Actually, This Is My First Rodeo

I’m spending the week in small-town Montana, located a couple hours from the comparatively buzzing metropolises of Bozeman and Missoula. Though the total population may be less than the city block that I currently live on, the town takes the Labor Day rodeo and festivities very seriously. I’m sure I’ll stick out like the Californian […]

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Two Suede Jackets

rrl double rl valstar suede jacket

Menswear guys like myself will utilize a considerable amount of mental gymnastics to justify our purchases. Most of it revolves around using quality and versatility as a rationalization for dropping a bunch of cash – it will last forever! You can wear it with anything! Just think of how low the cost-per-wear will be! But at some point, when the closet is already fit to burst, this logic breaks down and you simply have to admit the obvious: I want to buy this because I like it. […]

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A Sartorial Guide to Santa Fe

santa fe shopping guide vintage modern

Santa Fe, New Mexico is a crossroads of cultures – an amalgamation of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Old West history that spans thousands of years. It’s a town known for this rich background as well as the art and lifestyle that stem from it, but it’s also a destination for something else – shopping. Everything from tiny pop-up booths to international brands have opened up shop in Santa Fe to capitalize on the demand for products born of this cross-pollination of cultures. […]

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What I Wore: Exploring Santa Fe

what I wore santa fe

I just got back from another great trip to Santa Fe with my good friend Gus as my tour guide. I’ll have more to share about some local collectors and makers in the coming weeks, but in the meantime wanted to show how my packing list from last week played out. […]

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Snow in Santa Fe

santa fe western packing list

Tomorrow my girlfriend and I are heading east to spend a few days in Santa Fe with my good friend Gus. We’ll be hunting for vintage apparel and jewelry, meeting with local artisans and collectors, and will undoubtedly be enjoying some margaritas and hatch chilis along the way. This feels like the ideal time to pull out all my western-inspired gear and go “full yee-haw” for a long weekend. […]

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What I Wore: California Cowboy

rrl belted handknit cardigan

The Bay Area had a brief taste of autumnal weather this past weekend, and I took full advantage of it by wearing a few of my favorite casual pieces. Although I have yet to go “full workwear” with my wardrobe, my Western-inspired garments have been a core part of the rotation for these deeply casual […]

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Black Friday Week Sales: FSTB Picks

Well, we’re here – it’s the biggest shopping week of the year. Over the years I’ve participated less and less in Black Friday, but it’s hard to deny that there are some great deals to be had. My recommendation is to only buy things that you would have purchased anyway, as to reduce spontaneous spending […]

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Buying Guide: The Wild West(ern shirt)

Perhaps it’s because I just got back from a week in Montana, or possibly because I haven’t been getting dressed up much lately, but I’ve developed a hankering for denim and chambray shirts. Not the kind that you wear under a blazer – I’ve got those – but something deeply casual, well-worn, and with a bit of an “Old West” vibe.

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