The Obtainer - 10/24/22, Monday
↦ Fall's Coziest Essential
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Monday, October 24th Edition
In today’s edition we’re covering whether you use a top sheet or not (no pun intended). And we think we have a solution that should meet everyone in the middle. Also, with the holidays rolling around we’re confident you’re going to be in need of a good sweatsuit—elasticity is the name of the game.
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
BuyingGuide
Fall’s Coziest Essential
Over the summer, the Wall Street Journal wrote a piece about a generational divide between Gen X and Baby Boomers using top sheets, with millennials and Gen Z choosing not too. It’s a frivolous debate, but I’m here to entertain it. I don’t use a top sheet—a fitted sheet and duvet are all I need for some solid shuteye. Our elders believe that sleeping with a fitted sheet is more hygienic and the traditional way to sleep. We young guns think it’s more resourceful to skip it, and if you clean your duvet cover regularly it’s just as clean. (You are remembering to launder that, right?) But I’m here to propose a soft, seasonal solution—a chic cozy blanket is an answer that allows us to meet in the middle.
Since it’s chilly at night, an added layer is always a good option. Throw on a blanket over your duvet or place it under to sub out for the fitted sheet. I know it sounds contradictory but sleeping with a blanket allows for flexibility—it’s not as big of a commitment to tuck it under your duvet as a fitted sheet. But then again, blankets are not just for bedrooms. They come in handy when curling up on the couch and relaxing with some great music or snuggling with your significant other. Plus, they look sharp when slung over the back of a chair or sofa while adding some much-needed warmth and texture to a room. We’ve pulled together nearly two dozen options that are luxe yet practical. From high-end cashmere to rugged Polartec fleece, the choice is yours. Well, that and your decision about “blanket or no blanket” while sleeping.
4 of Our Favorites
Cashmere at this price should be a crime—thankfully, it’s not. This mid-weight throw allows you to relax in attainable luxury.
$139.90 by Quince
This oversized throw is great for movie nights and afternoon catnaps. Knit from all-natural Turkish cotton in a comfy ribbed pattern, it’s easy to care for too.
$99 by Parachute
Woolrich's iconic Buffalo plaid is made in Italy and is warm and well-crafted from 100% wool. A perfect blanket for the holidays, it's also the ultimate sofa statement piece.
$195 by Woolrich
A large, lightweight throw that's perfect for those nights when you need an additional layer underneath your duvet. Made from recycled wool and featuring army-style stencil lettering, this cozy blanket is sustainable and adds an industrial touch to your living space.
$48 by Puebco
5 Stylish Items to Buy This Week
Have you noticed all the western belts lately? We're seeing them in fit pics, they're being stocked by in-demand brands, but we don't advocate paying a premium. Not when you can get the real deal ($89), cut from genuine bison leather and hand-stitched in California with stainless-steel-plated solid brass hardware from a quality maker like Orvis. Plus, this one is a little more subtle so it feels a little less “trendy,” you know?
Test Drive
A Sturdy Sweatsuit
Back in the early days of the pandemic, there was a lot of talk about sweatsuits being the “next big fashion moment”. And they were right—for a while, anyway—because a lot of us were working from home, so there was no need to get dressed for the office. A few shots later, nightlife returned and office policies were updated, so people had a reason to dress up again. Personally, I’m a jeans guy—even if it’s just to run errands. But during quarantine, I too invested in a sweatsuit but wore it exclusively inside as a lounging outfit.
However, my new sweats from Reigning Champ are the first I’ve been comfortable wearing out in public. I picked up the heavyweight fleece relaxed hoodie along with the matching sweatpants. They’re cut from RC’s signature fabric, a heavyweight fleece created in 1998 that started it all for the brand—celebrated for its superior comfort and unmatched durability. The hoodie feels really good on: The hefty brushed fleece is smooth, the semi-raglan sleeves are made for movement and the ribbed cuffs ensure a better fit without feeling constricted. The pants include jersey-lined pockets and drawcord cuffs that allow them to be adjusted to your likeness.
I got them in black because it goes with everything, and it makes them easier to wear separately as well. The hoodie will be the only one I wear for the season since it can be layered underneath a denim jacket, a Cowichan zip sweater and an overcoat. If I had to guess the weight, it’d probably clock in around 14 ounces, which for right now, you’d be able to wear alone and stay warm. The sweatpants weigh the same and feel like a great pair of jeans—a bit stiff, but it holds the structure in the leg a lot better than any other sweatpants I’ve ever owned. The back pocket allows you to keep your wallet safe and the adjustable drawcord cuffs give you the option to tighten up the leg depending on how you want to style the pant with different footwear options.
One thing that can’t go unnoticed is that the holidays are right around the corner, so that means plenty of food and air travel is in the picture. This sweatsuit checks both boxes. Wear it when you’re planning to make multiple trips to fix a plate—the elastic in the waistband is very forgiving. Although it wears like your favorite denim jacket or jeans, the sweatsuit travels well to. It’s heavy enough to wear by itself, and thanks to the cut and quality of the fabric, you’ll look stylish while staying plenty warm on the plane.
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
This rugged engineer jacket is a relaxed interpretation on a classic lightweight layer. Cut from Japanese denim, it pairs perfectly with your favorite tee or oxford cloth button-down.
$400 / $184 by Beams Plus
A cast-iron Dutch oven is a kitchen essential, but quality doesn’t come cheap. Until now, since this Staub (with its heavy glass lid and durable enamel finish) is now under $100.
$290 / $98 by Staub
A playful design for a serious wool cardigan. Knit in Ireland from 100% soft wool, the classic cable knit pattern makes this easy to wear. And we think you’ll get a lot of wear out of this.
$279 / $135 by Howlin’
The three best stories from around the web.
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Herman Miller’s new Zeph Chair captures the spirit of the contemporary office—balancing an attractive Eames-inspired form with the functionality you’d expect from Herman Miller performance seating—and is well poised for the future of the workplace.”
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Are you an all-buttoned-up minimalist or a louche chest-flasher? Here, four fashion insiders argue for their favored state of openness: zero, one, two or three-plus buttons undone.”
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The mainstream enthusiasm for watches continues to boom and entrepreneurs from Singapore to San Francisco are lured by the idea of starting a watch business, so we thought we would ask those who have done it just how hard it is and why they did it.”
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Matching your shoes with your dog? Basket weaves online now.
October 9