Bor'easter: A Look at L.L. Bean Signature

Monday 15 Mar 2010 by editor | No Comments
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When Rogues Gallery's Alex Carleton was tapped by Maine-clothing mainstay L.L. Bean to design a more fashion-forward line called L.L. Bean Signature, you could almost hear the collective nerdgasm amongst longtime followers of the brand and the Internet fashion-dork community, as well as all the hipsters who recently got turned onto Frank Muytjen's successful rebranding of J. Crew.

The truth is -- while Alex Carleton did some amazing things with Rogues Gallery -- when I think of L.L. Bean I'm reminded of folks like this:yuppies

Ouch... and I thought New Ravers brought tears to my eyes. Needless to say, after seeing some interesting preview shots and following the sporadic teaser items on the website, I decided the collection was something I definitely needed to see up close. Thankfully, the L.L. Bean store in Tyson's Corner started carrying the line this weekend, and I was able to try on some of the pieces myself. Well... that didn't end up with any new purchases. Read the rest of this entry »


Friday Five: When the Workwear Bubble Bursts

Friday 11 Dec 2009 by editor | No Comments
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In this edition of the Friday Five we give you five signs that we think will signal the end of the men's luxury workwear phenomenon.

5. Daiki Suzuki designs uniforms for the Lumberjack World Championships
4. J. Crew opens pop-up shops featuring flannels, field jackets, and work pants at select truck stops
3. Mister Freedom introduces a selvage, 22 oz. raw denim-lined red flannel union suit, complete with a fireman's flap
2. Carpenter Jeans make a comeback
1. A collaboration series of designer mudflaps


Get Strapped with a Gunny

Thursday 10 Dec 2009 by editor | No Comments
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If you happen to be one of the few (i.e. limited to 500) proud owners of a Bell & Ross Instrument (be it the 01 or 03 series) there is no better way to dress up your timepiece than with a custom-made Gunny Strap. These vintage-inspired "man straps" are hand-made by enthusiast-turned-strapmaker, Peter Gunny. Peter is a well-respected member of both the official Bell & Ross forum and the unofficial BR-AVO forum.

CIMG1770

Each and every strap in the collection is unique, individually numbered and signed by Gunny himself. The collection includes straps of all varieties and is certain to include a style that matches the environment in whatever third-world country you may be currently exploiting.

BRs

The clean lines and parallel stitching on the water-proof PVD-Tan Series give it a safari-feel that (when selected with black threads and mounted on a B&R Phantom) will draw the gaze of a thousand Turks. Read the rest of this entry »


Stepping Out: Do Mug Yourself

Tuesday 1 Dec 2009 by editor | No Comments
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John and Paul Thornley are brothers by circumstance and bandmates by choice. Often on the road with their band — U.S. Royalty — they do a lot of exploring in their down time. Both have a keen eye for all things manly and fashionable, but sometimes, they see things pretty differently.

I retreated back to the family stead on Monday and am already enjoying my decision to escape the city early for the holidays.  No early morning commute traffic honking outside my bedroom window or street cleaning mobiles.  No urgent appointments or public transportation.  Just the quiet of a gentle misty rain, lightly dusting the wall of pine trees outside my window.

This clarity of mind may have led me to dwell on some of the finer, simpler things in life -- mugs and microfleece.  While visiting my grandmother I was inspired by her collection of coffee mugs.  There are no designer sets or matching prints, just individual mugs that she's picked up on her travels.  She has a story for most of what she's picked up and what part of the country.  They range from farm, coastal, to nature scenes and I find them much more rewarding to drink coffee from.

Here & There: D.C.'s First Tweed Ride

Monday 16 Nov 2009 by editor | 1 Comment
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D.C.-based social club/hedonistic young professionals Dandies & Quaintrelles sought out to do what numerous other cities have done before, all while giving pedestrians and drivers all the more reason to hate cyclists, and indirectly, haberdashers. We speak of course of the "tweed ride" phenomenon that has taken urban cycling communities by storm, its influence even reaching to the New York Times, who seem to be heralding the arrival of so-called New Victorians.

Given the origin of the fabric from which the ride derives its name, it would make sense for it to start in Europe, but the odd act of mounting a velocipede whilst dressed like a newsie or a [insert liberal arts/non-lucrative major] professor seems a natural fit for the capital's thriving, albeit idiosyncratic, alternative cultures. This particular tweed ride also had a cause -- donations were being taken for nonprofit Arts for the Aging.

Nevertheless, for the sake of fun, exercise, and having found the right combination of a vintage YSL blazer, Incotex Nantucket Reds, and bucks that needed dirtying, PS went on the scene not as observers, but participants in the ride.

Read the rest of this entry »


Taking 5: Peter

Monday 16 Nov 2009 by P-Steez | No Comments
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Taking 5 is a series of short interviews with random people I run into. A few weeks ago I ended up at this space in downtown D.C. owned by Gibson Guitars for some sort of meet and greet event before the Peter, Bjorn, & John show. If you are worth your weight in indie salt or self-identify with the term "hipster," then you probably know who they are.

If not, you probably know them as "that Scandinavian-sounding band that does all that fucking whistling." I chatted a little bit with Peter about the current tour and how awesome Sweden is. I also did my best to resist making any Ikea-related jokes… but really, later on I swear I saw John using an AGNE as a drum stool.

Peter in the middle. Not pictured: Bjorn & John

You guys just got into town, did you do anything last night?

We just had Ethiopian food, and we actually went and saw a Neil Diamond cover band at the 9:30 Club because we got in for free.

Hahaha really? Were they good?

Uh… it was fun. I wouldn't call it "good" but… there were a lot of people there.

Can you tell us a bit about who is opening for you guys tonight?

El Perro Del Mar, she is Swedish and really good. So it's all Swedish bands and so there's gonna be a lot of Swedes there tonight.

So what was it like touring with Depeche Mode? [Ed. note: Their last tour was spent opening for DM]

It was ok, I thought it was gonna be less fun than it was but people were really into it -- into us, so we didn't really expect that but it was good.

Right now we're hanging out in a space owned by Gibson Guitars, do you guys have some sort of sponsorship with them?

Yeah we have like an endorsement, we get half price and some stuff.

Do you have any sweet clothing endorsements too?

Um, bits and pieces here and there.

So, no awesome sponsorships with totally sweet Swedish labels?

No, more like, in other countries. I mean, you get stuff at festivals and now and then like, I got this sweatshirt from a store in Sweden.

Yeah, I like that. Who's that by? [Ed. note: No really, it was a rad complicated cable-knit/fisherman type sweater, the kind you'd get from S.N.S. Herning]

Nudie, they also make good jeans.


Friday Five: Designer Snacks/Beverages

Friday 13 Nov 2009 by jpthornley | No Comments
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This week's Friday Five consists of concoctions or libations named after some of our favorite labels and designers.

Have a good weekend!

5. Thom Brownies
4. Rag & Bone-In Maple-Baked Ham
3. Mon-eclairs
2. Engineered Gimlets
1. Peanut Butter & Margiela Sandwich


Knock It Off: Red Wing vs. AE's Classic Lifestyle Boot

Wednesday 11 Nov 2009 by P-Steez | 1 Comment
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Red Wing Shoes has been making quality shoes for over a century, but recently they've been getting a lot more exposure from stores like  J. Crew, For the Greater Good, and Bergdorf Goodman. While most men prefer the sleeker lines of models like the Iron Ranger and the Beckman, we like the chunkiness and treaded crepe sole of the 8138 Classic Lifestyle boot.

8138Wait, what's that? You live downtown and the last axe you held came in a spray can? First things first -- lose the body spray, bro. Secondly, you might want to take look at American Eagle Outfitters' cheaper, albeit less durable alternative... Read the rest of this entry »


Stepping Out: A Sure Schott

Monday 9 Nov 2009 by jpthornley | No Comments
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John and Paul Thornley are brothers by circumstance and bandmates by choice. Often on the road with their band -- U.S. Royalty -- they do a lot of exploring in their down time. Both have a keen eye for all things manly and fashionable, but sometimes, they see things pretty differently.

Paul and I were up in New York City for CMJ, and in between playing some gigs were able to go on an adventure.  Schott, a brand synonymous with America and the open road, contacted us about a month ago to check out their jackets and asked if we would like a tour. Of course we obliged.

Schott has been making jackets and crafting style for over 90 years.  From the first double rider motorcycle jacket in 1928 to bomber jackets for the Air Force during WWII, icons like Marlon Brando, James Dean, and The Ramones have been spotted wearing these classic, quality pieces.  After visiting their NYC showroom, we traveled across the river to New Jersey where they manufacture the jackets.

Read the rest of this entry »


These Old Things: Ron's KMW 1980s

Monday 9 Nov 2009 by P-Steez | 1 Comment
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These Old Things highlights the clothes and accessories we have had forever, or were handed down to us; things like a grandfather's old hat, a favorite pair of jeans, and a gold wrist watch that has braved the anals of history.

Ron was one of those guys that just did not get the concept of raw denim. He loved his Levi's 501s, and when we lived together he constantly pointed out to me that he could not see the difference between a $200 pair of Nudie Slim Jims and a $40 pair of Levi's 514s.

In addition to playing an increasing amount of shows with his band Nunchucks, he began working a blue-collar job that involved a lot of hands-on work, and after numerous crotch rips and ruined pants, he finally bit the bullet and decided to invest in a pair of artisanal denim. So we went over to visit our friends at the Denim Bar in Arlington, Va. He bought two pairs: Nudie's Average Joe and Kicking Mule Workshop's 1980 fit.

IMG_9936

That was over two years ago. Since then, Ron and his jeans have come a very long way... Read the rest of this entry »



 

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