Greetings! I’m writing this on a Friday night. The kids are in bed, Kathy is out to dinner with friends, and I’m sitting on the couch listening to Jimmy Buffett’s Christmas Island. I’m also thinking about the year. In many respects, 2023 was rotten. I hope for peace at home and abroad in 2024, and I hope that you continue to hone your personal style.
Here’s something I’ve never done: I’m going to list, photograph, and write about my 2023 pick-ups. Might be fun?! If it’s fun for you, please smash that subscribe button, drop a comment, or roast my fit on social media. I won’t be mad. Let’s go.
CAP-TOE LAKESHORE BOOT by OAK STREET BOOTMAKERS
I didn’t see it coming. I always thought I was a Trench Boot guy, but Oak Street’s slimmer and dressier model, the Lakeshore Boot, won me over in 2024. Last month, I picked up my second pair of Lakeshores, the limited edition Lakeshore Boot in Minerva Liscio Castagno. Minerva is a veg tan leather from Italy’s legendary Badalassi Carlo tannery. These boots have a deep and consistent wine-like color to them. Luscious!
8oz Denim FOLK-DOJO Embroidery EASY Pants by KAPITAL
I don’t like wearing shorts to work, but I also don’t like overheating. So what did I do? I bought the lightest weight denim pants I’ve ever seen. They come courtesy of Kapital, so you know they’re huge and flowy with a drop crotch and a million little embroideries. They’re perfect, but they’re also hard to style. I wear mine with a solid t-shirt (tucked in, of course) and loafers.
SPLIT CREW CARDIGAN by LADY WHITE CO.
Low key my favorite piece in Lady White’s deep catalog. The name is literal; it’s a crewneck sweatshirt split down the middle, resulting in a cardigan. No pockets, no zipper or buttons, no collar. You throw one over a t-shirt, and that’s that. This green colorway is from a couple years ago. I bought mine on Grailed for $55 shipped!
VINTAGE MARVIN the MARTIAN Denim Shirt
I have vivid memories of visiting the Warner Brothers Store at the mall. They had this spaceship-like play area in the back that kids could climb on and crawl through and slide down while their parents shopped. Marvin the Martian was hot shit back then. Still is. I love a denim shirt with a zipper. I bought this one for $20 on eBay. You can find one for cheap, too. Just type in your favorite Warner Bros. character and denim shirt, piece of cake.
HATS by PAA
PAA makes my favorite hat in the world, the Floppy Ball Cap. If you can grab one in an interesting fabric (I suggest velveteen), you should. They’re lightweight, they fit perfectly, and the brims are unstructured. Unstructured brims are dope. We all know this! PAA ran an archive sale this summer, and I grabbed three hats for about $100, along with a t-shirt (not pictured). The collection grows!
PLANO SWEATER by ARPENTEUR
Arpenteur is a brand for grown-ass adults. If you’re grown-ass, you should wear Arpenteur. Their line is concise and focused - all killer, no filler. With its elegant drape, unusual color, and soft, not-scratchy handfeel, I especially love the Plano Sweater in purple.
MISSION TO SATURN MOONSWATCH by OMEGA x SWATCH
2023 was the year when Moonswatch supply caught up with demand. I got mine in Times Square, and I wear it almost every day. Mine was a gift, and a great one at that. The Saturn subdial is a nice touch that you don’t see on the other Moonswatches, and the bioceramic case goes with everything. The stock strap leaves something to be desired, and in 2024, I pledge to buy a nice NATO strap. Roughout?
LOST IT ALL T-Shirt by RIVAL SCHOOLS
You can always count on me to discover an album 20 years after it came out, and this year, that album was Rival School’s United By Fate. I threw “Used For Glue” on a playlist and it was over! Rival Schools whooped ass at Riot Fest this year, so I drunkenly hit up the merch tent on my way out and scooped up this beaut. Lost it all again/to start over.
IDG SWT Knit T-BACK BIG SWT by KAPITAL
People forget that Kapital makes “basic” garments without bones, smilies, sashiko, etc.. This sweatshirt isn’t actually that basic (like, why does it have a buckle-back?) but it’s simple enough that I can wear it twice a week without hesitation. Drop shoulder, boxy fit, and the best shade of blue. Kapital wins again.
SUPER WEIGHTED HOODIE by LADY WHITE CO.
The best hoodie in the game. This entry is getting long so I’ll just say you should buy one, too.
CUSTOM CAMP SHIRT by GITMAN VINTAGE
I had the fine folks from Gitman Vintage whip me up this custom shirt. You guys know I love a busy-ass pattern, and when I saw this fabric with a bicycle motif, I simply had to have it. I asked if they could place the chest pocket on the right side, and they said sure! I’m left handed and I’ve never had a shirt with a single pocket there. Two chest pockets? Of course, but not one.
Okay, that’s it! Thanks for scrolling. 2023 was a great year for clothing, and 2024 should be even better. Buy better, buy local, buy less. See you next year!