From Squalor to Baller

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San Francisco Swann Club – the Inaugural Meeting

January 27, 2014 No Comments

About a year ago, Derek at Die, Workwear! posted an article about the Swann Club, an annual meeting of hardcore shoe aficionados in Paris. Since then, the idea of shoe polishing as a social occasion has stuck with me, and so I eventually decided to try it myself. I invited a couple of my blogger friends […]

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About the Author

Ian Anderson is a writer, engineer, and e-commerce professional with over a decade of experience in the fashion industry. He started From Squalor to Baller in 2012 as a resource for men trying to understand the world of business casual attire, and the blog remains an authority on men's style today. His work has been featured in the Wall St. Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, and numerous fashion blogs and publications.

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Good eyewear is expensive, but it can also be tran Good eyewear is expensive, but it can also be transformative. Like a great suit or a leather jacket, it is one of the quickest ways to feel like a cooler version of yourself – and right now, nobody is doing that quite like @jacquesmariemage. Up on the blog today is a 2000-word guide on how to explore JMM - what to look for, where to find it, and how to navigate the ever-changing selection.
I’ve enjoyed making cocktails for quite a while I’ve enjoyed making cocktails for quite a while but always had a hard time remembering my favorite recipes - did I do 1/2 or 3/4oz lime juice last time? Was it Angostura or Peychaud’s bitters? And was it 1:1 simple syrup or 2:1? I decided to just write everything down - organized into categories, of course - and over time I’ve started to accumulate a nice little collection featuring many of my favorite bartenders. Hit me up for any recipes, and cheers! 🍸
All these years I’d avoided writing about things All these years I’d avoided writing about things that required macro photography because I didn’t want to spend a grand or more on equipment. Turns out you can buy a $25 metal tube that gets you like 90% of the same result. So now I have a bunch of stuff I need to write about.
Although there are many places to shop for vintage Although there are many places to shop for vintage and modern Native American jewelry, @chipetatrading is an excellent resource for the vintage hunter that really wants to understand the pieces that they’re looking for. This Santa Fe-based business is run by Don Siegel, a lifetime collector and verifiable expert in many subjects related to Native American history. Chipeta Trading is his way of sourcing “wearable art” for those that appreciate it, while also sharing the history of these cultural pieces and giving back to the community that created them. More info on the blog today!
Shopping for eyewear online is tough because there Shopping for eyewear online is tough because there’s an undeniable element of serendipity to the process. That was the case with these @moscotnyc Dahven frames - an unexpected find that has become an immediate favorite. More on the blog today.
I’ve always been drawn to hunting for secondhand I’ve always been drawn to hunting for secondhand and vintage things, and that trend continued when I had an opportunity to rent my own place in SF a couple of years ago. Although I don’t live in this spot anymore (I needed a bit more room for Gabi and the dog), I had a great time building out this little space and filling it with great vintage finds. More up on the blog today, and also you can see my journey to restore some of these pieces in my pinned stories.
Living in nob hill: sore legs, but good views. #ca Living in nob hill: sore legs, but good views. #californiahenge
Santa Fe is a crossroads of cultures – an amalga Santa Fe is a crossroads of cultures – an amalgamation of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Old West history that spans thousands of years. It’s a town known for this rich background as well as the art and lifestyle that stem from it, but it’s also a destination for something else – shopping. @guswalbolt has helped me explore many of the great collectors and artisans in this area, and I put together a list of my favorites up on the blog.
They call me ranch cause I be dressing They call me ranch cause I be dressing

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