Indigo Invitational First Impressions 4/5/22

4/05/22

This is an exciting week you guys. The third year of the Indigo Invitational has officially begun and I am participating for the first time. If you haven’t heard of this event, it is essentially a challenge to see who can beat the shit out of their jeans more to achieve bragging rights for the best “fades”. 99% of females think it is disgusting (not Dani because she is awesome), as many of the participants will wear the same pair of pants 365 days of the year without washing them once. Sounds crazy, but trust me when I say, don’t knock it until you try it. So let’s dive in and see which jeans I have decided to commit a whole year of my life to.

Japan Blue Jeans x Blue Owl 12oz Indigo Black Selvedge

These jeans are by far the furthest outlier in my wardrobe, yet I like it. It makes me think a bit more about the challenges of putting together an outfit with one garment to build off of everyday. This pair also happens to be my first dive into indigo by black jeans. In this case the warp of the jeans are dyed indigo (front facing fabric) and the weft is sulphur died black (the interior fabric). This makes a cuff look somewhat odd, as the colors slightly contrast each other. Indigo by black denim is known for high-contrast fades which will be interesting to see. Right now they almost look purple in direct light and bleed indigo everywear.

The texture is very uniform which is interesting knowing that these were woven on looser looms to create a “handwoven look”. I have a feeling this character might present itself as these get more worn. And, the 12 oz weight should be ideal for all temperatures throughout the year here in Portland. This actually is the lightest pair of raw denim I have.

I have been wearing these for less than a week now and already see some electric blue undertones around my wallet and Zippo lighter. Being so lightweight, I thought these would be a bit softer right out of the gate, but they hold their stiffness well which I think will be beneficial for the backs of the knees to really set in.

The selvage ID on these is one of my favorite features. There is something about the pinky-red color that really finishes these off and makes them pop when you look closer. I chose to go with the double cuff this time, so we will see how that goes as well.

Lastly, the hardware. This dark, brassy color gets me every time. I think they will patina nicely over the year (and years beyond). Plus, I am a sucker for the oversized “BLUE” on each button. For some reason, it feels like they aren’t taken themselves too seriously.

This competition is going to be an interesting experience to say the least. But, the community is full of fun people and creativity, so what is the harm in feeling like an idiot for a year? If you want to follow along, you can follow my instagram account specifically for the invitational @bluexblack22. If you are participating, good luck. If not, you’re lame. Just kidding. There is always next year. Cheers to a good week ahead. See you soon.

Honeysuckle & Sunshine 3/22/22

Tuesday 3/22/22

Man, the spring here is something I have never experienced. The constant smell of rain and blooming honeysuckle fills the air and the city is hushed by the droll of drizzling showers. Yet, when the sun peaks through shadowed clouds, everyone is warm and the city hums just a little brighter. Today was one of the sunny days, so I had to break out some brighter pieces.

This was the perfect outfit for a day that changed temperatures a ton with clouds moving overhead to pull in the next storm. I love the bright pops of color throughout, and the sandals are broken out for the first time.

Below

Honestly, there is nothing special about the pants today. I thrifted these Rustler jeans a while ago and honestly they are the best fitting jeans I own by far. They are snug in the top block, but they stay straight from knee to calf which really goes with this laid back fit.

Up Top

The color on top is a Bradley Mountain Watch Cap that I picked up on a visit down to San Diego to see a few buddies. Bradley Mountain happened to have a concert one of the nights I was there and I copped this beanie that is hard to wear all the time, but a fun color for spring.

I have had this Lee jacket for a very long time, as seen in the photos, but it had already lived many lives before I owned it. I have had to repair both of the elbows, but this thing is still holding on. It is so soft by now that it feels more like a cardigan than a jacket and is very lightweight for denim.

Under the jacket, I have another thrifted item that happens to be one of my favorite tees. It says “Bikes not Bombs Nicaragua” with a steel frame bicycle in the background and I think it is freaking sweet. Plus, it was 50 cents, so I am going to call that a win.

Sandals

If you asked me a year ago if I liked Chacos, I would have laughed in disgust. I don’t know what is was about them that made them so awful to me, yet now that my girlfriend works for them, I have sparked an interest in them. Dani made these with her own two hands and I rock them often to go for quick walks with Paul or to the store. Maybe not the best looking, but that is what makes them kind of charming.

Today was near perfect in my book with a walk down 23rd, ice cream at Salt and Straw, and cocktails at a few restaurants. And I was glad to be focusing on the little things like the smell of flowers on the balcony. I hope y’all are having as good week. See you soon.

Farniente 3/23/22

Wednesday 3/23/22

Today began with a walk to a local cafe with Dani and only continued to be a day of relaxation> I had to pop into the office for a bit, so I threw on a jacket I haven’t warn in a while and went with a simple look that looked sharp without overdoing it. Let’s dive in.

A light jacket, tee, and jeans has been my go to for this time of year, as I love being able to button up the jacket when it gets a bit chilly or open it up and get a bit of breeze to cool off when the sun peeks through the clouds.

Below

This pair of Railcars happens to be the first pair of raw denim I bought, and they have been absolutely amazing. I have had these for about 6 years now and have washed them five times. Sadly, I have gravitated more towards wider silhouettes since purchasing these, so they don’t get nearly as much wear as of late. Still, I will break these out every now and then for spring outfits because they look really good with a pair of white sneakers.

These have blown out once in the crotch, but I sent them back to Railcar and they did an incredible job darning the area. It feels extremely reinforced and has given no signs of splitting again which is awesome. I have just taken a mental note since that bike riding can prematurely blow through jeans. And, I won’t have to worry about that anymore because someone stole D and I’s bikes within a few days of moving to Portland. Oh well.

Up Top

I really don’t break out this Olow Artisan Jacket too often, as it is too slim to fit a sweatshirt under or even a long sleeve tee, so it has a very short window in Spring that I like to wear it. The chore coat look is amazing, the large front pockets offer room for everything I need to carry, and I happened to pick this one up in Paris, so it has some cool memories associated with the people I met at the Olow shop. Farniente loosely translates to idleness, but with less of a lazy connotation, and more of a time to be calm and present. The weight is nice and sturdy without being uncomfortable and the color of the buttons adds a fun pop of orange that I really enjoy. The only thing that is a bit annoying is the lighter color getting indigo on it easily when I wear it with any raw pair of jeans. But, you know, it gives it a bit of character and that is fine with me.

Shoes

These New Balances have been with me for a few years now, and they are probably some of the most comfortable sneakers I have owned. The leather upper stays somewhat clean and easy to wipe off. And, the sole of this model is comprised of a foam that makes these lightweight and great for longer walks around the city.

Today ended up being warmer than anticipated, so Dani and I had some time to spend on our balcony as the sun went down. Cheers to hump day y’all. See you soon.

I Want a Motorcycle 3/21/22

Monday 3/21/22

The start of a new week has arrived! Back to too much coffee, a new block of marathon training, and a full week with Dani, which is much-needed. Todays fit draws inspiration from a tee shirt Dani brought back from her work trip to Austin, TX. A little motorcycle aesthetic never hurts, so let’s dive in.

I cannot wait for the weather to be just a tad warmer here in Oregon because I would have loved to just wear a tee and jeans, but it is still drizzling nearly everyday and I needed to layer it up a bit. Yet, once it is dead of summer, I will be complaining about not being able to layer up. The grass is always greener.

Below

I decided to give some love to a pair of Naked and Famous Left Hand Twills today, as they are my least faded pair of denim and break up the heavily aged look of the other pieces. I usually wear a 29 in the Weird Guy fit when it comes to N&F, but I happened to stop into Peace Valley Dry Goods barber shop in Boise, ID to say hi to a buddy of mine, Chris, the owner of the shop. He happened to have a size 30 in stock, and I really liked the more relaxed taper that came with a size up. Plus, I feel as if they look much better with boots than some of my skinnier pants. I picked these up about two years ago and have washed them twice.

Since the jeans are a bit loose around the waist, I have to break out my Tanner Goods Classic Belt. Honestly, I don’t know how these guys stay in business because I wholeheartedly believe I will never need to buy a belt again. I bought this one around six years ago, and the black leather hasn’t changed at all. It is heavy, thick, and well worth the somewhat hefty price tag. Looking to purchase one of their wallets in the near future, but we will see.

Up Top

I am extremely picky when it comes to graphic tees, yet somehow Dani has picked out multiple of them for me that are perfect. While in Austin, she snagged this Revival Cycles Shop Tee that I am a huge fan of, as I somehow managed to lose all of my white tee shirts in the move from Idaho to Oregon. Yes, literally every single white shirt was lost. RIP. Anyhow, the fit and graphic are timeless and I anticipate this getting a lot of wear time this spring and summer.

Over the top, I threw on a vintage army jacket I picked up from Captain’s Helm, a secondhand shop in Oceanside, CA that you should definitely check out if you are in the area. This doesn’t get a ton of wear, as the collar has gotten a bit too fragile and frayed. Definitely need to reinforce it sooner rather than later. *If any of you would like to see how I go about repairing my clothes by hand, shoot me a message and I will make a future post about it.* The wide arms and longer length add some depth to this outfit that I really enjoy, especially with the shorter Noble Outfitters Canvas Vest over the top. I looked at Carhartt vests, but honestly liked the fit of this one much more, and it was a fraction of the cost. It adds the perfect amount of warmth and has large pockets both inside and out that have really come in handy more than a few times.

Boots

Some of the most iconic boots of all time, these Red Wing 6” Moc Toes were the perfect addition to the more rugged aesthetic I was going for. The best and worst part about these is that they don’t show age whatsoever as far as the upper goes. I sometimes wish I had a brown pair to break in and actually have the satisfaction of the different shades of leather. Yet, these are great because they stay sharp looking even when I smarten up a bit.

Accessories

I have just the essentials with me today. As you can probably tell by the horrible stitching, I made my wallet out of old scraps of denim I had laying around. I think it looks atrocious, but I receive a compliment about it every time I pull it out, so I am going to let it stick around for at least a little while longer. If you are in the market for a solid, no-frills pocket knife, this No.08 Stainless Steel Folding Knife is classic, sturdy, and affordable at $18. It stays nice and sharp while being lightweight and minimal. And, to finish it all off, I like to mist my outer layers with a little of this Teakwood & Tobacco Linen Spray before heading out. I find I like it a bit more than a traditional cologne, as it is subtle enough to be pleasant without drawing the attention of people nearby.

Today was my Sunday, so the weekend is sadly coming to a close. D and I will be ending the day with some homemade chicken tenders and potato wedges with The Office playing in the background. I mean, come on. It doesn’t get better than that. Anyhow, thanks for stopping by. See you soon.

Nine 3/20/22

Sunday 3/20/22

Don’t get bogged down in the first part of today’s blog. It is a downer here for a sec, but this space is an outlet of not only the clothing I like the look of, but also a look into the meanings that some garments hold forever.

With a mix of emotions, this date each year is approached with humility, immense love, heartache, and a flood of memories. My best friend and father passed away nine years ago today. Coincidentally, I had a run scheduled for today in preparation for the Steamboat Marathon, and the total distance was just over nine miles (15K). Cliche as it may be, not a day passes without something reminding me of him and the impact he left on everyone who had the privilege of meeting him. Hats off to you dad. You were and always will be the one I look up to the most.

Okay. Let’s dive into my favorite fit of the blog thus far.

If I could wear this everyday, I would. Sadly, all of these pieces are essentially retired from my daily wardrobe due to being paper thin and just waiting to fall apart if I make one wrong step. But, I break out this jersey once a year as an ode to a legend, John Maciel, and think the vintage “Sandlot” vibes are always a good look.

Below

God, these jeans. Having repaired them numerous times myself, these vintage Levi’s 501s are perfect in just about every way. The fit is iconic for a reason, and the shades of blue and white that are popping out from so many washes is right in the sweet spot for my taste. There are a few new holes that have prevented my from throwing these on, but today is a laid back Sunday that I will mostly spend at home, so I am not worried about blowing these out further. A pair of 501s is a must for any wardrobe, so pick up a pair when you get a chance and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Up Top

It is so interesting to wear this jersey just a few times a year because this is the piece of clothing that gets the most compliments hands down. My father happened to play for a Budweiser softball team in the 80s, and I am so grateful that this was recovered from an ex girlfriend of his and given to me as a present at his memorial. It has hung on for all these years, but I may have to do a few home repairs in the near future. Needless to say, this is my favorite piece I own. And, it was a bit chilly outside, so I threw on my Ship John Levon Thermal that ended up not only keeping me warm, but also giving this fit a bit of a “Benny the Jet Rodrigues” vibe.

The hat is an old, beat up Push and Pour cap that I won at a latte art competition back when I was a barista, and it has always been a favorite of mine to throw on with my casual outfits. If you happen to be in Boise, check their cafe out and grab a solid cup of coffee. The owners are rad and the shop has a skateboarding theme that gets rid of any pretentious feelings that can come from other “third wave” shops.

Shoes

These are my oldest pair of sneakers I own, and I think they have aged damn near perfectly. There is something to be said about using a piece of clothing until it is absolutely destroyed. I happen to be extremely rough on my clothing, so I gravitate towards brand that can pass the test of time, and classic hi-top Converse are no exception. They patina absolutely beautifully and will never go out of style. This pair specifically has transformed into something that brings me immense joy as a reminder that these things are simply material possessions. I don’t have time to keep everything looking pristine, and in fact find that mentality a bit boring. Not trying to throw shade at you sneakerheads, but hey, different strokes for different folks.

Accessories

Aside from my Imogene + Willie Zippo and a pocket knife, I am very sparse with accessories and jewelry, but I found it fitting to wear this key necklace a few close buddies gifted me at the start of college. My dad had a saying, “Let go, let God” that was a reminder for him to only worry about the things he could control. This has always stuck with me in the toughest of moments, and it feels good to slip this on every now and then to add a little good energy to the day.

Dani is on the plane headed back home, so I will leave you here. Hope you all are having the best of weekends. Hold those you love close and maybe take a sec to reflect on the people that make your life worth living. Cheers y’all. See you soon.