A.P.C. Spring Items

A.P.C. can't really do a lot of wrong, at least from my perspective. I haven't purchased anything from the brand in a season or two now but that doesn't mean there aren't a few things I'd happily wear. The brand has always done a nice job re-making military inspired pieces and this spring is no different as they've done this pair of jackets which I quite like. The khaki and olive green are always personal favorites, along with the cleaned up military styles. The parka is definitely something I'd be interested in picking up once I try it on. It's tough to find a nice M-51 style jacket and I would expect A.P.C.'s version to have a fairly nice fit. The jackets are priced around what you'd expect and could easily be worn year-round due to their layering potential and nice colours.

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Steven Alan for ACL & Co.

It doesn't seem like blogs these days are quite as quick to report on each other's business, but it's due time I mentioned Michael's ACL shop and the collaborations in-stock. The latest item, as many of you have probably seen, is a pair of oxford cloth shirts made by New York's Steven Alan. Whenever I've meet Michael he's sported the pocket flap on an oxford shirt so it's great to see that it came off nicely on his black and white shirts. There are a million blogs out there and a lot of them receive a lot of praise, but Michael has done well to turn ACL into something more than a blog which is why I definitely have respect for what he's doing. The shirts are another feather in his American made cap and I'm sure they'll be more good stuff to come.

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Engineered Garments Highland Jacket

Engineered Garments have grown their stable of outwear into an impressive array of light weight offerings. One of the new styles being introduced this spring is the Highland jacket. It sort of falls between the Engineered jacket and the Maine Guide jacket in my opinion. It borrows certain elements and shapes to create something unique that you easily could have found in the corner of a dusty old hunting store... or could you? I like the use of the light weight indigo on this jacket and it's counter part in Engineer form, but otherwise I wouldn't really consider the material for a jacket too often. I do have to say from a critical standpoint, I'm not a huge fan of the new, large branded buttons that Engineered Garments have begun using this season. They have carried through to fall '10 and I would personally prefer to see more donut buttons on indigo outerwear. That aside, the pockets, shape and minor details like rivets on the pockets and interior pouch pockets look fantastic and I'm definitely a fan. — Spotted at Mister Crew and available from Eggplant

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Preview: S.N.S. Herning Spring Knitwear

While S.N.S. Herning is definitely more known for their winter range of knitwear, this spring they are introducing a full run of merino wool sweaters in some great new styles, patterns and models. The theme has been to introduce a bit of an under garment feel with the muted tones and thin sweaters. These items are a little bit more traditional however while still utilizing the merino wool and some intricate knitting patterns. The lightweight merino does an amazing job at keeping the body warm in cool conditions while also being able to cool your temperature in hot climates. The blues and natural off-whites are again a common colour palette while we see the ELEMENT sweater offers an interesting line pattern to mix up what we might usually expect on the NAVAL. These styles will be hitting retailers soon including the Inventory Stockroom for a spring delivery. —

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LOOK | The Other Day

Last week in New York I had one item on my hit list and as a timely email came in from a thoughtful reader I was able to find my Newport at a much better price on sale. I really love the aesthetic of a double breasted jacket and I have been wanting to pair it up with a more casual pair of pants since my last LOOK post. The medium fit a bit more slim than expected but in a good way, so it worked nicely with a pair of fatigue pants, bow tie, oxford BD and our lovely Inventory Items Bucks - which are nearing sold out status. It was a tough decision between the navy serge wool and the grey tweed but I decided the grey would be best in terms of the other pieces I already had. It went straight to work as I finally had my nice mix of formal and very casual elements coming together or clashing, depending on your perspective. Either way, I'm happy about the jacket and I'll be wearing it regularly once my missing bag arrives back from New York.

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Self Edge x Toyo Jungle Cloth Pant

This weekend Self Edge released a new product that I have been particularly excited to see. The Jungle Cloth pants produced by Toyo and designed by Self Edge are made to outlast and out work any khakis you can find elsewhere. The extremely durable jungle cloth is soft on the inside and tough on the outside so that it's essentially water proof due to the gross grain weave. The pants have been loomed by Toyo's mill to the USN specs in which the pants were originally made during the 1920s through 1950s. While I'm not totally in love with the dark stitching, the pants come in a beautifully dyed khaki, taped cotton twill seams, and indigo lined pockets which all get a thumbs up from me. The pants are one of the first non-denim bottoms ever offered by Self Edge and while I might be surprised to catch Mr. Babzani in them himself, I don't doubt these are one of the best pairs of pants out there. —

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Nigel Cabourn Beeswax Cameraman

Nigel Cabourn's collections have been and always will place a large focus on the fabrics and finish in each garment. The Cameraman or Rangoon parka has quickly become regarded as a best-in-class item by anyone who's seen it in person. The design is clean, functional and looks fantastic. It's without doubt the nicest parka I've seen and I'll probably regret not acquiring the fall version in grey on grey for years to come. The spring version uses a Beeswax upper portion and a cotton twill lower body for a lighter weight and interesting contrast in material. This navy blue option just released at The Bureau and might be a slightly more wearable choice for most people. The yellow and khaki version should be ready with with us in our first offering of Nigel Cabourn at the Inventory Stockroom, which we're quite excited for. —

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Yuketen Spring Preview

Yuketen have cemented their place as one of my favorite footwear specialists in the world. The collection continues to evolve grow, experiment and turn out some of the best-looking and best-made shoes on the market. This spring will showcase one of the widest varieties of moccasins ever put forth by Yuki Matsuda, until Fall 2010 hits stores at least. Oi Polloi have given a little preview of some of the models they will have in this spring and as it turns out, as will we. With the Yuketen collection being quite difficult to find in shops outside of Japan, it's going to be nice that a few more shops will offer access to the latest collection. Angler, Ranger and Deck moccasins are probably going to be the top choices. With beautifully tanned leathers, crepe and deck soles and a very wearable colour palette will be strong points of one of the most exciting brands around today.

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