The Obtainer - 6/7/23, Wednesday
↦ How Stylish Dads Do It
Wednesday, June 7th Edition
Presented by
Presented by
Today we’re talking with three very stylish guys, but not about clothes. See how some familiar faces in the industry handle “dad life” in 2023. Plus, a near-custom T-shirt changes the game.
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
Father’s Day
Modern Fatherhood
Let’s just get this out of the way: Father's Day, like Mother's Day, can be a difficult time for some. Either their parental figure is no longer with them, or in some cases, they may've never been in the picture at all. Not to start on a low note, but thinking about situations like that makes us appreciate our parents even more—especially the older we get, right? Father's Day is a few weeks away, and I always considered it a day to give your old man a break and make breakfast, but it's so much more than that. It's a time to acknowledge the father figure in your life for providing more than a paycheck and food in the fridge, but someone you can have honest conversations with or go to for real-life advice. Those are the kind of dads we aspire to be.The holiday certainly hits differently for me since becoming a father. I give myself a pat on the back, but seeing my son evolve in a caring and inquisitive way lets me know I'm doing something right. Like a lot of things, you don't fully grasp how challenging the job is until you get it. From the sleepless nights and diaper changes to navigating the swings of his emotions as a toddler, I wouldn't trade it for anything.Fatherhood overall looks a lot different now than 50 years ago. Hell, even ten years ago. And I'd say there's been a drastic change for the good. Society is a lot more forgiving to dads today, and that's likely due to the fact that so many of us are actively trying to be more present in our kids' lives. From carpool pickup to practice and even staying home to take care of the kids, being a committed dad is part of the new Renaissance man today. We caught up with a few cool dads—stylish guys who are no stranger to the Valet. audience who just happen to have kids as well—to see what Father's Day means to them, what are some challenges of “Dad Life” in 2023, and the essential products they rely on the most.
Miles Garber
An in-demand male model and founder of Call Me Dada, Garber is the father of 2.5-year-old Maxime. Follow Miles on Instagram.
“Growing up without a father, I actually had some resentment towards Father's Day. It was a day that represented extreme trauma for me. But since becoming a father, I genuinely love this holiday! It's a day that signifies the most important role in my life, which is being a dad. Not that it's an easy task, by any means. I think they say that this is the hardest time to be a parent since World War II, which is insane. But all in all, for me, the biggest challenge is just making sure I'm doing the best I can to ensure my daughter is an awesome person.”
My Dad Survival Item ...
“I rely heavily on my truck. It’s kind of like my giant, rolling bag of tricks. I keep everything from an extra pair of shoes to extra diapers in the back. Not a shameless plug, but a good literal dad cap always works when you don’t have time to style (or even wash) your hair.”
The dada hat, $35 by Call Me Dada
Ben O’Meara
Huckberry's VP of Marketing and one of the familiar faces on Huckberry's popular YouTube channel, O'Meara is the father of 3-year-old Zoie and 1-year-old Aila. Follow Ben on Instagram.
“It's just another more obvious reminder of how damn lucky I am to have two healthy, happy little girls. The real challenges of fatherhood fall between these two buckets: work-life balance and there not being enough time in the day. My daughters are full-blown toddlers at this point, so there is no quiet, dull moment. None. It's nonstop from the second they wake up. And with a busy work schedule, I want to maximize my time with them and my wife in the AM and at night. I'm trying to force myself into being one of those people who consistently wake up at 5-5:30 am so I have an hour or so to myself to work out, read, etc., before the house gets rocking. Also, screen time, it's a f***ing drug.”
My Dad Survival Item ...
“One of the best product recommendations I got before my firstborn was from Mark Hansen, a good friend, and co-founder of Topo. I use the brand’s quick pack bag frequently—for quick trips to the park, traveling and bike rides. Fits everything you need: diaper, snacks, water bottle, and change of clothes. Leave the giant, over-packed diaper bag at home.”
Quick pack, $69 by Topo Designs
Johan Lam Sr.
Co-founder of 3sixteen. Whenever he's not in the office, he's watching Warriors games and being the ultimate basketball dad to 6-year-old JoJo, 4.5-year-old Silas and 1.2-year-old Leon. Follow Johan on Instagram.
“Throughout my life, Father's Day was never about me—it was always about my dad. It's been strange for that to change all of a sudden and become the one being celebrated. The things my wife and kids do for me are very much appreciated, but for me, it's still mainly a day to remember my late father. My immigrant parents were just trying to provide for me and give me every opportunity to succeed. I think my biggest challenge will be ensuring my kids aren't spoiled rotten and giving them proper perspective and context about the world. And the internet! Trying to protect them from the wild-wild web as much as possible.”
My Dad Survival Item ...
“Keeping kids busy in a constructive way can be difficult at times, but my answer for this is always changing as my boys are growing up—lately it’s been a nice youth-sized basketball. At least for my two older sons, it’s the one thing we can all do together for several hours to keep them off the iPad. But the real answer is the iPad.”
Official encore basketball, $79.99 / $44.99 by Wilson
Partner
Gifts for Discerning Dads
Is your dad one of those notoriously hard-to-shop-for guys? No surprise there. A lot of fathers are, which can making shopping for Father's Day particularly challenging. So we went to the experts. We asked the dapper gents at MR PORTER to offer up the ultimate list of perfect presents. Here are over two dozen options, in a range of prices, that their team will be giving (and hoping to receive themselves) on June 18th. And to make it even easier for you, they're offering free standard delivery on orders over $150. Which means you can get it to your father in just three business days.
Two-tone merino wool polo shirt, $230 by Mr P.
Stretch cotton-blend bomber jacket, $1,950 by Thom Browne
Herbrand round-frame acetate sunglasses, $180 by Mr P. x Cubitts
Centenary leather-trimmed carry-on suitcase, $1,865 by Globe-Trotter
David regenerated suede sandal, $285 by Mr P.
Stuff We Swear By ...
The Best-Fitting White T-Shirt
When it comes to wardrobe staples, you don’t get more foundational than a white T-shirt. And you might think they’re a bit like pizza—even when they’re bad, they’re still pretty good and get the job done. Good thing we’re not in the pizza business, because a great-fitting T-shirt makes all the difference and what’s more, it all comes down to the minor details that really matter. Luckily, ASKET sweats the small stuff in their clothing, especially their tees. And their crisp white version is something that I now buy in bulk—they’re that damn good!Let’s start with the price. Yes, it’s more than your average T-shirt, but less than others at the luxury level—elevated, but not intimidating. ASKET’s website experience is as close to getting a custom-fitting T-shirt without having to be measured in person by a tailor. Once you select your size, you can choose between three length options: short, regular or long—I opted for my usual size, and it hits right at my waistline, which should be the preferred fit for all.ASKET’s T-shirt is classic and made from a premium heavyweight cotton jersey that’s accentuated with a soft ribbed neckline that’s stretchy and not too tight. It’s also preshrunk, and the hems are twin-needle stitched—meaning there are two parallel lines of stitching along the top with a bobbin thread zigzagging between them. This ensures the fabric stretches with body movement, but will not break when you pull your fabric over your head or push your arms through the sleeves. My favorite attribute is the neckline because it sits high enough to wear with a blazer and never stretches after dozens of washings, which is rare.
The T-shirt,$50 by ASKET
Drops to Watch For
After the shoe was teased in the brand’s spring lookbook back in May, the Drake's x Sebago collaboration is finally launching. The two British brands teamed up to deliver a series of classic Sebago styles—starting with the Docksides, the boat shoe beloved by guys from Paul Newman to Pharrell Williams. The perennial shoe is reinterpreted with contrast hand-stitching, white eyelets and paracord laces. They’ll cost you $225 and will no doubt sell out, so move fast.
Launching online and in-store on Thursday, June 8
Greece 2020
May 9