Image is my own / All rights reserved German Army Trainers — also known as GATs, Bundeswehr Sportschuhe, or BWs for short — are the kind of shoes you likely know by sight even if not by name. Although they have been endlessly reinterpreted over the years, the originals are distinguished by a few simple […]
Image credit: Zui Hoang on Unsplash If Plato inside his cave had a Rolodex of his eponymous forms, the entry for ‘shoe’ might well show the Converse All Star. It’s hard to think of a more iconic and enduring piece of footwear from the last century. Certainly, there are few as widely worn and imitated. […]
John Steinbeck never quite dressed like the picture of a twentieth-century author, although his wardrobe is still every bit as timeless as his writing. Fruit of the Loom makes the kind of affordable clothing that easily escapes our notice, despite it being one of the oldest brands in America. If you put on nice clothes […]
Bing Crosby was the butt of many clothing-related anecdotes, but he may be a low-key style god in the making. Jack Nicholson is a singular movie star with a wardrobe to match. Gregory Peck was once the cinematic face of simple, upstanding dependability; his wardrobe suggested just the same. Toshiro Mifune had an onscreen persona […]
Dickies’ famous 874 trousers aren’t for everyone, but after years of wondering, I’ve found they definitely work for me. Despite weathering a century worth of challenges and changes, Dickies is still at the top of the workwear game.
Striped ties (rep and regimental) have a colourful history, which includes the military, a visit from a prince, and some pranks taken all too seriously. The history of boxer shorts makes for a compelling read, even if you happen to be a briefs man The iconic Sperry Top-Sider came about all thanks to the efforts […]
Image credit: Pxhere / Public domain The world of menswear is awash with examples of martial clothing that has entered our everyday dress. But surely nothing else holds the romantic appeal of the pea coat. Its only rival is perhaps the trench coat, whose upturned collar might equally offer you some brief respite from the […]
Image credit: Library of Congress / No known restrictions It’s too early to call whether the mitten and Bernie Sanders will become as indelibly linked as Imelda Marcos and her shoes or Che and the beret. But if the last month’s worth of memes are anything to go by, Bernie and his mits might be […]
Ansel Adams may have been best known for his landscape photography, but the man sure knew how to put together an outfit. If you want to spruce up your summer style, just go ahead and throw on a kerchief. C’mon, all the cool kids are doing it! Western wear is back in a big way, […]
Levi’s are celebrating their 150th anniversary this week. Here’s how they conquered to global denim market. Cowboys, beatniks, hippies, preps, punks, and many others all know that there’s no better way to go anywhere than in a jean jacket. In the mid-1800s, denim was the purview of niche workwear; today, no other textile feels more […]