Not quite willing to buy one online yet, I instead stopped by Seattle’s only hat store – Byrnie Utz Hats. It’s been open since 1934 and the interior decor probably hasn’t changed much since. Brands carried: Borsalino, Stetson, Dobbs, Christys, Scala, and many many more.
After about spending an hour in the store trying on and comparing panamas, I picked out one – a Stetson. (next post)
Some inspiration from Free & Easy to get things started.
While they’re now a niche luxury product like high end watches (just more affordable), fountain pens are about as rudimentary today as they were 100 years ago.
Josh Peskowitz over on esquire.com posted about a new line that will be released by Orvis this fall called “U.S. Patent” which will consist of hunting and workwear classics. More interestingly, it will all be made in the U.S. by reputable manufactures (except for maybe Frye…). I’m all for this and I hope it goes well for Orvis as well as the other companies involved.
This perfectly crafted PR quote from the designer involved bugs me though: “It’s about American jobs”
Really? Orvis has sold imported goods that were cheaply made overseas for years, and now they suddenly have a change of heart over American jobs? I’d hate to be the guy that explains that one to the shareholders.
Instead, they should be saying this: “It’s about making a profit off of clothing that was proudly made here in the U.S.A.”
Psycho Bunny is a brand that continues to confuse me, and it’s one of those head scratchers as to why it’s still in business. Born a few years back before the market collapse, the company sold luxury accessories with a logo that you’d expect to find on something marketed to angsty teenagers (but in this case it was marketed to rich men that had more money than taste). I always expected it wouldn’t be around for long, but here we are several years later and it’s now going to be featured on Gilt tomorrow morning – apparently people are still buying it up.
My current understanding is that the rabbit thing is more of a joke and that the branding is a play on the ubiquitous logos and themes that we see everyday, examples being the Ralph Lauren polo or even the simpler trad critter ties. The Hickey offshoot brand of Hickey Freeman also does the same thing with a tacky pot leaf logo on their own goods.
Here’s a cashmere beanie with a patch logo that treads on a legally similar look of the well known Moncler patch.
A $10k belt buckle. There is definitely a joke here and it’s on the sucker who actually buys it.
An older Psycho Bunny ad from Free & Easy.
So many nice items ruined. If a company just wants to do classic with a twist, the twist should be subtle, an odd detail that only the wearer would know about.
New in at Context.
I’ve had J.Crew’s latest utility shirt for about two weeks now and I’m pretty happy with the purchase so far. The gingham fabric is a linen/cotton mix and it’s been great in the warmer weather that Seattle is finally getting.
When I first received the shirt I was also surprised by the detailing that J.Crew put into it, which are comparable to the same details found in work shirts made by companies like Engineered Garments and RRL.
In today’s NYTimes there is a profile for Bruce Cameron Clark, a former apprentice of Savile Row tailor Tommy Nutter who went out on his own and opened a custom tailoring business over a decade ago:
“Not to sound egotistical, but there aren’t many people who do what I do,” said Mr. Clark, 58, explaining that what he does is neither tailoring nor fashion, but a sort of style consultancy in which two parts Lord Asquith and one part Austin Powers join forces to create an aesthetic that Mr. Clark refers to as “traditional with a twist.”
“I’m not doing boring Brooks Brothers,” he noted. “It’s much more offbeat and fun. And not to be taken too seriously.”
Continue reading more. Photo by Michael Appleton for The New York Times.
Found NYC, a CP Company/Stone Island fan site, recently posted a translation of a great article from BRIGHT on Massimo Osti that is worth the read. Massimo really pushed technical fabrics and was a true innovator in his industry.
Ideas from Massimo Osti
By Paul Dezentjé
Originally published in ‘BRIGHT’, APRIL/MAY 2010, VOL 6, NR 33Five years ago, Massimo Osti – the shy creator of world famous men’s clothing brands such as Stone Island and C.P. Company died. For connoisseurs the garment engineer is an icon because of his unequalled ideas. His heirs are preparing a book about his innovative work and exclusive brands. Bright travelled to Italy and was granted entrance – by high exception – to the Massimo Osti Archive.
Continue reading more.
An earlier Mille Miglia jacket from CP Company Fall/Winter 2003.
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