Sorry for the absence folks, life's been busy, but weekly posts, of good content are around the corner. Check back tomorrow morning for the first of many...
-Jake431
Work wear fashion - jeans, good chinos, military inspired fashions - clothing that is designed to be worn by people who care how it serves their needs, not how it looks.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Stronghold Denim
I recently purchased a pair of Stronghold hickory stripe jeans from a store of the same name in Los Angeles. They describe their space as, "Off the rack and made to measure selvage trousers, White's boots, good Bourbon and assorted tomfoolery". I dealt with Bill, a manager there, and found him quite nice to deal with over the phone. The store's philosophy is to proudly sell brands with American history that extends at least as far back as World War 2 and earlier. Stronghold itself was an extinct LA based jeans manufacturer that began operations in the early 1900's. The brand was resurrected and focuses on selvage denim pants, either made in standard fits, or custom made to measure. The denim comes from Cone Denim, in North Carolina, the last selvage denim manufacturer in the United States. The pair I purchased in particular, was their straight leg model in a Sanforized hickory stripe selvage denim. It was a limited edition model, though I am sure you can get very similar items from them regularly. Though I as yet chose not to, you can customize even standard cuts with such things as suspender buttons, or have the inseam hemmed, all for free, after purchase. Once I wash my jeans a second time, I'll probably send them back for a free hemming. As you will see from the photos below, they are an interesting take on the classic jean - vintage details and fabrics with a more modern cut (note the tailor chalk on the jeans, which has washed off since these photos were taken). I love the cut and I am sure I will wind up ordering this cut of jean in different selvage denims that they offer in the future. Thanks again, Bill, for your prompt and courteous service.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street, or, the Good Old Days
This is one of my earliest musical memories. I don't know how it is now, but in the late 1970's, Sesame Street positively ruled. I hope children's television programing is still this compelling, but frankly, I doubt it.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The First Cloth Flight Jacket
The B-10 flight jacket is where it all started, or ended, depending on your point of view. During World War 2, American men flocked to the Army Air Force, driven their by the romantic imagery of the leather clad aviator, sunglasses protecting their tanned young faces, silk scarves wrapped dashingly around their necks.
Here's a Promotional Aviator shot from early in the war:
Unfortuntely, by 1943, the reality of a global war was making itself felt, and the fact was that the A-2, though lovely, was, as a piece of flight kit, not all that useful. So General Arnold ordered an improved jacket in July 1943, and was in service by the late spring 44. It was a alpaca fur lined cloth jacket, much more flexible and warm than the previous unlined leather garment that had attained iconic fame. You could argue that the B-10 is just as cool, but it wasn't first. Here's a great photo of Don Gentile, one of the leading aces of the 8th Air Force in England, looking very cool in his B-10 and flight gear:
The B-10 had a short operational lifespan. It was quickly eclipsed by the B-15 flight jacket, which is a direct ancestor to the modern MA-1 flight jacket that is so iconic from the cold war.
The B-10 that I have is a reproduction made by a company called Real McCoy's Japan. It is a replica of a specific contract, made by Stagg Coat Co. There is a Real McCoy's Japan these days, but the company that exists today is not the company which made my jacket some years ago. It's all very confusing, so I'll just post the pictures, which are not.
Here's a Promotional Aviator shot from early in the war:
Unfortuntely, by 1943, the reality of a global war was making itself felt, and the fact was that the A-2, though lovely, was, as a piece of flight kit, not all that useful. So General Arnold ordered an improved jacket in July 1943, and was in service by the late spring 44. It was a alpaca fur lined cloth jacket, much more flexible and warm than the previous unlined leather garment that had attained iconic fame. You could argue that the B-10 is just as cool, but it wasn't first. Here's a great photo of Don Gentile, one of the leading aces of the 8th Air Force in England, looking very cool in his B-10 and flight gear:
The B-10 had a short operational lifespan. It was quickly eclipsed by the B-15 flight jacket, which is a direct ancestor to the modern MA-1 flight jacket that is so iconic from the cold war.
The B-10 that I have is a reproduction made by a company called Real McCoy's Japan. It is a replica of a specific contract, made by Stagg Coat Co. There is a Real McCoy's Japan these days, but the company that exists today is not the company which made my jacket some years ago. It's all very confusing, so I'll just post the pictures, which are not.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Red Wing Gentleman Travelers
About a year ago, I purchased a pair of Red Wing boots. Specifically, they were the Gentlemen Traveler series, in Black Cherry "Chromexcel" leather. This leather was made by the Horween company in Chicago Illinois. The ironic part about all this was the fact that these boots were not at the time available for purchase in the United States. They were made in Red Wing, Minnesota, of leather made by a company in Chicago, Illinois, and I had to purchase them from a website based in Germany. Isn't globalization grand? Here is a picture of the boots new, from the website I purchased them from - Cultizm.
New:
Here's a few photos of my pair, which have been worn for a year, in all sorts of different weather:
The initial break-in period lasted a few weeks, and did cause some foot pain. However, once the boots were broken in, they became quite comfortable, and I can wear them all day without any issues whatsoever. The leather is purported to be waterproof, and while I doubt that, I have managed to keep my feet dry in rain, snow and slush. If only they had speed lace eyelets, they'd be perfect.
New:
Here's a few photos of my pair, which have been worn for a year, in all sorts of different weather:
The initial break-in period lasted a few weeks, and did cause some foot pain. However, once the boots were broken in, they became quite comfortable, and I can wear them all day without any issues whatsoever. The leather is purported to be waterproof, and while I doubt that, I have managed to keep my feet dry in rain, snow and slush. If only they had speed lace eyelets, they'd be perfect.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
I was grown on a cube farm
Tomorrow, everyone in my office is moving to a new location; many, to new floors. I have been in a cubicle for almost a decade now. Short walls, faux privacy, and poorly designed ergonomics have been my constant companion these many years. As I prepare to move down to the 11th floor, I can't help but wonder - how did we get here? No one can really think this is a good way to work, can they?
So I did a little research - by little, I mean a search on Google. And by research, I mean I clicked on Wikipedia and another link entitled "History of the Cubicle". It seems I can blame my carpal tunnel and bad eyes on a man named Robert Propst who worked for Herman Miller. He developed a prototype cube in 1965. That's over 40 years of bad offices!
Behold, the original "Action Office":
While that office doesn't really look functional, at least you can stand up and there aren't dividers cribbed from veal fattening pens. The Action Office was where we were going to design nuclear powered spacecraft to take us to the Moon and beyond! It was where American scientists and engineers were going defeat the Communists! I want a cubicle that goes with a skinny tie and a short sleeved dress shirt, dammit!
There's just no soul in this. No one is going to invent a better car, defeat the Terrorists, or earn a Nobel Peace Prize looking at cloth covered walls in three directions. Ah well, at least my view goes from office wall to parking garage across the street.
So I did a little research - by little, I mean a search on Google. And by research, I mean I clicked on Wikipedia and another link entitled "History of the Cubicle". It seems I can blame my carpal tunnel and bad eyes on a man named Robert Propst who worked for Herman Miller. He developed a prototype cube in 1965. That's over 40 years of bad offices!
Behold, the original "Action Office":
While that office doesn't really look functional, at least you can stand up and there aren't dividers cribbed from veal fattening pens. The Action Office was where we were going to design nuclear powered spacecraft to take us to the Moon and beyond! It was where American scientists and engineers were going defeat the Communists! I want a cubicle that goes with a skinny tie and a short sleeved dress shirt, dammit!
There's just no soul in this. No one is going to invent a better car, defeat the Terrorists, or earn a Nobel Peace Prize looking at cloth covered walls in three directions. Ah well, at least my view goes from office wall to parking garage across the street.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Bums will Always Lose!
Yes Cheney, they will.
And while we're on the subject of The Big Lebowski, this combines two of my greatest loves: that movie, and Legos. When I was a kid I would play with them for hours, making airplanes and spaceships and helicopters etc. I should have been doing this instead.
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