School Supplies: Heritage Research for Oi Polloi Varsity Jacket

-I've blogged about Heritage Resarch a few times now, and I have to reiterate that I think the British brand is making some of the finest (and expensive,) minimalist garments around right now. I've also blogged a few times about my affinity for toned-down varsity jackets. Given Heritage Research's other pieces, a varsity jacket seems like kind of a curveball, but like their other jackets, this one looks like it was executed brilliantly. You can't go wrong with heavyweight grey wool and cream leather. This jacket is made in America and hits the till at $530 via Oi Polloi. more

School Supplies: Nom De Guerre SS10 Desert Corps

-I usually try not to get too hyped up about Nom De Guerre, mostly because their pieces are rarely in my range. But these two coats from their SS10 collection — the Desert Corps Jacket, and the Desert Corps Trench — are two of the freshest looking items I've seen from anybody this season. It's pretty well established that I'm a sucker for military influence, and this collection is packed with service subtleties. At nearly the $500, the trench isn't too outrageous compared to similar coats, but it's still out of my budget. There's nothing wrong with wishing though, so that's my current stance. Nomad has the these and more from the collection, and as is their custom, the Toronto-based shop has the best product shots around. Though, I'd still like to see these on a model to get a sense of the fit. more

School Supplies: Some Spring Rugby

-I'm seriously considering snagging this Rugby Newbury Chino jacket. Ryan had a chance to try it on recently and has assured me that the fit is on point (Rugby fit has been great to me on other items.) I was thinking about getting the J. Crew khaki Ludlow suit, but I don't think I'm ready to make a move on a full suit just yet. This jacket is a little more casual than the Ludlow, and I like the little Rugby details on the collar and cuff.

-I don't know why I've never checked to see if Rugby had a club-collar oxford, since I've been looking for one for awhile. I think it's pretty safe to say this version ($69.50,) and this madras bow ($29.50,) are the most affordable models of each to be found (especially if you can take advantage of the 15% student discount Rugby offers.) As always, Rugby is a mixed bag, but if you stick to the classics, the label can provide some good snags for those of us on a college budget. more

School Supplies: Navy Authentics

-I'm gonna keep this post simple. I picked up some navy Authentics at a Vans outlet for $30. You probably already know that Authentics are the perfect SS sneaker. I love the nautical feel of the navy/white model. They're high enough not to fret if there's still a bit of rain on the ground, and skatable enough to hop on a board if you need to jet somewhere quick. Let them get a little worn and pair them with some rolled up chinos; If they're too clean and thrown with some stock raw denim, you're bound to look like every other streetwear kid. If you're going with a ubiquitous sneaker, make sure the rest of the fit has an individual flair.

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Professors: Marcy Playground

-Every time a Marcy Playground song comes up on my shuffle I remind myself to do this post. You probably remember the band for their hit Sex and Candy, but you may not know that  the album from which the hit came is one of the best  and most complete rock albums of the nineties.
-I wouldn't place Marcy Playground within my top-ten bands, but I would put their 1997 self-titled album in my top-ten all-time albums. I consider an album great when I enjoy every single song, there aren't any that I'm inclined to skip. Aside from Nirvana's discs, which heavily influenced Marcy's sound, this is one of the few nineties albums that I can enjoy all the way through. The band's sound is slightly softer than Nirvana's, but the songs that rock a little more heavily don't seem contrived. Littered with memorable lines and bits of PNW reference (derived from lead singer John Wozniak's time at Washington's famous fake university, Evergreen,) this is a quintessential nineties album for anybody's collection. Sadly, the band's two subsequent releases failed to achieve what the self-titled album did, both commercially and musically, but the first disc is one that will always have a place in my rotation.

A Cloak Of Elvenkind - Marcy P...

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Dress Code: Cloudy Day Shopping

-Yesterday the weather kept alternating between sunbreak and light sprinkles, but Grace and I headed to Portland to do some shopping before we head back to school. I'm posting this just to propose the idea of chambray (or any casual BD) over a light sweater as an early-spring (or early-fall) option. As far as a concept goes with this, I guess the main idea is protecting the refined shirt/tie/sweater with a more rugged piece. You might ask "Protecting from what?" and I might reply "a hobo's shiv." But really there's no concept, I just think it looks kind of cool, and I liked the three depths of blue in the complete look. I've done this before over a grey crewneck sweatshirt, but this was the first time I threw the chambray on as a shirt-jacket over a tie-combo. A bit unconventional, but I think this is something I'll try again when I'm in need of one more light layer.
-Chambray, Gap $40
-Sweater, J. Crew $40
-Gnar face, No sleep, priceless. more

School Supplies: Yuketen Backpack

-I thought I'd stop blogging about backpacks now that I've got my Inventory x Duluth Pack joint, but I'm still incredibly drawn to the rucksack aesthetic. I know a lot of people favor messengers/bookbags, but I don't really like having a strap dissect my chest, especially when I'm wearing a tie.
-I'm a bit less-fond of Yuketen's footwear styles then most people, but this pack is one of the best bags I've seen. If I had the dough I'd be making up excuses for owning two backpacks, though I might remove that round leather patch. more

School Supplies: Sperry Wear

-I've probably worn this pair of Top-Siders 86% of the days since I purchased them in the spring of 2006. One of the few Glenn O'Brien style rules I break is wearing Sperrys through every season. This pair has been with me through trips to the beach, hikes in the wood, tramping through campus in the snow and once when I got caught in a torrential deluge and they got completely reshaped. The bottom has worn all the way through to the insole, so I can't wear them when it's wet anymore, but they're still my go-to shoes when it's dry out. Check out after the jump for a some more shots of the damage.















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