The dust has officially settled on New York Fashion Week, and Ovadia & Sons is the cleanest one of the bunch. Men’s fashion is heading in a more tailored, dressed-up direction, and Ovadia & Sons has nailed it with their most recent collection.
Check out their full F/W 12 collection here.
Vintage style barbershops have been popping up at a rapid pace over the past few year. One of the originators of this trend was Rudy’s, which started in the early 1990s during the “grunge” days in Seattle.
Check out this video which documents the story of their humble beginnings.
I wouldn’t usually support the idea of spending an outrageous amount of money on blue jeans…but 3×1 is just too damn cool.
Denim industry maven, Scott Morrison, of Earnest Sewn and Paper Denim & Cloth fame opened up his Soho shop this past May. His new concept, 3×1 (the name is derived from denim’s standard weaving constriction, 3×1 Right Hand Twill, and references the designers third denim venture), is focused on the bespoke process.
While 3×1 has a selection of ready-to-wear denim (prices starting around $350), the real draw is the custom, with prices starting at (cough) $1200. During the process, you meet with Scott and his design team to pick out everything from fabric (with dozens of Japanese, European and American bolts to sort through) to hardware, to stitch color. From there, you will collaborate with the head pattern maker until the fit is just right. The ladies who work in their in-house facility will construct the finished product while you watch.
Sure, if you want to pay this month’s rent you can get a pair of A.P.C’s or Gap 1969′s, but the day might come when you want to drop $1200 on a pair of jeans, and when that day comes my friend, 3×1 is the only acceptable option.
Look, I got into the workwear trend just as much as the next guy. I own plenty of workshirts, flannels, and I’m one pair shy of a full weeks-worth of Red Wing boots. Heavy Field & Stream-like flannels and work boots will always be in style in the right setting, but the “trend” is dying off. If you’re a city dweller, you’re better off investing in some classic well-tailored clothing, like those documented on the blog, Die, Workwear.
While the rugged look certainly has a place and time, the classic look is timeless and always appropriate.
Spread collar shirts have been gaining popularity recently, and for good reason…when done right, they look damn good.
A spread collar is like a double-breasted suit, they’re not for every guy. But if you have a thin frame and a thin face, nothing looks better than a spread collar shirt. The horizontal line that the collar creates balances the natural vertical lines of a thin face and frame. Add some to your mix today, they’re available from high to low.
Image from GQ
Tough to find a cooler version than this one from J.Crew.
‘Tis the season…to wear a Fair Isle sweater. Fair Isle sweaters are named after the knitting technique that originated on an island off the coast of northern Scotland called, well, Fair Isle. They’re always popular and appropriate during the holiday season, but beware of those with gimmikcy patterns like snowflakes, reindeer and moose. Some can work, but you run the risk of looking like an overgrown child. Better to save those for the annual ugly sweater party and get yourself an updated and more versatile version this season.
If you’re looking for a bargain, this one from American Living is a good option.
The guys over at The Motley we’re cool enough to let me curate a ready-made kit for their online shop. It was tough to choose from all of their top-notch grooming products, so I decided to go with a theme…everything a guy needs for a close comfortable shave. With this kit you’ll get all of the essential items needed to prepare and protect your skin for battle.
If you’re already well-stocked in the shaving department, there are other curated kits available that tackle different grooming gripes.
*A good way to go about this is to not wear neon.
A good, quality tweed sportcoat is a wardrobe essential for any guy. When I mentioned the “High-low” in my previous post…this is what I meant by “High”. This is where you should be spending your money. Molloy & Sons has been weaving Donegal Tweed (named after County Donegal, Ireland where the family business is based) since the 19th century, and they are one of the few remaining companies who still produce authentic Donegal Tweed.
One key aspect of having great style is knowing how to pull off the “High-low”, spending big bucks on the well-crafted items that will last a lifetime, and saving your money on others. One thing that I refuse to spend money on is an umbrella, because I will undoubtedly loose it. This guy is rocking a $5 street-bought umbrella…and making it look good.
We’ve been experiencing unseasonably warn weather here in NYC, but my hands haven’t seemed to notice. For this reason, I keep a jar of Buckler’s Chapped Skin Remedy on my desk. Developed in house by the guys at The Motley, Buckler’s is an all natural, fragrance free formula packed with Chamomile, Shea Butter and Aloe that soothes and softens skin. My hands have never been in better shape for the winter season.
Hunter boots, while classic, can look and feel a bit feminine on a guy. Something about tucking pants into tall boots just doesn’t work. The best way for a guy to face the rain and snow is by lacing up a pair of duck boots, and nobody does them better than the originator, L.L. Bean.
