The Obtainer - 4/19/23, Wednesday
↦ Joel Jeffery's Style Strategies
Wednesday, April 19th Edition
If you’re reading this while in your PJs, I’m sure our guest wouldn’t mind. See how the co-founder behind one of the biggest sleepwear brands lives, works and lounges with style.
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
StyleStrategies
How the Loungewear Designer Shops
People don’t think twice about dropping hundreds of dollars on shoes, jackets or jeans, but what about your loungewear? You wear it for eight to ten hours; you sleep in and snuggle with your significant other in it. Hell, maybe you wear it all weekend. Doesn't that deserve an upgrade? This is something Joel Jeffery spends a lot of time thinking about. He's the co-founder of Desmond & Dempsey (along with his wife, Molly Goddard). Their London-based pajama brand is named after their two grandfathers and is made of premium-quality cotton with hand-painted prints inspired by the couple's travels. They've been at the forefront of “luxury pajamas” since their launch in 2015.With plenty of brands helping you get ready to go out and conquer the world, Desmond & Dempsey's brand urges you to stay in, take things slow and reflect on the good. When Joel isn't in a pair of his pajamas—savoring a cup of coffee with his wife and daughter—you'll find him in his favorite trusty T-shirts and some relaxed-fitting double-knee trousers. It all makes sense for a guy to be this laid back, who obsesses over the finer details when creating the ideal pajama set. We caught up with him to hear more about the importance of slowing down and why excellent socks matter.
How did Desmond & Dempsey come about?
When Molly and I moved in together, she always borrowed my shirts for bed. When that tired, and my shirt count was in the negatives, we started the search for some proper pajamas for her. The more we looked into the market, we felt there was a gap at the premium end for printed cotton styles. So, we set off to design our own—a brand about the pleasure of leisure.
People tend to skimp out on nice loungewear ...
I know. But when you think about it, your pajamas probably get as much wear as some of your jeans. We spend a lot of time obsessing about how what we're wearing will feel in bed and around the house. Fabric that will keep you warm, but not too warm when you're asleep. No scratchy labels. Elastic waistbands. Deep pockets so you don't lose your phone down the back of the sofa. Simple things, but ones that make a huge difference when you're trying to be comfortable. When someone designed that old band tee they didn't make decisions about the product because it was great to sleep in.
Tell me more about this hand-painting of the prints.
It's something that we have always done and will always do. It's not the most efficient way, but we love that when the product goes into production, you can still see the details of the brush strokes, for example. In recent years, we've started using lots of new techniques to create different textures within a print. In our new Elements collection, the team used the rings of an old cut tree trunk to create the print.
Cuban pajama set, $260 by Desmond & Dempsey
The brand’s mantra is celebrating life at home. What’s one thing you can share with us about the importance of enjoying slow mornings?
Since we had our daughter, all of us sitting down in the morning and having breakfast together has become a special moment and worth savoring. It also helps that I take some time to wind up in the morning—I'd rather start the morning slower and speed things up if I need to. My theory is that if you get moving too fast, it's hard to stop and get that time back, but it's easier to catch up.
How would you describe your style in five words or less?
Comfortable and warm.
Utility micro pattern wool suit, $4,350 by Zegna
What’s one item that every man needs in his closet?
A good suit. Zegna if you can afford it. I don't think it matters too much about the brand name as long as the fabric is of exceptional quality, it's altered to fit you perfectly and not too trend led. Most of us don't wear them every day, so something classic that you won't get out next year and be embarrassed about. It doesn't have to be a fully bespoke suit, but getting something off the rack altered is always worth it.
Three favorite brands, currently?
What’s one item that you cannot part with?
An old Carhartt jacket I've had for probably 15 years that I can't get rid of. I've repaired it many times—and I hardly ever wear it—but I can't get rid of it.
What’s something you’re looking to buy at the moment?
For ages I have been looking for the perfect black western style belt. I found a few at Our Legacy that I have my eye on.
Leather belt, $152 by Our Legacy
Do you shop more online or in person?
I love browsing in person, but I am an impulse shopper. I tend to procrastinate over what I want and walk out of the shop with nothing and then buy online last minute and need it on the fastest shipping possible. I'll go months without shopping, then really go for it. If I'm overseas, definitely in person though—that's probably when I shop the most.
Where do you personally love to shop?
I have always enjoyed shopping for clothes in New York because I love walking everywhere and the people-watching is great, and it's so easy to walk without worrying about getting lost.
But more often than not, I end up shopping for homewares when we travel. I used to visit Madrid a lot when Molly and I first got together, and we would buy things for the home from the markets in La Latina, which is every Sunday. That seems to have stuck with me, and all sorts of weird things have ended up as hand luggage.
Arnaud color-block ribbed cotton-blend socks, $40 by Paul Smith
What’s a necessary extravagance for you?
Really excellent socks. Trust me, you can tell the difference.
What is something you like to save money on or refuse to spend a lot for?
White T-shirts. I don't spend loads on those because I always spill things on myself and can't get the stains out and struggle to find anything long enough in the body. The UNIQLO U crewnecks are my go-to.
What’s something you buy in multiples?
Those white UNIQLO tees.
Which do you experience more: buyer’s remorse or regret for not buying something?
I'd definitely say, “regret for not buying something.”
What’s one shopping hack that you can let everyone know about?
Go ahead and add to your cart, then leave it and come back. Sometimes you will, sometimes you won't. Abandoning baskets online will end up saving you money.
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
Brooklinen's towels are made of 100% Turkish cotton. They're cushy and soft, but also dry fairly quickly. A worthy investment, especially when they go on sale.
$75 / $60 by Brooklinen
This style, from Salomon's mid-2000s archive, has been updated for today's terrain. The Agile Chassis System provides more stability when running, and the exterior powerbands add extra durability.
$175 / $148 by Salomon
A pair of tailored pants with the comfort of sweatpants that are perfect for hybrid work. These are made from smooth, silky virgin wool and topped with an elastic drawstring waistband.
$425 / $255by Mr P.
This thoughtfully-designed clock is made in Japan and comes with a removable stand, so you can put this on your home desk or hang it in the living room.
$199 / $149.99 by Schoolhouse
Now's the time to get your outdoor furniture together, and this bench is multi-functional. The powder-coated aluminum is lightweight and can be used for seating, a coffee table or another place to store plants.
$455 / $364 by Floyd
A chic breakfast plate crafted from a semi-matte glaze featuring an integrated egg cup. The best thing about this beautiful plate is that it's dishwasher safe.
$35 / $21 by Ferm Living
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When you break it down, whatever was there in the 1960s and 1970s in ‘newsstand’ and ‘under the counter,’ the newsstand represented what society would accept at that time ... The under-the-counter books represent what was not considered culturally defensible.”
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Some of the things I like to collect.
March 11