Certified Southern Snow Day

The snow here in Nashville this week means that the affordable Bosmere Wax Jacket (Made in England) can continue to prove itself a fantastic bargain by keeping the cold and moisture out while looking super at the same time.

My wife crocheted this scarf for me a several years ago and it's one of the warmest items I have.

 I still had to go to work today so the Wm. J. Mills Laptop Carryall was at my side.

Levi's and 10" Bison Leather Bean Boots always work well together.

Glengarry Look: The Workplace

• Gitman Vintage plaid oxford
• J. Crew Slim Cut Essential Chinos
• Everett Hozapfel surcingle belt
• Timex
• Mast General Store crew socks
• Quoddy boat shoes
• Wm. J. Mills & Co. Laptop Carryall
• Field Notes
• Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pen
• iPhone in Griffin Technology Clarifi case
• Colonel Littleton front pocket wallet

I suppose I'm fortunate to work in a casual environment. I used to have a job that required a tie and I generally wore a jacket too. I hated that job (not because of the dress code.) These days I sometimes wear a tie to the office but I've found that I can relate a little more effectively with people if they're not distracted by something out of the ordinary. Now my only rules are: always a collar, never shorts, rarely a sneaker.

Wm. J. Mills & Co. Laptop Carryall

A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to get my hands on some fantastic bags from Wm. J. Mills & Co. Since each of these bags serves a different purpose I wanted to spend some time with them, using them for what they were made for before I posted about them. (I took the Jitney Cargo on a test run last fall and it did not disappoint.) I've been carrying the Laptop Carryall as a work bag daily since October. My recommendation? Get one. It is what it says it is. I normally carry my laptop (in a padded sleeve), notebooks, pens, a couple of books, and random mail. It doesn't hold as much as my last waxed messenger bag but I'm glad because that bag was constantly cluttered with stuff I shouldn't have been carrying around every day. Like the other Mills bags, it has hefty zippers and great details. I like the "sewn" look of the Mills line, and the contrast of the navy and natural on my particular bag gives it a casual feel that lends itself well to the dynamic of my workplace. The first month that I carried the Laptop Carryall there wasn't a day that went by during which someone did not comment on it. Fine with me. I like to tell stories.

Additional Note: Please check out Mister Mort's super cool stonewashed version here.

Wm. J. Mills & Co. Stonewashed Jitney Cargo Bag

The fine folks at Wm. J Mills & Co. were kind enough to send a few bags my way recently and one of them saw some action over the weekend so I thought I'd share. If you've done your homework you already know the history of Mills as a family business so I'm just going to jump right into the nuts and bolts. The Jitney is a great bag for a 3 or 4 day pack and carry solution. If you're like me you pack quickly and bulkily and you really don't need compartments in your luggage. That's why cargo bags are perfect for people like us. With the Jitney I packed easily for a weekend getaway (that included dressing for a wedding) and had no problem getting everything I needed in it. (Shirt x 2, jeans, chinos, socks x 3, chones x 3, belt, tie, sweater x 2, shoes, dopp kit.) The zipper on the "top flap" is super sturdy and the handles are a perfect length. I used the top zipper flap as an expanded section for more interior capacity but it also folds into the bag to allow the beefy snaps to close up the top. The model I have is a heavily stonewashed olive with washed navy straps. It's a really nice combination of colorways and the stonewashing gives the canvas a great distressed look and feel without a sense of being "pre-broken-in." (I don't know about you but I'm a grown up boy and I really prefer breaking my items in on my own.) Nothing precious here, just machine-washable cotton canvas, sturdy and usable. This bag was designed 20 years ago and, like all Mills bags, was sewn in Greenport, NY. Available February 2011.

I haven't taken photos with my "real" camera yet but here are a few iPhone shots taken on the go and in the hotel:

(Not pictured here is my dopp kit which also fit.)

Packed and ready to go.

 My wife took this photo because she's awesome.

Aerial view.

There are some fantastic photos of the Mills shop and factory here. The content is in Italian so if that's not your thing, enjoy the visuals.

On My Mind

Images/items/thoughts that I keep returning to lately (some mine, some found.)  Maybe it's the change in the weather here in TN that's got me thinking this way.

Wm. J. Mills & Co. Canvas Duffels

When I travel (which is rarer than I would prefer these days) I tend to be a "throw it all into a bag with a zipper" kind of guy.  I don't do garment bags and I really don't care to roll a suitcase or fiddle with hard plastic handles that go up and down.  Truth is, I really hate those things.  I like something that I can strap over my shoulder and walk with (or run if I'm late.)  I also like stuff that looks traditional.  I'm not into swooshes and stripes and sporty logos.  I don't care for a bag that looks like it should contain aluminum bats for the little leaguers.  I need something basic and manly.  Behold, the Classic Duck Duffel from Wm. J. Mills Co. of Greenport, NY.

Apparently, these hand-crafted bags are made by a company that used to be in the business of making canvas sails.  I find this comforting for a few reasons:

1.  Boats are cool and those who man them are tough.  I wouldn't mind feeling like a seafaring sailor while I'm packing for a weekend in the Chicago suburbs to visit the in-laws.

2.  Sails are strong.  This bag will probably not be ruined by baggage handlers.  When was the last time you saw the America's Cup Challenge postponed due to sails being mishandled by airport personnel?

3.  This bag is a ticket to survival in an airplane crash over water.  I simply fashion a crude skiff from a piece of debris and hoist my makeshift sail-bag until I sight land.

There are several models and sizes in many colors on their website.  I chose "teak tan" because it looks like the chore coat my late grandpa always wore.  I do kind of wish those straps weren't white but I'm willing to overlook them if this bag is as tough as boat sails from the 1880s.