Growing up in New England, I was raised in a family that, stereotypically, cherished thriftiness and a well-worn aesthetic. In a household of five boys, it was both economical and a practical imperative. That top image is a little before I showed up, but rest assured that I wore pretty much all of that gear…
Brooks Brothers. If there is a single brand which at its core is a byword for ‘American,’ it’s Brooks Brothers. Around the world that name quite literally defines the ideal of classic American style. And, with nearly 200 years of Ivy League, East Coast establishment history under its belt, Brooks can lay claim to the…
As the world of office dwellers shakes the collective dust off its shoulders and stumbles over to the closet, there is a sense of uncertainty in the air. What the heck to wear back to the office – when one even bothers going ‘to’ the office? As the very concept of where to work is…
A few years ago, we had a chance to sit down with award-winning fashion designer Michael Bastian and discuss his belief that what we know as classic American style was in fact born from the confluence of three disparate societal trends. In this article we revisit that conversation and Bastian’s insightful observations of American men’s…
The question which often lingers in the back of many a man’s mind is this: does it matter what you wear when no one is looking? Whether one works in a casual office or from home, or simply operating out of other’s sight, many of us often struggle with what to wear. Too formal and…
Here at OTC, we are lamenting the loss of one of our favorite bags – the No. 43 Mailbag – made by American leather goods brand Colonel Littleton. The design for the No. 43 was based on the iconic U.S. Postal Service mail carrier bag, once a ubiquitous sight on America’s tree-lined streets. This roomy…
In partnership with British label Charles Tyrwhitt, we are thinking through some real-world issues faced by men and the clothing they wear. In 2016, the UK Office for National Statistics determined that 3.7 million workers traveled for two hours or more every weekday as part of their commute. This might involve walking, driving, cycling, taking…
A debate has been slowly but steadily percolating to the surface in the world of menswear opining as to whether or not the wallet’s luck has finally run out. With digital currency inevitably moving into the mainstream, and cards otherwise replacing cash for many transactions, the question of the wallet’s relevance and even need is…
Sneakers can be a tricky thing. Often, they are either too sporty to be practicable for everyday wear or more shoe-like than performance, therefore limited to fashionable pursuits. There are some which can cross these lines – classic tennis shoes like Stan Smiths come to mind. All that being said, sneakers, especially purpose-built ones, have…
Ball and Buck is not your typical menswear brand. Founded in 2008 by Mark Bollman, a guy who actually does a lot out-of-doors, this Boston-based company offers more than just rugged looking gear. B&B is an experiential brand for guys who don’t simply want to look like they hike, camp, shoot skeet, or trail blaze,…
