SUNDAY LINEUP: Dose Market

Just checking in quickly to say: Come hang out with us at Dose Market on Sunday. Seth will be working alongside Max Wastler (All Plaidout) at the booth he's running for Buckshot Sonny's limited edition "Kamp Kit."

Here's an exclusive first look at the patch design for Buckshot Sonny's forthcoming dopp kit with Winter Session. It's based on the model Max took to summer camp as a kid. Says Max: "At mine, they spelled it 'Kamp.' We nod to that with our Kamp Kit, debuting at Dose this Sunday, June 24th."

If you're not familiar, Buckshot Sonny's is an online shop that sells vintage sporting goods, and we're huge fans. It's run by Max and our good friend Joe Gannon, both of whom you see in top illustrated form below:

Illustration by Christine Mitchell of N'East Style.

Seeing as today's Friday, here's some other stuff you should know about from around the 'Net:

• Lord Westbrook, fashion icon, strikes again (via @si_vault)
• Our dear friend Marta Willcox took a trip to Milan, where her uproarious husband, Jono, snapped these guerilla street style shots.
• An interview revealing some of Warby Parker's secrets to success.
• GQ weighs in on the best denim picks around the country.
• Sharp selects some of the best curent #menswear blogs.

And as always, check out these rad deals from Huckberry:

• Surf-inspired sunglasses from Raen Optics (take 30%)
• High-end swim trunks from NYC's Onia (take 60%)
• Linen beach blankets from Go-Throw (take 20%)
• Handcrafted wood beer coolers and wine barrels from Cold Creek Brewing (take 10%)
• Brick-sized military-inspired soap bars from Duke Cannon (take 20%)
• Home beer-brewing kits from Craft-A-Brew (take 20%)

Now go take on the weekend. We'll see you at Dose!

SALE: The Midwestyle for Huckberry

Just about every week, we find something to drool over at Huckberry, an online shop that wrangles storied products at members-only prices. Over the past year since we became aware of the what Richard, Andy and Alex are up to, they've exploded onto the market as sensible purveyors of American-made goods.

So, we couldn't have been happier when they asked us to team up with them and curate a week-long flash sale of some of our favorite brands. That sale starts today. We're pretty pumped about the lineup—so take a look, and if something catches your eye, get clickin'.

Chore coats from Buckshot Sonnny's

On Seth: Herringbone chore coat from Buckshot Sonny's—one of my favorite layering staples.

Holy shirts and pants from Nonnie Threads

On Jeff: trousers from Nonnie Threads.

Bow ties and a pocket square from AnnaRuna

On Jeff: bow tie by AnnaRuna.

Handmade prints from Grant Heinlein

Above: the man, the myth, the legend—Grant Heinlein himself.

Notecards from Terrapin Stationers

Badass bandana-lined envelopes and cards from Ted Harrington.

Courier satchels, iPad cases and card-carriers from Defy Bags

Courier satchel from Defy Bags.

What are you waiting for? These prices only last for eight days, so shop now.

True/False: Street Style (Part 2)

Last week, Jeff brought us a few prime snapshots of some of the more eye-catching ensembles in Columbia, Mo. Here now are a few more noteworthy blips on the radar...just to provide a little inspiration should you find yourself at a thrift store—or even for those spring sales when winter and fall wear is steeply discounted. 

Because, you know, one of the tricks to building an affordable wardrobe is to think ahead. Knock ya-self out.

Wool pea coat with naval overtones. If it conjures seafaring imagery, sign me up.

This is what an old favorite looks like. Buy one of these waxed Barbour Bedale jackets when, and you could be buried in it when you're old.

Here's David Wilson, one of the founders of True/False. He's a guy with immense personal style. And his clothes ain't bad, either. Dressing it down (and doing work) in this shot.

Blanket-lined chore coat from Sears. With the tucked scarf. Rural class.

The definition of affordable sharpness. Most of this came from the thrift store, but simple attention to fit makes all the difference in the world. Can't get over the texture and weave on that blazer. (On Tyler Koch).

Layering done right. And that Levi's jean jacket is prime for spring. Nailed it, David Hall.

The Steven Alan Parka: How about that burst of color? (On Cam.)

More layering and investment pieces from Buckshot Sonny's. Let me tell you: Put on that green chamois flannel shirt and the herringbone chore coat, and you'll never want to take 'em off.

Boots for years. (Red Wing on Oliver Drambour.)

Paparazzi effect: These guys directed Low & Clear, which was sponsored by Filson. It's a move about fly fishing. Check it out.

Unstructured J.Crew messenger steeze. (On Brandon Butcher).

Photos by Jeff Kieslich.

midweSTYLE: Easy Rider

Merry Christmas, y'all.

I'm sure you're all coming down from your food comas and/or worn out from exploring the full utilities of your copious amounts of swag, so I'll keep it short.

We got back to the farm from our yearly Christmas visit to my dad's childhood Episcopal church and decided to go for a Sunday afternoon ride. We were losing light, so rather than waste time changing out of church clothes, I threw on some jeans and called it good.

Meet Fuerte, our Peruvian Paso Fino gelding.

On Seth: Chambray work shirt (Michigan Avenue Bloomingdales, sale $50 reg. $115) by Gant Rugger; neck tie passed down from grandfather; Mad Men cardigan courtesy of Banana Republic; "Walker" raw denim courtesy of JBrand; brown herringbone socks courtesy of Falke; "Beeswax" desert boots (Nordstrom Rack, sale $50 reg. $110); "Weekender" watch (Amazon.com, $30) by Timex; fish-hook tie clip ($20) by Buckshot Sonny's; deadstock copper latch bracelet with holes (gift from Jeff—what a friend).

Photos by Israel Putnam.

But first, gift guides

Editor's note: Two of our favorite ladies, Katie & Emily, run a thoughtful blog called "But first, coffee." It's devoted to the trials and travails of becoming real people (in their words: "our attempt at a grace entrance into adulthood, though so far it's been more of a stumbling-in-late kind of entrance.") They graciously agreed to pick some gifts they'd give the boys in their lives.

(We assume that means they're getting us all of these things because they love us so much.)

But first, I want y'all to meet my besties with testies breasties:

Katie is the best. We spent our undergrad years living one house apart. On a weeknight, she could fully expect me to show up at her door in my robe with my laptop and a bottle of wine declaring, "I've got a paper to write and need company." Before moving a block away from me in Logan Square, she lived with me and my roommates for a month and fed us like we were kings. She comes from a family of six, you guys. She knows how to take care of boys (i.e. children).

Emily is sort of cool, too. She would willingly pick me up from campus upon the promise of ice cream and pleasure of listening to Taylor Swift in the car with the windows down and heat cranked in the fall. She's a regular at Addison's and can name all of the ingredients in every appetizer from the menu. I also tried to date Emily, once. Maybe twice. She has higher standards. I don't blame her. She's currently keeping all of her friends sane and real while in grad school for counseling.

Together, these girls are real friends, talented friends.

• They can rap all the lyrics to Super Bass by heart.
• They respond to at least 60 percent of my text messages.
• They both know how to make a playlist for anything, such as "November," "Songs for New Cities," "Twinkle Lights in Your Bedroom," "Listen it's going to get really cold," and"front porches + good books."
• They can truck through an entire season of Laguna Beach in one sitting (with a bottle of wine, of course.)

---

So it's safe to say I know them pretty well. And here's something else I know: They totally want these gifts for themselves. If they gave 'em, they'd snag 'em.

Emily has a few words to say about this gent:

This is for the Southern gentleman who has long retired his croakies but will still open my door. He quotes The West Wing in everyday conversation and mix CDs are his love language. He likes tacos, road trips, and sending mail the old fashioned way.

1. Subscription to the Atlantic. A man should always have something interesting to converse about, sure it might take you a month to finish an article, but it's worth it.
2. J.Crew Plaid Wool Scarf. I appreciate a man who can pull off a good scarf. It shouldn't be flashy and you don't need to tie it in any weird way, just wear it. Simple is best. But you know that already.
3. Pendleton throw in Charcoal Stewart. It's getting cold and you need to have a nice clean blanket at your house. If you wanted to use it to entertain a lady for an indoor picnic in deepest darkest January, that would also be acceptable. 
4. Peace Like A River. A coming of age tale with a precocious child narrator set in the barren plains of the North Dakota Badlands. This is one that will stick with you. Plus, you should always to have a book on hand when someone asks for a recommendation.
5. French press by Bodum. The thing about a French press is that it makes you look like you care about food and the finer things in life even if you are still sort of confused about them. 
6. Whiskey stones. How great would it be if I was that kind of girl who could drink whiskey with you? Well, sorry, i'm not. But I will think you are classy if you have these.

If this is you, you can ask @emlew out on a date. Just be tall and have the Constitution app on your iPhone.

---

Katie wanted to describe who this man is that would be getting these gifts (which she would eventually steal).

This is for the "classy lumberjack." He has read of all of Vonnegut's works and probably wanted to get "so it goes" tattooed on his forearm when he was 18. He loves his mom, wool socks and building bonfires. He's understated and shy. Oh, and he's read Watchmen...twice.

1. Flannel button-downn from Gant Rugger. My philosophy when buying clothes for men is: “Can I wear it?” In this case, the answer is most definitely yes, I can. Plus, who doesn’t love a man in flannel?
2. Untreated leather belt by Wood & Faulk. This handmade belt is simple and untreated, ready to be broken in and made your own. Simple. Manly. Perfect.
3. Wool gloves from Buckshot Sonny’s Sporting Goods. Jeff and I were recently having a conversation about how he’s having a hard time finding manly gloves. Well here they are, made in the USA.
4. True/False tickets. Our college town’s very own documentary film festival, True/False is a wonderful weekend in Columbia, Missouri where filmmakers and goers descend on our small town for a weekend of revelry, good wine, and eye-opening documentaries. Check out their site for more info.
5. Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA. This is by far the best Indian Pale Ale I have ever had. Stock up with some to enjoy and some to age.
6. Beard Balm by Men’s Face Stuff. It’s exactly what it sounds like.

If you find that your flannel collection has a few favorites missing, you can probably find @katiestipo wearing them in Bucktown with some new coffee stains.

Thanks, ladies.

THE RUNDOWN: NorthernGRADE

Behold: NorthernGRADE. Every September, some of the movers and shakers in American-made menswear descend into the cluttered, boozy labyrinth of the Architectural Antiques in Minneapolis to hawk their wares.

Inspired by NYC's Pop Up Flea, the ladies and gentlemen at J.W. Hulme Company and Pierrepont Hicks tie shop decided to add the Midwest to the conversation by founding their own market in 2010—which makes this the second of a (hopefully) annual tradition.

I hitched a ride up to the fest for the launch of Buckshot Sonny's, Max Wastler and Joe Gannon's vintage sporting goods store. (If you're not familiar yet, you should be.) It was hard to contain the excitement as it built over the 7.5-hour drive, and it wasn't long before there were copious amounts of rapping during the 3G-less stretches of Wisconsin and Minnesota. When we arrived, we weren't disappointed. What follow are simply snapshots punctuated by a few important quotes, because like many of the best experiences—you just kinda had to be there. Next year's your chance.

Buckshot Sonny's, named after Joe's grandfather Sonny and Max's dad, who they called 'Buckshot' as a kid, is "the store your grandfather would have taken your father to for his first baseball glove."

• "We want one of our baseballs or footballs to be the family picnic ball. When we're done, I'll give it to my son, and he'll give it to his, maybe." — Joe Gannon

Red Wing, this year's main sponsor.

Two fine fellows: Brad Bennett of Well-Spent and Mike Maher of Taylor Stitch.

Intelligentsia coffee was on site.

The Hill-Side, offered by BlackBlue.

The incomparable Billy Moore, of Cause and Effect, hawking his skins. "Buy some belts!" he barks.

One of the (many) interesting things about Billy is that he's not much for the indecisive. Like a maverick who pops up unannounced at spots all across the country, it's "Buy a belt here and now, or wait and see where I appear next."

And his process is nothing if not unique. It's all about the story for Cause and Effect—whether it's wading into a Tennessee river to drape a hide over a big, wet rock or hammering belts on a cobbled New York street.

You can read more about his process over at All PlaidOut, but here's a bit of lore he shared with me about his mysterious Mason jar full of moonshine. This particular batch, Billy says, was made by the son of Popcorn Sutton, the legendary Tennessee moonshiner. No one's heard from him since around 2009...possibly because he may not be alive any more.

"Popcorn Sutton been caught by the ATF for the fifth time," Billy says. "He had about 5,000 quarts of moonshine, and they were going to give him 30 days a gallon.

"The story goes that he killed himself rather than go to prison. But here's the thing: The only people who saw him dead were the sheriff and the coroner—who both happened to be his cousins."

The trick is to take a breath before you take a drink.

Billy had me make a belt, which you'll see in coming posts as we track its progress from natural leather to seasoned beauty.

One of the fine products from Duluth Pack, which we've written about before.

I had a chance to chat with Molly Solberg, Duluth Pack's marketing director, who filled me in on why the company's heritage matters to so many people:

• "We're fashionable because we're 120-plus years old, not because we're a flash in the pan."
• "You can walk into Walmart and by a $20 bag every season or spend $115 on one of ours and never buy another."
• "Every day, I walk through the sewing room. You'll see a bag made by Linda, a breast cancer survivor. We have a sewer, Suzie, who's been here for 20 years. Whatever we can do to help Suzie as she puts her kids through college, we're going to do."
• "Ultimately, you're employing Minnesotans and saving money over the long run."

A clever business card from Angie Sheldon.

Becca James, the editor of Pop 'stache, browses wool shirts offered by Greenwich Vintage.

On the culture of NorthernGRADE:

• 'Zen' Pomazi, one of the purveyors of Greenwich Vintage, is finding that men take a little longer to care about appearance and quality these days. But eventually, he says, a nostalgia kicks in, even though it might be for something they've never experienced themselves.
• "Guys get to a certain age—maybe they're getting married, maybe they're having kids—and they start to pay attention," Zen says. "They see some of this stuff, and they remember Dad."

And this, from Noah Zagor, is perhaps the best summation of why any of this matters:

"I had an uncle who was a geology professor at Oxford University," Noah says. "I remember visiting him, and he would point to the motto emblazoned on the gates: 'Manners Makyth Man.'"

Correction: An earlier version of this story misattributed the above quote. Our sincerest apologies to Noah. We regret the error.

Friday Wrap-Up: Topman

Okay, party people. It's the end of the week. And what a week it was. Quick rundown, then you can get outta here!

Tuesday: Sneak preview of Buckshot Sonny's, which will launch at a certain men's market in the Midwest this weekend. Wastler looked like a kid at Christmas as he opened the bats, baseballs and caps that arrived in the mail.

Wednesday: An unexpected invitation to an exclusive party hosted by Sir Philip Green to celebrate the launch of Topshop's new Chicago location on Michigan Avenue. Full write-up coming on that place, but for now, suffice it to say the night was insane. A few highlights:

• Cocktails, dinner and an after-party at the Paris Club
• Gerard Butler
• Miley Cyrus
• Miley Cyrus dancing
• Miley Cyrus dancing in Jeff's suspenders
• You'll have to ask him about that
• Did I mention my quick chat with Rahm Emanuel?*
• So, one of the most memorable birthdays ever

For more on the celebrity element, check out Ernest Wilkins' read on the night for RedEye.

Thursday:

• I'm in Time Out Chicago with a fun piece about a street corner in Chicago where you can get haircuts for $5.
• Jeff and I ran into Isa from Chicago Looks at Topshop on Wednesday. After filling us in on what she's been up to for the past few months since we saw her last, she snapped a couple of photos.

Friday: I'm hastily tossing some clothes in the Saddleback and hop in the truck for a casual road trip with Max Wastler and Joe Gannon to Minnesota. Why Minnesota? Oh, no reason...except that NorthernGRADE is this weekend. Next week, there will be a full recap of shenanigans, characters and adventures encountered there.

If you're in Minneapolis, say hi—and come check out Wastler and Gannon's new project, Buckshot Sonny's.

Now go take on the weekend.

*And by "quick chat," I mean: We made eye contact, and I said, "Hey!" He said "Hi." Then he walked on.