In Other News, I Wish Opening Ceremony Wasn't Trying to Ruin My Favorite Children's Story

If every fashion blog hasn't told you by now,  the Navajo weave is having a moment.  So big a moment that you can get just about every garment you can think of in that pattern, including an Opening Ceremony x Pendleton x someone else (probably) jacket featuring a huge blown up version of those little triangles.  While I'm sure there are quite a few people who will look terrific in that jacket, I'm not one of them.  This hat, however, is more my speed.  To me it just reminds me of the stands of high school football games or accidentally getting caught in the morning cold on a late summer camping trip - less REI than Ontonagon General Store.  Of course if this still isn't your speed we also just got in these:

Now, the deerstalker is just kind of cool, especially for people who look good in baseball hats (again, not one of them) and the Rabbit fur trooper just makes sense (remember when it snowed this week and you had to brush your car off and that was WAY more difficult than it seemed last March).  The ski cap however, is quite the regional specialty.  I recently learned that if Minnesota was its own country, it would have the 4th largest population of cross country skiers in the world.  I find this a little hard to believe, but I certainly remember that in my ski racing days this style of hat littered ski shops, races and chalets.  I suspect trying to figure out whether the hat is for Scandinavians or for skiers would be a bit of a chicken and egg scenario.  Regardless, we've got them and they're awesome.

Dorfman Pacific Hats, $15-$45

Of course, if you were looking for sock monkeys, we could get those too.

It's no secret to those around me that my dream job, next to baseball statistician, would be sock and underwear product development.  No, I don't mean so that I can sit around and look at people in their underwear all day.  Rather, I really appreciate a finely crafted pair of hosiery (which actually makes me wonder why I'm wearing such crappy socks today -- my feet are FREEZING).  Lisa B. Socks are a very cushy little blend of Cashmere, Angora and Virgin Wool which would certainly do its part in warming up my apparently thin Chelsea Boots.  As I side note, I always thought Angora came from the Angora Goat.  It does not.  Angora Goats, which are cute, produce Mohair.  Angora comes from the Angora rabbit, which looks like this:

Right.  You better believe that thing is warm.

Lisa B. Socks $25

You Can't Spell Glove Without Glo

Sure you could wear plain black gloves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them being that they're remarkably soft deerskin and Thinsulate lined and fitted enough to wear with thinks other than a parka.  Or you could choose brown, which I find to be very distinguished and mature.  But who am I kidding, everybody is going to want yellow.

Deerskin Gloves and Suede Mittens, $35

Galoshes, not rubbers. That's just wierd.

It is well documented that we love ourselves some Scandinavians and, of course, their well designed, handsome products.  Swims, our newest line is all of that - a modern update on classic galoshes.  They feature a fleeced lining to keep your shoes in pristine condition and a pull loop made of reflective bits.  Best of all, there is a color choice beyond black!  Brown would be an admirable compliment to our forthcoming collection of shoes (more on that later) and orange is a great choice for the man who really wants the world to know that he is wearing galoshes.  And orange will match his new Swims umbrella which, much like the windows in my friends volkswagen, has both auto up AND auto down, a feat of engineering that is simply stunning.

Galoshes $95, Umbrella $89

It depends on what you mean by fantastic...

It seems like we're just getting more and more loaded up on paper.

Mickey Rourke may be an odd cover boy for a British publication, but Mark Ronson is certainly on point.  Newest of note is the much lauded magazine Fantastic Man, which is like every other fashion magazine except that it isn't glossy features insightful and often non-celebrity interviews.  Also, all the men in it are refferred to as Mister or when appropriate, Doctor.  Its actually quite refreshing, as is Mr. McGregor's faint similarity to Mr. Kennedy (its a stretch, but its kind of close).
Also, we've got this and that.

Clockwise from Top Left, $10.99, $7.99, $45.00, $10.95.

A Brief Note on Gift Giving.

As a store for men's accessories, we obviously get a lot of people in searching for gifts.  Often times, the accompanying statement will be along the lines of "He's really tough to buy for" or "He already has everything."  This is fine, but one thing to keep in mind is that all the employees of this establishment are really good at helping people choose gifts.  It comes with the territory.  As such, one of the first things I recommend when I hear one of the aforementioned statements is cashmere socks.  Most people think I'm kidding, but this is absolutely not the case.  I'm happy to say that I've gotten a report back from one of these situations.  It turns out the recipient was thrilled (THRILLED!) to receive cashmere socks and may be in for more.

Marcoliani Cashmere Socks - $65

Our Favorite PoMoFoPo Rag

In case you need clarification, that would be Post Modern Foreign Policy Magazine.  Actually, it isn't really Post Modern at all - really it is the definition of modern in terms of actual lifestyle magazines.  And I guess Rag would imply that it is cheap and disposable, which it also isn't.  Either way, last I heard we were one of only two places in MSP where one could purchase Monocle.  Woot.

Monocle Issue 27 $10

This Happens Every Year When Baseball Season is Finished

I've been waiting for these scarves for, say, seven months.  We ordered them waaay back in February and I've had to sit on my hands since then.  Lucky for us, they've arrived at exactly the right time as meteorological fall has conveniently lined up with Gregorian Calendar fall.  To those holding out (I saw a remarkable number people in shorts or tiny little dresses this weekend), give it up - Autumn won.  It always does.

While Altea now makes a fairly full compliment of garments, their primary focus has always been scarves and ties, both of which we stock.  The most endearing thing, however, is that they tend to present things in that Italian way that could kind of be confused with East Coast Prep - trade a pocket square and add a crest and BAM! Welcome to New Haven.  If you don't understand what I mean, ask to take a peek at their lookbook upon the next visit.  Curiously, their website is also a hybrid of Italian and American.  The broken English makes for a delightful read.

Top photo Wool Scarves L to R: $65, $65, $115, $75

Middle photo Silk/Modal blend Scarves $115, Wool Scarf $115

Bottom Photo Cashmere Blend Scarves $145

Pulp

We just unpacked a slew of new magazines journals and books.  Of particular note, we've been restocked in totally awesome Field Notes in all their standard butcher paper brown books and the brand new sold-out-from-the-manufacturer Mackinaw Autumn color.  Ignoring the fact that this native Michigander is somewhat dismayed by the *ahem* improper spelling of the word Mackinac, the limited edition colors are quite exciting, coming in a trio of Red, Brown and Orange books. 

The large publication in the upper left hand corner is two-year old French publication Paradis.  The much lauded magazine (printed on uncoated paper, sorry Mr. McKenzie) is a pleasant mix of heady views on art and culture mixed with pictures from famous lensmen like Juergen Teller and Terry Richardson, often of women in various states of undress.  Maybe not for kids, but it got the stamp of approval for one staffer's meticulously well kept collection of imported periodicals.

Paradis $19.90, Vman $5.50, Ultimate Card Games $19.95, Dirty Jokes $9.95, Field Notes $10

Famous People Can Be Friends On Your Coffee Table

There is something about famous friends from different walks of life that intruiges me.  Do they talk about the office or their respective industries?  The perks and/or troubles of being of being famous.  Maybe just general fame?  Do they have seperate dinner parties where one must be of a certain celebrity to garner an invitation? And most importantly do they get introduced to like people in classic American lit, as in "This is Gore Vidal, the Writer."  This book will likely not answer any of those questions, but I still like it.

Gore Vidal: Snapshots in History's Glare $40

A Primer on Hats

Previously upon describing a particular piece of headwear that was recieved in the store, I used the phrase 'Jacques Cousteau panache' which, much to my delight, prompted positive responses from more than one person!  Seeing as the store is now choc full of winter hats and as that tends to be a relatively important thing in the upper midwest, I figured it would be good to give a rundown a few of the other hats in the store.  In the spirit of the previous post, all are expressed in terms of Famous Person Flamboyance (most of which are neither accurate nor true).  It should also be noted that this list excludes trooper styles, partly because I haven't watched Fargo in a while but mostly because we've only got one style right now and when photographed it looked more like a fluffy ball.  Soon though...

The aforementioned Jacques Cousteau panache
cashmere watch cap $90

Frank Sinatra swagger
felt c-crown fedora $35

Gene Hackman verve (in The French Connection)
felt porkpie $35

Gene Hackman verve (in The Royal Tenenbaums)
leather trimmed wool/cashmere driving cap $125

Brad Pitt je ne sais quoi
cashmere driving cap $155

Angus Young moxie
leather trimmed corded wool newsboy cap $95

Seymor Cassel dash (in Rushmore)
wool driving cap $95

Jason Schwartzman, umm... authenticity (in Rushmore)
wool beret $10

Fidel Castro brio (if he was Irish)
tweed military cap $40

Friedrich von Trapp panache (literally)
felt fedora w/ feather detail $35

Michael Kelso gusto
knit cap $25

Princeton Graduate and Swedish Professional Baseball Player Christian Staehely's, umm, sense of functional irony (in a good way)
wool baseball cap w/ earflaps and quilted lining $95

The King of Sweden Wears These

Or so I would assume, as they're made by our newest vendor: Wigens.  Now, a little bird told me that Wigens are the official hatter of the King of Sweden (though I'm having a little trouble verifying that) so one could surmise that when one wears Wigens it is akin to fraternizing with royalty.  More on these soon.

Rabbit Fur Gloves $95 Cap $95

Fortunately none of these smell like the river did on my way to the store this morning.

Seriously, what was with that anyway?  It was downright foul.  That would be something I normally associate with the stinky mill filled river in my hometown.  Anyhow, we've gotten restocked in some of our most popular fragrances.  They run the gamut from wonderfully traditional (Guerlain Vetiver) to the new standard for sensitive guys who may or may not be in a band (John Varvatos) to the most outspokenly manly (Gucci Pour Homme) which smells like whiskey and cedar and grandpa's den.  For whatever reason my girlfriend likes to steal the latter.

$50-$75

One time my mom told me that the new drug kids were doing was wearing their scarves too tightly so it made them light headed. Not Kidding.

There was a quote from Scott Schuman (it wasn't on the Sartorialist, but I can't find the link) where he said something to the effect of, "When it dips under 70 degrees, I usually reach for a scarf..." This made me laugh audibly until I realized that I've occasionally been guilty of the same thing.  Oops.

Those familiar with our collection of Paulette Rollo scarves know that the collection comes from one of the finest mills in the rugged hills of the Scottish Highlands.  We have lambswool, merino, cashmere and few blends of those three.  And good luck finding them anywhere else.  Of course, these scarves are a bit heavy for 68 degrees but Minnesota being what it is, I'm certain that we'll need them soon enough.  In fact, there is already a Liverpool FC scarf in my living room to further facilitate the yelling of obscenities at Lucas Leiva, but that's a different matter all together.

Paulette Rollo scarves, $65-$145

Yes, Please

Multi Colored Lizard Skin Wallets? Check.
Gator Wallets? Check.
Our favorite Torino Leather Wallets, which happen to be the best selling ones in the store because they're really affordable and well made? Aaaand MATE!

Ringmark Lizard Wallets $245 for special edition colors, other Torino Wallets from $35

Things We Like #3

I've been excited for this hat for a while. Last year while combing through different product lines, one of the things we really wanted for the store was a cashmere watch cap, preferably retailing for less than $100. We found a really great line of mostly knit caps that just so happened to have the sought after hat.

Come December, I can see myself not removing this hat for great lengths of time. Its easy to think of occasions where one would wear this - slouching around the house, hung-over bloody marys, waiting outside of Al's breakfast and accidently running over some six year olds on the sledding hill are all things that this hat obviously pairs well with - however I think there is a certain Jacques Cousteau panache that comes from being appropriately dressed except for that little knit hat. It’s the kind of inconspicuous luxury item that we're fans of at mp3.

That being said, we've got quite a few hats from Coal ranging from practical to kitschy, and they've already made quite a splash with the staffers here.

Jameson Cashmere hat $90, other Coal hats from $25

Ira Glass Would Hate This (because he hates irony and wears thick glasses)

We just got telescopes in the store and of course we had to test them out.  What was the furthest away that we decided to focus on? The security camera on the side of the federal reserve building. Take that big brother.

Telescopes $165-$225

One of these things is not like the others...

These are the new printed materials that have arrived in the store in the last week.

I'll leave it to you to choose the odd man out, though there is probably more than one answer.

Clockwise from Top Left $10, $10.99, $9.95, $7.99

Kind of an Odd Product Assortment When You Think About It

We've got our latest Pierre Belvedere order in the store.  I won't go in to detail, but it's safe to say that we made getting this order in significantly harder than we needed to.  Thankfully, it was worth the wait because now we have some really spiffy and downright affordable fountain pens.  I know we've been accused of being a bit too fancy at the store sometimes, but fountain pens are pretty darn cool.  Actually, the reason I started using a fountain pen was because of the decidedly unfancy movie There Will Be Blood.  There is a scene where Daniel Plainview is signing some deeds with a very worn down fountain pen and it makes this really awesome scratching noise.  Fortunately for you, these are actually nice and there isn't much scratching.  Unfanciness begat Fanciness.

We also recieved some new leather goods, including a portfolio cover that our dear Eduardo has been waiting for so patiently, new leather coasters and a spiffy little shopping list journal.

Pen $35

Kind of like a fall preview...

...but not really.  It's as close as you're going to get from me.

Truth be told its really just the list of orders we placed at the Vegas shows last week.  Its neither exclusive to fall nor complete. I will call attention to the lower right corner.  Yep. Thats right.

Property Of... at MartinPatrick3

I would like to think that as an accessory store, we at martinpatrick3 know a good bag when we see it.  The problem is that there are a lot of really good bags out there.  As in, too many lines where we see them and say, "This is perfect!" only to find another exceptionally similar line in the next row of vendor booths.  The general indication that a line of bags is one for our store is one that is unique enough to not have itself replicated in three different places on the trade show floor.  One of the brands we've found that fits those criteria is Property Of...

Now, you may be thinking Canvas Bags?  For Fall? Surely you jest!  I can assure you, these canvas bags are not of the feathery light summer variety.  The tight sturdy weave of the canvas is compounded by the waxcloth treatment - not too oily, but enough to provide some protection from elements and the other things in your trunk.  Most of the bags also have a leather base.  Not just little decorative patches mind you - big heavy, so thick it doesn't roll up very well leather bases.  These bags just feel like they were designed for more than one can possibly use them for.  They have a throw-it-in-the-back-of-the-truck feel that really can't be appreciated until you have a pressing need to not worry about your bag.  Property Of... are up for an adventure, it's just up to you to decide what that will be.

Shown $295, bags $245-$295, wallets $75-$125

Things Our Friends Say That Are Worth Remembering #2

"HI COOL GUYS!!! So you're like the Jonas Brothers?"
-the terrific jewellery designer M. Cohen, to a trio of long haired, fresh-faced brothers who just happen to be in a band together.  Their manager/agent/mom was not amused.

You can get really freakin' awesome M Cohen designs at MP3 in late fall.

Back to School with MartinPatrick3

Apparently it is back to school season.  I guess I don't have any real reason to make note of it but it still brings up these nostalgic memories of back-to-school shopping and the pleasure of using a brand new notebook.  When I think about it though, grown up versions of most back to school items can now be purchased at MartinPatrick3.  Below, back to school shopping for MartyP if he was about to attend the Minnesotashire Academy for Boys and Girls:

Marty's Got a Brand New Bag: Property Of... $245, T11 $155 (but 20% off this week)

Notebooks and Journals: (bottom to top) Semikolon $25, Eccolo $105 and $45, Field Notes $10 for 3

Things to write in aforementioned Notebooks: D&R Pencils $30, Pierre Belvedere Pen $25, Acme Pen $75, Retro 1931 Pen $39 (all 20% off this week)

Places For Things: JW Hulme Porfolio $320, T-11 Bags $12 and $8 (and 20% off this week), Paulette Rollo Coin Purse $45

Through the snow, uphill both ways: Leather Gloves $65, Wool Blend Peruvian $35, Paulette Rollo Wool/Cashmere Scarf $75

Represent! Paulette Rollo Wool/Cashmere Scarf $95, TokyoBay Watch $85, w/ Smart Turnout band (separate)$25, Smart Turnout Cufflinks $75

To impress the other boys and girls: Concord Pewter Brush $85, Guerlain Vetiver EDT $55

For Smoking in the Boy's Room: Tsubota Pearl Cigarette Case $85, Concord Flask $65, Sarome Lighter $95 SOLD, Nikolai Rose Pocket Knife Key Ring $45

Endorsement and Defense of Poseurdom

I went to public school. Always have, from Bryant Elementary in Ann Arbor to the University of Minnesota. So public were these institutions that my high-school was known simply by an acronym: SPASH (that’s Stevens Point Area Senior High for those of you keeping score). We didn't have a dress code. The instructors didn't wear tweed. The building was constructed in 1973. Looking back, it feels a little hollow. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed every school I've gone to, but something tells me I would look back more fondly if the word Academy was included in the school's title and a the staff employed a headmaster instead of a principal. Yesirree, I have private school envy. Maybe it's because I love uniforms, but accordingly I'm in favor of pretty much everything that could possibly have a repp stripe emblazoned on it. That’s why I'm really excited about our new line of wearable goods from Smart Turnout.

Now, plenty of brands have nifty little fake repp stripes (in which case rep just means repeating and not representing), but Smart Turnout is the real deal.  Their primary business is producing cufflinks and other striped and crested goods for the finest schools and government institutions in the United Kingdom.  Lately however, they've started selling their wares to the masses of people that would like people to assume they went to Eton.  Like, for example, me.

In particular, the cufflinks are an impressive harkening back to the days when cufflinks were linked and not toggled.  While the enamel doesn't have the benefit of a guilloche, the gold settings have remarkably fine cutouts to more than make up for the flat texture.  And just in case anyone is worried about being called out for wearing the insignia of a private school he didn't actually attend, we've selected crests only from British schools under the assumption that most Midwesterners won't be able to tell the difference.

Watchbands $25, Braces (that means suspenders in British) $85, cufflinks $75

I Almost Forgot

I'm totally cereal... 40% off Summer Scarves and Hats. Darn Right.

Yes, Minor Affiliation

Recently at our One Year Birthday party, a person with a minor affiliation to the store told a patron about the Best Deal In The Store. At that time it was a leather two-bottle wine bag that was marked at an incredibly low price. The patron got excited and purchased it. That got me thinking, now that we're in full on 20% off mode, which items could take the mantle of BDITS? Which items should gents be clamouring for? There are many, but I think the following are the winners.Concord Executive Clipper

To be honest, I hadn't really ever thought that much about fingernail clippers before. However, I was visiting my parents house recently, and was getting rather annoyed with the state of my cuticles. Fortunately, my youngest sibling had purchased this clipper the last time he was in the store and I took the liberty of testing it to further my knowledge of the product. I bought one the next day. Totally worth it.

Concord Badger Shave Brush with Polished Nickel Handle

Given the nickel handle, this brush feels heavy and professional, but its clean lines will certainly not look out of place in any medicine cabinet. We've got even nicer brushes, ones with Silver Tipped hair instead of standard badger, but for the current price one could do much worse.

Android Force Automatic Watch

People like black watches. People tend to choose black things in general. Usually it has to do with the ease of integrating an item with other possessions but with watches, there is just something about a brown band with a white face that just looks like it belongs on everybody's wrist. This one, with it's straightforward functions and clean lines, is not a bad choice. It also happens to feature a 21 jewel Miyota movement, so reliability is not an issue. Whether or not people think the size of your watch will be compensating for something, however, might be.

$12, $52 and $180 respectively, through August 23rd

Some Very Light Reading

I'm very pleased to announce that we now have a very tiny selection of magazines. By very tiny, I mean two titles, but that is more a reflection of the fact that we wont have very many monthly publications. More monthly, quarterly and biannual titles are forthcoming, however two that we already have are the UK versions of GQ and Esquire. While you can buy the American copies while waiting in line at the grocery store, the UK ink requires a bit more searching. While I wont tell you which other magazines we'll be getting specifically, you can count on them generally being manly lifestyle type magazines, ranging from stylish but heady fopo rags to stylish and not-so-heady, em... smut, pretty much. Best part: they're currently 20% off - Just like everything else in the store (till August 23rd).
And, yes Nature Group guys, there is considerably more skin in the British mags.

$10.99 for GQ and $7.99 for Esquire.

Just In From The Desk of Our Favorite Emmy Award Winning Jewler

I've always wanted to have a moonlighting profession. If someone asks me about my profession at a party I really always want to say, "Oh I'm a retailer, but I moonlight as bartender/player of an obscure rock instrument/shortstop for the St. Paul Saints/art thief/assassin/advisor of foreign policy for a small island nation." Sadly I'm none of those things, nor would I really want any of those jobs, unless being an art thief is what Vincent Cassel leads me to believe it is. Either way none of those professions are really doing the general public any good, unlike the delightful Robyne Robinson. Ms. Robinson is a jewellery designer who moonlights as the best darn news anchor in the Twin Cities* and she has the Emmys to prove it. I'm not really sure if she would describe herself that way, but I don't really think she'll jump in to correct me either.

Robyne has been the sole proprietor for the jewellery brand Rox for the last few years, but is just starting to ramp up her men's business. Part of that incline is the announcement of her first men's retailer: you guessed it, MartinPatrick3. That's right. Nowhere else ('cept online, but whatever). The collection is an amalgam of pendants, chains and stones from her travels, resulting in a group of patinaed yet colorful bracelets and necklaces. The fact the each one is absolutely unique is just an added bonus.


*I'm going to put weatherpersons in a separate category for this one. If I were to include meteorologists then Sven Sundgaard would win hands down. You see, Sven lists his favorite sport as Ski Jumping and while I had the opportunity to ski jump as a child, I didn't. Not having a promising ski jumping career is the greatest regret of my childhood.

$45-250