SOUNDS: Girls "Broken Dreams Club"

New Girls EP is out soon. Get a free download here.

HIT: Harris Tweed at TOPMAN

Harris Tweed is the only fabric in the world governed by its own Act of Parliament and it's now available at TOPMAN. Who knew?

They've got Harris Tweed ties for about $30(!) and I love this slim cut, elbow patch, Harris Tweed blazer for $300.



These gloves, $50, ain't bad either.

SOUNDS: Flying Lotus "Kill Your Co-Workers"

Flying Lotus - Kill Your Co-Workers from beeple on Vimeo.

Super cool video.

HIT: Stick Umbrella from Lands' End Canvas

When it rains, lots of guys reach for that Gore Tex parka, which basically kills any look they might otherwise have going. Gore Tex stuff is sportswear, so it only looks good when you're coaching, golfing or hiking.

Instead, get yourself a proper - not the folding kind - umbrella. You'll be shocked by how much drier it keeps you than your parka, and you'll love carrying it around. Trust me.

This one from Lands' End Canvas is a beauty. It also comes in navy blue, and is super affordable at $39.95.

HIT: Burberry Prorsum Single Breasted Woolen Peacoat

I love the Eastern Bloc look of this coat. Sure, it's way outta my league at $2500, but you know how these things go. The design trickles down to more affordable lines and, with a little digging, you can get the look.

If you're in the market, try this one at Top Man - $300.

SOUNDS: Sleigh Bells "Infinity Guitars"

Sleigh Bells "Infinity Guitars" from Phil Pinto on Vimeo.

This week was huge - releases from Sufjan Stevens, Belle and Sebastien, and Antony and the Johnsons. Check 'em out.

Sleigh Bells have been kicking ass for a bit now, but this vid is relatively new.

HIT: Omega De Ville X2 Big Date

This is a gorgeous tank-style watch that moved into my number one Most-Desired-Dress-Watch slot over the weekend.

I love Omega. And in addition to its aesthetic, the De Ville really stands out with its quirky mix of Roman and Arabic numerals. Plus, it features an automatic movement.

It also comes in black.

INTEL: Cycling in Barcelona

Cycle Chic Goes to Barcelona from Copenhagenize on Vimeo.

INTEL: Dress Code, Fall 2010

Ahh, crisp fall weather. Nothin' like it. But that means it's time to start dressing again. The old "It's too hot for a collared shirt" excuse just ain't gonna fly.

BDC's FALL 2010 DRESS CODE

Jacket: Lose the fleece. Lose the Gore-Tex. Lose the college sweatshirt. It's fine stuff for camping and tailgating but save it all for your next dirt fight. Instead, get yourself a sport coat or blazer that fits well and wear the hell out of it. Obviously, you can go nuts and get a really gorgeous one, but this is going to be an everyday garment. An inexpensive corduroy one will do fine. The important thing again is fit. The jacket should not add any weight to your appearance and the sleeves should not extend beyond that ball in your wrist when your arms are at your side.
TIP: If you get a blue blazer, beware that pairing it with grey trousers might make you look like a security guard. Avoid this by wearing a shirt in any color but white, and brown shoes instead of black.

Cardigan: This is NOT going to be an everyday garment, but you can get a ton of mileage out of it. Make sure it's dark, and wear it in place of your jacket on mild days.
TIP: On cool days, wear a cardigan beneath your jacket - buttoned, it will create this cool waistcoat effect. My pattern for buttoning is--top undone, bottom two undone.


Shirt: Wear button-down collared shirts as much as possible. As I stated in my very first post, button-down collar shirts always look neat, even if you don't have time to press them properly. Point- and spread- collar shirts look too sloppy when they aren't ironed, and too dressy when they are. Get the slimmest ones you can find and don't worry about the neck being the right size - you're not going to be buttoning the top button anyway.
TIP: No Easter egg colors here. Stick with whites, blues, grays. And don't be afraid of check patterns.

Tie: Get some casual ties and rock them. What do I mean by casual? Generally, stay away from anything that has a graphic or looks like some sort of optical illusion. And nothing too shiny or silky looking. Go for solids or stripes, in a robust fabric like wool or cotton. **The GQ Eye did a post about this yesterday. $10 ties at Uniqlo.
TIP: The width of your tie says something about its formality. (Not sure if I said that correctly.) For example, at its widest, my tuxedo neck tie is about three or more inches across. My casual ties are all under two and three-quarters inches.

Trousers/Jeans: This one is simple. Your jeans should be dark, your trousers should be pleat free, everything should fit.

Shoes: Leave your sneakers in the closet and your hiking boots in the mountains. This year, you're wearing shoes or non-sporty boots. I recommend finding a nice casual chukka, like the Clark Desert Boot, or a pair of inexpensive oxfords that you can just destroy.
TIP: Go with brown shoes, here. Black shoes look great, but they're not nearly as versatile. I think the Italians have a saying like, "Black shoes are only for funerals and galas." Or something.

MISS: GQ 2010 Style Manual

I love GQ. Truly, I do. But I feel obliged to call them out when they emit a giant sucking sound.

The latest GQ Style Manual provides just such an occasion.

While they're fairly open about the fact that this is simply a collection of their best style advice, they are not open about the fact that almost all of the content and artwork is pulled directly from back issues. Lame.

If you've not picked up a copy of GQ in three years, or haven't stopped by their website, you might find the guide useful. Otherwise, save your $12.

SOUNDS: Tennis - When You Walk in the Room on TUNNELVISION

Love Tennis. And this is a song that was not released on their new EP.

INTEL: Vintage, Hermes-Crafted "Purse Watch"

Hodinkee, everyone's favorite timepiece blog, posted this cool pocket watch a few days ago.

It's smaller than you think - 37mm by 42mm - has a mechanical movement, and a "digital" display, sans hands.

Some people just don't want to wear a watch, and this is an elegant alternative to the iPhone. In fact, it gets me thinking - might someone resurrect the pocket watch?

WORDS: Gatz

I once sat through eight hours of theatre in one day. It was not fun. But I think I'd be willing to give it another go after reading The New York Times critic Ben Brantley's review of the Elevator Repair Service's production of Gatz - a seven-hour play in which the entire text of The Great Gatsby is read, word for word.

Why would I do this? I guess because the magic of Gatsby - for me - is completely tied up in its language. To read it aloud is a pleasure, and to hear a pro do it sounds like a treat. Kinda.

Details here.

SOUNDS: Sufjan Stevens "The Age of Adz"

Sufjan Stevens's new album is due October 12th. Stream it now, in its entirety, at NPR.

NPR Music First Listen: Sufjan Stevens "The Age of Adz."

INTEL: Ramblers Way Farm

You know Tom's of Maine Toothpaste? The stuff that sort of tastes like a minty mixture of soap, peroxide and spackle? Well, they've founded a really, really cool clothing company.

Ramblers Way Farm makes wool comfort wear. That's right folks. It's wool. And it's comfortable. Weird, right? Basically, they've figured out a way to spin the yarn in some super-fine way, and the clothes are designed to be worn against your skin.

The stuff is pricey, but here's why - everything is made in America. Everything. The yarn is spun in America. The pieces are assembled at a factory in America. The sheep are an American breed, grown on farms in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, Texas and Utah. When you wear Ramblers Way, American airport officials wave you through security with a wink and a smile. Goddam right.

The flat seams make for cool detailing. I really dig the blue henley above and the grey, hooded cardigan.