Club Chair Bulletin #9

Have you got too much sh*t?

Jul 03, 2024

What’s he been up to?

Possession Awareness

This week considerations are set quite squarely on an awareness of the increasing amount of stuff in my possession, and a consequent reevaluation of that which I should keep or discard. I’m moving, and there’s nothing quite like moving to point out exactly how much you’ve got.

Small Favour: If you wouldn’t mind, please share this post, or the club as a whole, with a friend who you think might be interested, it would mean a whole lot. Please also subscribe if you haven’t yet, again, it makes a big difference.

The other consideration, for myself, is that of developing tastes and the subsequent leaving behind of older belongings. In other words, it’s time to Kondo some shit up. I had a flirtation with minimalism a good few years ago, which rather disappears when you move into rented accommodation and need to hide all the signs of that being the case. The sentiment sort of stands though, how much do we really need?

I don’t care much for content which describes an “essential wardrobe”, any given example seems either time-wastingly obvious or overly prescriptivist, and they perpetuate the idea that one must buy a complete wardrobe before they start dressing well. I am curious though about an essential wardrobe as describing a distillation of one’s personal collection, working out one’s personal essentials, and letting go of the chaff on the periphery.

Perhaps an overly esoteric description of a rather basic concept, I’m more interested in simply positing the question, what do you consider essential in your wardrobe? If you had to up shop and leave for two weeks, what gets a place in the suitcase?

On the Radar

Reminder: The Prep Club is now on Instagram, follow @theprepstack for mood boards and updates, cheers!

Shades of Beige

Khaki chinos are a certified Ivy classic™, however, khaki gets thrown about to describe a big old range of shades.

My current collection of khaki bottoms is represented primarily by two pieces in what I would refer to as “stone”, a very light greyish beige. Sitting a lot lighter than an officer or French Army chino. Compared to my pair in a more saturated beige they go with just about everything.

Neutrality is generally quite a desirable attribute for pants, it opens the door tho greater experimentation with tops and shoes, where most folks prefer to branch out. Whilst khakis are generally a fine staple, going that touch lighter nets a touch more neutrality, and thus a touch more versatility.

Best bet for finding a pair is probably to look vintage, mine are from Haggar as a bit of a deep cut, a quick search returns some good results from Dockers, a few from Lee, and Polo of course. You probably don’t want to use “stone” in your searches; cream, grey, beige, khaki, will open up more options, and then pick a pair out from those results.

The Boat and Tote Moment

With the 80th anniversary a couple weeks back, I’ve seen a lot of the L. L. Bean Boat and Tote on my social feeds, and there’s just a notion that they may be a due another surge in popularity.

It is quintessential, the platonic ideal, all the superlatives. An unfussy, unpretentious, rugged staple. I’ll be picking one up soon.

Good vintage examples run pretty crazy these days, that’s always the trouble with icons, but decent secondhand modern ones can be had for good deals. They look best with a good bit of wear and tear on them, so going secondhand is the move where possible. If you get a new one, don’t be afraid of it picking up some marks, use the hell out of it.

Gear Patrol put together an absolute standout article, which you’ve likely seen. They break down exactly why this bag is, in essence, indisputably the best tote going. Give that a read, and then, if you’re in need of a good tote, get searching.

The Turntable: Flower & Iron

Scottish folk group Malinky provide a beguiling collection Scots and Irish trad songs on this record from 2008. Their rendition of “When Margaret was Eleven” is one of my favourite performances in any genre, the instrumentation lends it a sense that its truly a development on The Dubliners’ original rendition.

A well conceived, elegant delivery of a number of iconic and lesser known pieces, lovely to put on as accompaniment for some household chores.