Season to Taste

I have often used this blog as a platform to complain about San Francisco’s mild weather; it does feel a bit cruel to do that while the rest of the country has had a winter of epic proportions, but it’s true that living in a place that is 65 degrees almost every day can become […]

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The Quest for the Most Versatile Shoe

Like many people that read this blog, one of my favorite pastimes is researching an item of clothing in search of the “perfect one” – the piece that will be the ultimate addition to my wardrobe. I do this in part because I try to keep my wardrobe relatively simple and utilitarian, but also because […]

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Buying Guide: A Good Pair of Boots

Menswear nerds like myself seem to enjoy talking about “essential” items, and footwear in particular – much has been written about the necessity of the black captoe, the brown brogue, the penny loafer, the suede chukka, and so forth. Although items like these are certainly useful, there are also things that are actually essential (not […]

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Made in the Suede

Although I feel that full-grain calfskin shoes should probably be the cornerstone of a small shoe wardrobe like mine, I can’t seem to keep myself from gravitating towards suede. Some men seem overly concerned that suede is difficult to maintain or is “out of style” for some strange reason, but I have never had an […]

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Buying Guide: Chukka Boots

The leaves are starting to change colors (or so I’m told), everyone’s talking about pumpkin spice lattes, and the dollar is gaining ground on the euro. When put together, these signs can only mean one thing – it’s time to grab some autumnal footwear. The chukka boot is an incredibly versatile shoe and is perfectly […]

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Out & About: The Alden Shop of San Francisco

There are quite a few clothing stores in downtown San Francisco. Some are common and approachable, like Uniqlo and Macy’s, while others like Nieman Marcus and Wilkes Bashford are only for the true ballers among us. Of course, it should come as no surprise that my favorite store is neither of these things – it […]

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The In-Between Wardrobe, Part II: Shoes

The “In-Between Wardrobe” is a series of articles aimed at helping men find items that will play a versatile role in their closet. It is written with the idea that most men don’t wear extremely formal or casual clothing on a regular basis; they usually need items that are somewhere in the middle. See all […]

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Wingtips at Wingtip

This one’s for the Bay Area shoe aficionados – Phillip Car of St. Crispin’s will be holding a trunk show at Wingtip on Montgomery St. today. There are dozens of ready to wear models to browse in the store, and orders for custom shoes can be made as well. I had the opportunity to chat […]

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Buying Guide: Loafers for Spring and Summer

After recently writing an article on my favorite spring items, I decided to delve in to a few specific pieces that are worthy of their own conversation. One of these items is the loafer, which can be an attractive and versatile addition to any shoe wardrobe. I generally wear loafers as a replacement for sneakers, when […]

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