As the Fall lookbooks begin to flood the blahgs, there have been a few that really standout. Two being cousin lines SOPHNET. and uniform experiment. SOPH may have gone a little heavy on the camo but there are some really great items and looks in the collection. I particularly like the rich mix of earthy tones and navy blues - those tones paired with the camo and plaids make for some great color and texture mixing.
And if the SOPHNET. collection is a guy’s weekend look then uniform experiment is surely his weekday source. U.E. has a definitively slick maritime aesthetic but it seems perfect for ‘city living’. It has a much stricter palette then SOPH - sticking more sternly with deep navy blues, black, and khaki - giving the line a clean and polished feel. Either way I don’t think you could go wrong mixing elements of both these collections this Fall.
Don’t know much about these guys, but they are making short runs of hats manufacturing out of LA - they have the videos to prove it. Big surprise I’m feeling the floral print cap. Discovered on Hypebeast.
While some are purchasing new B&R Chronograph BR 126’s, I’ve just gone low budget and treated myself to a beautiful Il Bisonte wallet. It has a tough and compact build, and comes with a simple elastic closure. I saw an example of how they wear in over time and they just get better with age, the leather burnishing flat…
I’m sure J.Crew’s designers stood up and looked hard at this lookbook - get ready to see some of these looks at your local mall next year (I don’t mean that as a knock). Man, I miss Silas - those of you that live outside of Japan no what I mean.
The real star of the Stussy Deluxe x Reyn Spooner collab - the bandanna/pocket square. Not sure if I missed out on this already at the Stussy store, but will pick it up given the chance.
Wood Wood and I sort of came to age together. As I grew out of my streetwear training wheels and starting dressing more like a grown man the label was kind of doing the same thing. That’s not to say they have completely grown-up, but it has matured and broadened it’s scope over the last 4 years. But at the core there are always the staple elements you can expect - structured shirting, drapey layers mixed with fitted pieces, some key graphic images, and always a bit whimsical.
I’ve been all about the raglan 3/4 sleeve for a long time and Deluxe has another beautifully simple option available. It’s easy to do, just pick a neutral and where… a lot.
I’m loving Bedwin’s “East LA gangsta on holiday” look with their Spring/Summer 2010 collection. The fact that their model looks like B-Real’s little brother drives that image home even further for me.
The looks featured here have a lot of the things I’m really feeling. Virtually every season Bedwin does a black crewneck sweater shirt with some sort of white print on it - classic in a badass motorcycle club kind of way. Perfect worn simply with denim or done, as seen above, with and oxford and patterned tie.
Other stand outs are the cropped chinos paired both with lightweight wallabees and a beefier soled chukka. And also, as I discussed yesterday, the Hawaiian printed shirt and short. Keep it a simple two-color option like these and you’ll be golden this Summer.
I will probably get some “oh, no he didn’t'’s from my next statement, but I’m just not feeling the madras and seersucker this Spring. It may be that I have too much of it in my closet already, but it just doesn’t seem bold enough for me right now. Which is where these two items come in. My gut tells me this could be something I will regret seeing myself in some day, but I really can’t help liking both these navy and white printed BD shirts from WWM and Epaulet.
And this is coming from a guy who doesn’t have one short sleeve button shirt in his closet. I just don’t see the sense in buying or wearing a shirt in a traditional print with short sleeves. I tend to just roll up my sleeves if I’m hot. But with a Hawaiian or tropical print that logic no longer stands. It’s the only way to make or wear one. And these are made that much better by adding buttondown collars. I think this is a perfect shirt for some weekend outdoor fun sipping cold drinks in the shade.
Wings & Horns. It’s like nonnative but Canadian? Not really, but maybe more like nonnative-lite. In a season when nonnative goes black with bright color pops for Spring, Wings & Horns went super washed-out with a soft color palette. Essentially what you would normally expect this time of year from nonnative.
Although I wasn’t overwhelmed the W&H’s Spring showing there are some very nice items sprinkled throughout the collection.
A polo can easily make a guy look like a complete tool if the fit isn’t just right. These appear nice and trim which should help, but color and nice detailing will go a long way. And these have both of those as well. Heather grey, heather blue, and white (no hot pink and green stripes) and a subtle gingham button-down collar will help separate you from the average Joe.
I’ve gotten a lot of crap, even here at ND from Ninski, because of my endorsement of The Sweat Pant. But I’m sticking to my guns on this one. Just to be clear, I have never endorsed wearing this out and about casually everyday, and definitely do not do this myself. But I think there are completely appropriate times for this look… while traveling on intercontinental flights like I have previously stated, while hanging around your house, while taking out the trash, playing ball at the park on a cold fall day, etc. There are plenty of occasions where they are useful and stylish. But I do not endorse a hoody with the pant, go with a button up or sweater and anything from sneakers to Bean boots depending on the weather work fine. And if you do not own a pair, why not go with W&H’s recycled fleece version (above left), they look great on the body and I love the pocket stitch detail.
Everyone is going crazy over the field pant right now but I think W&H’s ventile version (above right) is a perfect alternative to the flap pocket versions flooding the market. It keeps your profile slim without adding any unnecessary bulk to your silhouette.
And finally, their Chambray short (left) and Gingham Cargo short (right) are perfect for a hot summer day. I personally don’t have many opportunities to wear shorts outside of the weekend and while on holiday, so I don’t have a need for more than a few in my drawer. But if you live in Aruba or the like you can pick up both.
I’m finally getting a chance to double back on my thoughts on all the ‘breaking fashion news’ that everyone has been racing to share.
nonnative always gets a lot of attention here, and I must say that there probably isn’t any other label in the world I’m more enamored with season after season - at least from a wearability point of view. Sadly it’s the same old story - not easily available and extremely expensive. A full-proof strategy on their part.
Their Spring/Summer 2010 collection brings us more of what we expect from them with their usual adjustments in color palette. They have a much stronger black story running through the line than you would typically expect in a Spring collection but it pairs perfectly with the intense royal and orange color pops within the collection. That bold trio of colors mix in very well with the softer side of the collection made up of washed and worn blues, heather grey, and natural earth tones. This season they mix up the collaborations a bit with boots by Tricker’s, eyewear with Kaneko Optical, and Birkenstock thongs.
Some of the true stand out items from the looks above are the black over-dyed oxford and courrier coat (top left) and the orange student blouson (top right). I will be breaking down the collection item by item in the coming days.
As you can tell by now, I did a lot of shopping while in LA. It’s sort of my job sometimes. It’s terrible. I tried on the Polo Kalahari Oilcloth Vest at their Robertson store. I don’t think I need to go into detail of why this thing is so cool. I mean, it’s made with heavy British waxed oilcloth and it comes with it’s own tin of oilcloth dressing. Enough said.
Everybody has been giving Glenn O’Brien so much duly deserved love this week based on his GQ 5×7 looks during NYFW. But are any of us really surprised the Style Guy is so put together - no, not really. But I have to be honest with you, my favorite from the group of looks was Josh Rosen’s.
All his looks are decidedly casual, which is expected from a guy who owns a surf shop, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t any less put together. I’m probably more denim heavy than he is but essentially this is just how I have been feeling lately. Which is new for me because I typically get more casual in the summer just due to the sweltering oven NY becomes after June and I am typically more buttoned up and less casual as the temperature drops. But with all the sloppy weather here I’ve been getting all geared up.
I think as far as casual style goes, Josh Rosen is perfect. It’s all very natural and real world - not walking a look book.
This is what NYC looks like today and this is pretty much the forecast for the rest of the week. I’d rather have snow.
It’s a good thing I picked these up as an alternative to my 10″ shearling Bean Boots last week. A perfect and light-weight version of my usual footwear for when the weather is nasty.
UPDATE: Wore these for the second time today and the canvas split at the seam were it meets the leather back tab. Not cool at all. I best be getting contacted by someone from L.L.Bean soon before they get the call from me.
I can’t jump on this frat-boy baggy cargo trend but I’m always down for a trim pant with a nice taper which is why I really like Rugby’s Cotton Fatigue Pant. They’re a bit trimmer than your average cargo pant which is harder to find than you would expect. One of my pet peeves is faux distressing and brands like Rugby just can’t seem to leave a good pant alone, but I I think I could live with it on a pant that fits this good.
Spring was a tangible idea to me for the week I spent in LA, but the weather has been brutal in NY since I returned home and it was like a slap in the face. So it’s been difficult for me to wrap my had around Spring being around the corner. But I’ll get to the Spring lookbooks soon enough, and I will get to my thoughts on NYFW soon after as well.
Before we go there I think there is still plenty of great product to be featured from the season we’re still living in. An item I think would be worth picking up if you’re the right size (sizes are limited) is ts(s)’s Blue Sole Wingtip. This whole trad thing everybody is on right now is great, anything to get American men to dress better, but there is a fine line that can be crossed transforming a young man into old-man territory. Young guys should be keeping things youthful and a shoe like this is a perfect remedy. There is a lot of product that we feature here I would make little tweaks to but I have to say that this is simply perfect. The shoe has a great classic shape and the clean black suede, natural leather welt, and royal blue popped outsole is great combo not only for the rest of this season but for a good part of Spring as well. Wear these with a contrasting bright sock and pop the blue someplace else as a jacket or accessory mixed in with a neutral palette and you’ll be golden.
