The Obtainer - 3/15/24, Friday
↦ Dress for Unpredictability
Friday, March 15th Edition
Spring is (nearly?) here, right? Just when you think it’s around the corner, you get a shot of cold pushing you back. It’s time for some transitional weather essentials.
- Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief ⋯ @coryohlendorf
What We’re Wearing
Transitional Spring Weather
Spring is a season all about new beginnings and rejuvenation. The days are getting longer and the temperature is warming up as the natural world around us wakes up after a long, dark and cold winter. Of course, this transition isn't always predictable. In fact, dressing for the mercurial climates of late March and early April can be tricky. You know those cold-to-hot-to-cold days of springtime, punctuated with drizzling rain or wind chockfull of pollen and other allergens. For all the poetic rebirth, it can get downright nasty sometimes. But we still want to get outside, right? So how do you handle such dubious meteorological scenarios? By pulling on a few smart, stylish and altogether versatile layering pieces.They're the kind of pieces that mix and match with much of what you already own. They also make killer travel essentials. Like a washed cotton rugby shirt and some durable yet comfortable work pants. Or a hybrid blazer/chore jacket that's cut from a crisp cotton that works like a sophisticated windbreaker. We suggest finishing off the look with some new sneakers, a pair of polarized shades and maybe even a bandana in case those allergies flare up.
Your Transitional Dressing Kit
Clockwise, from top left:
Rugby shirt, $128 by Taylor StitchNilas work jacket, $430 by Norse ProjectsBase Camp tote, $89 by The North FaceVintage bandana, $32 / $24.95 at STAGNucleus polarized sunglasses, $49 by AireLoose workwear pant, $80 by Abercrombie & FitchMerino activity socks, $22 by American TrenchMade in USA 990v6 sneaker, $200 by New Balance
Making the Case for …
An Easy Electric Toothbrush
I take my oral care pretty seriously. I floss after each meal and brush four times a day. A clean mouth is a happy mouth, right? Which is why I’ve experimented with a handful of powered toothbrushes over the years. I dabbled with the bulky early-model electric toothbrushes and most recently used the DTC brand Quip. But I wasn’t sure if it was doing enough and even my dentist said that the sleek design was maybe a little too minimal and questioned if it was truly powerful enough to do the job.
So when my Quip finally died a few months back, I replaced it with the Philips One by Sonicare that I’d seen before and Valet. had written about in the past. It’s got a similar streamlined design to the Quip, but it’s made by a brand that dentists have long recommended. It’s available in four colors, including a gentlemanly navy blue. Plus, it comes with a rugged and ergonomic carrying case. Like the rest of the Sonicare products, it has the same strength and technology that dentists approved of in the past: contoured bristles and micro-vibrations work diligently to remove plaque and debris from your teeth, especially hard-to-reach places. The uncomplicated design only has one setting, but it also has a two-minute timer split into four 30-second sections to tackle each quadrant of your mouth. When it shuts down, you know that you’ve successfully cleaned and polished your teeth.
It comes in two forms, depending on your preference in power. A simple, battery-powered option that uses one (included) AAA battery or a rechargeable model that ships with a slim USB charging cable. Each can be powered for about two months on a single charge—even if you’re a power user like me.
Sonicare One electric toothbrush,$24.96 by Philips
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
Madewell is hosting an “Insiders Event”, which means you need to sign-up with their site but then you’ll get 25% off anything sitewide, like this garment-dyed work shirt.
$98 / $73.50by Madewell
There’s a reason why so many people swear by these cushy recovery slides: the patented footbed supports arches to reduce energy exertion in the ankles by up to 47%.
$69.95 / $55.95by OOFOS
Right now, you can grab several of Patagonia’s legendary lightweight Synchilla fleece pullovers at REI Co-Op for about half off. It’s rare to find them this low, so take advantage.
$139 / $68.83by Patagonia
The three best stories from around the web.
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You will likely come across at least one site offering bottles priced far below the competition. This should be a major red flag.”
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While there is no cut-and-dry answer, there are a few factors that contribute to the overall cost, including craftsmanship, ethical working conditions, materials used, and brand value.”
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The second floor might turn out to be the flagship’s most interesting feature—designed to act as a creative hub of sorts, housing a library of photography books curated by Todd Hido as well as a photo studio.”
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Eternal City Moments. Rome, Italy.
March 13
