Set For Spring: Navy Blazers, OCBDs & Bow Ties

Top left: Brooks Brothers 3/2 sack, Brooks Brothers pink OCBD, Cordial Churchman patch madras tie
Top right: Brooks Brothers 3/2 sack, J. Press white flap pocket OCBD, J. Press madras tie
Bottom: Southwick 3/2 sack, J. Press blue flap pocket OCBD, Brooks Brothers tie

*I don't recommend looking quite this rumpled in public.

Rediscovered: Bill's Khakis

I haven't been very satisfied lately with my choice of pants. I have a few paris of J. Crew chinos that see pretty regular rotation but, bluntly speaking, they kind of suck. For starters, they're just too long. And I don't care for the way they are constructed. Frankly, I don't think they would be worth the money that I would spend to have them altered and so I have just been wearing them as is. At the same time, I'm not the kind of fellow who just goes out (or gets online) and buys new pants. So, in an attempt to take a tip from a New Year Archival Clothing post, I've been consciously "shopping from myself" which means digging into drawers, closets, and vacuum bags for things that I may have forgotten about or put away for some reason that I can no longer recall. That's how I ran across what was once my favorite pair of Khakis, the Bill's M2 model. I picked this pair up from David Morgan seven or eight years ago. Back then I wore them all the time. But at some point between then and now I decided that the cut was just too big and baggy. (And if you've ever worn the M2 you know why I decided that.) But the thing about Bill's is that they are made to be adjusted. You can tell when you look inside a pair that they were built well to be rebuilt if needed. So I took them to my local shop where they were slimmed in the legs and adjusted in the rise considerably. First time out, I paired them with a vintage Gitman BD in small tattersall (not to be confused with Gitman Vintage -- but that's another post) and Quoddy boat shoes. Now I want to wear them every day. So here's to shopping from yourself. Long live Bill's!

Trap Hunting: LIFE Photos By Wallace Kirkland

Stumbled across these and had to share. I wore my 10" Bean Boots today in the snow and realized tonight that I was trying to look like these guys. I'm guessing these were taken in Maine or somewhere in Canada but I don't know for sure. Stormy Kromer hats, Maine Hunting Boots, wool plaid popovers, mackinaw cruisers, and Hudson's Bay-esque blanket coats make this one of my favorite LIFE sets.

Red Wing Oxblood Series

Really looking forward to these later this year. (via Redwing1905)

More Waterfowl In Flight: My Favorite Club Tie

This older English woven silk/wool by Robert Talbott is my favorite seasonal club tie. It's 3" at the widest point -- my preferred width -- and more substantial in feel than an all silk.

Winter Wool

I picked up these wool socks from Mast General Store in Knoxville back in November and they have really saved my feet from the cold we've been having here in Tennessee this winter. Not sure if these are available outside of the stores. Made in North Carolina. Warm and comfy.

Cabela's Chamois Shirt

This is why I scour thrift shops. A vintage USA Cabela's chamois would be a no-brainer anyway but the embroidered Canada Geese in flight made it that much more irresistible. (Some of you probably bought these new (looking at you, Main Line) in which case I will have to ask for your indulgence.

Wish they would bring this label back.

My wife had a little trouble with these until she finally smiled and said "Ok I can go for this."

Bellows pockets for expansion.

Don't even think about tucking this in.