Sometimes you just can’t beat your favorite pair of jeans and a comfortable t-shirt. After spending the weekend in just that, the starch of a dress shirt was quite the change when we got ready this morning. Though most of our favorite t-shirts have been in the rotation for years, we do our best to work in a few new options from time to time. The latest shirt to be given a trial run is the Pocket Tee ($27) by Salmon Cove.
While we have many fantastic memories from our days in college, some of the fondest of all come from times when we were away from campus. Whether it was a Spring Break trip to the beach, a visit to a friend’s school, or just a random weekend excursion, it was always fun to duck out of town for a few days. Back then, our luggage of choice tended to be whatever random bag was close when we decided to pack. Now that we realize the importance of a quality bag, our choice for weekend travel is the Worton Weekender ($315) from Blue Claw Co.
From silk to wool to cotton, we wear bowties made of just about everything. That being said, just like the rest of our wardrobe some fabrics see much more use in some seasons than others. For Spring and Summer, we tend to stick with cotton, and as the temperatures drop we head back to the comfort of a classic silk or the occasional wool. If you are the same way, you should probably take a look at the Cotton Gingham Bow Tie ($68) by Tommy Hilfiger before you retire your cotton ties for winter.
State pride is a funny thing, you either have it or you don’t. For example, if you have ever seen Wedding Crashers, you likely remember the line “Crabcakes and football, that’s what Maryland does!” While we are proud of both our crabcakes and our football (yes, we liked the UMD uniforms on Labor Day), we would hope that the rest of the country knows that there is a lot more to our great state than that. Some call it being a homer, we just call it state pride. If you are looking to show your state pride, we highly suggest taking a look at the selection of hats ($25) currently offered from our friends at State Traditions.
On a recent trip to the Vineyard Vines store in Bethesda, we were blown away by how many great women’s options are hitting the market. Of course, Vineyard Vines always comes strong, but we think that this Fall collection may be one of their best yet. While we will certainly be profiling a few pieces from the line over the next few months, one item that is a perfect transition piece as the seasons begin to changes is their Seaview Aran Sweater ($118).
Well, it is official, the leaves around Annapolis are beginning to turn. They aren’t screaming orange just yet, but it is only a matter of time before we are back to raking leaves and wondering where summer went. Unfortunately, that means that it will soon be a bit too chilly to rock our beloved boatshoes. Fortunately, it is a reason for us to add some new boots to the rotation. One option that we have been drooling over for quite some time now is the Hunt Boot ($376) from our friends at Oak Street Bootmakers.
We talk a lot about staples and must haves on Bows & Boats. From a navy blazer, to boatshoes, to chinos, there are tons of things that we think every man should have at the ready at all times. One staple we haven’t touched on, yet may just be the most worn piece in our wardrobe, is a simple white button down. Sure, everyone makes a white button down, but it should come as no surprise that our favorite comes from Brooks Brothers. Their White All-Cotton Non-Iron Dress Shirts ($88) are the stuff of legend as far as we are concerned.
Growing up, it seemed like everyone’s dad had the same Saturday wardrobe in the Fall, a plaid workshirt and jeans. Whether he was working in the yard, doing things around the house, or just enjoying a cup of coffee, dear old dad was always rocking the plaid. Well, now that we are both fathers, and Fall is just around the bend, it only seems right that we continue the tradition. Of course, we have to add a little bit of style to the equation, and the Thompson Pocket Workshirt ($89.50) by Rugby fits the bill perfectly.
It’s hard to believe that this Sunday will mark the tenth anniversary of September 11th. Like the rest of our generation, we can tell you exactly where we were and what we were doing when we found out our great nation was under attack. Far too many lives were lost that day, and the actions of our enemies will never be forgotten. Though September 11th will never be a day of celebration, we are firm believers that it should always be remembered. This week we are bending the bowtie Friday rules a bit and profiling both a bowtie and a traditional tie that have been created to raise awareness for the 9/11 Memorial (shown above).
While there were a ton of great college football games last weekend, it seems that all of the talk this week has centered around uniforms. From UGA’s all red Pro Combat set up on Saturday to Maryland’s State Pride uniforms on Monday night, we have never heard so much buzz about team gear. While the nation talks about what was worn on the field, we are far more curious about what was worn in the stands. Do you have a gameday uniform that puts those on the field to shame? If so, we want to see it! Thanks to Smathers & Branson, we are happy to announce that one lucky Bows & Boats reader is going to win an S&B belt to add to their gameday wardrobe*. Keep reading to find out how.
