Is a Plain White T-Shirt Worth $64?
We all love a t-shirt. And a custom, made-to-order process that leaves no waste or unsold garments is a compelling one. But can (or will) people spend $64 for one?
Episode 48: Online Custom Suits
Online custom suits can be a daunting and confounding prospect. In this episode, I talk about my own experiences with it.
My First Proper Cloth Experience
In my new search for a nice dress shirt with unfused collars, unfused cuffs and a placket, I think I've found a solution.
My Custom Suits from Black Lapel
There’s something really nice about shopping for a suit online, picking your fabric, making your customizations (like pick stitching, jacket lining, functional sleeve buttons, trouser cuffs and such), buying it and having it arrive at your home four weeks later, fitting like it was made for you. Because it was literally made for you.
That Extra Reinforcement Fabric Inside the Rear Hem of My Pants
I don’t know what you call it. I tried Googling things like “reinforcement fabric pants hem,” but no dice. All I know is that there is an extra strip of “reinforcement” fabric inside the rear hem of the pants of one of my custom suits. It’s obviously designed to prevent any destructive scuffing and chafing that can occur from the back of my shoes rubbing up against the inside of my pants. It’s subtle and completely invisible from the outside. Whatever this feature is called, I like it.
My First Custom Suit from Black Lapel
After a series of difficulties and an eventual breakup with an online made-to-measure company I’d been using for years, I decided to finally try Black Lapel.
Fantasy Rebrand: Indochino
I should start by saying that I was a happy Indochino customer for years. They enabled me to afford some of the best-fitting suits I’ve ever worn and suits that rival far more expensive premium brands. I get compliments every single time I wear one of their suits or jackets.
This “fantasy rebrand” is an effort to raise the bar for the first company to put made-to-measure into the hands of men who – until Indochino – could never afford it. I think Indochino is great, but I think it could be amazing. The challenge is to elevate the brand from an entry-level “first suit” brand into a bigger league among heavier players – something that would also be attractive to a more seasoned and sophisticated suit buyer.
My New Custom ‘Chief’ from Heritage Bicycles
The basic design of the bicycle was perfected a long time ago. With the exception of advances in gear shifting, braking and niche flourishes that benefit professional racers, any design changes over the last half century or so have been derivative and largely unnecessary, especially when it comes to aesthetics.
The Humor, Style and Lack Thereof at the 2015 Golden Globes
Last night was the third and final time Tina Fey and Amy Poehler would host the Golden Globes, which bums me out. They’re fantastic, and they didn’t disappoint last night.
In lieu of seasonally repeating myself with yet another post-awards show piece about the black tie turnout at the 2015 Golden Globes, I went with a podcast about the telecast itself, the comic stylings of our co-hostesses and some of the awards and recipients.
Surgeon’s Cuffs
Though they're essentially cosmetic, functional sleeve buttons, aka "surgeon's cuffs," are a fun detail that offers a subtle bit of flair to a suit or blazer.