Where does the time go? Not only are we shocked that it is already time for another bowtie Friday post, we are trying to figure out where September went. It seems like mere weeks ago that we were yearning for the weather to warm up enough for us to break out our favorite light weight fabrics, and now here we are packing them all away. In a vain attempt to convince Mother Nature to give us at least a few more weeks of mild temperatures, today’s pick is a bow that has been in heavy rotation all summer, the Annapolitan Beau ($50) by Starboard Clothing Co.*
At Bows & Boats, we love seeing how young brands go about setting themselves apart from the crowd. With so many established brands already in the market, and more competition joining the fray on a daily basis, finding a way to keep new customers coming back week in and week out is certainly quite a task. One company that has come up with an interesting concept to keep their line fresh is Ledbury. With weekly releases of Short Run Shirting (prices vary), it is nearly impossible not to make a weekly visit (or two) to Ledbury.com.
When we were young, it was always a thrill to see how big of a splash we could make out of a puddle on the sidewalk. Now that our shoes cost more than we would care to admit, those same puddles are avoided like the plague. Luckily, most of our shoes still provide at least a little bit of protection from the elements. Unfortunately, for the ladies in our lives one misstep into a puddle can really ruin a day. That is, of course, unless they are wearing a pair of Original Tall Boots ($125) by Hunter.
In the past few weeks, we have seen more rain in Annapolis than we would care to see in a year. Literally, it seems like we are having torrential downpours every other day. We still revert to hardcore weather gear when we know it is going to be really bad, but for the days that there is only a chance of rain we always turn to our trusty trench. Recently, the gang over at Bonobos took their first step into the world of outerwear with a trenchcoat they have dubbed The Shamus ($298).
Just like every man needs to have a go to pair of khakis and a go to oxford, a go to hoodie is an absolute must for any wardrobe. For everything from trips to the gym, to crisp Fall afternoons spent outdoors, a great fitting hoodie will never let you down. Recently, J. Crew unveiled a new line of limited edition pieces called “Wallace & Barnes,” and one piece, the Peatross Sweatshirt ($158), fits the bill of a go to hoodie perfectly.
It never ceases to amaze us that there are people out there with two belts, one dress belt, and one casual belt. Literally, having this mindset is something that we can not even fathom. Beyond an array of leather belts (casual, dress, dark, light, etc.), our collection runs the gamut from nautical rope to needlepoint to grosgrain ribbon. Recently, our friends across the pond at Smart Turnout sent us one of their ribbon belts ($79) to check out, and we were quite impressed.
From tennis with friends, to golf with business associates, to drinks with the boys, spending time at the club is always a welcomed break from the chaos that is every day life. Unfortunately, with life being as busy as it is, we don’t have as much time as we used to to break away to hit the links or the tennis courts as of late. Because we are spending yet another Friday in the office, and not out playing, we thought the least we could do is show some love for our favorite club sports with the Racquet Club Bow Tie ($45) by Vineyard Vines.
While they have always been a staple for us, we feel like corduroy pants are going to be bigger than normal this year. It seems like all of our favorite brands have a great pair available, and we are honestly having trouble deciding which ones “need” to end up in our possession before the year is out. Some may consider cords a viable option for more formal occasions, but we tend to prefer them in a more casual setting. In our opinion, the best pair of cords is one that can be worn whenever and wherever you would wear a pair of jeans. A perfect example are the 5-pocket Straight Fit Cords ($59.50) by Lands End Canvas.
Just as we are building our Fall wardrobes, the ladies in our lives are doing the exact same thing. More and more layering pieces are coming out of storage, and a few new ones have already made their way into this year’s rotation. Of course, cardigan’s are a key piece to any ladies wardrobe, and before we know it they will be out in full force. If you are looking to add something with a bit more flair to your lineup, the Cody Cardigan ($148) from Lilly Pulitzer is the perfect pick.
It is no secret that we are really enjoying revamping our Fall wardrobe here at Bows & Boats this year. From new boots, to new blazers, and everything in between, 2011 is shaping up to be a year that quite a number of new pieces are going to find their way into the closet. Recently, our friends at Southern Tide unveiled their vintage collection. There are a ton of great pieces in the line, but our absolute favorite, and a must have for this Fall, is the Nautical Stripe Long Sleeve Polo ($98).
