and sit inside with a few friends, trying to forget how cold it is. The inevitable problem, it seemed, was stocking up enough booze to entertain our company forever (or, conversely, warm our bodies enough to make us impervious to the cold when the dreaded trek home can no longer be avoided). Then we saw these gorgeous custom 1 liter barrels from Tuthilltown Spirits. Immediately, visions of the secluded cabin in the woods with the party that never ends danced in our heads. We imagined aging our own bourbon, fussing over it like proud parents as we hauled it out at gatherings for the requisite “oohs” and “aahs” before diving in. Impractical? Maybe. Irresponsible? Perhaps. Awesome? Definitely. We may never go outside again. Get it here.