Baron Wells
Being prepared on a trip doesn’t necessarily mean you bring more; it may just mean you pack versatile items that work for multiple occasions. Baron Wells, a new clothing label, just released its inaugural summer line balancing old and new, casual and dressy. Their sartorial offerings will fit well at a cocktail party in the city or on a veranda in the French West Indies.
The summer threads made by Baron Wells have a boating-beach-preppy-surfer look. The label’s fitted board shorts (sea pants), cotton shirts, surfing t-shirts and accessories have a tailored look of well-worn detail. We especially like their sea pants made of soft-sueded polyester, taped inside seams for comfort and two back zip pockets for function out in the waves. Hand crafted in New York from high-quality textiles, this emerging brand is worth a look when you stock up for that holiday excursion.
Some Baron Wells products are available at Atlanta’s Bill Hallman and Drew Lewis shops. Also available at Baron-Wells.com.
What started in Virginia in 1933 as a simple leather business primarily for shoe parts, has become a high-end provider of bags made of natural leather from some of the top tanneries in the U.S., Italy, Spain, New Zealand and parts of South America. Moore & Giles has a track-record of providing their leather expertise for manufacturers, architects, and interior designers in high-end hotels, fine restaurants and private jets.
Thankfully for us, in 2007 Moore & Giles launched their own line of leather bags and accessories, applying their experience in style, sophistication and innovation. Their bags are too young to know for sure, but we would imagine that their leather will yield a nice character with age given the company’s attention to quality.
On their website you can peruse the different styles of bags then choose from the leather options available. We especially like the Sackett messenger bag, Wynn mail bag, Alex day bag, and Walker vintage utility bag. Also, note the unique Meehan utility bag and bar roll up. This pair has received a lot of attention for its creation in collaboration with renowned New York mixologist Jim Meehan. You can use it as a weekend bag, but its real purpose is to haul around six wine bottles (the interior is waterproof). Made from heavy canvas and American bison hide and designed with a heritage sensibility, the bag has pockets and dividers for glasses, drink recipes, and essential bartender tools.
Oliver Spencer
Drawing inspiration from classic Americana fashion including costume design from Martin Scorsese’s movies Gangs of New York and The Aviator, Englishman Oliver Spencer makes reinterpretations of classic menswear for the discerning gentleman. Starting his British label in 2002, Spencer said he wanted to provide a bridge between streetwear and traditional clothing.
Wearable craftsmanship with themes pulled from hunting and military garb, his quality-made basics come with contemporary touches and tailored fitting. Spencer’s clothing can likely complement your current wardrobe regardless of whether your style veers to the classic or the adventurous.
Check out his website or visit one of his stores in New York or London and you’ll see why so many British celebrities don his handiwork.
Apolis Activism
When we first heard about the brothers behind Apolis Activism we liked their mantra that humanity is the common thread that unites us. We recently had the chance to hangout with Raan and Shea Parton in their downtown Los Angeles loft workshop and discovered they are the real deal: a rare combination of great guys behind the brand, quality heritage inspired clothing and a vision for using their fashion to improve the lives of those in need.
The Parton brothers started making clothes in 2004, bringing into their product their global experiences, belief in the bigger picture, and a keen eye for style. Apolis Activism is both a commercial enterprise and a catalyst for change in the developing world, providing opportunity, not charity.
We were especially impressed with their partnership with Filson and Invisible Children to make their Philanthropist Briefcase; the bag helps farmers and the local cotton industry in Uganda.
Apolis, which means “global citizen,” uses high-quality fabrics and a combination of classic American worker and military wear with updated fitting and design elements. We’ve been wearing their plaid field shirt, navy field jacket and chambray tie, but look to their website for other great seasonal collections, cause partnerships and an interesting journal. Apolis
Salt Optics
Buy quality. Buy classic. Buy to last. We are big fans of these mantras, which is why we like what some surf industry veterans are doing with their sunglasses. Salt Optics, a relatively new company, is producing some high quality, classic designs with appropriate, subtle updates for today’s lifestyles. Salt’s designs (with names like Dafoe, Nicolas, Stuart, and Warner) find a good balance between a timeless, simple look, and room for your individual expression.
Their signature (PFV) Polarized lenses make sure that the optical center of their lenses are positioned directly over the pupil to reduce glare and let in the proper amount of light. Especially helpful is their Fit Guide on their website. Part of buying the right pair of frames is matching them to the shape of your face. Compare yourself (round, oval, triangle, square, oblong) and note their suggestions for what will look right on you. These aren’t inexpensive glasses, but investing in the right pair should last you beyond just a season and a fashion trend. Salt Optics
