Menswear

I have to admit that I am woefully late to the linen game. Having once thought that the wrinkles of the fabric were somehow a sign of dishevelment, I now see how wrong I was. Linen, for me, has been the best discovery of mine, sartorially speaking, this year. And, dear Reader, I am here to convince you of the same.

It used to be a running joke: I owned 77 ties.  According to my girlfriend (now wife), that was too many for a 27-year-old to own. Ever since then (nine years ago), I’ve stopped counting – mostly out of fear of coming clean with my wife – but I would bet my life that number has climbed. But really, how many ties is too many?

Four years ago, I was having a bad day. (While I won’t go into details, the fact that I can remember the circumstances many years later is an indication of just how bad.) I’m not sure how I decided this – maybe I had something to return? – but I found myself at Suitsupply.

Over the weekend I was perusing my vinyl collection, I got immersed in my thoughts and I realized that in my teenage years I listened to everything from Michael Jackson, Guns N Roses, and Simply Red to Run DMC, KRS One, and A Tribe Called Quest. I know during that time no one could have told me about wearing a suit. My wardrobe staples were baggy jeans, hoodies, and Timberland boots. I was heavily influenced by the Hip Hop DJ and b-boy culture. As I thought on it some more, I began considering if the music I listened to influenced my attire or if they both matured together.

For many Men of a Certain Age, khakis have never really gone out of style. But for me, at 30-years-old, it’s been a bit of a more contentious relationship. My formative years were growing up in the mid-aughts, where skinny jeans reigned supreme. A decade on and I’m happy to report the pendulum has now swung to the classic khaki.

Dolcevita, Turtleneck, Cuello de Tortuga, Col Roulé.

Many ways to talk about one of the most distinguished, iconic and classic cold-weather garments. The origin of this piece of clothing is thought to be related to its mere function: sailors had to endure long voyages in harsh conditions, wind, storms and cold weather made them ideate a cozy and functional item of clothing that would protect them from the cold.

The signs are everywhere. The mercury in the thermometer dips below 65° F (that’s 18° C for all our non-American gents), the leaves start to lose their chlorophyll and turn rich shades of orange and amber, the sun sets sooner and, of course, the pumpkin spice latte becomes a Starbucks best seller again.