July 8, 2011

Friday Wrap-up: Dose Market and Style Tips from the Pro

Happy Friday. First thing’s first: Dose Market is coming. Again. Sunday. July 10.

We’ve been hearing some remarkable buzzing about this startup market. European. Food. Furniture. Fashion. Festivities. All of those sound like good things to us. Did we mention complimentary cocktails by Grant Achatz? You might know him from The Aviary.
They’re working on beefing up the menswear offerings, but there are quite a few things to be excited about. We caught up with Jessica Herman, the associate shopping and style editor at Time Out Chicago and also one of the four “Dosettes,” and she was full of intrigue about what’ll be there:
  • Red Belly Boardshop is bringing sporting equipment and apparel
  • Apartment Number 9 doing custom shirts and NSF denim
  • Contacts & Specs is bringing deadstock ’70s and ’80s frames for men and women
  • Fresh & Proper is doing out-of-the-ordinary ties
  • Fix Boutique is bringing mostly menswear, too
Dose is a monthly deal that began in June; unfortunately weren’t able to attend that first one, but you can bet your bottom dollar we’ll be there Sunday. And of course, we’ll be reporting back with photos and interviews. If you’re in Chicago, we hope you’ll join us. And if you can’t, well, you’ll just have to see what you missed the morning after.
435 East Illinois Street
Chicago, IL 60611
photography by Nick Welch of Scout Photography
We’ll leave you with this tip from Gerard, the photographer-husband of Concrete Catwalk, the stylist at Style & Pepper and a hip-hop enthusiast-at-large. He says:

“Sensitive thugs, y’all need hugs.”


Wait, that was Jay-Z.
Gerard lends a few words on taking some sartorial jumps into mixing patterns and prints:

“When styling someone, the first thing I ask is ‘Do you like it?’ It’s the most important thing. If you don’t like what you are wearing, then people feel that and respond accordingly. You won’t have the necessary confidence to pull it off. But if you like it, wear it. Just make sure it fits right.”

by sethjputnam

add a comment
July 7, 2011

BADASS WHATEVERDAY: Ernest Hemingway

*Bonus: LIFE just posted some previously unpublished photos of Hemingway. Don’t say we never gave ya nothin’.

Saturday was the 50th anniversary of Ernest Hemingway’s death. He wrote. He was succinct. He was part of the Lost Generation. Regardless of what you think about his character, or what you believe about his ideologies, he made an impact. If you’re not familiar with his work, you’re missing out, so we suggest you get that way.

He was, of course, a writer not a sartorialist. But when I look at his writing style, I learn things about my dressing style. In his writing, he was a master of “economy and understatement.” So, too, in his attire.

“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master,” he famously said, talking about writing, not clothing. But I’d wager it’s applicable. Clothes are the means, not the end.

Hemingway wrote while he was in love, and he wrote when those women stopped loving him. Some quotes:
  • “I’ve been in love (truly) with five women, the Spanish Republic and the 4th Infantry Division.” — in a letter to Marlene Dietrich (July 1, 1930).
  • “All good books have one thing in common: They are truer than if they had really happened.”
  • “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
  • “Forget your personal tragedy. We are all bitched from the start and you especially have to be hurt like hell before you can write seriously. But when you get the damned hurt, use it—don’t cheat with it.”
More bullets. There are a couple of things we like about Hemingway:

Fifty years dead. Let’s remember by reading. We like people who read.

by camhaus

add a comment

katherinestipanovich - Seth. I love everything about this.

emily - That boxing picture is my fave.

Seth J. Putnam - Agh! I want to see that reeeaaal bad. I heard it was good. Also, “A Moveable Feast” is moving right up on my reading list.

Raquel - Great post- I really love his quotes. My interest in Hemingway was reignited after watching ‘Midnight in Paris’, so this was all in good timing.

July 6, 2011

midweSTYLE: Tribal

I’ve been looking all summer to find a pair of tribal shorts. Sure, I could make a pair from some thrifted deadstock Zubaz, but I’ve yet to get my hands on a sewing machine in Chicago.

Instead, we stumbled across these from FLC International. Limited edition and handmade? Do I have your attention?


HOW TO: WEAR TRIBAL SHORTS

  • Shoes: Pair them with a summery shoe, like an espadrille or a boat shoe. Hell, even a moccasin.
  • Shirt: Go neutral with this one. A nice oxford button down goes a long way in your closet. Mix it with denim because…well, you can.
  • Accessories: Leather belt, canvas bag, maybe something with hemp if you’re feeling liberal.
One of my favorite accessories is this scarf that my friend, Marta, gave me from Italy on her travels. It’s a great summer weight that breathes and adds a little punch.

Jorge Shorts: We’re excited about these bad boys. A great fit for the slim or regular build. They’ve been rolled twice and will really fit on any build. Seth tested them on his soccer player thighs. I tested them on my runner’s thighs. Also, the Jorge Shorts have a nice medium rise so you can kick coin slot dryness to the curb.

A new bag, Jeff?
I never got around to finding my summer bag with obnoxious colors, like yellow or orange. So, I pulled the trigger on this Jack Spade tote. I’ll make it festive with scarves or something candid like that.

If you don’t have a Timex Camper watchby now, you should think about sacrificing three Chipotle burritos and going for it.
It’s amazing. It’s classic. I wear mine everyday. The face is neither too big nor small, even on my scrawny wrists. A nice olive does the trick all year round.
  • Want more summer accessories? I cut and braided some faded yellow leather into strips and used my big brother skills. Summer zest.
  • Don’t have scrap leather laying around the house? Ask your friend who’s a textile major for some extra fabric, canvas or string. Scraps, yo.

On Jeff: “Jorge” tribal shorts ($78) courtesy of FLC International; canvas wax-dipped tote (Ebay, sale $100, reg. $200) by Jack Spade; “Terracotta” T-shirt ($15) by J.Crew; white espadrille chukka shoe ($30) courtesty of Topman; my favorite leather belt that I’ve had since sixth grade by Fossil; indigo denim shirt ($60) courtesy of Topman; Camper watch(Amazon, $18) by Timex; scarf from an Italian street vendor courtesy of Marta.

Photos by Seth Putnam.

by Jeffrey

add a comment

Emilio.M - Those shoes look gorgeous it really fits with your attire. Thank you very much for sharing this.
naot shoes online

Plain T-Shirt - Isn’t that camper watch line the truth

KTW - Why yes it is a Peep Show reference. It’s quite possibly the best.

It’s good to know that you also have high cultural & entertainment standards as well. I clap back in your direction!

Seth J. Putnam - Well, shoot. Thanks, KTW! Uh, and if that’s a reference to Peep Show on your Tumblr, I’m clapping over here. Clapping right here in the office.

KTW - Good call on the Fossil belt. I have one myself & swear by it. I don’t need another.

I live in the northeast (CT/RI) but think your site is the best. You’ve turned me onto Baldwin Denim & some other great stuff. Keep up the good work & I’ll keep reading daily.

Jeff - Nate. The sizing is spot on. I’m about a 29/30 and I’m wearing a 30.

Jon – The Topman espardrilles run small. I’d size up.

Luis - Amazing shorts! I might have to snag a pair myself as well.

Jon Wong - How do those topman espadrilles chukkas fit?! true to size? thanks!

Marta - cheers!

nate - love the shorts – thinking about pulling the trigger on a pair myself. how’s the sizing?

July 4, 2011

‘Merica

My fellow Americans, as is my gift to you every year on this day, I present the bard of our time: Lee Greenwood.


Extra points for all that plaid. And because I love you and America so much (and because two is only a fraction of the times I listened to this song while thinking about this post) here’s another one. Twice as nice. The flag still stand for freedom, and they can’t take that away.




You can glean what sartorial inspiration you will, but I’ll say one thing. White collar, blue shirt, red tie: Prime.
Pinky ring optional.
Happy Independence Day, y’all.

by Jeffrey

add a comment

kelsey louise - pinky ring = A MUST

oh, Lee

July 1, 2011

Suit yourself

It began innocently enough. There was a wedding. I needed a suit. I heard an advert on the radio promising 3-for-1 suits at a—and I struggle to type this—reputable(?) men’s store called Jos. A. Bank.

Then where shit got real.

Trust me when I say it: shopping for a suit is terrifying.

Text conversation:

I’m trying to buy a suit this week.

Me too. Plain black.

Where are you looking? I want to get something sexy, but it’s not like I can throw out a grand.

Haha JC Penny. Mom has a discount.

Don’t forget to get it tailored.

Haha nah.

Midwesterners and suits:

$500 is “exorbitant.”

Sorry, guys. In the words of Max Wastler (LINK), “Suits, sadly, are a grand.”

Agreed. But we also know what you’re going through, guy who just graduated college and has never bought a suit before. And for you, there a couple of options that, while not ideal, will help you ease into the water instead of dashing headlong into the scrotum-tightening waters of the suit sea.

A conversation with my mother:

Well, keep in mind your body is going to change.

You can find a nice men’s suit for 100 to 200.

I know they’re models, but you have that kind of body.

I think people are going a little bit overboard.

Alfani, Calvin Klein, Izod (shudder).

pick something, move on.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

by Jeffrey

add a comment