SOLUTIONS: Warped Belts

Stop me if you've heard this one.

I've had this old belt since 2003 when I encountered the double-hole model for the first time and thought it was so cool that I wore it every day to keep my baggy, boot-cut jeans up while I worked on the farm. There's a sharp bend in the leather because every time I've worn it in the past eight years, I've sent it through my belt loops on the left side. Creature of habit, I guess.

Maybe it's because I never spent much time thinking about waist-cinching tips, but I had a facepalm moment the other day when a guy told me he's got an eye-rollingly simple solution for belts that bow and warp: Alternate which side you send through your belt loops. If you usually go left to right, flip the belt over and thread it right to left every other wear.

A basic fix, to be sure. But sometimes you don't think about the most minor problems. Although, perhaps this "problem" doesn't need solving at all. Thoughts, gentlemen and ladies?

Things Organized Neatly: Winter to Spring

Spring? Oh yeah, it should be here by now.
But it's not.
Welcome to Midwest weather.

How does one make it by, yearning for spring but still in the cold?
These are my digs that I've pleased to be incorporating into my wardrobe. It can be 40s in the morning but then hike up to 60s in the afternoon. So I'm prepared with a great mid-weight, unlined jacket and a mid-weight pant. Throwing in a madras tie beckons spring, so try that, too. And if you're still cold when the sun sets, end your evening with a night cap.

Slim straight leg, front cargo pocket mushroom pants (retail, sale $20, reg. $68) by Levi's, 30x34; short-sleeve button down (Standard Style, sale $50 reg. $140) by Apolis Activism, small; graphed "Balsam Fir" notebook (Renegade Handmade, three for $10) by Field Notes; brown leather belt with brass hardware (sale $4.99) by J.Crew, size 32; unlined brown canvas utility jacket (Michigan Avenue Levi's, sale $32 [$44 - 30% sale] reg. $198) by Levi's, small; plaid tie (thrifted, $1); bottle of Knob Creek (refrigerator) courtesy of my roommate's wallet, size weekend.

Photo by Seth Putnam.

Thrifty Thursday: Steven Alan Parka

Granted, this is a small stretch on the word thrifty. This jacket, as it were, cost me $70. Keep in mind, however, that it retailed at $400. So, getting a $400 Steven Alan hiking parka at 83% off, we register that as thrifty. More accurately, we call it being a boss. A bargain boss. We gave you folks a quick heads up on these a few months back when eDrop-Off listed a few of these bad boys on eBay. Turns out, I couldn't quite turn down the price myself.

A lot of you are probably thinking, "Wow, that's an awfully bright orange." Or maybe it's closer to, "Man, I really hate that color." Either way, if you're thinking one of those two, I've accomplished my goal. If fitting in was my jam, I'd go buy a jet-black North Face like everybody else in the Western Hemisphere. An orange piece of outerwear, on the other hand, makes you react. Orange evokes emotion. And I like emotions, because I'm an emotional guy... okay, that backfired.

"The 77" dry 14-ounce Kurabo fabric (Standard Style, $200) by Baldwin Denim, size 31; madras button-down (eBay, sale $15; reg. $65) by J. Crew, medium; hiking parka (eBay, sale $70; reg. $400) by Steven Alan, small.

Photos by Jarred Donalson.

midweSTYLE: Tee time

Because I had to make some tough sartorial decisions for the advancement of my manhood, I decided to leave all of my pashminas and scarves back in Kansas City. So like any older brother would do, I bestowed those gifts on my younger sister, because let's be honest: Most of these scarves had some kind floral pattern or brocade print on them that could have easily passed as something you would get from XXI, not the antique stores, swap meets and coastal vendors like where I had originally acquired them.

I thought, I'm moving to a big city. I'm not a dirty, liberal-arts undergrad who spends his days engaged in philosophical debate, chain-smoking Parliaments outside of Kaldis or killing pitchers of Fat Tire at Shakespeares anymore! No more scarves! No more chain-smoking! And certainly no more deep V-necks!

So I did—I left my beloved scarf collection back home for my sisters to adorn themselves.

But then I forgot how much I dig a scarf around my neck. Hetero-normative masculine sartorial presuppositions aside, I like scarves. And you know what, that's okay.

What are you thoughts on the scarves? Rather, scarves with ties?

I snagged this feather suede LANVIN Paris blazer at Seek Vintage on Chicago, just west of downtown. I was surprised and relieved to finally find a "vintage" store that actually had vintage apparel that was well-curated. Unlike other locations that heaping mounds of shit under the notion of the place being a "vintage" retailer, Seek Vintage curates housewares, apparel, accessories and a cornucopia of goods from all over the world. The staff is friendly, and the store is thoughtfully merchandised. I've visited a handful of times already and still have yet to walk away empty handed. I like this place.

Camel-colored suede blazer (Seek Vintage, $15) by LANVIN Paris, size 38; green-striped, button-down oxford (eBay, $18) by Gitman Bros., medium; "The Henley" 11.5-ounce dry selvage (Standard Style, $198) by Baldwin Denim, size 28; brown leather "Wallabees" (Cargo Largo, sale $40; reg. $120) by Clarks, size 11; plaid tie (thrifted, $1); golf club tie bar (thrifted, $3); coral wool scarf courtesy of rag & bone; red replacement shoelaces (J.Crew, $2); ex-roommate's dad's friend's brown leather briefcase (gift!).

Photos by Seth Putnam.

SALE: Patagonia at Urban Outfitters

When I first moved to Chicago, Seth was kind enough to let me crash in his igloo apartment until I found a place of my own. We had many a great times watching Arrested Development, shivering and chattering our teeth into slumber, getting Niko'd, meeting Peter Gallagher, starting fires in the corner to keep warm, shenanigans in Wicker Park, getting drinks at Violet Hour, '90s hip-hop dance parties at the Whistler, losing a finger to frostbite, and day drinking.

It was so chill great to live with Seth for two weeks—and I wanted to share with you what enabled me to survive enjoy my stay. This is what I wore to survive in the refrigerator apartment, and it's on sale for a steal of a price.

Patagonia Down Sweater sale $119, reg $200

And this is what I wish I had whenever I was just wearing a t-shirt in Seth's ice chest apartment:

Patagonia Down Vest sale $99, reg $150

Plus, obnoxious colors/detailing are always grade-A in my book.