The Summer Five

The other night Kyle, aka Mr. Waistcoat, randomly asked me "So I see here on the blog you did a Fall Five... what are your Five Picks for Summer?" I don't know what made him go on my blog or why he's curious about what I'd buy if funds were endless... but he inspired me to have a crack at it. He's up in Boston right now training for his new job at Made in USA superstar brand Ball and Buck, so this is also an exercise in helping me pass the time.

Interestingly, this is one of the first times that I've made a pick list from which I've already purchased some items. I guess window shopping stopped being empowering enough and I needed to start biting the bullet?

 1. Blue Chambray Popover by Gitman Brothers Vintage, $156 from Need Supply Co. This shirt is so basic it could have its own late 90's Gap commercial with an assortment of racially diverse and eclectic artists bouncing around an all-white stage to a carefully choreographed yet whimsical song. No but really, you'll throw it on the floor at night and then put it back on the next day... and the next day... and 2. Angler sunglasses in Medium Yellow HD PC by Ball and Buck x Randolph Engineering, $188. Not a bad price for Randolphs, ever. Lifetime guarantee too. At the rate that guys break sunglasses your ROI with these suckers is pretty high. They won't do you too much good on super bright days but at least you'll look dope and slightly 80s-ish. 3. Camp Shorts by Topo Designs, $89. Kyle and I have been oogling these shorts since we first got the email blast about them. Practical looking without the bro cargo shorts thing happening. Necessary. 4. Corsica loafer by Dubarry of Ireland, $199. I'm a little biased, but I've seen similar driving style loafers by a few other brands, even made in Europe and similar price points, but Dubarry have been in the business of making shoes for almost 80 years now and these mocs are a home run. 5. Coral Print suit by Saturdays NYC, $75. I just love this print. Coral camo? Maybe. Get these. Girls will flock to you.

1.  Palm Tree Scoopback Suit by JCrew, $110. Let me preface this by saying that I've spent 2 years looking for a one piece that I was willing to drop coin on and I ended up with this! A throwback that looks like something I actually had when I was 6 years old. Made in USA (wow, go JCrew!) from a photo taken by a JCrew designer of a similar suit they made in the 90s. 2. Sigmund sunglasses by Acne Studios, $360. Acetate frames, made in France. They're beautiful, and you can't gripe about the price because you're paying for exquisite design. Or you could go to Urban and get $15 knockoffs that will make you go blind and promptly fall apart. 3. Teal fade collar by Found My Animal, $56. Made in Brooklyn by people who are passionate about animal rescue. Otto has been batting his dog eyelashes at me in hopes of getting one of these for a long time. Blue's the thing this summer and we like to match. 4. Sailboat trucker hat by Wampum NY, $25. Designed in NY, so, and I had to get it because my Strong Brand camo trucker has gone missing and I'm on the verge of suicide. 5. All Black tote by Filson, $140. If this bag were a person, and you looked at it the wrong way, you don't want to know what would happen to you. For now I'd like it to chill out and hold my sunblock, books, and beach throw awhile. 

Guest Writer Dope Design Feature: KZ on Topo Designs

Being a full time traveler, both by nature and profession, brought me to Denver, Colorado in January. This trip gave me the opportunity to scope out a place that has been on my radar since it opened: the Topo Designs flagship store. I've always seen their bags online and been legitimately stoked about the aesthetics of their bags and the ethos of their brand, so walking in to their shop was incredibly exciting for me. Every bag is made right here in the USA in a LEED certified building that has a view of the Rockies; I got to experience the brand at its source. Their bags are simple, classic, stylish, and they provide you with exactly what you need in terms of function. No frills.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that they carried other exciting brands in their store, such as Randolph Engineering, who make my trusty aviator sunglasses, and Woolrich Woolen Mills, hailing from my beloved home state of Pennsylvania. Topo does an awesome collaboration with Woolrich, as seen in the photo I took as I stepped into their store.

Upon entering, I was greeted by a super knowledgeable guy named Josh who walked me through all of the bags that Topo Designs has to offer. I have seen similar, cheaper bags on the market in both style and function but for a few extra bucks, I think it's worthwhile to support the thoughtful design, quality, and philosophy that goes into every Topo product. Josh unknowingly led me to the one that was exactly what I needed: the Mountain Briefcase. It's available in the three colors pictured below, but I came to the conclusion that Duck Camo was the obvious choice for me.

Since I am writing this after having used the bag for nearly two months, I can tell you with certainty that this has been the ultimate bag for all of my needs. It can be used like a traditional two-handle briefcase that comes with a removable shoulder strap, but it also has stowaway backpack straps that allow you to carry it from inside the office straight to the mountaintop. Within a week of buying my bag I took it to ski slopes, mountain trails, the airport, and the workplace. I could comfortably fit my snacks, water bottle, and extra clothing layers for being on the mountain, which I then switched out to fit two laptops, some documents, and notebooks for the workplace. I decided to pick up the accessory straps which can be attached to the leather lash tabs on the outside of the bag. This comes in handy if you need to carry more than you can stow away inside your bag. There are also some cinch straps on the base of the bag. These cinches were useful for strapping down my jacket when I had to take it off as I began to overheat on my hike.

It goes without saying that I am now officially a Topo Designs fan for life. If you need a bag, check them out. I know Anne has been coveting some gear from Topo for over two years now and, after allowing me to blog about them, she'll probably order something very soon.

TopoDesigns.com