Moja Krasna, I love you.

Panama Hat from J. Press

If you're not familiar with J. Press you may just be a communist. J. Press is the consummate American clothing brand, they make straight ahead, mom and apple pie sack suits in the best American tradition. J. Press wearers look down on Brooks Brothers fan as subversive hippies. What is surprising about J. Press is just how amazing their accessories are, as traditional and staid as there suiting are is as fun as their accessories can be.

Today's selection is the J. Press Panama hat. Made of Ecuadoran straw like a proper Panama hat should be.

$125.00 From J. Press online.

There are a few things that make me want to support a new label-

1: A great product;
2: Small, and locally owned;
3: Contributes something back;

FIGS seems to have all three of these covered which is a pretty rare occurance these days. I know there has been a lot of tie talk here recently but it is hard to go wrong with a great tie. FIGS not only makes great ties, but according to FIGS: "With every tie purchase, FIGS gives a uniform to a child in order for them to attend school.

For every FIGS tie or bow tie you buy, a uniform is given to a child in order for them to attend school. We will start in Eastern Africa, specifically in 105 schools within Kenya and Tanzania. We hope to soon provide uniforms to children all across the world so that they can get the education they so rightly deserve, one tie at a time."

Since we've already established FIGS has a noble cause let's take a look at the products. They offer a variety of ties; silk, woolen, and mixed, as well as bow ties for those of you daring enough to wear a bowtie. I'm partial to the fine wool Churchill Royal Tartan 11oz model. These are rather on the thin side being 2.63", but would work great with a tweed jacket or more casually with a cardigan and jeans. Throw on the Wittengstein boots mentioned earlier and you are good to go.

Churchill Royal Tartan Tie from FIGS $125.00

Seiko Spirit

If you think of Seiko's simply as relatively cheap watches you are missing out on a world of amazing watches. Most of the more interesting Seiko watches are available in Japan only or on the grey market. There is though a reputable alternative, Seiya Japan.

Seiya Japan sells Japanese Seikos to the American buyer directly. My personal favorite is the Seiko Spirit Power Design Project, which lists for $487

SEIKO SPIRIT by power design project SBPP001

* Listed price: 52,500JPY
* Japan Movement, Assembly in China
* Case: SS
* Lumi Hands & Index
* Dial: Black
* Crystal: Hardlex curved crystal
* Diameter: 40 mm without the crown
* Thickness: 10.9 mm
* Weight: 103 g
* Movement: 7T62
* Accuracy: +15/-15 sec/month
* 5 ATM water resistance
* 3 years life battery
* Instruction
* International warranty
* This price is including S/H all over the world

Chambray on the Cheap

From one of my favorite blogs Satorially Inclined, by way of GQ featured a $25 dollar Chambray short. This is the best deal on a Chambray shirt I have seen in a long while.

Availble from Target in either blue or grey. I think I'll get both.

Indian Madras

It was a balmy 80 degrees out today I can't help but think that summer is right around the corner. Last year it was seersucker shirts from Brooks Brothers, this year it's Madras, specifically Indian Madras.

Madras is, from the Veritas Image blog, described thusly:

Madras is a fine lightweight fabric with a colorful woven pattern. Generally made from cotton, it's used primarily for summer clothing.

The fabric takes its eponymous name from its Indian birthplace, Madras, a city established by the British in the 17th century. Located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal in southeast India, Madras was officially renamed to Chennai in 1996, and is the state capital of Tamil Nadu, currently the fifth most populous city in India.

You can see how a country in one of the world's hottest climates knows a thing or two about summer dressing. In India, madras is also referred to as "60/40" cloth, representing the thread count: 60 threads running lengthwise (called "warp") and 40 crosswise (called "weft"). This has apparently been determined to be the perfect ratio for optimal lightness and strength, helping the fabric breathe yet remain strong - an ideal fabric for the intense summer heat of India and everywhere else without air conditioning.

Land's End has a great piece on the making of Indian Madras, from there 1989 catalogue. The gold standard for traditional madras is vegetable dyed fabric made in India, though this is seen less and less.

Here, in no particular order is some madras to ponder for the coming summer wear.

Viyella Summer Madras for $67.50



J.Crew for 69.50



Land's End for $29.50

O'Connell's Patch Madras Hat for $45.00

Kent Wang Knit Ties

Kent Wang Knit Ties

Yesterday we looked at the grenadine ties from Sam Hober, today we turn our attention to Texas based Kent Wang. Kent Wang is primarily known as a purveyor of quality pocket squares and cuff links, but he's now also offering shirts, scarves, socks and ties. One of the most interesting items he has is his bicolor knit tie. I've seen similar ties as these go for $200, I've heard a rumor that these more expensive ties are from the same mill in Italy that produce Kent Wang ties sold for substantially less.

Here is Kent's description of these ties:

"Two different colored yarn knitted together to produce a wonderful color that changes depending on the angle".

These ties are available for $75 from Kentwang.com