Why Clothes Cost What They Do


A little over a month ago, newbie direct-to-consumer e-tailer Everlane, posted the below infographic on their Tumblr.

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Post-Holiday Sales: Left Field Shirts and Sweats Sale


Brooklyn’s Left Field NYC has slashed prices on all remaining AW11 tops, including the brand’s burly as all get out Heavy Tartan Workshirts and crazy cozy Crossgrain Sweats. In addition to the new styles, the label has also knocked 15% off all previous-season sweats, bringing their cost down to an astounding $77 – $85 per. Sale ends this Saturday (Jan 7th) at midnight. Don’t miss it. Read More »

The Friday Find: Left Field Deadstock & Seconds

What’s on sale RIGHT NOW.


Left Field NYC has just added a slew of deadstock and factory second (read: very, very slightly damaged) jeans and chinos to its online store. Markdowns range from $50 – $100, and there are pieces from a handful of different seasons (including the current one). Worth noting: inventory is sorted by price, and most of the prices contain more than one item, so make sure to click on each to see all that’s available. Have at ‘em. Read More »

Left Field NYC AW11 Organic Chinos


For those who haven’t heard, the complete AW11 collection from Left Field NYC is now live on the brand’s site. Along with the previously blogged heavy terry sweats, and some ridicu-gorgeous twill tartan shirts, this season’s line-up also includes two colorways (one old, one new) of the co.’s much-loved Organic Chinos. Handcrafted in Los Angeles from medium-weight, American grown and woven organic cotton canvas, the pants are as tough as they are environmentally responsible, and prime for the cooler temps ahead. Read More »

NorthernGRADE: Left Field NYC AW11 Crossgrain Crews


Most of my day was spent hanging / helping out at the Left Field NYC booth, which provided ample opportunity to ogle the label’s fantastic new AW11 Crossgrain Crews. Some nice updates have been made to the previous model, including changing the fabric to a heavy-duty, 100% cotton terry and adding a v-stitch at the neck. Like pretty much everything else I’ve posted this week, these still aren’t online yet. But, they will be very soon (along with a just-as-nice hooded version). Read More »

The Friday Find: Left Field NYC SS11 Clearance

What’s on sale RIGHT NOW.


Brooklyn’s Left Field NYC has just marked down all remaining pieces of from its SS11 collection, including US-made t-shirts, polos, button-ups, shorts, chinos and summer-weight sweats. Discounts range from 20% – 30%, and will stay in place for as long as the items are in stock (so not very long at all). Needless to say, this will be your last chance at most of this stuff, so I’d advise you quit reading this, and get over there while there’s still some left to be had. Read More »

A Closer Look: Left Field NYC Sunburst Selvedge Jeans


As some of you may already know (get well soon Denim Debate!), I’m a big, big fan of Left Field jeans. So, when founder Christian McCann offered to send over a pair of the label’s new Sunburst Selvedge jeans, I was more than happy to accept. Made with a lightweight, 12.5 oz denim from Japan’s Kaihara Mills, the jeans are a great option for spring / summer. Details are the same as the White Oaks, and they include US-made rivets and buttons, US-made 100% cotton bandanna pocket bags, signature U-stitch coin pocket with hidden selvedge, double chainstitched waistband, Union Special chainstitched hem, and cotton wrapped polyester thread throughout (washes like cotton, but has the strength of poly). As great as all that is, however, the real draw here, of course, is that amazing selvedge edge, and the incredible denim that’s attached to it (and believe me, it really is incredible). More looks after the jump.

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Left Field NYC Spring Button Downs


The Spring Button Downs from Brooklyn’s Left Field NYC are pretty much everything you could want from a warm-weather top. Handcrafted in Los Angeles, the shirts are made from an array of barely-there-light Japanese cotton fabrics, including two so-vibrant-you-practically-need-sunglasses madrases and one baby-butt soft organic gingham flannel. Details are plentiful, and include a button down collar with a third button on the center back, locker loop at the shoulder seam, notched short-sleeve cuff with button detail, and true Mother of Pearl buttons throughout. Read More »

Instead of Rent: April, 2011

The moderately and (very) immoderately priced goods that I’d rather spend it on this month.

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Left Field Crossgrain Sweatshirts


Though the claim that today’s goods are not as well-made as the goods of yore may sound somewhat curmudgeonly, there actually is a fair amount of truth to it. In certain respects, products really were better “back then.” Case in point: the Crossgrain Sweatshirts from New York’s Left Field NYC are modeled after Champion crewnecks from the 1950s. During that period, Champion began constructing their sweats with the grain of the fleece running horizontally, instead of vertically (ie, crossgrain), so as ensure they would keep their shape despite repeated wear and/or washing and drying. Read More »

The Makers: Left Field NYC


“It’s just me.”

At first sight, Left Field NYC founder Christian McCann is kind of an intimidating dude. Tall, a boxer’s build, countless tattoos; basically exactly what you’d imagine – or hope – the man behind his brand would look like. However, once you get him talking, it doesn’t take long for the menace to fade. Beneath the tough exterior is one of the most genuine and thoughtful guys in the menswear business. It might seem funny to say, but he’s actually a lot like his clothes: earnest, pretense-free, and steadfast. Despite our being over an hour late, he warmly welcomes my sister and I into his studio. “I’m sorry you had such a hard time finding the place,” he says. “I’m glad you guys are here.”

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The Friday Find: Left Field Japanese Flannel Sale

What’s on sale RIGHT NOW.

I have one of these, and I can tell you honestly that it’s great. Nice fit, cool old-timey details (shrunken collar, rounded hem, pearl buttons, side gussets), excellent construction (cut and sewn in Los Angeles) and just about the softest flannel I’ve ever felt. Sadly, I had to pay full price for mine. But, now you can pick one up for yourself at a cool 25% off. What’s on the LF site is pretty much all that’s left of these (I mean in total, worldwide), so if you want one, this is definitely the time to get it. Read More »

Ivy Crew Sweater Sale at Left Field


Rounding out this week’s collection of post-holiday steals and deals, is the Ivy Crew Sweater sale at the new Left Field NYC e-shop. Made in collaboration with Ljiljana Doneca, a veteran of NYC’s garment industry with over 30 years experience (who also happens to be the landlord of the Left Field studio space – lucky how that worked out), the Ivy Crew sweaters are knit, cut and sewn in a century old sweater factory in Queens, NY, using butter soft Canadian merino yarn. Read More »

Instead of Rent: January, 2011

The moderately and (very) immoderately priced goods that I’d rather spend it on this month. Special “what I wish I was wearing during last week’s blizzard in NYC” edition.

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Editor’s Picks 2010, Part 2

Part 2 as promised. Since I already gave my opening schpeel in Part 1, I’ll skip any (further) introductory sentences, and just get to it. Quick side note: if you haven’t seen it yet, check out my holiday wish-list over at the always excellent N’East Style. Thanks for reading, and have a great holiday! Read More »

Left Field Japanese Flannel Shirts


So, you remember those so-perfect-it-hurts plaid shirts from the Left Field NYC AW10 lookbook? Well, they just landed at Seattle’s Blue Owl, and are officially ripe for the picking (or is it plucking?). Expertly crafted in Los Angeles from kitten-soft Japanese flannel, the shirts are as cozy as they are rugged, like a sleeping bag made out of a wolverine, making them just the thing for the chilly months ahead. Read More »

Instead of Rent: September, 2010

The moderately and (very) immoderately priced goods that I’d rather spend it on this month.

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Happenings: Left Field NYC


Long before L.L.Bean went Signature, Lands End went Canvas, or J.Crew went Red Wing, there was Left Field NYC. Founded by Christian McCann, the Brooklyn-based label has been churning out rugged, American-made goods since chambray was still putting the blue in blue collar. “We have been in business for over 10 years,” explains McCann, “and have always strived to make quality, made in America clothing at a fair price.” Unfortunately, being so ahead of the curve (just think about what you were wearing in the late ’90s), meant that the majority of people who initially took advantage of those fair prices lived elsewhere. “The Japanese have been great supporters of our brand,” notes McCann. “And, they’re a good litmus test for authenticity.” Despite the lack of a domestic audience, McCann believed enough in what he was doing to keep his label going, never deviating from his original vision.

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