Kempt

Recently

05/20/13

The State of the Apron

Apron

Memorial Day weekend is only four days away.

Sure, it’s got us looking forward to the prospect of dusting off the white bucks, but we’re mostly excited to roll out the barbecue grill for the season and fill up a cooler with ice and beer.

And anyone who’s manned a grill in this modern era understands that a handsome apron is par for the course. Blame it on a few overeager souls who took the heritage trend a little too seriously—or a captive audience willing to spend countless hours reading up on 1930s butcher shops and perusing handlebar-laden Tumblrs—but the apron scene is perhaps hotter than it’s ever been. So we took a moment to check in on the state of the apron, to see what’s out there these days (luckily, another side effect of the heritage trend is that they’re all going to last you a lot longer than a dozen tanks of propane).

Herewith, your guide to the new world of the menswear apron.»

ALL Bad Idea/Good Idea

TAGS

05/20/13

Sale-ing

Preparing for Summer the Alabaman Way

Lyonstate

Alabama has become an unlikely bastion of bloggerly menswear in the past few years, thanks to Billy Reid’s triumphant return home and a surprisingly hip men’s shop that’s recently sprung up in Mobile by the name of Lyonstate.

The owner made her menswear bones in NYC running A.P.C.’s American wholesale operation, so the stock has that citified Southern dandy feel that Alabama is becoming known for. You’ll find everything from Maine-made loafers to Lyonstate’s new in-house line of summer-ready shirting in lightweight oxford cottons and a particularly slick white chambray. (Needless to say, you can trust an Alabaman to outfit you for the warmer months.)

Oh, and did we mention our pals over at UrbanDaddy Perks are readying you for the upcoming summer with 50 or 100 extra bucks in spending power (essentially 33% off your final tally) at Lyonstate’s webshop this week?

Well, we have now. You’re welcome.

ALL Sale-ing

TAGS

05/20/13

LinkOut

Rubbing Elbows at Cannes, Thrifting a Ferrari and The Story of the Beer Can

Cannes hotels

Cannes Do: For anyone planning on doing some impromptu hobnobbing in Cannes, make sure to book one of these five celeb-magnet hotels.

Showing ID: Details makes the case for the return of a forgotten piece of men’s jewelry: the ID bracelet.

Started From the Bottom: The story of the greatest thrifter of all time, who began by trading a paperclip for a doorknob, and just bought himself a Ferrari.

Can It: Bon Appetit celebrates the technological advancements of man’s greatest ally: the beer can.

ALL LinkOut

TAGS

05/17/13

Big Picture

The Friday Kemptress: Zoe Saldana

Zoe Saldana

We won’t claim to know much about the latest Star Trek, but we do have a strong feeling it’s going to be easy on the eyes, thanks to the following…»

ALL Big Picture

05/17/13

Sale-ing

The Weekend Sales Report Card

Weekend Sales

We’ve filtered through all of the online sale noise and graded your best options out there, should you feel inclined to do any menswear browsing this weekend…

For Looking Fashion-Forward to Summer: Opening Ceremony is knocking 20% off most of their spring wares with the code SpringFling20.
Discount: B
Sizes Available: A-
Selection: B+

For Princely Pants: Dockers is throwing a Friends and Family sale with 30% off everything, including their Alpha Khakis—which were recently spotted on British royal Prince Harry—with the code FF2013.
Discount: B+
Sizes Available: B+
Selection: A-

For the Swimmers: Get up to 60% off swimwear at Nordstrom, featuring one of our favorite trunk-makers: Orlebar Brown.
Discount: A
Sizes Available: B
Selection: B+

More of the good stuff on sale, after the jump.»

ALL Sale-ing

TAGS

05/17/13

LinkOut

Kerouac Style, Club Monaco’s Fall Lookbook and the Handwritten Beginnings of Great Literature

Kerouac

Never Force a Smile: Mining the style of sartorial stoic Jean-Lois “Jack” Kerouac, by way of A Headlong Dive.

On a Scroll: Pitchfork’s mixed-media treatment for their cover story on Daft Punk is even more spectacular than the duo’s sequined suits.

In da Club: Club Monaco makes a majorly #menswear move by releasing its fall 2013 lookbook on Tumblr.

Write It Down: Some of the greatest works of literature started as scribbled outlines—Flavorwire takes a look at some famous authors’ “planning papers.”

ALL LinkOut

TAGS

05/16/13

Big Picture

Irina Shayk Is Not Planning on Swimming

Irina Shayk via Vidigy

ALL Big Picture

05/16/13

Scene

Kempt Man of the Hour: Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton

It doesn’t get much better than this when it comes to dressing for the equally Mediterranean and glamorous climate of Cannes.

Yesterday, to kick off the cinematic festivities, Joel Edgerton showed up to the inaugural photo call as Cannes personified: an airy off-white suit with peak lapels, a crisp white shirt with collar open, an interesting pocket square and a pair of Wayfarers (he ditched them once the flashbulbs started popping).

Last time we checked in on the Gatsby crew, we were less than thrilled with the turnout, but we’re taking it all back with regards to Edgerton (the charcoal grays from Leo and Tobey still felt a bit out of place) and giving him top MOTH honors.

It’s worth the whole damn bunch of Palme d’Ors put together.

ALL Scene

TAGS

05/16/13

Bad Idea/Good Idea

The Appraisal: Mandals

Mandals

Many questions can be definitively answered by simply polling the #menswear world. Like, how much camo is too much camo? (See here.) But for other queries, well, it seems that the jury’s still out.

Case in point: men’s sandals.

We’re not talking about your basic 10-buck flip-flops here, though. It was decided long before our time that those are to be relegated to beaches, pools, lakes—basically any venue with some combination of heat, water and increased exposure. No controversy there. Actually, it’s the leathery, designer-y variety that’s at the heart of this mess, pitting dapper blogger against dapper blogger.

A mess that we’re going to try to sort out, once and for all…»

ALL Bad Idea/Good Idea

TAGS

05/16/13

LinkOut

The Scientific Seven-Minute Workout, Sidney Poitier’s Enduring Style and Fabric Hunting with Hickoree’s

Workout

Seven’s the Key Number: The Times has discovered a seven-minute workout that is scientifically proven to work just as well as a long run followed by weightlifting and makes for a nifty infographic.

Guess Who’s Dapper: Well Spent finds a wealth of sartorial inspiration in the trad-ish style of legendary leading man Sidney Poitier.

How Fabric-lous: The gents at Hickoree’s Hard Goods have a knack for sniffing out the handsomest of deadstock Japanese textiles, and Hypebeast was lucky enough to tag along on one of their sourcing runs.

Custom Agent: For anyone wanting to outfit themselves in custom duds from head to toe, Cool Material has a good list of to-order sites making everything from suits to belts.

ALL LinkOut

TAGS

05/15/13

Big Picture

The Next Round Is Definitely on You

Drinks via Fashion Faves

ALL Big Picture

05/15/13

Object

The Stat Sheet: Engineered Garments Floral Popover

Odin

Blame it on spring fever, but we’re feeling for prints today.

So we couldn’t resist mentioning this floral popover from Engineered Garments. It’s just landed at Odin as one of two exclusive patterns from the label. Here’s what else you need to know.

The Story: The popover style of shirt has been gaining favor in menswear circles—bridging the gap between a leisurely button-down and a long-sleeved polo shirt—and going short-sleeve with this one manages to up the summery ante.

Who to Channel: A 21st-century Magnum, P.I.; a sport fisherman enjoying a post-catch daiquiri in the Keys (mustache optional on both accounts).

When to Wear It: On days as bright as the shirt—and not with a pair of these patterned shorts. One loud pattern is already pushing it.

Degree of Difficulty: Somewhat high. This shirt should be strictly reserved for the beach or places that unironically serve drinks with umbrellas.

Your moment of inspiration, after the jump.»

ALL Object

TAGS

05/15/13

Good Idea

The 14 Best Patterned Shorts for Summer

Shorts

When it comes to shorts, we’ve always been of the mind that if you’re going for it, you have permission to get loud. (With the caveat: not at the office.)

And until recently, your only options were of the plaid or embroidered-critter variety meant for rebellious trads. But this season has seen more new patterned shorts on the market than perhaps ever. Stripes, ikat, paisley, liberty and batik prints. There are a lot more ways to get tastefully loud these days (which means you’ll want to outfit the rest of your body in a solid-color oxford cloth button-down, pocket tee or polo shirt—for the sake of everyone’s retinas, keep it to one pattern). So we rounded up our favorites of the bunch, to get you ready for the season.

Herewith, the 14 best patterned shorts out there right now.»

ALL Good Idea

TAGS

05/15/13

LinkOut

Kramer’s Illustrious Career, Gatsby Sells Out and Kate Upton Strikes a Pose

Kate Upton

Kramerica, Inc: On the 15th anniversary of the Seinfeld finale, Vulture recounts the most mystifying throughline: Kramer’s revolving door of careers and schemes. The man TCB’d.

The Great Adsby: It’s the age-old Hollywood story: brand meets movie, two-hour commercial ensues. Fittingly, The Great Gatsby serves as a prime example.

Post Game: Step aside, “planking” and “Tebowing” and Harlem Shaking.” The newest video meme poised to sweep the Internet: “posterizing.”

And Now…: Behold the Vogue cover shoot of “America’s Favorite Bombshell,” Kate Upton.

ALL LinkOut

TAGS