Slow Rhythms 3/19/22

Saturday 3/19/22

Happy Saturday everyone. Not a surprise that I wrote for the majority of the day today, yet I had to leave the home office. To switch up the environment a bit, I walked over to Good Coffee a few blocks from my apartment and grabbed a cappuccino to sip on while getting work started. The weather called for a bit of layering, and I liked having an excuse to where something somewhat presentable.

I have been loving the wave of vintage military/workwear silhouettes that have been popular the past few years, as there are so many ways to take inspiration from such iconic time periods in history. I wanted to play around with this idea, and came up with my own spin on a classic look. The off-white terry tee adds a bit of texture under the denim jacket, and I tucked it in to smarten it up just a tad. The pleated trousers in this deep green color harken back to fatigue pants while still having a modern taper at the bottom. And the chucks keep the classic Americana look while still feeling youthful.

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I still have my denim fix satiated up top, yet today I went with these Alex Mill Standard Pleated Pant in Military Olive to have a bit baggier of a fit. The cropped length is a nice touch, as I usually cuff my pants at the ankle anyways. These always put a smile on my face because they perfectly toe the line of being on the dressy side while still feeling casual enough to wear with a hoodie. These don’t get a lot of wear time comparatively to my jeans, but this fit made me want to break these out a bit more come Spring and Summer.

Up Top

I don’t know if I was just sleeping on this brand or if they have suddenly stepped up their game, but Rhythm has been making some pieces that are right up my alley. Their vintage lines capture a time that seemed less stressful and full of color. Both the cap and the Vintage Terry Tee in Bone are from this line. The cap is just a fun pop of color with a clean graphic of the sun and moon that caught my eye. It catches a ridiculous amount of lint and dog hair, but it is still my go to hat to throw on before I head out.

Now, the terry tee is a game changer. My girlfriend snagged this for me as a present and I am so glad she did. It is a tiny step out of my normal style, but adds texture and is a creamy off-white color that is such a nice switch from a plain white tee. And, the oversized chest pocket adds a fun design that I am totally here for.

Of course an outfit of mine can’t really be complete without a bit of denim, so I decided to throw on this orSlow 60’s Jacket over the top. The shorter length, classic royal blue shade of indigo, and contrast stitching make this a lifelong piece I am looking forward to passing down. The paper patch is a fun nod to vintage Levis and the tag brings it all home stating “Made for long affection”.

Shoes

I slipped on these Chuck Taylors again this week because the rain has subsides just long enough that I could walk around without completely destroying them just yet. The touches of green and off-white went really well with the tones going on up top tied everything together.

It is finally my Friday and Dani (girlfriend) is coming home tomorrow from a work trip in Austin, so this work week has wrapped up nicely. Time to kick back a bit tonight and maybe let Paul get his wiggles out at the dog park. Cheers to the weekend. See you soon.

Basically Pajamas 3/18/22

Friday 3/18/22

It’s Friday! Not my Friday, sadly, but alas still Friday. Being a busy time for me as a copywriter, today is going to be primarily focused around work, so I decided to keep it casual and comfortable. I can honestly say I think jeans are more comfortable than sweats, so this is essentially the closest thing I own to a proper pair of pajamas.

I can easily work from home all day in this fit, and still look presentable enough to attend a quick Zoom call or step outside to bring Paul (the doggo) out for walks around the block. Let’s dive into it.

Not surprisingly, it is overcast here in Portland, yet not raining. I like to pretend that warmer weather is around the corner, so I am pulling inspiration from my days living in Southern California to keep this fit smart, yet a little grungy with frayed ends and beat up sneakers with no socks.

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Today, I went with my cut-off Railcar Fine Goods Spikes X001s. A buddy of mine gave me these a year or so ago basically brand new and I decided to try out the raw hem look on a pair of jeans that i didn’t necessarily spend an arm and a leg for. I dig how they turned out and like seeing these guys fade. They fade extremely slowly, so if you are in the market for some indigo that will stay blue for the office, these are it. That being said, I have been able to finally see some whiskers and honeycombs peaking through as of late. And, the veg tan leather patch is coming along nicely.

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This black Upstate Stock beanie is a staple for me. With my self-bleached hair, everyday is a bad hair day, so it’s best to look a little less like an unstable crazy person and more like Jack Nicholson from One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. I am not aloof to the irony of that last statement.

You know, sometimes it is not about the brand, weight, or fabric of a garment that makes it one you grab time and time again. This Vintage Soft Hoodie by Gap is absolutely perfect for layering under a jacket or alone on days such as this. You can hit me up with a Visvim pullover you swear by, but this bad boy was under $50, so I am not complaining.

Shoes

I may be in a weird, niche community of people when I say this, but I strongly believe Authentic Vans only look better the dirtier they are. It is a sort of white trash patina that I can’t get enough of. These are still a bit too white for me, but they are coming along nicely.

Cheers to a Friday leading into a weekend of overtime. Thanks for hanging out with me for a bit. See you soon.

Greens & Greys 3/17/22

Thursday 3/17/22: First Fit!

It seemed as good a day as any to start something that I have been meaning to do for a long time. I have always had a desire to find an outlet to share a little bit about my passion for mens fashion and the importance of appearance. There is something to be said about first impressions and the impact that looking “put together”, for lack of better terms, can have on both self perception and outward expression.

If blogs like this bore the shit out of you, I totally get it. It’s not for everyone. Yet, if you stick around, I hope these posts provide you with outfit inspiration, brand discovery, and a space to talk about the clothing and accessories I have come to love. So, without further ado, I will attempt to dive into this debut fit perfect for an overcast Spring day here in Portland, Oregon.

Portland has been sitting in the mid 40s to 50s which is right in the sweet spot when it comes to wearing my favorite pieces. Cold enough for a light jacket, yet warm enough to keep layers to a minimum.

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Most days, I will begin crafting an outfit by selecting my pair of pants for the day. You will soon see that I favor selvage denim and ride that slant pretty hard. The way denim ages and continues to build character over time is an addiction that my girlfriend and close friends have heard far too much about (hence the fact that I am now talking to internet about it instead). These Naked and Famous True Grit Selvage jeans have been in my rotation as of late, partly because I love the “gritty” texture and partly because they come in at a perfect weight of 15oz. For you denimheads out there, these are about eight months old with one soak and three washes. I normally wash my jeans far less often, yet the True Grits have proved to crock (bleed indigo) on literally everything, and still are after three washes (which is insane). I am really enjoying the way these fade into a vintage, vibrant blue while having natural brown tones poking through due to the tan weft.

Up Top

Up top, I chose to layer two lighter pieces together that proved to be perfect for an overcast day with a little rain. I have been poking around the city for new menswear shops and stopped into Ship John the other day. It is an absolutely rad shop through and through with kind folks who care about quality garments. I highly recommend checking them out. While visiting, I decided to pick up one of their Charcoal Levon Thermals and I have to say it is the softest thermal I have owned, and lighter weight than I am used to, making it a versatile staple in my wardrobe. And, for $32, you can’t beat it.

Over the top I have a Far Afield Porter Jacket, one of my oldest and most loved jackets. Brand new, it was a deep almost forest green, yet after about 5 years of pretty regular wear, it has dulled down to a color more reminiscent of an army green which I am a huge fan of. I had always felt weary about the integrity of corduroy as a durable fabric, yet this thing has been beat to hell with no holes and minimal wear on the elbows and collar.

Shoes

When it comes to footwear, I seem to gravitate more towards classic sneaker silhouettes from Vans and Converse, so I chose to keep this fit casual with these Chuck 70’s featuring cool ripstop reinforcements around areas that usually endure the most stress on the shoe. Having blown out numerous pairs of Converse throughout my life, I am curious to see if this will prevent the wear I normally see around the outside of the foot and ankle from skating and walking around the city.

This ironically proved to be a perfect fit for my St. Pattys Day happy hour with the pops of green. Honestly a bit of dumb luck. Anyhow, glad you stopped by. See you soon.