When I was in London early last year, I spent a good deal of time at the Crockett & Jones store(s) on Jermyn street, as I discussed earlier. While I wasn’t really planning on purchasing anything initially, the very favorable 1.25:1 exchange rate at the time (along with my ability to try things on – such a rare treat for the online shopper) got the best of me and I ended up leaving with something very special. […]
It’s On Sale: Allen Edmonds Seconds ($325 Shell Cordovan)
Allen Edmonds seconds are almost a rite of passage into the menswear world – it’s just about the least expensive way to get in to a nice pair of welted shoes. Finding shell cordovan shoes on the cheap is not as common, however. […]
Years Later: Chester Mox Bifold
Over the past year the rate at which I purchase new menswear has slowed significantly – in part because I’m trying to save money, but also because I have most of what I need. Because of this, I find myself getting lots of wear out of my favorite pieces. For that reason, I figured it would be a good time to resurrect my “One Year Later” series and highlight some of my favorite items that have aged well and are still available for others to purchase. […]
A Trip to Horween
I just returned from a brief work trip to Chicago and while there I had the great fortune of touring the famed Horween tannery. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been working with Phil Kalas through Massdrop for a while now, and Phil also heads up operations at Horween. He was kind enough to give me a tour of the place, and I must say that I learned quite a bit. […]
What’s in a Name? Horween Shell and the Story of #8
I was recently chatting with my friend Phil Kalas, who owns Ashland Leather and runs operations over at Horween. Because of his special relationship with the Horween tannery (he’s worked there for about a decade), Phil has a vast knowledge of leather and always seems to have access to some unique and rare hides. We were […]