For those who are and for those who aren’t aware, my favorite photo blog, Them Thangs, went on an unexpected hiatus a few months ago.  Full of huge pictures that cover a limitless variety of subjects, moods, and aesthetics, Justin Blythe’s blog had become so popular that in order to keep the blog he would have to pay a substantial fee to handle the bandwidth.  In Justin’s own words, here are the specifics of that whole ordeal, which is pretty crazy: “it [Them Thangs] became much bigger than I ever expected, reaching up to 20,000 people a day all over the world.  I have been informed that I transfer more data than CNN.com, and would have to cough up a couple thousand dollars a year to pay for the dedicated hosting that would be required to keep this going.”

Well apparently, the donors and the supporters stepped up their game, because last night I received a curious email from Justin that contained a link and a smiling emoticon.  I’m happy to report that Them Thangs is back up and running, looking more professional and updated than ever.  Again, if you like photo blogs, Them Thangs is surely one that cannot be missed.  Do yourself a favor.  Check out the new and vastly improved Them Thangs blog, and give Justin your congrats.  Fair warning though, some of this stuff is NSFW and can also get a bit dark, but it’s well worth it regardless.  Man I love this blog.  So…many…big…pictures…

Every so often there comes along something so incredible that it leaves you completely enamored, and struggling, unsuccessfully, to recall an instance of something done better.  Near perfection is a place that many hope to reach, and almost none do, but for Marc Hare and the launch of his Mr. Hare luxury shoe label last fall, the stars aligned.

Last season’s collection was what intially captivated me with Mr. Hare.  Rakish and sharp in design, crafted from meticulously sourced premium materials, and hand cobbled in Italy by some of the finest shoe makers on the planet, the “Purest Form” collection was impeccably assembled, and evoked images of 007, martinis, and British refinement that only a true Brit could conceive.  In truth, this collection spoke strongly, and boldly introduced Mr. Hare out of the gates as a true force to be reckoned with.  This season finds Mr. Hare adopting a bit of a lighter, more laid back disposition with the “Hot Steppers” collection.  A departure from the sharpness and black palette of last season, “Hot Steppers” offers an assembly of color and and suede, yet still manages to work within the refined framework that has come to strongly define Marc Hare’s shoes.  The collection is dedicated to “the Dancehall generals who through their sheer brilliance have given us reason to tear up dance floors across all continents,” and as such, each shoe is named after a different Dancehall legend.

Earlier in December, I contacted Marc for an interview.  I wanted to hear the creative thoughts from the mind of whom I consider to be my favorite shoe designer, and I sought some personal perspective on both the vision that he has for his company and the concept behind the upcoming “Hot Steppers” collection.  What follows are quirky and purely creative responses from a very talented and sophisticated gentleman, Mr. Marc Hare.  ”Hot Steppers” drops February 10, and for those who have the coin, you can find them over at Oki Ni.  Read the interview after the jump.

Q | How did Mr. Hare come about and what do you believe the company offers to the market?

A | I just wanted to do my own thing. When Dennis Bergkamp retired from playing for Arsenal at 38 my premiership football dreams came to an end so the next best thing was obviously making super stoosh shoes for men. So I made sure that ship didn’t pass me by too.

Q | Describe your design background and how do you believe this transfers over to the designs of Mr. Hare?

A | Self expression. Some people run for president, some people make art. I make shoes. My shoes are my opinions.

Q | I understand you used to own a surf shop in England.  Are there any cues that you borrow from surfing and surfing culture in designing your shoes?

A | Yeah! When I go surfing now with friends, I definitely have the best shoes. Surfers are cool but shoes are just outside their box.

Q | What’s your philosophy in choosing the materials for your shoes and where do you source your materials?

A | I have always wished that my favourite shoes were made of better materials. I am trying to make the best thing I can according to my ever growing knowledge. It’s got to be relevant to its situation and the most beautiful thing that can do that job.

Q | What can you tell us about the production of Mr. Hare shoes?

A | The production of Mr. Hare shoes is in the hands of Genius few of us will ever attain.

Q | What influences, fashion or otherwise, have helped to shape the design aesthetic behind Mr. Hare?

A | Flossing. Anyone who creates anything wants that thing to stop other people in their tracks. Isn’t that what flossing is?

Q | What are your plans going forward?  Do you plan to keep Mr. Hare small and selective in terms of stockists and production, and what surprises can we look forward to from you?

A | everybody did what I and every other person with a design did, the world would be a better place with lots of choice and wealth a little more evenly distributed. I intend to be a CHOICE for those who choose it.

Q | Your first collection, “The Purest Form,” with its sharp, clean, and extremely refined designs, was absolutely one of the sharpest and most stunning shoe collections that I’ve ever witnessed.  Your upcoming collection “Hot Steppers” is a departure from the ultra-refined aesthetic and features a more vibrant and whimsical tone.  Why instead of sticking with one defining aesthetic, have you chosen to offer an eclectic mix of influences with Mr. Hare thus far?

A | Thank you very much. That’s very kind of you. The first collection was me making all the shoes I never found in my life. The second collection was me going “Damn! I gotta look this fly when I’m kicking it on the equator! It’s my company. I can do what I want as long as it’s relevant.

Q | So far you’ve named your shoes after various creatives (authors, musicians).  What’s the story behind this?

A | Tributes. It’s a little nod of recognition to all the people and things that rose above my expectations. Expect footballers, surf breaks, rappers, tapas dishes, architects any time in the future. Sorry Nana Banana.

Q | What can you tell us about the upcoming “Hot Steppers” collection?

A | Play this!

Q | Describe your influences in designing “The Purest Form” and what characteristics best capture what you wanted the collection to reflect?

A | The Orwell is the sharpest shoe I have had the good fortune to put on my feet. Especially the stingray. That’s what I wanted to do. That’s what happened. Now I have to make a sharper one.

Q | Who is the guy who wears Mr. Hare?

A | He is on top of his shoe game.

Q | What do you enjoy most about having the good fortune to design you own shoes and share them with the world?

A | When people ask me what I do, my answer only has three syllables in it. I make shoes.  That’s the same as Bond. James Bond.

Q | What draws you to shoes so much?  You seem like a relatively style-conscious guy who has dandy British Mod influence, so why did you decide to go in the direction of shoes instead of clothes in general?

A | You call it dandy mod. I call it tailoring. When you take off a pair of shoes they essentially remain the same 3D sculpted object. With clothes you just have a heap on the floor. At this point you already need a clothes hanger and that’s already more fuss than I am comfortable with.

Q | What’s your take on timelessness and how does this play into your designs?

A | When you look at old photos and one cat is wearing something so sharp it burns into your style consciousness and becomes an influence, that’s my goal.

Q | Your favorite shoe from Mr. Hare thus far?

A | That’s like asking me which is my favourite eye. They all do different things incredibly well. I guess if you see me coming, it will be the ones I am wearing.

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VISIT THE BLOG…

For complete descriptions on every shoe in the “Hot Steppers” collection, be sure to visit Mr. Hare’s blog.

If there’s one demand that this newly-awakened style consciousness among men has increased, it is the preference for all things highly tailored, and increasingly, in products made specifically for you.  The economic adjustments that we’ve all made in varying degrees over the course of the last year have not only turned our attention back to the goods produced domestically, it has also created a stronger consideration in purchasing clothes that will provide a better value per wear, using production methods that hearken back to the batch production of nostalgic eras.  Men now desire garments that are cut to fit them better, that come at a decent price, and garments that are crafted to last with high-quality construction, great fabrics, and yes, excellent customer service.  In short, a much more personalized approach to buying, supporting, and wearing clothes.  For those who identify with this particular buyer’s mentality, I would like to introduce you to the relatively new San Francisco shirting outlet, Taylor Stitch.

The creation of Michael Maher, Barrett Purdum, and Michael Armenta, Taylor Stitch prides itself on offering button down shirts that are manufactured in America using single needle tailoring by hands who have stitched shirts for generations.  Their shirts are constructed of impeccably sourced fabrics from some of the most revered fabric mills throughout the world, and the finished products are reasonably priced with all appearances pointing to an excellent cost per wear value.  What sets Taylor Stitch apart, however, is the ability to fully customize your shirts online, even down to cuts that are made-to-measure.  And if you happen to be in the San Francisco Bay area, you can even schedule an appointment for a personal fitting at a place of your choosing.

Taylor Stitch is doing something special, and doing it at just the right time.  Continue reading about Taylor Stitch and their game changing concept after the jump, as well as a link to a Taylor Stitch product review courtesy of my good friend Lawrence at Sartorially Inclined.

The story behind the initial idea of Taylor Stitch is not an unfamiliar one.  Like many companies it began with a need to fill a void; in this case, a void in menswear.  It was a distinct void that Maher, Purdum, and Armenta all found increasingly inconvenient and decided to do something about.  ”We started Taylor Stitch because we saw a void in the market for well made custom shirts at a reasonable price,” Maher said.  ”We are not very big guys and we could never find shirts that fit us off the rack.  They would all balloon.”  As guys continue the collective march towards clothes that fit better and flatter their frames, this longstanding issue of ill-fitting ready-to-wear clothes continues to be addressed by style bloggers, customers, and smaller labels alike, and Taylor Stitch is poised to reap the benefits of this movement.

The November 4, 2009 launch of the Taylor Stitch online shop marked the final culmination of a few year’s worth of ideas, concepts, and development for the brand.  The least of which just so happened to be the name, “Taylor Stitch.”  Admittedly, a unique name that plays to the tailoring ambitions of the company, it’s also a name that also bears a youthful tone by design.  ”We wanted to let TS have a personality,” Maher explained.  ”Taylor is a great name and an obvious play on the people who are making our fine wears.  It was a shout to the creators who have done this for so many centuries.”  The “Stitch” part of the name is a clear reference to the single needle tailoring that helps to transform the shirt from a pile of cloth into an actual garment.

But with a name like Taylor Stitch that evokes strong images of meticulously detailed construction, hand tailoring, and high quality garments, it’s important to take a parallel approach in philosophy to the actual manufacturing of the shirts and the materials used.  This is something that Maher, Purdum, and Armenta all understand.  As a collective creative group, all three are adamant that any product under the TS banner be one of the highest quality construction and fabric.  Determined to make this approach a cornerstone of the TS brand, they did their due diligence not only in research to understand what what elements go into making a great shirt, but also in sourcing the best shirting fabrics worldwide, as well as choosing the best manufacturers in the country who fully understood the value in putting an exceptionally fitting shirt on your back.  Indeed, the research proved worthwhile, especially considering the fact that the TS guys don’t exactly come from a strong tailoring or fashion design background.  ”We are by no means tailors,” Maher admitted.  ”We have manufacturers that have been doing this for over 70 years and we do not know of anyone that can do it better.  We work closely with them to discuss what we want and how we want the garments to come out.  They are an absolute dream.”  It took close to a year of searching for the TS trio to find the perfect manufacturing facility that met their demands for quality.  As for the fabrics themselves, Maher echoes a similiar tone of pride and content in the end result of the sourcing process, citing places such as Japan, England, and Italy.  ”The Japanese,” Maher explained in reference to TS’s Japanese fabrics, “have some great newer technology that allows them to create great fabrics at a much more reasonable price.  All of our other fabrics come from the best European mills.  Lots of big names such as Thomas Mason, Getzner, Albini, Monti that have all been around for hundreds of years.”

The TS website is fairly easy to navigate, and you have the option to design your own shirt or choose from a collection of pre-styled models.  Should you choose to go the route of a pre-styled shirt, you will still get the same high quality of a custom designed shirt, but to get the true Taylor Stitch experience, you have to design your own shirt.  The website gives you a choice of three fabric lines to choose from: the TS Oxblood Label, which is the cheapest line; the TS Slate Label, a higher quality line; and the TS Midnight Label, which consists of the finest fabrics that Taylor Stitch has to offer.  Within each of these fabric lines is a considerable array of options in color, weave, and pattern, making it easy to find the perfect high quality fabric you’re looking for.  Once you select a fabric you have the options to customize other aspects of the shirt including collar, cuff, placket, pocket, even constrast stitching and an option to include a monogram, although at an extra cost.  After that, you are presented with fitting options where you decide if you would like your shirt made to measure, made to copy (using the measurements from your favorite fitting shirt as the TS measurements), or simply made to order.  Generally speaking, it takes about two to three weeks once the order is placed to deliver the shirt to you.

The design process is definitely a fun one, and the fact that you have the ability to create potentially the perfect dress shirt is true cause for excitement.  Yet, for a company just starting out selling custom made products (and essentially acting as an old school custom shirter, except online), it’s vital that customer service remain a top priority if TS hopes to become successful in the long run.  Luckily for the company and for customers, the guys at TS understand this.  ”The customer pretty much gets what they want,” Maher said.  ”I want them to be happy.  I think it amazes people when they call thinking they are going to be angry and need to take a defensive stance about something only to greet somebody that is happy to help and wants them to be happy.  That is what this whole thing is really about to us.  Create nice things that people can purchase at a fairly reasonable price and we will make sure it’s what they want.”

Michael Maher and the guys at Taylor Stitch really seem to have a firm grasp of what the menswear market is currently looking for.  Their company signals a desire to return to the nostalgic eras of our grandfathers where men’s shops and custom clothing were the norms.  Their overall philosophy on service, customization, and focus on the small details is definitely traditional, but they adapt their business and philosophy to today’s interactive platform of the internet.  There is zero doubt that Michael Maher, Barrett Purdum, and Michael Armenta all have great pride in the operation they run and if they continue to stay true to the personalized model set forth, the future looks bright.  In short, Taylor Stitch aims to provide a resource where real men can clean up nice, and present themselves in the best way possible.  ”Being capable as a person is so important to us,” Maher said.  ”I want men that can grow their own vegetables, start their own fires, cook their own food, catch their own fish, then present the meal to their guests in a gentlemanly fashion.”  Be sure to pay the gentlemen at Taylor Stitch a visit.  The creative possibilities are pretty much endless, so it’s really your creativity that’s the limit.

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Also, be sure to catch Lawrence’s hands-on feature on his personalized Taylor Stitch oxford.  As anything from Lawrence, it’s definitely worth the read.

A few weeks back, I was approached by one of the coolest girls in the blogosphere, the lovely Ms. Rebecca Lee of Style with Benefits about contributing to a men’s style blogger panel on women’s fashion trends.  Despite the fact that she’s a fellow ACC grad who went to the wrong ACC school (University of Maryland–FAIL!), Ms. Lee is a true fashionista who really seems to have her finger on the pulse of menswear.  Figuring the project would be a fun chance to share a few groans (and approvals) on some of the more interesting fashion trends among women these days, I happily obliged.

Rebecca lauched the initial “Menday” fashion panel yesterday and the response from her faithful lady readers has been beyond great.  Makes sense, especially when you have a panel meant for honest and humor featuring the likes of Nick Maggio (A Time to Get), Shaun Barneveld (Trimmed with Gold Above), Lawrence Schlossman (Sartorially Inclined), Max Wastler (All Plaidout), and myself.  Assemble some cool dudes like that together in one place, and really, it’s hard to wrong (hope you’ll excuse the blatant arrogance haha).  Be sure to pay Becca’s blog a visit and check back every Monday for her very entertaining “Menday” panel.

-Paul

Feast your ears (and eyes) on the latest COE collaboration project, The Reflection mixtape presented by my myself and my good man Luis Valdizon from Minoru Blvd.  Luis and I have been bouncing ideas off of each other over the course of the last month, and what started out as a simple exchange about our favorite music and the stuff we were currently listening to, has ultimately come to manifest itself in the form of The Reflection.  Follow the jump for the download, and to hear more about our collaboration.

Luis is another extremely talented renaissance man, a guy who is formally educated in the art of music production, who knows his way around a camera (in both film and photography), who does great work in graphic design, and is able to keep all of these talents in play all while studying for a degree in Political Science.  Interestingly enough, it turned out that I’ve known about Luis since early last year, given the fact that he produced “High Life” (one of the better songs on my boy Theo’s The Birth mixtape), but it was just last month that learned it was Luis who was responsible for producing it.

The collection that Luis and I present to you is a well thought out mix of some of our favorite songs that truly take us places and put us in a reflective state of mind.  The artwork is completely the work of Luis (with a little bit of input from myself, of course), and is influenced from the old Blue Note jazz album cover art from the 50′s and 60′s.  We wanted something simple and classy that would best reflect the music contained within, and I think the result is phenomenal.  There are 14 songs total on the mixtape; the first 7 songs are COE selections, and the last 7 are Minoru Blvd selections.  We really wanted to not just offer our audience a curated collection of songs, but also our thoughts and feelings on the songs that we chose because we really wanted to make it more personal.  I find that like the old vinyl albums that used to have literature supplements, you find yourself much more connected to the music on a personal level when you are given some insight on the work from the creatives themselves.  As a result, we’ve included a PDF supplement in the mixtape zip file explaining the sentimentality behind each individual song and why we chose to include them in The Reflection.  We hope that you’ll read the supplement and follow along as you listen to the songs.  From Luis and myself, we really hope that you find yourself inspired by The Reflection, and keep your eyes peeled on future projects between COE and Minoru Blvd!

DOWNLOAD: Minoru Blvd x COE | The Reflection

The Reflection Tracklist:

Components of Enthusiasm’s Picks
1. S-Preme – Radio
2. The Roots – Din Da Da
3. Underworld – Two Months Off
4. Mute Math – Control
5. Bill Evans – Peace Piece
6. Little Dragon – Twice
7. Christopher O’Riley – Speed Trials

Minoru Blvd’s Picks
8. Emancipator – Lionheart
9. Memory Tapes – Run Out
10. Radiohead – Nude (sayCet Remix)
11. Burial – Unite
12. Portishead – Roads
13. Coeur De Pirate – Fondu Au Noir
14. Kanye West – Diamonds (Errol Flynn Mash Up)

As The Favorites draws to a close, I wanted to end the series by sharing with you my personal favorite garment in my wardrobe.  It’s simple, it’s classic, and it’s served me well for the last four years despite an accident involving a gel pen in the wash a few years back.  My favorite article of clothing is my green L.L. Bean oxford shirt.  Follow the jump to read on.

When I decided to start The Favorites there was really only one garment that stood out for me in my mind, and I knew immediately that it would have to be my topic of contribution.  I realize that L.L. Bean is a brand that is squarely in the middle of the current infatuation with American heritage brands, but my affinity that I have towards my L.L. Bean oxford shirt is wholly uninfluenced by this trend.

I bought this shirt during my second year of college at the local Goodwill when I was searching for a Cosby sweater for Halloween.  My mission in finding a great Cosby sweater was accomplished (and served me well for multiple Halloweens), but the true diamond in the rough was this shirt.  When I first spotted it on the rack, I was initially drawn in by the color, a wonderful shade of sea green that made me think of spring and summer weather.  I checked the size, hoping for anything but XXL, and much to my delight, it turned out to be my size (f0r the most part).  With a price tag of three or so dollars, I made no hesitation in this impulse purchase.

Above all else, what I love about this shirt besides the color would have to be the fit.  It’s slim fitting, and just short enough to be able to wear untucked without it looking like you were too lazy to tuck in your shirt.  The single needle tailoring creates a very sleek, almost seamless profile, which I truly appreciate, and the fabric, a 60/40 blend of cotton and polyester, has a hefty weight that I love.  Across the chest and shoulders, it embraces my frame like no other shirt I have, and it’s complemented by the perfect button down collar which is perfect in size and wonderfully reinforced enough to frame my face regardless of the abuse it receives in the wash.  I love the fact that the shirt also lacks a front pocket, a shirting option I’ve grown to like less and less over the years.  The absence of a pocket creates a more continuous and cleaner profile with the shirt, and I really appreciate that.  The odd thing about the shirt, however, is the placement of the buttons.  Instead of the usual placement on the right side of the shirt, these buttons are on the left side, which my mom duly informed me is usually a sign that the shirt is made for a woman.  However, since my shirt has a collar size, which is a feature only found in men’s shirts, my mom’s words turned out to be a false alarm.  I noticed, also, that when I first started wearing the shirt the bottom in the front used to flap too much.  I discovered, later that towards the bottom was an additional button (most likely meant to be a spare button) but no button hole on the corresponding place on the placket, so I took a pocketknife and cut a small makeshift button hole in the placket in order to be able to button the shirt a little further down.

Along with the cut of the shirt and the slight modifications that I’ve made to it, what also really has me attached to this garment is the fact that it was involved in a pretty bad fight with a gel pen in the wash, which at first appeared as though my shirt had lost in this unfortunate battle.  I reluctantly retired the shirt to the Goodwill pile, but over the summer I took it back out and decided it was just too special to give away.  So I started wearing it just around the house as my summer shirt of sorts, and I noticed just recently that the terrible ink stains were not as prominent as they had been.  Over the course of many washes, the stains have receded immensely, and in retrospect this is probably something that should have been obvious.

In any case, this L.L. Bean oxford truly is my favorite.  Great color, great fabric, single-needle tailoring, a terrific cut, unique details, and strong college memories associated with this shirt all combine to form a very strong sentiment with me that no other garment in my wardrobe can match.  It’s worn best in the summer with the top two buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up, and every time I wear it, summer or not, I’m a happy guy.  Well done L.L. Bean.

Paul Munford | Components of Enthusiasm

I love being one of the firsts to find out about great new things that are under the radar, and this sentiment applies particularly in the case of Taylor Stitch.  An online shirting company based out of San Francisco, Michael Maher and his business partners are making it possible to custom make your very own high quality, one-of-a-kind dress shirts featuring fabrics from some of the world’s most respected fabric houses, and the option to have your shirts made to measure at no extra cost.  If this sounds like something you might be interested in, I can’t blame you.  You’ll be thrilled at the possibilities when you visit the website, so be sure to see what Michael and the guys have to offer.

I think you’ll also find that Michael’s story behind his favorite item of clothing is one of the best of The Favorites.  Like Ryan Pletty from yesterday, he was a late addition, but I’m hoping that the concept of saving the best for last is proven true in this case.  To read Michael’s story on his attachment to and the making of his belt from South America, be sure to follow the jump.

“A belt is made to hold up your pants. Hopefully your pants fit so maybe it just ends up being a testament to your personal style. As long as it is not a means for holding your cell phone I can deal. However, if you were to slip a gun holster through it I could get behind that. Let’s be real though, you aren’t Jesse James and I’m not Billy the Kid.

Anyways, I care about items that wear well and have a truly personal story behind them. These things will generally hold intrinsic value to you and you alone. I don’t expect anybody’s jaw to drop by the actual belt but try and visualize the man who cares about this craft and works at it so deliberately. Everyday I slide my belt through the loops of my jeans I think of the experience of the purchase and the travels I was allowed at the time. I was at an open air market on a brisk day in Buenos Aires. A weathered gent with a long gray pony tail smoking a cigarette stood behind a table with an anvil, a few choice tools and a whole pile of leather and buckles. All of the leather had a hand stamp that simply stated “Artesanias,” “Rayen” and “Argentina.” Translated directly as “Artisans” and “Border” (still not able to make the connection). I sorted through the piles and found my leather and brass buckle. The man wrapped a piece of raw hide around me and had my waste size. He put his cigarette out on the table as he blew his last drag into the air and went to work; cutting off the end of the leather and hand punching the holes; then finishing up by riveting the buckle on and passing it over to me with a smile.

I gave him what was the equivalent of about USD$13 and shook his leathery paw. He refused to take anything more. The exchange was complete and i knew right away I had made a good purchase. I wear it damn near every day and although the brass could use a polish I continue to let it discolor. It just feels right. As the back of the hide becomes smooth and the dye from my jeans rubs off on it I become more attached and remember the travels that came with its ownership.

Three of my friends and I had finished college and set off for a month of adventures through a small island in the West Indies followed by a few countries in South America before the real world took hold. There is not time to share the stories here, but I can assure you they were times never to be forgotten with friends that will always play a major part in my life.That being said, I have and always will endorse exploration because you never know what memories (and merchandise) you are going to come back with. Wander for yourself.”

Michael Maher | Taylor Stitch

Representing the Midwest and opening the last week of The Favorites for us today is Chicago-based Ryan Plett of the great blog You Have Broken the Internet.  As this series has featured individuals who are bloggers, musicians, and business owners, it is fitting that Ryan also be featured, especially since he’s another multi-talented blogger.  Plett’s creativity and ambition are both strong enough that they’ve manifested themselves in the form of a creative branding and marketing company called Cu5stom Branding.  Yesterday, I had a great conversation with him picking his brain a little, and it must be said that the guy dropped some major knowledge and words of inspiration on me.  Ryan is doing it up big; he has some major projects in store for the future, and is thus a terrific fit in this series.

Although a late addition to the series, Ryan chose to offer something that reflects what his blog is all about: an appreciation for American products and brands that offer a healthy mix of both heritage and style.  Follow the jump to read on about Ryan and his favorite boots, his Red Wing 1907s.

“I bought these boots about two years ago and they’ve easily been my favorite boots.  Now that winter has its grip on the Midwest, these are most likely on my feet any day I’m not at the office till the wee hours of the night.  Once the blisters healed and were supplemented with thick ass socks, the boots became my street kicks for any occasion.  Everything from a pub to walking around shooting photography, the 1907′s are by far my favorite style of Red Wings.  They have broken in nicely, and I can wear them an entire day without the slightest pain.  I hope they continue to get better with age and abuse…”

Ryan Plett | You Have Broken the Internet

The Pursuit Aesthetic is one of those style blogs that manage to pair the great style items found in its posts with an equally stylish blog design.  Me being partial to not only a carefully crafted presentation, but also the content within that framework, Brennan Woods’s blog was one of the firsts that resonated with me.

I’ll be honest, Brennan threw me a change-up when his contribution showed up in my inbox.  But really, in retrospect, it shouldn’t have because the item that he writes about here parallels well with the theme found throughout his blog: a relaxed, sometimes tongue-in-cheek perspective on traditional American staples.  No, they aren’t the most trad of American style brands, but Vans and their slip-ons have without a doubt reserved their place among American classic style, and particularly in 1980′s skater folklore.  Follow the jump to read Brennan’s take on the collaboration between Marc Jacobs and Vans that culminated in the creation of his favorite style item.

Cal Naughton, Jr. (from Taladega Nights) liked the Tuxedo T-shirt, “’cause it says, like, ‘I want to be formal, but I’m here to party too.’”  Well, that’s how I feel about my slip-on wingtip Vans designed by Marc Jacobs.  ‘Cause it says, like, I want to kick ass, but I want to kick it with elegance and gentility.  After all, I’m a dapper gentleman, gentleman.  So much so, in fact, I have two pairs!

Brennan Woods | The Pursuit Aesthetic

Me being the avid soccer player and fan that I am, I had no idea that when I asked Shaun Barneveld of Trimmed with Gold Above and Port Authority to contribute to The Favorites that I’d get something that plucked the strings of my soccer heart.  When he submitted his photo and the write up, we had a nice little chat about Dutch soccer, the problem with finding an appropriate place to catch a brew and a game in New York, and John O’Brien, an American player who was an Ajax Amsterdam player for nearly his whole career, and who won my heart in the 2002 World Cup by playing arguably the most intelligent and dynamic soccer I’ve ever witnessed from an American player.

Although Shaun runs two well-styled blogs, it turns out that his passion for Dutch soccer is arguably even stronger than his love for blogging.  One of the nicest style bloggers I’ve had the chance to talk with, I think Shaun’s story behind his love for Ajax and what his Ajax jersey signifies to him is a great little read.  Follow the jump to read on about Shaun and his favorite article of clothing, his Ajax Amsterdam jersey.

“Since I was a wee tot I have been a die hard Ajax FC fan.  But the problem is that my family — except my cousin and myself — are die hard Feyernoord FC fans and just to give you an idea of why this fact is significant Ajax and Feyernoord are rival teams.  Nevertheless without fail I will receive the years new Ajax jersey if there is one every year on my birthday from my Oma and Opa — even if it means they hang it out the window of the car in disgust to bring it home from the store.  I do not know where the tradition started from, I don’t know why the tradition started but I now have 10 Ajax jerseys at my parents home in Los Angeles and one — the most recent jersey — I keep with me here in New York.

The jerseys don’t get worn often, in fact I find that some years I can’t find a place that plays Ajax games which means that some years I don’t wear the jersey at all, but they get treated better than any other article of clothing I own.  Maybe because of the process for which it was gotten for me or maybe because of the fact that it is my one connection to a side of my family that I rarely get to see.  For any and all reasons this article of clothing is my favorite.”

Shaun Barneveld | Trimmed with Gold Above & Port Authority