As we near our first anniversary, we are making a few changes here at Bows & Boats, so over the next few days the site may look a bit strange from time to time. We promise things will be back to normal before you know it.
If there is anything you would like to see included as we roll out Bowties & Boatshoes v2.0, please drop us a note at Comments@BowtiesandBoatshoes.com
-Ryan & Ben
It is no secret that we are really dreading the thought of retiring our boatshoes for the season. Well, it dawned on us that the ladies in our lives are going through the same thing with a whole host of warm weather shoes that are slowly being put into hibernation. If we had to bet, we would say that the most missed for them will be their trusty Navajos from Jack Rogers. If you find yourself in the same boat, you should absolutely take a look at the Rogers Slim Ballet Flats ($198).
From go to hell pants, to brightly colored bowties, many might consider our style of dress a bit “bold.” Well, if that is what they want to call it, that is fine with us, things could definitely be far worse. Of course, this time of year the color palette tends to calm down a bit, but we still work in plenty of bold options whenever we can. One shirt that is certainly a bit more bold than the traditional pastel colored oxfords that we all love is the Overdyed Oxford ($165) by Gitman Vintage.
The polo section of our closet is one that seems to always be growing. Whether we are turned on to a new brand, or just attracted to a new color or cut from one of our old favorites, we are never not on the lookout for a new polo. Now that the weather is turning cold, our attention has been turned to long sleeve polos as of late. Recently, one of our favorite up and coming brands, johnnie-O, entered into the world of long sleeve polos with their aptly named Long Sleeve Pique Polo ($65).
In an effort to continue improving Bows and Boats, Ryan and Ben will be bringing it down for maintenance this Sunday evening. We intend to have it back up by Monday morning, but we wanted to inform you of the downtime.
Thanks for your support!
For those weekend days when you are planning on keeping things simple with jeans and a t-shirt, but are still going to need something to keep you warm when you head out, a high quality fleece is they way to go. Sure, there are a ton of options out there, but if we are using a fleece as our only only source of warmth we tend to go with offerings from companies that focus on gear that is made to stand up to harshest of elements. This weekend, we are sticking with an old favorite, the Classic Retro-X Jacket ($199) by Patagonia.
If you have read our previous bowtie Friday posts, you know that we have a soft spot for bows that are made of some “non-traditional” tie fabrics. From seersucker and madras in the summer, to wools and tweeds for the cooler months, we are always looking for something just a bit different than the norm. Luckily for us, a number of our favorite brands have realized just how good a bowtie can look in something other than silk. Our latest love comes from the gang at Lands End Canvas. Their Wool Bowtie ($59.50) is destined to be in heavy rotation this year.
If you asked us to make a list of our favorite places to spend a Fall day, it is a safe bet that the campus of our Alma Mater would be at, or quite near, the top. There is just something about a crisp day on campus that can’t be beat. Recently, Vineyard Vines released a group of shirts that will fit in flawlessly on any campus this Fall. The aptly named Collegiate Shirts ($89.50 – $98.50), look great whether you are still taking classes, or a few years removed.
One of the best parts about running a site like Bows & Boats is when up and coming brands reach out to us to introduce a new product or line. Recently, a pair of ladies based in New England reached out to us with something we rarely see from new companies, tunics. Sure, there are a ton of tunics on the market, but how many are coming from small companies and being made in the USA? From what we can tell, not many, so we are happy to introduce you to Port Winsor and their Wellesley Tunic ($155).
If you are a recent graduate, it can be quite the daunting task to build a professional wardrobe. Sure, you probably have a suit or two hanging in the closet, but once you land that dream job and realize that jeans or chinos aren’t going to cut it every day (nor should they in a work environment in our opinion), you are going to have to upgrade. If you are still a bit hesitant to branch out from brands you have come to love, take a look at some of their professional offerings. For example, Rugby has a number of great options for the work place. One of our favorites is the Chalk-Stripe Newbury Pant ($248).