A couple of new cards from Hammerpress showed up the other day here at the store. Hammerpress, out of Kansas City, makes the incredible cards they make using antique letter-press techniques. And by doing that they preserve an aspect of our history that might otherwise face extinction in the cruel and often misguided onrush of modernity.
It seems like we should be able to tell you a lot about Tart Vintage. But we can’t, because we don’t know that much about them. And while we strive to be as informative as possible when it comes to the items that we carry, we also like things to be a little oblique sometimes. Especially when those things speak as clearly for themselves as these do.
Here’s what we know: a collection of the most beautiful bags we’ve ever seen arrived at 1423 South Congress Ave from somewhere in the mysterious hinterlands of the Pacific Northwest. The bags were constructed out of vintage materials such as blankets and awnings, and every item appears to be one-of-a-kind and the work of geniuses.
(Lots more images after the jump.)
“It does not matter that Dicken’s [sic] world is not lifelike; it is alive.” — Lord David Cecil
A new shipment of Hush Puppies has arrived at 1423 South Congress Avenue, and they are perfect. The Bozeman wingtip comes in a black leather that’s equal parts Joe Friday and the Hipster Cop, a cognac leather that is the rare shoe that will un-ironically look great with either a suit or a pair of jeans (the opposite of classic sneakers), and a dark brown canvas-and-leather that looks like the kind of shoe you’d wear to a horse race if you didn’t want to be a jerk about it. Meanwhile, if you believe that loafers are meant to be worn while loafing, but not to be confused with “house shoes,” then the Caines loafer is the shoe that you want.
(More images after the jump.)
Something as classic as your chinos doesn’t require that much of a twist. The people at RRL seem to understand that, as they’ve provided an olive variation on their venerable khakis. These aren’t your “go-to-Hell” pants for spring. These are your All-American classic year-round-get-out-and-get-stuff-done pants.
(More images after the jump.)
It’s a good thing Lamar Soap Company — the fine folks who make the Moustache Wrestler mustache wax we carry — is based here in Austin, because we have a tough time keeping it on the shelves. It’s exactly the kind of product you want to put on your facial hair. It’s 100% natural, completely cruelty-free, and the sandalwood scent smells great, which is important for anything applied directly under one’s nose. With it, you can tame your mustache and keep stray hairs out of your mouth. Without it, you’ll never have a mustache like this.
First, a note: The STAG Blog is starting to look like a RRL fan site. There are a couple of factors contributing to this. One, we’ve been concentrating on new arrivals to the store at 1423 South Congress Avenue, and it just so happens that it’s the RRL stuff that’s showing up first. And, two, RRL makes really good clothes.
Now, there’s a lot going on out in Midland, Texas. Over 110,000 people live there. Spud Webb, Tommy Lee Jones, and Explosions in the Sky have all called Midland home at one point or another. Parts of that movie Fandango were shot in and around the city, and that movie is great.
But what’s really going on in Midland is roughnecks in oil fields doing hard, dirty work. If we had to guess we’d say it’s these guys that inspired RRL’s new Midland Wash of their Low Straight jeans.
(More images after the jump.)
Just look at this thing.
STAG would like to wish a happy 70th to the GOAT.
In the world of sports it’s called the “eye test.” The eye test ignores statistics in favor of what is perceived. Statistics will tell you that there’s lots of guys on the team with better shooting percentages, but the eye test just wants to win. So pass the ball to Robert Horry.
A similar principle applies to the world of men’s cologne. Moonshine, from right here in Texas, is billed as “a woodsy aroma with hints of spice: including notes of black pepper, tobacco, leather, gin, and patchouli.” We are, perhaps, not well versed enough in the language of perfumery to know, just from reading that, whether or not Moonshine smells any good. But we have smelled it, and thus have employed the “smell test,” and can assure you that this is some of the best cologne we’ve ever come across.