"What's In My Closet" - Vintage Levis Trucker Jacket

[Pictured: Sartorially Inclined's newest denim jacket, vintage Levis]

Charlotte doesn't have too many cool vintage shops, so when I heard all the good things being said about Hong Kong Vintage and Recycled I made it a point to stop in at some point over the weekend.  Unlike a Salvation Army, Goodwill or Value Village (pretty much all we got down by me) the wonderful ladies that run Hong Kong actually go on buying trips and don't let just anyone walk in and sell some old stuff.  They have specific decades they look for and when I popped in this weekend they had a great selection of sweatshirts and cowboy boots.  I had been meaning to pick up a denim jacket for a while, and since I already own two I wanted to make sure my latest purchase wasn't completely unnecessary.

My two previous jean jackets are both Levis as well (would you really buy from anyone else).  One is a fleece lined winter number (amazingly warm) that is unfaded and is the most "workwear" of the bunch, while the other is a standard trucker that I purchased off of eBay for around $13.  While both are great, I was looking for a new one for fall that was a tad more fitted than the one I got off of eBay (sz. 40).  Luckily for me the one at Hong Kong was not only extremely fitted (somewhere between a sz. 36-38) but also had some great details due to its vintage status.  The jacket fits snugly over a button down, has tight sleeves and the bottom of the jacket hits right at my waist. As you can see the collar is really torn up which creates a great accent/detail when the collar of the jacket is flipped or messed up (usually how i wear the collar).  Along with general fraying due to the jacket's age, the wash is great...there is unique fading on the elbows and on the body of the jacket.  I typically hate buying pre-destroyed clothing, but with vintage you know that the damage was not from a machine or done on purpose, but instead from a love of the clothes that called for everyday wear.

I've talked about denim jackets before and, as of right now, the denim jacket is my go to outerwear for fall.  I plan on wearing it over a preppy getup...i.e. oxfords, knit ties, flat front chinos and throwing in my Palladium Boots to create a great refined, yet rugged look I have already talked a great deal about.

For more general info about denim jackets, there is a great guide by Dan over at the Men's Style Blog and you know his stuff is good (though, I'm not sure about the whole pocket sqaure thing) because Esquire's Best Dressed Real Man of '09 can't be wrong...right?

-L.A.S

"What's In My Closet?" - Pebbled Leather

[Pictured: Sartorially Inclined's black pebbled leather wingtips]

I recently purchased these wonderful NOS (new, old stock) black pebbled leather wingtips from a now defunct company called Georgetown Footwear for Gentleman (fantastic name).   While I am not going to preach the virtures of wingtips for the 100th time, I am instead interested in dicussing the wonderfully textured material known as pebbled leather.  For those unaware, pebbled leather is leather with a granulated surface as oppose to its more common, smooth appearance/feel.  Pebbled leather is in no way a new trend or anything of the like, but it can be easily overlooked when shopping around for a new pair of dress shoes so I figured I would discuss it here.

When doing some research in preperation for my next wingtip purchase I stumbled upon the beautiful shoes that Thom Browne makes and wears (see below).  His shoes are WAY out of my price range, but they pointed me in the right direction and got me thinking about texture.  The black pebble leather wingtip is a great shoe in that, much like any great piece, its beauty lies in the details.  A common glance may very well overlook the texture of the shoe, but that's kind of the point.  It is a minute detail (especially in a black shoe) that the wearer knows exists and feels good about.

[Pictured: Thom Browne wingtips. Notice the subtle texture.]

You can use these details and the confidence that comes with them to build a great outfit from the ground up, literally and figuratively.  Much like suede wingtips, the pebbled leather version takes a classic and tweaks it just enough so that the essence of the shoe is not lost, but, instead, updated and personalized.  Not to mention, if Thom Browne (damn that guy can dress!) wears 'em, I'm buying 'em...

-L.A.S

[Top view feat. Johnson and Murphy shoe trees.]

 

[Pebbled leather, close up view.]

"What's In My Closet?" - Beatle Boots

[Be advisded: Not that comfortable to run in, especially when you have thousands of bloodthirsty tweens after you.]

With The Beatles Rock Band Edition and all their remastered albums being released last week I can't think of a better time to talk about the greatest band of all-time. Music aside, The Beatles had a pretty hip fashion sense about them, and their ever evolving looks are synonymous with the decades in which they blessed the world with their recordings. When Beatlemania was hitting its stride, the fab four were often in uniform...black suits, white shirts, skinny knit ties and of course "Beatle Boots" aka modified Chelsea boots (complete with elastic ankle upper) with a Cuban heel and pointy toe. Apparently Lennon and McCartney saw a pair of Chelsea boots in 1961 when browsing around London and decided to have four pairs commissioned to go along with their new image. Upon returning from Hamburg, Germany the band dropped the rockabilly look, leather jackets and all, for a new suited approach.

As I picked out shoes to wear to work today, I was drawn to my own black, leather Chelsea boots. I hadn't worn them in a while and they were a refreshing alternative to the wing tips, Weejuns and oxfords I wear regularly to the office. I've always been drawn to the Chelsea boot, much in the same way I am drawn to The Beatles. The Beatles, at their core, were a rock 'n roll band, but at the same time always presented themselves in a classy manner. They were always professionals, rocking or not. This ability to balance classiness with an edge is something the Chelsea boot does very well. Pair it with jeans and a v-neck tee and you look like you just got out of band practice...pair it with a three piece suit and you look like the hippest guy on Wall Street.

The Chelsea boot is an interesting investment into multiple parts of a guys personality and its physical extension (his style). Not many shoes can cater to such polar opposite looks like the Chelsea boot can. Not many other boots are this versatile. There are so many varieties out there and most shoe designers/companies produce a boot similar to the ones The Beatles wore. My Chelsea Boots are from Calvin Klein, have a natural toe and are black leather. If you are looking for a model more in line with what The Beatles wore, try these. This model from Kenneth Cole has a squarer toe and is also available in brown. And for those out there with as much money as Sir Paul McCartney, here is a version available from Hugo Boss for sale over at Saks Fifth Avenue.

-L.A.S


[Not only is "Twist and Shout" my favorite Beatles' song, but the single's artwork is a prime Beatle boots showcase.]


[Picture: Sartorially Inclined's Calvin Klein Collection Chelsea boots.]

"What's In My Closet" - Knocking Boots

[Pictured: Sartorially Inclined's new Palladium Boots x J. Crew Chinos]

Background: In a segment dubbed "What's in My Closet" I am going to be highlighting pieces I have actually purchased. These recommendations are going to come straight from me and will also be product reviews so that you can make your own informed decision accordingly. My goal for these posts will be to highlight affordable and fashionable items for the "everyman".



So your denim is too slim for Timberland's and you cant afford Red Wings. What is the frugal, sartorially inclined guy going to wear this fall when the weather starts to get brisk? Enter Palladium Boots. These fantastic boots have been popping up all over the internet recently (men.style.com, complex online) and I am ready to give them my cosign. These boots are part of the current movement of rugged, work wear that utilizing clean and classic lines transcends the outdoors, and finds itself on the runway...and, hopefully, your closet. Palladium originally made tires for airplanes, until they realized they were so good at vulcanizing rubber that they decided to produce footwear. The boots were famously used to shoe the French Foreign Legion and have recently being resurrected for anyone and everyone.

I just got a pair and I cannot wait to pair them with some dark, raw denim this fall and winter. The model shown above, the "Baggy" as its called, can double as a mid calf boot when rolled up or a boot with a little flannel-esque flair when rolled down (great for fall when paired with any flannel gear). I opted instead for the more conservative "Pampa" model (Seen below) which does without the folding option. The boot comes in both canvas and leather with prices starting at $55 and topping out at around $110. My black, canvas "Pampa's" cost $55 (not including shipping which was negligible) and look fantastic. They are extremely comfortable and the canvas breathes well. Depending on where you live and your autumn weather, leather may be a better option. The sizing is standard so don't feel compelled to order a size up or down, stick with what you know. If you're the type to get cold feet, literally not figuratively, Palladium is launching a line of more winter friendly boots soon (as seen in the men.style.com link). Hands down these are the coolest boots this fall/winter for a price that is just as, if not even, cooler. Be a badass and go black...

-L.A.S

Mine: