Reviews Archives - From Squalor to Baller

Running with the Wolf Pack: a Guide to Jacques Marie Mage Eyewear

August 17, 2023 No Comments

I’ve been writing about menswear for over ten years now, and it’s not often that a new brand attracts seemingly unanimous interest in the fashion space. We’ve seen lots of niche brands become darlings of certain groups with similar interests, but universal enthusiasm isn’t that common. Jacques Marie Mage seems to be one of these brands, though, as everyone from movie stars and pro athletes to prep enthusiasts and watch nerds is watching them with great interest. […]

Reviews

Product Review: Smiths “Everest” PRS-25 Gilt Watch

August 2, 2023 No Comments

I’ve made mention on numerous occasions that I dream about owning a Rolex 1016 Explorer. Unfortunately, my dream is also the dream of many others, and there simply aren’t enough of these vintage watches to go around. The silver lining is that the 1016 has become one of the most “riffed”-upon watches out there in […]

Reviews

Product Review: Moscot “Dahven” Sunglasses

May 24, 2023 No Comments

When I start to think about a new menswear purchase I tend to spend a lot of time planning, pondering, and researching. This surely comes as no surprise, given that I have been having most of those thoughts out loud on this website for over eleven (!) years. But eyewear is hard to plan like that – sometimes you put a pair on your face and immediately realize that this is now your look. There is a bit of serendipity to the process that can’t be analyzed or scrutinized, and that was the exactly case with the Moscot Dahven. […]

Reviews

Product Review: Chanel “Paris – Édimbourg” Fragrance

February 2, 2023 No Comments

One of my aunts is the unofficial historian for our family. She keeps meticulous records of our genealogy and has boxes of artifacts that go way back, back to when my great-great-grandparents first landed in rural Vermont. One of the many heirlooms in her collection is a thick stack of letters that my long-deceased grandfather wrote for his wife while he was stationed in France during World War Two. […]

Reviews

Playing the Long Game – Real McCoys x The Armoury Leather Jacket Review

January 19, 2023 No Comments

real mccoys the armoury horsehide leather jacket review

It’s no small secret that leather jackets are extremely cool. From the Ramones and James Dean to Indiana Jones and the Fonz, leather jackets have a track record of creating iconic looks both on screen and throughout history. But with all that coolness comes some risk, too – leather jackets are expensive, come in many styles weighted with cultural meaning, and are virtually guaranteed to make a statement, so if you don’t get it right it can become a costly mistake. […]

Editorials, Reviews

A New Year Refresh – New and Old Garrett Leight Hamptons

January 3, 2023 No Comments

In the early days of the new year it feels right to take stock of one’s life and note which pursuits need attention. Most would apply this thinking to an altruistic activity such as learning a new language or reading more books, but I also think about which pieces of my wardrobe need to be refreshed. This line of thinking led me to realize that it was time for a new pair of glasses – happy new year to me! […]

Reviews

The Valstar “Valstarino” – A Comprehensive Overview

October 27, 2022 No Comments

If you close your eyes and say the phrase “leather jacket,” you’ll probably call to mind something like the Schott Perfecto – cool, edgy, a true American icon. But if you’re the kind of guy that spends your free time reading about Neapolitan tailoring or dress shirt collar measurements, you might instead visualize the Valstarino – a softer, sartorial jacket that is more refined than it is rebellious. This article is a deep dive into the latter, and will discuss all the things that make this jacket great, the aspects where it falls short, and how to determine if it’s a good addition to your wardrobe. […]

Reviews

Product Review: Suitsupply “Traveller” Suits

July 12, 2022 No Comments

It’s been an interesting couple of years for the suit. It seems that every few months an op-ed is written about how this really, truly is the end of the road for tailored clothing. But at the same time, suit stores are busier than ever and new companies are still showing up on the scene. Maybe it’s pent up demand (and all those delayed weddings), excitement for a “new normal,” “revenge shopping,” or something else entirely. Whatever the reason is, though, I don’t think that the suit is on its deathbed yet. […]

Reviews

Product Review: Garrett Leight ‘Glencoe’ Frames

June 14, 2022 No Comments

It’s early June and the summer is stretching out ahead of us. Time to gear up for camping trips, beach days, rooftop bars, and two years’ worth of summer weddings. And throughout it all, one summer accessory that I’m never without is a good pair of sunglasses – these delicate blue eyes can’t do much without them. […]

Reviews

Product Review: Proper Cloth “Low Twist” Shirts

January 25, 2022 No Comments

My email inbox is in a sorry state. Every day I get hundreds of promotional emails, each begging me to increase their open rate by teasing me with intriguing subject lines. I’ve gotten pretty good at ignoring them (as I’m sure many of us have), but there is one subject line that cuts through all the noise. When Proper Cloth sends out an email about “Our Heaviest Shirts Yet,” you’d better believe that I’ll be boosting their conversion rate. […]