The Obtainer - 1/27/23, Friday
↦ The New Shoes We're Eyeing at the Moment
Friday, January 27th Edition
I’ve never been on a horse or even on a ranch, but I do now own a pair of roper boots. Read on to see why I’m making a case for them. Just wait, they’re going to be the new Chelsea boots.
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
The New Shoes on Our Radar
Is it time to re-evaluate the shoes in your closet? Maybe this list will help get you going in the right direction. There are so many great shoes dropping these days, we thought we would pull a few of our current favorites to showcase. From a beautiful pair of hiking boots and leather lace-ups to some ’90s-inspired trekking sneakers, these are the shoes our team can’t stop talking about.
On Our Radar
You don't have to work on a ranch to wear roper boots, although it wouldn't hurt. Over the last few months, we've started seeing them hit the mainstream fashion world, and we think they're here to stay. Chelsea boots had a chokehold on men's fashion close to a decade ago, but it's the ropers' turn now. This pair from Tecovas are designed in Texas and then handcrafted in Léon, Mexico. It's the brand's first wedge sole roper built for rugged performance with a focus on comfort. The one-inch Vibram 4014 Cristy outsole provides stability and excellent traction for any terrain. With treated leather and weather-resistant seams, these should be easy to keep clean. Wearing denim-on-denim may be a little too on the nose, so freak these with a heavyweight hoodie and some lived-in fatigues for an updated approach.
$245 by Tecovas
Keen is known for their signature UNEEK sandals, but for winter they've created a chukka to help beat inclement weather. Although it's a durable leather boot, it has the same comfort as your favorite sneakers thanks to the extra-grippy ubber outsole—which also makes this an easy weather-appropriate option to reach for during those wet, snowy days. Plus, the shoes come with three sets of laces to customize your look and the lace-lock system is made of recycled PET plastic and bungee cord, so you can feel great about wearing these.
$160 by Keen
A few years ago Frank Ocean wore hiking boots, vintage straight-fit denim, and a hooded down jacket—he was ahead much like his music, and you might say he set the landscape for how most guys dress today. What's not to love about hiking boots? This pair from Greats comes in a beautiful tan color that's versatile to match with anything. Hard-wearing and refined, they're made in Portugal from premium textured leather, with a gusseted tongue construction to keep out moisture, and speed hooks for easy lacing. Wear what you want with these; however, looking to Frank for inspiration isn't a bad place to start.
$250 by Greats
If Superman's weakness is kryptonite, then leather lace-ups are mine. I've had my eye on these for a while and may need to purchase them since they're now half off. The shoe features unlined tumbled leather, a lightweight EVA outsole, and a veg-tanned leather footbed. The raw edge seam and tonal laces make these look like you just picked them up from a bespoke shop. The earthy tones give this shoe a look that's at once modern and timeless. I may just go full corduroy suit with these—they're that damn good.
$198.31 / $99.16 by Yogi Footwear
People often forget that adidas makes some of the best trekking sneakers on the market, and these are a perfect example. Influenced by '90s outdoor style and archival running silhouettes, the Hyperturfs are built with premium mixed-material uppers and a super-grippy outsole that keeps you stable. Made of ripstop, nubuck and suede, rain will bounce right off these sneakers. The EVA cushioning and bungee lace lock will ensure maximum comfort for your next hike.
$140 by adidas
Checking in With ...
imogene + willie
I first visited imogene + willie a few years ago in Nashville, and it was one of the best retail experiences I’ve ever had. I tried on several pairs of jeans before I found the right fit thanks to their well-educated staff. After I purchased the jeans, the inseam was a bit long, so I had them hemmed right then and there—I still have those jeans today. In their shop, you can see pattern cutouts of different denim fits hanging over the store, and you’ll see team members in the back sewing jeans and T-shirts together—a rare sighting for the fashion business, as the modern-day mantra is, “How many can we make? And how fast can we make them.” imogene + willie’s brand ethos is the opposite— thoughtful USA-made garments that will last you a lifetime.This may come off a bit biased because they’re one of my favorite brands, but once you buy a pair of their jeans, then you’ll buy some fatigues, T-shirts and CPO shirts—you get it, right? The label uses denim as the gateway to invite you into their sophisticated yet rugged world of military-inspired goods with a touch of wabi sabi kind of living. They’re one of the few brands whose pieces are versatile enough to go with anything in your closet.After operating in Nashville for over a decade now, they’ve just opened a new shop in Austin, Texas. “It’s a city fueled by the similar creative energy we're used to,” says Jackie Berkley, Director of People + Culture for the brand. “So we knew it was the perfect setting for us to branch out to a second location.” And by the way, the interior of the shop looks like something you’d see in a John Lautner home. We caught up with the fine folks over at i+w to see what’s happening.
What items are you guys most excited about at the moment?
While it is no longer our primary focus as a business, we are always excited about denim. January marks our annual one-year wear promotion—a unique offering for customers to purchase a new pair of jeans each January and receive 40% off a new pair every other year. It's a great chance to start fresh and see how the jeans evolve over the year through your activities and adventures, plus it gives your older jeans a break in order to take care of any necessary repairs.
Any new collaborations?
We have an exciting collaboration in the works with musician Billy Strings. We're working on exclusive merch to celebrate his show at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, for which only his loyal fans could purchase tickets.
Hall CPO, $325 by imogene + willie
What have you been noticing guys wearing these days?
The weather in Nashville is entirely unpredictable in the winter; mornings often start in the low 30s but can get to 60 by midday, so we're all pros at layering. The go-to combination for guys around here is a combination of our henley under our wool or quilted military CPO shirts.
Said and Done sock, $28 by imogene + willie x Little River Sock Mill
What’s really been selling lately?
Especially over the holidays, we could not believe how many socks went out the door! Granted, we've worked hard to build a killer lineup of colors and styles that people want to collect all of them. We are proud to work with Little River Sock Mill on our socks as a second-generation, family-run mill not far from our headquarters.
Said and Done sock, $28 by imogene + willie x Little River Sock Mill
Willie indigo jean, $235 by imogene + willie
What are some current staff favorites?
The plus candle is a big one; we stock-pile these to give as gifts and to keep for ourselves. Our thermals are a winter staple for many of us—the ash colorway is a favorite. And of course, we favor denim—our core indigo rigid jp denim from Nihon Menpu in Japan is a staff essential.
Who is the “imogene + willie” customer?
The i+w customer cares about their clothes but doesn't sanctify them. We make clothes that make it easy to get dressed each morning and pieces that improve with time and wear. They can take a beating and be worn repeatedly. Since our clothes are made with love in the USA out of premium fabrics, they sell at a higher price point, but our customers see the value in longevity and opt to purchase one high-quality tee that gets better with each wear rather than several cheaply made options.
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
This phone case is the answer to all your storage woes. The leather card pocket holds up to three bank cards and an ID, the vegetable-tanned leather ages beautifully, and the raised bezel safeguards your screen.
$67 / $50by Mujjo
A zip cardigan is warm and always looks great with a crisp button-down shirt. This one from Taylor Stitch is rugged and handsome—made of 100% merino wool and a two-way zipper produced from antique brass.
$173 / $129.75by Taylor Stitch
A '50s-inspired checkerboard cardigan that's been updated for a more contemporary fit. Made of 50% soft merino wool and 50% cotton, this throwback cardigan will keep you cozy year-round.
$270 / $135by Knickerbocker
The three best stories from around the web.
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Being an artist has always been a risky career move, art and commerce being not quite a Venn diagram with ‘money’ comfortably in the middle.”
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DJing and producing is a time to share music, this joyous thing that helps me escape from stress and find comfort.”
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Whether it’s your first or twentieth pair, we hope that you enjoy this comic strip. And when you’re ready to get started on your raw denim journey, we are here to help.”
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BEAMS PLUS RECOMMEND.＜DOUBLE RL＞ ×＜BEAMS PLUS＞ CHAMBRAY SHIRT.
January 14