Although the majority may favor the crispy white appearance of bucks, I’d rather save the tedious action of cleaning them with suede kits and let them wear in to add a bit of character. Overtly, this notion comes with the casual aspect of my outfit. If the scenario was switched to something like a seersucker or linen suit, I’d advise keeping your shoes as clean as possible. That the shoe would fits certain occasions and outfits depending on whether they’re clean or dirty is evidence of its versatility.

The suede-covered shoe provides its versatility to find a medium between formal and informal. Presently, bucks are seeing a spike in interest for men’s footwear options. Bucks are now produced by many brands in almost every color you can imagine. Last year, I opted for the classic ivory white colorway.

Fit details: Vintage Banana Republic short sleeve oxford / J.Crew 484 Corduroy pants ( DIY’d to shorts ) / J.Crew Suede Bucks / Brass Africa bracelet

Fit description: I purchased this shirt off of the ever-so-reliable eBay for $9.99. What initially interested me in this item was its opulent plaid colorway that forces you to neutralize the rest of your outfit. It’s interesting that myself and Travis are coming across many vintage Banana Republic pieces from the brand’s previous aesthetic. The corduroy shorts, which were once pants, were cut with garment scissors by myself, ultimately saving money and time from purchasing already-cut shorts. – Just ‘Do It Yourself’

Brief tips

• Corduroy pants
• Garment Scissors
• Pencil/Chalk – to mark your cutting length/make sure both leg inseams are even

We’ve seen numerous brands produce corduroy shorts this summer and even spill over into the fall season — a great look to pair with boots and a heavy shawl sweater of some sort. The African brass bracelet, one of my latest acquisitions in accessories, is directly from Ghana, West Africa

A list of retailers who carry bucks below:

• Bass Brockton (SALE – 44.99) ***
• Florshiem Kearny
• Bass Buckinham
• LL Bean Classic Bucks
• Brockton Red
• Cole Haan (SALE – 99.95)***

All photographs in this post were taken by the great Rog Walker

Always interesting to see how shoes that people wore decades ago can spout back up to be relevant again.  It’s important to find a medium for yourself and buy classic pieces you can wear for years now that most outfits are casually based.

Singer Pat Boone wearing his signature white bucks and chatting with his friend (prob. mgr.) Pete Martin and his wife in a dressing room backstage in an auditorium. (1957)

All images provided by LIFE

The espadrille, a canvas sandal with a flexible rope bottom was popularized by the french during the 19th century. This hand crafted shoe was often constructed in the village streets with the alpargateros (espadrille maker) creating the rope sole while the seamstresses sewed the fabric at the bands. Espadrilles are certainly not made to last, they are a preferred shoe by many in the spring and summer months because the sole forms itself to the shape of one’s foot and allows it to breath.

Fit Details: Uniqlo oxford shirt, Save Khaki corduroy shorts, Soludos espadrilles – click for variety.

I choose a pretty basic outfit to display the cool, simple summertime look that is often accommodated by espadrilles. I got my blue/white Soludos espadrilles from Steven Alan at a very reasonable price tag of $28. When buying espadrilles it is very important to size down a full size. The canvas will stretch out quite a bit.

The neckerchief is inspired by Ouigi Theodore (The Bearded Man) of  BKc, someone whom one can always turn to for some new stylistic ideas.

Meet Adam Rogers, designer, friend and all out stylish bloke. I especially wanted to feature this London native in this post because he has a knack for implementing his personal style through the simplest of getups. From his T-shirt to his self-made loose fitting shorts, a combination that can easily come across as sloppy and apathetic on others. Its a real skill to wear such a simple outfit and show such a dynamic sense of style. Of course there is much more to his look thats goes deeper than the shirt and pant; his hair, sunglasses, jewelry, bag and of course shoes all work in perfect coherence. 

Location: “The South Street Seaport is a historic area in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District. The Seaport is a designated historic district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District. It features some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan, and includes the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city. This includes renovated original mercantile buildings, renovated sailing ships, the former Fulton Fish Market, and modern tourist malls featuring food, shopping and nightlife, with a view of theBrooklyn Bridge. At the entrance to the Seaport is the Titanic Memorial lighthouse.”

Picture of alpargatero and seamstress.

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]]> http://streetetiquette.com/2010/08/13/summer-etiquette-espadrilles/feed/ 56 http://streetetiquette.com/2010/08/03/summer-etiquette-linen-sports-blazer/ http://streetetiquette.com/2010/08/03/summer-etiquette-linen-sports-blazer/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:02:15 +0000 admin http://streetetiquette.com/?p=3252 Joshua Kissi : Linen; better known as the first type of fabric everyone seeks when the temperature abruptly rises in these random Summer days. During the Summer we overtly avoid the shiny flat cotton non-breathable blazers like a bad plague. I found myself exploring the possible options of linen pieces from trousers to shirts to suits – a pleasurable haven to the corporate gentleman burning up in the office. The fabric contains a sense of versatility whether dressed up, outfitted for business or just down right casual. The fabric has been around for ages remaining  not only an American summer staple but a global one that never seems to vanish into oblivion.

Although some guys may resent it, I actually appreciate the crumple factor of linen, giving off a slightly casual-careless look. During the scorching hot months men are notorious for relinquishing from acceptable looks to something much more comfortable – here is where linen fabric fits perfect into the equation.

Zara linen sports blazer.  J.Crew Vintage Polo ( Tailored Fit ). Vintage pocket square (eBay). 3sixteen natural leather dual strand. Save Khaki Chambray Shorts. Sebago Penny Loafers

Fit Description :  100% linen blazer containing the perfect color for the warm weather – an almost-white-but-not-quite-light beige/ivory. During the Summer Etiquette series it has been way too easy to slip on some comfortable loafers and head out of the house. Probably one of my favorite accessories apart from wrist wear is this vintage elastic braided belt provides a distinctive texture to an outfit for those that are meticulous to sartorial detail.

This is not the first time I have worn this silk pocket square; last summer it was pictured peaking outside of my oxford pocket – a post expressing my then resistance to wearing shorts during hot weather .

Photography : All photos taken by good friend Rog Walker – check out his work

History : When indulging in research from books to the internet, it never ceases to amaze me the amount of history some of these fabrics enfold, like Egyptians using linen as a commodity, a preservative for mummies or just daily clothing wear. Professor Car takes a more in-depth look at the history of linen below.

(Gentleman pictured wearing a linen suit on the far right.)

People were spinning and weaving linen by about 5000 BC, even before wool. In the first millennium BC, the Egyptians mostly wore linen, while Greeks and West Asians and Germans mostly wore wool. By the Roman period, however, many people wore linen tunics for comfort with wool robes over them for warmth, and in the Middle Ages in Europe this continued to be common, so that “linen” got to mean something like “underwear”. Our word “lingerie” is related to linen. In the Islamic Empire, on the other hand, people began to wear mainly linen and cotton, and not so much wool. – Dr. Karen Carr (Professor of History at Portland State University )

The variety of clothing made from it is what I like most about this fabric. There are chambray shirts, shorts, pants, ties, pocket squares, and jackets all at your purchasing power.

Fit Details: Save Khaki chambray shirt & corduroy shorts / RL pocket square / Clarks Desert Boots

Save Khaki is a dope brand that I recently added to my list for good, quality basics. The  top-notch photographer and man behind the blog Unabashedly Prep, F.E Castleberry, just shot a nice little Spring/Summer look-book for Save Khaki. I wrote about these vintage red desert boots about a year ago. Click here to see the fascinating story behind these gems.

You can’t think of workwear without thinking chambray. In fact, the phrase “blue-collar worker” is derived from the blue chambray shirts that most uniformed working class laborers wore. Chambray shirts were also part of the U.S. Navy uniform during the early-to-mid 1900’s.

Fit Details: Save Khaki chambray shirt / Billykirk Belt / Topman shorts S/S ’09 / Sebago Penny Loafers

This chambray shirt definitely stands as one of my go-to items this summer. It possesses the perfect tint of blue, which goes with anything from denim to khaki to these bright red shorts I’m wearing above. Given our love of attention to detail, a couple of things that caught my eye were the one shirt pocket and navy blue buttons. After a lot of searching, I came across the perfect white leather loafers to hit the pavements and beat up during the warmer months. You have to love the wood grain sole.

Save Khaki has definitely been on everyone’s radar since designer David Mullen was nominated for ‘Best New Designers in 2009′ by GQ. With clothes that pertain to fit and quality, I would highly recommend checking out their NYC stores if you’re in the tri-state area.

1.  Lands’ End – Chambray Shirt

2. J.Crew – Vintage Chambray Utility Shirt

3. Gap – Chambray Shirt

4. LL Bean – Chambray Sports Shirt

Although the polo shirt is discussed here as a strictly Summer item, it can also be transitioned into a great Fall layering piece by throwing a nice tweed blazer on top, giving it a touch of casual with class.  The selection of polo shirts can vary from sleeve length to material, tucked in or out (but you can wear it however you feel comfortable doing so). Once again, here we have an item that, as years have passed, has been taken out of it’s traditional function of being worn solely by polo players as sporting attire in the 1800s and has morphed into a current American prep staple.

Banana Republic Pima cotton Polo – GAP Selvedge Straight Jeans (Tailored) - Sebago Black Tasseled Loafers – Vintage YSL Briefcase – Kente Cloth bracelets (Self Made)

Ode to the ‘Lo from CJ Something on Vimeo.

Fit Description : On one of the hottest days in New York City a pima cotton polo was probably the best choice to go with because of its breathable cotton and soft feel.  In this weather it’s very difficult to wear 14 oz. raw denim jeans without passing out after walking a two block radius. In general, the mission would be to actually wear in one of my raw denim jeans to the fading stages of these jeans. Since that wasn’t possible, these GAP Selvedge Jeans were found and bought for under $20. They are a nice light wash which has allowed me to make a change versus the current denim selection in my wardrobe.

Location : Harlem , NY -(Hamilton Heights) Sugar Hill section ( West 135th-155th ) Not only am I a fan of the brownstone architecture, but the history that runs rampant in this particular area of Harlem. During the Harlem Renaissance influential individuals from W.E.B Du Bois to Langston Hughes called this area home.

Friends : No stranger to this site and a good friend of ours, fellow Bronx resident, photographer/stylist and master of ‘accessories are a necessity’, here is Kadeem – another 20-something-year-old of our generation looking to express his artistic view on the world. If you happen to follow our tumblr you have definitely seen his pictures pop up from time to time.

Photography : Pictures taken by photographer Rog Walker, part of the great site Culture of Creativity. Special thanks to Suhaly, Raleigh and Carl.

Pictured above are players playing polo.

The first pique tennis shirt that was mass produced was created by French tennis champion Rene Lacoste in the 1920s after being fed up with tennis attire that was not comfortable. In 1927, Lacoste sewed a small crocodile logo on the left breast of the shirt. After retiring from tennis in 1933, Lacoste joined with Andre Gillier to market his tennis shirts with the well-known crocodile logo in Europe and North America. The term “polo shirt” dates back to the late 1800s at the Hurlingham Club in Buenos Aires. – Kayla Layne Crawford

The oxford shirt serves as a nice median between formal and casual. Its the perfect shirt to roll up and wear casually during the summer. The shirt gets its name from the type of fabric used to make it; Oxford cloth was originated in Great Britain during the 19th century. The greatest thing about these shirts is that they are completely season-proof; no matter the weather, they serve a great deal of function. You can use them to layer with in the Fall/Winter and in the Spring/Summer wear them as freely as your heart desires.

I love denim, but as the weather once again takes a turn, I’ve found myself putting the denim aside and more frequently wearing the chino. Chino pants first gained popularity in the U.S after the Spanish-American War when soldiers brought back their cotton trousers. These Chino pants were first made in China, hence the name Chino, a Spanish word which translates to Chinese. I like these form of trousers because, like the oxford shirt, they are the perfect mid-ground between laid-back and dressy. Not to mention they definitely keep you cooler than the traditional raw denim jeans.

Fit Details: Travis –  Rugby University Oxford shirt, Uniqlo Chinos, Tanner Goods belt, Billykirk bag, TOMS shoes

Fit Details : Joshua –  Uniqlo Oxford , Braided Belt , J.Crew Urban Slim fit chinos , Clarks Desert Boot Oakwood

Recommendations – Chinos – Rugby RL Vintage Chino - J.Crew Sun faded  Stanton Pant

Oxfords – GAP Oxford Shirt - J.Crew Pinpoint Oxford – Rugby RL Solid University Oxford – BR Chinos

Given its status as a somewhat classy clothing line, I often wondered why the company chose a name for the brand that is also used to describe unstable Third World countries dependent on agriculture. My curiosity, however, was never quite severe enough to push me to seek an answer. It was one of those frivolous questions that we sometimes ponder with no intention of taking it any further. It’s quite obvious now that it was meant to be a witty name used to describe this adventurous safari line.

Founded in 1978 by husband and wife Mel and Patricia Ziegler, Banana Republic got its start as a catalog company selling vintage military surplus items from around the world. They later made the leap to a full-fledged clothing line that was widely popularized by their quirky, fascinating catalogs. GAP bought the brand in 1983 and slowly transitioned it into the Banana Republic we know today.

I was fortunate enough to get my hands on this vintage BR jacket. It’s essentially a jacket with removable sleeves. The abundance of pockets means there seems to be a place for every little item I tend to carry around. What I like most is how light-weight it is. I can easily get away with wearing this jacket on a hot day. In fact, it looks a lot like a photographer’s vest with the sleeves removed. I also came across another cool jacket that I’ll be sure to incorporate in an upcoming post.

Fit details: BR jacket and shirt. Topman pants. Polo loafers.

I mentioned that Banana Republic became widely known due to their creative catalogs. In 1986, they took that a step further when they released Banana Republic Guide To Travel & Safari Clothing. This book is fundamentally similar to the catalogs but on a larger scale. It catalogs virtually every piece of safari/military clothing with nice visuals and some insightful text that covers the history/origin of these pieces. This book is sure to hold your interest, as it explains everything with a fun, adventurous writing style.

Although sometimes looked down upon, blogging plays a major role in today’s social media landscape by allowing people to provide their own unique point of view, a far cry from traditional media. I’m still perplexed in this particular experience and how we were allowed to do such a project with free reign over the whole process.

We at Street Etiquette would like to sincerely thank everyone at Sebago and Ronnie Fieg for making this project possible.

The Nexus Project

http://www.Jakedavisfilms.com

http://www.marcustroy.com

http://www.williamyan.com

http://www.Cultureshoq.com

http://www.Ronniefieg.com

SEBAGO^® COLLABORATES WITH RONNIE FIEG TO INTRODUCE “THE NEXUS PROJECT”

Power Bloggers and Ronnie Fieg Work with Sebago to Design a Series of Custom Docksides, Lighthouse and other Nexus Styles

ROCKFORD, Mich. (June 2010) — Over a span of months and a collaborative spirit, David Z’s Ronnie Fieg along with a select group of power bloggers, teamed with Sebago to design a series of ten custom Sebago shoes to form “The Nexus Project”.  Fieg and some of the most influential bloggers including Marcus Troy, Jake Davis, Greg Weinstein of Culture Shoq, William Yan, and Joshua Kissi of Street Etiquette experienced a complete immersion at Sebago’s Dominican Republic Facility to create this ultimate collaborative Sebago collection.  Designs include individual takes on the Docksides, Lighthouse boot as well as other exclusive Nexus styles.

“Ronnie has a well-known history of putting together great collaborations,” said Gary Malamet, Sebago’s general manager.  “We’ve worked with him many times in the past with success.  When he came to us with this project, we knew we had a chance to develop something completely fresh. In this day of collaborations, and the unstoppable power of blogs, we felt the combination of the two was unprecedented”.

Sebago worked with the bloggers and Fieg and took them to the manufacturing plant in the Dominican Republic, bringing in representatives of some of the world’s best tanneries and various suppliers to pore through leathers, colors, finish details and more to select materials for each custom shoe.  Each participant in turn went through the process of creating their shoe by hand with the team of master craftsmen at Sebago.  Processes included soaking and heating the leathers and finally stitching the shoes together – a seven hour project for each shoe.

Throughout the summer of 2010, a limited run of 48 pairs will be created of each Nexus style.  The shoes will be available exclusively at David Z’s flagship store in New York as well as davidz.com. Bloggers will each bring their own angle and story to their blogs to communicate the Nexus Project. The entire collaboration was filmed by Jake Davis on location in the Dominican Republic. Each blogger will have their own trailer that can be seen on their respective websites. Please make sure to check out each bloggers trailer throughout the release of this project”

Stay tuned for our pair.

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]]> http://streetetiquette.com/2010/06/09/shoe-etiquette-the-sebago-nexus-project/feed/ 45 http://streetetiquette.com/2010/06/04/family-etiquette-the-wonder-years/ http://streetetiquette.com/2010/06/04/family-etiquette-the-wonder-years/#comments Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:42:20 +0000 admin http://streetetiquette.com/?p=3195 JKISSI: Today, we’re going to stray from the normal events of formulated post on my and Travis’s latest sartorial endeavors. Everyone has them: The photo albums we sometimes refuse to visit because of some rather embarrassing photo moments from stages in our lives which bring back nostalgic feelings.

I randomly came across piles of family photo albums and began to follow suit by cleaning off the flakes of dust toppled on the covers. My parents’ loyal enthusiasm for taking photographs during any event with significance left a visual story without words.

Our posts have always contained an element about reflecting on the past. This time around, though, we chose pictures of ourselves from the late 1990s instead of pictures from the early-to-mid 1900s. Diverging from our usual editorial-esque posts, Travis and I provide a more personal look into our earlier lives with little resentment.

It seems we grow up in a heartbeat, often forgetting these types of moments that were filled with pondering on what was yet to come. The rather interesting point is we all go through many styles from our adolescent years to adulthood, depending on how we choose to identify ourselves at that moment.

(Photo from 2010)

Growing up quickly, Jeremiah may have a different aesthetic from the usual five-year-old kid. He has play dates on the weekends and he’s still a kid who loves to return home with stains all over his clothes. With technology altering the way we live our lives, things may be slightly different for this spelling-bee champion Jeremiah when it’s time to look back. Instead of flipping through an old photo album, all he may have to do is look online to find his own pictures on his uncle’s blog.

(Photos from 1994-1998)

In these pictures, you see a turtleneck tucked into trousers, multi-colored button-up shirts, and loud color palettes. I can still somewhat sense a connection to my style presently. To see myself in what looks to be a double-breasted suit brings a smile to my face, totally aware that in a previous post, I mentioned my unique admiration to possess one.

I’m not here to discuss semantics of the piece (Waistcoat vs. Vest), but instead, to talk about how it can be incorporated into your own style across the map. Because the first waistcoats were originally meant to provide an extra layer of warmth, it shouldn’t be a surprise that today’s version of the waistcoat makes a great layering piece.

Similar to other garments recent times (like sweaters and pullovers), we snatch the waistcoat away from its previous notions of formality and give it a more casual context through the addition of jeans, T-shirts, and even sneakers.

Joshua – Vintage Brooks Brothers tie  - GAP Tweed Waistcoat – Tanner Goods Belt – Self Edge Flat Head Jeans – Sebago shoes

Kenny – Vintage Ralph Lauren Glasses & Tie  - J.Crew Waistcoat & Shirt – Uniqlo blackwatch plaid trousers – Bass saddle shoes – Vintage bag

Fit Details: I got the tweed waistcoat from GAP while I was working there several years ago. Interestingly enough, I recently stumbled upon it while welcoming the spring season by cleaning out my closet. I found the vintage Brooks Brothers tie for 99 cents at a thrift shop. It’s similar to a tie many companies would charge $50 or more for. At two-and-a-half inches wide, I think it’s the perfect width for a tie. It’s not necessarily too skinny, but not incredibly wide, either. The Flat Head jeans have been receiving a ton of wear even though the temperature is rising.

It intrigues me when I see older gentleman wearing waistcoats with a pocket watch dipped in one pocket. A perfect example of a person who does this is professor Cornell West. I recommend you watch this video on his thoughts on “What is Style” brought to us by Prepidemic Magazine.

“Style allows you to project to a sense of what is outside of you and connect those things , and other that are outside of you and bond you in such a way that people feel you” – Cornel West

Item Etiquette : The Waistcoat from Street Etiquette on Vimeo.

Photography/Video: We set out to achieve the great city ambience of New York City and there was no other place better do so than Midtown. Midtown—known for its glorious skyscrapers and recognizable architecture—fit perfectly into the mood we were looking for. This mood was further accentuated by this happening in the midst of clusters of dress-up business individuals, all maneuvering in an automaton-like way. We figured that since were born to such a great city, why not express that with style?

People :  Joekenneth, no stranger to this blog and the potent mouthpiece behind the ‘Sewn From the Soul’ video, made an appearance with myself in this post. A keen eye can see the meticulous detail that went into his outfit –  I enjoy the color transition from his plaid tie  <-> stripe shirt  <-> shoes <-> red bag.

“King Charles II introduced the waistcoat as a part of correct dress during the Restoration of the British monarchy. Samuel Pepys, the diarist, wrote in 7th October 1666 that “the King hath yesterday in council declared his resolution of setting a fashion for clothes which he will never alter. It will be a vest, I know not well how”. This royal proclamation is the first mention of a waistcoat. Pepys records ‘vest’ as the original term. The reason for the term ‘waistcoat’ was to denote the termination at the waist, whereas, at the time, men’s formal coats went well below the waist as frock or morning coats.” – Giles, Bellamonte – Designer, UK