WEIGH IN: Let's dance, sweatpants.

UPDATE: To be honest, we're glad for the dissenting views. The point of this post was to spur a little discussion, and that discussion doesn't have to be pro-outfit. Fire away!

There are two options:

A) Let's try sweatpants. In public.

OR:

B) I'm just being a douche bag for wearing designer sweatpants and thinking it's okay to do so in public. Look: Sometimes I have to leave the house. But sometimes while I'm doing that, I just wanna feel like it's the (Weeknd) and I'm on my couch eating Trader Joe's cookie butter off a spoon and watching Revenge. Hands in the air, don't care. You know?

Weigh in, please.

On Jeff: "Crosby" oxford shirt by Saturdays Surf NYC; long-sleeved striped tee by Shades of Grey by Micah Cohen; slub cotton slim sweatpants by Alexander Wang; "Roshe" sneakers by Nike; field tote by Filson; leopard print five-panel cap by Publish + Reed Space; gimlet tortoise "Preston" eyeglasses by Warby Parker.

Photography by a street style photographer from TWELV Magazine.

midweSTYLE: Double down

Let's dish out another take on wearing a double-breasted jacket today, yeah? Cam brought his game with a Barena find last week, and I'm continuing with an Aspesi gem.

This is my first double-breasted jacket, let alone my first year-round + Italian designer jacket. I added in plaid shirt, thrifty slim carpenter pants, leopard-print hat and Nike Safari sneakers. So many red flags, styles clashing and seasons colliding in one outfit. But I was comfortable and in a hurry to meet up with Yewon Kim to snap some photos. Be warned when you meet up with Yewon: She's in a league of her own.

Ladies, take note of Yewon's outfits. Guys, take note of Yewon's outfits. Everyone, follow the Yewon.

Story time on the wine-stained trousers: These Levi's slim carpenter pants are favorites because of the lore behind them. A halloween-plus-birthday party was thrown at my house in Logan Square last year.  I remember neither my costume nor the song, but I swatted a wine glass out of the hands of some white girl with bangs (or rather her flailing arms swatted me.) The wine glass splattered and shattered on my computer and all over my pants. The white girl with bangs didn't skip a beat and kept on dancing. The computer spluttered out, however, and a part of me died that night. The following day, I took it to the Apple Store, where they took a look and said, "Well, we tried to turn it on, but it smelled like wine and beer. It's toast, bro." 

Let's review: My computer smells not just like "alcohol,"  but specifically, "wine and beer." Noted, Genius Bar guy. My computer smelled like booze, I GET IT.

A day later, I emptied my bank account to get a new laptop. 'Cuz Internet. A week later, I finally washed my wine-splattered carpenter pants. But the stains remain...and somewhere I think I still have that wine-logged laptop, too. 

 Photography by Yewon Kim

On Jeff: Double-breasted cotton blazer by Aspesi from Mr. Porter; checkered button-down by A.P.C.; carpenter pants by Levi's; Air Safari sneakers by Nike from St. Alfreds in Chicago; five-panel cap by Reed Space + Publish from St. Alfreds in Chicago; frames by Warby Parker.

TREND: Camo Jacket

Hop on the train of mixing prints, patterns, textures, colors and leathers. It'll probably stop soon, so let's make this trip quick, yeah?

If you've been to any vintage, thrift or resale shops lately, you can tell that camo and military jacket sare making their rounds. This was my favorite summer wear to toss over a tank or light tee. It also enabled me to haul keys, cards, cellphones, wallets, swag and the like around without cramping my shorty shorts.

Now with fall upon us, it's still a great layering piece. Think about subbing this guy in for a cardigan, or pile a down vest on over it. Comb through a thrift store to find one on the cheap, or dole out a few extra bucks at a curated resale shop to save you some time. 

• Pro Tip: If it's short or boxy or baggy, just roll the sleeves to make a hybrid, kimono-like sleeve of sorts and pretend you're chill about it because you're confident. That's what I do with most of my clothes. 'Cuz lanky arms.

On Jeff: Unstructured camo jacket ($3, thrift store) by Ranger; embroidered" University" chinos by Rugby; thrifted duo-tone "Nashua" loafers by Allen Edmonds; long-sleeve tee from Shades of Grey by Micah Cohen; railroad spike cuff by Giles & Brother; thrifted Navajo silver bracelet; "Weekender" watch by Timex; "Preston" glasses in Gimlet Tortoise by Warby Parker.

Photos by Rob Culpepper.

midweSTYLE: Whiteout

Few pieces in a man's arsenal are more divisive than white denim. 

There are two sides of the fence—and few people are actually on the fence itself. Dudes either love white denim, or they hate it. I fall on the former side, obviously. That said, I've had conversations with guys who tend to stay away from the white for fear of a painful amount of upkeep. But, perhaps there's a mental shift that needs to be had. Listen...

You guys remember when you got your new kicks at the beginning of the school year, right? As boys, we all feared that if those snow-white Converse All-Stars got a speck of playground dust on or around their perfectly pure uppers, that cute girl who sat at the desk next to you would not shoot you a second glance and all of third grade would be an ultimate failure. But, if you remember correctly, you ended up wearing those pristine kicks to a muddy kickball game a few weeks later and still managed to get playground-married to Elizabeth during recess. 

Point being: White stuff was never really meant to stay white.

I tend to treat white denim as a kind of blank canvas that's supposed to be painted. The more specks they get, the better. In fact, I want them to be pretty disgusting when it's all said and done. Am I going to try to remove stains? No. Am I even going to try to prevent them in the first place? Probably not. The dingier they get, the more character they've got. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going rub myself down with sod or intentionally dump a cup of coffee on them. But life happens.

Yes, if they start to smell bad, I'll wash them, relax.

Yes, you can wear them after Labor Day. The guy who said you couldn't was a Communist, and he didn't even own anything white.

Also, Indys in the summertime is okay, too. Maybe I should be wearing Vans or Tretorns, but I can't take these things off. 

On Cameron: "The Paulie" chambray shirt by Baldwin Denim; tri-blend tank top by American Apparel; double O-ring belt by Narragansett Leathers; "The Henley" in white by Baldwin Denim; Indy boots by Alden; "Preston" eyeglasses by Warby Parker; submariner watch by Military Watch Co.

Photography by Jarred Donalson

midweSTYLE: Desert Boots Resoled

So, after a little over two years, I wore a hole straight through the crepe sole of my Clarks desert boots. After a round of violent weeping and gnashing of teeth, I was prepared to hold a burial service, or another memorial of similar gravitas. These felt like the boots I became a man in, or something. 

While the term "essential" is egregiously overused, desert boots are one of a handful of items that actually deserve the title. They go with damn near everything, and I found myself wearing them almost every day for a year or so—a default for my feet. Thus, when they were finally unwearable, I was just short of devastated. 

Then came the decision. Do I pitch them? Buy a new pair? Do I spring for a resole? WHAT DO I DO NOW?

What it really came down to was whether I should re-support Clarks, who was probably going to just fine if I didn't, or whether I should put money toward a local cobbler to hook me up with a new sole. 

In that light, the answer made itself abundantly clear. 

Tucked away in the shadows of the Francis Quadrangle's infamous columns, on 8th Street in Columbia, Missouri, sits a little shop called Dawson's Shoe Repair. I had walked by countless times, never giving the unassuming brick storefront a second thought—that is, until I wore a hole in the sole of one of my most beloved possessions. 

Inside, I was greeted by a friendly man named Bob who took my Clarks, offered me a slew of resoling options, and promised to do his best with the monster ripple soles I had chosen. Bob, who has worked at Dawson's since he completed his service in the Air Force in 1971, made quick work of my order and after a few days, I had fallen back in love with my old, worn-out desert boots. When it was all said and done, the price tag came to $75 to have my well-loved boots resurrected with a patina and sole that I don't think you'll find anywhere else. Compare that to the $100 I might have spent on a pair of new boots, and I'd say I came out with the better end of the deal.

The only task left is to find a fitting nickname. Suggestions welcome.

On Cameron: "The Henley" in California wash by Baldwin Denim; green waffle henley by Old Navy; striped shirt by Steven Alan; submariner watch by Military Watch Co.; whiskey tortoise "Preston" eyeglasses by Warby Parker; desert boots by Clarks, resole by Bob Wood at Dawson's Shoe Repair. 

Photography by Jarred Donalson.

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!

ESSENTIALS: The denim jacket

You loved your denim jacket in elementary school.

Perhaps even in that grungy '90s phase you went through (because you had an older brother who lived in the basement constantly blasting Nirvana and claiming to be misunderstood for wearing a ball-chain necklace and JNCOs.) 

Ok, maybe your older brother wasn't the sartorially suave guy you thought he was in hindsight.

Regardless, he wore a denim jacket. As did all of your other favorite (read: terribly awesome) '90s stars as well as the badasses from years ago. It's a classic and worth your wardrobe investment.

Rekindle with your beloved hand-me-down again—or throw down the dough for a classic that lasts. Denim jackets are making the rounds again these days on street style blogs and fall runway presentations. Of course, this is nothing new for you denim jacket veterans who've had a tried-and-true jacket to show for it (looking at you, Brad).

BUT: If you're new to the world of denim jackets, opt for a blue then go for a black or grey next. Don't start with a nearly-cropped bleached denim jacket like I did.

Top: "The Indigo" jacket by Gant Rugger ($248 at Park & Bond); slim-fit washed denim jacket by Nudie Jeans ($286 at Mr. Porter); raw denim jacket by Jean Shop, ($280 at Mr. Porter)
Bottom: slim fit "Commuter" trucker jacket by Levi's, $128 (Levi's); slim fit "2 Year Anniversary Wash" by Spurr, $275 (Scoop); bleacher light slim fit trucker jacket by Levi's, $78 (Levi's)

You'll notice that some of our picks (except that Levi's swag) are a little pricey. If you've got the cash and think this is something you want to splurge on, go for it. But if you're looking for a way to recreate a similar look on the cheap, here are some other resources for denim jackets:

• Urban Outfitters has a nice, budget-friendly denim jacket.
• Search on eBay, Etsy or through your local Goodwill or Salvation Army.
• Raid your friend's closet or your dad's packed-up boxes in the attic.

On Jeff: slim-fit "2-year vintage wash" jacket by Spurr; chambray club-collar shirt by Lands' End Canvas; "Davis" pineapple chinos by Club Monaco; desert boots by Clarks; "Preston" frames in Gimlet Tortoise by Warby Parker.

Photography by John Stoffer. Drinks at Longman are on us, sir.

midweSTYLE: Bridge

REAL TALK: I rarely have a very good reason to wear a tie. Honestly, events that necessitate ties in my life are few and far between. I mean, outside of the occasional wedding or sorority formal, opportunities to appropriately don neckwear are fairly infrequent. That means that when I wear them, it's typically for no reason at all. I'm not going to the office, I'm just going to class. If Mizzou were a little more Ivy, that may be normal. But in a place where T-shirts and sweatpants reign supreme, I figure most people just assume I'm a professor.

Now, switching gears, the comment we tend to get most when it comes to buying from thrift stores or vintage resale shops goes something like this: "I just don't have the patience to sift through all the inevitable crap to find what I'm actually looking for." While thrifting often leaves you frustrated and empty handed, I think I've come to realize why I genuinely enjoy it to the degree that I do. The prices are obviously the biggest draw, yes, but there are secondary elements to the thrift store experience that make it something that is, while tedious at times, still very worth while. For me, I love that it harkens back to a time when United States manufacturing was still king, before outsourcing apparel construction became the new black. There's something strangely satisfying about putting on a piece of clothing whose tag reads, "Made in the U.S.A." You guys know what I'm talking about, right?

LASTLY: Sorry for going YouTube crazy. Also, we're a handful of followers short of four digits on Twitter. Lets do this, team.

On Cameron: Blue oxford (thrifted, $2) made in the U.S.A. by Arrow Brigade, 15.5 neck; striped tie (gift from a lovely woman) by Kincora Irish Tweeds; brass tie bar (thrifted, $2); woven belt (thrifted, $4); chinos (UO, sale $10) by Dockers, size 31; desert boots (Christmas gift '09) by Clarks, size 10; "Preston" eyeglasses (online, $95) by Warby Parker; rope bracelet (homemade).

Photography by Jarred Donalson

THRIFTY THURSDAY: Made In Italy

It's boots like these that will forever have me preaching the eBay gospel, ladies and gentlemen. Is it too early for boots? Perhaps. But when I saw these bad boys on eBay while doing some pre-fall bargain hunting, I had to pull the proverbial trigger (get it?). After all, for the price of about four Chipotle burritos (and I'm talking steak burritos here, or barbacoa, depending on my mood) plus shipping, how could I go wrong? You're right, I couldn't. Now, I'm sure all of you calculus teachers out there have done the mental math, but for those that haven't, the purchase came out to a little over $30, shipped. That's, like, ¥2400 for all ya'll in Japan!

Not bad for some vintage cap toe Cable and Co. work boots, handcrafted in Italy. They're used, weathered, and scuffed, which only adds to their appeal. Those contrasting brown suede panels on the uppers are pretty out of the ordinary. Plus, those who are weary of workwear are shifting toward the Italian influence, right? BUT WAIT! You forgot about - *dun dun dun!* - Italian workwear.

#menswearsatire

On Cameron: thrifted s/s madras shirt (Wild Man Vintage, $7) by Royal Knight, size medium; grey chinos (J. Crew, $65) by J. Crew, size 31; "Preston" eyeglasses (online, $95) by Warby Parker; cap toe work boots (eBay, $30 shipped) by Cable and Company, size 10

Photos by Jarred Donalson

midweSTYLE: Lost

Some of you are probably thinking, "Who is this guy again?" After all, it must feel like you haven't seen me in a month of Sundays. Where have I been, you ask? Long story short, I spent about four weeks in the smokey hills of North Carolina, making new lifelong friends and perusing the city of Asheville in a 12 passenger van. It was an incredible joy, but I'm also pumped to be back in Kansas City, at the Midwestyle office. And no, that doesn't actually exist. Or does it?

FIRST THINGS FIRST: The newest additions to my closet are a few Gitman Vintage shirts that I scored at a freshly opened Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th at Legends Outlets in Kansas City, Kansas. With the combination of some opening-event special discounts and a few other tricks, I ended up scoring two for about a hundred dollars. Considering they both retail for around $165 per, it felt like Christmas. Or my birthday. Or like I was stealing something.

My favorite part about wearing or using something over and over again is to see how well it ages. My Vans, Baldwin Denim, and Duluth Pack are all developing their own characteristics that make putting them on or throwing it over my shoulder a different experience week to week, month to month. I love products that have the quality and longevity to take on a distinct life of their own (note: those are also the products I'm also willing to shell out more cash for). Sorry mom, I know I should be saving, or something like that (note #2: my mom reads the Midwestyle religiously. You da best, mom!).

In other, unrelated news, I lost my Timex and Corter for Japan bracelet somewhere in the state of North Carolina. That said, I find myself in between watches and without any leather on my wrist, the feeling of which, I must say, I had grown quite fond of. The search has begun for replacements. Like this. And this. More suggestions are welcome.

LASTLY: Because I feel like things are meant to be shared.

On Cameron: Kurabo 77's (Standard Style, $198) by Baldwin Denim, size 31; s/s madras shirt (Saks OFF 5th @ Legends Outlets, over 50 percent off) by Gitman Vintage, size medium; Authentics (online, $40) by Vans, size 10; "Preston" eyeglasses (online, $95) by Warby Parker; waxed canvas "Wanderer" backpack (online, $215) by Duluth Pack; ratty woven belt (thrifted, $4)

Photos by my good friend Jarred Donalson

Thrifty Thursday: White Linen Blazer

Yeah, we know. Two blazer posts in one week? Two posts of Cam in one week? Two posts of Cam in a blazer in one week? Maybe a little excessive. But thanks to the weather, we won't be able to feature these much longer (fingers crossed). The relevant detail to this particular post is the white linen blazer he snagged from a thrift store for about three George Washingtons. You read that correctly: $3.

The point here isn't necessarily to show off cool clothes. It's to demonstrate that workable style is doable on the cheap. After some very unscientific price-guessing, I'll estimate that if purchased new, this whole outfit would push $775 retail. But what you see here cost less than $265. Plus, you're not spending those numbers every single time you put on a set of clothes. Each piece of the pie can be mixed and matched with the other items in your wardrobe. Which allows you invest in the glasses, the boots, etc.—the stuff Cam's wearing with several different outfit combinations.

By far, the biggest savings are coming from the jacket. Three dollars compared to the $150, $200, $300 you could expect to drop for a nice blazer? No contest. As long as you've got an idea of 1) what you need and 2) what looks good, you can find some great bargains at thrift stores. Of course, be prepared to not find anything, either. Only pull the trigger if it's got a place in your closet.

Linen blazer (thrifted, $3) size 36; J. Crew broken-in chinos (retail, $60), size 31; brogue boots (Urban, $80), size 10; vintage, U.S.-made oxford (eBay, $10) by Gant, size 14.5-33; black cardigan (thrifted from Jeff's closet) by Merona, small; tartan tie (outlet, $15) by J.Crew; Preston eyeglasses (warbyparker.com, $95) by Warby Parker.

Photos by Bethany Jones.

midweSTYLE: Mocha blazer on the rocks

Correction (2:55 p.m.): In the initial version of this post, we forgot to credit our very gracious photographer, Bethany Jones. Thanks so much for helping us, Bethany—when you come to Chi this summer, the vino and/or Guinness is on us.

While my blogging brethren reside in the wonderfully windy city of Chicago, I enjoy the pleasure of calling Columbia, Mo., my temporary home as I pitter-patter my way through four years of the dream-world experience that is modern day higher education. Columbia is a lovely place for a million different reasons, but one thing that's not high on that list is natural scenery. But after being cramped up in your favorite local coffee shop (see: Kaldi's), studying your ass off for the huge exam in that class you never actually attended because you swore to yourself you'd just read the book and get notes from that guy who you did that group project with earlier in the semester, you're gonna need some fresh air, and lots of it. Enter Capen Park/Mulch Site. It has mulch for taking and rocks for climbing—what more could you ask for? You're right, nothing.

Winter's still got her foot in the door here in Missouri, which means I still have an excuse to wear blazers without people on campus thinking I transferred in from the SEC. This thrifted beauty fits well almost everywhere but the arms, which could use a nice visit to the tailor. I'm working on that.

Also, I tend to opt for boots when wearing jackets. Why? I don't really know. Maybe it's because my high school mascot was a lumberjack. Maybe it's because I misplaced my favorite longwings. Or maybe it's because when I'm not blowing out my pocket fades or doing squats to make my honeycombs explode, I'm usually out climbing rock faces in blazers and tie bars. I know you sensed the sarcasm.

"The 77" dry 14-ounce Kurabo fabric, two and a half months (Standard Style, $200) by Baldwin Denim, size 31; mocha blazer (thrifted, $20), size 38; blue and pink polka dot tie (my old man's closet, free); old leather belt (my old man's closet, free); dark tortoise "Preston" eyeglasses (online, $95) by Warby Parker; coral oxford (retail, $50) by American Apparel, medium; thrifted work boots (borrowed from our dear friend Travis Craig, $9), military watch (eBay, $18) by Rothco.

Photos by Bethany Jones.