The Obtainer - 7/25/22, Monday
↦ Sid Mashburn on Looking Sharp
Monday,July 25th Edition
A navy blazer is on the Mt. Rushmore of menswear staples. If you don’t believe me, I know someone who can make a better case than I can below.
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
Three Waysto Wear
A Lightweight Blazer
There are a handful of menswear essentials that guys need to build their “never go out of style” wardrobe foundation. A great navy blazer is definitely one of them. Sure, they come a dime a dozen these days, but it's the finite details that really make a difference. Not to mention the way you wear it. The benefit of a lightweight version is that it's an all-season layer that'll breathe a bit better and follow your natural shape—besides looking great, it will feel less restricting.
Sid Mashburn is a master of classic menswear and has made a well-fitting navy blazer part of his signature look. His recent reinterpretation is dubbed 'The Ghost Blazer'. It features a two-ply high-twist wool from England that's completely unstructured and finished with buttons crafted from unlacquered brass. The details of the pockets cannot go unnoticed as they're designed so that you can tuck in the flaps (without looking like you just tucked in the flaps) for a more open look. The fit of the blazer is slim but not too tight, and it's so light and unrestricted, you'll feel like you're not wearing a jacket—hence the 'ghost' moniker. Sid says of the versatile jacket, “The most elegant man in the world could wear it and a guy in a t-shirt could wear it.”
And he's right. The jacket has been so popular that they're currently sold out on their website (don't worry, they're currently manufacturing more, so get your pre-order in now). Speaking of the site, sidmashburn.com just had a handsome refresh. “We've always wanted our online experience to be an extension of our brick-and-mortar shops ... a place to be, not just to buy,” Sid tell us. “We want to make the site an uncomplicated shopping experience for the customer, and hopefully one that gives a little bit of inspiration, storytelling, and warmth while we're at it.” Who better to pull together three ways to wear a lightweight blazer than the man who made the perfect one?
5 Stylish Items to Buy This Week
Retro leather jump rope, $49 by Modest Vintage Player
Do you need a leather jump rope? Probably not. Any old jump rope will do. But the more you jump, the better off you'll be. And this handsome heritage-inspired leather jump rope adds some real class to your workout routine, not to mention some serious durability. The weighted wood handles are equipped with ball bearings for extra smoothness and speed, while the leather rope wears beautifully, developing a patina with age. Honestly, it looks so good you can hang it on the wall as a quasi-art piece when not in use.
Retro leather jump rope,$49 by Modest Vintage Player
Test Drive
The Pant That Turned Me Into a Linen Lover
I was not a fan of linen until a few months ago. The fabric always seemed itchy, wrinkly and a bit too flowy for me. Buck Mason launched their linen collection this spring and I was able to snag a pair of their loomed linen fatigue pants (they were recently featured in the khaki colorway in our ‘Best Men’s Linen Styles in 2022’ roundup). I wanted to try them because I’m a fan of fatigues, so I thought that because it’s already a similar silhouette, the lighter fabric would come in handy for summer. And the navy coincides with my neutrals-only belief.
Ironically, all the reasons why I thought I hated linen are the same reasons I now love these pants. They move in the breeze, they’re low-maintenance, and surprisingly easy to keep clean. They’ve got an elasticated waist with a pull-in drawstring, so you don’t need a belt—they can double as the perfect airplane pants (or lazy Sunday pants) for this very reason. And all those pockets are spacious—easy access for a wallet and other EDC items. The weight of the pant is great too—airy, yes, but also substantial. More like your well-worn denim that can be worn with canvas sneakers or mules.
On a coastal vacation, a few weeks ago, is when my relationship with linen went to the next level. Temperatures were hot and the pant felt breezy on my legs and did not stick at all—the benefits of wearing a more relaxed silhouette in a breathable fabric. I literally wore them four out of the seven days I was gone. I paired them with polos, old T-shirts and button-downs. When it was time for a wash, I just tossed them in the cold cycle and hung them to dry. Once they were done, I passed a steamer over them a few times to get the wrinkles out, but now I can see that they don’t have to be perfect. Even with a few wrinkles, they look good as new. I’m a committed linen man now. I may need to pull the trigger on the matching shirt to kick things up a notch.
Loomed linen fatigue pant,$145 by Buck Mason
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
A quarter-zip polo in a French terry fabric will take you from the dinner table to a late evening walk on the beach. Handsome yet sporty all-in-one.
$168 / $119by Todd Snyder
Kickstart your relaxation after a long day by lighting some earthy incense to unwind. Patchouli, lavender and tangerine will have you feeling like you're in the great outdoors.
$65 / $32.99by And Wander
This crisp cotton bucket hat in a neutral tone will look just as great with your fall outfits as it does in the dead of summer.
$65 / $39by Corridor
The three best stories from around the web.
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These modern coffee shops combine beautiful interior design and specialty coffee … with pared-back spaces that ensure the focus remains directly on the specialty coffee they serve.”
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Let’s not write off material things just yet. A well-chosen physical gift lasts forever, helping to ensure that the big day lives long in their memories.”
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America has had a rough 2022, but the dollar is having a good year. And the great thing about this ‘discount’ is that it’s a blanket effect that applies to literally every cent you spend.”
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"We all need a solid ground, a place to feel safe and to find stillness. The Sculptural lines create a surface that the eye can rest on, a surface that changes depending on the light and what you want to feel that day."
— Ida Vikfors
June 20