Leather and Brass: Narragansett Leathers.
Straps on Straps
Bag by Navali (full review forthcoming)
A Great Value in Custom Belts: Narragansett Leathers
Narragansett Leathers makes some of my favorite belts. The one pictured above is a fairly recent purchase, and is their 1 3/8” Hoof Pick Belt. It costs $47 (one of Narragansett’s pricier offerings), and is made from top-grade American-tanned bridle leather. While $47 isn’t the cheapest price on a belt that you can find, it is certainly, in my opinion, one of the soundest investments you can make on a belt that I’ve ever come across—especially when you consider the fact that each belt is custom made to order.
The belt I’ve worn nearly every day for the past two years is Narragansett’s 1” belt in Chestnut leather with an oval brass buckle. The leather has aged beautifully and shows no sign of giving up the ghost any decade soon, and it only cost $34. I’ve got my eyes set on one of their Pelikan Hook Belts for purchase some time in the near future.
The ordering process is relatively simple, and quite quaint in today’s age of impersonal ecommerce. It involves easy instructions for measuring a belt that you currently wear, which you then email to Alan McKinnon (who co-owns the business with his partner Ann Marie) along with what belt model, leather width, and buckle style you want. Alan will then respond with PayPal instructions, and once you’ve made your payment he makes your belt, which will arrive on your doorstep in a matter of weeks.
I highly recommend getting yourself a Narragansett Leathers belt. They’re beautifully crafted, built to last, and priced honestly.
Classic Combo: Dive Watch on ‘Skunk’ NATO
Modded Seiko SKX-007.
Luxurious. Silk scarves at Khaki’s of Carmel.
New Bottle-Opener/Keychain
Vertebral.
If exotic leather belts is your thing, Khaki’s of Carmel has a wide selection to choose from.
Accessories
If You’re Hard Pressed for Gift Ideas…
You can’t go wrong with a plaid or tartan scarf. Cashmere if you’re feeling flush, lambswool if you’re on a budget. They’re both great, and the recipient is sure to be pleased either way.
Clearly, I love scarves. They’re an excellent way to add some color to an otherwise drab or conservative outfit, and they’re extraordinarily pragmatic in so far as keeping your neck warm is essential for keeping one’s core temperature well-regulated in cold weather.
The majority of the scarves pictured above were purchased over the years at Sierra Trading Post, one of my absolute favorite places to buy new things on deep discount. You can always count on them to have Johnston’s of Elgin (Made in Scotland) cashmere scarves in stock (though right now there aren’t a ton of available patterns), as well as lambswool ones. Another brand worth checking out on STP is Moon of England, especially for their lambswool tartan scarves. Although they’re a little on the short side (50”), they keep one quite toasty and are eminently affordable ($15 w/o any additional discounts). And though I don’t own one, the Moon of England heathered cashmere scarf looks quite nice, and is currently even more affordable than the Johnston’s of Elgin ones.
Additionally, if you sign up for STP’s ‘Deal Flyer’ you are bound to get some nice discount codes, which will bring the prices for these scarves down even further.
Vintage Brooks Brothers Tie: 11/29/12
Navali ‘Rigger Rucksack’
Chester Mox: Leather Wallets Handmade in the U.S.A.
I recently received a wallet to review from the Los Angeles-based husband and wife team that runs Chester Mox. Chester Mox offers a wide-ranging assortment of handmade leather wallets that run the gamut from eminently affordable (even by my standards) sleeve-style wallets like this $39 “dogleg” number made from Horween Chromexcel leather, cleverly designed simple multi-pocket slim wallets like this $60 Horween horsehide one, all the way up to more limited run pieces like this $240 dark green Horween shell cordovan slim bifold wallet, or this $360 American alligator bifold.
I first heard about Chester Mox about a year ago when they were written up on PutThisOn!, at which point I immediately placed an order for this $44 dogleg wallet made out of Horween Front Quarter Horsehide. I’ve been carrying it every day since I received it (until the review wallet arrived) and it is breaking in beautifully. The simple and robust construction has had no problems despite the wallet having been slipped in an out of overly-tight jeans and pants pockets thousands of times. The thick nylon stitching remains tight in the same places where it was originally stiched on by hand, and the handpainted edges of the thick leather look as good as new, though with a bit more character now. And the smooth horsehide has been tastefully darkened by the oils from my hands.
The wallet I received from Chester Mox for review is this more refined compact bifold made out of an exceptionally fine high-grade Italian calf which Chester Mox calls “Antiqued.” It is the same leather that John Lobb and Hermes uses for their “Museum Calf” products. This wallet is absolutely stunning, and is probably the nicest leather accessory I’ve ever handled, and I’m not being hyperbolic. It has been beautifully hand burnished, and has subtle color gradations that give it a deeply luxurious look. It reminds me of what a finely bound and covered renaissance incunabula must have looked like, and I’ve no doubt it could weather the passage of centuries and only get finer with age. The wallet has been elegantly and simply designed, and has slots to hold 4 cards (you could of course stack cards if you want, and the leather would no doubt stretch to accomodate that) and two additional ‘hidden’ pockets where you can stash your cash and more cards if necessary.
The wallet is very compact, but it is not dainty, and it feels quite solid in the hand. And it slips easily into the interior chest pocket of a suit jacket without creating any kind of unsightly protuberance. Chester Mox offers a laser etching service for an additional $10, and there are numerous fonts you can choose from. The laser etching on both my Chester Mox wallets is precise, and was perfectly executed.
What I really appreciate about Chester Mox is their wide range of products and the very reasonable pricing structure they have in place. There are some other companies around that sell very similar wallets to Chester Mox’s simpler offerings, and they charge about twice as much, and have a narrower selection of leathers to choose from and no personalization options. That makes Chester Mox a no-brainer for me. And with the holidays fast-approaching, a Chester Mox wallet would make an amazing gift for a friend, loved one, or family member.
Plaid Out.
Knotted.
