Club Chair Bulletin #20

The expensive edition

Thanks for picking up this week’s bulletin, last week’s meeting can be attended here, for thoughts on fleeces. Now though, the tidality of acquisition and relinquishment, and lots of things most people can’t afford, forever the most practical and topical newsletter in your inbox.

A Guide to Fleece Fabrics

What’s he been up to?

Wanting Less

It’s that time of year when, following our yearlong puritanical austerity (yeah right) we absorb ourselves with the prospect of acquisition; Black Friday deals, Christmas gifts, it is the time of more, and of new. Yet, in this current moment all I can think about is how I’d like less right now.

Having delved a little deeper into that desire, I feel like its a desire for something of a more curated vision of my current wardrobe. Obviously, but actually not, I think that which I mean is I am looking now to carve a bust (collection) from the block of marble (wool and denim) which I have dragged into my home.

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I’ve been privileged enough to be able to experiment with my clothing, I’ve facilitated this by buying second-hand. The net result of this practice though is that there are bits which just don’t take hold, or are just too out-there to make it into the everyday rotation, especially since the calm allure of simplicity is slowly overtaking the curiosity of overstatement. I keep coming back to the word chic, Aaron Levine, the man on everyone’s lips in menswear in the last couple weeks, is chic. I want to be chic, or at least try to be. I can’t help but feel like the way to do that is to pair back, wear simple clothes in closely a quietly considered ways.

There is a possibility that this is part of a natural ebb and flow in my own buying habits, I was on the topic of possession awareness about six months ago, and then I bought more. If so, so be it, I like to think my consumption and relinquishment habits are ethical enough to engage with that, but if it takes hold long term that’d be nice too. I’m now shuddering at the thought that I might have a new year’s resolution on my hands.

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Recent Acquisition: The Perfect Beanie

With that said, I bought a hat. See, we’ve got a long way to go yet. However, there was a distinct and irritating lack of a warm hat amongst my possessions, and since the fine English climate seems to be throwing snow storms at us this year, it was rather justifiable. Fortuitous then that my friends at All Blues Co. were able to supply me with their brand-new design.

Immediate disclaimer, there is an overwhelming amount of conflicting interest in this instance and so this is in no way a reliable review, I paid for this, but they’re my mates. I do think it’s damn perfect though, the unstitched turn-up, the slight taper at the base of the knit so it sits flush when folded. The pattern of the knit matches those of my 1960s pieces. Mine in the blue is stunning, though I could easily have gone for any of the others.

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On the Radar

Two artists distributing impeccable vibes

To describe an artist’s work as having “vibe” is almost certainly a pejorative, yet there is something of the aesthetics in these works which appeals to the vibes centre of the brain. These are works which appeal to the aspirational lifestyle which sits perhaps at the heart of the online sartorial community. They’re also largely inaccessible, but we can marvel from afar, and if we marvel enough perhaps there might be the issuing of some more affordable mediums for their work.

I am not an art critic, so I apologise for what can only be rather shallow commentary below. Nonetheless, here’s some shit I find cool, and would very much like to hang on my wall.

Michael McGregor

Los Angeles based, and painting with a sense of bohemia and wunderlust I aspire to more than anything in the world. His perhaps most-notable work being a book of sketches on hotel stationary. Still active and distributing through the Hashimoto Contemporary.

“GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER DRESSES, BOYS LOST IN THEIR DRESSERS”

Andrew Pierce Scott

Working in scrap materials, including scraps of Drake’s fabric. Producing sculpture and textile works. Understated but opulent, distributing through Wondering People.

STILL LIFE WITH OYSTERS AND OLIVE

Three holy-grail shoe picks

From art I can’t afford to shoes I also can’t afford, here’s three beautiful pairs touching the fence at the far end of the price range.

John Lobb Smith

The classiest expression of the moc toe derby going. This new design from Lobb is just so damned cool, a Paraboot Micheal you could easily wear to black-tie.

Alden 44408

The most heightened expression of the club favourite, the apron derby (though these are technically a Blucher). Shell cordovan, of course, with rubber soles and reinforced toes.

Goods & Services Birkenstock

Ever looked at a pair of already-pricey-these-days Birkenstock Bostons and longed to spend four figures on them? LA based Goods & Services offer made-to-order, shell cordovan, goodyear welted mules for 1500 USD. If one is looking to bring home comforts to the classiest of events, it’s good to know someone has your back.

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