April 16, 2014 world of men's style / fashion / grooming RSS
“Spring”
03/26/13
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Ad Rock

The Spring Chukka: UGG Australia Kaldwell

UGG Australia Kaldwell

Last fall, we were duly impressed by UGG Australia’s continued efforts to step up their men’s shoe game—teaming up with a champ like Tom Brady didn’t hurt. And now they’re back with their newest offering for spring:

The Kaldwell, a chukka/boat shoe hybrid that comes in three spring-friendly shades of burnished nubuck and with custom-made soles from Vibram.

Our love for the chukka in spring is no secret—perhaps it’s their versatility with or without socks—and the Kaldwell is a shining example of spring chukka excellence. It’s the sort of shoe that’ll take you from post-work drinks to a beach weekend without having to worry about your choice in footwear. Our favorite touch is the seersucker lining, which makes them even more barefoot compliant.

You never remember to pack socks anyway.

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03/25/13
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Well Pressed

The April Issues

Jason Bateman GQ

Now that it’s spring, everything is abloom—even your local newsstands, thanks to the newest crop of magazines swathed in brightly colored menswear.

In other words: the April issues have arrived.

And in our grand tradition of taking the pulse of printed menswear journalism, we’ve thumbed through all of the highly glossy/flammable pages of the usual suspects to give you the rundown on the upcoming trends, recent cultural phenomena and the requisite amount of eye candy.

Without further ado, the April Issues.»
 

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03/18/13
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Good Idea

Your Spring Awakening Begins Now: The Checklist

Spring Menswear

Wednesday marks the vernal equinox and thus the official end to winter and beginning of spring.

Which means you’ve basically got this week to check off any lingering items on your winter bucket list, and then get yourself fully into spring mode. (And you know what that means: the reappearance of sundresses. Lovely, lovely sundresses.)

So, during this week, we’re helping you out with a little series we like to call “Your Spring Awakening.” And we begin with your spring preparedness guide (you may want to print this out and tape it to your bathroom mirror).

Herewith, everything you should have done by week’s end.»
 

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03/13/13
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LinkOut

J.Crew Goes to Italy, GQ Dives into Spring and Predicting the Papal Conclave

Barberis

Crew Love: J.Crew visits the legendary family-run Vitale Barberis wool mill—suppliers of their finest Ludlow suit fabrics—and rounds up 10 more historic mills.

Slideshow and Tell: And now, for the 211 spring trends that matter, according to GQ’s Jim Moore.

Insta-phonogram: Gizmodo contemplates the staying power of the vinyl LP and how their unique sound is derived by how they’re made.

Dark Horse: In case our papal conclave predictions weren’t as rooted in history as you’d like, here’s a rundown of which past scenarios could predict this one.

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03/06/13
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Sale-ing

Your Spring Cashmere Hookup

Fischer

Consider this a last-minute addition to yesterday’s spring must-haves: fine-gauge cashmere.

And right on time, our comrades in style over at UrbanDaddy Perks are knocking 25% off a fine selection of spring-ready cashmere sweaters, cardigans and one exceptionally cozy-looking speckled henley from Christopher Fischer—an expert on balancing the yarn’s buttery-soft gauziness with just enough warmth retention perfect for the typical “summer in the light and winter in the shade” March day.

Clearly Dickens was pining for some cashmere while writing that line.

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03/05/13
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About

The Spring Must-Haves

Must Haves

If you’re wondering why it’s feeling a bit more spring-like on Kempt today, we’d like to direct your attention to the column on the left—where we’ve refreshed our seasonal crop of must-haves.

We’ve conjured a spring fever dream of baseball, gardening and corduroys that don’t have a hint of fall in them. Allow us to show you the way.»
 

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03/01/13
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Sale-ing

Introducing… The Sale Scorecard

Crew shirts

In this new weekly series, we filter through all of the online-sale noise and grade your best options for some weekend shopping…

For Your Spring Head Start: Brooks Brothers is getting you in on their spring action a day early online—before it lands in shops—and they’re knocking off up to $200 on your final tally.
Discount: C
Sizes Available: A
Selection: A

If You’re Looking for Luggage: Billy Kirk has knocked 60% off a decent number of their well-made bags—and one very tempting navy trilby.
Discount: A
Styles Available: B
Selection: B+

Some More Spring-Forward Incentive: For three days only, Club Monaco is knocking 20% off all of their new spring gear with the code “SPRING20.”
Discount: B+
Sizes Available: A
Selection: A

A Good Chance to Stock Up on Spring Basics: Gap is also getting in the spring spirit early with 25% off everything in shop with the code “GAP25”—but act fast, because it ends tomorrow.
Discount: A-
Sizes Available: A
Selection: B+

For Those Thinking Very, Very Far Ahead: Wittmore has finally slashed the rest of their winter sale down to 60% off. You won’t be able to wear most of it till it gets wintry again, but some good finds with a decent selection of sizes are still left here.
Discount: A
Sizes Available: B+
Selection: A-

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05/14/12
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Object

Saved by the Swedes

The entire Eastern Seaboard is in for a wet week. Your respite: this blaze orange fishtail parka from Erik Schedin by way of Grundens—they’ve been supplying Sweden’s seafaring folk for nearly a century. It’s the ideal spring accomplice in a featherweight PVC-coated cotton, and the best way to keep you dry while ducking between work and home. (And you’ll be right on trend now that the fishtail parka is having a moment.)

Not to mention, the orange will alert any cabbies to your darting across the street.

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04/23/12
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Good Idea

The Summer Pocket Square

By now, your dress code’s gotten a little breezier and you’re looking forward to turning up the volume a bit. (A good start would be with your chinos). Thing is, it’s more than likely that the blazer you’re reaching for is in a staid navy twill or earth-tone-y linen. Here’s where you’ll want to inject a little pattern: the pocket square. And you’ll do well with these new offerings from Michael James Milton (h/t Well Spent) that are cut from Japanese cotton and handmade in San Francisco, and range in vibe from classic polka dot to toile to the number pictured here—we’re calling it “Neonavajo.”

Just don’t match them to your tie.

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04/03/12
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Good Idea

The Ties of Spring

With winter safely in the rear-view mirror, there’s a whole new breed of tie up for grabs. Forget the gray wools and somber brown hues. Now that the sun is out, we’re more partial to raw silks, textured cotton and madras ties—the rare breed of neckwear that actually looks good on a beach. And in case you want to join in the celebration, we’ve pulled together a few of our favorite examples after the jump.

See a few of our favorite spring ties»
 

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04/03/12
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Big Picture

The Headmaster Ritual

This near-perfect spring kit is brought to you by Close Up and Private, who just unveiled their spring/summer issue with a perfect tutorial on wearing prep school gear without looking like you’re still in prep school. Take notes, men.

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04/02/12
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Object

The Fishtail Has Landed

Todd Snyder’s been getting love for his fishtail overcoats ever since Fashion Week, but the first of the crop has finally made it to stores. Instead of that shearling it’s a spring parka, which happens to have a few extra inches of waxed cotton in back for a touch of white-tie elegance. If it’s raining that hard, you’ll need it.

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03/30/12
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Good Idea

An Ode to the Rolled-Up Sleeve

The fashion world draws a pretty clean line between fall/winter and spring/summer. The shops changed over about six weeks ago, and the hypothetical wardrobe made the shift roughly a month after that. We’re as guilty as anyone. We’ve been waiting all winter to bust out the linen pants—and now that they’re almost seasonal, we’re pretty excited about it.

The only problem is, that’s not how people actually dress. So we’d like to offer a few words of wisdom on the style limbo of early spring, focused around the all-important image of the rolled-up sleeve.

How the rolled-up sleeve is the key to early Spring style»
 

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03/23/12
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Good Idea

Three Pieces of Spring Cleaning to Tackle Right Now

spring cleaningvia Nationaal Archief

You won’t be needing your winter coat anytime soon.

So now’s the time of year when we usually throw all our sweaters and tweedery into a ventilated box under our bed, and bring out the linen shirts and tees. But as you might expect, it can get a little musty in there, so you’ve got some cleaning to do. Don’t worry; it’s simpler than you think. After the fold, we’ve got three places to focus, to make sure you finish off the month as crisp as you started it.

Your spring cleaning playbook, in three acts»
 

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03/21/12
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Sale-ing

It’s spring jacket season, and one of the all-time classics just went on sale. We’re thinking of the British Baracuta jacket—and right now, you can pick one up for just $60. Our advice: find the trimmest fit they’ve got, and then lock it down before someone else does.

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03/13/12
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Big Picture

The Charm of the Cotton Sweater

Now that the weather’s warming up, we’d like to direct your attention to one of the most overlooked items in your spring/summer arsenal: the cotton sweater. It’s an airier version of the wool and cashmere pullovers in your closet, and perfect for those couple weeks in mid-March when the summer sun butts up against the last gusts of winter. These will fare well against both.

A few of our favorite sweaters»
 

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03/09/12
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Object

A Spring-Ready Denim Jacket

Continuing on our springtime white denim kick, we thought we’d pass along this undyed denim jacket from H.W. Carter & Sons.

The designer is Greg Chapman, the same outerwear savant behind Schott’s Perfecto Brand, so he knows his way around a jacket. But unlike the biker jackets of yore, this is all 19th-century military flourish. (Check out the brass buttons and regimental pockets, for example.) And just like those white jeans, it’s Cone denim that will build up an interesting wear even without the help of indigo.

Just don’t wear them both at once.

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05/02/11
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Labeled

The Bushman’s Raingear

Kakadu

It pays to be prepared.

In spring, that means rain. And not just rain: a full-scale monsoon, accompanied by biblical eruptions of wind, lightning and thunder. Your umbrella won’t stand a chance.

The best solution (other than, you know, staying inside) is an enormous, knee-length waterproof coat, kind of like this one from Australia’s Kakadu. It’s roughly their equivalent of the British Barbour coat—only much, much tougher.

It’s reinforced wherever water might leak in, including two linebacker-style patches over the shoulders and an extra flap to cover up the zipper. And since that adds up to a lot of waxed cotton, it might be the heaviest thing in your closet. Use it well.

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04/11/11
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LinkOut

Say Cheese

eyulaslan_crop.jpgvia LikeCool

Today’s Rolex:…is a weathered Tudor Submariner Cal 390. [Teneu De Nimes]

Fare Thee Well, Sidney: Sending off Sidney Lumet. If you haven’t seen Dog Day Afternoon, now’s a good time. [In Contention]

”Golf Style” is Like “British Cooking”: Tiger is slipping at the masters…both sporting-wise and style-wise. [Esquire]

The Newest Latest: The Bengal Stripe shares their latest spring kit. Handsome stuff. [Bengal Stripe]

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04/07/11
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Object

The Spring Jumper

howelljumper_crop.jpg

Just because it’s getting warmer is no reason to give up on sweaters entirely.

The trick is finding one that manages to be just as cozy and layerable without being quite so warm. This one comes from Margaret Howell (who, by the way, has a pretty amazing house), and it pulls off the trick by weaving linen stripes into the usual wool—resulting in a thick-but-breathable blend that should be wearable well into May.

June, if you roll the sleeves up.

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02/18/11
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Object

The Spring Crewneck

maidennoircrewneck_crop.jpg

The crewneck sweatshirt is one of our favorite items for the lull between cold and warm weather. Worn over a collar, it’s a way to introduce a bit of ruggedness into an otherwise bland outfit, drawing from the unpretentious end of the workwear playbook.

And while we’d usually stick with the classic gray heather, this midnight blue version from Maiden Noir is too handsome to pass up. On any other item, this shade of blue would scream “gallery assistant,” but with those contrast seams, it just lends the whole piece a touch of elegance.

Just keep it as far from your gym bag as possible.

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04/30/10
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Object

The Spring Cardigan

bblessingknit_crop.jpg

You may have noticed a lot of blazers and light v-necks floating around in the past few weeks, but we’d like to make the case for the spring cardigan. This particular item just arrived at New York’s BBlessing, and it’s lightweight enough to serve as the perfect middle layer until June gets here. Those white stripes are twill, brought in for an extra jolt of twee, which in this case works just about perfectly.

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03/22/10
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Good Idea

Fastened

symmetryscarf_crop.jpg

We’re big supporters of the spring scarf as a way of moth-balling your winter coat a few weeks early, but if you’re really committed, you may need a different kind of scarf.

Symmetry had the clever idea of adding a little hardware. A small chain and fastener convert their tartaned wrap into a makeshift cowl, which should be every bit as warm as a spring coat. It’s a little medieval, but if you’ve got a waxed cotton coat handy, it should fit right in, and if the weather shifts, you’ll be able to de-cowl and slip the whole thing into your bag without any more trouble than the standard wrap around. Sadly, they’re not geared up for retail just yet…but maybe by the fall?

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03/10/10
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Good Idea

Heathers

wilsonsweatshirt_crop.jpg

Now that we’re caught in the puzzling medium between deep winter and t-shirt weather, we’re breaking out one of our favorite spring items: the heather gray sweatshirt.

A good one will be every bit as warm as your fall sweater, but it comes off a whole lot more summery thanks to memories of outdoor gym classes and Sunday leaf raking. Throw a collared shirt under it—you’re a long way from gym class, after all—and you should be all set.

Now, to consider your options»

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04/23/09
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Object

The Rites of Spring

tretornwellies_crop.jpg

Naturally, we’re big fans of style. But sometimes the best thing about an item is what you can do with it.

Tretorn’s latest galosh does just about everything you’d hope: tasteful colors, striking white lines and generally something every bit as stylish as whatever you’re slipping them over.

But as usual, we’re most excited about what it would look like stomping through the latest batch of puddles.

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