Alexander Olch Striped Tie

Overcast skies, a hint of rain and the prospect of winter just around the corner somehow has me excited. I've never been one to scorn sun but I'm itching to layer up. Ties have become a pretty common talking point over here as we've discussed the appeal of a nice sloppily perfect half-windsor poking out under a sweater and jacket. This one by Alexander Olch is a great white and black striped cotton knit. It's admittedly more of a summer tie but could easily brighten up any fall outfit, ones that can get dark and depressing pretty easily. I think it'd be ideal on the neck of your classic blue oxford but would also look good on navy or charcoal herringbone. As with all Olch ties, the cut is perfect when it comes to length and width and the beautiful hand knit has a nice texture to it. This one's available at Lark.

Click to read more ...

Studio D'Artisan Red Chambray Shirt

At one point during the summer everyone was trying to track down the perfect red chambray. Various suggestions were made but I may have a late contender for the crown. On the surface, this Studio D'Artisan version probably seems similar to every other option. However, as with all of their products, the extra appeal is in the fabric and the details. The medium weight chambray makes it useful at any time of year and the overall texture is unbelievable. It's made in Japan from selvedge cloth and the red buttons and tonal stitching make it a little more unusual. Simple pocketing, neat collars and runaway threads round out the details. Superdenim have a couple left and though XL may seem like a big size, check the measurements. Studio D'Artisan products often come up smaller than you'd think.

Click to read more ...

Apolis Activism Philanthropist Tote

Apolis Activism is back at it again with another nice looking bag for us. Although not with Filson, the LA based brand has teamed up again with the Invisible Children's cotton initiative on this project. The Philanthropist Tote comes in a 17.5 oz canvas and bears a 3.5 oz hand painted cow hide leather handle. The nice pocketing, sturdy base and classic olive green come together well to create yet another buyable tote bag. The fellas at Apolis have been working double time with their recently collaboration pieces with Rapha and Filson, and continue to grow the collection each season. With the fall collection hitting stores now, be sure to keep an eye out for chambrays, chinos and military inspired jackets.

Click to read more ...

Engineered Garments Knitted Argyle Waistcoat

In the same way as the Ralph Lauren knit Owen posted earlier, this waistcoat is a great intermediate piece. I know in isolation it might seem like a tough option but consider it among layers and hopefully you'll begin to think differently. For me, winter is perhaps the easiest season to incorporate patterns. You're likely to favour more muted tones and so introducing some depth and texture is always a good idea. If you look at the image from EG's lookbook, you'll see exactly what I mean. I'd probably forgo the striped shirt and wear it with a selection of block colours but I think it works perfectly as a point of interest. The additional bonus of a plain back - no cinch, no silk - has me seriously considering it and I'm heading to Dover Street Market tomorrow to try one on. Also available at Context

Click to read more ...

Want: Baracuta G4

This is one of those items that have sparked a desire deep within and rather than falling by the wayside as the blog posts pile up, it has grown stronger. Baracuta's G9 definitely receives most of the attention from the family. Recently we saw Junya pull the G4 from it's stepchild position into the spotlight. However its the khaki colored slim cut G4 that has my attention. The jacket currently comes in two colors I'd like to own, navy blue and the lighter tan, both come in the tradition Teflon fabric with the original Fraser Tartan lining. Although these look great and I would be happy with either, I really want this jacket in a slightly softer, more natural cotton. A mid-weight khaki cotton twill with either the Fraser Tartan or perhaps a Blackwatch plaid would really put the touches on my perfect casual short jacket. We'll see what we can do about that, but until then you're probably best off ordering from the website. Other features include side adjusters, adjustable cuffs, 2 front button pockets all for £160.

Click to read more ...

Polo Fair Island Vest

Seeing Simon's socks yesterday jogged my memory a bit and I remembered this vest I saw at Polo the other day. It's my favourite piece of Fair Island pattern that I've seen this season. Despite being much maligned for their inherently preppy look, the sweater vest is still an underrated and useful garment in the fall for any style. A nice earthy Fair Isle pattern is a bit more off-key on it's own (not a bad thing by any means) or it plays as a nice layer to break up similar or matching tones. I always preferred vests for this as they don't get too hot or uncomfortable. Being a super soft cashmere cotton blend doesn't hurt either (the skin or the wallet). I don't want to get my grandpa look on too badly though so I'd leave the green cords behind for some navy chinos or denim. I'm definitely not ruling out a tie though.

Click to read more ...

Joe McCoys Hunting Jacket

There has been a reasonable amount of anticipation for Joe McCoys fall offering this year. With about as much of a push for chambray shirts and hunting jackets as possible, McCoys have to offer some of the best. This fall hunting jacket bears an obvious resemblance to the Junya rendition, minus about four other patterns and materials. This more classic version comes in a cotton sateen, features the standard shoulder shooting back and is made in Japan. The McCoy brand is one of our favorites when it comes to repro gear and this great looking outerwear is a leading reason right now. Superdenim have received an extensive shipment including some great sweats, Letterman jackets, denim and flannels. Be sure to check it out and get your fix on some well traveled work wear.

Click to read more ...

Grey Fall Footwear

Fall is essentially here now that it's September, and what says fall like grey. This particular fall seems to be bringing a nice selection of grey footwear including these options from Visvim, Band x Sperry and Common Projects. Of course none of these options are cheap, but they are all great looking. Both the Band of Outsiders and Common Projects come in a grey wool which I've never personally sported on a shoe, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't right now. The respective shoes are very simple, and leave a nice amount of room to play with good slacks and socks to make them look even better. The United Bamboo x CP was an unexpected collaboration, but somehow the result was even more surprising. Much better than the outcome with Mr. Ervell, the grey wool achilles looks great. Visvim's latest classic upgrade is a great rendition of the Desert boot. Again the appearance of the heel counter shows up with top grade natural crepe soles and a fine grey suede. I definitely prefer this model to the original and would love to get my feet in a pair this fall. However likely that is, I want them just same.

Click to read more ...