Issue #9 | Walking Blanket
Wardrobe favorites, Rocky Mountain Featherbed, a menswear podcast, and Lou Adler’s courtside fits
Greetings, Front of Book readers:
I’m still trying to hold it together after a martini-fueled Christmas party for the cultural event I co-host, The Night Editor. So forgive me if this week’s newsletter is a little… bleary-eyed.
1. Wardrobe Favorites, Part 1
I did my first Front of Book photo shoot last weekend, with five different looks featuring some of my favorite wardrobe items. Despite my paralyzing discomfort in front of the camera, it was fun to be a model for a day. I’ll roll out the photos over the next few weeks, but here’s the first series.
This outfit is a Sunday afternoon “walking blanket” look. Head-to-toe comfort. I’ve mentioned the cord topcoat before—it’s from Drake’s and is one of my most prized sartorial possessions. I’ll be handing that one down to my kids one day.
The easy pants are ts(s), which I bought on sale last year from No Man Walks Alone. ts(s) was founded by former creative director and fashion magazine editor Takuji Suzuki. He’s obsessed with fabrics, and each season’s collection features 15-20 original fabrics. These jogger style pants are a PolyCotton Fleece blend and they are almost supernaturally soft.
December weather means Irish fisherman sweaters, and this one is from Freeman’s Sporting Club (RIP), one of my favorite New York stores that died during the pandemic.
The hat is Kith New Era New York Mets Low Crown Fitted Cap, which, unlike regular New Era caps, is made with 100% wool. The glasses are from the small L.A. brand Tart Optical, which I learned about from Jason Sudeikis via GQ.
Tote: Alex Mill
Beanie: Uniqlo
Socks: Rototo
Shoes: Vans
2. Blackstock & Weber x Rocky Mountain Featherbed
This collaboration between Brooklyn-based loafer and lifestyle brand Blackstock & Weber and Rocky Mountain Featherbed is dropping Friday at noon and looks awesome.
Rocky Mountain Featherbed is an interesting brand. It was founded in the 1960s in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, but is now owned by a Dutch company (as far as I can tell) and made in Japan. They also have an ongoing collaboration with Drake’s. There’s something about the design—the leather yoke, the colors—that for me evokes growing up in northern Saskatchewan. I can almost smell the pine and feel the chill of fresh snow.
3. Front of Book Recommends: The DieWorkwear! Podcast
Most fashion guys know about the Blamo! podcast. Now under the Blamo! umbrella is a new series, Die, Workwear!, with Derek Guy, a longtime menswear writer and creator of a blog of the same name. In the pod, he chats with with Peter Zottolo, who is a San Francisco electrician by day and a dapper man about town by night. DieWorkwear! is a breezy, insightful listen, with tips on elevated fashion and interviews with the people making it happen.
4. Reader Question: Where Can I Get a Nice Winter Beanie?
An FOB reader asked for advice on where to get a good winter beanie. As it happens, I’ve been looking for a rich green hat like the one Christian Bale is wearing above. That one is from Begg x Co., but who wants to pay $275 for a hat?
It’s nice to have several beanies—or as we call them in Canada, toques—to go with different outfits and incorporate color. It’s also something you really don’t have to spend a lot of money on. I’ve probably bought a half-dozen over the years from Front General Store, which I mentioned last week. The shop has both wool and acrylic watch caps in a ton of colors for $15 or less.
Uniqlo is also a good option for inexpensive beanies/toques in different colors and patterns, and Madewell Men’s has some nice one for $35.
If you want to splurge, cashmere beanies are soft, warm, breathable. They run $98 at Alex Mill, with plenty of popping colors, and I also like these offerings from Naadam.
5. Weekly Inspiration: Lou Adler’s Courtside Fits
You might have to be a legendary record producer to pull off these outfits, but damn, Lou Adler is sporting some killer looks to Lakers games these days. The 90-year-old is going toe-to-toe with LeBron! Click on the League Fits slideshow to see more.
That’s all for this week. See you next Friday for the last post of 2023.
Mitch
Question? Comment? Suggestion? Caught a typo? Email me at mitch.moxley@gmail.com
Photos up top by Tiong Photo.
But nobody beats The King.