NOISE | The Reed's 1970s Soundtrack Map to L.A.

Traveling doesn't always involve physical movement. Over the past two weeks I put together a 15-track 1970s L.A. playlist and guide. How else could we tackle such a sprawling city? From Tom Petty to Donna Summer this hour of music will transport you—or maybe at least entertain you. Check it out >> right here!

GEAR | Sandqvist Bags

I spent a good chunk of the week on The Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah shooting for a really cool Woolrich x Westerlind capsule collection coming to The Reed and elsewhere this winter. As a photo trick we used the salty desert landscape to mimic snow. It was hot and we were wearing down jackets, boots and flannel—but the beauty of the Utah wilderness—including roaming bison herds—was enough to cool us down. It was pretty hectic at times though, we'd change out of an outfit and put on another as soon as humanly possible chasing the windows of low light in the late evenings and early mornings. Organization was key. I packed everything I needed into a Sandqvist weekender and it performed wonderfully. It's deeper than many duffle weekenders I've seen so I could pack up to four layers of rolled clothes. When I travel by air, I usually use wheeled luggage, so I was hesitant at first to take this, but it was a breeze with the shoulder strap and fit perfectly into the overhead bins on the plane. It was a lot easier to move around a car than wheeled luggage too. If you're not familiar with the Swedish bag maker, check out all their stuff, great backpacks, laptop bags, totes, and accessories.

METHOD | Indigo Dye

Speaking of all things blue...

A few weeks ago we took a limited batch of our white Jungmaven New Mexico t-shirts (if you haven't seen The Reed's Escape to Santa Fe, check it out!) and dyed them with natural indigo dye. We used a kit made by Jacquard which will dye at least 15 shirts (I'd say more like 30 or more). Indigo has made a resurgence over the past few years but as you may know it's one of the oldest dyes used for coloring fabrics and still used today at the primary way that jeans get their color.

We mostly took found rocks and coral pieces and tied them to the shirts with rubber bands to create the radial spiral and shibori circle patterns—some came out great and some were more "experimental". The shirts come out of the dye bath in a deep saturated blue, but (depending on what method you use) will likely fade a little once washed.


The Indigo Dyed New Mexico T-shirts ($39) are available in a limited run and if you're looking for a good dye kit, we highly recommend the Jacquard kit ($14)—and it's a super fun thing to do on a summer weekend—dye your bed spread, couch cover, some old white t-shirts, a pair of white vans, table cloths, napkins, rags, socks—I could go on forever.

UNIFORM | Summer Blues

In a matter of a week summer will be technically officially on and we have some serious blue feelings on the matter. Blue as in, pool blue, indigo blue, navy blue, chambray blue...

Clockwise from top left: Capelo hand-woven cotton summer scarf ($59); Crap Eyewear Sunglasses ($56); Ursa Major Travel Face Wipes ($24 for a box of 20); GREI. Indigo Windowpane Bandana($65); Pools by Kelly Klein ($28 and up); Mollusk Baja Beach Short in Navy Ikat ($68); Karen Kimmel Leather Moon Coasters ($36); Armor Lux Striped Pocket Tee ($80).

UNIFORM | Madame Espadrille

Since starting this blog and The Reed, there is one tenet when it comes to products that I am steadfast about: quality. If it's well-made and thoughtfully produced it will be a better investment for you. There are of course some exceptions and one of those is espadrilles. Like a frequently worn pair of Vans, espadrilles aren't really built to last years. Like the season itself, the canvas and jute shoes are fleeting and so made to be enjoyed. This week Madame Espadrille launched out of Ibiza, Spain and we're really digging their fluro colors and summer party vibes—maybe these are that rare pair of espadrilles that we'll only pull out for special occasions. Prices start at $28 (€25) and ship from Spain.

UNIFORM | Capelo Hats

From the instant I laid eyes on a Capelo palm leaf hat I was hooked—the bridle straps, the leather detailing, and the craftsmanship are top notch. Capelo hats was founded by two friends who traveled together from Los Angeles to the rural mountains of Mexico in a school bus—two ladies seeking adventure! They found that, but they also discovered multi-generation hatmakers who make exquisite hats by hand and has fostered a lasting relationship with the artisans who partner with Capelo. We're proud to carry these hats at The Reed, where you can get both the Cholo Chica ($140, photo above) as well as the larger-brimmed Cholo Grande ($140, photo below). Bring on the sunshine.

GIFT GUIDE | Father's Day a la Hemingway

Photo of Mary and Ernest Hemingway on safari in 1953-4 via The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston. 

"Never go on trips with anyone you do not love." —Ernest Hemingway We thought we'd look to Ernest Hemingway for inspiration on this year's Father's Day gift guide—what could more right than Papa?

Clockwise from top left: Brookes Boswell Restored 027 Vintage Felt Hat ($160); Leather and brass key chain ($35); Ursa Major shave cream ($24, Hemingway wasn't always sporting the full beard); Vintage Taylor compass ($55); Kletterwerks Sandstone Totepack ($89); N'East Paper Shark Jaw Notecard ($4.50); Waxed Canvas Dopp Kit ($70); Vintage Victory Brass Wine Opener ($59); Olive Waxed Duffle ($230).

From now until Father's Day (June 21), we're offering domestic shipping at The Reed with the code PAPA15.

p.s. Don't miss our new travel guide: The Native's Napa Valley!

SCENE | Houston, TX.

I'm headed to Houston for a super-quick last minute trip and wondered if any Houstonians out there had some recs for eats, drinks, sees. I've got a pretty good short list so far, but always appreciate some native intel. Thanks y'all!

UNIFORM | Industry Standard Jeans

By Aja Lake

After a futile search for great-fitting jeans with a reasonable price tag, Industry Standard founder Nicole Najafi set out to create the best pair of jeans for the best price. Designed in New York and made in L.A., Industry Standard jeans are produced in small batches and made from fabric sourced from a 110-year-old North Carolina denim mill. The brand's formula includes closely partnering with their factory to turn out modestly priced product while ensuring craftsmanship and transparency in production. The result: an ultra-flattering, go-anywhere staple—these jeans are seriously comfortable, folks. Check out Industry Standard jeans (starting at $95) for premium quality denim. These are the type of pieces that really make up a "uniform", classic, understated, versatile—perfect.