The Obtainer - 11/2/22, Wednesday
↦ The Need for Tweed
Wednesday, November 2nd Edition
Presented by
Presented by
Tis’ the season for tweed blazers—we find updated versions of this classic to rock for today. Also, if you’re looking for some handmade ceramics, we have a brand that offers affordable ones without comprising quality.
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
Good/Better/Best
Tweed Blazers
Maybe it’s because it’s fall or simply because we’re rounding the corner on the pandemic and ready to move on from our uniform of sweatsuits and house slippers, but it seems like guys feel like getting fits off again. With the weather finally cooling off, it’s now time to pull out those hardy winter fabrics, especially your tweed blazers. Tweed fabric is handwoven from rough wool, and although it’s robust, it’s light enough to wear during the more temperate months—especially if the jacket is unlined.
Most tweed comes from Scotland in the Outer Hebrides and the fabric isn’t cheap, but it’s incredibly durable. It’s a subtly patterned material made from dyed, spun and woven wool. The fabric was produced in the early 18th century from outsized looms that spit out yardage from yarns originally dyed with native lichen and wildflowers. And while most tweeds are synonymous with black and grey checkered blazers, they now come in a myriad of different patterns and colors. Suddenly, there are a lot of exceptional tweed jackets on the market, just waiting to overhaul your autumnal style. How much should you spend? That depends on how often and where you'll be wearing them.
This blazer is 100% wool
Completely unstructured, so it’ll fit like a comfortable cardigan, only in jacket form
Fabric comes from the Zanieri mill, known to be as durable as traditional tweed but has a lighter feel to it
Includes two standard interior pockets as well as generous patch pockets
Waverly grey gin check tweed jacket, $495 by Proper Cloth
This blazer is not 100% wool, but a combination of 70% wool and 30% polyester
Quarter-lined with butterfly lining to help it lay nicely over the shoulders
The Donegal tweed, from the family-run Tessuti di Sondrio mill, offers a more subtle pattern
Tailored for a slightly more modern fit, with a nipped waist, natural shoulder and lower button stance
Italian Donegal tweed Madison suit jacket, $548 by Todd Snyder
Constructed in Italy from a hearty Yorkshire tweed that’s incredibly soft
A non-functioning sham cuff allows the sleeves to be altered, since more times than not blazers don’t fit perfectly right off the rack
A soft, natural shoulder line helps to accentuate your chest, complemented by wider lapels
Unlined body with half-canvassed construction, so it maintains its shape without feeling heavy or overly thick
Brown Prince of Wales check tweed blazer, $1,795 by Drake’s
Partner
Smart Giftsfor the ModernMan’s Man
We get it. Shopping for the men in your life can be tricky. But here’s an insider secret: When you don’t know what to get a guy, look to places that look like them. Take Huckberry … when you check out their range of goods, we bet you see something that reminds you of the man you’re shopping for.At once rugged and refined, Huckberry has everything from clothes and accessories to grooming products and home goods, along with a myriad of EDC items for the guy who lives an active, engaged and fearless life. This year's selection of tried-and-true gifts and gear combines an adventurous spirit with a cozy home life. It’s a no-B.S. approach to gifts that are sure to please.
Clockwise, from top left:Soft classic fisherman beanie, $30 by HuckberryFlannel-lined trucker jacket, $298 by Flint and TinderMarshmallow crossbow, $140 by MMX VancouverDecanter & whiskey glass set, $95 by Whiskey PeaksHot sauce variety pack, $70 by TruffPersonal fireplace kit, $125 by Flikr Fire
Stuff We Swear by
Ceramic Carafe
We recently moved into a new spot a few months ago and have slowly been able to bring everything together as far as furniture, tableware and cookware. I tend to treat my home like my closet—streamlined, minimal and functional. When looking for drinkware, my wife and I love hand-crafted and tactile items. For instance, this enamel mug from UK-based brand TOAST is smooth yet rugged and makes my coffee taste better. At least that’s what I tell myself because it looks so cool.
To go along with our modern/wabi-sabi style, I recently stumbled upon the maker, Upton. They are a California-based design studio that creates excellent artwork and goods for your home. Founded by artist and designer Michael Upton—their ethos is that everyone should be able to live with beauty every day. Upton’s work is a happy medium of fine art and cozy home décor—each piece is inviting and affordable without sacrificing quality.
Throughout the day, we are always drinking coffee or water, so we needed something that could hold either beverage while looking sleek. The ISSA ceramic carafe was just the answer. The cream color is perfect—white would be too clean—and this shade looks like the carafe is weathered a bit, but in the best possible way. It is hand thrown and glazed in the studio, making each carafe uniquely yours. The best part about this chic pitcher is that it's food, dishwasher and microwave safe—I love when something like this looks beautiful but is actually super functional. When I’m not storing coffee or water in it, you can catch me giving it a quick rinse and placing some simple flower arrangement inside for the weekends.
ISSA ceramic carafe,$79 by Upton
The Launch
Are You Ready to Rent Shoes?
Buying sneakers today gets more difficult with each drop, thanks to the reseller bots, instant sellouts and second-hand marketplaces. I miss the old days of seeing a pair of shoes online, going to the store to try them on, then purchasing with no line or fighting people as you leave the store. I’m sure like most of our readers, sneakers were my gateway into the world of fashion.
But if you’re tired of taking constant losses on the SNKRS app or have suffered regret after purchasing over-retail for some shoes, KYX is the solution. It’s a monthly membership that gives you access to hundreds of the most sought-after sneakers on the market. You can select a pair of shoes to try and purchase for a significant discount or return them after a couple of wears and swap them out for a different pair.
Intrigued? Of course you are. But how does it work? Well, you choose your plan—the site offers three different levels—each giving you different access levels to sneakers and deeper discounts whenever you’re ready to purchase. After selecting your pair, you have the option to buy them up to 25% off the market price or swap them out for a different pair of sneakers. I’m sure you’re wondering, “if I’m renting sneakers, how are they kept clean?” KYX has a team of sneaker experts that perform a 10-step cleaning and sanitization process on every shoe—they use a proprietary combination of UV light exposure with a sanitizing solution to clean the entire shoe and make sure it’s both box fresh and completely safe.
I can’t wait to try out a pair of shoes from the site—I’ve got my eyes on the JJJJound x New Balance 990v4s and the Tom Sachs x Nike general purpose shoe. Ready to give it a try? KYX has offered Obtainer readers a special code for 30% off your first month at any level. Memberships start at $59 for the first month, so after the discount, you’re sitting at about $42 for the people that don’t like math. Whether you purchase your kicks or not, the try-before-you-buy model is great, because you’re able to save time and money while still looking fresh. Why wait in line when you can have sneakers delivered to your doorstep hassle-free?
Try It: Use code OBTAINER30to get 30% off your first month of KYX at any level
Hello @hopestockholm, and thank you for gifting me the coat of the season! The trousers too. More from each please.
October 17