The Obtainer - 7/31/23, Monday
↦ Give Your Denim a Break
Monday, July 31st Edition
Happy Monday—today’s newsletter came straight from my Mojo Dojo Casa House. No belts needed today … we’re talking all things drawstring here.
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
BuyingGuide
The Best Drawstring Pants to Wear Right Now
Whenever the weather is sweltering hot, sometimes you can't be bothered with jeans, let alone stiff dress pants. And who wants to be weighed down with a belt? Drawstring trousers are the easy answer to solve your summertime style angst. Easygoing and non-constrictive, the hybrid designs have become ever more popular in our hybrid working landscape because they always look way more polished than they feel.If you've been on the fence, we get it. For a while, they were a little too associated with the athleisure boom. I've only recently hopped back on the elasticated drawstring bandwagon. There was some slight hesitance because I remember guys wearing a little too-tight elastic ankle joggers in the mid-aughts with Gel-Lyte Asics, and that's a trend I'm happy to see in the rearview. But times have changed. Today's best styles have a more relaxed leg opening and are cut from lightweight materials like nylon, linen and seersucker. Dress them up as needed—you wouldn't wear them with a tie, but they're perfect with professional basics like knit polos, oxford cloth button-downs, camp collars and luxe tees. When it comes to fit, don't be afraid to go up a size. The beauty of these pants is that you can cinch them at the waist and a little extra room keeps them nice and airy. As for the best styles, we've pulled over a dozen for you to choose from before summer comes to an end.
Our Picks
These pull-on pants have been replicated from Dockers’ original 1985 khakis. They’ve been reworked for 2023 with an elasticated waist and a water-saving cotton hemp fabric.
Pull-on pant, $180 by Dockers x Transnomadica
With a relaxed cut and washed linen fabric, these fit and feel like vintage pants but have modern touches, like a hidden cellphone zip pocket.
Linen-blend utility pull-on pant, $80 / $56 by Abercrombie & Fitch
Available in three saturated shades, these seersucker pants are a lightweight vacation-ready option and are garment-dyed and preshrunk.
Overdyed seersucker easy chino, $150 by Save Khaki United
Drawstring pants can be worn in the office, and these are proof. They have a formal look, but with a lounge-like function.
Band pant, $230 by Lady White Co.
Sometimes, a lamp provides more than just light. This new lamp from West Elm ($249) looks like something you might've unearthed in some far-flung vintage shop. And that's a good attribute for accent pieces like this. On a side table or a nightstand, maybe tucked into an entryway, it not only provides a subtle glow of warm light, but the all-over woven rattan also adds a textural and sculptural energy to any room. It's at once incredibly modern and yet feels natural and old school, too.
Test Drive
The Sunscreen That Smells Like Vacation
Sunscreen is one of those things you know you should be wearing but are often too lazy to apply and will risk getting burnt. I’ve done that one too many times, until the one summer that I end up getting sun poisoning. Well, it was self-diagnosed, but that shit is serious because my chest was purple, and whenever the water hit me in the shower, I felt like I was getting chopped bare-chested in the wrestling ring by Ric Flair. I’ve since learned my lesson.And if you find a good sunblock, it actually makes you look forward to slathering it on. First, a reminder about SPF count—you want a minimum of 30—and that any formula you use should protect from UVA and UVB rays. This will not only guard against sunburn, but will also reduce the risk of overall skin damage. Luckily, one of the most creative marketing brands in the skincare business also makes my favorite sunscreen. Vacation’s Classic SPF 30 smells like a dream vacation. Using coconut oil and banana extracts, which not only hydrate and replenish the skin, but make it smell like what you remember good sunscreen smelling like when you were a kid. Besides the beautifully nostalgic bottle, it’s super effective. Dermatologist tested and recommended, it’s water-resistant for a full 80 minutes and free of nasty (and hard to pronounce) chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate. The lotion itself is lightweight, absorbs quickly in the skin and dries down so you’re not all sticky or slippery.Anytime we’re headed to the pool or know we’re going to be outside for a long time, I make sure to put about a golf-ball-sized dollop all over my body which, I’m told, is the recommended dose. Worth mentioning—my skin is super sensitive, and I have not had any issues with this. I love how easily it is absorbed by your skin and whenever you decide to jump in the pool, it doesn’t melt into your eyes like most sunscreens. The only downside for some might be the strength of the fragrance. But who doesn’t want to smell like piña coladas all day? And I’ve yet to receive any complaints, but I have gotten a couple compliments.
Classic lotion SPF 30,$18 by Vacation
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
3sixteen's loop collar shirt takes inspiration from shirts of the ‘50s, but it’s been updated for today. It's lightweight, dyed with natural indigo and the fabric is finished with a handcrafted two-color block print.
$198 / $100by 3sixteen
These loose gabardine shorts have a cool, gentlemanly quality. They're finished with pleats and have been stonewashed and dyed for a retro feel.
$213 / $128by Baracuta
This jacket is perfect for seasonal transitions and is made of a soft micro rip-stop fabric with bio-washed processing. The back panel is mesh-lined for breathability, and an adjustable drawstring ensures comfort.
$205 / $102by FrizmWORKS
The three best stories from around the web.
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ALD is catering to, and possibly creating, a new kind of luxury gentleman.”
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Almost two years after announcing she’d be returning to the world of fashion in 2021, Philo launched an Instagram account to confirm her new project.”
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An Edward Sexton suit is more than a piece of clothing. It’s a cultural artifact with more than 50 years of pioneering creativity underpinning it.”
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In terms of quality, these finished Parker Boots are a real step up from the trial boot, which is good because the slight roughness of that first one had me concerned - even though Zephan made it clear what they were.
June 6
