Normally, we’d forgive you for not thinking of chinos as the most exciting thing on the planet. But as we wind into full-on winter weather, we’re more and more interested in the idea of utility— and, admittedly, more and more interested in putting as many hardworking layers between us and the elements as possible. So when we caught a glimpse of these new tugboat-gear-inspired chinos from Blackbird, it didn’t take much to convince us that these would soon become a wintertime staple. In three classic (read: rugged) shades, you might even find yourself buying two pairs (Blackbird even offers a discount if you do)…which, honestly, would probably be enough to merit you the title of Chino Enthusiast. No shame in that. Get them here.
Generations ago, families left the relative comforts of their homes in the Midwest and traveled West in search of a new beginning. They were probably not imagining the wonders that would await them as we know them today—Artisinal coffee from Seattle, unparalleled Asian cuisine in San Fran—but if they somehow could have known about The West Is Dead, we suspect they would have hurried westward quite a bit faster. With superior finishings and an uncommon attention to detail, The West Is Dead takes premium menswear somewhere that is both familiar and foreign— not unlike the west itself might have looked to our aforementioned pioneer friends. For instance: no menswear collection is complete without a dashing pair of chinos, but The West Is Dead goes forth and elevates them with custom-forged hardware, chambray waistbands, and of course the striking gold color. The new frontier for snappy dressing? We sure think so. Get them here.
To this day, here are few things that remind you of the ushering in of Fall more than a new pair of corduroys. Growing up in the Midwest, it was always height-of-summer weather on the first day of school, but nonetheless you would begrudgingly pull on your stiff pair of cords and those new shoes that still pinched. Mom insisted that you look nice on the first day of school, and there was no arguing with her. For one day you let her comb your hair down and take your picture on the front porch, pristine backpack in hand. By the second day of school, you had shrugged off this charade and gone back to wearing shorts and a stained tee shirt… but this was of no matter. That was how you learned that first impressions were important. These days, you strive to make a good impression every day, but you’re still assisted by the perfect pair of corduroys— perhaps this purple-tinged gray pair, by S.E.H Kelly. It’s just not Fall without them. Get them here.
If you’re a little scared of the color orange— it’s okay. We get it. It’s a tough step to take at times… you can’t pair it with black without looking like you’re dressed for a Halloween party, it’s loud, it’s unwieldy, it can be downright frightening. The key to orange is to dial down the clown-factor and dial up the rock-star style: it’s a surefire way to look badass and spike your confidence at the same time. A good starting point? These unapologetically orange skinnies from Julian Red. And, to sweeten the deal (and encourage you to take the plunge), listen to this: Blackbird is offering them for a super-reduced price on their blog. Get them here… before the deal’s over (or you wuss out).
Khakis— while they represent an importantly versatile item in any modern man’s closet, our memories of them as the uniform of one too many mediocre middle school band concerts generally prohibit them from being characterized as “cool.” Every former kid remembers being forced into fussy outfits by his parents, often with a goofy haircut and shoes that pinched. Unfortunately, khakis have disproportionately become the victims of these memories— khakis don’t evoke that “effortless cool” that we’re so bent on these days. Until now: lower-half favorites Nudie Jeans Co. has reworked the classic khaki to give them a vibe that’s less band geek, more badass. Take the Gray Regular style, pictured above: the deep green-gray is a utility classic, but becomes something extra special when worked with a red weft that shows as the fabric ages. The line’s inspiration (the khaki as the costume of Swedish fisherman) brings new life to the often “tired” rep that khakis get. And, of course, Nudie’s expertise really shines through in the detailing— we’d expect no less. So, folks, this is a call to action: give khakis another chance. Get them here.
You’re sort of a denim junkie. You can identify the selvage-wearers among you from twenty feet away, you can recognize left-hand, right-hand and broken twill on sight, you worship at the feet of Roy Slaper. So when summer comes around and the blistering heat sets in— well, you’re pretty unhappy. You begin to long for cool autumn afternoons and the slight chill of a breeze, a.k.a. perfect heavy denim wearing time. You downright itch for it. But until then… what’s a guy to do? Try on these lightweight but thoroughly stylin’ shorts from life/after/denim. As the brand name suggests, they’re not denim— but the look of the deep blue Chambray might be just reminiscent enough to give you your fix. We don’t expect to wean you off your jeans… but at least we can try to help you through the summertime withdrawal. Get them here.
Country clubs? You just like the country. Vacation in the Hamptons? More like Houston. “Take Ivy”? You’d rather leave it. So when it comes to the terra-cotta hued pant—a preppy staple—you’ve normally steered clear. Until today. 4 Stroke presents the Warsaw Selvage Jean in an inviting, burnt-orange color. Pairing this punch-packing color with a straight-leg cut and just the right amount of down-home sensibility, 4 Stroke creates a powerful hybrid that will fill the hole in any denim wardrobe. There’s nothing pretentious about this jean… but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel a cut above when wearing them. Get them here.
Guest submission by Reid Ginsburg
Any man of dignity knows he cannot wander the streets of his town sans pants, and any man of style knows a steady bottom-half diet of suit-trousers and chinos and what-have-you’s can be wearying to the palette. Although the cave of denim is one fairly well-spelunked these days, kindly put on your antique mining helmet and investigate these rad jeans. Assembled by San Francisco company Tellason, they’re cut from Cone White Oak 12.5 oz. selvedge denim with an indigo ear. The internal stitching is laudably neat and clean, bespeaking the diligence and care applied to the garment. The back-pockets are half-lined, bolstered against the inevitable wallet-corner break-out. The fly is button of an antiqued metal variety, the patch is from Portland’s Tanner Goods, and the fit pictured is the slim-tapered “Ladbroke Grove.” A slim-straight and a classic-straight are likewise available—whatever keeps you decent, boys. Get them here.
We don’t know where you are, but where we are, it’s over ninety degrees. But the world doesn’t stop when it’s hot outside— in fact, we have a full day of outdoor work planned. There are things to be done. Places to explore, grilling to do, yards to be maintained. And while we don’t suggest attempting any weed whacking in these slacks, it’s nice to know that you can look sharp and beat the heat— thanks to Outlier’s incredible marvel of science. Designed specifically to withstand a day of biking in the New York City summer (a place where the concentration of towering architecture resembles a firepit with impossibly high walls, trapping the heat), these pants are shockingly lightweight… while still being far classier than your other run-of-the-mill “get these clothes off of me” summertime options. What’s that mean for you? Relief. Wherever you are. Get them here.
