There are certain hobbies that menswear-y guys seem to be inevitably drawn to. For some, it’s cigars and vintage sport cars. Others choose negronis as a lifestyle. Maybe it’s fly-fishing, scotch, or something else entirely, but one thing’s for sure – there’s always going to be another hobby. […]
Todd Snyder Comes to California
The middle of the market is a tough place to be in retail. There will always be an appetite for the cheapest product possible, and the luxury consumer will remain loyal to their favorites. But brands and retailers that attempt to offer something that’s both good and accessible often end up getting squeezed. We’ve seen this story many times – J. Crew’s chapter 11, Rugby Ralph Lauren being taken from us too soon, Brooks Brothers’ 200-year legacy ending in bankruptcy – the world of menswear has exploded in the past fifteen years, but with even with this growth many mid-market retailers have struggled to survive. However, there is one brand that seems to be flourishing in this challenging space – Todd Snyder. And as luck would have it, they just opened up two new stores on the West Coast. […]
Is Unionmade Closing? (Update: Yes.)
If you keep an eye on sales, you likely noticed the unprecedented ‘30% off everything’ sale at Unionmade last week. This dramatic price drop raised some eyebrows, and was followed up by an unfathomable ‘50% off everything, no exclusions’ sale that began last night. This latest price drop is probably more symbolic than anything else, as inventory is so thin and picked through that there isn’t much to find anyway […]
The Menswear Map: Clothing, Accessories, and Services in San Francisco (Updated 2019)
A lot can happen in four and a half years. This was particularly apparent in the “Menswear Map” I made in 2014, which was in dire need of an update. Many new stores have appeared in the area, many have shut their doors, and a good handful have found new addresses in the city. With that in mind, I’ve refreshed this super cool interactive map that should help everyone out, whether you’re just in town for the afternoon or you’re a seasoned local looking for a new place to get a haircut.
San Francisco Professionals, Part III: the Bartender
One of my favorite aspects of living in a large city like San Francisco has been carving out my little micro-city within it – finding the places that I return to time and again, and getting to know the people that work there. It has a way of making a large, dense city feel much smaller, […]
Wind-Up Watch Fair Coming to San Francisco This Weekend
If you have any interest in watches you’re likely familiar with Worn & Wound, an excellent source for information on a huge number of wristwatches and related content. Like myself, they tend to focus on products that provide a good value rather than on brand name alone. I’ve been a reader of theirs for years and […]
San Francisco Professionals, Part II: the Trainer
Of all the industries out there, health and fitness are perhaps the most saturated with marketing fluff – fad diets, “as seen on TV” exercise machines, trendy “boot camp” classes, and so on. It’s astounding that so much noise exists in this industry, because the secrets to success are well-known – a good diet and frequent physical activity will get most people where they want to go. Nonetheless, we continue to surround ourselves with over-marketed fluff, perhaps to convince us that we’re doing more than we are, or maybe because making something complicated makes it easier to feel like we’re good at it. Regardless of the reason, all this noise makes finding good fitness expertise for a good price very difficult. […]
San Francisco Professionals, Part I: the Barber
One of my favorite aspects of living in a large city like San Francisco has been carving out my little micro-city within it – finding the places that I return to time and again, and getting to know the people that work there. It has a way of making a large, dense city feel much smaller, and I’ve loved forming relationships with many of the talented people here. […]
Inside the New Suitsupply San Francisco Store
Well, they kept to their word.
After years of delays, the San Francisco Suitsupply store is up and running, and it feels great. Now that the hangover from the opening party has faded and we’re past the phase of speculation, I thought I’d provide an update on the store and what it offers. […]
The Store that Cried Wolf: Suitsupply San Francisco Opening
Well, it’s finally happening. I think. Readers of this blog will know that I’m a big fan of Suitsupply, a company that I believe makes the best tailored clothing around the $500 price point. Those same readers (and other Bay Area fans of the brand) will also know that the company has been trying to open a store here and failing for the past 3 years or so. […]