The Obtainer - 11/3/23, Friday
↦ What We're Wearing to the Office
Friday, November 3rd Edition
Are you reading this on your way to work? We’re discussing a few of our favorite office-appropriate pieces today. And I make the case for always buying your denim used.
- Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief ⋯ @coryohlendorf
What We’re Wearing
Fall Office Style
Few of us are required to wear suits to the workplace anymore. Hell, the vast majority of us aren't even going into the office five days a week. But that doesn't mean your professional attire has to devolve into bland button-downs and nondescript chinos when you are there. If most office workers are sporting business casual these days, stand apart from the dull worker bees and go against the grain, ever so slightly. Think about pulling on a relaxed jacket (that fits and feels more like a cardigan) or maybe just a refined autumnal sweater with some suede slip-ons and a pair of gentlemanly trousers with a silhouette that's ready for 2024. They're modern updates that will ensure you look sharp, feel good, and are ready for anything happening after hours as well—be it drinks with a client or a dinner date.
Your Fall Office Fit
Clockwise, from top left:
Garment-dyed allday T-shirt, $35 by MadewellDouble-pleated trouser, $90 by Abercrombie & Fitch x HFR x Nicole BenefieldRidgewood wool knit jacket, $198 by Taylor StitchTrouser socks, $14 by Polo Ralph LaurenSuede loafer, $349 by MORJASModel one watch, $1,020 by UnimaticMulti-tool pen, $29.99 by ATECH114 leather folio, $189 by GRAMS28Birth of Cool sweater, $220 by Howlin'
Making the Case for …
Vintage Levi’s
Some things you always want to buy new. Underwear, for example. But others, like denim, are so much better if you can buy them secondhand. A pair of vintage jeans—especially Levi’s—are leaps and bounds better than buying them fresh from the store. No offense to my friends at Levi’s, but the older pairs just have so much going for them. They’re the perfect mix of nostalgic and cool, a timeless style with all the well-worn patina that makes a lived-in pair of jeans look so distinctive.
Personally, I buy vintage denim for its one-of-a-kind character: The little rips, patches and repairs, the idiosyncratic wear marks that make these jeans the only one in existence. And the added bonus is that, the older the jeans, the better they tend to last. Insert a gruff old man ranting about how they don’t make ‘em like they used to … but well-made clothing rewards investment over the long term. And jeans from decades past just seem to last longer while modern denim starts out looking okay, but gives out way sooner than you might think.
And I can’t be sure, but I’m pretty sure the details are better on the vintage pairs, too. The zipper is a tad larger and stronger. The hems are sewn a bit tighter. And most importantly, the back pockets are a little smaller, but that allows them to be placed higher on the seat of the jeans, which in turn, makes your butt look better. I’m not versed on the science of this, but try on a pair and tell me you don’t notice the difference. And while finding a great pair of vintage denim used to require hunting through musty piles in a local shop or scrolling through eBay (still viable options), Levi's now runs a successful Secondhand program online. According to the company, if everybody bought one used item this year, instead of buying new, it would save nearly 450 million pounds of waste. What started as a conscientious move to boost sustainability, resulted in an easy way to score perfectly worn-in and beat-up vintage jeans that have been professionally cleaned and cared for.
Vintage 501 jean,$88 by Levi’s Secondhand
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
Outerknown's warehouse sale is happening, and there's a lot of good stuff—like this shirt jacket. Milled in Italy from a recycled wool blend for extra insulation and four pockets for ample storage, it's a sturdy and reliable layering piece for the cold weather ahead.
$298 / $208by Outerknown
Anything mohair is a show stopper, but a striped mohair cardigan is sure to turn heads. This one from OnlyNY has a soft-to-touch mohair wool nylon blend with ribbed finishing on the cuffs and hems for a modern fit.
$168 / $134.40(w/code FALLFLASH)by OnlyNY
These roomy fatigue pants are designed in the U.S. and are constructed from reverse twill in an undyed color for an authentic wear and tear. The waist adjusters are an excellent touch in case you forgo a belt.
$138 / $89.70by AE77
The three best stories from around the web.
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It’s hard to tell at a glance if a cashmere sweater has been well made. One processing technique, for example, can make the material look fluffy in a store, but weakens it so that it will fall apart more quickly.”
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At a certain point, 80% of what I wore was 80% off.”
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Overall, there’s an unwavering elegance to each design that shifts the status quo for what’s appropriate.”
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The perfect wool shirt for the first fall.
October 4
