The Varsity Letterman Jacket

I know, I know, you're thinking "what is this high school?".  Haa, I have always liked the look of the varsity letter jacket. It's just stylish and preppy, and it works with pretty much anything. Show me a classic ivy league flick and tell me the jackets weren't cool.  Most guys will acquiesce if you didn't have one, you wanted one.   You really don't see many of them around these days. I didn't letter in high school so I never got the luxury of wearing one.  I think what's missing is the style of the jacket itself without all the mess.   I'm now 31 so i'm not feeling the "accolades" section, but the overall construction and aesthetic of the jacket is noteworthy.  The boys over at The Brooklyn Circus have made an impression with the jacket and your going to start seeing them pop up on the street and in blogs where style is appreciated.  In addition, if you haven't visited the circus before you are in for a real treat.  Check it out here

http://thebkcircus.com/

http://www.thestyleblogger.com/6370/1-piece5-ways-brooklyn-circus-varsity-jacket/

As you can see these look great with a pair of boots and jeans and they're warm as well. They are expensive at the circus (but worth it). I searched and searched the internet and finally stumbled across a wholesaler who would sell individuals.  The jacket is Holloway http://www.hollowayusa.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplayView?langId=-1&storeId=52552&catalogId=11052&categoryId=18726&page=1   so the construction is stout.  The price = $140.00, believe me this is a good deal. Wool body and leather arms.  Here's a shot of the one that I've got coming in the mail.

I'm not sure what kind of branding / patches i'm going to go with (if any) but the cool thing is I've got the freedom and flexibility to design it to my exact specifications.  My primary concern, the white sleeves.  I hope to keep em clean, but you know how that goes. I was suprised to learn the difference between embroidery and patches.  The tailor just sews the patches on, however the emroiderer actually interweaves into the fabric.  Pretty neat.  If anybody has a good recommendation on where to find some patches please share.  I'll shoot some pic's as soon as i get the jacket in.

Key notes if you want to add this to your regular rotation:

1. Stick with a neutral color for the body : navy, black, or dark grey
2. If any branding or patches, keep it to a minimum, 1 or two letters tops.
3. Keep it clean, these jackets are meant to be worn and to stand out.



here's the link to where you can scoop yours

http://soccer.epicsports.com/prod/8003/holloway-wool-leather-sleeve-varsity-jackets.html

KYT - Know Your Terms: The Chesterfield

I realize the chesterfield is of little interest to many, including myself (well, to some degree I actually get geek-ed up about learning how certain things came about).  All of the information below was taken directly from The Gilt Manual.  What interested me the most about this post was the tagline "formality, for all it's rules and regulations, is relative".  I couldn't agree more!  I've always found it interesting that the way a man should dress be based on traditional formalities. I have always thought that a white oxford, black tie and a dark pair of blue jeans looked quite a bit more flattering than the "proper" accompanied slacks.  In my opinion jeans with an oxford and a tie is the best a man can look, not in a suit. (certainly this is subjective) So traditional formalities carry weight.  Isn't that interesting?  I would venture to say it's the same with facial hair.  Why is it inappropriate for a man to wear facial hair as an attorney, business man, or the President? A BEARD LOOKS WAY BETTER!  I had a buddy tell me recently that back in the day a man was deemed "not trustworthy" for wearing a beard. What variations play into the subjectivity behind clothing formalities and variations?   The Chesterfield below is a perfect example. Perhaps some post's on this very subject will come later, I may be on to something here.......:)      

Dress well gentlemen.

Formality, for all its rules and regulations, is relative. Case in point: The Chesterfield, the British overcoat introduced around 1840 and subsequently named for the sixth Earl of Chesterfield. Though it’s currently one of the most formal overcoats a guy can wear, it actually rose to prominence as a casual alternative to the Victorian frock coat, replacing the former’s heavily suppressed waist seam with simple vertical darts for shape, and favoring a straighter, streamlined silhouette.

But aside from the reworked lines of the thing, the Chesterfield isn’t all that different from its ancestor. Like the frock coat, it’s a full-length overcoat cut from dark, heavy wool and worn over a sport coat or suit jacket. Single-breasted versions are marked by a fly front, in which a cloth placket covers the buttons so they can’t be seen when the coat is closed. Double-breasted versions also exist, but feature exposed buttons. In either case, pockets are flapped and hit at the hip, and a single vent at the back gives your legs some room to move. And though it’s not technically a requirement for a coat to qualify as a Chesterfield, most versions feature a velvet collar. Originally worn by the wealthy as a sympathetic nod to the beheaded, aristocratic brethren who fell during the French Revolution—think about where a guillotine hits your neck—it also served a far more practical purpose: The velvet section could easily be removed and replaced after it became soiled. Longer hair was the style at the time, and as bathing was a once-in-a-while kind of affair, the oils that built up in a guy’s locks tended to transfer to the collar in short order. Seems that hygiene, like formality, is a relative thing as well.

For The Boy : The Tie

 I have always been and will always be a tie fan.  I think a Tie can take you from formal to casual in a matter of seconds. In my opinion it's one of the most versatile pieces a man can own. So obviously this begs the questions "How do I tie one?" & "What do I wear one with?"  This post will tackle that very subject as well as others. There are several ways to tie a tie and several ways to wear one.  With the chambray shirt becoming ever so popular take a minute and camp here, you won't regret it.
      As the young professional becomes more and more looked to, business casual demands respect.  A tartan with the right tie can work wonders for any situation.  It says silently "i care how I look and keep that up".  I'm telling ya, the mindset on ties is innacurate and many young men can utilize a nice tie in order to stand out and make a statement.

I enjoy a tie with just about anything, particularly mixing and matching. As referenced above the chambray shirt is a perfect go to for any color of tie, blue, black, red etc.... The university stripe tie is an awesome statement for a lunch with a client or for a drink and a smoke with the guys.  I scooped one from Tommy Hilfiger (vintage slim) for about $35.00.  The Hillside is a nice place to start for tie research.

Some tie recommendations from Rob:

Keep it simple, like shirting, blue, grey, black are your best bet.
When going university stripe utilize these key points as well.
Keep your tie thin, (emulating deon sanders and shannon sharpe is not recommended). The thinner the better, it will keep you looking lean and trim.
Don't be afraid to be square, square ties are back.
Invest in a sterling silver tie bar (clip). This particularly looks sharp with a matching plaque belt. See Jcrew for a nice one.
Wear it big, wear it proud. Own it. Confidence is key here.

Here are some links to help you catch up.

http://www.tie-a-tie.net/
http://www.absoluteties.com/sccosistti.html
http://thehill-side.com/

Persol Esque

reposted from alex grant

MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012

Sunpocket Foldable Sunglasses

Sunpocket SPKT2

If you want that Steve McQueen look at a fraction of the cost, Sunpocket is definitely the way to go. These sunglasses are foldable, durable, and now on sale for under $50 (with free shipping).

Cool doesn't go out of style - Chad Mcqueen

Chad Mcqueen recently sat down with Barbour to discuss the Barbour Steve Mcqueen collection, his dad and other things.  He was asked "Why do you think your father's dress style is still relevant?" His response is classic "because cool doesn't go out of style".  Here's a link to the article.

cool doesn't go out of style