Let me start off by saying that Max of All Plaid Out is a huge reason why this blog exists. He’s been a constant source encouragement and really helped SWT get off the ground. I remember running some ideas by him about things a year or so ago, and Max really hit me get my ducks in a row. I’m quite proud and happy to present Max’s post on his father’s Levi’s Jean jacket.

My dad gave me his denim jacket when I was in high school.

“I’ve had this since I was your age.”

I wore it to an 80s dance, “Everybody Have Fun Tonight.” Red bandana tight around my forehead, I wore that thing proud, pumping my fingerless-driving-gloved fist in the air. Those really were “Glory Days.”

I asked him about it the other day.

“Bought it at Sears. Wore the hell out of that thing. See those dark-thread repairs in the arms? I got attacked by a dog. Chewed up the jacket. Repaired it myself.”

I made the mistake of wearing it into a Double RL store, and one of the shop clerks went nuts. “Dude, Capital E!” I watched as he examined the thing inside and out. He said you can really tell its quality by the waistband. And what did he think of mine?

“This thing was really made well.”

He suggested I try Denim Doctors in Los Angeles to do a “historically correct repair” to the arm’s seams which are busted.

As with most things, I don’t like clothes that are pre-worn or pre-washed. My dad assured me this thing was bulletproof when he bought it. “Stiff as a board.”

Let me do it. It makes for a much better story. My dad’s stories of this jacket are hilarious. That dog? My dad blinded it for life with a squirt gun and a little bleach.

Let that be a lesson to dogs everywhere. You attack a Wastler’s Levi’s, be prepared to live your remaining days in the dark.

How Does It Hold Up? 10/10

Quality 10/10

I’d give this a solid 10, and worth the price. As for My dad graduated from high school in 1970. The jacket is more than 40 years old.

Thanks a lot Max!

Everyone be sure All Plaid Out is on your RSS Reader or Bookmarked! This guy knows his stuff.

Yes, its that time again. Not sure how this came to my possession recently I’ve been really into Vostok Watches.

A bit of background on the watch…

The Vostok Company was founded in 1942 when one of the Moscow watch-making plants of the First Moscow Watch Factory was evacuated to Chistopol, a small town located on the Kama River in Tatarstan.

Presumably the “Vostok” brand was named after the Vostok space program, which gave the initial advancement of the USSR in the Space race (as some others soviet watch brands, named to space topics in 1960s – Poljot and Raketa).
The company was appointed an official supplier of watches for the Defense Department of the Soviet Union in 1965.

This watch is the Amphibia Diver Watch that the Submarine Divisions used.

How Does it Hold Up? 7/10

Well considering this watch has been around since the 70′s I’d say 40 years is pretty dang good! True the crystal has seen better days and is quite scratched. Doesn’t keep this guy from telling time. A few dings on the crown, who knows where this thing has been before me?!(I actually kind of don’t want to know)

It keeps time beautifully though and has recently been serviced by a Russian Master Watchmaker.

Quality 9/10

This thing was made for the Soviet Army, and was subjected to rigorous quality controls and tests. When I asked the Watchmaker about the history behind it he said these had amazing movements and sighed asking why more watches weren’t made like this.

note…i’m not a watchmaker, so this was his opinion. i also think its great but i just like wearing it and one day when i’m in my 60′s i’ll start repairing watches, not kidding.

Is It Worth The Money? 10/10

Worth the money?!  Are you kidding, this thing cost me $65 and it probably has more story and history behind it than dang near anything I own. It’s not like the previous owner shook Stalin’s hand (awkward), but it does have some military history and that always adds value.

The fact its a great waterproof metal watch makes me feel like James Bond, keeps better time than your boss’s Blackberry, and looks slick with everything I wear.

Money well spent.

Joe Gannon is a blogger/photgrapher/all around cool guy and is probably one of the nicest men in the blogosphere. I first got to know him when he was giving me some honest feedback about whether or not I should buy the ACLxMark McNairy pants (obviously I did). He offered me plenty of advice on fit etc, I was really taken aback. Joe has always had great taste in his posts and style and today he shares with us his Rapha Tour Mitts.

I’ve had these Rapha Grand Tour Mitts for 2 years.

They were around 200 and change (if I remember correctly), but have been worth every penny.  I wear them every time I’m on the bike. Whether it be my 10 miles to the office, the trails, or a local road crit.  They saw me through two weeks of touring Ireland last summer.  The mitts were equally adept in the kilometers between villages as they were at hefting pints during lunch and seafood chowder.

My favorite part is that they clean up with a bit of mild soap and water…good as new.

You really cant go wrong with anything from Rapha’s entire line….I’m so anti- neon and team kit that I pretty much have 40% of the Rapha gear.  Its an investment-yes, but isn’t anything that lasts more than 1 season?

I’d have to give these a 10 out of 10 for wear.

2 years in and, other than some scuffing, they look great once cleaned (they havent been cleaned this year…just shot them with dirt on for effect).  The quality of the stitching and the leather is evident in the fact that they are taken on and off several times a week…and I’m not delicate with them when I do it.  Literally they are made to conform to your hand with wear (sounds familiar huh?-ala selvege denim), so they fight rather tight.  Taking them off while wet with sweat usually ends up seeing them pulled off inside out and by anything I can grasp (a finger, the closure, etc…).  Like I said, I’m hard on them and they haven’t budged or popped a stitch.

Well worth the coin for 2 reasons: #1-Quality….and #2 they are no longer available. Looks like they may re-issue them at some point, but they have 4 or 5 lesser models now…when I got the GT Mitts, they were Rapha’s only glove.

Yes my good buddy James from Secret Forts was kind enough to come and drop some knowledge and experience.

Heed his words folks. The man is too humble to ever ask for the credit he deserves, and he deserves all you can give him.

I copped these at the end of January. First met them at the Pop-Up Flea in November. Knew I had to have ‘em. Took me a little while to pull the trigger.

My first impression, they just felt right. There’s something to be said for a well made, classic shoe that has some wit to it. This is Mr. McNairy’s strong suit.Having some fun with the tried and true. Marrying elements not generally married to great effect. He’s truly making the new classics.

These represent a step up in my shoe game. My taste in footwear is well documented on my site, but these are kind of the nicest shoes I own. Cost doesn’t mean nice, these are just nice. I had been deliberating for some time between a few various pairs on which to drop a grip on. Aldens, although beautifully made and handsome in wear, kinda felt too serious unless you committed to really getting them beat up some. When I see an old pair, scuffed and roughed up, well, I like that. But seeing that they were (are) available at a certain retailer, I figured on finding another option.

It was a bright sunny day. I awoke at around 10 am and looked outside, “What a beautiful day!” I said to myself.

I got dressed and headed down to _______ (insert overpriced store here) and something caught my eye.

Yes it was these loafers, its true they do look slick, but were they worth it?

Lets find out…

FYI – I purchased these shoes in July of ’09

I was so excited to get the shoes that I left the store with them on my feet. I know Band of Outsiders can be hit or miss, but these certainly felt like a hit.

I came home, took them off, and my feet were as black as can be. Crap…this is not good.

Now now I know, I should’ve expected that? How bout that’s the first sign of cheap leather!? Yes badly tanned leather bleeds folks.

How do they hold up? 3/10

I did a bit of walking in them (and when I mean a bit I mean wore them off and on for a month)

I had to stop when I heard this…FLAP!

What’s that? Oh its this…

Are you kidding!? After a month!? A MONTH!?

FAIL!

Quality? 4/10

Bad bleeding leather, not made in the USA, and the stitching was coming undone too?

Are they worth the money? 2/10

Yeah these were about $250 and lasted around a month. I won’t lie, while they lasted I did enjoy wearing them, but they were a bit much for a month of looking good.

Overall, Scott Sternberg makes some cool looking shoes but sadly they don’t seem to last.

Style to me should last more than a month.