School Supplies: Penfield SS/10

-Continuing on my eternal parka quest, I find myself really liking some of the new jackets from Penfield. The Lockwood (left) is the perfect simple parka, and I trust Penfield's waterproofing skills more so than some of the parkas from higher-end labels. The Cambpell (center) is not quite as sweet as the Wings + Horns chambray parka, but at about $500 less, it's a nice substitute. The Penfield chambray isn't waterproof though, which is a bummer. The Vassan 2 tone (right) is on the verge of looking a little too snowboard-y, but the colors are soft enough that it could work as a go-to urban parka. The best of the deal though, is that all these jackets are under $200, which increases the likelihood that I'll be snagging one sometime this spring. more

Field Trip: Alife Rivington Club

-On the last day of my NYC trip, I had to book it down to the Lower East Side to see Alife Rivington Club. I made it 5 minutes before closing, just enough time to catch a glimpse of the store that last month's GQ described as the city's ultimate destination for sneakerheads.
-A.R.C. was fresh off of a collaboration with Lacoste and the release of ?uestlove's exclusive Air Force 1s, and their shelves were filled with everything from your standard Dunks to Saucony runners, all branded with the A.R.C. logo. The service was unexpectedly good, and the dude with the ill Islam beard had more sneaker knowledge than anyone I've ever met. A.R.C. was by far the most impressive (though expensive) store I went to in NYC, so make it a top priority when you are in town.

-According to Hypebeast, A.R.C. recently released a line of outerwear with Penfield. Penfield is known for being pretty style-conscious while putting out some of the highest quality outerwear around, making this an unexpected yet welcome collabo. If you are trying to skip the fleece this fall, then check out A.R.C.'s online store. more

Design Major: Wood Wood

-We first noticed Danish designers Wood Wood after their killer New Balance collaboration, and they have recently been involved in some equally ill joint ventures with Converse and Penfield.

-Penfield has had their share of collaborations recently, and this one looks especially promising. The weather is equally dismal in Copenhagen and Seattle, so I trust the Danes at Wood Wood to put together some solid outerwear.









-The Wood Wood Cons are part of the (Product) RED AIDs benefit program, and will release on October 1st.

-Wood Wood's Winter 2008 collection proves that they can, in fact, do alright on their own. Below, an interesting take on the classic Scandinavian sweater.

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Dress Code: Fight the Northface Monotony

-Pretty soon it's going to be raining every single day. I was already thinking about how I may have to finally concede this year and buy a Northface, since my only waterproof jacket is my badass coast guard jacket, but it doesn't have a hood. That being said, the announcement of the Penfield colorblock line the other day (from Hypebeast) couldn't have come at a better time. With comparable prices to Northface the color block line offers those of us who want to stay warm and dry a more creative option, as Tim noted earlier this month. Check after the jump for a bunch more photos from the line, including vests. Also check back soon for an examination of some of my Northwest winter essentials.






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School Supplies: Sierra Designs

-Fall is here, and you are most likely cold and/or wet so here is some real talk. With all of the new hype surrounding outerwear brands like Penfield and Patagonia, I thought it necessary to recognize the underdog. While they aren't about collabos, fleece epidemics or fake flannel, Sierra Designs makes inexpensive, durable, and sustainable outerwear fit for the NW's notorious weather.
-SD's clothing proves that simplicity doesn't preclude style. Their products come in vibrant solid colors and can be made obscenely small for the purpose of packing. The down coat and Microlight rain jacket pictured below are both packable and can be purchased together for less than $200.
-I got a Sierra Designs sleeping bag as a graduation present, and it has served me well, whether in the mountains or on friends' floors. While sleeping bags aren't our main area of expertise, I thought it necessary to note that SD's Verde 20 sleeping bag was given an Outside Magazine Gear of the Year award. The bag is made with 95% recycled material and is part of the Green Effect program, which pledges that the company will run on 100% wind power.
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