I have a unique relationship with this pair of boots – either I’ve completely forgotten that I own them or I wear them every day and can’t imagine not having them. They generally get used as my bad-weather footwear, and occasionally see time as hiking boots as well. They’re old, tough, and were in some […]
Los Angeles Getaway
Looking back at what I wrote in 2016, I noticed something interesting – although I traveled more last year than any previous year (1-2 roundtrip flights per month), I only posted one packing laydown. I suppose the constant packing and unpacking left me uninterested in adding any additional steps to the process. Either way, I […]
Product Review: Private White V.C. Twin Track Jacket
I like to think of myself as pretty ahead of the curve when it comes to menswear brands. I go to trade shows, read the right forums and blogs, and try my best to stay on top of what’s what in classic menswear. Even so, sometimes I completely miss something great and am blindsided when I learn about it. Most recently, the brand that caught me off guard was Private White VC. […]
The Boots of Boulder: A Visit to Truman Boot Co.
Work boots are not a new thing. Heck, even their resurgence in popularity is not a new thing. The market is pretty saturated, and there are many solid options at all pricepoints, from $200 to over $1000 and everywhere in between. Even so, Truman Boot Co. has exploded in popularity in this crowded space – how?
A Gray Day in the Bay
San Francisco has been seeing some rain recently – beautiful, wonderful rain. It’s given me a chance to bust out my new jacket, a waxed cotton number from Private White VC. The jacket is something that I’ve had my eye on for a long time, and I’ll be sure to post a thorough review soon. […]
Carlos Santos Boot Preorders
I’ve been searching for a perfect pair of boots for a couple of seasons now. As with my past searches for the “Ideal Item,” this search has been quite long and has involved some expensive missteps and many boot-less months. With that said, I believe a solution has arrived, and it’s name is Carlos Santos. […]
Leather, Thread & Pegs – A Chat with Bootmaker DW Frommer
Even though I consider myself fairly involved in the men’s clothing scene, I sometimes feel as if all the action is happening far away. Whether it’s trade shows in Florence, fashion week in New York, or textile mills in Japan, it often feels like my apartment is far removed from all the cool stuff. That briefly changed a few weeks ago, when I learned that one of the most well-known bootmakers in the United States lived in the same small town as my parents – sometimes you just get lucky, you know? I took the opportunity to stop by, learn a bit about the history of bootmaking, and see what goes into making a shoe by hand. […]
Labor Day and Wearing White
I love rules. My brain seems to do well with the order and reason they provide, and as a result of such they often shape the activities in my life. The laws of mathematics led me to study physics, which in turn led me to engineering. In the same way, I became obsessed with the the rigidity of music theory and that interest led me to jazz music, where I learned how to apply and break those very rules. And, unsurprisingly, the rules of classic tailored clothing is exactly what got me interested in menswear in the first place. With that said, though, there is one thing that any good rule needs – a good reason for existing in the first place. […]
Product Review: MUJI 33L Suitcase
A couple of years ago I was having an email conversation with a few other blogger friends about packing for air travel. One guy was about to begin traveling extensively for work, and wanted to get our thoughts on how to do so effectively. Lots of good advice was shared (I still find myself re-reading the conversation every now and again), but there was one looming, unanswered question -is there a roller suitcase that is both functional and affordable without being horrendously unattractive? […]
A Short Summer
I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again just to be safe – I hate shorts. Whether it’s in reference to arms or legs, I just don’t feel like I have the muscle mass or melanin in my limbs to make this style feasible. With that said, I totally get the appeal – when it’s hot out, why would you want to wear anything else? […]