Club Chair Bulletin #14

Fit pics, Parkas, and Paraboots

What’s he been up to?

Hello! Thank you for picking up this week’s issue of the bulletin. Last week’s meeting, which discussed matters of footwear and shoe wardrobes, can be attended retroactively here, in case you were unable to at the time. Today, thoughts on personal lookbooks, cold-weather coats, and a shoe collaboration that I should either love or hate.

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Getting Back to Outfit Documentation

I do not possess a social media following of a volume considerable enough to be beholden to any sort of algorithm pleasing consistency, perhaps one could suggest were I more consistent I might have a bigger following, but we’ll get on to that. This is to say though, that I took a step back from documenting my outfits on social media during and after my recent house move.

We are back now however, and I’m glad to be doing it for my own sake as much as anything else. The consideration of seeing a number of outfits lined up on a grid can result in a greater motivation to pull out all the stops more regularly, and to consider greater variety in outfits.

I just thought I’d stick a few here for scrutiny by the club. I think it's important, on occasion, to present you with an opportunity to decide whether you actually want to listen to me or not. You’ll see a few new additions to my wardrobe in these pictures, which will be discussed soon.

AW24 Lookbook Pt. 1

I find myself in a rather interesting place now, wherein I am publishing much higher quality videos, of what I perceive to be better outfits, and yet find myself getting far less traction than I have in the past. This is perhaps predominantly an issue of niche, I don’t think I’m perhaps reaching the right audience on platforms other than Substack. The broader point though is that this documentation is as much for me as it is for the internet, and it is certainly useful as a sort of reference book. It’s also good fun to take a couple hours to just put some outfits together and photograph them, I thoroughly recommend it. Perhaps as an alternative to looking for inspiration online, focussing that which one does not have, instead have some fun working with what one does have and save the stress on a busy morning of putting something together.

Recent Acquisitions

Sierra Designs Mountain Parka

I will talk about one of the pieces seen above today, my new (to me) Sierra Designs 60/40 Parka. Vintage and Japanese market Sierra Designs jackets are just iconic, and though this one isn’t THE mountain parka, I’m still very excited to have it in my wardrobe.

It’s important first to understand that this was an absolute steal, easily a third of what many go for online, made in the USA from American 60/40 fabric and Thinsulate lined. Resplendent in a colour which I’m lovingly referring to as “challenging mustard”.

It sits in a camp with my bean boots of garments which I have mostly to wear on the trails, but can come into the city in more fashion forward looks. You might be able to tell from the outfits above, I’ve been on a bit of an ALD kick as of late, and finding my own way of layering a large winter jacket over tailoring is an exciting prospect, it being a Sierra adds a little more retro Americana flavour which I like very much. The plan is to use it for its intended purpose first and foremost, but keep it ready for the city should the opportunity present itself.

On the Radar

N-2B Parka Jackets

Whilst there's a decent amount of mil-surp on the streets right now, with the current cropped jacket zeitgeist I feel as though the N-2B is being slept on. I’d first like to give credit to Casz @mxn_boots_boy, for tracking these down after we pulled a reproduction example off the rail in a vintage store. With the bomber jacket crop, extreme weather suitability that might even handle a New York winter, hand warmers, and a (faux) fur lined hood, it just seems like a perfect storm.

This piece ought really to be a modern streetwear staple, match it with some good wide-leg jeans, Timbs if you really want to go for it, and you’ll be pretty set. Coming at it from a slightly more trad perspective, just look to the ways ALD styles its outerwear to figure out how to work it with some tailoring.

It brings up an interesting discussion though about the current state of street style, and the manner in which old pieces, in this case from the 50s, can be perceived as so current; adds to the idea we’ve discussed for a while now of being in a completely postmodern fashion landscape these days.

Whether you pick up a new one from Alpha, a vintage issued, or some other repro, these are probably due a moment this winter or next, and they’re a great heritage piece to pickup for the trend-unbothered.

Paraboot x Engineered Garments Chambord Bride

I am rather partial to the Paraboot Chambord and its contemporaries, I am generally not fond of monkstraps, just not my vibe, so it’s very intriguing to see the two smashed together in Paraboot and EG’s latest collaboration.

I’m actually quite the fan of these, keeping the laces for a start is a nice move that puts us well away from the #menswear monkstraps that haunt any mention of the style, and the lug sole goes further into recontextualising the presence of the buckle. They now look like a piece of heritage outdoor wear, which is the manner in which they are being marketed, on the feet of apparent mountaineers.

They’re available tomorrow, we’ll see how quickly they sell out.

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