What are you going to wear? Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. This type of weather happens when there’s a bit of a breeze, the harsh light of summer has started to fade, and you want to wear jeans… but it’s still plenty warm out. Not exactly sweater weather, and not late enough in the year to be an Indian Summer. Here’s one outfit that’ll have you plant one foot in fall, yet still be comfortable outside on a patio for happy hour.
The Blazer: Express Deconstructed Gray Cotton-Linen – $88. If you’re lucky enough to still have an INC Ultra Light (from Macy’s… that’s a major throwback) still lurking in your closet, then use that. This option from Express isn’t half bad either. Barely there, half-lined, and lightweight. You’re looking for less structure here due to the still lingering heat, and it’ll also look better with a polo.
The Polo: UNIQLO Button Down Collar Dry-Fabric in Navy. Currently sold out, but any navy polo with a less-than-limp collar will do. The button-down is ideal though, since those collars stay vertical and help frame your jaw line.
The Watch: Antoine Arnaud Spirit of St. Louis Chronograph – $245. That’s a lot for a quartz chrono with mineral glass (and the price has gone up on Huckberry?) but man… seen this thing in person, and it’s a looker.
The Jeans: Levi’s 505 in Tumbled Rigid – $39.99
The Sunglasses: Ray Ban New Wayfarers – $95 – $115
The Belt: J. Crew Factory Washed Tan Leather Belt – $34.50
The Bag: KNOMO London “Lincoln” Briefcase – $99.50. Softer corners on a casual waxed-cotton briefcase, but that stitching sure gives it a modern look. Ships & returns free via Nordstrom. $89.95 through KNOMO direct, but it’s out of stock at post time.
The Shoes: Aston Grey Suede Single Monk Straps – $89.95. Have worn the begeezus out of these this summer, and they’re holding up surprisingly well. They do real well with all sorts of lighter summer wear, but they also excel with jeans.
The Beer: Sam Adam’s Octoberfest. Not going to impress beer snobs. But y’know what? It’s not Natty Light for crying out loud. So to those holding their nose at this pick, try and pry that cellar aged quad out of your tuckus. Still awfully tasty, and a pleasure to drink. Lighter bodied but still good fall-flavors. So basically it’s perfect for an 85 degree day as the sun is setting and you were wishing it were more like 60 degrees. Plus, it won’t wallop you over the head with an excruciatingly high ABV. Prost.
Joe–have you found the 505’s to be trim enough below the knee to wear with loafers? I’m a normal 34 waist, but would you recommend sizing down one size in waist to accommodate for waist stretching out some?
Just a heads up. The Microsoft store sells the Lincoln for 49.92 with no code needed. Brought it for a friend as an engagement gift. Very slim and modern profile.
All gone on the Microsoft website, but there are four available on eBay at $39, including shipping.
The button-down polo is the new double-monk. Ain’t gonna happen for me.
I actually needed to buy some jeans this year and bought a bunch of 501s, 514s and 505s as i wasn’t sure which my fit was.. i went with the 505s as they were the most comfortable esp. in the groin and seat area.. the 501s and 514s were slimmer below and had a better fitting as you go below the knee.. with the 505s there is a extra material down that doesn’t really flatter a loafer but i still do wear loafers anyway..
Personally, I find the 505s to be way too billowy below the knee to wear. It all depends on how you’re built. I’m 6’1″ 205 lbs. and run about 25 miles a week, but my legs have more than enough breathing room in 511s. In fact, anything cut fuller than the 513s are like parachutes on me. Moral of the story: gotta try them all on and see what suits your frame best.
Sam Adams on the whole make great beer, and I really appreciate that their advertising sells the beer, and not a lifestyle or sex. One of their only duds is the harvest pumpkin ale. There’s something that’s a little too cloying and artificial about the flavor, but luckily their other fall options (like the Octoberfest) are solid.
And the cherry wheat. I still can’t figure out how that one got to market. Tastes like cough syrup. But on the whole, you’re definitely right. Easy drinking, widely available, and suits most any palate for a party or tailgate.
To each his own. The dislike of double monks I get, but a button down collar on a polo seems pretty innocuous to me. That and they don’t go flippy-floppy-flaccid under a blazer. I think that image of the polo would look a lot better if they had unbuttoned the second button.
Yep. Totally agreed with your moral. 505s are just a suggestion. 511s on me are like tube socks and extremely uncomfortable from the knee down. All depends on how you’re built, and 505s are pretty middle of the road, and shouldn’t go out of style anytime soon.
Agreed. The button down collar is the magic bullet when it comes to pairing the shirt with the blazer.
I’m not a snob in that I don’t like fruit in my beer (a belgian lambic is still pretty tasty), but the hokey american mass market beers tend to be too fake tasting. I loathe pumpkin ales … especially when they’re released in August.
I did have watermelon ale once that was surprisingly good. The melon flavor was barely there and complimented with a light dose of Citra hops.
I don’t like the fruited mass market beers either. I grew up (that sounds weird) with Leinenkugel’s (red, honeyweiss, original) but their berryweiss and shandys aren’t even beer to my palate. To me, awful. But, they gotta sell stuff, and if it’s selling, it must be really hard to turn away.
That said, I don’t like Lambics either.
I wore a sweater yesterday … a light merino 1/4 zip, but a sweater nonetheless.
A very good friend of mine is a beer distributor (and he keeps me supplied, natch). However, the beer that they haven’t been able to keep enough in stock is Red’s Apple Ale. No accounting for taste, I guess.
I hate seeing seasonal beers that hit the shelves way ahead of the season they’re meant to be enjoyed in, because the flip side of that is that you stop seeing the stuff that you still want to be drinking based on the time of year.
As for pumpkin ales, I really like The Fear by Flying Dog. A real kick in the ass at 9%, but I think they nail the balance of what a good pumpkin ale should be.
And if they can’t keep it in stock, try and be the young, up and coming brewmaster who walks into the meeting and says: “hey, listen, I think we should stop brewing the Red’s Apple Ale and try something else…”
I try to avoid blues whenever possible (personal aversion) but that color Navy + that color blazer = $$$
I would have nothing left if I avoided blues! haha
Ciders in general are becoming increasingly popular as a result of the rise, both legitimate and fashionable, of gluten sensitivities and allergies. They’re also lighter than most beers, so I’ll look to a good dry small-batch cider if I want to have a few drinks on a weekend afternoon but don’t want the belly bomb of good beer.
Thanks for everyone’s replies. I had a similar situation, but with the 508’s I tried on. Fit great in the thighs but stuffed sausage knee down. What about the 513’s?
FYI – Levi’s has a new 541 “athletic fit” with a relaxed top block and a slim fit taper from the knees down. Might want to give those a try in the Rigid Dragon (aka raw indigo) shade.
Also, I’m a huge fan of Down East’s cider which seems to only be available up north. Works year round.
Thanks Adam. May be just what I’m looking for. Have you tried them out yet?
I hate not quite sweater weather yet days… And dang it Joe why post those polos from uniqlo if they ain’t available, I want (no I need one). Ebay has them for $40…
Nope, I’m more of a 514 slim straight guy.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sam Adams in a can, always in bottles.
It was snowing in Colorado last friday. My state is definitely in sweater weather.
No worries, thanks Adam.
Oktoberfest starts Sept. 20 so in this case it’s less than a week premature.
I wouldn’t call myself a beer snob but I am a beer aficionado and there’s nothing wrong with Sam Addams Oktoberfest so long as they haven’t messed with the recipe since last I had it. It’s a good rendition of the style IMO.