midweSTYLE: Yalie duds

Two summers ago when I visited a buddy of mine who went to Yale, I checked out the thrifting scene. Thrift stores and microbreweries. Those are the first places I check when visiting a new town.

Shoes and belts galore, I found—although at separate stores. The shoes and the belt matched each other so well in color and texture. Rich and buttery. The shoes were from a hole-in-the-wall thrift store a block or two away from Yale's campus for $8, and the belt was about $2 belt at another location that escapes my mind.

Probably some Yalie's duds. Now mine.

Is that a purse? Listen, on my beanpole frame I wear slim jeans, slim shirts and slim jackets. Hauling around a wallet, phone, house keys, Motorola pager, roll of quarters, sunglasses, compass and other goods in my pockets kills the sleek silhouette. And "No, I'm not going to carry a cross-body." I loathe those scoliosis-inducing, foul creations. Not for me.

Ok, a clutch?

I had been looking into clutches/dossier/pouches for a while and stumbled upon one while looking at garage sales over the summer over in West Plaza. It's an original Coach clutch, in horrible (read as: "great") condition for $2. Sold. I'll carry it to weddings, running errands or throw it my tote to hold my planner.

Look, function over gender. It's like a big leather wallet, really. It may be woman repelling, right next to my dress shoes with the inch heel. Somebody hand me a fur coat and I'll be ready for Halloween.

On Jeff: Cotton oxford shirt (retail, $58) by American Apparel, small; charcoal welt-pocket trousers (retail, $69) by American Apparel; woven leather belt (thrifted, $2); leather dress shoes (thrifted, $8); vintage clutch (garage sale, $2) by Coach; grey sportcoat (reg. $680, sale $220 at Halls) by Billtornade, small (Halls for $680, sale $220); light grey tie (thrifted, $1.50).

Photography by Jarred Donalson

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BONUS: If you like sports photography, check out Jarred's latest updates to his photography blog.