Unabashedly Prep

  • Dartmouth Bimmer

    Style | Top Drawer  

    Style transcends clothes...

    Image via Mike Reinhardt

    Feb 8, 2010 | Permalink | (2) View Comments or Pen Your Own

    Rob left a comment on 2/8/2010 at 11:33 AM:

    This is where the cool’s at!


    alexander left a comment on 2/8/2010 at 10:21 AM:

    love it.


  • A Shoe In

    Miscellany  

    They are the single most important purchase you will make after you’ve plopped down $500+ on your brogues (and no, I’m not talking about your matching crocodile belt). I’m talking shoe trees. The cedar wood absorbs moisture your feet leave behind after 8 hours of pounding the pavement, re-establishes your shoes’ original shape—ironing out creases in its leather, and keeps the insoles smelling like 4th period wood-shop. Your shoes will look as good as you do every step of the way for several decades instead of several years.

    As brilliant as shoe trees are, not all are created equal. In fact, I have spent years and several hundred dollars searching for a substantial tree—polished brass knob, an expandable full crown, fully contoured heel—that wasn’t going to cost me an arm and a foot (after all, you just laid down a handful of Benjamins on shoes). During a recent visit to Sid Mashburn, I noticed him stuffing his private label shoes with Woodlore’s Epic Twin-Tube Shoe Trees. Woodlore offers them in small, medium, large and XL. A simple phone call will ensure that you are properly outfitted according to your shoe size. Could this be the best cedar shoe tree for your money? Well, if the shoe fits (Woodlore, $30).

    *Pick these up at Cedarville Store for $19.99 (coupon code: cvsclub55) until offer lasts

    Feb 5, 2010 | Permalink | (10) View Comments or Pen Your Own

    Bow Tie Guy left a comment on 2/8/2010 at 9:25 AM:

    Shoe trees are essential for the longevity of fine footwear.  Thank you for the recommendation.
    BTG
    bow-tie-guy.blogspot.com


    KGS left a comment on 2/5/2010 at 11:44 AM:

    My pleasure! And just fyi, thats for cedarvillestore.com.


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 2/5/2010 at 11:35 AM:

    KGS—Brilliant Sherlock…updating the post to reflect your findings.  Nice work!


    jack @ www.thisisnotnew.com left a comment on 2/5/2010 at 11:24 AM:

    Thanks for the recommendation, I bought a pair out of convenience at target (never a wise decision) and they just don’t fit in the shoes right. I am going to check these ones out thanks to the coupon code provided above. these unbashedlyprep commenters really know their stuff).


    KGS left a comment on 2/5/2010 at 11:03 AM:

    Thanks F.E., much appreciated. Saves me from emailing Cedarville/Woodlore. Also, I found a $5 off code on Ask Andy (cvsclub55) if anyone wants to order. Brings them down to $19.99/pair. Cheers!


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 2/5/2010 at 10:56 AM:

    KGS—You need an XL shoe tree.  Woodlore’s Epic Twin-Tube shoe tree, I believe, will fill your size 13 wide shoe…the expandable crown addresses that.


    KGS left a comment on 2/5/2010 at 10:34 AM:

    I’ve tried finding the perfect tree myself. I’m more or less focused on making sure the tree expands the leather enough to take out creases and “push” the tooebox leather upward to do so. Having size 13 and wide feet, it hasnt been and easy search. I’d love to give these a shot. As others have said, if Sid uses them, so can I. Anyone find they push the leather enough to remove creases?


    Tucker left a comment on 2/5/2010 at 9:55 AM:

    I bought six of the Epics for $20 each from Cedarville Store (.com) a few years ago.  I think they’re $25 each now.  Still worth every penny.


    KFad left a comment on 2/5/2010 at 9:47 AM:

    If they’re good enough for Sid Mashburn, they’re good enough or me.


    sunday ibok left a comment on 2/5/2010 at 9:42 AM:

    one of my best friends talks about shoe trees with the utmost respect. well played sir.


  • Bastian’s Debut for Gant

    Style  

    Michael Bastian has lacrosse on the brain. With his much anticipated Gant debut due out this fall and the recent resuscitation of Gant Rugger, the bygone principal Ivy League stockist is doing lots of things right lately. Yes, Gant is currently controlled by a European corporation. But that’s precisely why its tryst (no matter how brief) with Bastian is so welcome. The homecoming of sorts is long overdue.

    “...it’s all about the sport of lacrosse.”      —Michael Bastian

    Bastian is known for his clean American default—classic American men’s sportswear. He is responsible for one of my favorite collections to date (summer 2007); however, Michael Bastian classic sportswear comes at a luxury price. Even Bastian himself has said he can’t afford his clothes. The Gant collection will be different. “The Gant guy is the younger brother of my guy. Completely different, but related,” Bastian says. “He just graduated from college—he’s looking for a job. It’s definitely younger, hopeful.”

    Michael Bastian at the Gant headquarters in Stockholm; image via Vanity Fair

    Feb 4, 2010 | Permalink | (4) View Comments or Pen Your Own

    jack @ www.thisisnotnew.com left a comment on 2/4/2010 at 9:10 PM:

    great to hear bastian is coming down from his main line’s pedestal and providing some middle class accessibility considering the middle class is at the heart of americana. Looking forward to the new collection.


    EdoubleM.blogspot.com left a comment on 2/4/2010 at 4:32 PM:

    Supercool video! Gant is looking good these days!


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 2/4/2010 at 11:49 AM:

    Yeah, the video is well done.


    Summer Is A Verb left a comment on 2/4/2010 at 9:32 AM:

    Ummm, that video could sell me the K-Mart Collection. Brilliant…XXOO


  • GANT Rugger is Live

    Style  

    They were right there in the thick of it—the birth of American sportswear. Bernard Gant was producing iconic pieces for the ivy league set just as university style was catching on. In 1973, his sons (who were now calling the shots) launched “Rugger by Gant” in the very spirit of American sportswear—they simply took the rugby shirt off the field. The Rugger was born. Bold, vibrant, the line was championed by a generation of reckless youth.

    As seasons became years and years became decades, Rugger faded away until it was simply a fond memory of a quintessential prep aesthetic...until today. Gant Rugger is back (much to my delight).

    Enjoy the photography by Guy Aroch, the video content and the varsity jacket I've been pining for.

    Feb 3, 2010 | Permalink | (1) View Comments or Pen Your Own

    The Two Magpies left a comment on 2/3/2010 at 10:37 AM:

    Rugby shirts as everyday wear has been going for quite sometime in England - often the shirt taken from school days would be worn with some pride throughout your life- although your school colours pre-determined your luck regarding style.

    Going full circle like Gant, the RFU (England’s rugby regulator), has re-launched a classic England strip to mark the Twickenham stadium’s centenary.

    http://thetwomagpies.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/blood-sweat-and-cabbages/


  • Old English

    Dress Code  

    Photographed in Greenwich, CT

    Peter wears Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes, shawl collar sweater by Rugby and vintage British wool trousers.

    Feb 2, 2010 | Permalink | (17) View Comments or Pen Your Own

    loneflyer left a comment on 2/8/2010 at 3:37 PM:

    I agree with her too- but as a clothier a couple of thoughts….

    Monochrome with gray hair should be black or navy (for some blondes too), Grey can be tricky as the only shade.

    Imagine this outfit with a black shawl sweater- it would make the gray mane and the gray pants pop with the contrast! I like the shawl- he’s in shape and has broad shoulders so he can carry off the more youthful look.

    The pants are great but I can tell you what the problem is- the break is too pronounced. They are British dress pants and so typically worn( and no doubt tailored ) with dress shoes which have a much lower profile than topsiders. If you want to wear dress pants with deck shoes, hike up the waist or shorten your length because your break is going to look sloppy.


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 2/6/2010 at 1:06 PM:

    Rollergurl—Well said.


    rollergurl left a comment on 2/6/2010 at 7:02 AM:

    This is a silver fox hottie…he’s got attitude, independence ,definitely not your father’s Oldsmobile

    Look around at the guys his age..You know?
    He has his own style and he looks like he just knows

    Forget about pants length- he leaves an impression. A cool older guy with “go to hell” flair.

    Prep to me isn’t Talbots or B B, V V , or picking the outfit exactly out of a J Crew catalogue. It’s expression AND attitude.

    I’ll bet he just knows…Love the sweater and the tops.


    abc left a comment on 2/3/2010 at 9:08 AM:

    Don’t stop posting the pics…appreciate your effort and enjoy the wide spectrum of opinions.


    EdoubleM.blogspot.com left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 9:37 PM:

    Leave that man alone. He has good taste and prefers to be different. Much respect to him.


    Better things in life left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 8:20 PM:

    This guy has that “I’m a f#*$in millionaire and I don’t give a $h*t what anyone thinks about me”.  Great sweater, great shoes, and a great attitude.  Thanks FEC.


    CLG23 left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 6:59 PM:

    I agree with L.A.S and Jim Jones, this guy looks out of place and uncomfortable. Each piece seperately isnt bad, I love my sperry’s and the shawl sweater isnt bad. The combination just doesnt work.


    Steven left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 3:51 PM:

    Is is just me or have the latest entries been sub-par?


    Christian Bourasseau left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 3:33 PM:

    That sweater is not for him and I personally don’t like pleated pants. I only aprove his top-siders.


    L.A.S left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 2:58 PM:

    This guy just looks uncomfortable as hell.


    robdarko left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 12:52 PM:

    Sorry, it was a two martini lunch.

    “He has that relaxed…”


    robdar left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 12:50 PM:

    He is has that relaxed-silver-fox-thing going for him but the same outfit would have looked better in dark gray or navy.  IMHO.


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 11:29 AM:

    Jim—I ran into this gentleman on Greenwich Ave as is.  I don’t dress people, just photograph them. What initially drew me to him was just his overall relaxed manner.  There are several things I don’t specifically care for (the monochromatic earth tones, the length of his trousers) yet I was still drawn to photograph him.


    jim jones left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 11:14 AM:

    did you guys just throw a rugby sweater on this guy? It looks so forced, out of place and childish on what could have been a refined, well-dressed older gentleman.


    Robin left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 11:13 AM:

    One can never go wrong with Sperrys. Love the sweater too!


    Wackadoodle left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 11:08 AM:

    You have got to be kidding.


    The Boss left a comment on 2/2/2010 at 9:14 AM:

    His geriatric trousers need a hem in the worst way possible.


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