The Obtainer - 12/4/23, Monday
↦ A Fresh Take on a Classic
Monday, December 4th Edition
Think a classic staple like a tweed jacket is old fashioned? Think again. Our own Leon Hedgepeth asked one of the coolest tailors on London’s Savile Row for advice on how to wear one with style.
- Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Three Ways to Wear
A Tweed Blazer
It’s hard to beat the form and function of tweed this time of year—even with stiff competition from seasonal heavyweights like corduroy or moleskin. A tweed blazer is a menswear staple that is rugged yet refined, not to mention warm and comfortable. You can get lost in the “need for tweed” because there are many versions of the hardwearing fabric, but one of the most notable is herringbone. The material was long embraced by outdoorsy British gentlemen for such endeavors as hunting and shooting, but soon found its way into more formal and casual wardrobes of Americans.The preppy set, characterized by a classic and conservative look associated with Ivy League and East Coast American collegiate fashion, adopted tweed as part of their signature look. Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate gave a textbook look on how to pull off a collegiate look, while Robert Redford pulled off a similar outfit in a more professional (espionage) way in his film Spy Game. Both looks are timeless, but the man who showed there's no one way to wear it was Jean-Michel Basquiat.The downtown artist exuded the duality of the jacket, so much so that the modern Savile Row tailor Cad & The Dandy replicated a tweed blazer from a portrait taken in 1984 by Richard Corman for a feature in Uomo Vogue. Tailoring consultant Chuck Pollard and Managing Director Steve Knorsch said that Corman wore a tweed jacket to the studio that day and Basquiat just grabbed it and threw it on with what he had been wearing. It worked beautifully, pairing a light gray oxford stripe shirt and casual ivory khaki trousers in perfect slouchy simplicity. The resulting images show the power of personal style married with timeless elegance. Want to toe the line of business-professional and a laid-back nonchalance? Grab a tweed blazer and revel in its versatility. We tapped the team from Cad & The Dandy to style the brand's bespoke blazer three different ways for the modern-day gentleman.
A Basquiat-Inspired Fit
The replica jacket featured is fully bespoke from Cad & The Dandy in a black and white herringbone tweed cloth by Moon. It's styled similarly to Jean-Michel Basquiat with cotton trousers in cloth by Fox Brothers and a striped oxford cloth button-down shirt cut from Thomas Mason fabric.
Bespoke tweed blazer (from $1,800), bespoke dress shirt ($260) and bespoke dress trouser (from $500), all from Cad & The Dandy
Get some 'Succession' level style on a budget. Quince makes really good quality cashmere at a very reasonable price, but beyond their sweaters and throw blankets, they now offer cashmere baseball caps ($50). Available in five neutral shades, they have the same luxe feel as those by Italian brands charging $300 to $650, but this rings in at just fifty bucks. A veritable steal, right? At this price you could get one for yourself and another as a gift for someone.
Test Drive
An Eye Cream That Lives Up to Its Promise
If you recognize any of the '90s trends that are making their way back into fashion these days, then it's my job to remind you that it's time for eye cream. I've already been on the stuff for a while, if for no other reason than I'm incredibly vain. Which is to say, I've tried a good amount of them already. But this one, in particular, has become a favorite. Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae eye cream certainly sounds fancy, right? And it's pulled in a handful of beauty awards along with boasting about clinical tests that prove it smoothes away fine lines and tightens up under-eye bags. But what I noticed when I first started using it was how thick the cream was--most eye creams are light and even gel-like. This is a rich cream. But I found that the thicker formula really hydrates the skin around the eye and as it absorbs into the skin, the area around the eye really does smooth and plump for almost immediate results. (This is one of the reasons people love the avocado eye cream from Kiehl's as well.) The other benefit of this scentless eye cream is that it has a salmon-colored hue to it. I'm not sure if this is meant to counteract dark under-eye circles, and while it doesn't cover under-eye darkness, I do feel that within an hour, the purple hue that's usually under my tired eyes has somewhat evaporated.
Formulated with squalane, the cream locks in essential moisture while paracress extract soothes and firms skin, along with “Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5”, which the company says helps boost collagen production in the area. I just know that my eyes look better when I tap this on in the morning. And I tap some on after washing my face at night to help it work while I sleep. What's more, I received this tiny jar as a gift last Christmas and it's lasted me nearly an entire year. When you break it down like that, this highly effective eye cream only costs you about a dollar a week.
Squalane + Marine Algae eye cream,$56 by Biossance
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
Oversized chinos aren't going anywhere, and Madewell's version is proof. Their flat-front chinos are baggy—feature sturdy welt pockets and brushed fabric for a lived-in feel.
$98 / $65.99by Madewell
Who says a Western denim shirt has to be blue? This rugged shirt from J.Crew has pearl snap buttons and signature stitching in a crisp, snowy colorway.
$79.99 / $39.99(w/code ADDTOBAG)by J.Crew
Everlane's fleece overshirt is crafted from recycled materials, but you’d never know it from how soft it is. It’s finished with two oversized patch pockets and comes in cream and navy, too.
$110 / $77by Everlane
The three best stories from around the web.
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I am in this to create something new, unexpected, and hopefully more relevant ever.”
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I love the idea of making a secret neighborhood with its own community of like-minded people who want to enjoy beautiful goods and services in a relaxed and considerate way.”
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What I love is this mix of futuristic sci-fi and very romantic.”
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The archbishop of style & big pant master @moteen_ wears our black calf bits.
October 25
