Trav: It’s quite literally freezing here in NYC and its now time for us to bundle-up to mask the chill of what seems to be a very dreadful winter. The duffle coat, a.k.a. the toggle coat, is one of my favorites as it is one of the most unique pieces of outerwear; it is also one of the most versatile as the duffle coat goes well with virtually any look. The history behind this coat is actually pretty interesting. The duffle coat first became popular during  WWI by the British Royal Navy and was later modified in WWII. The coat was primarily used by Navy seamen to battle the cold winds and wet environment. After the war, the company Gloverall purchased surplus material from the military and produced their own version of the duffle coat for everyday use. So i guess you can say that Gloverall is somewhat of an originator. I love their coats; I’ve actually been trying to get my hands on their red duffle coat for some time now… hopefully my luck will prevail. Today, many companies have adopted their own designs of the duffle coat, and it seems like everyone, of any style, has a toggle coat tucked away in their closet.

I was on the search for a nice black coat , to the point of losing sleep, when i had the opportunity to purchase this BR Heritage toggle coat at a very reasonable price. I must say, this coat has some of the best toggles I have ever seen. They are made of real rope and are extremely sturdy. The coat is definitely worth the price tag. The only negative aspect about this coat is that there is no hood. Josh is wearing the 3sixteen Duffel Coat- Camel another well made coat that is worth the penny. I love the cut of the 3sixteen duffle, it has a nice slim, tailored cut that fits well with the overall design of the coat. This coat actually comes with a detachable hood, a great idea on their part.

The toggles on the coat were originally designed to make it easy for the seaman to easily remove and fasten the toggles while still wearing his thick gloves. The big over-sized hoods that we still see today on many of these modernized coats were originally designed to easily fit over a seaman’s hat. Some lucky people are able to actually get their hands on an original duffle coat and it’s interesting to hear them speak on how heavy it is (5-7lbs). Obviously these coats had to be pretty heavy and sturdy to protect the average seaman but its still funny at how we pay so much more for so much less.

Fit Details: BR coat, RL shirt, Uniqlo jeans, Sperry x Band Of Outsiders Boots. I got my Sperry boots last winter and didn’t wear them as much as i should have. They are finally being served some justice this winter. I love how they keep the boot shoe design in boot form. I also like the woolly material used to construct the outside of the boot, you don’t see that everywhere. Josh is wearing 3sixteen coat, Topman shirt, A.P.C nc, and some killer boots he got from the army/navy store. Keep your eyes out for a post right here on boots coming real soon.

JKISSI :  With the new year approaching rapidly it was only necessary to cap off the year, and the future of Street Etiquette, in a grand way.  As many of you are aware, Street Etiquette teamed up with Photographer/Videographer TONE to conduct a  brief video interview with us. Travis and myself sought out to invite some of our closest friends, those that we felt embodied our definition of ‘style’, to be part of the video (this was not only relying on the physical element of style, but the integrity and character of all those individuals that influenced us in some way or another).   We pitched the original plan and rundown to TONE; what ended up taking place would be considered one of the most inspirational moments of our lives.  The photographer for the project was Alejandro Perez a good friend of ours who’s photography speaks for itself, it was great working with someone who is on the same wave length.

Genesis of Style –  Coming JAN 2010.. (Full Video)

Location in picture  - Harlem

Check out the video teaser below

Michael Andrew, a good friend of ours residing in Harlem by way of Austin, Texas, goes into detail on what the word ‘style’ means to him. What I most admire about the video is that he gives his definition of style effortlessly, as if we rehearsed previously. The internet is one of the most powerful engines ever created giving us the ability to link to individuals all around the world simply because we posses  something in relation.  The fact that in the early stages large companies chose to ignore the might and impressionable power of the web displays why many of them are now looking for  ways to get inside a loop that, at this point, is almost closed.

Genesis of Style - Genesis –  ’a coming into being’ or ‘the beginning of’ and when you think of it in relation to style –  ’a way of expressing something that is characteristic of a particular group or period of time’. This “genesis”, so to speak, is not about convincing different individuals to dress similar to us; from the video you can see the variation in style from person to person, but more about a revival of awareness of personal style. This multi-borough video project, starting out in the Bronx, should change the face of Street Etiquette and everyone involved.

*From the Bronx to Harlem  to Lower Manhattan to final destination of Brooklyn*

Fit Description – 3sixteen duffel coat & Billy Kirk Bag - Everyone seems to love this duffel coat it definitely a nice camel wool that is well constructed. The leather bag made my the brothers of Billy Kirk gives off a sleek masculine look and is a great travel bag to compact items inside but at the same time look comfortable.

“There’s a sense that this return to style, or to a consciousness of how you look, is an attempt by young men to recover a set of values that were at one point very much present in American society and then lost.”

- Professor Samuel Rascoff of NYU

Taken from the New York Times article “Dressing for Success, Again.” This is an article I think everyone should read as it talks about the return of gentlemen into style.

JKISSI : If you have grown tired of the standard lace up, such as we do from time to time, the loafer is a great starting point to change paths from your usual choices. The loafer isn’t the primary item of choice when you’re thinking of purchasing a pair of shoes over other designs, such as the oxford. The casual slip-on shoe originally made it’s way from Norway in the 1930s and was dispersed all over Europe and took the interest of American visitors. When discussing loafers I can’t help but think about the high-fashion luxury house Gucci expanding on the classic design by placing a gold emblem on the loafer. The loafer is still known as an American classic in footwear whether you choose to fancy the shoe, or rather stay as far away as possible from what some people label as “grandpa” shoes.

Timeline – Originated in 1876, Bass shoes have become an American standard for comfort, durability and their own unique style. The company’s formal name is GH Bass + Co. and was named for its founder, George Henry Bass. Everyone knows the Bass Weejun penny loafer, a company staple.

JKISSI – Brixton hat – Uniqlo turtleneck – TM 3/4 jacket – Dexter hand-sewn loafers

Fit Description – I should have probably formed a post on head wear prior to this post as I have been on the search for great selections to throw on top of my cerebrum. I came across Brixton, a brand I have known since their humble beginnings back in 2006 when their head wear couldn’t really fit into my then-street-wear-oriented outfits. Yes , I’m in white jeans after Labor Day. For me, this so-called “fashion crime” has polluted some people’s minds regarding what they can and can not wear depending on the season. As you can see, I disregard this traditional notion as it’s outdated. When you think about the loafer who doesn’t think of the late legend Michael Jackson known for his black loafers and white socks accompanied with cropped trousers.

Trav pictured above with tassel loafers from Sebago

The penny loafer has been a American staple and classic go-to for decades now. There seemed to be a time when every boy and teenager would wear penny loafers comparable to the sneaker game of today’s generation. It was interesting to learn about what the extra leather slit provided on the penny loafer; from money for the payphone back when dimes were enough to make a call to a simply stylish approach. Even my Dad was pretty convinced to give the penny loafer a chance and change up from his usual selection of oxford shoes. The penny loafer is versatile being the perfect medium between casual and formal.