From Squalor to Baller

The New Private White (and the New Twin Track)

November 12, 2018 No Comments

“Direct to Consumer” companies are everywhere these days. Some are more effective than others when it comes to actually executing on this ideal – often it’s just marketing fluff – but the concept has become commonplace. By “cutting out the middleman,” many young brands are working to offer more competitive pricing than their more traditional competitors. But as common as these companies are, it’s not often that an established brand pivots to this model. That’s exactly what happened earlier this year when Private White V.C. (one of my favorite clothing companies) decided to change its business entirely. […]

Reviews

Product Review: Abercrombie & Fitch ‘Dad Coat’

November 5, 2018 No Comments

If I’m being honest, I’ve always found Abercrombie & Fitch rather off-putting. It goes back to high school, really – back in the early aughts, A&F worked very hard to be a place for the ‘cool kids.’ Since I was definitely not one of those, their stores seemed to project the vibe that I was not allowed to wear their clothing. I’ve done a good job of ignoring them over the years, but after so many people started talking about this coat I decided that I’d have to bite the bullet and take a closer look. […]

Editorials

Buying Guide: the Contemporary Chelsea

October 29, 2018 No Comments

When it comes to footwear, I have a pretty good understanding of what I like. My shoe collection is centered around classic styles that bridge the gap between casual and formal, in safe and conservative colors and materials. I love the shoes I have, but there are times that I wish I had something with a bit more of a punch to them – something a bit more interesting, a tad more ‘cool guy’ than my normal ‘grandpa’ vibe. Whenever I get that feeling, my mind turns to Chelsea boots. […]

Editorials

Fall Favorites – 10 Essential Autumn Items

October 22, 2018 No Comments

Five years ago I wrote a series on my favorite pieces from each season. A lot of those items are still near and dear to me, but I thought it would be worth updating things to reflect my current lifestyle and wardrobe. My fall favorites have changed a bit, but many of the concepts are still the same – textured materials, earthy colors, and a bit of protection from inclement weather. Here are my go-to pieces for the cool weather ahead: […]

What I Wore

What I Wore: Portrait in Jazz

October 18, 2018 No Comments

Styleforum recently re-introduced their Friday Challenge, which is a weekly competition for members to dress in a theme and win internet points. I generally sit these out, but this week had a theme that I couldn’t help but try – emulate an album cover. I decided to throw my hat in the ring, and this is the result. […]

Editorials

Buying Guide: Shetland Sweaters

October 16, 2018 No Comments

Well, it’s that time of year again – when San Francisco enters its second summer while the rest of the Northern Hemisphere gets our their scarves and pumpkin carving kits. My body and soul are already deep in autumn, though, as I sit in my apartment with a bad cold making chicken soup for myself. So even though the weather is against me, my thoughts have turned to fall and one of my favorite fall pieces – Shetland sweaters. […]

Editorials

DIY: How to Build a Coat Rack

October 1, 2018 No Comments

San Francisco has a lot of things to offer, but closet space isn’t one of them. My apartment from 1912 has some lovely period details but very little storage space, so after grumbling about it for 6 years I decided to take matters in to my own hands. It’s been a while since I put my engineering background to use, but a bit of planning and a few hours of work resulted in my newest piece of furniture. Read on to see how to make a coat rack for your own home (dope outerwear not included). […]

Notifications

18 East Heads West

September 20, 2018 No Comments

If you’ve been paying much attention to the #menswear world in the past month, you’re probably aware that the much anticipated brand 18 East recently launched. This menswear line is the brainchild of Antonio Ciongoli, who left Eidos last year after re-launching the brand several years ago. Like many others, I was a big fan of his work at Eidos and have been excited to learn more about his new project. And fortunately for us Californians, we’ll have an opportunity to see everything in person next week.

Editorials, Reviews

For the Love of Longwings – a Comparison

August 28, 2018 No Comments

If you read my recent shoe collection post you know that I like longwings quite a bit. They’re an incredibly versatile shoe style, and over the years I’ve collected four pairs from four prominent brands. Since I know I’m not the only one interested in this style of footwear I thought I’d dive in to the details and compare the various aspects of each one – each have their little nuances that make them unique in their own way. […]

Editorials

Buying Guide: Knit Ties

August 22, 2018 No Comments

The role of the necktie in modern dress has waned significantly, even with the resurgence of classic menswear in the past ten years. Even so, it’s worth having a solid understanding of different types of ties so that when you do choose to wear one, you know that you’re doing so to your full potential. […]