Engineered Garments Silk Patchwork Neckties

Absolutely not for the faint of heart, Engineered Garment's F/W 2010 silk patchwork neckties are typical Daiki - classic ideas matched with an inventiveness most designers aspire to.  Context has stocked 6 distinctive models, each one as batshit crazy as the next.  The reason I dig these or, at the very least, appreciate them is due to the fact that these ties makes patchwork F/W ready.  Normally you are not going to see patchwork anything outside of S/S, which is a shame for those of us who appreciate a certain go to hell sensibility.  Accessories like this are surely not for everyone, but if you've got the cojones a silk patchwork tie makes a nice statement piece for the colder months ahead.

-L.A.S

Tactical Layering

Farm Tactics is a brand that has gotten a little bit of hype around the blogosphere and it's not hard to see why.  Repurposed materials, a growing collection, and made in the U.S.A. manufacturing are just a few of the reasons Kyle Ng's brand is on the steady come up.  I have been interested in these guys for quite some time, but had yet to find a stockist carrying some of the newer pieces from their ever expanding line.  Well, Context has two impeccable Farm Tactics crew necks up for preorder right now in shades of both blue and red.  I talk about crew neck sweatshirts a lot because they are an essential item that is often hard to get right.  Farm Tactics rolls with a pretty slim fit (think Japanese sizing), which is good in this case.  That's going to help eliminate a blousing effect around the waist and better suit someone who plans on layering pretty heavily in the coming weeks.  You can always get a cheaper crew neck, but I doubt it will be this nice as far as fit, quality and looks are concerned.  And it still comes in at under $100 to boot.  These babies ship Oct. 1st and I have a feeling we are looking at a potential sell out, so get on it if you want it.  If you have any questions about sizing you can always call up the Context guys and they will talk you through it hostage negotiator style.

-L.A.S

Lusting After: WWM F/W 2010 Ranger Pants

I've had a pair of twill Woolrich Woolen Mills Ranger pants for a while now and, as it stands today, are the best pair of chinos I own.  For F/W 2010 Mr. Suzuki has done up the Ranger pant in both grey and navy herringbone wool - both of these pants are must owns as far as I am concerned.  The pants are trim fitting through the thigh and leg, yet still feature a leg opening wide enough to pair with your various boots.  The jetted pockets below the rear flap pockets may seem superfluous, but are actually quite functional especially if you don't like carrying a bag around (they are big enough for your sunglasses, spectacles, cigarettes, phone, Ipod, etc.).  The color palette for WWM F/W 2010 is pretty brooding and the Ranger pants benefit from this.  Both the grey and navy herringbone wool expertly convey a sense of dressiness and ruggedness, which pairs up great with the Ranger pant's inherent aesthetic (a classy trouser with rugged detailing).  It should be noted that these pants feature a relatively higher rise and feature a raised, split yoke in the back.  I prefer my pants to have a higher rise so I dig the look, but it's definitely not for everyone.  These are gonna look killer with a 2" cuff.

-L.A.S

Lusting After: Apolis Activism + Kanvas by Katin Chambray Swim Trunks

I have yet to talk about swim trunks on Sart Inc because my buddies over at Valet have that subject on DEFCON 5 style lockdown - at this point you know how long they should be and what styles best suit your body type.  Well, consider my silence officially broken thanks to the geniuses over at Apolis Activism.  These dudes know how to make some killer trunks.  Their first collaborative effort with Katin was dope, but the sequel is even better - The Godfather II of bathing suits if you will.  These chambray joints might seem a little pricey at $108, but I believe when it comes to items like this you only need one in your arsenal so why not break out the big guns?  Just imagine the crazy fading on these as you hit the pool/beach this summer.  That's worth the price of admission alone if you ask me.

Apolis Activism: Katin USA from Dave Christenson on Vimeo.

-L.A.S

War Stripes Pt. III

I've talked a few times about Momotaro's penchant for war stripes and just how awesome I think they are so I was pretty pumped when I saw their new hooded sweat shirt on sale at Context.  This aint your average Pac Sun brohoodie, instead being cut and sewn (Japanese 100% cotton fleece) in limited quantities.  Like all of Momotaro's gear the details on this thing are crazy.  Everything, from the war stripes to the neck enclosure to the patch pockets, is on point.  Would you expect anything less from our garment obsessed friends in Japan?  These hoodies are not cheap and even when you factor in their limited edition status it's still fairly hard to swallow.  If you are looking to get your warrior on, you can pick up a heather or charcoal version for $205.  On the plus side, at least it's cheaper than a new set of nunchucks.

-L.A.S

Shipley & Halmos Fellini Shirt

For all the neuvo-prep I talk about I some how always seem to overlook Shipley & Halmos, which is quite a shame.  Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos have serious talent (see: nomination for the GQ/CFDA Best New Designer Award in 2009 and their old label Travota) and are as good as anybody at breathing new life into the many standards of the classic menswear cannon.  Case in point: their Fellini shirt.

These cotton and linen blend shirts may look like your standard plaids at first glance, but feature reworked proportions and expert detailing.  Pictures really don't do the shirts justice - you need to get up close and personal to truly appreciate the beauty of the collar, pockets, gussets and shaping of the garment.  With spring approaching faster than I can deposit my paychecks, it's time to hunker down and make some educated purchases.  When browsing for that new shirt(s) I think S&H should be part of the conversation as much as, say, Gitman Vintage.  It'll be better than the 2 or 3 ill-fitting shirts you buy from the mall. Unless your goal is to look like shit of course.  Pick one up at Context and Odin.

 

  

  

 

-L.A.S

[Editor's Note: Browse the entire well-edited Shipley & Halmos S/S 2010 collection.]

Holiday Recommendation: Fjällräven Kanken Mini

[Pictured: Fjällräven Kanken Mini availabe at Context Clothing for $60.00.]

This recommendation is very much in the same vein as my earlier Minnetonka driving moc one as in backpacks are not something I normally endorse.  I mean, they're fine and all, but I don't usually go out of my way to talk about them.  The whole streetwear backpack lovefest is kind of played out in my mind and seeing all these rappers hit the stage slinging empty backpacks is straight tomfoolery.  Yet, not every guy out there is ready hop on the tote or duffle bandwagon...hell, I'm even still skeptical about using a bag like that for everyday errands (because I carry SO much stuff with me in the first place).  So what can you get a guy/ask for yourself that's useful and accessible?

The basics: Fjällräven, which is swedish for "artic fox" (wowsers, sold already right?), has been making no frills backpacks since 1950.  This little guy is perfect for quick jaunts and does away with all the ridiculous straps you're likely to see on your neighborhood JanSport turtleshell.  The color options available at Context are pretty awesome and I'd personally go with the mustard (seen above) or the colorful options seen below, which are great alternatives to the "natural" colored bags on all the blogs.  The canvas bags being shoved down your throught everyday are great and all, but there's nothing wrong with a basic, standard napsack.  Be sure to check out all the other great options available from these guys as well.

-L.A.S