Excellent Joe

Next time you meet up for a few sunset rounds, shock and amaze your plaid-wearing friends with an unexpected blue-and-yellow bold stripe button-down, cool textural khaki shorts, and a pair of classic bucks (scuff marks preferred). And after your third glass of the “bartender’s special,” you’ll be able to expound freely on the concept of being both dressy and casual at the same time.

• Gitman Brothers Vintage Cabana Stripe at Need Supply $155.00
• Steven Alan Reverse Seam Short at Bows + Arrows $115.00 (on sale)
• 1901 Carson Oxford Shoe at Nordstrom $99.95
• Classic Snap On Leather Belt at Need Supply $35.00

We love these khaki shorts that have a little more tooth in the texture to give you that extra umph below the belt. As if you need it.

Steven Alan Reverse Seam Short at Bows + Arrows $115.00 (on sale)

Poor Popeye. Life at sea was rough back then, and yoga classes were few and far between. Forget his desperate cat-and-mouse relationship with Olive Oyle. Forget his pipe smoking addiction. Forget his canned spinach delusions.  Forget his grotesque, disproportionately muscled physique. What creeps us out the most about this childhood hero is the fact that one of his eyes is missing!  We can only guess it was gouged out in the worst possible way… like with a giant fish hook.  At least now his name makes sense, and we know why he’s always winking.

Our nautical theme is whistling a happier tune:

Penfield Pacjac 35th Anniversary $128.00

Loomstate Organic School’s Pocket Tee $62.00

Epaulet Modified Walt Shorts $125.00

SeaVees Desert Boots $145.00

J.Crew Military Web Belt $34.50

Although these vintage plaid shorts are crisp and clean in the photos above, we prefer to take the edge off by not pressing them.  Its Madras cloth rumples so beautifully that we call it the bed head of fabrications.  So skip the iron for more of a “Just Woke Up” look; it’s not just for breakfast anymore.

Epaulet Modified Walt Shorts $125.00

Stay cool both literally and figuratively by reinventing a old school pair of poly cotton walking shorts with a sporty chest striped polo and a pair of frayed-edge canvas slip-on sandals.

• Bonobos Navy Color Block Polo $65.00
• J.Press Charcoal Walking Shorts $59.25 (on sale)
• Sanuk Standard Sandals $48.00

This timeless poly cotton masterpiece is made in the good old US of A and can take you from tool to cool in a matter of minutes.  Sit them low on your hips and give your belts a day off; you don’t want to actually look like a grandfather, dude.

J.Press Charcoal Walking Shorts $59.25 (on sale)

Don’t throw away the deodorant just yet: we’re simply talking about adding a little more texture with chambray shirts, cut-off corduroy shorts, and sun-faded v-neck tees.  Add  blips of neon with a retro running shoe.

J.Crew Broken-in No-pocket V-neck Tee $24.50

New Balance 420 Retro Running Shoes $59.50

Gap Short Sleeve Gray Chambray Shirt $49.50

We’re big fans of making our own cut-offs.  We use either an old pair of long pants that we already own or buy a pair on sale for dirt cheap.  Right now, cords seem to be the cut-offs du jour, but chinos and jeans will work just fine. The ideal inseam length is between nine and eleven inches. Start at eleven and cut again if it feels too long.  Be careful!  It’s better to have to cut two or three times to achieve the ideal length than to cut once and find your reflection staring back at you in a pair of Dasiy Dukes.

We’re obsessed with Bonobos!  These light weight twill shorts are must-haves for summer.  The fit is a total upgrade from all things khaki.  Who knew a pair of chino shorts could make you look so good?

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If you never went camping in the 80′s, now is your chance to simulate the experience.  Bold plaid work shirts in unexpected colors, vintage crew tees, corduroy hiking shorts, and classic leather mocs all refer back to the Great Outdoors in the not-too-distant past. Today, you could throw this on and look perfectly fine curled up on the couch with a bowl of cereal and your favorite app.  It’s the thought that counts, right?

• Steven Alan Vintage Work Shirt $138.00
• Loomstate Organic Blank Crew Tee $40
• L.L.Bean Signature Corduroy Short $49.00
• James Perse Aged Leather Belt $150
• L.L.Bean Signature Eastport Handsewn Leather Ranger Moc $79
• Simple Shoes Hemp and Organic Cotton Flip Flops $50

Instead of wearing those tragically “authentic” cargo shorts from 1992, try a hiking-inspired cord short with lamb chop pockets in a slimmer, slightly shorter fit that won’t make a passerby think you draped an army-issue tent around your waist.

L.L.Bean Signature Corduroy Short $49.00