A Headlong Dive.

If your always curious about all the significance footwear fiend bloggers often place on shoe manufacturing terms like, “hand sewn uppers, Goodyear Welted construction, leather insoles, cork layers and a tempered steel shanks,” then this Epaulet visit to the Alden factory is for you.

- DJS

Just snagged a pair of the Alden Sand Suede Flex-Welt Chukka Boots and couldn’t be more excited for them to get here. And while I’m a sucker for the Snuff Suede, the sand coloration in the chukka has been calling my name for some time now. Built on the Leydon last (which fits true to size) and Goodyear Welted, these will be on heavy rotation as spring shows up.

Find them at Epaulet or at Need Supply.

- DJS

Blown away by the haunting beauty and the alluring attire of these vintage mugshots from the 1920′s. It’s wild to think about opium dealers and burglars wearing peak lapels and knit ties but the photos don’t lie. Rap sheets confessing delinquencies out of a McCarthy novel like, ”consorts with prostitutes’ and frequents hotels and wine bars in the vicinity of the Haymarket,” add to the imagery.

Not only are the images from the The Sydney Justice & Police Museum eerie and beguiling but some of the felonious charges are truly from another time, as one culprit is charged with being a, ”hotel barber, meaning one who books into a hotel, boarding house or residential and robs (or ‘snips’) fellow patrons, usually in the dead of night.”

You can explore more of these with criminal details at Sifter.

- DJS

I trust the folks at Taylor Stitch when it comes to fit and function. When it comes to shirting, it gets no better than TS. But now the gents at Taylor Stitch have extended their menswear reach into denim and we should all be thankful. I was lucky enough to see a few prototype pairs in person the last time I was in San Francisco and was truly impressed. While $128 isn’t a small amount of dinero, it’s difficult to find such quality denim handmade in the U.S. for anywhere near that price point.

From TS, “Simple, clean and classic. The details remain on the inside and on the buttons. The back pockets are completely unbranded. We let the natural vegetable tanned leather patch speak for the brand as it darkens and patinas over time while the indigo fades naturally and the denim conforms to your body. The fit is more democratic: tailored but not skinny, a bit more room in the thighs and a medium rise to accomodate “the boys.”

The jean slims slightly from the knee to the leg opening so as to prevent your pants from engulfing your shoes. Lastly, they come back in to give shape to the upper section of the jean and prevent a gap at the back of the waist. A longer 4 button fly gives some extra space. Custom hardware throughout. Natural vegetable tanned leather patches.”

Find them at Taylor Stitch.

- DJS

I’m typically a Kiel’s guy but I recently was gifted a sampling of Aesop’s skin care products and have been won over by the function and wonderful odor of their goods. With soap slabs the size of a Dostoevsky novel and products that have both the finest ingredients and a sense of humor, Aesop will be present in my medicine cabinet for many moons to come.

While they have many options for a gentleman looking to care well for his skin, hair and body, I’d truly recommend their Parsley Seed products for their scent and performance. Aesop also produces plenty of other intriguing items (like their collaboration with A.P.C. on a Fine Fabric Care detergent for fragile clothing) so you really can’t go wrong with any selection you make.

From Aesop, “Since 1987, when the company first launched, Aesop has not wavered from our intention to create a range of superlative products for skin, hair and body. We are committed to using the finest plant-based ingredients and non-botanical elements such as anti-oxidants, once we are confident that research has proven them effective. All ingredients are carefully selected for the benefits they bring to your skin or for their ability to improve the performance of the product. The exquisite aromas for which Aesop is renowned are an incidental treat.

Aesop values all human endeavours undertaken with intellectual rigour, vision, and a nod to the whimsical. We make every product with the same attention to detail that we believe should be applied to life at large, taking into consideration the needs of your skin, the specifics of your environment, and the constraints on your time. We advocate the use of our products as part of a balanced life that includes a healthy diet, sensible exercise, a moderate intake of red wine, and a regular dose of good books.”

Head over to Aesop to give it a look.

- DJS

If you don’t have the scratch for Alden but are still looking to get your suede longwing on, take a look at the Haviland from Florsheim. Coming in navy, grey and brown, these are as affordable as Goodyear Welted soles come.

Make your way over to Unionmade for further details.

- DJS

I recently received a monogramed wallet to review from Chester Mox. Based out of Los Angeles, Chester Mox used to be called Voodoo Studios but have recently changed their brand name to Chester Mox. While they produce varying models of wallets for gents looking to improve their everyday carry, the Wiry Flap in Shell Cordovan is their top shelf model.

From Chester Mox, “This Wiry Flap wallet is crafted from 100% Horween Tobacco Shell Cordovan leather. The wallet can hold from 6-8 credit cards and folded cash, and is held securely by the receiving strap. This receiving strap is specially stitch into the body of the wallet. Logo is laser etched in the back of the wallet. Hand sewn with black Nylon thread. Edges are hand painted, burnished, and buffed. Each wallet comes with their own pouch. Wallet Size: 4.25″W x 3.10″H”

While I typically prefer a little more space for my cards and cash, the Tobacco Shell certainly is a thing of beauty to have in your pocket. Offering 12 different fonts for their personalization, you can opt for initials, name or whatever vulgarity you prefer.

Full disclosure here: I am a Makr Carry Goods guy through and through and have wondered at times about Chester Mox’s design and originality, as many of their items are oddly similar to those made by Makr. And while I’m not going to begin throwing accusations around, suffice to say Chester Mox does have many items that can only be found on their site, even if this Flap Wallet isn’t one of them.

Head over Chester Mox if you’d like to procure one for yourself.

- DJS