THE WEBSTER MIAMI LIBRARY
You can tell a lot about a retail store by simply perusing their collection of magazines and books for sale, and this certainly holds true for the eternally chic Webster in Miami Beach. I’m in town for a store event tonight and had a few moments to flip through their impressive lobby library, curated with the same attention to detail and impeccable taste that has defined their unique collection of brands. Attached are a few shots of books you might find interesting, and magazines worth flipping through, including the massive 600-page hard cover “magazine” shown above, “Fashion for Men” by Milan Vukmirovic, one of The Webster’s founders. (more…)
DOLCE & GABBANA & YOUTUBE
This is one of the best uses of a YouTube channel, particularly for a luxury fashion house. Dolce & Gabbana’s recently relaunched YouTube page opens with a cheeky 60′s inspired video montage “Italiana,” directed by Luca Finotti, starring Bianca Balti & Anna Orso as a chic mother-daughter tandem cruising along the Italian Riviera. You have the option (more…)
TOP SUMMER SUNGLASSES
The new “Nelson” sunglasses by Gant Rugger have a silhouette favored by Paul Newman during his blazing hot, iconic career. It’s the classic tortoise shell frame and subtle green lenses that makes them cool. Bling them up with gold accents and big logos and the charm is lost – unless you like hanging out with ravers in Ibiza. (“It’s pronounced Ibitha!”). Nelson by Gant Rugger, $125, available at Gant.
MADE IN MAINE: RANCOURT & CO.
Tucked away amongst massive, long abandoned brick warehouses along the Androscoggin River in Lewiston, Maine, sits a small, rather unassuming building humming with activity, and doing big things. Rancourt & Company is a third generation, family owned and operated business who’s commitment to the art of shoe making is genuine and timely – with only a handful of shoe manufacturers remaining in the U.S., word has quickly gotten out to an American menswear industry consumed with all things “Made in the U.S.A.” I recently made the trip north to see the factory, and meet with Kyle Rancourt, the youngest member of the family business. He discussed the companies history, their signature shoe and what it means to be “Made in Maine.”
Rancourt & Company is a family owned American business, tell me briefly about the company and the unique skill set of its workers? My family is in its third continuous generation of shoe making in Maine – with Rancourt & Co. my father and I really had a goal of expanding beyond the contract manufacturing we’d done in the past and creating our own brand that reflected our heritage and the skill set of our craftspeople. The skill set in our factory is really unique because we have the ability to (more…)
FAHLGREN TIES AT STAG
I’m excited and honored to have my new spring tie collection carried at Stag in Austin, Texas – one of the top menswear stores in America. Check out their newly designed web shop, a testament to the vision and creativity of owners Steve Shuck, Don Weir, Ted Allen, Bobby Johns & Joel Mozsersky. Their mission statement says it all: “STAG is classic and modern; traditional and progressive; new and old; respectful and rebellious. We’re several parts clothing, part antique, part gift, part accessory, and part apothecary. We’re a modern day general store for every man.” www.stagaustin.com
GENTLEMEN AT THE MET
The Costume Institute Gala, considered fashion’s biggest stage, was held last night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The focus naturally lands on the women in attendance but here are a few men’s looks worth covering. Number one would go to Tom Brady and his daring, aggressive side swept Mohawk. You could imagine Tom and Gisele debating the merits of such a look, with her throwing out David’s Beckham’s global marketability as proof that taking bold sartorial/hairtorial? action leads to campaigns beyond the world of Uggs. I personally think it just barely works. Those salty New Englanders pulling lobster traps off the coast of Maine? That’s another story. But it’s the off season, so Tom can have fun with it. The Tim Tebow show officially arrived in New York and he played it (more…)
VINTAGE TENNIS STYLE
Tennis season is upon us, take a cue from Swedish champion Lennart Bergelin (2nd from left) and go clean and classic. Bright neon fancy shoes that look like snowboard boots are en vogue, but unless you’re Nadal, a solid pair of classic tennis sneakers will provide more then enough support. They also look a lot cooler, and are more versatile, as they can be worn on and off the court. The Nylite sneaker by Tretorn was ‘born’ in 1967 and is widely (more…)
L.L. BEAN TRAIL MODEL JACKET
As we’re in the midst of a rain soaked week all along the east coast, it brings up memories of summers spent in Maine, running around in a battered and duct-taped bright yellow L.L. Bean rain jacket. They’ve updated the jacket a bit by making it more lightweight and durable, but here it is, in all it’s unfaded glory. It’s the perfect remedy to summer squalls, and although you could go with subtle navy or black, yellow just looks cooler and will brighten up an otherwise dreary day. $69, available at L.L. Bean.
SUMMER RUGGED
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
We often forget that there is a tougher side to summer, one with a spirit of adventure that provides as much, if not more of a vacation for the body and mind than leisure pursuits. Instead of the beach, head to the mountains, or the fields, or best case scenario, the forests of Yellowstone, our nation’s greatest National Park. For an east coast option, head north to Acadia National Park, Maine and watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, and hear the ocean crack at Thunder Rock. If you make the trek, pack accordingly. The Wabasha Chukka boots (more…)
RETAIL SIGHTING: PATCH ATTACK
This is an interesting trend that’s certainly not new, but seems to be having a moment and will be appearing en masse come fall. Authentic-looking patches, purposefully frayed and sewn on (by a machine) with a hand-stitched look. Ralph Lauren is very clever when it comes to presenting clothing as part of a romantic and story – despite the fact that these clothes are brand new and not part of a “Himalayas RLPC” or “Broadpeak PRL Expedition” outfit. The closest these jackets will come to the Himalayas was during their fly-over from China. Disingenuous? maybe, clever? to be sure. (more…)
BEST OF: ATLANTA
If you’re tired and bored of your typical dress shirt and tie daily uniform, these portraits from last night’s Gucci & GQ event in Atlanta might provide a bit of inspiration. Sophisticated, daring, unique, with graphic color, contrasting patterns, homemade bow ties, sparkling tie pins and perhaps my favorite, a small badge written in Japanese that translated to “I Love Kyoto” – the exclusive city and hub of luxury in Japan. The new dandy is alive and doing quite well in Atlanta. Here are the close ups: (more…)
TOP SHOP: MOSCOT BROOKLYN
Here’s a great example of superior windows: the new Moscot eye wear store in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. It reads like a trophy case featuring the “Moscot Sun World Champions 2012″ – a collection of moody, beautiful characters who look like offspring from an Addams Family – Royal Tenenbaum’s tryst. Well conceived and perfectly executed, this new shop looks right at home in a neighborhood that values hip originality. Here’s the full squad: (more…)
CASUAL PREP: GITMAN VINTAGE
Wearing a dress shirt and tie doesn’t have to be stuffy. Just take a stroll across any New England prep school and you’ll notice a purposefully disheveled approach, with loosely knotted ties, untucked, wrinkled shirts and who-knows-what type of trouser. It’s charming at age 14, but fast forward to 28 and you’ll need to tighten things up a bit. Tuck the shirt back in, wear fitted trousers that compliment your shape, but keep the tie loose. Casual prep is a hugely popular trend at the moment, with “The Hilfigers” campaign a perfect example of old meets new. Take classic inspired American sportswear, (more…)
RETAIL REPORT: RUGBY
Few can match the retail prowess of Ralph Lauren when it comes to visual merchandising, a critical aspect of a brand’s identity. The popular trend towards downsizing and making each store look unique was perfected by Mr. Lauren, and there is no better example of this then his Rugby store in East Hampton, NY. Iconic images of surfing, sailing, biking, even a stack of wood complete with “Firewood Courtesy of Vermont Good Wood” – adorn the store. These perfectly mixed and matched objects make the space feel part of the local neighborhood, softening the corporate image of the store, and loosening up fat wallets along the way. The message: (more…)
THE IVY LEAGUE
There are plenty of books out there on prep collegiate style but “The Ivy League” by Daniel Cappello just feels a bit more substantial. It’s a well written, hefty hardcover book packed with beautiful images, from vintage posters and school crests, to sharp logos and memorable photography. It’s this focus on design that provides a deeper understanding of the identity and (more…)
LONDON COLLECTIONS: MENSWEAR
The first ever London Collections: Men, will take place on June 15th-17th. Here’s a kick-off video featuring some of the biggest names in the industry: GQ UK’s Editor Dylan Jones, Style.com’s Tim Blanks, Topman designer Gordon Richardson and Mr. Porter’s Jeremy Langmead, who remarked “There’s no doubt that menswear and the menswear industry is growing at an extraordinary speed.”
GANT RUGGER CLASSIC PREP BLAZER
O.k. so grab your coffee, consider this a morning style pop quiz: 1) what’s the difference between a peak lapel and a notch? 2) what does a natural shoulder mean? 3) does your jacket have big shoulders and look like you’re still borrowing it from Dad? 4) do you have trouble getting second dates? The Hopsack blazer from Gant Rugger has the answers, particularly the date part. It’s fitted, modern, youthful and flattering. The color, Blue Hawaii, will match up with your work trousers, or better yet, jeans for a weekend night out. $595, available at Gant.
THE PROMISE OF SUMMER
“He looked within for the first time in months and was sad to see what was there. A mind wound so tight around what to do, where to go, in a place so jumbled, that after 16 years he was just able to make sense of it all. On his next trip to the sea, instead of filling that cold empty space with to do lists, he instead let his thoughts roam, listened to the waves for the first time since a child, felt the sand, smelled the rusty air and appreciated that one moment of rest. It was all lost to a chime buried away in a worthless logo’d bag.” (more…)
GAP 1969: SUMMER BASICS
In honor of the GAP’s extremely strong performance in 2012, marked by a 10-year closing high on March 26th, here are two straight forward, summer essentials. The basic v-neck tee shirt in asphalt, $13, and the western chambray shirt in white-out wash $60. No one does sportswear basics better than the GAP. To read the full article on the resurgence of America’s largest apparel chain, click here.
SID MASHBURN CHAMBRAY SHORTS
For timeless, All-American style, try adding these incredibly comfortable, lightweight cotton chambray shorts from Sid Mashburn to your summer line up. The length is a bit shorter and clean cut; think Ward mowing the lawn in the front yard. Featuring horn buttons, pinpoint oxford pocketing and a tab waist closure. Made in the USA. $125, available at Sid Mashburn
