The Obtainer - 4/12/23, Wednesday
↦ Comparing Canvas Sneakers
Wednesday, April 12th Edition
It’s finally patio season! And there’s nothing better to help you embrace the warmth than pulling on a fresh pair of canvas sneakers. Socks completely optional.
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
Good/Better/Best
Canvas Sneakers
In case no one told you, it’s time to dust off your favorite canvas sneakers. Or maybe you need a fresh pair for the season. Options these days are endless, but I personally love them in simple colors like white, deep navy or black. They're one of the few pairs of shoes that legitimately look great with anything—and they tend to look even better with a few scuff marks. But what makes for a standout pair? There's a lot, but it really comes down to one word: Vulcanization.You may be asking, “what the hell is vulcanization?” It's a process for hardening rubbers. Think of it like tires. You want something that's going to be durable enough to carry you for 65,000 plus miles. The same goes with canvas sneakers. The vulcanization process is imperative for giving the outsole more strength and elasticity, so you can comfortably wear the hell out of them for as long as possible.The simple kicks are still the easiest way to dress down a suit—be it for work or a warm weather wedding. Just make sure the break in your pants isn't too aggressive. And, of course, they look great with jeans or some rugged herringbone field pants. Then, come shorts season, you'll only take them off to swap in some slides or loafers. As for which pairs to pull the trigger on right now, we selected three similar styles that aren't the standard issue canvas shoes you see all the time. What's more, they're available in a range of prices. How much you want to spend is entirely up to you, but as you see, these will always be in style.
Lighter weight than the other styles
The canvas upper sits on a vulcanized rubber sole, complete with marks from the vulcanization process
A rubber toecap adds some extra durability
The squishy insole is made of recycled rubber and can be removed to give your other shoes some additional comfort
Star Master sneaker, $65 / $39 by Novesta
This is the brand's best-selling shoe, in rotation since 1964
An all-vegan shoe that is ethically made
Made from a high-quality cotton poplin twill, so they'll last longer than the Novesta pair
A plush memory foam footbed with airflow channels that will help keep your feet cool and comfortable
Legend sneaker, $78 by SeaVees
Cut from a sturdy 6 oz. canvas with contrasting white stitching
The brand manufacturers their soles in one of Korea's last remaining vulcanized-rubber factories
An OrthoLite insole delivers discreet modern performance and comfort
The bottom of the shoe has a gum-bottom sole which offers a bit more traction as well
Original plus canvas sneaker, $110 by Catchball
Stuff We Swear by
The Ethically Made Crewneck Sweatshirt
One of my year-round wardrobe staples is a trusty crewneck sweatshirt. Everyone always jokes that I never get hot. And I kinda don’t. I tend to run cold, but I also hate being unprepared, especially about the weather. In the summer evenings, a crewneck is an excellent piece to throw over a lived-in pocket T-shirt or even a lightweight denim shirt. When it’s not needed, you can easily tie it over your shoulders or around your waist.And while I have a handful of styles in my closet, the one I keep going back to time and time again comes from the Californian label Jungmaven. My go-to sweatshirt from the brand is their Sierra raglan crewneck. I got it in this beautifully garment-dyed canvas color because it goes with everything and looks particularly good with drab neutrals (olive and brown earth tones) that often show up a lot in my warm weather wardrobe. It’s a notch below 10 ounces, so it’s great to wear every season and the sustainable hemp/organic cotton fleece blend is soft and just gets softer the more you wear it. Cut and sewn in L.A., the classic raglan sleeves provide extra comfort and range of motion.But the unsung hero of the sweatshirt has to be the reinforced neckline. I always look for crewneck sweatshirts that sit right at the neck because it looks cleaner, and nobody wants to wear a piece of clothing with a droopy neck, right? I’ve washed this dozens of times (in cold water and hung it to dry) and it still looks great. With each wash, it looks and feels even more like you’ve bought it from your local flea market. It’s honestly that cozy. For $110 it hits the sweet spot—high end enough to last but not so expensive you’re afraid to wear the hell out of it. As we’ve said before, it’s better to have one amazing piece you’ll wear over and over again than five versions of something cheaply-made.
Sierra raglan crewneck,$110 by Jungmaven
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
Prep for summer with this stylish window A/C unit that's eco-conscious, tech-friendly and quiet. It's a tried and tested appliance for the Valet. team and it's currently on sale.
$415 / $369.99 by Windmill
Madewell is having an extra 30% off sale right now, and there are some high-quality pieces not to be missed. This garment-dyed twill shirt has double pockets and reinforced elbows and will soften with each wear.
$89.50 / $53.19 (w/code ELEVATE) by Madewell
Ad Hoc's pour-over coffee maker has a reusable stainless-steel coffee filter, magnetic holder and adjustable filter height—all you need now is a fresh bag of beans.
$44.95 / $34.99by Ad Hoc
A ripstop overshirt makes for an ideal lightweight layer for unpredictable spring weather. This one has side welt pockets and rugged snap buttons (plus, it's half off now).
$140 / $70 by OnlyNY
Don't pass up on a good boot sale just because summer is coming. Especially when they're this handsome and well-made.
$475 / $247.50 by Allen Edmonds
This is the ideal travel suit and it's perfect for summer's swampy conditions. The breathable cotton/wool blend is simple to care for and the unstructured jacket could easily be worn separately.
$1,048 / $734 by Jack Victor
The three best stories from around the web.
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Since launching her brand, called Wales Bonner, in 2015, the 32-year-old South London native has won just about every important fashion prize there is.”
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Ultimately, whether or not anyone’s trend-chasing at Augusta National is irrelevant. As long as the vibe holds, everything will be all right.”
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As is the case with most luxury brands, there are cheaper labels making on-par products, but the price stems from the name and the notoriety you get from carrying, or wearing, it.”
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Between the #BAFTAs and the kickoff of London Fashion Week, we’ve been seeing extraordinary levels of celebrity menswear across the pond.
February 21