MJ Approved: Style^[1]

Earl's Apparel Gung Ho Camp Trousers

A year or so ago, select items manufactured by a mysterious clothing label named Earl's Apparel began to infiltrate the shelves of trend-setting shops with an American-made focus, including Hickoree's^[3] in Brooklyn and Independence^[4] in Chicago. The clothes were durable takes on wardrobe staples – garments perfectly designed to take a beating.

Turns out that the company, operating out of the small town of Crockett, Texas, has been making durable, well-priced workwear for a few decades under the Stan Ray and Gung Ho labels. Stan Ray makes workwear for stylish painters and plumbers, while Gung Ho is known for its expedition gear, which looks jungle-ready. This makes Earl's, as the umbrella organization, a sort of strange, surprisingly high-quality off-brand version of Carhartt.

Names aside, the clothes are great, especially the Gung Ho Camp Trouser, which is constructed from 12-ounce cotton duck with deep fatigue-style front pockets and two button-down back pockets. The cut is more relaxed than the slim-fitting, dressier chino options out there, so these are great for non-office work and outdoor play. Play mostly. At no-frills retail sites like America's Virtual General Store, you can pick up a pair in olive drab, khaki, or classic duck brown for $39. This isn't fancy stuff, and these pants don't call attention to themselves, but they can take a beating, get up, and take another one; they're as rugged and mysterious as that guy Earl who makes them. [$39, AmericasVirtualGeneralStore.com^[7]] ^[5][6]

References

1. ^{^} MJ Approved: Style (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} Close (www.mensjournal.com)
3. ^{^} Hickoree's (www.hickorees.com)
4. ^{^} Independence (independence-chicago.com)
5. ^{^} Gung Ho Camp Trouser (www.hickorees.com)
6. ^{^} America's Virtual General Store (www.americasvirtualgeneralstore.com)
7. ^{^} AmericasVirtualGeneralStore.com (www.americasvirtualgeneralstore.com)

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MJ Approved: Style^[1]

A Lightweight Suit

There is a justifiable tendency among men who don't have to wear one to work to purchase suits on the same schedule as mattresses – which is to say very occasionally. Unfortunately, few suits are good for all seasons and fewer still are good for summer^[3]. Summer suiting is all about breathability and can make the difference between looking cool and flaunting sweat stains around the collar. Less-structured examples are generally the way to go because they don't constrict movement when you get overly enthusiastic about a game of croquet or reach for another gin & tonic.

Our summer choice comes from Swedish brand J. Lindeberg, which has been making high-concept sportswear for a couple of decades now. Tailoring is a more recent project, but, in our experience, a J. Lindeberg suit is guaranteed to fit exactingly and look modern in that way Scandinavian clothes always do. The "Patrick," a trim cotton and linen-flax summer suit in a soft dogtooth pattern, is office- and wedding-ready, thanks to the its subtle flash – the pants have cuffed ankles and waist pull tabs allow you to skip the belt. This suit will keep you comfy when you have to venture out beyond the air conditioning without making you look like Colonel Sanders. [$540, ikkon.com^[6]]^[4][5]

References

1. ^{^} MJ Approved: Style (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} Close (www.mensjournal.com)
3. ^{^} good for summer (www.mensjournal.com)
4. ^{^} J. Lindeberg (jlindeberg.com)
5. ^{^} Patrick (www.ikkon.com)
6. ^{^} ikkon.com (www.ikkon.com)

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MJ Approved: Style^[1]

Unis Emmett Shorts

Thirteen-year-old New York label Unis^[3] should need no introduction. Famed for its button-fly, tab-front Gio pants^[4] - a tailored, slim-fitting khaki that seems to compliment every man’s physique - the brand introduced Emmett shorts a couple seasons ago. We still haven’t found anything better.

American-made from Italian cloth, Emmetts retain the tailored details, slash pockets, and narrow leg of the Gio and subtracts everything south of the knee. The shorts hang at the perfect height, a few inches above the patella, where they avoid both little boy and frat boy territory. Like the Gio, Unis's newest signature product is dressy enough for dinner but surprisingly hard-wearing - ideal for long summer days full of entertaining if unproductive activities.

If you can only spring for one pair, go with the classic, warm vintage khaki^[5]. Navy^[6] is also a good bet. Unis has been known to sell out of sensible-but-special shades (moss, walnut) you didn't know you wanted until they made them. Better be safe and get two. [$178, unisnewyork.com^[7]] 

References

1. ^{^} MJ Approved: Style (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} Close (www.mensjournal.com)
3. ^{^} Unis (unisnewyork.com)
4. ^{^} Gio pants (unisnewyork.com)
5. ^{^} vintage khaki (unisnewyork.com)
6. ^{^} Navy (unisnewyork.com)
7. ^{^} unisnewyork.com (unisnewyork.com)

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MJ Approved: Style^[1]

Thom Browne Rocket Ship Tie

Forty-four years ago, a lunar lander named "Eagle" settled into the silicon-rich sand at the bottom of the Sea of Tranquility. Men of a certain age – a lot of them now fathers – watched Neil Armstrong hop about with their noses pressed to the television. For younger men, who caught the tail end of the Cold War and the uncontested final lap of the space race, spaceships were still the perfect distillation of America's resplendent awesomeness. Given all that, failing to purchase designer Thom Browne's Rocket Ship Ties seems downright unpatriotic.

Pennsylvania-born Browne, a Ralph Lauren alumnus^[3] now celebrating the 10th anniversary of his first New York store^[4], employs equal parts whimsy and craftsmanship. With its silk twill threading and three-inch width, the rocket tie is as casual as the way it is worn: A single, up-over-and-through knot suffices, as does a white, gray, or light blue collar.

Sure, ties are rote Father's Day gifts, but that doesn't mean they're a straight no-go. The key is to put a little creativity and thought into your selection and get Dad something he doesn't already have (Browne also offer ties decorated with Marlins for deep sea fishermen and lobsters for gourmands). It's likely he won't have a rocket tie, and it might just remind him of that era-defining broadcast.[$125, Barneys.com^[5]]

References

1. ^{^} MJ Approved: Style (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} Close (www.mensjournal.com)
3. ^{^} a Ralph Lauren alumnus (nymag.com)
4. ^{^} his first New York store (www.thombrowne.com)
5. ^{^} Barneys.com (www.barneys.com)

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MJ Approved: Style^[1]

Miansai M2 Chronograph

Miansai made its name as a purveyor of stylish, understated Panama hats^[3] that looked great but never demanded attention. Then it made stylish, understated bracelets^[4] that got noticed without begging an explanation. Now Michael Saiger's brand is getting in the watch game. After a year and a half in development, Miansai is out with a limited line of built-from-scratch watches that are, well, stylish and understated.

Though the minimal M3 design and the super-stylized M1 both nail the retro-modern look, our pick of the litter is this M2 Chronograph, which features a Japanese quartz movement, Swiss sapphire crystal, and a sleek, almost Deco-like stainless steel case. Choose any band you want from the wealth of options – nautical blue, knit green, tan Italian leather – but for our money (and for a watch like this, it isn't a lot of money), you can't go wrong with black leather. Just remember to check out the detailing: The second hand is a delicately carved fishhook, exactly the sort of touch that proves everything has been considered. It takes a lot of work to look this relaxed. [$375; miansai.com^[5]]

References

1. ^{^} MJ Approved: Style (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} Close (www.mensjournal.com)
3. ^{^} Panama hats (www.mensjournal.com)
4. ^{^} bracelets (www.miansai.com)
5. ^{^} miansai.com (www.miansai.com)

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