Articles – Well Spent

Happenings: C.H.C.M. Shop

January 26, 2011

It’s a funny thing, the “Heritage” trend. As anyone in the fashion industry (er, I mean ’style’ industry – got to keep it menswear blog appropriate) will tell you, everything that’s old will eventually be new again. And so, the current popularity of utilitarian garments from the 1930s – 1950s amongst the modern non-utilitarian set isn’t all that shocking. What’s funny, though, is that the items that make up the trend were never intended to be fashionable. They were designed and built purely for functionality. That’s why they’re still around, decades after their inception. That these items are now a part of a trend, and, as such, suddenly have a shelf-life – well, it entirely defeats their purpose.

Comments (2)

Being There: Epaulet Manhattan

January 12, 2011

I finally had a chance to visit Epaulet’s new Manhattan location while I was home for the holiday, and I decided to bring my little sister along to take some pics. Unsurprisingly, the store is brimming with covet-able goodness. From the Canadian-made shawl collar sweaters, to the vast in-house shirting collection, to the just-dropped Epaulet suiting, to the exclusive Alden collabs, to the new CPO Shirt Jackets – well, let’s just say there’s a lot that I wanted. If you’re in NYC, and you haven’t already stopped in, add it to your to-do list. You’ll be glad you did. More pics after the jump.

Comments (2)

Ivy Crew Sweater Sale at Left Field

January 7, 2011

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 »

Comments (0)

SNS Herning Sale at Unionmade

January 4, 2011

Next up in this week’s calvacade of markdowns is the SNS Herning sale at San Fransisco’s fantastic Unionmade. Makers of some of the finest knitwear money can buy, SNS Herning has been producing the same sweaters, on the same machines, in the same factory, for decades. In fact, so much care and expertise goes into the making of each product, that every one comes signed by the person responsible for overseeing its production (true story). Read More »

Comments (0)

Archival Clothing Shawl Collar Cardigans

December 13, 2010

I remember when Archival Clothing first announced they were going to be making shawl collar cardigans. Based on their then newly released pitch-perfect bag range, as well as their extensive knowledge of, well, archival clothing, I figured the sweaters would be good. But, I had no idea they were going to be this good. Seriously, we’re talking one the top five product releases of the season here (yeah, that’s right, I said it). The facts: 100% pure new wool, sourced from New England. Read More »

Comments (0)

People Tree Snowflake Jacquard Cardigan

November 15, 2010

How the hell is it already mid-November? I mean, is it just me, or was it a particularly quick (fleeting?) autumn this year? Then again, maybe it only feels that way since I spent pretty much the whole season huddled over my computer (#BlogLife). At any rate, sweater weather is officially upon us, so might as well make the best of it. And the Snowflake Jacquard Cardigan from England’s People Tree is a great way to do just that. Handknit by students at the Fair Trade certified Kumbeshwar Technical School in Nepal, the sweater is made from humanely harvested wool that’s been treated with environmentally friendly, low-impact dyes. Read More »

Comments (0)

Instead of Rent: November, 2010

November 3, 2010

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

Comments (0)

eBay Friday: Vintage Sweater Round-Up

October 8, 2010

Some pretty great sweaters floating around the ‘Bay this week. All in mint to near-mint condition. A couple of my favorites below and after the jump. Happy bidding and have a great weekend.

Vintage Orvis Dog Sweater. 100% wool. Made in Hong Kong. Auction ends 10/11/10. Bid here.

Comments (0)

People Tree Fairisle Tank

September 21, 2010

Speaking of items I’ve only recently acquired a taste for, I’m feeling a real fondness for Fair Isle these days (and not just because of this). Fortunately, People Tree has just come out with its new Fairisle Tank, and the sweater’s looking to be the perfect itch for my latest scratch. Hand-knit from humanely harvested and low-impact dye colored wool, the FiT is made by attendees of the Fair Trade certified Kumbeshwar Technical School in Nepal (that’s right, Fair Trade Fair Isle). Read More »

Comments (0)

Knowledge AW10 Knits

September 14, 2010

In other Scandinavian-designed, sustainably made clothing news: the full AW10 collection from Danish brand – and personal favorite – Knowledge Cotton Apparel has just been added to the label’s webshop. And while the company’s colorful as all-get-out bottoms were the summer range’s highlight, this season, it’s all about the knitwear. Ethically made in the EU from low-impact dye treated organic cotton and / or humanely harvested organic wool, the sweaters are enough to get anyone wishing for an early winter. Read More »

Comments (0)

Happenings: Left Field NYC

September 1, 2010

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.

Comments (0)

Orvis U.S. Patent Collection Sweaters

August 30, 2010

It’s a lucky coincidence that two of my favorite pieces from the much-hyped, all American-made Orvis U.S. Patent Collection, also happen to be two of the most affordable (seriously though, am I the only one that finds the USPC’s prices shocking?). The Shawl Collar Cardigan (pictured above) and the Rib Knit Turtleneck (picture after the jump) are machine knit in Fall River, MA, a town that’s famous for its many venerable textile mills (some of which apparently date back to the 19th century). Read More »

Comments (0)

hessnatur Organic Cotton Cardigan

July 27, 2010

Sometimes, you need a basic that’s just that, basic. One of those dress-up, dress-down, right-for-every-season, looks-good-with-any-outfit kind of pieces. The Organic Cotton Cardigan from Germany’s hessnatur definitely fits that bill. Ethically made in Thailand from 100% Turkish organic cotton, the OCC is a baby-soft, lightweight, as basic as it gets second layer, equally suited for keeping warm in the office a-c, or being thrown over a t-shirt on a chilly summer night. And, at well under $100, not only is it totally versatile, it’s also totally affordable, so there’s no need to force yourself to settle on just one of its three perfect for any occasion colorways. Read More »

Comments (0)

Label Spotlight: Epaulet

June 16, 2010

It’s always the brands I feel I can’t say enough good things about, that I wind up having the most difficulty posting on. It’s because I like them so much. I wind up feeling an intense pressure (self-imposed of course) to get my writing as close to perfect as I’m capable. Unfortunately, that pressure more often results in my composing bloated, seemingly endless passages of hyperbolic praise, that I then have to cut and whittle down, so as to not look like a total shill (or pretentious bombast). In the end, what should have only taken me a matter of minutes, will have dragged on for hours – if not the whole day – and I still won’t feel as though I’ve managed to convey all I hoped to. In case you haven’t already figured it out from the title of this post, Epaulet is one of those brands. And this paragraph has taken me a very long time to write.

Comments (0)