Purchased: Engineered Garments Field Parka

I didn't really have the money for this right now, but I'll be getting paid in a couple days and I sold a couple things recently so that's my justification. That, and I've been thinking about this field parka by Engineered Garments for several months. I really decided I need a field/mountain parka last fall and just couldn't find the right color or model on eBay or anywhere else. I have always liked navy blue, but now more than ever. It goes with everything and always will. The heavy cotton jacket will definitely serve as an all-season light coat in BC weather for a few years to come. The toggles, the big buttons and the serious zipper make the jacket feel really solid too. I like having the waist draw string as well to cinch off once in awhile. The jacket follows the traditional stying as most of EG's collection does - four main front pockets with the vertical back pocket mean I won't run out of places to carry things, while the jacket still feels perfectly balanced and not over-pocketized, as we've seen a few pieces this season. All in all, I'm really happy with the parka, and I can stop wishing I had it and start enjoying it. Available at Jonathan+Olivia, Odin and Oi Polloi.

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Russell Mocs for UCS

Russell Mocs are no stranger to making some nice leather footwear. This spring they've teamed up with UCS to come up with a little more sturdy looking moccasin than we're used to seeing by them. The strong off-white sole looks really nice with the black and brown uppers. The leather has a nice nice subtle treatment on both pairs, although I am leaning towards the nice texture the black pair seems to be showing. The shoes feel similar to the Red Wing Wabasha chukkas, but a little more stream-lined. I am really feeling this moccasin chukka style much more than the desert boot right now. The style is a bit different than you'll see on most people's feet and there is definitely a bit of a Japanese vibe to the model, which I'm often drawn to.

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Garbstore Spring Collection

I haven't been 100% sure what I think about Garbstore until this past season. I'd never really seen it in person, I didn't really know who was making it, and honestly there were small details, like the logo, which I didn't particularly like. I got to met Ian Paley in Las Vegas last month and it was a pleasure. We got to share a cab and talk about what he's been doing, as well I had a nice look at the fall/winter collection. I am definitely on board now. Especially after seeing these really nice looks of the spring collection which I would imagine is now available in Garbstore, London. The photos are really nice, the styling is precisely what it should have been and the products look great. I really like the work coats, blazers, parka and shorts. The colors look really nice together, especially that rich khaki/brown and great blue. Just a good looking bunch of clothes, I'm not sure what else to say.

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The Monocle Weekly No.10

I have become addicted to The Monocle Weekly editions in the past month. Every Sunday, Tyler Brule, Robert Bound and the gang bring on a couple interesting people and talk about what's going on in the world. The show runs about 35-45 minutes long and touches on topics such as Tokyo's mission for the 2012 Olympic games, the development of cultures from Korea to Africa, and the state of retail for independents and large companies. This edition Olivier Spencer was a guest as they spoke about how well established and important the online retail scene is in the UK. It's interesting to hear the differences between North America and the UK in these aspects and to hear a designers take on it is kind of fresh. There is so much going on in the world these days, often too much to read and cover yourself, so I find the Monocle Weekly gives a nice little insight into some of the positives around the globe. Of course having a little sense of humor and nice taste in music doesn't hurt either. The editions are fresh, quick moving and really easy to digest, definitely a recommended at-work listen.

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Jake on Grey Sweats

Our friend Jake Davis made a couple posts last week on the place of grey sweat pants in a man's wardrobe. They've been in front of our faces with spring and summer looks, but nobody has really talked about them or mentioned them like this. They do seem like a 'new thing' when paired up with a button down and a toggle coat, but when you see the athletic images of Mr. Ali running around in them, there is something more there. Both styles and looks are slightly different, but Jake's point of a truly stylish person taking their aesthetic to everything they do, whether it's the library, the gym or a date, is really interesting. I agree with Jake's comments on both the potential of great sweats the ease in which you can make them look really bad. It probably does take somebody with a extra good eye and taste to pull them off well, but you really should be able to make them look just as good when you're hitting the gym. So good luck to those who are willing to try it, check Jake's blog for more insight.

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Gitman Vintage Madras Short Sleeve

Short sleeve shirts are not generally my favorite to wear. I generally have no problem rolling up my sleeves and actually prefer to when I can. It adds a bit more texture and a bit more material to play with. In the summer months however, it definitely gets hot enough to the get rid of the forearm portions and get the ventilation flowing. I haven't seen a shirt better suited for this than Gitman Vintage's madras short sleeve shirt this spring. Nobody can deny that Madras is one of the best summer cottons out there, and this is the best pattern I've seen it come in this year. The all out patchwork can be a little much for the most part, but the nice orange and grey plaid in this shirt come together really well. It's easy and comfortable to wear, goes with khaki nicely and should be on the list of spring items to buy. The shirts are made really well, in the US, and fit better than anything else I've found in the market. I'm not sure where this pattern will be retailing this season but I do plan on finding out. ...another nice version by Gitman Vintage

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Quoddy Pebbled Slip on

For those of you not ready to step into the realm of the loafer, Quoddy's pebbled leather slip on might be a good option this spring. The east coast American footwear brand has definitely been gaining some steam in the last few seasons with collaborations with Albam and Rogues Gallery. It is their own in-house collection that really does it for me however. Their bluchers, boat shoes and ring mocs are really beautiful shoes with the hand made quality a lot of us are looking for these days. For some reason South Willard seems to be the only shop the carries their collection and seem to have an exceptionally good retail price as well. I'm not sure how it works that they retail them for less than they are to order from Quoddy, but either way it's good. The slip on is a pretty versatile shoe that you could wear as slippers, with chinos and maybe even 'tha club' if you were so inclined. The pebbled black leather is a great touch and beautiful finish, I would recomend to anybody looking to buy and wear shoes.

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Duluth Pack Sack

Duluth have been making great looking bags for years. We first came across them last fall with the all of the intensive searching of Japanese websites between a couple different blogs. This spring, their bags are again hitting some of those shops. I have yet to see a Duluth product in a menswear boutique on this side of the world, and it may be unreasonable to expect to see much beyond Filson in terms of traditional field gear. This pack sack by Duluth is one of the most usable and one of my favorite looking from their collection. I really love the aesthetic of a canvas and leather back, as well as a ruck suck style bag. The bag is so stripped down of any bells or whistles that I'd be surprised if it even had an inside pocket, let alone a laptop sleeve. While it looks great, it wouldn't be the most ideal bag for day to day use, but for a quick bike ride, grocery run  or a great looking accessory - perfect.

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