ENDORSEMENT: GOODLIFE CLOTHING

NOT ALL T-SHIRTS ARE CREATED EQUAL. THESE GOODLIFE CLOTHING T'S ARE GREAT. MADE IN USA, SUPER FIT OF REALLY NICE COTTON AND SIMPLE COLORS. I REALLY LIKE THE NAVY AND I'M PARTIAL TO THE V NECKS AND HENLEY'S. THE SWEAT PANTS ARE OF A REALLY NICE LOOM THAT I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN FOR LATE NIGHT LOUNGING. I DISCOVERED THESE GUYS VIA INSTAGRAM (GOODLIFE_CLOTHING) AND REALLY DIG THEIR INSPIRATIONS AND AESTHETICS. 

OXXFORD JOURNEY COMPLETE

WHEN I VISITED OXXFORD IN CHICAGO (FOR MY ESQUIRE SHOW ALTERNATE ROUTE) THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO BUILD ME THIS JACKET FROM SOME BEAUTIFUL DEAD STOCK FABRIC THEY HAD. WELL AFTER SOME TWEEKS AND TIME IT IS HERE. I HAVE BEEN WEARING IT REGULARLY AND BREAKING THE OLD BOY IN. IT IS DEFINITELY THE ARGUMENT FOR BESPOKE. IT FITS AND LOOKS GREAT.
SEE THE WHOLE JOURNEY HERE.

BESPOKE OXXFORD

THIS JOURNEY WITH OXXFORD STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I TOOK MY SHOW, ALTERNATE ROUTE TO CHICAGO AND TURNED THE CAMERAS ON THIS GREAT INSTITUTION OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING. THE GANG AT OXXFROD WAS GENEROUS ENOUGH TO COLLABORATE WITH ME ON THIS CUSTOM JACKET WITH FABRIC FOUND IN THEIR ARCHIVES (A KILLER CASHMERE /WOOL BLEND). MY FIRST FITTING PROVED TO BE GREAT AND NOW I PATIENTLY WAIT FOR THE FINISHED PRODUCT. STAY TUNED.

SUPPLY AND ADVISE

I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FASHION AND STYLE I USUALLY FIND IN MIAMI (EXCEPT THE OCCASIONAL VINTAGE FIND-GUCCI, CASHMERE, LILLY).
THE GAME HAS CHANGED WITH SUPPLY AND ADVISE.
TUCKED INTO THE DESIGN DISTRICT ON N. MIAMI AVE IS THEIR CURRENT POP UP (THAT FINDS IT PERMANENT HOME SOON). THERE ARE MANY OF MY FAVORITE BRANDS HERE (HILLSIDE, ALDEN , LEVI, J.PRESS) IN A VERY WELL APPOINTED SHOP WITH SOME VERY COOL MILITARY VINTAGE GEAR, EQUIPMENT AND SIGNAGE. WELL WORTH THE VISIT. I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THEIR SOON TO BE RELOCATED HQ.

PRIVATE MILITARY STASH

FIELD COAT FIND

I HAVE BOUGHT AND SOLD PILES OF FIELD COATS OVER THE YEARS AND KEPT A FEW OF THE SPECIAL ONES. THIS ONE IS A BEAUT. I GOT IT FROM AND OLD TIMER IN ATHENS, PA THAT BOUGHT IT NEW AND HUNTED RABBITS IN IT FOR SOME 40 YEARS. HE WAS HAPPY TO LET IT GO, COMPLETE WITH BREAD BAGS TO HOLD HIS SHOT RABBITS IN THE GAME POCKET.  

 

BEDALE OBSESSION

THE ORIGINAL BEDALE WAS DESIGNED BY CHAIRMAN DAME MARGARET BARBOUR AS AN EQUESTRIAN JACKET IN 1980. I LOVE THIS MODEL. IT HAS TWO FLAP CHEST POCKETS (INSTEAD OF THE LATER HAND WARMERS) AND TWO ROYAL WARRANTS, ONE FROM QUEEN ELIZABETH AND THE OTHER FROM THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. (PRINCE CHARLES DID NOT APPLY HIS UNTIL 1987). THERE ARE SOME SUBTLETIES I LOOK FOR WHEN DECIDING ON A VINTAGE ONE FOR THE COLLECTION. (YES, IT SEEMS IT IS BECOMING A COLLECTION) PATINA AND WEAR ARE THE FIRST THINGS I LOOK AT AND FOR. I LIKE A BIT OF WEATHERING AND FUNK. A GREASY - LEATHERY FINISH IS A MUST. SOME EARLY ONES HAVE YKK ZIPPERS AND OTHERS HAVE THE BARBOUR PULL. I ALSO LOOK AT THE CORDUROY COLLAR, THE LIGHTER IN COLOR THE BETTER. I ALSO CHECK OUT BUTTON WEAR AND LOOK FOR BRASSY FINISHES.

(NUTTY I KNOW) 

I OWN TOO MANY TO MENTION AND MY FAVORITES ARE IN GREEN BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE BLUE ONES FOR GOOD MEASURE. IT SEEMS THAT BARBOUR HAS VARIED THEIR SIZING OVER TIME AND SOMETIMES A 36 FITS LIKE A 38 AND VICE VERSA. THE REALITY IS YOU HAVE TO TRY THEM ON. THE LARGER 38/40'S I USE IN THE COLDER MONTHS, LAYERED WITH BIG SWEATERS OR HARRIS TWEEDS. WHEN I DO REPROOF THE VINTAGE ONES I ONLY USE NEW ENGLAND REPROOFERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THEY CAN FIX, (GET OUT THE FUNK THAT WON'T BUDGE) REPAIR, AND TAILOR ANY BARBOUR-TALK TO AL.

1.

2.

3.

(MY FAVE)