Happy 4th of July

As an old retail guy, I have a tendency to be something of a curmudgeon about most holidays, as they usually mean a lot of extra work malling sure everyone one else, most of whom have the day off, have an especially good time at all the celebrations I won't be attending, because I have to work. However, I do like to indulge in a whiff of the festive dress. The trick is to keep things civilized, and as understated as possible. Red and white braces on a blue and white shirt are kept in place with a navy tie bearing club crests rather than stars. Khakis, a navy blazer, and brown tassels hold it down. Keep the American flag tie and red,white, and blue afro clown wig at home. Please.

In celebration of the Fourth, An Affordable Wardrobe will be hosting a sale. Now through midnight Sunday, 6 July, enjoy 20% off your entire purchase in our webstore using discount code 4JULY2014 at checkout. This offer also applies in our "brick and mortar", located at 249 Elm Street in Davis Square, Somerville, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Saturday, 5 July, where we will be keeping extended hours, 10 am until 5 pm. (with perhaps a brief midday closure for lunch). Hope to see you there.

Rugged Enough

As you may know, I am a Massachusetts native, born and bred. I love it here, for any number of reasons. Obviously, given that this blog deals mainly with my love (obsession) for traditional menswear and my proclivity to buy it as cheaply as possible, the Bay State has a lot of thrift stores and an inordinately high proliferation of old Brooks Brothers, J. Press and the attendant British goods. Also, I happen to hold the increasingly unpopular opinion that Winter is fun, and we still have it here. Cold may cause some minor discomfort, but we all know that the clothes are so much better this time of year. Of course, the very best reasons to live here, the important ones, have nothing to do with clothes.

The greater Boston is unique in that one can enjoy the full experience of life in the city and all the culture that offers, and still be at the sea or in the woods anytime in less than half an hour. When you need a rugged fix, it's just around the corner. The view above was taken in the Middlesex Fells Reservation, ten minutes by car from my house. Last week, the kids had an extra day off from school, and we spent a perfect New England afternoon there, chilly, but with the sun high and bright.

We hiked up to Wright's Tower, which offers a spectacular view of Boston. The trail is just tough enough for little kids to feel like real woodsmen, and easy enough for Daddy to deal with comfortably. In other parts of the reservation are a collection of ponds to explore.

We packed a picnic lunch, the standard fare for the kids: peanut butter sandwiches, apples, CheezIts, and juice boxes. For Daddy, Jamon Serrano, Piave, Taleggio,  an apple and some (ahem) "grape juice".

I may rail about the rise of the "Urban Lumberjack", but at least I have a somewhat appropriate place for my Bean Boots, Levi's, and Opinel pocket knife. Here we see them all together, "in the wild". (this photo looks like it belongs over at 10engines)

After lunch, we tried some of the more hidden trails. The kids collected leaves, sticks, and rocks...the usual stuff. I'm not much of an outdoors type, but this place is too beautiful. I can come get my camping fix, and still go home to cook a nice meal and sleep in a bed. Perfect. 

And now that the kids are old enough to trust with the camera, I actually get to be in some of the pictures.

Middlesex Fells may not be the deep deep woods, and if you're a real outdoors adventure type you might find it boring. But it does offer a great and welcome escape for a city dweller, even if only for an afternoon. It's just rugged enough.

p.s. new stuff in the Shop, including the first batch of a consignment for none other than Newton Street Vintage. Click the AAWx NSV tab to view the collection.

Country Is Where You Find It

Seems I always find myself writing something about what used to be known as country clothing right about now. After all, the weather has just turned crisp and being a clothes nerd, my attention immediately turns to corduroy, tweed and flannel.

I may be a city kid, but I do ocassionally find myself in places that look like this, especially on Monday holidays when the kids have the day off.

Parlee Farms in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, just shy of the New Hampshire border, may not be the most rustic farm in the world, but it's a great place to take your kids to pick apples, feed the goats and generally run around with millions of other city kids whose parents have taken them out for some fun in the fresh air of New England. And they have hot apple cider doughnuts and pumpkin muffins. No such thing as too many of those.

This being ostensibly a shallow clothing blog, let me profer that 8 wale cords, an oxford shirt, and down filled nylon vest are perfect attire for catching a three year old girl in flight at the hay maze. A vintage cap in Donegal tweed and honey brown pebble grain bluchers finsih the job. You didn't think I was going to suggest a tweed suit with plus fours, did you.? I'm not, despite what many may think, that crazy. I do like to look like a grown-up, but I don't want to be a stiff, though I am fully aware that as the only man there in shoes (not sneakers) with his shirt tucked in, I'm the modern definiton of just that. So be it.

Dressing for Fall is all about utilizing the colors of the season. Rust, gold and brown blend in seamlessly with a setting of dirt paths, turning trees, and a newly acquired giant pumpkin which now graces the entrance to our city dwelling.

I may never go on a duck hunt in the English countryside, but it's no matter. Country is where you find it.



Gossamer

I have a mild addiction to blazers with brass buttons. My current collection numbers five, the most recent of which, and most recent favorite, is this number:

True to my own style, a perfect hybrid of "preppy" and British details...or rather, a more accurate truly "preppy" garment.Two button undarted front, three button cuffs, center vent, flap pockets, no shoulder padding.

By good old high holy Southwick of Massachusetts...

...in a very loosely woven hopsack, loose and unstructured...

...so loose as to be absolutely gossamer when held up to the light...

...but not so loose as to not look like tailored clothes on a warm day. The perfect Summer jacket? No doubt in my mind. $5.99 well spent.