Up North

Kent Wang: Grenadine Tie and Linen Pocket Square

2012-01-15T11:57:00.001-07:00

This past Thursday I had the chance to attend a wine and cheese reception to meet some of the bigger law firms in Vancouver. It was a great opportunity to try and begin to determine which firms I'd like to apply at for the 2013 summer (1st years don't generally get legal positions in the summer). Although these were not recent pick ups, I had been waiting for a chance to take some photos of the Kent Wang items I had purchased last summer. The navy grenadine tie is a great simple tie with enough texture to keep it interesting. I am slowly starting to build up the basics of my tie collection overtime and I'd recommend Kent Wang's offerings to anyone doing the same. Even though I had a decent number of pocket squares I was still missing a plain white one and this one with hand-rolled edges filled that gap nicely.

Pickups from Japan: Part 4 - Small Items

2011-11-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

I have finally reached my last post about my trip to Japan this past summer. School has been extremely busy, which has led to these posts being very spread out and delayed. Here are some small items that I picked up on the trip. Some as household items and some as keepsakes of the trip. The sunny hot days of Japan from the summer may have long passed but I've been enjoying the transition to a mild rainy Fall in Vancouver.
Clockwise from top left
1. Wilkinson's Ginger Ale Bottle - A delicious ginger ale with the spiciness of ginger beer. It's a shame it's only available in Japan. Now the bottle serves as a decoration on my mantle.
2. Daibutsu Buddha statute from Nara - This was from inside Daibutsuden, the largest wooden building in the world
3. Green tea cups - from a street market in Nara
4. Mt. Fuji print from a vendor in Asakusa and a frame from Muji
5. Tools: Real Stuff for Future Classics
6. Muji pencil sharpener
7. North Face socks - A nice marled red blend
8. Sou-Sou tabi socks - I forgot to include these in the picture for the Sou-Sou post
9. Muji linen coasters
10. Lamy Safari fountain pen - a gift from Andrea after we spent hours at Loft
Below. Dinex Mug - from Bamboo Shoots; one of the stores I was most excited to visit

Pickups from Japan: Part 4 - Truck

2011-10-31T16:08:00.000-06:00

One of the stores I was most excited to visit in Japan was the Truck Furniture showroom in Osaka. I think it was in an older issue of Monocle that I first heard about the brand. Getting to the store was quite the adventure as it was nowhere near our hotel, it was a scorcher of a day, and we struggled to find it once emerging from the subway. First thing we did was take a number for the cafe they run, Bird Coffee, before heading to the showroom to cool down. The showroom was as nice as I hoped, with all their furniture, smaller items, and zakka on display. After taking my time to sit on the couches and chairs, flip through their catalogues, and raffle through the clothing, I did manage to grab some memorabilia. Pictured above is a small ceramic bowl, a wooden tray (where I keep my keys), and a simple blue bracelet.

After we had finished shopping, our number had been displayed for the cafe and we headed over for lunch. All the furniture and housewares used at the cafe are from their catalogue and it was a great opportunity to see if in action. Not to mention that the food, coffee and doughnuts were all delicious as well.

Inside Bird Coffee

Inside the Truck Showroom

Pickups from Japan: Part 3 - Uniqlo

2011-10-10T11:00:00.001-06:00

A while ago I reduced my wish-list to a handful of items and was fortunate enough check off three during my trip. This is my first navy blazer and it has lots of the features I was looking for: natural shoulders, 3/2 button roll, a trim fit, and long enough for my lanky frame. The grey sweatshirt fits me well and was for a good price. I knew I was going to need a raincoat for when I moved to Vancouver so it was something I was looking for on the trip. This one fits me well and also has a quilted removable liner for those extra cold days during winter. I was also gifted a heat-tech top from my friend Tomoya and it has already come in handy for the cooler days playing soccer outside.

Pickups from Japan: Part 2 - Magazines

2011-09-29T13:22:00.000-06:00

Next up on my recap of items that I picked up in Japan are a bunch of magazines. Many people know that Japanese mags are incredible when it comes to how much detail they provide. The cost of buying them in Japan is, not surprisingly, much cheaper than buying them in Canada so I stocked up. Now, while I can only read a fraction of the text (my kanji skills are lacking), these magazines still provide great visuals and lots of inspiration. Clockwise from top-left the magazines are

1. Casa Brutus: a design magazine mostly focused on interior design

2. Il Bisonte: gives a little tour of the factory, pictures of Il Bisonte's Japanese retail staff's gear, and a catalogue of new items. Andrea got this as it came with a Il Bisonte tote bag and bracelet, but she gave me the magazine after flipping through it.

3. Brutus: I grabbed this back issue when I was in the Truck store as it focuses on Tokuhiko Kise and Hiromi Karatsu's house, the couple behind the brand.

4. Beams Man A/W 2011 Style Guidebook: This was free from the Beams store I visited in Shinjuku. Nice editorials and it showcases some of their new items.

5. Outdoor Style Go Out: a magazine dealing with outdoor style and all that goes with it. Street style shots, gear reviews, trip recaps etc. It's one of my favourites

6. Leon: a magazine focusing mostly on Italian style. I also happened to see the man who runs the magazine outside a cafe in Nakameguro and some Japanese dudes in suits stopped to take a picture with him.

Pickups from Japan: Part 1 - SOU・SOU

2011-09-19T11:54:00.000-06:00

In the next little series of posts I'll be documenting some of the items I brought back from Japan. First up are some goods from Sou Sou in Kyoto. For those who don't know what SOU・SOU is here is a little blurb from their US site

"Based in Kyoto, Japan, SOU・SOU was created in 2002 by Katsuji Wakisaka (textile designer), Hisanobu Tsujimura (architect), and Takeshi Wakabayashi (producer). While modern and edgy, the brand is dedicated to preserving the best traditional techniques by using skilled craftspeople and time-tested materials."

I purchased a dotted/striped blue tenugui and two handkerchiefs, which will and have already been used as pocketsquares. All three of these are made from Ise cotton. Ise cotton was one of the most praised fabrics in Japan from the 14th century until after WWII. Although there is only one manufacturer of Ise cotton left in Japan, due to the shift in demand for cheaper fabrics after the war and a move towards western clothing, it is still made on the old looms using traditional techniques and only 40 feet of fabric is made each day by the 20 sewers. Over time as the fabric is washed the starch comes off and the lightly twisted fabric begins to soften making this cotton extremely soft to touch.

There were around 5 SOU・SOU stores scattered around a small area in Kyoto and Andrea and I visited them all. Each one focused on one aspect of the brand whether it be the textile store, the shoe store, the home goods store, etc. Each store was beautiful and the workers were fully kitted in SOU・SOU attire. The above picture is from outside the textile store. I highly recommend visiting the brand's stores in Japan and if not check out their online store.

One of the items Andrea picked up from SOU・SOU was this pair of sweet cloth sandals in a dotted/striped indigo pattern.

Tokyo and a little Yokohama 2011

2011-09-13T21:20:00.001-06:00

We wrapped up our trip to Japan with 7 nights in Tokyo. The first 2 nights we stayed at a family friend of Andrea's place in the area of Kyodo before spending the last 5 nights in Nakameguro. Just a few of the highlights included yakitori in Nanba, lunch made from our gracious host Miru, meeting up with my former host family the Takaos for dinner, walking around Nakameguro, spending hours in Loft, Afuri ramen, Disney Sea, visiting a mexican soccer bar with Taka, and hanging out with my friends Tomoya and Shunkichi in their hometown of Yokohama. Cameras often did not accompany us but here are a few photos that we ended up taking.

Odaiba and the imitation statue of liberty

Meiji Shrine gate

Hachiko

Getting poured on in Disney Sea

The sheer number of cool restaurants in Japan in staggering. One of the main things I miss after coming back to Canada

The view from Tokyo tower.

Me and Taka at Once 11

Cosmo Clock 21 in Yokohama. I didn't know it used to be the biggest ferris wheel and clock in the world until writing this post.

Andrea, Shunkichi, and Tomoya. They stayed with my family for a few weeks when I was in High School on exchange.

Vending machines

Yuzu ramen from Afuri. It was so good we had to go back a 2nd night.

Two of my favourite beverages, melon soda and ginger ale. At Journal Standard burger cafe

Wandering around the street of Kyodo with no aim in sight. Writing this post is making me want to go back already

Ito 2011

2011-09-10T19:42:00.000-06:00

While we were planning our trip we knew that we wanted to spend some time in a smaller town, preferably somewhere with a beach. After a little research looking for places with affordable accommodation we decided to visit the town of Ito. The slower pace of life was much appreciated. We spent our days relaxing at the beach and sleeping in.

We stayed in a 100 year old building that had been converted into a hostel last year. Every room had tatami flooring and futons that you rolled out every night.

Most people had a tent set up at the beach to avoid the intense heat of the sun. We weren't so fortunate

More manhole covers

I am a big fan of the melon drinks in Japan. This was an afternoon snack one day from 7-11

One of the Izakayas that we visited on our trip. This one had a great special set for those staying at the hostel

Every afternoon after visiting the beach we would stroll around the seaside taking in the fresh ocean air

Kyoto 2011

2011-09-08T01:02:00.000-06:00

After Osaka, Andrea and I took the train to Kyoto. The talk of Japan being unbelievably hot in the summer was true. Hauling luggage around multiple train stations is a sweaty affair. However, once we were settled I had a great time. We visited some cultural sites including the golden Kinkokuji temple, Kiyomizu-dera, and the imperial palace grounds. One of my favourite things to do in Japan in wander down streets with no goal in site. Kyoto's historical buildings intertwined with more modern ones provide a great atmosphere for these walks.

Cafe Independants was located in the basement of an old building. We liked it so much our first visit we had to go back a few days later.

Where I discovered Wilkinson's Ginger Ale

Imperial Palace Grounds

Bike lockers

Conveyor belt sushi 回転寿司

Lanterns

Crane

Bamboo grove.

On the train leaving Kyoto

Osaka 2011

2011-09-05T11:39:00.000-06:00

Andrea and I came back from our trip to Japan a couple of weeks ago. Although it was blisteringly hot we had a blast. The first city we visited was Osaka. While there we visited with my friend Takeshi; his Aunt and Uncle drove us around the first two days to Wakayama and Nara. Osaka is known for being a city where it's citizens love to eat and they did not disappoint.

Ojisan feeding one of the 1200 deer.

Inside a soba shop

Spice

Isuien Garden where we sat and drank Matcha while taking in the tranquility of the garden

Walking around a market in Nara

Artful manhole covers were commonplace in Japan

Okonomiyaki with Takeshi

Osaka Castle

Instagramming Amherst Island and Kingston

2011-08-09T17:39:00.012-06:00

Earlier in the summer, I took a trip out East with my girlfriend to Ontario. We spent our time visiting her family and relaxing in Amherst Island and Kingston. For those of you that don't know, Kingston is a college town home to Queens University and Amherst is a small island of a about 100 people 20 minutes away from Kingston by ferry. The pictures below are from the trip and include some shots from Becky's father's sheep farm. All pictures were taken with instagr.am.

Ferry.

Cafe on the Island.

Poutine at the Tucan Patio, Downtown Kingston.
Penitentiary in Kingston.

The Barn.

View from the Barn.
Island Road.

Church in Downtown Kingston.

Chip Truck.

Japan

2011-08-04T08:09:00.000-06:00

Later this morning, my girlfriend and I will be heading to Japan for around 3 weeks. I'll be taking in the sites, visiting some friends, and doing some shopping. Feel free to check out my twitter, which I should be updating throughout the trip. いってきます！

Pickup: Dress Shirts from Vegas

2011-08-03T16:27:00.000-06:00

To start me on my dress shirt hunt Andrea got me these in Vegas as well. The J Crew one fits me pretty well off the rack, is a slim cut, and has a point collar.

This Brooks Brothers tattersall shirt is advertised as a slim fit but is still baggy on me so it will need to be taken in.

This Brooks Brothers pink button-down has the same problem and will need to be taken to the tailor as well. Otherwise the shirt is a nice collar and will look good with a blazer and some chinos.

Pickup: Casual Shirts for Summer

2011-07-29T11:28:00.000-06:00

Andrea and her family visited Las Vegas again in July, this time for her grandma's 80th birthday. I regrettably was not able to attend but they were nice enough (again) to grab me some stuff at the summer sales. Thanks again!

First up, a patterned cotton long sleeve PS Paul Smith shirt

Gant by Michael Bastian - Regent Print Contrast Button Down

Brooks Brothers Gold Fleece - Slim-Fit Polo

RRL - short sleeve selvedge cotton shirt

NSF - Striped oxford cloth long sleeve shirt

Pickup: Clark's Desert Boots

2011-07-25T09:24:00.000-06:00

I've been meaning to get a pair of these for a while now but always keep passing them by. Andrea was recently in Vegas again and was kind enough to pick me up a pair. The story behind these shoes is well known so I won't go into it in detail. You can read about Nathan Clark, the creator of the Clark's Desert Boot, here.

Chambers Creek

2011-07-15T15:19:00.001-06:00

A few good friends and I went for a couple of nights of camping last weekend in the Rocky Mountain House region.The skies were gray, there was a little rain, but the mosquitoes weren't too bad so overall the conditions were better than they were in Edmonton. Most of our time was spent hiking nearby Shunda Creek. Once we escaped the ATV area it was an afternoon of much needed isolation.

Lunch spot

It's hard to beat the feeling of laying down in deep soft moss.

We found a 6 pack stuck in some mud alongside the creek so we washed them off and tossed them in our bags. After leaving them to cool off in the river we enjoyed them with lunch.

Canada Day Long Weekend

2011-07-06T11:17:00.000-06:00

This past weekend in Canada was the Canada Day long weekend. I got Thursday off work as well so Andrea, my sister, and I packed up and headed to meet up with my family at my grandparent's farm south of Red Deer. After a couple of hours and a stop at the Donut Mill we arrived to the sound of air rifles blasting away as my cousin and his friends were running around shooting each other with pellets.

The next morning we headed to the village of Delburne, which has a population of around 800 and it's where my Mom went to high school. We lined up for the Canada Day pancake breakfast, with the local Elks club flipping the pancakes and cooking the eggs and sausages for everyone.

After breakfast the town headed out to watch the parade. The kids would run out and collect all the candy that was tossed. Although that didn't stop the rest of us from joining in as well.

My other grandparents drove out to visit for an evening as well. Sitting beside the fire.

Country roads

Andrea and I stopped in Calgary on the way home to have lunch with her relatives. We visited the zoo afterwards to enjoy the sun. Much like these hippos.

The Ordinary Peoples

2011-07-05T10:53:00.001-06:00

My friend, and my girlfriend's brother, Kurtis, has started a blog along with his cousin Alyssa. Focussing primarily on their own outfits, fashion, music and design, they've both got solid design sensibilities and their blog adheres to that mentality. Check it out: The Ordinary Peoples

Pickup: Merrell Trail Glove

2011-06-28T13:22:00.000-06:00

This weekend I decided to try to start to work towards barefoot running. I've had extremely flat feet since I was in elementary school and always had problems with back/foot pain. I've used orthotics for that entire time and while I've managed to run a marathon and do a couple of triathlons they've always been followed by severe pain. Barefoot style running has become more mainstream in recent years with the popularity of Vibram's Fivefingers and after some research I found out that some people are finding positive results even with flat feet. I didn't think my body could take the shift from bulky orthotics to Fivefingers so I opted to get these Merrell Trail Gloves. They've been getting great reviews recently, both online and from friends. Even after only wearing them for an hour around the ravine last night I noticed less back pain but we'll see how that progresses. If I see enough success these will be my go-to shoes for my trip to Japan in August.

Thinking About: Dress Shirts

2011-06-13T12:10:00.001-06:00

Now that I am starting a more professional degree at school I'm starting to think I need more than one dress shirt in my closet. The only one that I do have I mentioned here, and while nice, not all the measurements were quite correct so it is a little tight in the chest and loose around the neck. Some of the details that I am looking for start with a solid light blue fabric. I have quite pale skin, being red headed and all, so I think light blue will look better than the stark contrast of white. As for the type of weave, I'm thinking a broadcloth, poplin, or twill. A slim fit but not skinny. A higher medium-spread collar for my long neck and skinny face. Barrel cuffs as they are more versatile. Mother of pearl buttons would also be nice.
Realistically I will have to try some shirts on before I make any judgement and tailoring will probably also be necessary to achieve a better fit. Here are some I am looking at at the moment. Once I figure out my proper neck size and sleeve length, something I should have done a long time ago, ordering shirts online will become much easier. I will also consider another online made-to-measure attempt. I will post my findings here as they happen.

Polo Ralph Lauren Custom Fit Regent in a light blue

One of Eddie's, a local menswear shop, house-brand shirts

Updates

2011-06-03T12:12:00.000-06:00

Some of you may know that Manav and I were both business students trying to get into law school.While this news is not very new I am happy to say that we have both been accepted to the law schools that we wanted. Starting this fall, half of the Up North team will holding down the fort in Edmonton, while the other will be moving out west to Vancouver.In other news, this summer we both have trips planned overseas. Manav will be gallivanting throughout Europe and I'll be roaming across Japan so you can expect some detailed posts on those in the upcoming months.

Pickup: MEC Klettersack 40th Edition

2011-05-24T16:39:00.000-06:00

This pack was originally released in 1980 for $25 and now is being rereleased as a limited edition, 1000 of each colour, for $29. The rerelease is to coincide with MEC's 40th anniversary. Featuring leather details, a top pocket, and a classic outdoors design this bag is a steal.

Pickup: Spring Polos

2011-05-10T14:10:00.000-06:00

I have recently acquired a couple of polos that will be perfect for this spring/summer season, and many more seasons to come. First up is a Benjamin Bixby polo in a great coral colour. It is cut slim and long which is perfect for my tall torso. 2 mother of pearl buttons, armpit ventilation holes, a longer cut rear, and cap sleeves make this the nicest polo I own. Next is a navy and white striped Oliver Spencer polo, which is from last spring season I believe. It features a 4-button placket, an internal pocket, and is made in England.

Yuki Matsuda's House

2011-05-08T13:36:00.000-06:00

While I'm at home for the month recovering from a medical procedure I've had time to start thinking about interior design for when I move at the end of the summer. Here are some pictures from issue 249 of Free and Easy featuring Yuki Matsuda of Yuketen. I'm liking the warm colours, wood floors and the collection of items that make his house look very comfortable.

landofpeace

2011-04-12T16:50:00.026-06:00

via: Boden, Fine and Dandy, Fuck Yeah Hawaii, Nickel Cobalt, Selectism, Juncture, Supreme, A Continuous Lean, Start With Typewriters, Streetwear and Denim, The Sartorialist Blog, Sartorially Inclined

Chino Shorts

2011-04-01T18:01:00.000-06:00

At the top of my list of clothing to buy for this summer is a pair of chino shorts. I'm still trying to decide which ones I like best so if anyone has any insight please feel free to comment. Here are some in the running at the moment.

Polo Ralph Lauren - Preston Tissue Chino Short

LL Bean Signature - Sportsman Chino Short

Gant Rugger - Vintage Chino Shorts from Rooney

J Crew 7" Broken-in Chino Shorts

Yasuto Kamoshita

2011-02-25T19:28:00.001-07:00

Mr Kamoshita is the Creative Director at United Arrows, in addition to running his own label Camoshita by United Arrows.

Image Sources: Mister Crew, The Sartorialist, Style Forum, Il Gusto Del Signore, For the Discerning Few

Toronto 2011

2011-02-23T15:18:00.002-07:00

Andrea and I just came back from a short trip to Toronto. It was my first time visiting the city and it was slightly different than I expected. There was a lot of driving, which I wasn't a fan of, but the large number of independent stores and diverse cultures more than made up for it. Most of our time was spent hanging out with friends and eating great food. I'll definitely be going back in the future.

"Accessorising"

2011-02-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

Since the beginning of the Christmas season, I've managed to pick up a fair amount of accessories and other small items. I've always felt that accessories can go a long way in shaping a nice outfit and I have always given them particular attention. And while I'm skeptical of the term "accessorising," to me, the concept does hold some significance. A big thanks to my friends and family as a few of these items were gifts! The rest of the credit goes to my inability to save money.

These Paul Smith cufflinks were a gift from my girlfriend. I've been a fan of Paul Smith for a long time and couldn't have been happier when I unwrapped these. They're pretty bang on with what I wanted in terms of a basic size and shape. And its hard to go wrong with Paul Smith's signature stripes when you're looking for colour.

My older brother picked up this 1 inch tie bar for me as part of my Christmas present. He found a reference to the www.TheTieBar.com on Valet and ordered this one at a very affordable price. It's pretty versatile as it can be worn casually or dressed up depending on the occasion and size of tie. I would definitely recommend The Tie Bar if you're on a budget as all tie bars are only $15.

This classic Moleskine notebook was a gift from a friend of mine. Many of you probably use Moleskines, but for those that have only heard of their "legendary notebooks," I've got to say, they are pretty legendary.

I picked up this white pocket square from Club Monaco for $20. I needed a standard white pocket square and this one and its squared detailing do the trick.
The vintage woven belt is also Club Monaco, which I grabbed off this fine gentleman. The heavy gold buckle was the deciding factor in that purchase. Secondly, although I hadn't bought anything from Urban Oufitters in a very long time, I grabbed this D-ring belt from there. Surprisingly, its my first ring belt and I'm quite happy with the way it looks with a pair of chinos.

This knit toque is Oliver Spencer and I picked it up from Gravity Pope on boxing day. Much warmer in the -30C Edmonton weather than the GAP toque I used to wear.
Flask from J Crew. This is also from my older brother and he picked it up on his recent visit to NYC. I'm hoping the leather ages well and I fully intend on speeding up the process by using it frequently!

The Donut Mill

2011-02-01T16:29:00.000-07:00

Almost every time I drive through Red Deer I stop at The Donut Mill. Everyone in the area seem to know that it's the place to go for donuts and overall good food. Each month they have a new donut just for that month, with past notables including Peanut Butter as well as M&M (seen below). I highly recommend visiting whenever you find yourself driving along Gasoline Alley and be sure to grab one of their many cream-filled varieties. Maybe even a dozen.

Coconut Palm Brand Coconut Juice

2011-01-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

After first trying this drink at a restaurant in Hangzhou I spent the rest of my trip finding, and drinking, the smooth, coconuty goodness that is Coconut Palm Brand Coconut Juice whenever possible. It's so famous in China that it's served at state banquets. My guide told me that it was the national drink of China but I haven't heard anything else that confirms this. Now that I have found it at a local Chinese supermarket I can finally enjoy it once again. I recommend trying to find it at your local asian supermarket.

Pickup: Winter Sale Season

2011-01-09T12:19:00.001-07:00

While I was in the mountains over the holidays, Andrea was in Vegas and she was nice enough to do a little shopping for me

Engineered Garments 19th Century Button Down in White Diamond Dobby

Woolrich John, Rich and Bros Thin Cotton Flannel Shirt

RRL Navajo Print Henley

Ties from Barneys and J. Crew

Christmas Holidays in the Mountains

2010-12-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

I spent most of the Christmas holidays at my Aunt and Uncle's cabin with 18 other members of my family. It was an awesome time as I hadn't seen some of them for years. I already posted on the skiing and snowboarding portions of the trip but here are some other random shots from the holidays.

Snowboarding at Panorama

2010-12-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

Snow was better than usual here for this time of year.

Cross Country Skiing at Greywolf Nordic Centre

2010-12-27T18:17:00.000-07:00

At the Warming Hut

The Warming Hut

Waxing

Read: ku:nel

2010-12-16T15:42:00.001-07:00

ku:nel is a Japanese magazine focused on the slower things in life. It's filled with all sorts of things from home-cooking recipes, gardening inspiration, simple interiors, and various things to do with a sustainable lifestyle in general. The magazine is also known for the simple and beautiful photography. While the distribution of Japanese magazines in Edmonton is slim to none, I was ordering Andrea some knick knacks from Japan for Christmas and decided to pick myself up an issue at the same time. I ordered issue 45, a back issue from September this year, due to the photo on the cover. The focus of this particular issue is "green by the windows" and the best part, which was a surprise for me as I did not know about it until I had the issue in my hands, is that the main feature is on Kise and Hiromi Tokuhiko, the couple behind the Japanese furniture brand Truck and Bird cafe, and their home in Osaka. After reading about Truck in issue 30 of Monocle I've been quite intrigued by the brand. The furniture itself is great, as are the images on their website and in their catalogues. Other highlights from the issue include, as the theme would lead, plant filled rooms with lots of natural lighting, and various recipes. I got my issue from the shop UGUiSU who ships all over the world.

Sleepwear This Winter

2010-12-10T11:37:00.001-07:00

Monogrammed flannel pajamas from LL Bean

Danner Ridge Tops

2010-12-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

These Danner Ridge Tops from Northern Island would be great for the cold winter weather in Edmonton.

Monogrammed Belt

2010-12-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

My Grandpa gave me this belt a few years ago. He had had it for years with his own initials on it. Once it finally wore down he took it to his local saddle maker in Drumheller and had it reworked with my initials instead. After all the years it's been used it has developed a whole lot of character and I can only hope that the story it tells continues to grow.

Pick Up: Monitaly Chambray

2010-11-21T23:27:00.004-07:00

I was in the market for a chambray and Alex over at Rooney suggested this Monitaly one. I'm glad I took his advice as the shirt is beautifully made with some pretty great detailing. This is my first garment from Monitaly, and now I can't help but ask myself why? I made the purchase about a month ago and have already worn the shirt a ridiculous amount.

Pickup: Smartwool Camo Socks

2010-11-19T12:44:00.003-07:00

I picked up these Smartwool camo socks a few months ago but it hadn't been cold enough to try them out. I woke up today to face -20 degree weather on my walk to school so it was a perfect day for them.

Pickup: Tailor Store Shirt #1

2010-11-08T12:27:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing that I am lacking in my wardrobe it's dress shirts. After a recommendation from CWAC I decided to try ordering a custom shirt from Tailor Store. The number of combinations that they offer is incredible. From all sorts of cuffs to placket sizes and collar linings. I went for a simple white dress shirt with a spread collar and a few other modifications. Andrea helped me with the measurements and within a few weeks I had a great fitting shirt at my door just in time for a formal event that I was going to.

Thanks from Lands' End Canvas

2010-11-03T17:49:00.000-06:00

Andrea and I recently ordered a few items from Lands' End Canvas who are having their fall sale right now. In the mail today I was surprised to find a hand-written thank you note from the company. It may not be much, but coming from a large company such as Lands' End it was an unexpected yet nice touch.

Attire: Snowy October

2010-10-27T20:12:00.002-06:00

After having a very warm start to the fall it has finally cooled down in Edmonton. There's already snow on the ground and the temperature is just below the zero mark. Once it gets a little colder a warmer jacket will need to be pulled out of the closet but until then a shirt jacket and a down vest will do just fine.

Down Vest - Wings & Horns ($330.00 CAD)

Shirt Jacket - Filson ($82.00 CAD)

Shirt - Sassafras ($280.00 CAD)

I'm liking the pockets on this denim shirt from Sassafras.

Pants - Our Legacy ($280.00 CAD)

These chinos are made from water repellant wool and would be great for when the snow is falling.

Shoes - Clarks ($140.00)

Socks - Wigwam ($13.00)

Scarf - Gap ($25.00 CAD)

Thanksgiving in Drumheller

2010-10-24T16:45:00.000-06:00

A couple weekends ago I headed down to my Grandparent's house for Thanksgiving. I usually head out there once or twice a year and I've grown to appreciate it more and more as I've gotten older. Spending time with family, hanging out in the garden and just spending lots of time outdoors makes for a pretty great Thanksgiving in my books.

My Uncle Alec and a sign he had found decades ago

Pasture for the horses.

Everytime we go to Drum we walk up and down the driveway hunting for golfballs as the neighbouring property is a golf course.

Almost everyone who has gone to Drumheller has been to this little church. Fun Fact - my dad worked as it's janitor when he was a kid.

Royal Tyrrell Museum in the distance

When I was a kid I used to spend whole days exploring the hills and gulleys of the badlands.

The spoils of the day.

My Grandpa grabbing us some vegetables to take home.

Horse stables

We're all betting on when this will fall over, although it's been like this for years.

The Red Deer River

Aero after going for a swim.

Relaxing in the backyard. A great way to spend the morning.

Pick Up: LL Bean Chamois

2010-10-22T17:01:00.003-06:00

I recently snagged this vintage 1980s LL Bean camo chamois off Etsy. I really like the look of camo nowadays (worn in proper dosages of course) and at 20$ usd, I didn't have to think twice about pulling the trigger. A big thanks to Chris for finding it in a size that didn't fit him!

Pickup: Ashbury Day Trippers

2010-10-20T13:22:00.001-06:00

Last summer I had 4 pairs of sunglasses. Over the year this number slowly decreased to the point where I've been without a pair of sunglasses for the past month. I decided to forgo the route of the usual brands such as Persol or Ray-Ban and go for some Ashbury's. I've used a pair of Ashbury goggles for a couple seasons and I've really liked them so I thought I would try them out for shades. I also like how these Day Trippers have thinner arms than Ray-Ban's wayfarers. These feature hand crated acetate and stainless steal hinges. Now let's just hope that I don't break/lose them like my last 4 pairs of sunglasses.

Osoyoos

2010-10-12T20:17:00.001-06:00

Andrea and I headed to Osoyoos at the end of August for a little vacation. Osoyoos is a little town in BC just a few kilometers from the US border. It's in the Okanagan Valley which, in the summer, is one of the hottest places in Canada. We spent the week relaxing and visiting the various wineries and orchards which surround it.

Near Kamloops

Fall Colours

2010-10-11T11:39:00.000-06:00

Kamome Shokudō

2010-10-11T02:36:00.000-06:00

Kamome Shokudo is a very nice, relaxing movie. I highly recommend it. The decor in the diner is pretty much perfect.

Banff & Lake Louise

2010-10-07T20:11:00.001-06:00

A few of my friends and I took a trip to Banff a couple months ago. I forgot to put some pictures up earlier so here they are. Most are from Lake Louise which is supposedly one of the most photographed places in Canada.

A tea house a few kilometer hike up the mountain.

Crossing the river on the way to the picnic spot.

Skipping stones

Alberta Highways

2010-10-06T19:20:00.002-06:00

Vintage Pickup: Seiko 5 Series

2010-09-29T16:14:00.000-06:00

I recently picked up this vintage seiko 5 series, apparently from around the 70's. It's my first automatic watch so I'm pretty happy about that. The strap still needs to be adjusted and it's a little dirty inside so I may take it to a watch shop to see what they can do.

Trip to Gravity Pope

2010-09-23T16:47:00.004-06:00

I stopped by Gravity Pope the other day and pulled the trigger on a salmon university stripe oxford by Gitman and the latest Inventory issue (yeah I know I was really late picking it up). The manager was nice enough to throw in an older issue of Hobo magazine for free as well. Be sure to stop by Gpope for some fall wear as its looking pretty amazing.

Lane Crawford Collaborations

2010-09-22T21:28:00.000-06:00

While I was in HK this summer I must have went to at least 4 different Lane Crawfords. They carried lots of brands that I see all over the Internet but never have the chance to see in Edmonton so it was nice to see them in person. Although the prices were a little higher than they would be in North America, there were sales going on which made them close to equivalent. Here are some recent collaborations they have done with some of my favourite brands.

Engineered Garments

Nigel Cabourn

Visvim

Trip to China 2010

2010-09-15T19:08:00.002-06:00

As some of you may know I spent a month of this summer in China. I went with my girlfriend's family and our entire travelling party was 12 people. Although it was incredibly hot I had a blast the entire time. Here are some shots from the trip.

We had a layover in Vancouver on the way so we hopped on the skytrain to get some dimsum in Richmond

The Beijing airport

Leftover peppers from the soup we had the first night we arrived

At Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City

Group of kids dressed up in miltary clothes at the Great Wall

Army surplus flea market

At the Summer Palace

Pomegranete trees were everywhere

Our Beijing tourguide Rocky

Street vendor making a stamp for Andrea

Our Tai Chi instructer

Drum performance at the bell tower

Olympic grounds

The CCTV building on the right and the burnt Madarin Oriental hotel on the left. Apparently the CCTV building had a party of top of their roof and some fireworks hit the Madarin shortly before it was supposed to open and now it uninhabitable

City wall of Xian

Terra cotta warriors

Plane ride above Guilin

Our Guilin tourguide Charlie

We spent a few hours cruising down the Li River near Guilin

Snake wine

We were advised not to join the locals in swimming in the river in town

Panda at the zoo in Chongqing

View of Chongqing. Our Yangtze River cruise took off from here.

On one of the excursions we got to go on some little boats up a nice side stream.

In the shallower sections the rowers got out and pulled.

Shanghai

The men of the trip

Acrobatic show

One of the mornings in Shanghai I took the train to visit my cousin and his wife who've been living in Suzhou for 8 years.

Taste of home at the Canadian pavillion at the Shanghai World Expo

The whole building was made of cedar and as such smelled beautifully. It was a nice reprise from all the Chinese food to eat a burger, poutine and draft beer inside.

I was a Digimon fan as a kid so I had to take a picture of this

A tea farm in Hangzhou we visited and stocked up on longjing at

View from our hotel in Hong Kong. Andrea's family is from Hong Kong so we stayed here for a week, which was much longer than we stayed in any other city.

The total for this entire meal was around $3.50 Canadian

There was a typhoon while we were there

Gondola ride up to see the giant Buddha

Frog on a lilypad

Pickup: L.L. Bean Signature Featherweight Hunting Jacket

2010-09-11T12:44:00.003-06:00

A few weeks ago I was thinking about some fall essentials that I needed. One of them was a fall jacket. I thought about getting a Barbour but then decided I'd rather save my money so I can go back to Japan next summer. When I saw that this jacket was on sale I was pretty much set. I emailed LL Bean to ask for measurement differences in the 2 sizes I was deciding between and they emailed back within 5 minutes. I was quite impressed. The jacket features 2 flap pockets, a small chest pocket and a back game pocket. I'm not really sure what to do with the game pocket but I've already used to it haul my clothes to the tennis center.

Back pocket entrance to game pocket

Arm pit ventilation

Inside entrance to game pocket and waist draw string

Wings + Horns Spring/Summer 2011

2010-08-31T20:31:00.003-06:00

I recently noticed that Wings + Horns updated their website with some pictures of both this upcoming season's gear along with next spring/summer's. Of all the seasons that I've followed Wings + Horns this may be my favourite yet. All the pieces look very wearable with standouts having to be the rust coloured trench and the various styles of pants. Despite them being a Canadian brand with production taking place in Canada I still have yet to own any of their pieces. This spring, that will hopefully change.

Pics Wings + Horns

Chemise Nationale Wabash Workshirt

2010-08-24T15:16:00.002-06:00

Another great item from the National Anthem camp is this wabash workshirt. I've mentioned before that wabash is a nice alternative to chambray and not as common. This one is more affordable than the ones I posted before and it's made in Canada to boot. Now that the weather is starting to cool this would be a great addition to any wardrobe. Available through Rakuten.

Pocket design

A semi-floating pocket. Apparently originally designed to stop your money and tobacco from getting wet.

Triple-stitching

A close up shot of the wabash fabric

The reverse side of the fabric

Watches from Inception

2010-08-21T19:25:00.001-06:00

I just finished watching Inception. One of the things I noticed right away were the classy looking timepieces the characters were wearing. Now, I'll admit I pretty much know nothing about watches but these models look pretty close to me. The first shot for each watch is a screenshot from the movie. Please feel free to correct me as, mentioned earlier, I am no watch expert.

Tag Heuer - Carrera Automatic WV211B.BA0787

Issey Miyake - Trapezoid (Designed by Naoto Fukasawa)

Oris - BC3

Paddington Bear

2010-08-16T23:48:00.000-06:00

I was going through the bookshelf today when I found a collection of stories that I used to read all the time as a kid. Paddington was a little bear from the Darkest Peru who always managed to get into trouble and stay polite throughout. His outfit was simple yet classic; a duffle coat, wide-brim hat, and a battered leather suitcase which always accompanied him on his adventures. I think we can all take a little inspiration from Paddington.

pics via Paddington Bear

Montreal Pickups

2010-08-09T22:58:00.009-06:00

I'm back from Montreal, and while all the good stories may not make it onto this blog, I can definitely say I had a great trip. Almost too good of a trip, leaving me limited time for shopping. Fortunately I did check out Rooney, and managed to snag the Our Legacy wallet I mentioned earlier along with 5 other items. I picked up a pair of Velour chinos and a Gitman s/s button down for myself and 3 other shirts for my brothers and a friend. The shop was everything I expected and more. I was helped by the owner, Alex Danino, on my first visit and another gentleman the second time I stopped by. Both of them were great guys and extremely helpful. My shopping was predominantly done at Rooney but I also grabbed a Gitman tie and Blick bowtie from Simon's and a Naked and Famous oxford elsewhere. Here's my stuff

Attire: Casual Friday in the Summer

2010-07-31T13:35:00.000-06:00

Polo, Chinos, Penny Loafers

I picked up this polo at the Uniqlo in Beijing, the sleeves hit mid-bicep and overall it's pretty trim. I'd recommend it, especially given the $25 price tag.

Pickup: RRL Selvedge University Stripe Oxford

2010-07-29T12:50:00.000-06:00

I've been looking for a university striped oxford for quite some time now. While browsing the RRL room at Lane Crawford in Hong Kong I spotted this shirt in a small. I asked the salesgirl if they had a medium and she helped me look for awhile. We were about to give up when I spotted the same striped sleeve poking out of a basket high up on the wall. I took it down and managed to find a medium inside, my lucky day as it was on sale too. For those interested it's made from Japanese fabric in Sri Lanka The fit of this shirt is spot on, a little slimmer than my Gant Rugger one but not too tight.

Pickup: Small Items from China

2010-07-27T13:05:00.000-06:00

I arrived home after a month in China yesterday. Hopefully I'll manage to do a post with some pictures from my trip but here are a few things I brought back with me in the meantime.

- Longjing Tea

- Socks

- Birkenstocks

- Knapsack

- Japanese Magazines

- Jade Chopsticks

- A Small Town's Book

- Mini Terra Cotta Archer

- Mao Lighter

- Various Muji Items

Our Legacy Wallet

2010-07-09T12:09:00.008-06:00

With Chris already off to China, I'll be going on my own, not-nearly-as-sweet vacation in a week. First stop is Toronto to watch Man United vs Celtic at Rogers Centre. After the match, I'll have a few days to myself where I'll likely check out some shops. Next I'm headed to Montreal for more of the same. Thanks to Free/man, a blog that all of you should definitely favourite if you haven't already done so, I've discovered Rooney, a Montreal boutique that I'll surely visit while I'm there. I've noted a few items that I'm looking to snag at Rooney, but they're all second best to this Our Legacy Wallet. Let's hope its in stock.

China

2010-06-30T11:40:00.001-06:00

I'm off to China for a month. Lots of good food and shopping ahead.

Pickup: Paul Smith Fiorito

2010-06-26T15:03:00.000-06:00

I treated myself to these loafers after getting some test marks back yesterday. Paul Smith was one of the brands, if not the brand, that got me seriously into clothing and now I can say that I have a pair of his shoes. Made in Italy with a suede upper and a leather sole these are very comfortable. Getting them for less than a quarter of the original price didn't hurt either.

The Casuals

2010-06-22T19:45:00.017-06:00

When mentioning "The Casuals," you can expect to get one of two responses. If you're in North America, you'll generally get a blank stare as most of us are unfamiliar with the term. If you're in Europe, you'll probably get a variety of responses including references to hooligans, delinquents, criminals, skinheads etc. However, The Casual subculture began with more than just young adults looking to throw down with opposing fans at weekend matches. It was a fashion movement like none other. The Casual subculture originated out of the Mod subculture and it began in the 1970s when British youth began wearing designer clothing to weekend football matches. While this was originally done to avoid the attention of police, dressing well soon became a way for firms to show their superiority to rival fans. By the late 1970s, The Casuals sported a pretty identifiable uniform that incorporated brands such as Baracuta, Fila, Sergio Tacchini, Diadora, Burberry, Paul Smith, Levi's and Fred Perry. I don't condone any form of hooliganism and I don't necessarily use all "Casual" attire as a point of reference for my outfits today, but I got to admit, these guys could look real good doing what they did.

Naked & Famous Natural Indigo Slim

2010-06-22T19:28:00.000-06:00

My household just got a new camera and to test it out I shot some jeans. I got a pair of these Naked & Famous natural indigo jeans about a month ago and have worn them on average 5 days a week since. They started out quite a bit rougher and stiffer than my apcs but are softening up and already starting to show some fade lines.