The Best Stuff Out There Right Now #1
Picking up an old habit, just for fun (and for you)
Would you believe that a million years ago when I worked at GQ, I pitched a series that’s still alive today? It was the dawn of a certain era of content and as the world of commerce editorial expanded, it’s been a juggernaut. It all stemmed from a habit almost all of us share: mindlessly scrolling the shiny “New Arrivals” sections of retailers. If you’re like me, you browse every single one. But you’re struck by just a few needles in the haystack.
Truth be told, when it comes to clothing, there’s never that much that inspires. This hunt has always been a part of the equation. It can be fun, it can be taxing, and it can be downright hell if you’re looking for jeans. To that end, I’m intent on sharing the things I see out there that I really can stand behind. Stuff that I’d actually add to the cart (and, if I weren’t financially prepping for an Aries baby, I’d buy).
That said, let’s get on with it, shall we?
When it comes to sneakers, I always err on the simple side of things. (I actually wore Simples religiously as a kid.) There’s also something about my impending fatherhood that’s drawing me to New Balances. This warm dusty gray is also very much my vibe right now.
I’ve had notoriously bad luck with trench coats. But, this classic by The Row is about as perfect as you could get. As we hit this “you could but you don’t have to” season (coined by
), I’m thinking I’ll jump back in the trench, so to speak. It’s one of the only holes in my outerwear collection.
My general uniform is a black t-shirt and jeans. But, I’ve been feeling in a rut lately and am desperate for a wardrobe shift. Or, at least a few pieces that could work in with what I’ve got going. I really like the proportions on this Nanushka poplin shirt which I could just throw on in case we’re going out to dinner or something.
I’m also a sucker for knitted polos — especially when they’ve got a subtle design effect, like the debossed stripes on the Todd Snyder one above. It’s a little long for my taste, but most things are because I have a short torso, so … whatever. It’s my cross to bare.
This long-sleeved polo, also from Todd Snyder, reminds me of a very disco brown shirt I used to own. It is busy, but a vibrating pattern like that does a lot of work with materials that may be a little clingy. Thinking faded blue jeans and loafers, if I ever leave my apartment, that is.
My old chambray shirt finally bit the bullet this year. I didn’t wear it often, but I had it forever and it had a security blanket feeling to it. I trust Rag & Bone with this kind of stuff more than most brands. As a heavy sweater, I also appreciate that this is “featherweight” because god knows once heat really picks up, it’s game over. I’ll wear it with Umbros until it gets too hot.
I have gone down the mule road a few times, with Birks and some other more fancy versions. But, I didn’t love the hardware on any of them. Sometimes it was too heavy and other times it just didn’t jive. So I’m somewhat intrigued by these, which just do away with the hardware all together. I refuse to bare my toes in public but that a little ventilation on your feet always helps during the summer. If you plan to walk a lot in something like this, get the soles beefed up before you go for a jaunt.
With the baby coming in a month, we’ve got absolutely zero travel plans. I miss the beach in the summer. If we were going, I’d probably grab this Jacquemus for the trip. I’d also wear it with a navy suit to any and every cocktail attire event for the summer. It’s just subtle enough.
We’re deep in getting ready for a baby at our house, so we’ve got eyes out for furniture that would work in our nursery, but last beyond infancy. We need a small end table and are looking for light sources that aren’t too harsh. This twisted leg table has a pretty small footprint, which works really well for the small space we have. The lamp’s scalloped detail also ties in nicely some of the other things we’ve got (lots of baby stuff has scalloped trim). Both could work elsewhere, too. Again, we’re trying to buy with longevity in mind where we can.
My wardrobe is very devoid of color right now. This is by design, but I would like to bring some new stuff into the mix that isn’t navy or black. Last spring and summer I went very hard on rugby shirts, which I still love, but a bright blue knit polo takes that same vibe and classes it up a bit. (And yes, I’ll wear this one with umbros, too.) And while I do love my Alex Mill carpenter jeans, I could use something simpler and sleeker like the ones above. A little less clunky, a little more elegant.
I fell pretty hard for the Paige suede shirt jacket above, solely because it makes me feel like Nick Parker in The Parent Trap. If I can’t have the house, I’ll settle for the jacket. The shoes are the same thing, but for your feet, I guess. I try to avoid leather dress shoes at all times during the spring and summer — too hot. And these are nice.
I don’t know what the hell is going on with the climate right now, but the past few weeks New York has been attempting to unseat Chicago as The Windy City. A nice light windbreaker helps a ton, and it reminds me of being in Newport. Win win. And of course, I’ll never turn down a navy blue polo (even if I’m trying to add more color to my rotation, sue me). Plus it’s from COS so it won’t set you back too much.
None of this stuff is groundbreaking, really. But as I’ve gotten older all of my purchasing power has gone into stuff that will be really timeless, or at least not ostentatious.
Believe me when I say, you’d rather open your closet and see these kinds of things than a sleeveless Balmain sweatshirt and a pony hair baseball cap. I speak from experience.
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Loveddd this
...a sleeveless... Balmain... sweatshirt?!