The Obtainer - 10/3/22, Monday
↦ The Fabric of the Season
Monday,October 3rd Edition
If you don’t take my word for how good you’ll look in corduroy, just Google Robin Williams in Dead Poet Society. I rest my case, “O Captain! My Captain!”
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
BuyingGuide
Corduroy Is Sophisticated, Sumptuous & Cooler Than Ever
It’s October, and you should be settling into the season and enjoying the autumn breeze. I love this time of year because everything changes—from the leaves on the ground to swapping your summer wardrobe with sturdier cold-weather items. Fall festivities are also popping up. There are pumpkin patches to visit, bonfires to light and a slew of scenic trips to stoke appreciation of the great outdoors. If none of those are your cup of pumpkin-spice tea (but you're still obligated to attend some mandatory fun), you might as well get some fits off, right?
As we've discussed before, workwear has returned to the forefront for menswear today, but it's gradually heading into a more Ivy/prep approach. Think of giving your double-knees a break and throwing on something corduroy. Last season, we saw a resurgence with the fall fabric, but this year, brands have gotten more creative on how to incorporate the cords into roomier, modern silhouettes.
A few standout pieces that use the fabric in a new way is a popover shirt. Dressy enough to wear on its own and light enough to layer, the utility pocket gives the shirt a practical sensibility. As temperatures start dropping, you'll appreciate a few corduroy accessories—hats that keep your head warm and dry or a tote bag to keep your electronics from all the outdoor elements. Lastly, a chore coat in this fabric is a must for the colder months. Pair it with a proper oxford shirt and tie or just a sweater vest over a T-shirt. However you style the fabric is up to you, but you might ask yourself, what's fall without corduroy?
4 of Our Favorites
An unlined three-roll-two button blazer cut from 9 oz. corduroy. The blazer includes three patch pockets and two internal welt pockets.Wear this like your favorite chore coat or make a suit out of it with the matching pants.
$198 by Buck Mason
A sturdy outdoor pant made to move in. While these were designed for outdoor activities, you can still sport these out to dinner. The pants are functional and fashionable with oversized front pockets and a color-matched Gramicci webbing belt.
$130 by Gramicci
Super soft 12-wale cotton corduroy makes this a go-to for cooler weather. The cream color matches everything, and you can layer underneath once the temperature drops.
$298 by OOBE BRAND
A classic field pant gets an update in corduroy. Reinterpreted with the softest, most lightweight hand-feel, these can be all-season pants no matter where you live.
$138 by Outerknown
5 Stylish Items to Buy This Week
I want to personally thank Soft Services for this innovative product. Because I'm both lazy and forgetful, so I never remember to moisturize my hands before bed—which is really the perfect time to take care of callouses and neglected cuticles. But I'm also too aesthetically minded to just let a bottle of hand lotion sit out on my nightstand. This clever vessel ($58) looks like a piece of pottery, but pull the magnetized top off and it reveals a secret pump—press down and it dispenses the perfect serving of lotion to rub in before you crash. The rich formula coats hands and gets to work softening and conditioning the skin so you wake up with noticeably improved hands. When you're done, you simply swap out the tub of cream inside and start over.
Test Drive
A Jacket Made by an Artist
I'm sure you've seen Matt McCormick’s artwork on the internet. The multimedia artist is best known for his representations of the American West that juxtapose the region's dreamy lore and contemporary grime. McCormick launched the Los Angeles-based brand One of These Days to share his art with people outside traditional viewing spaces. The brand combines timeless, utility-first designs of classic work and hunting apparel with his signature Western-inspired iconography.
I’m a fan of his artwork, so I assumed I would be a fan of his clothing line. Especially since there are pieces you can easily incorporate into your daily wardrobe. The one that I’ve thrown into my weekly rotation is the khaki-colored hometown hero work jacket. The cotton canvas chore coat is a limited-edition (just 13 were made) and features a stoic print inside the jacket of a lone man and his horse.
I own about five chore coats in various shades of denim and different weights. I gravitated towards the khaki-colored option because I own a lot of denim—shirts, jeans and jackets—and while a Canadian tuxedo is always a good idea, sometimes it's good to try something different. This one is very lightweight, maybe around 6-8 ounces based on feel, whereas most chore jackets weigh about 10-12 ounces.
The more I wear the jacket, I appreciate how light it is and its boxier fit—which not only makes it more comfortable, but easier to move in as well. It’s also perfect for fall because I’ll layer with an oxford and a crewneck fleece (in that order). Washing this is like throwing in your favorite T-Shirt: Be sure to hang to dry. The hometown hero chore coat will be one of my go-to options for fall, and I’m looking forward to seeing the patina that develops on the canvas in the months ahead. And getting to talk about one of my favorite artists whenever someone compliments my jacket.
Hometown hero work jacket, $370 by One of These Days
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
An unstructured 100% cashmere blazer that's more than 50% off? Yes, please. Today’s the last day for this code, though, so move fast.
$277.99 / $138.99 (w/code SHOPNOW) by J.Crew
Relaxed-fitting pants in a perfect coffee shade, now for half off. Milled from Italian cotton and blended with nylon for a durable finish that’s extremely soft too.
$195 / $98 by Adsum
Cut from distressed denim with antique brass snaps for a weathered look, this staple from Billy Reid will only get better with age.
$198 / $128 by Billy Reid
The three best stories from around the web.
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While Williams’s musical contributions can be contained within the infinite capacity of the streaming ether, his 20 years’ worth of fashion collaborations and creations are rather more cumbersome.”
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As designers continue to lean into comfortable designs that can go from day to night, there’s one emerging, sustainability-minded label you’ll want to have on your radar.”
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It’s odd having one’s entire lower half viewed as a conversation starter, and equally odd when one’s pants, unanchored by shoes, flap about down there like nautical flags.”
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Directed, styled, and was face of the “wabi sabi” campaign for @extrabutter // got my brother @aim.os to lead the shoot s/o @tyy.wu @reallustrate @luke_elson for the assist and huge thank you to @bamitsbernie for blessing me with the opportunity!
September 22