MOMENT | Adios 2014


Another year almost in the books! Now it's time to celebrate, contemplate, and take some time off. Thank you to all of you who take time to come by to this little corner of the internet on the regular. I am more grateful than I can say. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to 2015—it's going to be great. Really exciting stuff on the horizon, especially Reed! I'll be back here in January, but in the mean time I'll be out and about on the Instagram.


Happy New Year.

x
LGM


And a song to take us out...

George Harrison and Paul Simon Homeward Bound performed on SNL in 1977.

GIVEAWAY | American Bison Leather Moccasins


If you're like me, the holidays (at least in theory) are about curling up with books and watching old movies, hanging out at home and having that much needed downtime at year's end to process and recharge. What better footwear to do all that in than these soft-soled mocs ($98), created by a leather goods company that's been in business nearly a century. They were made for hunting, to allow the hunter or huntress to feel the ground and anticipate loud branches breaking under foot to keep noise levels low, but they'd obviously work really well as house slippers too. Our incredible sponsor Kaufmann Mercantile is giving a pair away. To enter, check us out on Instagram (@lgmettler and @kaufmannmercantile) and enter a comment below. We'll announce the winner here, so don't forget to check back. 

The winner is: jkaye! Please email me: lizziegarrett(at)gmail(dot)com and well get you hooked up with a pair of mocs!   



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UNIFORM | Seawall His & Her Shirts

Photos by Ben Hoffman

Ok, well this just makes a ton of sense. Seawall (their sister brand is Brook There), out of Portland, Maine has just put out a collection of classic button-down oxfords for men and women that are identical in design, but cut differently. Kind of great in a really simple way, right? It was Woody Guthrie who said, "Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple.” I think these shirts are absolutely genius in their simplicity. Each shirt is made in Maine from Japanese, English and American fabrics. Check out all their shirts for men and women here.

SCENE | Taos, New Mexico, 1937.

You know that tumblr, Dads are the Original Hipsters? I thought of that when I saw these photos from 1937 by Peter Stackpole for LIFE. Someone's (possibly) great grandparents are the originals in this case—they've got the denim, the hats, the boots, and even the trailer. I really want to know more about these people and why they were being shot, but couldn't find the article the photos were attached to, maybe the story never ran in the magazine. I bet they never thought they'd be published on a style blog 77 years later.


SCENE | Badminton Horse Trials


Prince Charles (sporting a rare beard) in 1976 and Princess Anne in 1971.

No one does tweed, herringbone, waxed cotton and utilitarian outerwear better than the British royals and the like at the Badminton Horse Trials. A few gems over the decades from the annual three-day event in South Gloucestershire that prove once again that classic utility never goes out of style.

Princess Diana in 1985; Prince Charles in 1986; Princess Anne in 1984.
Princess Anne on horseback in 1978; Captain Mark Phillips, Princess Anne, Peter Phillips in 1987; Prince Andrew in 1979.
Princess Diana in 1981; Princess Michael of Kent in 1981.
Princess Anne in 1969; Prince Phillip in 1969.
Wilf White and Mrs Bryan Marshall in 1956; Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1955; unknown riders 1956; Mrs. J.D. Roberts and Mr. M.R. Reeves, 1929.

NOISE | The Weight


Looking to listen to holiday music today, but already "fatigued" from the classic tunes (uh oh), I wanted something not totally off topic, but also not anything you'd here in any retail establishment in America right now. The Weight by The Band makes the perfect fake Christmas song. I mean, it is about a traveler's visit to Nazareth (ok, Nazareth, PA., but still the name of Jesus' hometown), which means it's practically Deck The Halls. And the real gift is the 1976 version from The Last Waltz which features the Staple Singers sitting in.

ICONS | Dude Girls of the American West


Lost in an Internet worm hole yesterday, I found myself in the University of Wyoming photo archives, which is impressive both in scope and size. Beyond all the photographic treasures, I found a term I'd never seen before: Dude Girl. Interestingly, the word dude may have derived from Scottish in the late 19the century as a term meant to mock how a woman was dressed as a "dud" or dude—a new word for dandy. The word dude evolved in this country to describe a tourist who attempts to dress like a local but fails. Obviously the word means a lot of things now, and although the word dude may have meant "city slicker" in the West, I think these dude girls in Wyoming look pretty authentic and capable, well, most of them. I also found a photo of Ernest and Pauline Hemingway that I had to include at the end.







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UNIFORM | General Knot Co.


General Knot Co., a collection of limited-edition New England-made ties, scarves, belts, leather goods and more, is exactly the place to visit if you're feeling stressed about gifting. Their products seem to somehow appeal to all ages and genders. It's not that they have a ton of product, it's just that their restrained collection is really classic without being boring. Beyond relieving my gift anxiety and stress (for now), General Knot Co. also really got me in the holiday spirit with their tartans, herringbones and wools.

GEAR | Land Rover Duck Boots


There are classic Bean Boots, sure. For a deeper cut there's Schnee's out of Bozeman, Montana—a personal favorite. But if you're the type that gets off having the rarest, hardest to find, most esoteric of foul weather boots, then you may be interested in a pair of vintage (80s probably) Land Rover branded duck boots. Available on Etsy, eBay, and beyond, the boots are just as rugged and good looking as their namesake vehicles, and come in a variety of shapes and styles, but are of course, a much more fuel efficient way to own a pair of Land Rovers. Happy hunting, my friends.



GEAR | Joshu+Vela Brass Keyhook

Earlier this year, while up in San Francisco, I paid a visit to Joshu+Vela's founder Noah Guy in his S.F. studio. One of the things I remember going a little crazy about was this brass keyhook he had hanging from his belt loop. It's so functional and yet so elegant at the same time. I've always wanted something to hold my keys to a belt loop or a bag that wasn't too masculine, and I remember saying in May, "WHEN is that going to be out!?" He told me to be patient. He was still working to perfect it so that it would be easy to hook, fall gracefully, be just long enough to tuck your keys in a pocket to keep them silent, and always secure. It's people like Noah that I want to always buy from because the amount of thought that goes into his items is almost ludicrous. After tweaking this key hook design for TWO YEARS, the Joshu+vela sand cast solid brass key hook ($35) is on the market.

GIFT GUIDE | Huckberry's Gifts for Women


Late last week, Huckberry launched their women's gift guide, which is a great place to both shop for tomboys and also drop as a subtle hint (ahem...) for people who may have you on their list. Their picks extend to everything from rugged outdoorsy wares like Woolrich x Topo gear kits to sophisticated goods like Nisolo leather bags. Here are some of my favorite picks of their picks—which will only be up for another week and some change!

Clockwise from top left: Luke Fedora ($65); Woolrich x Topo Gear Kit ($34); Juniper Ridge Cabin Spray ($35); RUMPL Twin Peak Blanket ($180); Vacation Days Pacific Silk Scarf ($59); Nisolo Lori Leather Tote ($140); Misc Goods Co. Ceramic Flask ($79); Izolo Red Cedar Incense ($13).

GEAR | Crescioni Accessories


Photos by Andrew Lee.

Crescioni is an accessories label rooted in traditional craft techniques inspired by the spirit of the American west. All pieces are handmade in California. And these collection photos knocked my socks off. They're too good.







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GIFT GUIDE | Kaufmann Mercantile Under $50


To start off gift guides this year, here are my picks from one of my favorite places to get gifts for friends and family: Kaufmann Mercantile (our fantastic sponsor for the season). All of these babies are under $50, and there's plenty more under $50 treasures than what you see here.

Clockwise from top left: Waterproof Waxed Canvas Lunch Bag ($48); Deerskin Palm Fingerless Gloves ($25 per pair); Scrappy's Lavender Bitters ($23); EDC Brass Key Ring ($10); Handmade Leather Key Holder ($49); Indigo Denim & Canvas Notebook ($32); Cedar Wood Boot Jack ($19); Armor Lux Socks ($20); Polished Horn Salad Servers ($49+); Waxed Canvas Travel Dog Bowl ($43); Brass Pocket Compass or Key Ring Compass ($45); Cast Iron Bottle Opener ($30); Magnesium Fire Starter ($36); Waxed Cotton Shoe Laces ($8 each).

UNIFORM | Filson Cowichan Sweaters


It's officially sweater weather, even here in L.A. (well, OK, at night). To usher in the season, Filson seasonally partners with members of the Cowichan Tribes of British Columbia to create limited edition knits. This year's Cowichan sweaters, made by hand using traditional Cowichan knitting methods of course, are pretty great looking. The technique combines traditional weaving with European Fair Isle techniques, and have been popular since the 1950s for ladies and dudes alike—especially this dude. Check out the entire Filson Cowichan collection, which includes scarves and mittens as well.



SCENE | Vere Verto in Rural Spain


It's perhaps more evident than ever: source and process are huge components when building a brand in today's market—consumers are more aware of where things are made, how they're made, and what they're made of. While there's been a lot of due praise given to heritage brands and manufacturers over the last seven or so years, I find it as interesting when a young label finds its way, and hits its stride, by teaming up with a storied manufacturer or artisan in the world. Case and point is Vere Verto, one of my most favorite leather bag makers. They recently returned from the leather tannery they work with in rural Spain and had a show-and-tell session with me. The business relationship they have with their tannery is not only a window into an ancient craft, but it's also a window into the Spanish soul. E-mail and phone orders don't cut it with a tannery like this that's been in business since 900 A.D., it's about face-to-face meetings (often with wine), tradition, heritage, pride, family, and respect. In short, tanneries in Spain are sacred and personal relationships are everything. Here are some shots from the tannery in a teeny village north of Madrid in the Castilla Y León region. All the processes the leather goes through to become piel curtida (a tanned hide), from drying to buffing to vegetable dying in giant bombos, are slow, storied, and, according to Vere Verto, perfect. It makes me have a whole new appreciation for my Mox.







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