Bars, Boots and Baseball

Sick of workwear? How about behind-bars-wear.





N. Hoolywood line from Japanese designer Daisuke Obana gives a huge nod to chain gangs from 1910-1940. The glamarisation of criminals hasn't looked this good since Bonny & Clyde. I'm digging those denims in the bottom picture.

In case you're too young to know or too old to remember,


Bonnie and Clyde

Barbour the UK outerwear company has teamed up with Rockport the New England based orthopedic shoe company to make these!



You might not be jumping for joy as I am, but then again you may not be as crippled as I am. I am always looking to see what Rockport is up to as they used to make pretty cool work boots back in the day. These days it's been bleak until this. Which is the best news I've gotten in a while because finding boots that my crooked feet can feel comfy in is nearly impossibility. I will be spending an unordinary amount of time searching for where to buy these in the near future.

Here's some other boots I've been wanting to show you for a while. You should get them!



Ronnie Fieg x CulureShoq. I really love both of these.

Lastly, I have something strange to report. I have caught baseball fever. I am a born and raised Yankees fan but since nothing makes people more volatile in SF then Yankees fans I've been sitting on the bench for years now. I could never really get behind the Giants because orange and black is my least favorite color scheme of all. Also, it was my high school's colors so it gives me bad flashbacks too. Orange and black isn't the only problem with baseball these days though. What's with these baggy ass uniforms? Blech. At least the Philly's were wearing red belts one time, that was nice. Anyway, here's some pics from when baseball was goodlookin.






Awesomeness.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly?

There's good news and there's bad news. Or is it just good? Or just bad? Ever since the winter collections started coming out I've noticed a trend. Menswear is hugely including leggings this winter. Leggings alone sometimes, but, lots of times with shorts over them. Here's some proof.


This look by B Store is leggings with a sweater. I don't think so people. Even this guy isn't pulling this off.


Engineered Garments is using these knit leggings for the look. More interesting for sure. Also a little leg warmer-y though.


Isaora, who are a little behind the times as this is actually from their Spring/Summer 2011 collection. Or does it mean this will last a while. Who knows.

So, what do you guys think? For the record, I wont be wearing this look unless I get stuck on a cold mountain top wearing shorts with long johns in my backpack. It's not because I'm opposed though. I'm actually quite confused as to how I feel. Is this like woman wearing skirts over pants? I would hate it if it were a way for skinny jeans to get skinnier like Jeggings for men or something. But it's not, as, baggier jeans are more prevalent this Fall/Winter, even in the same collections these looks are from. I will not myself be wearing this because good or bad it's sloppy as hell. It does remind me of when I would wear cut off camo pants with long johns in the early-mid 90's though. Which brings me to another issue. Dressed up camo is also hitting the scene.


Proof by Sophnet.

I don't care what you think, I am excited that subtle pleats are also hitting the scene. As well as tucked in sweaters which I got obsessed with after watching the movie, Let The Right One In, which took place in Stockholm Sweden where, if the movie is true to life in this aspect, the working class are tucking their sweaters in all the time.


I love these by Farah Vintage.


These are from the Topman Ltd Equestrian collection. Junya Watanabe makes some pretty cool ones too, as evidenced by previous Page McBee posts.

This post looks like it's turning from things I'm not sure about to things I like. So, here's some looks from the Stephan Schneider Furever collection. Nothing seems to be made of fur though.




Give me this jacket now please.

Since we've covered things I don't know if I like and things I do like here's something that has been annoying me. Dickies has come out with more collaborations in the last 3 months then Carter has liver pills. It all looks like Dickies. I don't get it. It's fine just buy Dickies if you want them. Unless you want the label to say Stussy instead I guess. I'm not going to bother to show you any pictures of this crap because it's too ridiculous.

Oh and apparently I've taken on a new love for jackets with an extra function. Remember those Moncler jackets I posted about that you could wear on your back? Well here's a new jacket that you attach your matching bag to.


From Mighty-Mac.

Hand Knit, Hiking and Hobos

FINALLY! The hobo is given his due. I've admired hobo fashion, or 'hobo chic' as I call it, for quite a while. Is it the accidental nature of how they obtained their articles, or, something more? The deeper eccentric within them? Hobos should not have a bad rap. Back in the day some of them donned really cool names, like, Ramblers, Wayward travelers, Drifters, Wanderers, or coined by Jack Kerouac, Dharma Bums. Don't get me wrong, not all homeless people are wearing awesomely executed outfits. Just the other night as I enjoyed an uncanny warm SF evening by sitting at a sidewalk cafe eating dinner a group of 'street' teens walked by. All clad in new vibrant skater vans shoes and checkered backpacks, only slightly grimed from the street life. I thought, 'go home kids', and bit my tongue so as not to actually yell it at them. But, on a different recent day as I drove home I looked out my window to see a hobo wearing an off-white henley, army jacket, denim drawstring pants, and electric blue athletic shoes his hair pulled back and graying beard setting it all off and thought, 'right on brother'.

Recently a Parsons School graduate, Julia Chesky, shot an editorial based on The Pushcart War, a book I have not read but now certainly want to. She shot with Art Director Ali Lee and Chris with a (homeless) model. It is titled 'The Original Hipster'.




“Our lovely model, Chris, has lived on Mercer Street for a few decades by choice. I’m calling this series The Original Hipster because on most days he doesn’t even look like he’s truly homeless.“ Julia Chesky

Check out these hand knit numbers by Phuong Thuy Nguyen. The collection is titled Unconventional Body Objects.


Insane right? That second one is like a knit jelly fish.

Are you going rock climbing this winter? Hiking in the Appalachian Mountains? Or, perhaps these could be your cure for stuffy subway rides. Check out the Moncler V fall/winter 2010 collection. They've got coats that you can strap to your back when you feel beads of sweat start to roll down your face. Or, when you don't feel like paying to check your coat.



Takahiro Miyashita former Number (N)ine designer recently debuted his new line, The Soloist for Fall 2010. Personally, I'm not that into his clothes which I would describe as Burning Man meets tropical S&M. But these hats and boots of his are fucking nice.



I'm digging Whillas & Gunn's spring/summer 2011 collection. Whillas & Gunn are an offshoot brand of Kakuda Traders Australia a family outerwear company. Whillas & Gunn take the rugged Australian outback vibe and give it a more urban tailored look.

Pretty Things

If you're going to wear a polo shirt it should be one of these. Fred Perry teamed up with Liberty(it's like the Bloomingdales of England) to make these. Fred used Liberty's timeless floral and paisley prints. Awesome.




Like belts like these?



Connecticut, where I'm from, has been over-run in these things from the time I can remember until now. The reason for that may be that Leather Man Ltd. one of the companies who makes em' is in Essex, CT. You've probably seen the lobster ones and boats and maybe the strawberries, but, I bet you didn't know that they have over 200 hundred choices. That's right, custom design yours online for the same price as they retail for and choose from things like, deer, yellow labs, snowflakes!, wolves, fox heads, lemons, cigars?, and literally hundreds of more choices.

I've loved bow ties since I was a kid when my Grandfather was the only man alive(that I knew of) who wore them. However, as of late they've been getting a little worn out. Just when I thought I'd puke at the sight of another one Uniqlo put this in there Fall 2010 lookbook.



It's like a bow tie/ascot/bandana.

Have you seen the Proenza Schouler shopping tote? Incase you haven't here it is.



Normally I wouldn't recommend studs on anything, but, I recently saw these in person and well, once again fashion rules are made to be broken. These Yuketen loafers are pretty.



Do I need a gardening hat? I mean, I could wear it to the Russian River or to Lake Berryessa.



I spotted this on Blackbird's website.

California Dreamin'

As I sit in here in SF with the cloudless fog ridden sky chilling me to the bone I dream of beach's and pool-side glamour. I am going to LA this weekend and in my head that means I will be at a pool-side cocktail party hobnobbing with the likes of Cary Grant and Scarlett Johansson at a Laurel Canyon mansion. LA is apparently timeless in my brain. While there is no need for swim trunks and sandals here and, I hear it's even cold in LA, I can't get visions of them out of my head. So with caution to the cold wind I've done some research as to what would be appropriate for such un-impending activities.

I'm happy to report that while long baggy board shorts are no longer reeking havoc on us, we are no longer forced to wear short shorts(I don't mind these but not all of us have the tall slim bodies to pull these off) to fight back. A happy medium has been reached. Here's some trunks I like.

I love chambray anything. Why not for swim trunks? Here's some by O'Connell's.



Those too short for you? How bout these by Apolis Activism.
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How about seersucker. I like the waistband on these from J. Crew.



Or something simple like these from Ralph Lauren.

I'm in love with polka-dots for men right now. Therefore I am in love with these trunks by Quicksilver.



And finally, my personal favorite by Orlebar Brown.



Now for the hard part. Sandals. I don't like my heel, or anyones, to be free from constraints. Sorry that's just how it's going to be.

I do like these K. Jaques sandals.



And these South Willard running sandals.



While I realize this might be controversial, I have been wanting Birkenstock sandals for a couple years now. There is a reason I will swear off nothing. I am literally sure that after the Croc Rush is over and no one has seen or heard from them in years I will one day look down at my feet and think 'Eureka! It's Croc time'. In a game of Would You Rather years back I chose to be married to a woman with no arms and no legs over a woman who wears overalls everyday. I wore overalls myself all last week doing yard/house work. And so, I will never swear anything off again and become mute for all conversations stating otherwise. Fashion has no permanent rules people.

Here are my favorite Birks, socks optional. That's right SOCKS OPTIONAL!



Maybe you want full foot coverage maybe you have ugly feet. I wouldn't be surprised. These lace espadrilles by N.D.C. will hide them beautifully.



Or these Steven Alan x Keds slip ons will do the trick too.

Friends + Foes

At long last I have these Band of Outsiders x Sperry reconstructed penny loafers in my possession! They are actually from the Fall 2010 collection so I am behind the times, oh well. Feel free to invite me to your private estate(will travel) for some pool side fun. Oh, and I think these run a little big, hence the long last.

Last Saturday I attended a baby shower(yes, we're all required to go now, it's called equality) and was given a present to deliver to my friend Chad. It was these here Von Zipper swim trunks complete with an insulated fanny pack. He's ready to hike in for a swim.




Beth came from the heat of Brooklyn for a windy SF visit!




She wears a vintage bomber jacket, borrowed cardigan(they never believe how cold it will be here), and a Topman t-shirt. That small satchel she says is from "an awesome leather store in Telluride Colorado", it's by Overland which excitingly enough has a section called Hobo Leather Handbags on their website. Her plimsoll's are from UO and she pointed out that they are 2 for $30 even though she only has the 1 pair. Her fashion inspiration comes from "Looking in the mirror". Well, ok.

Then Wes came over for a gin and juice on the back deck.




I dig the tans/denims situation he's working. Jacket: stolen from his girlfriends online vintage shop which I would give you the name of if he would text me back with it. Sweater: vintage. Shirt: Zara. Jeans: Levis. Shoes: vintage Rockports. His fashion inspiration comes from: "Old timey shit and gay people not of this era. Oh, and a little Americana and sticking with earth tones."

And, off season, but, I want these boots.



They are the Thompson boots by Mr. Hare, named after Hunter S. Thompson himself. Mr. Hare's tag line is, "Shoes you can attach some romance to.". Ok.

And, off topic, but, I want these Prism glasses.



Foes = things I want.