Last Friday, I went to Lawrence, Kan., for work to drop off promotional materials on campus.
And by work, I mean, I visited sorority girl houses. I dressed for the occasion and needed to blend in. Know your audience, right? Red and blue tie? Sure.
Being a graduate of Mizzou, I am required by law to dislike the state of Kansas, University of Kansas, KU fans, ChickenJayhawks, red and blue and anything related to the likes of supporting KU.
However, I do enjoy the town of Lawrence and college towns in general. Cool vibe, great local eats and unique shopping experiences. I had a tasty lunch with Mallory and Carolina at Free State Brewery and scored a sweet leather and wool varsity jacket that should be featured on Thrifty Thursday soon… ABOUT THE LOOK: The schoolboy tie complements the crisp white button down and shrunken sport coat. It just looks sharp. A golf club tie bar adds a little quirk to the outfit, along with the Sperrys to keep it casual. I also particularly like wearing the unwashed and finely aged denim with the dark sport coat.
WHAT THE CLUTCH: When you wear slim jeans like I do—the only kind that look good on my frame mind you—squeezing a wallet or an iPhone in your pocket completely kills the profile. I carry this aged leather clutch as my big wallet. Essentially, it holds my wallet, Field Notes, iPhone, pens and keys perfectly. Go ahead and hate on, haters, but the pouch is convenient for me.
Seth’s edit:
WHAT THE TIE: Good morning, Jeff. What’s going on with that tie? Do tell, por favor.
Red and blue silk schoolboy tie (thrifted, $1.50); Grey sport coat (Halls, reg. $680, sale $220) by Billtornade, small; Golf club tie bar (antique mall, $5); “The Henley” 11.5-ounce dry stretch selvedge (Standard Style Boutique, $198) by Baldwin, size 30; Brown leather Top-siders (thrifted, $6) by Sperry, size 10.5; vintage leather clutch/dossier/pouch/document case (garage sale, $2) by Coach; White button-down oxford (retail, $60) by American Apparel, small; Camper watch (retail, $19) by Timex; Brown leather belt (retail, $4.99) by J.CREW.
Photography by Mallory Wiegers.
Next time I visit, let’s grab some free food & dessert at your sorority house, mkay?
Alright, if you follow Badass Monday, you’re going to start to think that I have a thing for actors, particularly those that I am a generation or two removed from. And it’s true, I absolutely love them (and most of their films – said in my most high brow, pretentious voice). Brando came to mind for a couple of reasons. He stars in A Streetcar Named Desire, which I have been forced to watch for a class. (Remember, I’m in college.) And with the True/False Film Festival just behind us here in Columbia, I got to thinking about past films I’d seen at the festival, including one called Smash His Camera. It includes a scene where a young Brando punches a paparazzi photographer in the face.
Anyway, Brando’s of Midwestern blood himself, having been born in Nebraska and raised in both his birth state and Illinois. Instead of rambling in sentence form, lets just do this in bullets (pretend like you popped opened a Snapple):
- Brando was kicked out of high school for riding his motorcycle through the halls.
- He was the named the fourth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute.
- Brando was one of Time’s 100 Most Important People of the Century.
- He quit production of a movie to devote his time fully to the civil rights movement.
- Oh yeah, he was Vito Corleone. No big deal.
To send you into the weekend: I came across this bag through one of the many generous giveaways over at the Art of Manliness. They were raffling this incredible briefcase from Saddleback Leather, so I entered on a lark and won. Since then, it’s become a prized belonging, although I wish I’d stuck with the large size they sent instead of exchanging it for something smaller. I was thinking I would use it as a briefcase, when it actually works better for me as a weekend bag.
If I’d had this thing during the Buenos Aires job, maybe it would have provided me something to sling over my shoulder for a getaway out the cabana window. Instead, I was fumbling for the essential possessions when the door burst open.
Won’t be making that mistake again.
//SJP
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| image source: rugby.com |
In short: Throw on a tie, son.
And to keep the ball rollin’, Will invites dudes alike to submit photos of their presentation for the day.
Check it:
We’re redoing the bathroom upstairs, so, “No, that’s not shit on the wall.”
I’m loving this coral/orange/poppy color this spring.
Three-year-old Wallabees (Cargo Largo, $40) by Clark; “The Henley” 14-ounce dry selvedge (Standard Style, $198) by Baldwin Denim, size 28; Leather bomber jacket (thrifted, $6) , size 40; Gant shirt (thrifted, $3), medium; woven leather belt (thrifted, $2); grey-linen blend tie (thrifted, $1.50); THE BEST EFFING PEN IN THE WORLD, Pilot G2 Ultra Fine .38 nib.
I’ve wanted a pair of rain boots for while and this past fall, it finally clicked: Wellingtons. I know Wellies are an England dig (Seth’s edit: Yeah, and what exactly is wrong with that?!), but I was tired of slopping around in a pair that I picked up from the thrift store that were too big, too clunky and didn’t mesh well with my slim-cut jeans. Nordstrom and Halls weren’t picking up Wellies this past fall/winter season because “it’s not for the target market in the Midwest.” Lame. File under: Reasons why I dislike the Midwest.
eBay anyone? $30 bucks sound okay? Sounds good. SOUNDS GREAT.
I pulled the trigger on a pair for 30 bones and have been a happy camper ever since. The backpack was a great find in high school (yes, five years ago) for $3.
The belt I picked up at Urban Outfitters this past winter for $4.99. It’s also 100 percent real leather. Urban. Come on, you’re killing me. Just when I threw you on my shit list for “this place is trashed, literally” and “I can’t find anything that fits me…” you go and surprise me with a real leather belt that matches my Baldwins. Thanks, guy.
Matching natural leather belt with the natural leather from the Baldwins, huh?
You know I love that pop of color/flannel.
I know Cam got that badass Steven Alan Parka, and well, I’d like to think he got the itch from me. Flannel lined, kinda cool. Picked it up for $5 and it surprisingly fits very well for being made in Taiwan and from a brand I’ve never heard of called “Repage.”
Wellington rainboots (eBay, $30) by Hunter, size 10UK; grey Burkee slim-fit sweatshirt (retail, $62) by Jack Spade, extra-small; “The Henley” 14-ounce dry selvedge (Standard Style Boutique, $198) by Baldwin Denim, size 28; backpack (thrifted, $5); natural leather belt (retail, $4.99) by Urban Outfitters; blue parka with flannel lining (thrifted, $5) by Repage, size “perfect for me.”
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by Jeffrey
Daniel Cummings - The twisted tie is a great touch.
Lincoln - Jeff- what are your favorite thrift and antique malls in KC area. I’m new to the town and am need of a few deals for spring.
David - I hear you, gotta keep business and pleasure separate haha. We’ve definitely all been there. Well, at least I know I have, and you have, I don’t know what everyone else is doing with their lives.
Also just noticed, props on having the blade longer than the front, how sprezzy of you.
Jeff - Leilani – Yanno, as much as I was conditioned to rip on KU…the town itself wasn’t that bad. However, I prefer Columbia and am glad that I spent some years there. Film festivals, the summer time and East Campus all bring back great memories.
Jeff - Glen – my dear friend across the pond, thank you.
Jeff - The Tights that Bind – Thank you! I thought the college prep vibe worked too.
Jeff - David – Disheveled prep, I like that. Or street prep. Right-o on the mentor carrying a small bag to throw one’s pocket items in. Rocked the sorostitutes? If by rocked, you mean….grabbed beers and burgers with at Free State because I was on company time…then yes. As a former frat daddy, I’ve been to my fair share of sorority formals & late nights of mischief…
David - Awesome look, one of my favorite to wear as well. I’m a big fan of what I would probably have to describe as disheveled prep.
As for the clutch, my family friend and mentor (a phD, scratch golfer, world traveler and connoisseur of everything) carries something very similar and it always looks good. Keep on keepin on.
Hope you rocked the sorostitutes.
The Tights that Bind - The slightly skewed tie, cuffed pants, and Sperrys are perfect. It’s hard to seem both crisp and effortless, but you’ve totally succeeded at it.
The Thriftaholic (Leilani) - haha USC (where I went to school) kids feel the same way about UCLA but unfortunately they were located in the same city as us!
Anyways, I’m kind of feeling the man clutch, I like that it’s made of battered leather so it’s more ‘masculine’.
Look forward to seeing pictures of that varsity jacket, I’ve been wanting one for a while.
glenmcmurry - Jeff, you look great.
lawrence? I just puked in my mouth a little. I hope you burned something. Or burned everything.