Ramblings of the Mind

This is a stack of Brooks Brothers' shirts that I found whilst meandering online. Little things like this, random pictures or ideas, make fashion so much fun for me. The combination of various textures, patterns, fabrics, and colors appeal to me.

As I was going through my computer to find things to add to the blog layout, I rediscovered a few images that I had copied from various areas of the internet in order to utilize in my blog. Now, I will do so.

This is Levi's marketing stating how to purchase and wear your Shrink-to-Fits. Information straight from the company. I'll have to post this to see if it's even readable or if it's too small as I have it.

It's too small - here are the official Levi's STF-recommended steps:

1) Find your true size

2) Wear them out of the store (after you buy them)

3) Live in them as long as possible

4) Wash them as little as possible

5) When absolutely necessary, soak them for 20 minutes with a cupful of Dr. Bronner's Soap

6) Let them drip dry until they are slightly damp

7) Put them back on (hopefully on a warm day or by a nice fire)

8) As they dry, they'll shape to your body

9) ENJOY!!

So, that's pretty much the whole process that I had arrived at on my own anyways. Maybe I should have scanned my hardrive a bit more first.

I know I haven't addressed suiting as a form of fashion yet, but I thought this picture just exuded the attitude a suit should grant its wearer. This is from Banana Republic a few months back.

I don't know this man, nor do I profess to. His image was floating around the WAYWT thread on Styleforum.net and I thought he exuded coolness. I'd like to make his image mine. Or at least work from that same type of pallet.

Honestly, that's all for now. I'm currently wishing I had more money on-hand to be able to purchase a few denim projects that I have in mind. Currently, Levi's.com is having a %40 off sale and their 501 Selvage STF and their Raw Indigo Trucker Jacket have my interest. Sadly, I could have gotten both of them for %40 off in one purchase yesterday if only the funds were available. Oh well.

I plan on taking those 646 Orange Tabs into my tailor, the wonderful Lady Danburry, and getting them tapered down to a more traditional slim/straight. Probably a little more fitted than my 501 STF's that I'm working on, but a tad more roomy than the Selvage 514's I have suspended in my bedroom. The denim is obviously of great quality, being from the LVC line, and I have great hopes for some amazing fades.

What's more, APC New Standards and Dior Homme 21cm's currently have my attention as quality pieces of denim to examine. The APC's are on needsupply.com for a great price and I may be making a purchase. The funny thing is that you're told to SIZE DOWN 2 waist sizes in your purchase (ala I'm a 34 and would therefore buy a 32). The stretch in the jeans is incredible. If you can close the top button, regardless of comfort, then within a month the stretch out to falling off your bum.

So, what's up with the sudden increase in LVC prices online? I'm wanting to get a spare '47, and it's gone from 150 Euros or so to like 210, at least on Oi Polloi. I suppose since production has gone overseas to Europe that some things be a changing.

I've also been fascinated by the latest reports of Japanese super-chain Uniqlo possibly buying out GAP here in the states. That would be a breath of fresh air for the brand, and their quality would probably go back up to at least where it was 7-8 years ago. A friend of mine was in London recently and walked by their UK flagship store without going in, and I wanted to kick myself for her.

Well, not much to post denim-wise. It's a longer process than I gave it credit for. That's probably why the guys on SF.net have so much pride in their denim projects. It's like a whole year of your life invested into a garment.

I'm wanting to invest in a vintage military Timex, but not for the $150 Jcrew pricetag. Hmmm... Ebay? You've been my friend in the past.

The ending of the World Cup has left a serious void in my life that needs to be filled.

51 Things - A List

Because I have nothing better to do right now:

1. Do you like blue cheese? No. That little trait does not run in the family.
2. Your Favorite Shoes? Clark's Desert Boots
3. Do you own a gun? Not currently, but that situation will soon be remedied.
4. Your favorite song? Currently: Half of My Heart by John Mayer
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No. Not unless he pulls on butt-inspection gloves.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Meh.
7. Favorite Christmas song? Soul Cake
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Orange Juice
9. Can you do push ups? Yes. Many.
10. Are you afraid of flying? No - just usually too expensive.
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? ... Wedding ring?
12. Favorite hobby? Fashion/Soccer.
13. Animals: love them or hate them? From a distance love. Don't like things in my house.
14. Do you have ADD? Not officially, but my closet says otherwise.
15. What do you hate about yourself? Don't feel all that fit or attractive, personally.
16. What is your middle name? Robert
17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: It's warm in here. I wish I had money to blow. The Bean is almost asleep.
18. What's your favorite number? 3/13
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? V8 Juice, Milk, Root Beer
20. Current worry right now? Wishing I had a gym membership for the summer.
21. Current hate right now? Dead car outside.
22. Favorite place to be? With family, regardless of where.
23. How did you bring in the New Year? In a hospital.
24. Where would you like to go? To the 2014 World cup in Brazil, and then mosey on down to Arg.
25. Bad habits: Self-hate. Compulsive browser (only not "shopper" because I don't buy the stuff I look for)
26. Do you own slippers? Ewww. No. Too old man.
27. What shirt are you wearing? Navy striped V-neck from BR
28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Never have, so can't say.
29. Can you whistle? Yeppers.

30. Favorite Color? Blue in various shades, including tinges of green and purple.
31. Would you be a pirate? No. The whole pirate craze of today is freaking stupid.
32. What songs do you sing in the shower? Haven't sung in a long time, period.
33. Favorite girl's name? Sophia or Ella
34. Favorite boy's name? Ezra
35. What's in your pocket right now? Wallet and a single car key
36. Last thing that made you laugh? The Bean
37 . Best bed sheets as a child? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
38. Worst injury you've ever had? Sliced my hand open rolling down a hill.
40. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2
41. Who is your loudest friend? Jonathan Freaking William Litster
42. How many dogs do you have? None, and so it shall remain, dearest.
43. Does someone have a crush on you? I would hope my wife does.
44. Favorite Book? Haven't read a ton of things in my life that make reading worthwhile. Angels and Demons.
45. Partying hard or Laying low? Never partying hard, but having nothing to do sucks.
46. What is your favorite candy? Skittles or Starburst
47. Favorite Sports Team? Real Madrid, although I have Barcelona sympathies.
49. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Skyping with my brother
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I forgot to put my baselayers in the dryer.
51. If you are married, where did you meet your WIFE/HUSBAND? In Argentina

Meh. I need something to do. I wish these STF would wear faster.

A Denim Rarity

Just wanted to throw up some pics of a potentially rare piece of denim that I copped from TJMaxx of all places. From a bit of research it is a pair of Levi's 646 Bell Bottoms. Apparently, LVC released a repro of this cut (originally produced from '66 - '83 or so) beginning in their 2006 line. The denim feels raw (untreated) although the tag mentions that only 3% shrinkage should occur on washing. I'm putting these photos up in case anyone has any information about the pair.

Note the Orange Tab, with a Capital E, as was found only on runs between '66 and '71. Also it was one of the few Levi's to not sport the classic leather/paper tag on the back of the waistband, and it lacks a 5th coin pocket in the front. I'm posting some of these images on Styleforum.net to see if I get any hits and any additional information regarding history and production. And, frankly, if they're worth keeping, I might just have another pair of raw denim to break in.

Albeit EXTREMELY dated. Bell Bottoms? C'mon.

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Edit as of 7/16/10

Found out from Pablo-T on Styleforum.net that Levi's themselves issued a reproduction of the '66 646 a year or two ago that they originally went between $130-$150. Apparently, it was not through Levi's Vintage Clothing as I suspected. But thanks to him for the info and clarification.

Edit as of 7/16/10

Further posting and searching has resulted that the 646's are in fact LVC from 2005-06. Shorty Long @ Styleforum.net made my month!!!! Now back to the store to proxy for other SF buyers.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=129454&page=30

Fit Pics for Soaked 34x34's

Just wanted to post a few fit pics of the denim experiment. First off are the post-soak pictures of the 34x34 STF's that I soaked a few weeks ago. Needless to say, I have been wearing them everyday since then, and so they've bagged out a tad since their initial "post-soak measurements". Frankly, I've been quite pleased with them, and they're retaining their creases and abrasions very well. I'm going to try to do a full six months with them before I do any soaks or washes (both of which remove indigo in varying degrees, soaks less than washes), but will document them as they go as well. Hopefully can be seen is the effect of the anti-fit in the rear. The jean is rather fitted through the lower leg, but as it creeps up the thigh, there's more and more give. This, apparently, has been greatly lessened in the LVC 1947 model. I wish I had thought to take comparison pics of the raw denim after I initially exchanged the 36 waist for the 34 in the STF. Wearing them straight out of the bathtub resulted in a bit of "knee buldge" on this pair (given that I sat down and watched the Argentina/Mexico World Cup game). Apparently this is normal, especially if you remain seated while the denim initially dries. From what I read, this will be minimized upon their next submersion in water, slimming the leg down a bit more.

Hopefully can be seen to are the stress areas as they're already being developed. The crotch and knees for now are the main points, although the thighs get a bit too, especially when crouched or seated. I figure they'll become more prominant in the pictures as they wear a bit more. The lighting in these photos isn't as high-contrast as I'd like, but I wanted to get at least something up in the meantime. Still searching my house for the perfect photo area.

Additionally, here are some fit pics of my 514 Selvage pair as well. From what I can gather, they are a sanfordized 514, which means they shouldn't shrink down a ton when hitting water, but for now I'm too nervous to attempt it. They're already about as thin as I'd prefer to go, and any smaller would result in decreased sperm count. I'd been wearing these since I acquired them in mid-April, although since the 34STF soak, they've been relegated to the closet. Sadly, this began to minimize the wear I'd put into them and I have since taken them and put them on a hangar in order to keep them a bit more worn in than "folded on a shelf". Hopefully it can be noted how much lower a rise the 514's have than the 501.

The last photo is a tad lighter than the others, and while not showing their true color (it's still darker) I think it serves to demonstrate how these are taking wear in comparison to a pair of 501STF denim. The texture of the 514 has soften considerably since their purchase, being a normal occurence as they're worn in. I'm not super psyched about that, because I do prefer that the denim is more rigid. This can be solved by starching the jean after watching, although the effect of starch on the denim is debated. While re-stiffening the denim, it does cause the areas of greatest stress to become weaker, often leading to "blow outs" (such as in the crotch region) or tears simply coming more easily.

So, we'll leave it at that until I have something more to show. My plans for now are to wear these STF until they get some great fades, and then begin the LVC '47's next, although in reality that probably won't be until early next year, if that. That is something wierd to think about, planning out what I'll wear a year in advance. My raw denim queue is piling up - the 501 STF, the 514's either concurrently or next, followed by the raw 1969 GAP Straights (which are apparently near impossible to fade or wear through, for better or worse) and finally the LVC.