Custom Wesco Smoke Jumpers.

Okay so while we're on the outdoor theme I couldn't help but include a shot of my Custom Wesco boots. This is the third pair Ive owned and ordered from Big Black Boots.com. I love them! They are just made to walk in. On this pair I had them use black stitching throughout and instead of having a heavy cleated vibram sole I ask them to use the flat slip resistant one instead. I also left the kelties on this pair and am getting quite used to the fringing. I also like the look of the White's Boots model that are so popular in Japan at present but there's something about their squarer toe shape that irks me a little, oh well you know next time Im in the market my opinion may have changed, stare at something long enough and you usually begin to unravel the intricacies of the styling and develop an appreciation.

Field and Stream Covers 1930's

Well folks from some of my previous posts you would get the drift that the Papa digs the great outdoors be it beach, field or forest. On a recent cleanout of the shed I came across these fantastic Field and Stream Magazines from the late 1930's. At the time I collected these I was on my Hemingway, Gary Cooper, Zane Grey journey. I traversed the urban forest in Vintage Filson, Dry Back and American Field. I loved these covers with their hand painted art. There's something to be said for the commercial artist of yesteryear, before photographic covers and now photoshop there was a genuine soul to their work. On top of this there is the rugged sartorial element to the images. Being outdoorsy never looked so good and duck cloth never so fashionable. Below is a selection of my favourite covers for you to enjoy.

V-J day celebrations in Honolulu 1945

Its amazing what some of my friends come up with, this rare beauty is brought to you by Krykie and is a fantastic candid look at the spontaneous celebrations following the declaration of surrender and victory in the Pacific August 1945.

King Kamehameha immortalised in Rayon

Papa Nui's US NAVY custom bed socks.

I love the utility of military items and am always thinking of other unique items to add to my kit. This thought process often sees me conceptualising new pieces. A few months back while perusing Etsy I came across an English woman living in Turkey and working with Anatolian wool who made these fantastic moccasin style bed socks. She has some dinky pattern with flowers on them but I could see much more potential and engaged her services to make me these custom socks. I have to say Im pretty pleased with the results and lie around at night imagining that Im recovering in the base hospital surrounded by pretty nurses.

Old man and the Sea

Another big thanks to Rivethead for this great snap. I had to include it on my blog as I believe we often struggle to imagine ourselves years down the line and how we adapt our style so that it is also importantly age-appropriate. I am often bemused by the 60 year old Elvis syndrome, which is a classic case of those guys who cannot find a point of view in their person style that stretches beyond their early involvement in one youth culture or another. It encompasses many many men. I still see it at the beach on a regular basis, there is always that guy about 40 plus,with the same haircut he had at 17 years old and still wearing the current teen-inspired surf look. Some people just resist growing up. It shouldn't be however a kiss goodbye of all the things you once enjoyed but rather an embracing of the future and the freedom to express yourself beyond the narrow opinions of your peers.
The photo above is just an effortless expression of the individual, rugged and masculine, pure utility without a trace of fashion and yet the Hemingway-esque cap and trashed Marine sweatshirt speaks volumes. I can only hope that in my next 20 or so years that I can also encapsulate a look that is this timeless.

Fly-boy portrait

Although borrowed from my good friend and blogger Rivet Head I couldn't help but re-post this fantastic image. It says so much about the 'how' we wear things and not the 'what'. You ever notice how on some people the clothes wear them? Not here! This is an expression of the individual all the way.