Some Looks for Spring

James had me in stitches for pretty much the entire shoot. This is, far and away, my favorite picture from the evening…

I recently had the chance to work James Rand on a photo shoot at his place in Brooklyn. Aside from being a great friend of mine, the man also happens to be a great photographer. Lucky for that.

It was a Sunday evening. I brought the clothing (and some beer), he brought the photo gear (and the talent), and we got to shooting some looks for spring with gear from my own collection.

The shots here are all from that evening.

(A note: the background was the only one available, and the photographer specifically requested I express his apologies for the…shall we say…boldness of the color.)

Look No. 1:

Jacket – Gant Rugger, Sweater – J. Crew, Shirt – Uniqlo, Jeans – APC, Belt – Brackney, Shoes – Bass

Look No. 2:

Jacket – Baron Wells, Shirt – Taylor Stitch, Tie – Jack Spade, Belt – Brackney, Chinos – Epaulet, Socks – Pantherella, Shoes – Alden

Look No. 3:

Jacket – Lewis Leathers for The Garbstore, Shirt – Taylor Stitch, Belt – Brackney, Jeans – Epaulet, Socks – Panterella, Shoes – Alden

Look No. 4:

Jacket – Baron Wells, Shirt – Taylor Stitch, Tie – Graham Withers, Jeans – Epaulet, Socks – Pantherella, Shoes – Alden

And that’s that.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of James S. Rand)

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Alden Saddle Shoes – Color 8 Shell Cordovan & Brown Alpine Grain

These are a fantastic take on the saddle shoe. Gotta love that Color 8 cordovan upper and the way the brown alpine grain leather provides the perfect counterpoint. Complete with a flex welt sole, and done up on the Barrie last (one of the most comfortable lasts I’ve ever worn).

They hit at Leffot very recently, but nevertheless have sold out in everything but 7.5 and 11.5. If you’re relatively small- or large-footed, rejoice! If not, I guess you’ll have to be content to just stare at them (like me).

They’ll run you $550, if you’re one of the lucky ones that can fit into the remaining sizes.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Leffot)

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Black and Tanned is 1 Year Old Today

Thank you to everyone who’s made the past year great, and here’s to many more.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of the Internet at large)

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ROTM Double Monks

Run of the Mill Shop just launched their SS11 stuff online, and it’s a really impressive showing. Cutaway collar private label shirting, an exquisitely executed Monitaly blazer…and, of course, the fine specimen you see here.

Behold the ROTM private label double monk strap shoes. Made in Italy, fully lined in calfskin, Rapid constructed, and graced with a rounded toe that I much prefer to the (overly) aggressive styling on many other iterations of the shoe.

These are gonna blow up. And with good reason. They’re just so damn good. Well done indeed to the ROTM boys.

They’re up for pre-order now. That will last for exactly one month (starting today), and delivery is expected in late April/early May.

Sizes run from 5-14D, and 5-11EE.

Price hits at $405. From what I can tell regarding the manufacture (and of course the style), it’s a steal. You’re simply not going to find a better value out there.

Get ‘em while they’re hot.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of ROTM Shop)

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Dockers Khaki Wader

(Note: This is part of a very cool project called A Sartorial et al. in which a bunch of style bloggers get together to offer a number of opinions on a certain subject. This time around, it’s Dockers slim fit khakis. You can see the whole list of people who participated over at A Headlong Dive. Many thanks to Jeremiah for putting the whole thing together.)

—

I recently added these khaki waders to my arsenal and I’ve gotta say, they’re a pretty solid pair of chinos. The fit is slim with a slight taper–7.5″ leg opening on a size 32–that works well with the intentionally ankle-length inseam.

They’re made of a nicely washed cotton twill, and details like a patch coin pocket on the left hip and angled back welt pockets are thoughtful and well appreciated. An impressive showing, especially considering the sub-$50 price point.

A note for the future to the folks at Dockers–I’d love to see a pair of these come out with a very slightly higher rise, and a deep fold-over hem (as opposed to the smaller, jean-like one on the current version). Just my $0.02.

I’ve actually managed to break these out a few times since I got them despite the cold weather thanks to the ankle-saving power of wool socks. Come spring, though, I fully expect them to become a consistent part of the rotation, probably along with my canoe mocs and a lighter-weight oxford like in the shots.

I went for the muted side of the spectrum with the pair shown here (in “Earth”), but there’s a ton of colors for the very similar SF Tapered fit available online. Green may be joining the rotation soon.

Now go check out the other coverage on A Headlong Dive, from the aforementioned Jeremiah, plus _The Momentum, Dreams of Perfection, Red Clay Soul, Gabe Alonso, and Dapper Demeanor.

—Jonathan

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Left Field NYC Lookbook Shots

These shots from Left Field NYC’s recently released AW 11 lookbook made their way around the blogoverse already, but I’m putting up a few of my favorites nonetheless–just because I like ‘em. Call me a sucker for sturdy looking textiles and proper photography, but the detail pictures of the garments just did me in.

Some brief context: The AW collection is (like all of Left Field’s collections) made entirely in the US. Fabrics are sourced from the States and Japan, and the lookbook was shot in an old motorcycle parts warehouse in Ohio.

And with that, the rest of my favorite photos:

While the collection showcased here won’t be available for a few months, be sure to hit up Left Field NYC’s online shop now to take a look at the current offerings. If you like what you see for fall, I assure you you’ll dig the spring stuff as well.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Left Field NYC)

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Two Moods: Pierrepont Hicks SS 11

Quiet:

Earnest – $92 – Available mid-March

100% Italian Linen, made in NY

Loud:

Briggs – $82 – Available mid-March

100% Cotton, made in NY

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Pierrepont Hicks)

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Forestbound

Forestbound is the nom de guerre of Alice Saunders, a Boston local who crafts some damn good looking bags and totes from salvaged vintage textiles. Think canvas from 1930′s laundry bags and WWII era military tents, or an envelope-style carry pocket repurposed from a 1950′s hiking pack. Some are reinforced with individually sourced leather pieces, and everything comes complete with heavy-duty hardware that Alice herself hunts down throughout New England. So basically, you don’t have to worry about a lack of authenticity here.

And as you can see from this collection of images, you don’t have to worry about aesthetics, either. From the expertly executed staging to the self-evident appeal of the bags themselves, it’s a win all over.

Her Etsy shop is currently well stocked with a selection of everyday bags and weekenders with an impressive mix of old school inspiration and modern execution (like pockets for your phone/iPod/assorted gadgetry), and in a couple of weeks she’ll be presenting a new line of offerings at The Shiny Squirrel‘s pop-up event at the Ace Hotel in NYC. I’m looking forward to seeing them in person, and I’ve got to admit that I won’t be shocked if I walk away with one in hand.

And a heads up to the NY folk out there: LAYERxlayer and Symmetry Goods (two labels that recently hit my radar and piqued my interest) will be showing at the same event, along with a bunch of other solid brands. Seems like it’s gonna be well worth a visit, so give me a shout if you’re looking for something to do Feb 21-23.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Forestbound and The Shiny Squirrel)

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Black and Tanned on Tour: Schott Factory Photos

I recently had the distinct pleasure of stopping by the Schott NYC factory for a tour. It was on a Saturday, so the factory itself wasn’t in action. Nevertheless, the place absolutely hummed with energy. Lots of things midway through production, massive amounts of equipment, and a general feeling of “this is where good things get done” pervaded the place. It was a rare, fantastic thing to get to experience, and my most sincere thanks go out to all the folks at Schott for it.

To give a little bit of context: the series starts with a couple shots of the factory from near the main entrance. From there, it’s through the storage area for all the hides and and a good portion of the raw materials, then on to the production floor. I was moving from back to front, which is (not coincidentally) pretty much how Schott’s wares themselves move through the production process. Hides are cut by hand in the far corner, and final steps like topstitching and affixing rivets happen at the very front. The result is some of the best American-made outerwear you can do yourself the favor of picking up.

I’ve got a few shots here, and a slideshow of nearly 100 shots below. For the full experience, just take a leap over to Flickr and watch in glorious full screen mode (where you can see, in detail, the limitations of my photography skills).

For measuring hides

This guy makes fringe

The shearling machine

And the shearling

For cutting hides

Since everything starts inside out, this spike is used to get hard to reach areas like corners right side out for the final touches

And how do they keep it all in order, you wonder? With this powerhouse machine right here

Again, thanks to all the fine people at Schott for letting me come out and grab some shots of the home of a great American brand.

—Jonathan

 

Schott Factory – Elizabeth, NJ, posted with vodpod

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Eye Candy: Alden for Epaulet Whiskey Cordovan Longwings

These guys are so damn killer I can’t even get my shit together to write a series of coherent sentences about them.

Whiskey cordovan…Contrasting tan midsole…18 pairs…Double leather sole…Stupid good looking…

Want.

Available exclusively at Epaulet ($650).

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Epaulet)

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