Friday Wrap-Up: Gary Cooper and Missouri's True/False Film Festival

Photo by Anthony Barlich.

Here's some general miscellany and packaged goods we thought you should know about:


On Gary Cooper:

• "Believe me, he was the best looking son of a bitch that ever lived." If there's one thing we love, it's the impossible style of movies stars from the middle of the 20th century. And if those words (Bill Blass's, by the way) doesn't describe Gary Cooper, we don't know what does. To see the rest of the quote, check out Cary Randolph Fuller's feature on Cooper, which appeared on the cover of Ralph Lauren Magazine's spring issue.

On lying:

• If you don't know about the True/False Film Festival, you should. I'm almost not sure how to even describe it, but it's the best documentary film festival in the world, and it's here in the Midwest. If you think sitting in a dark room with hundreds of other people for 72+ hours doesn't sound like fun, you're wrong. The entire town comes alive, and there are secret parties and mind-blowing new ways of looking at the world. Missouri? Who would have thought? We'll have full coverage in a few weeks.
• It's happening March 1–4 in Columbia, Mo. Unless you act, like, now, you may already be out of time.

On sale:

• Heard of George Costanza? Remember his wallet problem? Our guys at Huckberry have a solution for fat billfolds, along with a bunch of other goodies—including a phone for your phone, sweaters handmade in California, and hand grenades for your house.
• THIS SATURDAY IN CHICAGO: Tax-free weekend at the 900 Shops. Here's what you need to download and show to get 9.5% off your purchases. Starts tomorrow, runs through Monday!
• We know Brad's got the word on some dope shoes over at Well Spent.
• CHICAGO: Haberdash is shutting down the Old Town shop. That means—you got it—moving sale. Started yesterday. Here's what you need to know.
• Know of other sales around the Midwest? Tweet at us.

On hard-ons:

• Our thrifting find of the week: topical Chicago Cubs humor. Wrigleyville? Sounds about right.

Friday Wrap-Up: Baby Pictures

Welcome to Friday. We'll be spending the weekend at this place, because we heard there's a big party there. You should probably come, too.

You may recall that I posted a personal style history a couple of weeks ago that referenced a lost red baseball cap. I found it. Well, pictures of it. Look at those steezed-out suspenders.

Now that's over, here's some salmagundi we found around the 'Net:

• Ryan Plett launches a new blog, Travel Well. (via GQ Style)
• Would you wear this underwear? It says something about "keyhole technology," which scares me. Also, I'm not sure I can trust someone who says it's "comfotable." (via MyPakage)
• How to pose for pictures. (via Park & Bond)
• A look at the Quoddy workshop (via A Continuous Lean)
• Secret Forts gets a new website. (via Secret Forts)
• "This is the one thing we do that we feel can really change the world we live in. You can't buy everything made in America, but if you try, you can come close. If history has taught us anything, it's that this great country of ours will be in even more trouble than it already is if we don't support the work of our fellow Americans." A short but thoughtful interview with Imogene+Willie about the beauty of American-made denim. (via Refueled Magazine)

Okay, that's all. Now get outta here!

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.

Friday Wrap-up: Dose Market and Style Tips from the Pro

Happy Friday. First thing's first: Dose Market is coming. Again. Sunday. July 10.

We've been hearing some remarkable buzzing about this startup market. European. Food. Furniture. Fashion. Festivities. All of those sound like good things to us. Did we mention complimentary cocktails by Grant Achatz? You might know him from The Aviary.

They're working on beefing up the menswear offerings, but there are quite a few things to be excited about. We caught up with Jessica Herman, the associate shopping and style editor at Time Out Chicago and also one of the four "Dosettes," and she was full of intrigue about what'll be there:

• Red Belly Boardshop is bringing sporting equipment and apparel
• Apartment Number 9 doing custom shirts and NSF denim
• Contacts & Specs is bringing deadstock '70s and '80s frames for men and women
• Fresh & Proper is doing out-of-the-ordinary ties
• Fix Boutique is bringing mostly menswear, too

Dose is a monthly deal that began in June; unfortunately weren't able to attend that first one, but you can bet your bottom dollar we'll be there Sunday. And of course, we'll be reporting back with photos and interviews. If you're in Chicago, we hope you'll join us. And if you can't, well, you'll just have to see what you missed the morning after.

Dose Market

at the River East Arts Center

435 East Illinois Street

Chicago, IL 60611

photography by Nick Welch of Scout Photography

We'll leave you with this tip from Gerard, the photographer-husband of Concrete Catwalk, the stylist at Style & Pepper and a hip-hop enthusiast-at-large. He says:

"Sensitive thugs, y'all need hugs."

Wait, that was Jay-Z.

Gerard lends a few words on taking some sartorial jumps into mixing patterns and prints:

"When styling someone, the first thing I ask is 'Do you like it?' It's the most important thing. If you don't like what you are wearing, then people feel that and respond accordingly. You won't have the necessary confidence to pull it off. But if you like it, wear it. Just make sure it fits right."

Friday Wrap-Up: Hey there, April, throw us a bone

So look, April. You're being kind of being a tease, and we're getting sick of it. You're yes, then you're no; you're in, then you're out; you're up, then you're down. But worst of all, you're hot, then you're cold. I mean, it was 71º last week for crying out loud.

Listen. We've got some good posts planned for springtime, and you're really holding us back. So do you like us or not? Now that we've got the DTR out of the way, here's a photo that's more wishful thinking than anything else:

Straight henley weather. We're over this layering bullshit.

Friday Wrap-up – If you're just now joining us, here's a throwback to a few of our posts you might have missed from previous weeks:

• Shoes. Wingtips. Let's get 'em.
• Leaping and bounding in the hayfields where we were raised.
• Workin' from home in Logan Square.

And from others we love around the Net (wait, is it not called that anymore?):

• Refinery 29's Ultimate Chicago Blogroll. (Psst. Check out slide 5.)
• An illuminating interview about American shirting from AllPlaidOut.com.
• And oh, yes. Put This On is coming to Chicago. Do drop by, won't you?

Friday Wrap-Up: End of March

Friday Wrap-Up: Posts that you may have missed this work that are worth checking out.

• Badass Monday Tuesday: Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
• Tuesday: midweSTYLE Campustyle
• Wednesday: midweSTYLE at Old Watertower
• Thrifty Thursday: My ex-roommate's dad's friend's briefcase, yo.

In other news...

When Will asks, we deliver.
It's just that simple: Friday Presentations, (April) fools.

Jeff: "Slim Jim" dry coat black denim (Standard Style, winter sale $75) by Nudie Jeans, size 31x34; Salmon OCBD (Country Club Plaza, $69) by American Apparel, size small; mustard suede shoes (Nordstrom, winter sale $44) by 1901, size 11; grey charcoal blazer (Halls, sale $220) by Billtornade, small.

Seth: brown woven and tasseled loafers (thrifted, $6) by Giorgio Brutini, size 8; Nantucket "Davis"slim chino (Wicker Park, $68) by Club Monaco, size 29x32; White OCBD ($60) by J.Crew, slim small; Madras spring tie by J.Crew.

Photos by Oliver Drambour. Get on back to Chi soon, son.