Amsterdam-based Scotch & Soda finally found its way here into the US, opening their flagship store in NYC’s Nolita just 2 days ago. I ran in briefly today to check it out in person. The place was absolutely jamming. They had a number of youthful, urban-prep pieces including jeans, khakis and sport shirts, but the crinkled wool blend blazer below ($235) caught my eye immediately with its stylish details. I’m particularly into its black fabric + white stitching beneath the collar, patch pockets and striped cotton lining. This blazer strikes the perfect balance for Fall: it’s at once both neatly tailored and ruggedly ready-for-anything.
I dropped into the imaginative, spooky-meets-elegant menswear shop Hollander and Lexer on Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn this week just as new Fall items were being unpacked and put onto racks among a number of summer sale pieces. If you’re fighting a losing battle with the heat even at this point in the summer, I’d suggest checking the place out: they’ve got a great selection of linen, much of which is seriously marked down.
Below are a few of my favorite pieces along with a couple of looks I put together mixing and matching from Summer and Fall.
Hollander and Lexer lightweight cotton checked jacket (originally $240, now $120) with Schiesser’s supersoft henley ($140). The wide shawl collar and print on this jacket give it a really unique vibe, and the buttons on the henley lend some visual interest — as opposed to just a plain t-shirt but also without overpowering the blazer the way a graphic shirt often can.
EM’s of MASONS cotton-linen blend khakis (originally $190, now $95). Fantastically lightweight: airflow is a good thing!
Rag & Bone lightweight jeans (originally $265, now $132.50). Love the chipped paint detail on the buttons — makes me think of a sink in a decrepit old clinic somewhere.
Hollander and Lexer navy linen jacket with cotton lining (originally $425, now $212). Great interesting details like the vertical slit pockets and epaulets.
I don’t often make it to the outer boroughs, but this trip was worth it!
I was trolling J. Crew’s website today in search of sale items for a client and found all kinds of markdown goodness. Now is the perfect time to scoop up those “nice to haves” — things that aren’t a necessity but would be a useful addition to your wardrobe if the price is right. J. Crew is offering an additional 30% off all sale items until midnight on Thursday, and shipping is free if you spend over $150. I love this grey linen shirt, originally $69.50, on sale for $34.99.
For an end of summer backyard shindig, pair it with these navy shorts (originally $49.50; now $27.99),
and these Sperry boat shoes (originally $118; now $69.99),
…roll up your sleeves, and you’re good to go!
(Sale code is “SHOPNOW”.)
In case you missed it, Rath & Co. was featured on last Friday’s The Early Show talking Casual Friday and what people can and can’t get away with. The video can be seen here. Below are more thoughts on the topic:
Happy Friday!
You may think I’m all kinds of crazy for saying so, but some of the coolest clothes I have seen recently were worn by animals. Not just any animals, but rather the fanged, furry stars of Wes Anderson’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox, which I finally saw on video a few nights ago. These critters sport beautifully tailored suits, sumptuous knits, and cozy corduroy, all of which have me jonesing for some brisk Fall weather. Of course, the blazing NYC summer is still in full effect, but the fact is, Fall/Winter clothes have already dropped, and you’d be hard pressed to find a decent selection of summer gear anywhere other than at a sample sale.
And so it was no surprise yesterday that when breezing through Bergdorf’s men’s department, I was immediately drawn to these relaxed but stylish cashmere and wool-silk blend neckties by Breuer for Bergdorf Goodman ($145-175). They would be perfect for a fox, badger, gopher, or yes a person, on those frigid winter days when even your eyeballs are cold. Particularly well-suited to those in a creative field, these ties manage to offer both a bit of self-expression and a nod to business dress. These bad boys are great with tweed suits or rough-textured odd jackets. I’d also like to see them worn more casually with a denim shirt. A four-in-hand or any simple tie knot is best here, as this fabric is thicker than that of most ties, and you want to keep your knot proportional to your face. These ties might look more relaxed, but if worn properly, they’ll give you an extra edge. So make like an animal and prepare early for Winter — it’ll be here before you know it.
