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 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.
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.
It’s one of the worst-kept secrets of all time that life often requires us to be (how shall we say it?) less than truthful. From white lies to those downright indistinguishable gray areas, sometimes we’re put to the test and the only way to pass is to be crafty. One sneaky maneuver you won’t ever feel bad for deploying? The Smuggler’s Belt from Barrett Alley. With a hidden pocket secured behind the buckle, it’s the perfect place to stash whatever type of contraband your rakish lifestyle requires. And the best part? It’s absolutely perfect for concealing things from the person in your life you need to the most— yourself. Need to keep cab fare handy for after a night at the bars, but don’t want to spend it on the third (fourth? fifth? sixth?) round of drinks by mistake? This belt is foolproof. Unlike your latest web of lies… Get it here.
Back in 1996 when Nick Hornby first published High Fidelity, dropping beloved character Rob Fleming into our hearts and forever lodging his snarky internal monologues into our minds, the world was a different place. Computers were, by current standards, inept; Napster hadn’t even happened yet; the most advanced thing you could do with your cell phone regarding music probably involved five pre-loaded ringtones. If Rob was around today, he’d probably live in Portland and grumpily ride a fixie to work every day. But his taste would remain impeccable (that’s the nice thing about characters in books) and that’s why, of course, he’d carry this incredible record tote from Tanner Goods x ACE Hotel. Made of hefty waxed canvas (tough enough to withstand any sympathetic weather you may encounter) with bridle leather accents, it shows that you know your stuff without blatantly exposing you as a snob. Use it to carry around your top five records, your cigs, and the mix tape you’re making for that girl you may be sorta interested in. Get it here.
If Sesame Street taught us anything as children, it’s that it’s hip to be a square. Maybe it was just the bright colors and catchy beats doing their job, but we never forgot that whimsical advice. Maybe that’s why we’re having such a love affair with this square-bottomed tie from The Knottery. Or maybe it’s because of the deliciously slubby texture of the Japanese cotton, or the gorgeous indigo dye. Whatever the reason, we can imagine all sorts of outfits that would be made better by the addition of this guy— with a sweater on the weekends, or a blazer for date night, it’s an instant classic. Not unlike those Sesame Street hits of yore. Get it here.
Contrary to what we all believed when we were kids, it’s not always necessary to advertise your predilections on your clothing. While we all spent many a year proudly declaring our allegiance to a particular band by absolutely living in a ratty, faded tee we picked up at a concert, or relegating ourselves to permanent hat-hair by showing our team spirit emblazoned on a baseball cap, or even sewing patches from our favorite record stores or concert venues to worn-out jackets (hey, we were weird kids), we eventually heard the voice of reason and decided that, yes, it is okay to remain a mystery to the widespread public until they actually talk to us and find out what our interests are. And from that day forth, with the possible exception of the upturned cuffs of our selvage denim, our subtler senses prevailed and a mystery we did indeed remained. That said, there are some moments when we feel the urge to show our true colors, even just a little bit, even just for a fleeting flash. Such a moment: this awesome wallet from Ashland. On the outside, it’s a smart, grown-up, handsome-looking wallet. But open it and the reverse-side Horween boasts the stamp of quality that secretly makes us all grin. It’s sort of like having a secret hand-shake or code word. Hey, just because we became grown-ups, doesn’t mean we have to lose our sense of humor. Get it here.
From where we sit, nestled at the intersection of “Is it Halloween yet?” and “What do you mean the grocery stores are all out of bread?”, it’s safe to say that we have a few other things on our minds besides menswear. Yet, we’re not so far gone into our candy corn-stocked bunkers that we can’t still appreciate a beautiful bowtie. This one in particular caught our eye, partially because it seems to be situated at exactly the same crossroads as we are: the fabric is whimsically reminiscent of our favorite Halloween treats, and the company, New Orleans Bow Ties, comes from a city that knows a thing or two about storms. So, while we encourage you to direct your attention to the more pressing issues at hand—stock up on water, put some batteries in that clock-radio—you might want to bookmark this guy for after you survive the Frankenstorm. Get it here.
There are a handful of things every man should know how to do— mend a small tear, cook up a steak, mix a Manhattan. However, when it comes to the bigger things in life (that is, a bigger tear… not a bigger Manhattan), sometimes one needs a bit of help. Elbow patches have long been the thinking man’s solution to both stylistic and structural garment quandaries alike, but never before has there been a solution as elegant as Jack Foxley. Named after a very dashing English bulldog, Jack Foxley is a one-stop internet destination for all things elbow patch. Whether you’ve blown out the elbows of a favorite jacket or just want to add some flair to an old standard, JF’s extensive selection of colorful suede, leather, and even wax cotton options is enough to make a grown man drool. Now, if you could only work out how to perfect cook that steak. Get them here.
We’re not going to lie to you— it took us about twenty minutes to decide which of Fox & Brie’s picture-perfect bow ties we were going to feature today. A smart, brown and peach plaid? A classic sage-y green in a pointed bow style? An understated, mustard-hued club tie? We finally settled on this cheeky print, but believe us when we say that we were moments away from posting a screenshot of the entire shop and letting you make your own decisions. That’s how good the collection is. Even those of you who have avoided bow ties like the plague will find yourselves falling in love with the Fox & Brie’s offerings, which seem as befitting of a Wes Anderson movie as of a Fitzgerald novel. Go ahead. Take a look. We can barely contain ourselves. Get them here.
