Occasionally, you just need one more layer to complete a look. While we never like to be “over-layered”, sometimes just one more piece is the perfect compliment to an otherwise underwhelming outfit. A simple option that looks great dressed up or dressed down, is a cardigan . Over a shirt and tie, or a simple tee shirt, a well fit cardigan adds a whole new dimension to any look. One of our favorites is the Cashmere Cardigan ($218) by J. Crew.
A few weeks ago one of our readers, Nathan, emailed us and asked us if we could look into the Casco Bay Boat Shoes ($59) by L.L. Bean. Admittedly, we normally associate L.L. Bean with hunting in fishing rather than boating and casual wear, but we were impressed with what we found.
For those of us who find ourselves in “business casual” office attire 5 days a week, it is pretty easy to fall into a pattern of rotating the same 5-10 solid colored or simply patterned sport shirts and a few pairs of slacks. Luckily, most of our favorite brands have quite a few sport shirt options to choose from. While anyone can go to the mall and pick up a few shirts from Polo, (not that there is anything wrong with that, we love nearly everything with the horse) we like to switch things up a bit. For example, the embroidered Skipjack logo on the Pinpoint Sport Shirt ($89) from Southern Tide is sure to garner a few approving nods from those ‘in the know’, and probably a few questions from those who want to be.
Since most of our favorite looks involve a more classic style, it is no surprise that many of our favorite brands are those that have been around for years and years. While today’s market may dictate the success of a brand based on how fashionable their line is, the market of years past put a much higher premium on the quality of goods being sold. One brand that has stood the test of time (over 100 years) is Barbour. Sure you have probably seen a number of their coats, but have you seen their Down Wax Gilet ($299)?
Obviously, for most of our readers, it isn’t the time of year to be sailing. That doesn’t mean you have to give up the look or lifestyle for the months that your boat is out of the water though. One thing that always intrigues us anytime our Top-Siders hit the deck are a boat’s lines. While they may not seem like a big deal to some, without a solid set of lines, you aren’t going anywhere. If you do manage to get where you are going, you aren’t going to stay long. A number of companies make belts inspired by boat lines, but we think Kiel James Patrick takes the prize for the most options available with their Croffix Sailing Belt ($88).
Wow, 2010 flew by and there are no signs of slowing down for 2011. Wishing you all a year of health, happiness, and prosperity.
-Ben & Ryan
