May 24, 2013 world of men's style / fashion / grooming RSS
“Winter”
09/28/10
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Good Idea

A Gentleman’s Guide to Winter Socks

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Gentlemen, it’s time to start thinking about your socks. (Please, contain yourselves.)

In a scant few weeks, your toes are going to be facing some decidedly brisk conditions, and it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better. To that end, we suggest picking up the sock equivalent of a work boot, something that can protect your toes through just about whatever Mother Nature throws your way. And as luck would have it, we’ve got three candidates in mind…

Behold, the three socks that will get you through the winter»

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09/17/10
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Warm Feelings

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We’d like to suggest an underrated criterion for winter coats: coziness.

The way we see it, there are plenty of great looking wool overcoats (hey, here’s one), but it’s hard to overstate the joy you’ll get from a few yards of fuzziness once November rolls around.

This Mark McNairy version is a pretty good example, thanks to that faux fur lining spilling out over the collar. It’s on the casual end, but the military vibe makes it pretty near timeless—not to mention the fact that warm fuzzy feelings tend to transcend style.

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09/01/10
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The Home Fires

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Yuketen just unleashed their new Fall/Winter (but mostly Winter) lookbook, including this impossibly toasty snap. If you’ve got the means, we recommend picking up every last item on display here—starting with the fireplace.

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07/08/10
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Let it Snow

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This handsome snap comes from Riviera Club’s latest fall/winter lookbook. It’s handsome stuff—especially since their usual strength is lightweight summer gear—but they don’t have the gist of skiing quite yet.

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02/11/10
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The Shell Game

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If you happen to be reading this somewhere in the Northeast, you’re probably familiar with the following sartorial conundrum:

It’s gross out. From the moment you step outside, you’re battered by winds, snow, and unidentifiable flecks of water from all angles. But strangely enough, it’s not actually that cold.

But by some miracle of happenstance, the perfect garment for this situation seems to have arrived in Brooklyn at the same time as the blizzard. This Mackintosh shell, dubbed the New Kennedy, should be familiar to Barbour aficionados, but with two important updates: a thorough embrace of the pouchy pocket and an icy blue color (colour?) to complement the surroundings.

Stay dry, everyone.

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02/10/10
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The North Wind

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Harsh weather calls for gear from a harsh climate. This one comes from Denmark by way of Manchester, thanks to our friends at Norse Projects, and it can’t get here fast enough.

The Breton-striped crewneck is having quite a moment, but this is our favorite of the crop thanks to a medium gauge-knit (which means it’s not too thick to layer under your ultra-chunky duffel coat) and certain Scandanavian intangibles. When the chips are down, we’ll take it over the French equivalent any day.

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02/08/10
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Scene

Kempt Man of the Hour: Anders Johnson

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We happened upon this snap of skier Anders Johnson in Ryan McGinley’s amazing winter Olympics photospread and, after a little preliminary research, we’re ready to name him the first MOTH of the Winter Olympics. It’s got a lot to do with our enduring love of the chunky sweater, but honestly, the “never mind the snow” pose is cool enough to qualify him no matter what—especially now that large parts of the east blanketed in that same stuff. Well played, sir.

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01/20/10
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Down From the Mountain

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Billy Reid has been a fair amount of backwoods jackets in his catalog, but this is the first bit of outerwear that looks like it could take you through a northern winter.

It’s dubbed the Mountain Coat, and while he doesn’t say which mountain, it seems like it’s built for chillier places than his native Alabama. Our favorite part, aside from the tweedy check pattern, is the comfortingly fuzzy lapel, both of suggest Mr. Reid isn’t afraid to dip into thrift store style, and come out with a sturdy, beautiful garment.

It’s coming in a bit too late for this winter…but there’s always next year.

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01/05/10
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The Return of the Shacket

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With chambray popping up just about everywhere, the good old denim shirt is in danger of being overshadowed. Luckily, it’s pretty cold out there, and you’re going to need something a little stronger than lightweight cotton.

This shacket-style workshirt from Filson is loose enough and tough enough to sandwich between a button-down and a duffel coat—a combination that should protect you against just about anything the gods of winter can throw at you. It doesn’t come within a mile of slim-fit—Blackbird even suggests sizing down, which we haven’t heard in years—but if you’re really bundling up, you might appreciate the extra room.

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12/08/09
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Let it Snow

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In honor of the seasonal chill, we thought we’d pass along these wintry snaps from Vladimir Zivkovic. We’re guessing he has one hell of an overcoat.

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11/24/09
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Good Idea

The Other Side

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If you were wondering about the other half of the bubblegoose/hunting coat equation we outlined yesterday, we may have something for you, courtesy of Vancouver’s finest men’s shop, Roden Gray.

This bubbly jacket was stitched together by Wings & Horns, and it’s a lot less synthetic than it looks. The material is quilted chambray, a good deal softer than the petrochemical alternatives, while keeping a certain monolithic style borrowed from flashier North Face items.

The down stitched into the middle will keep things warmer than most chambray garments, but it’s still a long way from the toastiness of Woolrich’s opposite number. Hopefully you’ve got a few sweaters handy.

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11/23/09
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Going Under

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Most of our winter gear tends to be bulky outer layers, but it may be time to revisit one of the unsung heroes of the ski set: the long john.

And thanks to Uniqlo’s heat-tech gear, they may be a bit slimmer than you remember. The latest models use special weaves to stay dry, trap in heat, and generally protect your bottom half. We’d opt for a non-waffled pair to preserve the drape of your trousers, but don’t be surprised if these trunks are thinner than you remember. We always knew technology was good for something…

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11/13/09
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The Off Season

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Call it a case of bad timing.

This Our Legacy shirt is one our favorite items to come out of the recent plaid revival…but we’d wait at least a couple months before you put it on.

It’s not quite in espadrille territory—i.e. you won’t catch pneumonia—but as long as the sun’s touching down before 5pm, anything this colorful is apt to be downright depressing. Of course, if your summer wardrobe needs a refresh, we still heartily endorse picking one up, but you’ll have to delay gratification for quite a while.

On the other hand, we bet it looks great in sunlight.

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11/05/09
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It Takes Two

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As you may have heard, the Olsens are trying their collective hand at menswear. And surprisingly enough, they’re pretty good at it.

Exhibit A: this narrowly double-breasted cardigan. The big loose-knit, shawl-collared style makes for an extremely cozy item, and a little overlap between the buttons only makes it cozier. It’s one of the best deep winter sweaters we’ve seen all season—and easily their best work since Passport to Paris.

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11/03/09
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Good Idea

Wrap it Up

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The scarf is probably the most versatile piece of outerwear, so we’re surprised we don’t see them popping up earlier in the year. Particularly now that we’re on the cusp between light jacket weather and arctic-level bundling, a good muffler can give you another few weeks before you have to break out the toggle coat. Which, depending on how you feel about winter, can be a lifesaver.

This wool item is from a shipment of Pria scarves recently stocked in Blackbird, and the pattern makes it a pretty good candidate for autumnal muffling. Go forth!

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10/22/09
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Go Wolverines!

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By now, you’ve probably got a few ideas about winter coats, but the coming snows require a pretty specialized set of footwear too. Our suggestion: something thick, heavy and completely impenetrable.

This newly arrived Wolverine Montgomery Boot fits the bill quite nicely, with thick leather and an inch and a half of rubber separating you from the slushy wilds. Throw in a rust-belt history that rivals Red Wing, and you’ve got a bonafide American stomper. Hopefully you’ve also got an industrial-strength shoehorn handy…

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10/13/09
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Big Picture

Look but Don’t Dip

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In honor of the definitive end of beach season, here’s a peek at Jones Beach during the deepest stretch of the off-season, courtesy of Lee Balzano. If you were waiting to get your duffle coat out of storage, now might be a good time.

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09/23/09
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It’s Cold Out There

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With the threat of winter already looming, it may be time to examine your footwear options. Galoshes are fine enough and by now you’re probably familiar with a few indestructible worker boots, but you may need something else to round out your options. Something a bit…puffier.

These Moncler slippers are a direct translation of their famous bubble coats into the world of footwear. That means they’re a little better suited for indoor lounging than outdoor trekking, but provided you don’t have more to do than fetch the paper, they should hold up just about perfectly.

And if you need to do a little trekking—you can always break out the boots.

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07/28/09
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Dressing Up

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In honor of the beginning of Fall/Winter (in shops not calendars, of course), we thought we’d call attention to this skewed overcoat from Vivienne Westwood that just arrived at Sefton Men’s boutique in London. It’s not a bad way to kick off the season, especially if you’re gearing up for a brisk yet uncannily refined winter.

And if you have a top hat handy…now might be the time.

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03/13/09
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Nom Nom Nom

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There are a lot of different ways to dress for cold, but the “British gent invades Poland” look is one of the more interesting ones we’ve seen.

Nom de Guerre’s F/W ’09 collection mixes a wide range of styles, but what sticks out for us is the rough fur boot covers that look like they were lifted straight from Genghis Khan. The usual prim British tailoring and preppy shawl collars still apply, but now they look like they’re ready for the eastern front. Unlike 90% of winter collections, this one tries to outfit you for the coldest days of the year.

And a few infantry movements, while they’re at it.

Get a closer look at the mongol horde»

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01/30/09
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Stompers

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Big Black Boots usually fit into what might charitably be called “the industrial look,” but when it’s this cold, you may be able to work them into your wardrobe a bit more subtly.

It’s not a formal look, so we’d keep them as far away from your suit as possible, but when you’re trudging through the snow on your off-hours, you’ll be glad to have something heavy between your toes and the outside world—and it may match with your puffy coat better than you think. Like we always say, the right clothes for the circumstances will always be stylish.

And if you’re wondering which boots are the right ones, these Adam Kimmels don’t look too bad. Provided you don’t mind paying in Euros.

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01/29/09
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Refined Tastes

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This time of year, it pays to have a pair of snow-ready shoes handy. They probably won’t be the best-looking thing in your closet, but they’ll spare you the trouble of galoshes and get you through the slushy time of year with all your finer footwear intact.

At the capsule show, Gourmet showed us some of the best examples we’ve seen so far, along with a respectable showing of straight sneakers. Their zippered shoes—which we keep wanting to describe as “spaceman shoes”—are definitely a good idea, but the crown jewel is to the right. Look at the matching rubber bottoms and you’ll start to get the idea. This is the first time we’ve seen a shoe that could genuinely call L. L. Bean an influence.

Score another one for Maine.

See more of Gourmet’s shoes»

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01/05/09
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LinkOut

Rabbits, Snow Polo, and the Gray Flannel Suit

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Rabbit, Run: Surreal photography continues to scare the crap out of us. [NotCot]

Winter Sports: A friendly face introduces us to the terrifying world of snow polo. [Luxist]

Going Minimal: Does good design flourish during a depression? It depends how you feel about the barrel-top. [Unbeige]

Going Gray: The enduring appeal of the gray flannel suit.
[A Suitable Wardrobe]

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12/01/08
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Goosed

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A little goosedown can be a godsend this time of year, but we’re of the opinion it should be felt, not seen.

This goretex-equipped jacket from WhiteMountaineering covers up the slicker surfaces with rough wool for the best of both worlds. It might look a bit puffy from afar, but it’s hard to get much warmer.

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10/31/08
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Covered Up

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It’s getting blustery out there, but there are still lots of options if you don’t want to give in to the synthetic parka just yet.

Fashion Indie just tipped us off to Harmon, a grayscale-prone line that just had the good fortune of landing at Oak, the most-favored boutique for downtown Manhattan fashion-heads. We have to say, it was a good pickup. They might be too forward for non-hipsters, but the duffle coat has been in great need of an update for some time, and these folks seem primed to give it one. Of course, if you’re willing to give the parka another try, we could recommend a place for that too.

See more of Harmon»

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Style: some people have it, and some neighborhoods really have it. To show you what we mean, we’ve partnered with Cadillac to present Style Shifters—a five-part, in-depth look at what the hippest gents in some of the country’s coolest neighborhoods are wearing now. Our intrepid photographers have roamed the streets in search of the most stylish guys around. Herewith, a few photos of what they found...

New York

Brooklyn

Williamsburg

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is home to some of the country’s best bars and coolest restaurants—and, of course, some of the best menswear shops in the world. Naturally, you’ll find more than a few stylish individuals perched outside those locations (and no, not all of them are Billyburg hipsters). See what we mean below...

On The Streets: Brooklyn

  • Drew Ledbetter Actor
    Lives: Providence, RI

    Hometown: Chattanooga, TN / Bay Area, CA

    What We Like Drew’s shoes are made by Cole Haan.
  • Drew Ledbetter Actor
    Lives: Providence, RI

    Hometown: Chattanooga, TN / Bay Area, CA

    What We Like Drew’s shoes are made by Cole Haan.
  • Justice Hampton Works for Club Monaco
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Dallas, TX

    What We Like Leave it to a Texan to know that a linen jacket is the perfect bit of outerwear to transition you from spring to summer.
  • Justice Hampton Works for Club Monaco
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Dallas, TX

    What We Like Leave it to a Texan to know that a linen jacket is the perfect bit of outerwear to transition you from spring to summer.
  • Jamie Clawson Runs a leather accessories business (valentinegoods.com)
    Lives: East Village, New York

    Hometown: Cleveland, OH

    What We Like Jamie’s shirt is called the “Expensive” shirt by Wil Fry. Ironically, it goes for about 30 bucks.
  • Jamie Clawson Runs a leather accessories business (valentinegoods.com)
    Lives: East Village, New York

    Hometown: Cleveland, OH

    What We Like Jamie’s shirt is called the “Expensive” shirt by Wil Fry. Ironically, it goes for about 30 bucks.
  • Koppel Verma Researcher at Google
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Cambridge, MA

    What We Like Turns out, the Swiss Army makes more than knives—they also made this jacket (it’s vintage).
  • Koppel Verma Researcher at Google
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Cambridge, MA

    What We Like Turns out, the Swiss Army makes more than knives—they also made this jacket (it’s vintage).
  • Chris Afzal Audio engineer
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Baltimore, MD

    What We Like If you needed any more proof that Brooks Brothers has shed its stodgy image, these shoes should do the trick.
  • Chris Afzal Audio engineer
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Baltimore, MD

    What We Like If you needed any more proof that Brooks Brothers has shed its stodgy image, these shoes should do the trick.
  • Malik Alokpovi Host for a hotel
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Born in Togo, West Africa, but lived in the South of France

    What We Like Malik’s red suede shoes came from A.P.C. Try not to step on them.
  • Malik Alokpovi Host for a hotel
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Born in Togo, West Africa, but lived in the South of France

    What We Like Malik’s red suede shoes came from A.P.C. Try not to step on them.
  • Billy Cadden Musician
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Woodstock, NY

    What We Like Billy’s worn this shirt, which he got at H&M while on tour, at every show since.
  • Billy Cadden Musician
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Woodstock, NY

    What We Like Billy’s worn this shirt, which he got at H&M while on tour, at every show since.
  • Sam Bowstucky Bartender
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    What We Like He’s actually on his way to a working audition for a bartending job at the Blind Barber. Good luck, Sam.
  • Sam Bowstucky Bartender
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    What We Like He’s actually on his way to a working audition for a bartending job at the Blind Barber. Good luck, Sam.
California

San Francisco

Mission District

Style. The Mission’s got it. Union Square’s got it. But each of them goes about having it in a different way—the Mission rocking a more bohemian coffee shop vibe, Union Square hosting some of the best higher-fashion shops (and shoppers) on the West Coast. We rounded up a few of the most stylish folks from both. Have yourself a gander below…

On The Streets: San Francisco

  • Brian Cunningham Shop clerk
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: Boston, MA

    What We Like The first rule any SF transplant learns: always bring a light coat. Brian sticks with a denim jacket from AllSaints. (Button to taste.)
  • Brian Cunningham Shop clerk
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: Boston, MA

    What We Like The first rule any SF transplant learns: always bring a light coat. Brian sticks with a denim jacket from AllSaints. (Button to taste.)
  • Erik Newton Attorney
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Diego, CA

    What We Like Erik likes to throw on an interesting sport coat with a pocket square and skip the tie—on days he’s not in the courthouse, naturally.
  • Erik Newton Attorney
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Diego, CA

    What We Like Erik likes to throw on an interesting sport coat with a pocket square and skip the tie—on days he’s not in the courthouse, naturally.
  • Jason Moo Banker
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: New York, NY

    What We Like Jason picked up his prized pocket square at his favorite tailor, tucked away in NYC’s NoHo—Michael Andrews Bespoke.
  • Jason Moo Banker
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: New York, NY

    What We Like Jason picked up his prized pocket square at his favorite tailor, tucked away in NYC’s NoHo—Michael Andrews Bespoke.
  • Presyler Galvin Bon vivant
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    What We Like A good carry-all bag is a necessity in the city—and you won’t do much better than a Goyard. Extra points for the monogram.
  • Presyler Galvin Bon vivant
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    What We Like A good carry-all bag is a necessity in the city—and you won’t do much better than a Goyard. Extra points for the monogram.
  • Randal Ruiz Design student
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Jose, CA

    What We Like Randal fashioned those elbow pads himself—ensuring he’ll never bump into the same blazer anywhere else.
  • Randal Ruiz Design student
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Jose, CA

    What We Like Randal fashioned those elbow pads himself—ensuring he’ll never bump into the same blazer anywhere else.
Florida

Miami

South Beach
June 6

Forget everything you know about Miami style. Today’s Miamian is more LeBron James than Crockett and Tubbs—as you’ll soon see in our next edition of Style Shifters…

Kempt
Style Shifters
Cadillac