The Obtainer. - 7/6/22, Wednesday (Subscribers)
⟼ This Classic Has Never Been Cooler
Wednesday,July 6th Edition
It’s nice to “e-meet” everyone. Is it still okay to say that? I hope so. If you have several versions of the same item currently hanging in your closet, I’m pleased to tell you that this is a safe space.
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
BuyingGuide
Old School Polos Have Never Been Cooler
I remember growing up, my parents would buy me polos in white, navy and grey. They'd say that these three shirts would go with everything—they were easy and dressy enough for the 10-year-old me. Much like other kids, I just wanted to wear graphic tees emblazoned with my favorite movie character or sports team. But those polos were really just as comfortable. And after all these years, my closet is now full of pocket tees, oxford cloth button-downs, and polos in shades of white navy and grey. Turns out, my parents were right all along.
Polos are an essential menswear item, but you already know that. So let's take a deep dive into the best fabric for your summertime polos—piqué cotton. Although piqué seems a bit heftier than its thinner jersey counterparts, the basketweave texture makes it the most breathable of them all. The tiny waffle-knit absorbs moisture to help wick sweat away while letting in air, so it's really more like a performance fabric. Which explains its history on the tennis court and golf course.
Although this is a classic closet staple, the polo is one of those pieces that's always getting updated in different silhouettes, collars and finishes. Wear a boxy polo with some baggier pants like relaxed jeans or military surplus cargos. For the office, the fit should be a bit on the tailored side, ensuring your “business-causal” look. And for meetings, tuck this in and throw one of your many unstructured blazers or chore jackets on for a nonchalant fit. To help you pick, we've selected a few of our favorite brands in various fits and price points that will complement any wardrobe.
4 of Our Favorites
The Affordable Polo
A no-frills style that's well-made and durable. For the price, it's super easy to stock up on in multiple colors.
$29.90 by UNIQLO
The Designer Polo
All the details have been stepped up. The fabric is a Portuguese cotton and the buttons are mother of pearl.
$225 by Drake's
The Athletic Polo
This updated polo is ideal for active guys. Flatlocked seams provide ultimate comfort and matte metal snaps give the shirt a nice modern touch.
$100 by Reigning Champ
The Classic Polo
Can't have a list of polos without this, right? It comes in over four dozen colors, but nothing is more crisp than a white polo during the warmer months.
$95 by Polo Ralph Lauren
Who makes an impressive dive watch for less than $500? I want something that looks good, is seriously waterproof and (ideally) isn’t a run-of-the-mill Seiko.
- Tyler
We hear you. The Seiko 5 is a quality affordable watch, but it’s not exactly unique. If you want something reliable that will also land you a few compliments, try a timepiece by Yema. The French maker of classic tool watches doesn’t skimp on quality, nor on details. The Navygraf watch, initially released in the early 1970s, is waterproof up to 900 feet and features an in-house-assembled automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve. Both the dial and bold yellow hands are treated with Super-LumiNova for extra readability and the brushed stainless steel case and bracelet make for an incredibly handsome and hardwearing watch. Originally, it’d cost you $750, but right now it’s marked down to $499. How’s that for sliding in right under budget?
⋆ Have a style question you'd like answered? Ask The Obtainer
Stuff We Swear by
These Relaxed Chinos Never Let Me Down
Last spring, I hopped on the relaxed silhouette bandwagon look and am so happy I did. Being a new dad at the time, I needed something with a bit more room to run everywhere and something that could also take a beating and look great. I thought, why not get a pair of khaki-colored fatigues with wide legs, and just wear the hell out of them? Call it BPE, big pants energy.
The field chino pant from Alex Mill was the first piece I ever bought from the label, but it has sold me on the brand’s quality and attention to detail. These pants get year-round wear from me and will continue to. They’re inspired by an original military-style fatigue pant and have been garment-dyed to give the pant that real authentic vintage vibe. The fatigues sit right on the hip and are roomier in the thigh area with a wide leg opening, which looks great with Boston clogs or a nice navy colored canvas sneaker.
The pants also feature steep pockets, which I’m a fan of since I put a huge iPhone in there with many other everyday essentials like my AirPods and Chapstick. Cuff them at the bottom once or twice for a more polished look or let ‘em hang for a relaxed summertime fit. These go with anything—I wear them with neutral pocket tees, an olive-green hoodie and a denim shirt when I need a light layer on those chilly mornings or breezy evenings.
As far as wearability, I’ve washed these countless times now and they’ve only gotten softer like a true military inspired pant would. Being something of a clothing nerd, I always wash everything on cold and hang dry to avoid any possible shrinkage. Even if brands tell you that things are already pre-shrunken, there’s still a chance for something to shrink. Why chance it? Just hang it up! Relaxed fitting clothes definitely feel like the wave right now, but this style of pant has literally been around for decades, so I don’t foresee them going anywhere anytime soon. Which is good ‘cause I’ll be wearing these a couple of times a week for the foreseeable future.
Field chino, $145 by Alex Mill
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
A hefty organic pima cotton tee that will only get softer with each wear.
$65 / $45 by Corridor
An unstructured ball cap is the unsung hero of warm weather accessories.
$55 / $38.50 by General Admission
Why squint to see everything, when these handsome shades with Carl Zeiss lenses are on sale?
$225 / $110 by RAEN
Several Morning Routine subjects have sung the praises of this compact clipper.
$80 / $65 by Wahl
Whatever you're carrying this summer will fit in this durable denim tote.
$75 / $45 by Adsum
Clean lines and gentle curves make for the ideal set for your home bar.
$163 / $73 by Nude Glass
The three best stories from around the web.
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FBI agents raided the Orlando Museum of Art, removing every single painting from a show that claimed to debut 25 never-before-seen works by Jean-Michel Basquiat.”
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Ketchum’s gravity still exerts its force. Hemingway died there. He was there for the reasons we still return. The world may change, but the basic attractions remains the same.”
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Canadian apparel company Body of Work doesn’t do bells or whistles. It simply makes the world’s finest small-batch sportswear.”
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The ideal music set-up courtesy of @devonojas.
May 30