Objects of Affection: Taylor Stitch Indian Summer Shirts

A large swath of the US population is currently caught in that meteorological hinterland known as Indian Summer. Despite the crisp nights and the turning of the leaves, the days remain defiantly warm.

It’s a pretty damn pleasant affair overall. But for me, it’s a double edged sword. Even though I know I should count my blessings and revel in the beautiful weather, I still find the little voice in the back of my head asking why autumn-proper can’t just hurry up and get here for fuck’s sake. What can I say? I love my jackets and boots and all of those brisk weather trappings.

Not least among those: a solid plaid shirt. Which is why the release of Taylor Stitch‘s newest line of shirting is such a welcome development. Pairing a sturdy seersucker with a couple of dark, richly hued plaids, it’s a deft melding of an archetypical summer fabric with a pattern that’s distinctly autumnal in nature.

Dubbed the (you guessed it) Indian Summer Collection and priced at $165 a pop, there’s currently a red/blue version and a black watch version. Both are made in SF with single needle construction and Japanese cotton, and both are a great option to pair with rolled chinos and a pair of boat shoes or mocs during the warmer hours. When the sun sets, just switch out for jeans and some brown leather boots, add a cardigan or light jacket to the mix, and you’re golden.

So while that voice in my head is likely going to keep needling me until the mercury takes a real dive, at least I know there’s a shirt out there to help bridge the gap between the seasons (and keep on going clear on through winter).

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Taylor Stitch)

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Objects of Affection: Bridge & Burn Fall 2010 Collection

Portland’s Bridge & Burn just released the Fall 2010 collection online, and it’s a solid combination of winners from their debut earlier this year along with some great new offerings. True to form, the collection as a whole is marked by clean lines and an eye toward functionality.

Waxed cotton jackets still feature heavily, which is very good news in my book. They’ve also kept the contrast linings–in a whole range of fabrics including gingham and oxford cloth–that I’ve been a fan of from the start.

There’s a wider range of twill and wool outerwear options in the mix now, with new shapes like a simplified bomber jacket. Certainly a welcome development. I actually paid the label’s booth a visit at ENK a few months back, and can say from personal experience that the twill they’re using is very nice. And though I haven’t had the chance to see any of them in person, the wool pieces look spot on. That charcoal gray five button blazer? I dig.

There’s also whole new element at play, as the brand is making its first foray into shirting with this drop. Plaids and checks are the name of the game on the pattern front, with a number of solids for good measure. For fabrics, things are largely seasonally appropriate: lots of flannel, and lots of wool. Also, quite reasonably, some cotton pieces that could easily find their way into consistent rotation even in the warmer months. Summer 2011 is gonna be all about woodsy plaids. You heard it here first.

Available online now, so hit it up.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Bridge & Burn)

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Eye Candy: Wrangler Blue Bell FW 2010 Lookbook

The Wrangler Blue Bell FW 2010 collection is a slightly darker (both in mood and color) take on mid-20th-century Americana of the non-preppy variety. Think rockabilly and motorcycles as opposed to cardigans and khakis (no hate!). Dark denim is paired with plaids, some wool pieces, and one very nice looking leather bomber for a package that’s pretty successful on the whole.

While there are a couple of missteps (namely in the overprocessed jeans department), I’m a fan of most of the offerings, and the collection shines when the Wrangler folks have the good sense to keep things simple.

And it kind of goes without saying, but: I want that jacket.

Some more shots:

Blue Bell is, sadly, a Europe-only endeavor. When will American denim giants like Lee and Wrangler realize that there’s a whole contingent of people in the US that love their overseas lines, despite the…ahem…issues with the local varietal?

Oh well. At least I can give you the heads up that Cultizm has stocked Blue Bell before, and may be a decent spot to look for the new stuff.

For now, go check out the website. It’s highly interactive, and honestly just a fucking blast to play around with. Also, more in-depth looks at the clothes. There’s that, too.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Wrangler Europe, and thanks to Hypebeast for putting this on my radar)

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Objects of Affection: Steven Alan Reverse Seam Plaid Flannel

I know flannel shirts are usually viewed as a quintessentially “wintry” item, and I can appreciate that stance. But I’ve always had a special place in my heart for them as a perfect layering piece to throw on over your daytime digs when a summer night takes a turn for the chilly and you need an extra bit of fabric between you and the world. This offering from Steven Alan is particularly well suited to the latter situation, if you ask me.

I think it’s the inherently casual vibe of the large plaid and the relatively relaxed fit. And when you add the signature reverse seam detail, in which the placket twists in between the second button and the top so that it actually lays flat with the collar open, you get a shirt that definitely has that “intentionally slouchy” vibe on lock. And that’s pretty perfect for an overshirt.

I’m not saying it doesn’t hold up on it’s own. It does, and you can see it in the shots here. But even styled as a stand alone button up, it’s the slightly rumpled feel that gives it charm. I guess all I’m saying here is: good luck dressing this one up. I just don’t see it happening.

But who cares? It looks good as is.

The look from the back:

I actually own a version of this shirt and can attest to its quality (though it’s from a prior F/W release, and therefore might be a bit different and probably heavier weight). The thing is very well made, and I’d personally recommend it to anyone searching for a solidly built flannel.

Get it at Stel’s for $119 (marked down from $170).

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Stel’s)

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Objects of Affection: Unis Large Plaid Shirt

A good plaid is something that I will always be down with, and this super-large black/white/purple offering from Unis is right up my alley. Really, that’s the main selling point for me with this piece. Luckily, though, there’s enough going on here to satisfy even those folks who aren’t just a sucker for the pattern.

It’s done in a lightweight cotton, with a slightly loose fit in the body, so it’s very summer friendly. To counteract the volume in the torso, slim arms and high armholes ensure the overall vibe of the shirt is trim, not sloppy.

There’s also a nicely rounded button down collar, which is a detail I haven’t seen on many other shirts (usually it’s your standard point). That small addition does a great job of adding to the casual feel of the shirt while giving your eye a little extra something to work with.

More shots:

The whole process–from design to manufacture–is done in NYC, but you can score this particular piece from the west coast. Get it online from Portland’s Frances May for $178.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Frances May)

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Objects of Affection: Epaulet x Styleforum Double-Faced Japanese Shirts

I’m loving the newest iteration of Epaulet’s ongoing collaborative effort with Styleforum members. Here’s how it works: Epaulet goes to the folks on Styleforum and presents them with a number of options for fabric, style, etc. The members vote. Once voting ends, the winning style(s) get produced in NY in similar fashion to Epaulet’s mainstay “small batch” shirting options.

This time around, the whole process generated two styles: a Club Collar Oxford (link goes to the blue version) and a Double-Faced Japanese Shirt (link goes to the black version). Though the oxford is a damn fine specimen in its own right, the Double-Faced Japanese Shirt just blows me away. Call it a weakness for plaid.

The Double-Faced Japanese shirt is so named because it’s made of Japanese cotton, and because the fabric is two sided. As you can see in the picture above, the outside sports a multicolor tartan while the inside has a micro-gingham that’s visible when the sleeves are rolled and the collar is open, and the gingham actually peeks through the tartan in bright sunlight, which is pretty cool.

A slim cut with box pleating at the upper back for movement and darts at the lower back to keep the silhouette tight, a single button closure pocket at the left chest, and a button down collar complete the package.

More looks at both the black and the cream versions:

Click on over to Epaulet to pick yours up for $130. Just gotta make the call: Black, or Cream (or both)?

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Epaulet)

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