My affection for this duck camo has been expressed before, but I was perusing the fall offerings from the Japan-only The North Face Purple Label and am now obsessed with this parka and vest. Mostly the vest, but really I want both. Good news is, I’ll be in Japan in about six weeks, bad news is the exchange rate. If you are not headed to Japan, you might want to get that proxy moving before these are long gone. [TNFPL at Digital Mountain]
Equal parts want and desire. This nice looking Oyster Perpetual, Submariner will be up for auction at Antiquorum on June 10th (lot #63) in New York. Estimates place the sale price to likely be between $20,000 – $30,000. Now, before everyone gets all crazy about the price, I just want to say that this is a “money-is-no-object” type of want. An itch that for me will go unscratched barring an ACL sale to [INSERT NAME OF GIANT MEDIA COMPANY] or a successful strike at the lotto. A regular sub would do the trick perfectly, but it would be more fun to say that your watch was originally sold to the Royal Navy.
Over the past few months I have been on a mission to find a conference table for my office. Actually, I have been looking for two tables. I ended up buying a butcher block table on industrial legs from a lathe which looks really nice with my Toledo drafting chairs. For the second table I bought two industrial packing tables (complete with particle board tops and shop stools) from the shipping supply company Uline for $349 each. Pretty amazing deal when you think about.
My whole office set-up looks and works very nice, but when I was poking around the Connecticut antiques shop Get Back Inc’s website I found what could have been a seriously amazing addition in this metal top school table.
The streets of Aspen were littered with awesome old trucks — Wagoneers, Range Rovers, Broncos, Suburbans and this really great looking Toyota Land Cruiser. As you may remember, I really like the old school smaller SUVs and I’m going to need to add this to my wish list of classic rides. I have to think one of these Land Cruisers would be a cinch to park in Manhattan — and that winch might even come in handy. The only question is, where to start? Defender? Bronco II? Scout? Willys? More photos after the jump. Ride Colorado, ride.
You’re looking at a pair of non-issue U.S. Army Ranger pants that feature one of the first ever military issue camouflage patterns. This pattern is commonly referred to as HBT (Herringbone Twill) CAMO, and was most widely issued at the request of General Douglas MacArthur to Marines in the Pacific theater of WWII, sometime after the Battle of Tarawa. The two-sided motif (lighter color camo for spring and darker for fall) also briefly saw action in the European theater, but was scrapped because of its similarity to a German camouflage.
The more I see from Tokihito Yoshida, the more I am amazed by the man’s work. Most will know the name from his highly sought after collaboration with Barbour on their Beacon range, but on top of that he designs a full collection of his own and various other side projects. File this under the category of various side project.
Not as omnipresent as Filson bags but just as authentic, J.W. Hulme has been making high quality leather and canvas in Minnesota for over 100 years. The company is probably best known for selling its waspy wares to outdoorsy outfitter Orvis in the late 80s and 90s. Eventually, the relationship with Orvis came to an end, but J.W. Hulme continues to supply nice looking and well made goods in their unique style. It goes without saying that the goods don’t come cheap and that there are companies out there making similar products, but with J.W. Hulme you are paying for high end materials and fabrication. These bags require more of an investment up-front, but I have to think they will literally last a lifetime. If I were you I would start breaking one in now, your son will thank you.
American Heritage Leather Duffle
Ahhh the urge to escape. It has crossed every New Yorker’s mind at least once…in the past week. The daydream of finding a little place upstate where you can live out your days watching the dogs run around the freshly mowed front yard. The Volvo doesn’t have to be moved before 9am and the neighbors all know your name, first and last. Well now you can not only have those two dogs and permanent suspension of alternate side parking, but could probably house every one of your friends while you’re at it. BDDW, a New York based furniture company, is packing up their Hudson River Valley headquarters and heading down to good ol’ Philadelphia, Pa. A move that leaves 147 acres of wooded relaxation up on the auction block. The property includes a 1500 square foot house, two gigantic stone horse barns and the aforementioned acreage. The asking price for the dream? A cool $1.9m. Having access to that clock tower alone is worth the price of admission in my mind. Bed & breakfast anyone? I already have the plans drawn up. —SEAN SULLIVAN
Since we are riffing on the arrival of autumn weather, what store could be better to highlight than the perennial fall favorite, Orvis. The hook and bullet shop has a pretty awesome line-up for fall including some tasty Alden boots, loads of Barbour and all of the waspy staples that one would ever need. When I worked in Midtown (Manhattan), I would sneak away and waste all sorts of time at the Orvis outpost on Fifth Avenue. I love the idea of being in a massive city and looking at fly fishing accoutrements and other assorted man-gear. Some of my favorite items below.
The perfect accoutrement for summer suits are the raw silk and Indian Madras ties from the reliable Ivy League clothier J. Press. A quick look in my closet would reveal roughly 150 J. Press ties collected over the years, more than all of the other brands combined. One thing I love about these little pieces of fabric is the fact that they will never go out of style. That’s a concept I championed when I worked with the company, design with no obsolescence. So if it’s classic style you desire, break out the khaki cotton suits and get to work — or go to work — in one of these ties.
As you all well know, the esteemed Mister Mort is always a natty dresser. Last week we met up to go see some vintage airplanes on Long Island and Mister Mort showed up in the most amazing hat from Supreme’s SS09 collection. I have been on the look out for a good mesh back hat (if you can believe it), ever since a few months ago when I was reminded of the great looking blue hat that Mr. Levon Helm rocked in The Last Waltz. Tongue in cheek patriotism at its finest (in the title) and below.
There was a little gem in the back (front?) of the new issue of Free & Easy, Cramp leather goods. (That link worked last night but not today — fyi.) Cool stuff, strange name. Lately Free & Easy seemed to be getting more bizarre by the minute, making you feel like you had taken acid and were mowing a lawn of dandelions on a John Deere tractor. Luckily the good folks who put out my favorite non-English magazine were able to shake off the psychedelic haze for the May home issue. The Cramp canvas and leather shoulder bag, plus the other items pictured below, are some great looking accessories. Definitely something I need to keep an eye out for on my next trip to Japan.
