Drake's for Monocle

These scarves aren't really that new and definitely aren't news - but they are really nice. I've been almost solely relying on my Drakes boiled wool scarf this fall and couldn't be happier about the purchase. Drakes have got the process down over the years and this fall have put together some great colour options of their own in their boiled wool. The mismatched tartans were a great idea, but I do particularly like the tones Monocle have put together. Unfortunately for me, I often don't even think about scarves until I'm walking around in an icy breeze and wishing I had just made the purchase when it was in front of me. For £95 you're not looking at a bargain, but there are far more expensive things out there that aren't as functional and good looking. —

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Blakroc

It feels like there is some good music being made these days, and unfortunately we haven't paid it enough attention on the website. It's definitely something Owen, Simon and I care a lot about and shapes how we feel, act and goes hand in hand with a sense of style and aesthetic. That said, Blakroc has pretty much blown my mind. I had heard bits from the Black Keys but I really just found out about this project and it's pretty amazing. Not only is the music itself really good, but Dame Dash had the know-how to document the process of the Black Keys creating and bringing some of the best talent in hip hop. Not just hip hop today, but ever, and we get to see them work. I watched the 11 episodes of making of the album with the likes of Raekwon, Mos Def, Jim Jones, Q-Tip and more - and I could watch another 11. The studio, the people, the process and the excitement around it was so genuine and pure that it felt like I was watching something really special play out. I feel like I might be the last to know, but the album came out only a couple weeks ago and has gone straight into heavy rotation. They also just played on Jimmy Fallon last week and the performance featuring RZA is really good. — Links Blakroc & RZA on Jimmy Fallon Blakroc website & Video series Blakroc Album

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Alden Tugger Work Boot

Again Mister Crew brings us the latest from Seattle with his fine taste and well edited picks. The latest arrival at Blackbird is a great looking plain toe work boot. The boot also features a Alden Goodyear molded rubber sole which usually only shows up in Japan. It fits the boot perfectly but what I really like is the soft looking black leather on the boots. The flat black Novo calf leather is a great choice of material as I find all of the black boots I like come in a shiny, tougher leather when I prefer the soft looking aesthetic that's more prone to get broken in quickly and feel nice and soft. The boots are inspired by the tub boat style of the North West, and have been expressly made for Blackbird. Put these at the top of your holiday list asap because I have a feeling they will be gone quickly. —

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The Real McCoys White Hat Tee

Sometimes finding a great t-shirt can be just as satisfying as a great oxford or chambray. This is more often the case if you find a vintage Champion fleece or something loop wheeled in Japan. There is a certain feeling and toughness about the Japanese made fleece that isn't the same here, and The Real McCoys is one of the best examples of this. Lately I've been more into illustration on t-shirts as well and I've got a ton of wear out of the Warehouse shirt I picked up at the Rugged Museum. 'The White Hat Club' looks like something I wouldn't mind joining either as I really like the white on navy. It's simple, tasteful and could easily be worn on it's own or to layer under a shirt in this cold weather. An extra layer of soft, sturdy fleece is always good to have near by.

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Albam Shawl Collar Cardigan

Albam's knitwear has quickly become one of the strong points in the collection. Observing their online shop and hearing reports from London, the items seem to be flying off the shelves - almost as fast as Inventory issue Number 01 at Albam. The latest item that I really like is this classic shawl neck cardigan. Almost every brand is taking their stab at the essential fall item, but it appears Albam have pulled out one of the best versions of the season. They are made in England from a very soft high twist wool. The updated fit and fabrics from last fall are all coming together nicely as you can see. Only 30 have been made of each colour. The Navy cardigan is almost sold out, but there still seems to be a full size run in charcoal, for now.

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Nigel Cabourn Sherpa Knit

Nigel Cabourn's knitwear seems to lose a little bit of the spotlight due to his outstanding outerwear. While it deserves the attention, the knitwear this fall comes in a more affordable price and still offers a great product, top notch fabrics and are made in the UK. This Sherpa V neck knit is made in Scotland from 8 gauge natural wool and is an ideal layering piece about this time of the year. I can't get too excited about merino V neck sweaters, so I feel you might as well step it up to a little more substantial piece and it will look much nicer. The light shade of the sweater would go well with a variety of shirts underneath and likely best with a navy sport coat on top. It was another one of the pieces I wish I could bring home from Japan but it's fortunately still available at Coggles.

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Sophnet Homespun 2 Button Jacket

Sophnet continues to develop their collections with an interesting take on classic items, new fabrics and an evolving aesthetic. While I might not usually look to Soph for a casual sport coat, this fall that have put together one of the nicest versions I've seen. The 2 button jacket has a set of great looking hunting style pockets and complimentary elbow patches - which I'm usually a fan of. The colour of the homespun fabric looks really nice in the photos at The Glade, and if this piece is half as nice in person it would be worth considering. As one of the only stockists outside of Japan, The Glade's pricing comes in at a "tough to swallow" level, but for the consumer who knows what they want, this jacket will find a welcome home this fall. —

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Filson Rugged Twill Shopper

It seems to make some sense that Filson has a made in Italy range that can only be found in Japan, but it doesn't quite make sense as to why these shopper totes aren't available around here. They are made in the USA as far as I can tell and look great. I like both Filson's canvas totes and wool bags, so this is a nice marriage of the two fabrics. The rugged twill shopper is a bit more ideal for trips to the grocery or an afternoon excursion around town. The size is easy to pack up into another bag but can pack enough to be useful. I quite like both colour options and would happily add one to my arsenal of tote bags. —

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