The Obtainer - 5/29/24, Wednesday
Cory Ohlendorf
May 29, 2024
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Style Strategies
Matt Hranek
How do you sum up a guy like Matt Hranek? He does a lot, makes it look easy and does it all while dressed to kill. He's known for his impeccable taste. In fact, he literally wrote the book (well, books) on everything from the classic Negroni and Martini, to the beautiful cars and watches of legendary men.
He's also the founder of the Wm Brown Project, which puts out a beautiful magazine that celebrates men like Hranek. “The guy who loves well-crafted and well-tailored things, simple food, a good story, an off-the-beaten path trip, a good hunt, a trout stream, European sports cars, pickup trucks, a well-made cocktail, or an unapologetic can of cheap lager beer,” he says. “These are some of the specifics that have begun to define what Wm Brown has become.”
We've been wanting to chat with him for this series for a while, as I knew he'd have some interesting thoughts on acquiring goods, the luxuries worth splurging on and smart ways to spend your money. He just teamed up with the British heritage label Sunspel to recreate his favorite long-sleeve version of the brand's Riviera polo shirt in three classic colorways. We caught up with him while in Rome to talk about buying quality goods, but never overpaying for hype.
Three favorite brands, currently? It's an ever-evolving list, but right now, it of course includes Sunspel. Other regular favorites are Ralph Lauren Polo, Budd shirts and New & Lingwood.
Something you’re looking to buy at the moment? The only thing I actively fantasy shop around for are cars and living in Rome has had me set my sights on an early Fiat 500.
Do you shop more online or in person? Ideally I shop in person where I can touch things and try on items if possible. I also like the contact and engagement with sales people. I will buy things like deodorant online. What city has the best shopping? This is hard question. I like shopping in many cities for different reasons. I really like Madrid for vintage furniture, Rome for one-off wardrobe items like pajamas and socks, Paris is great for the flea market finds and New York is one-stop shopping for my bespoke stuff like suiting.  $688 by Alden Necessary extravagance? Alden snuff suede loafers. Worth every penny. What’s something you simply refuse to spend a lot on? I spend a lot of time in Italy where a fantastic coffee is at the most €1,50, so the idea of a $5 drip coffee just infuriates me. And don't even get me started about iced coffee ... give me a NYC bodega coffee for $2 any day. Is there something you buy multiples of (either by design or by default)? If I look at my wardrobe redundancies it is blue chambray shirts, khakis, white denim and grey turtleneck sweaters. Give us one shopping tip or hack that you can let everyone know about. When I poke around vintage shops and find a pair of shorts, pants or jeans, rather than having to try them on, you can get a pretty good idea of the fit by wrapping the waist around your neck. If it fits comfortably, then it should fit your waist too. This trick has saved me a lot of time undressing in shabby second hand shops or flea market stalls. |
Partner
Gift Dad What
He Won’t Buy Himself
Patnoflex travel loafer, $198 by Astorflex
Do you have a father that loves well-made things, but never spurges on them for himself? Yeah, us too. That's where Huckberry comes in. You see, they spend a lot of time thinking about what guys want and need. They specialize in hardwearing gear that's stylish, cool as hell and tough enough for any adventure—stuff that your father would no doubt appreciate but likely never buys for himself. And that's what makes for the perfect gift, right? So here are a few excellant options to get you started.
 72-Hour merino polo, |  365 Athletic tapered pant, |
 Venture sling, $139 by Bellroy | |
 Vintage soft wash tee, |  365 Cotton-linen blazer, |
Shop Huckberry’s
Father's Day gift ideas »
Stuff We Swear byKorean Exfoliating Washcloths |
It’s so little, so basic and unassuming, I wouldn’t blame you for underestimating the power of this washcloth. Because it’s the best body exfoliator you will ever use. A not-so-secret weapon of Korean spas everywhere, the green cloths are made from viscose rayon which constricts when wet. You pull the washcloth over your hand like a mitten and start scrubbing your just-washed body. Of course, focus on the areas that tend to get rough—the back of your arms, elbows and knees—but I give my full body a once-over with this because the cloth is satisfyingly rough. (One of my biggest complaints about exfoliating products is that they’re not rough enough to offer immediate results.) Trust me, you’ll notice smoother skin after just one scrubbing. In fact, some users report seeing tiny bits of rolled dead skin on the wash cloth after scrubbing. It all depends on how much dry skin you have on your body. Especially going into summer where blocked pores and dead skin can lead to annoying and painful body acne, proper exfoliating will keep that at bay, along with offering smoother, touchable skin. Best of all, these are incredibly cheap. Like less than $2 per washcloth. So enjoy them and replace often." $7.50 (for a four-pack), |
 | The sales and discounts our team is currently watching. |
 A timeless denim shirt, cut from a heavily washed cotton—perfect for this time of year. And now it's nearly half off, so take advantage of the discount.
|  These sleek Italian-crafted sunglasses from TOM FORD have a trendy square silhouette, dark blue lenses and we've never seen them at this low of a price before.
|  Buck Mason's popular work pants are currently marked down over at Nordstrom. They've got oversized patch pockets, a soft sueded finish and a touch of stretch for added comfort.
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 A cool camp collar shirt that takes the classic tropical floral pattern and turns it on its head with a blurry, modern graphic. Plus, it's on sale for 30% off.
|  A lightweight boot handcrafted in Maine from full-grain suede with a shell cordovan tongue. Ready for any adventure, they're grounded by a weightless Gumlite lug sole.
|  This tonal take on the well-known Huarache silhouette gives the shoe a shot of modern style. Perfect for summer, whether you're looking to workout or just hang out.
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Want more? See all 45 sales » | ||
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