Mary-Louise Parker reads Josh Ritter’s “To the Dogs or Whoever”
As part of Disquieting Bedtime Stories, her video series for Esquire Magazine, Mary-Louise Parker reads, in full, the lyrics to Josh Ritter’s “To the Dogs or Whoever.”
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Billy Reid
Sometimes, the photos speak for themselves. If you’ve ever stepped foot into Billy Reid’s Bond Street location in New York, you know that around every corner is another clever set-up, and from the floor — made of reclaimed barnwood — to the ceiling — covered in doors from demolished Southern homes — you’ll be bowled over with its charm.
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Willis & Geiger
In college, I performed in a short play which required me to channel my inner-Hemingway. I played a stuffy English professor on safari with his philandering wife. It was a fellow student’s riff on The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber. Of course, I played the cowardly Macomber-type, horn-rimmed glasses, cravat, leather-bound travel martini set. However, it was in my preparation that I first learned of Willis & Geiger.
Context Clothing: Madison, Wisconsin
Recently, I spent a day tracking down a shirt — an entire day spent searching for a single, simple article of clothing. Granted, it was the type of shirt I was looking for that proved challenging, I noticed something in the hunt. These days, the average salesperson is not prepared to be challenged. If it isn’t in stock, well, “I’m sorry, sir.” That’s it. No phone call to corporate. No suggestion of another outfitter that might better handle my issue. The image of a loose tooth lassoed to a sturdy doorknob comes to mind. There’s no desire to serve. Correct me if I’m wrong, but salespeople count themselves among those in the service industry. It’s in the title, folks. From the highest of the high end men’s clothier to the lowest copycat of the copycat of the copycat, I marveled at the lack of attention.
Ryan Huber, Ghetto Blaster. The Large Traveler from Kenton Sorenson.
Imagine a men’s shop where you can feel comfortable not having the answer, where the journey to discovering that favorite shirt is as interesting as the destination. Imagine having a knowledgeable sherpa along for the trek, a Norgay to your Hillary. Imagine going in with the words, “selvedge denim” written on a Post-It note in the flowery script of a girlfriend or a wife, and walking out with the best-fitting pair of jeans you’ve ever owned (I’m aware the image may be lost on regular readers as you count yourselves among the more well-educated garmentos, but I know the question, “What’s selvedge?” lingers among my nearest and dearest friends). Context is one such shop.
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New Balance: Made in the USA
Watching ESPN’s SportsCenter this morning, I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this spot for New Balance. It features their shoemakers hard at work in the company’s Skowhegan, Maine factory.
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Patagonia’s MLC
Today marks the start of Patagonia’s twice yearly sale (The other typically falls around Valentine’s Day. hint, hint). I am so excited to see their MLC bag on sale for $87.50. The MLC — that’s Maximum Legal Carry-on to you and me, Russ — is the only bag you’ll need for anything from a weekend getaway to a week of light travel.
My Swiss Army Knife
Ryan Plett asked me to write about a unique, well-traveled thing of mine for his blog, [you_have_broken_the_internet]. There was no question what I would write about: my Swiss Army Knife, in my pocket every day for the last two decades. I hope you enjoy the post. Thank you, Ryan, for the chance to contribute.
Leather iPhone Skins
Hollister Hovey brought these to my attention while we enjoyed Blue Point Brewing Company’s Southwest Summer Ales on the airline’s pop-up porch in Manhattan’s Bryant Park.
Her friend, Mr. Joseph Pollard, stretched and cut croc and stingray, aka shagreen, over a plastic iPhone case, making the coolest alternative to Miniot’s wood cases, which I’ve learned from two readers have warped, cracked, and eventually broken with wear.
If I were able to place an order, I’d ask for mine to be fashioned of Horween’s Shell Cordovan. Beat the hell out of it.