September 8, 2010
Q and Answer: The Chamois ShirtKyle asks: How can you make a chamois shirt work in your fall wardrobe?It’s easy!  Just wear it!If you don’t already know, chamois shirts aren’t actually made from the same materially as the chamois you might use to buff your car - soft suede.  Instead, they’re made of thick, soft flannel which has a suede-like finish.  It’s a classic product of mildly outdoorsy classic clothing outfitters like say Lands’ End.It took me a while to find my favorite chamois shirt.  I’d been looking for a year or two when I stumbled upon it.  It’s an LL Bean, probably ten or fifteen years old but looking pretty good.  I almost didn’t try it on, because it’s a medium, and I’m 6’3” and a bit over 200 pounds.  I haven’t worn a medium since I was 12.  Luckily, Bean’s sizing is so generous that it fits comfortably.  It’s burgundy, which is a very easy to wear color, and flatters my complexion.  I paid $12 for it, as I recall, which is a lot for a shirt at the thrift store, but I’m glad I did. It’s perfect as a light, casual cover up.  I find that it gets me comfortably through an evening dog walk here in Southern California - temperatures in the 60s or so.  Do wear it on top of another shirt, like a light jacket, not as a base layer, unless it’s really, really cold out and your confident in your ability to pull off the “Beefy Mainer” look.  As a shirt, it can make you look heavy; as a jacket, it’s almost slimming.  I wear it over an oxford-cloth button down with jeans or khakis.

Q and Answer: The Chamois Shirt

Kyle asks: How can you make a chamois shirt work in your fall wardrobe?

It’s easy!  Just wear it!

If you don’t already know, chamois shirts aren’t actually made from the same materially as the chamois you might use to buff your car - soft suede.  Instead, they’re made of thick, soft flannel which has a suede-like finish.  It’s a classic product of mildly outdoorsy classic clothing outfitters like say Lands’ End.

It took me a while to find my favorite chamois shirt.  I’d been looking for a year or two when I stumbled upon it.  It’s an LL Bean, probably ten or fifteen years old but looking pretty good.  I almost didn’t try it on, because it’s a medium, and I’m 6’3” and a bit over 200 pounds.  I haven’t worn a medium since I was 12.  Luckily, Bean’s sizing is so generous that it fits comfortably.  It’s burgundy, which is a very easy to wear color, and flatters my complexion.  I paid $12 for it, as I recall, which is a lot for a shirt at the thrift store, but I’m glad I did.

It’s perfect as a light, casual cover up.  I find that it gets me comfortably through an evening dog walk here in Southern California - temperatures in the 60s or so.  Do wear it on top of another shirt, like a light jacket, not as a base layer, unless it’s really, really cold out and your confident in your ability to pull off the “Beefy Mainer” look.  As a shirt, it can make you look heavy; as a jacket, it’s almost slimming.  I wear it over an oxford-cloth button down with jeans or khakis.

Posted in Q and Answer Shirts Chamois Shirts L.L. Bean Fall
June 21, 2010
It’s On Sale L.L. Bean Signature Cotton Marine Supply Sweater $49.50 from $99 on LLBean.com

It’s On Sale

L.L. Bean Signature Cotton Marine Supply Sweater

$49.50 from $99 on LLBean.com

Posted in It's On Sale L.L. Bean L.L. Bean Signature Sweaters Spring Summer Fall
May 2, 2010
It’s On eBay L.L. Bean Waxed Cotton Down Vest $70 or best offer, ends Wednesday

It’s On eBay

L.L. Bean Waxed Cotton Down Vest

$70 or best offer, ends Wednesday

Posted in It's On eBay L.L. Bean Fall Spring Vests
April 19, 2010
Q and Answer: Clothing for the Field Michael asks: I’m a biology student and as my classes become more advanced, more field work becomes involved. This means trekking through woods, wading in streams, getting on all fours to collect mushrooms, or turning over rocks to look for insects. Is there something I can wear for all of this that is fashionable and practical? I’ve no problem dressing myself well out of the field, but I’d like to look a cut above the traditional jeans, sneakers, and t-shirt that are prevalent in the field. Right now, Michael, thousands of cool kids are sitting in pools of their own drool, wishing they had an opportunity like this.  At this moment, nothing is cooler than classic field clothing, and you have the chance to wear it for reasons beyond simple fashion.  Enjoy yourself. The best outdoor clothing has a hundred-year-plus history.  The clothing that British ramblers and American sportsmen wore in the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s remains just as functional and beautiful now as it was then. Spend some time with brands like Filson, Barbour and Orvis.  Look for vintage pieces from companies like L.L. Bean and Abercrombie & Fitch which made fine quality outdoor clothing for many years before turning mallward. (Even now, the real outdoor and hunter’s clothing at Bean is some of the best they make.) My advice is to focus on a simple kit.  Buy some great khaki pants, some solid shirts, a wool shirt or two, a great knit, a Barbour or Filson coat, a pair of amazing field boots and a pair of boots for wet work.  The outerwear in particular should last a lifetime with proper care.  Take care with fit - contemporary style suggests a closer fit than most legacy brands offer - this can be corrected with careful sizing or a bit of tailoring.  There’s no need to go overboard in this direction, though, if you plan to keep your gear for decades.  And remember: all the most durable items in your kit are probably available used.

Q and Answer: Clothing for the Field

Michael asks: I’m a biology student and as my classes become more advanced, more field work becomes involved. This means trekking through woods, wading in streams, getting on all fours to collect mushrooms, or turning over rocks to look for insects. Is there something I can wear for all of this that is fashionable and practical? I’ve no problem dressing myself well out of the field, but I’d like to look a cut above the traditional jeans, sneakers, and t-shirt that are prevalent in the field.

Right now, Michael, thousands of cool kids are sitting in pools of their own drool, wishing they had an opportunity like this.  At this moment, nothing is cooler than classic field clothing, and you have the chance to wear it for reasons beyond simple fashion.  Enjoy yourself.

The best outdoor clothing has a hundred-year-plus history.  The clothing that British ramblers and American sportsmen wore in the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s remains just as functional and beautiful now as it was then.

Spend some time with brands like Filson, Barbour and Orvis.  Look for vintage pieces from companies like L.L. Bean and Abercrombie & Fitch which made fine quality outdoor clothing for many years before turning mallward. (Even now, the real outdoor and hunter’s clothing at Bean is some of the best they make.)

My advice is to focus on a simple kit.  Buy some great khaki pants, some solid shirts, a wool shirt or two, a great knit, a Barbour or Filson coat, a pair of amazing field boots and a pair of boots for wet work.  The outerwear in particular should last a lifetime with proper care.  Take care with fit - contemporary style suggests a closer fit than most legacy brands offer - this can be corrected with careful sizing or a bit of tailoring.  There’s no need to go overboard in this direction, though, if you plan to keep your gear for decades.  And remember: all the most durable items in your kit are probably available used.

Posted in Q and Answer Outdoors Filson Orvis L.L. Bean Barbour Bill's Khakis
April 7, 2010
It’s On Sale L.L. Bean Town and Field Pants, Brushed Twill Also on sale are the wool flannel version.  Both are excellent utility pants.  I had some coupons for LL Bean, and went back and forth about which to get, until I finally ended up getting one of these. $29.99 (Originally $59.50)

It’s On Sale

L.L. Bean Town and Field Pants, Brushed Twill

Also on sale are the wool flannel version.  Both are excellent utility pants.  I had some coupons for LL Bean, and went back and forth about which to get, until I finally ended up getting one of these.

$29.99 (Originally $59.50)

Posted in It's On Sale L.L. Bean L.L. Bean Signature Chinos
February 10, 2010
LL Bean Handsewn Blucher Moccasin LL Bean’s Blucher Moccasin is a great option for those of you looking for an alternative to sneakers and boat shoes for casual wear.  They look good both with and without socks, and they’re only $69, with Bean’s famous no-questions-asked warranty.  Great with jeans or chinos - just make sure those chinos aren’t big flappy pleaty dad-style numbers, or the shoes will look dad-ly, too. (photo via)

LL Bean Handsewn Blucher Moccasin

LL Bean’s Blucher Moccasin is a great option for those of you looking for an alternative to sneakers and boat shoes for casual wear.  They look good both with and without socks, and they’re only $69, with Bean’s famous no-questions-asked warranty.  Great with jeans or chinos - just make sure those chinos aren’t big flappy pleaty dad-style numbers, or the shoes will look dad-ly, too.

(photo via)

Posted in Shoes L.L. Bean Spring Summer