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