FAVORITES: Sweet Autumn

Summer came to a close and you're wishing you would have made that last trip to the lake. Alas, the time was cut short and the end of the season crept up on your sooner than you hoped. 

Fall is here. Well, for some of us. Some of you are heading back to campus and swapping around your schedule so you can have Tuesday and Thursday off. For others, that's just a fond memory in the rearview mirror. Get ready, man.

You've already started to remember your favorite sweaters and beloved boots from the last year. Some, you forgot about; others you purchased at the end of the season for a killer deal, and you're antsy to break them in. While only one of us is actually taking a semester this season, we're all still excited about the back to school season. Here's a quick recap of what's new:

• Seth is taking inventory of his gin stash and vowing not to repeat the mistake he made last year: not buying summer clothes on sale at the end of the season. Priorities, bro.
• Cam is conspiring to eBay snipe some luxe Ralph Lauren sweaters, rationing his beer and pizza stash on an espresso-slinger's budget, and juggling his senior year plans because, "What the hell am I supposed to do now that I'm graduating this year?" Good luck, man.
• I'm kicking myself right now for not selling more clothing, because my new closet is the size of a bookshelf in my new apartment...in a new city. Yeah, I hopped in a big, ugly Penske truck a month ago and trekked to the East Coast. Betrayal, indeed. More to come on that.

We rounded up a few things we either own that are new favorites or things that are sitting in our shopping. Take a peek and give us your thoughts.

Cam's picks:

1. Corter Bottlehook in copper: If you're like me you've been using a carabiner to carry your keys around ever since you can remember. Or ever since you've had keys. Whichever, the point is that it's officially the future. Step up your game with this little guy from Corter. Rustic, functional, and even more rustic. Plus, the most awkward thing on all of our key rings is a bottle opener, right? So why not just make the bottle opener the main apparatus. Do you follow? Be better than the carabiner.
2. Baldwin Camo Ryan Trousers: How do you blend in and stand out at the same time? Camouflage. The fit and details on these are perfect: a trim, straight leg, a perfectly scaled print, made in the States. Plus nobody will be able to see the degree of pastiness your legs progressed to this summer because you had an inside job and couldn't sit at the pool all day every day like you have the past, oh, 20 summers of you life. 
3. Filson Zip Tote: Get this tote, grab some Otter Wax, and set this thing up for all-weather badassery. It has a zipper so rain, snow, and your girlfriends hands can't get inside (to steal your money). Plus all the street style photographers will get that great bag handle/leather gloves/watch/wrist accessories shot that they all kill for. We all love those. 
4. Black Thorogood 6" Moc-Toe Boot: Real talk, this is the best bang for your buck in the boot department. Thorogoods are made in the USA, have a perfect silhouette and don't break the bank ($130–160 depending on your website of choice). These come in a few other color ways, but I'm most attracted to black.

Seth's picks:

1. Trident barspoon: I'm smitten with this combination. Use one end for stirring, the other for spearing olives and cherries out of the jar for your boozy concoctions.
2. Hoof-pick belt: The hoof-pick belt we've been going crazy for? (Cam's got one, and we featured Blake's last year.) Well here it is for $37.95 from an actual equine-outfitter store. Better than its more-than-reasonable price? Made in the U.S., baby.
3. Shorts: End of summer. In other words, the best time to get deals on cut-offs for next year's dog days. Like these linen boys for $40 at J.Crew.
4. Blazer: I need some Fair Isle in my life this year. Like this badass blazer from Lands' End Canvas.
5. Beer bike: I like bikes. I like beer. I like carrying beer on bikes without crashing and burning like last year.

Jeff's picks:

1. Stubbs & Wootten Earl Crest embroidered slippers: I'm not tired of thrifting loafers and slippers  in every shade of brown, black and burgundy with various tassels, weaves and fringe details from dead men in Kansas City. But I am tired of not finding brightly colored, velvet smoking slippers. Probably because if you had a pair, you were probably buried in them. Made in Italy, obnoxious and I'll just say it's my family crest on the top if you ask.
2. Alexander McQueen skull print silk scarf: I'm typically touch and go with scarves. Ain't so with this bad boy. It's gorgeous, McQueen and was given to me as a gift from a former coworker. I throw it on with a T-shirt, jean jacket, well-worn denim and sneakers. The color is a little off, yet it goes with blue denim rather nicely.
3. Moncler camouflage hooded down vest: I want to tell you not to even ask about this, beceause I thought I'd be wearing this nearly everyday this fall with a jean jacket or a blazer. Yet, it's sitting in my closet wit the tags still on it. I'm debating whether or not I'm keeping this. It's about as much as my rent, yet I paid a fraction of the cost because I snagged at the right time during a sale. Judgement is welcome. Please forward it to my spam address. 

Thrifty Thursday: Camel suede chukka boots

If you're from Missouri, you're aware that there's this quasi-rivalry between St. Louis and Kansas City. It's natural, after all, seeing as they're the two biggest cities in the state and they're both furnished with competing major league sports teams. When you go to Mizzou, though, you're kind of forced become frenemies friends with residents of the other city. While it's unfortunate, it is necessary.

At any rate, some of my own St. Louis friends tricked me into actually going there under the guise of watching them run half of the St. Louis Marathon. I eventually took the bait, and in an attempt to make me think more of their hometown, they took me to The Loop. It was here that they fed me the delicacies of Pam's Chicago-Style Dogs, walked me past one of the Midwest's best music venues, The Pageant, and finally took me to some of the city's finest boutiques and vintage resale shops. It was inside of one of these shops—Avalon Exchange, to be exact—that I stumbled upon these mid top boat shoes for $15, in almost new condition.

$15? Sold. Plus, nothing quite says spring/summer like a light-weight, light-colored pair of shoes. Canvas sneakers, white suede bucks, or in this case, tan mid top deck shoes.

St. Louis, you're alright in my book.

(Seth's note: The "Loop"? Chicago-style dogs? Sounds like St. Louis is just a Chi-wannabe. The thing is, I bet they like ketchup on their hot dogs, and that right there says it all.)

Also, while the Corter 'For Japan' bracelet is no longer available for purchase, you can definitely still support the one-man, Boston based leather goods operation. The single wrap leather bracelet is a favorite. Also, where else can you find a handmade in the USA, natural leather utility belt for under $50? Nowhere. Definitely check it out here.

Camel suede chukka boots (thrifted from Avalon Exchange, $15) by Anchor, size 10; red and blue plaid button-front (thrifted, $3) by L.L. Bean, medium; "The 77" straight leg dry selvedge denim (Standard Style, $198) by Baldwin Denim, size 31; natural leather "Corter for Japan" bracelet (retail, $20) by Corter.

Photography by Jarred Donalson.