I’m Not Dead…

…just woefully behind on updating. Apologies to all my readers. I’ll have something up real soon. In the meantime, hit up the Tumblr and the Twitter feeds.

—Jonathan

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Eye Candy: Shots from the New Imogene + Willie Online Shop

Imogene + Willie’s online shop launched this past weekend, to much well-deserved fanfare. It’s really no surprise that the digital extension of Matt and Carrie Eddmenson’s brick and mortar store is stocked with an impressive selection of the duo’s in-house clothing line.

It’s also no surprise that the photos on offer do an exquisite job of capturing the laid back, utilitarian feel of the merchandise itself. No surprise, but well appreciated nonetheless.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Imogene + Willie)

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Objects of Affection: Baldwin Denim

Balwin Denim is a Kansas City-based outfit that cuts and sews their line of jeans right here in the USA from American (Cone Mills) and Japanese (Kaihara Mill) denim.

So they’ve got production and materials pretty well locked down. Judging from the shots on their online shop, they nailed it on the fit front as well. And from what I hear from folks who have worn them, construction is spot on, with details like triple-stitched seams keeping things nice and sturdy.

The basic moral of this story then? These are a solid option for your jeans needs. If you’re in the market, be sure to keep Baldwin on your list.

The Henley, pictured here, is the slim option. It’s done in a 12.5 oz. pink line selvage from Kaihara Mill.

If you’re looking for a straight fit or some dropped yoke action, check out the Reed or the 77, respectively. Both feature Cone Mills White Oak selvage denim.

Any which way, they’ll run you $220 and you can grab a pair right from the source online.

Do it up.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Baldwin Denim)

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Label Spotlight: Aero Leather Clothing

Aero Leather Clothing Co. is a relatively small company based in Galashiels, Scotland. They specialize in producing pieces that are true to “the style and high quality tailoring so widely available in the early and mid-20^th century.” Chief among these offerings: Leather jackets. Aero has been making them since 1983, though the company has been around since 1975 (they started as a trading company focused on WWII and vintage US workwear leather jackets).

The degree of thought and care that the folks at Aero put into the research and manufacture of their jackets is astounding. Jackets are assembled by hand on traditional machines, stitched to be 3.5x stronger than the bare minimum (to ensure longevity), and put through a 28 point inspection process before being shipped out of the factory.

Because they’re not mass-manufactured, you can customize pretty much any model in their extensive range to adjust fit, shift styling details, change a button closure to a zip, or what have you. To allow for even more customization options, Aero offers an impressive range of hides: Front Quarter Horsehide (heavy and midweight), Heavy Steerhide, and Horween Chromexcel are just the few I can think of off the top of my head. A note on the horsehide: it’s sourced from horses that have died of natural causes only (“non-slaughter”), and it’s stiff as hell at first. Like all horsehide, it’ll soften with time, though.

So, basically, this brand has a lot going on. I can’t cover it all in one go, so I’m not going to try. Instead, let’s take a look at three of my personal favorite jackets from them, as worn (and worn in) by real folks.

1. 30′s Half-Belt in Front Quarter Horsehide

Relatively New:

Yeah, I wasn’t kidding about the initial stiffness of the leather

Worn In:

Images courtesy of Sailor Jack Bones / user Slub from Superfuture

2. HG 5 in Front Quarter Horsehide (Alpaca Lining)

Brand New:

Again: Yes, it’s so stiff it’s standing on it’s own…

Worn In:

Images courtesy of user Mad_Dye from Superfuture

3. Bootlegger in Cordovan Colored Front Quarter Horsehide (Royal Stewart Tartan Lining)

Brand New:

Worn In:

Images courtesy of user rnrswitch from Superfuture

As you can see, these jackets aren’t for the faint of heart. They’re gonna be tough as hell at first, but they’re also gonna last until right around the end of time. In the event that you actually manage to bust one, Aero has a lifetime guarantee and will fix it up for you.

It’s an investment piece in terms of money (Aero jackets run about £500-650) and time. But the eventual payoff is worth it.

On the 30s Half Belt shots above, you can see the kind of handsome patina that high quality leather (especially horsehide) is so famous for developing. The colors change and give way to new undertones, the texture of the leather softens, and the jacket molds itself to the wearer. These changes only get richer and more personal with time.

—Jonathan

Ed’s Note: I’m not professing to be an expert on Aero. This post is really meant to be more of a primer, to bring the brand to light for folks who may not be familiar. To get a full picture of Aero, consider checking out The Fedora Lounge and trolling through their forums. Also take a peek at this flight jacket thread over on Superfuture. And, of course, check Aero’s site. Since Aero’s pictures are sometimes a little bit less than fantastic, you can also click over to this site to get a better idea of fit.

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Oh Yeah: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Lifted from Schott NYC‘s Facebook profile, but oh so very appropriate: Happy St. Patty’s Day, kids!

Green (REALLY GREEN!!!) Schott x Jeremy Scott Perfecto

—Jonathan

(Pic via: Schott NYC Facebook pics)

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