Men Tell All
This roundup of things we liked this week originally appeared in the March 14, 2024 edition of the Secret Strategist newsletter, a weekly email where we share the stuff our staff — plus a rotating cast of writers, design-world people, and various others with very good taste — would otherwise keep to themselves. If you want to get our picks straight to your inbox each week, sign up here.
This week, we wrote down the names of men we believe to have excellent taste, then asked them to tell us about the clothes they wear at least once a week. This was an extremely useful exercise — it turned up a bounty of great sweaters, pants, and various other items that anyone might want to buy. — Katy Schneider & Simone Kitchens
Pants
* Dan Solomito, creative strategist: As a tall guy, I try to stay away from anything too tapered or skinny. Engineered Garments has been making incredible clothing in NYC for years, and this military overpant is one of my favorites.
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* Bobby Doherty, photographer: Margaret HowellCarpenters Trousers Dense Cotton Drill Elephant. They’re like my Carhartt’s more handsome English cousin.
* Bennet Schlesinger, artist: Denim Utility Pant in Raw Black Selvedge from Mister Green. They have the best fit out of any pants I wear. Solid daily driver.
* Mario Kardana, M. Kardana: My girlfriend’s Brandy Melville track pants are really comfy and wash out in a nice way. Perfect for the park.
* Jason Stewart, podcaster: Finding the perfect pair of jeans is impossible, but my friend Ben Edgar came close. They’re high-quality heavy denim that should last for the rest of my life. He’s sold out, but you should bug him to make more.
* Jon Boschetto, Good Friend: My new absolute favorite sweatpants, made by Sky High Farms. It’s a great brand and a great cause. I cannot stress enough how good the quality is, too. (It uses the same factories as Comme des Garçons.)
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* Will Fox, architectural designer: White Levi’s 501 (plus a white Hanes V-neck — basically my uniform). The fit is comfortable, not too tight, but not loose. I like that there is no stretch in the fabric, which is hard to find nowadays (I don’t like stretch). Wearing all white eases decision-making. They look good when they get dirty, at least in my opinion.
Shirts, Sweaters, and Jackets
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Lady White Polo
* Jon: My favorite basics are from Lady White in L.A — sweatshirts, sweatpants, T-shirts, polos. The long-sleeved polos are really nice. The fits are great, so are the colors, and they hold up really well in the wash. Everything is made in L.A. On multiple occasions I’ve reordered the same thing in another color because they’re just so good. Also Margaret Howell sweaters are everyday classics. The brand makes similar sweater shapes each season with different materials and in different colors. My sweater drawer is full of cozy warm wools as well as breathable cottons. My absolute favorite is a very lightweight navy linen-cotton sweater from years ago. It’s so lightweight and breathable you can wear it on a hot summer afternoon and not get hot. I can’t find it vintage. Here is a similar sweater but in cashmere/merino, which looks super nice but not for warmer days.
* Jason: A good white tee is hard to find, especially with an unusual body. I’m six-foot-nine, but I size down to a large because that’s where we’re at. Plus, these from Kirkland Signature are like $4 a shirt.
* Dan: Front Street General, the best vintage store in New York also makes some of the best basics. The FGS raglan hoodie is probably the most worn item in my wardrobe. Also, I try to buy staple pieces that are timeless and will last forever. No brand matches the product innovation (colors, materials, process) as Stone Island. This is the perfect down jacket.
* Mario: I like to layer and keep it fairly basic when it comes to this. My go-to is Uniqlo, fairly good quality with the price point. A couple of supima cotton T-shirts, a cashmere V-neck jumper, and in the winter I usually have a Uniqlo HeatTech underneath. Also, I have this great mid-length pin-striped peacoat by NN Studio (an Italian brand created in early ’90s by Carla Sozzani) that I bought from Twos Care, my friend’s vintage clothing shop in East London.
* Geoff Snack, Wrong Answer: Body of Work is from Toronto (where I’m from) and makes really high-quality sportswear basics. Think sweatpants, hoodies, etc. The company even produces its own fabric. The crewneck fits perfectly. It’s boxy and cropped — so it feels relaxed but not too relaxed. I like the shale-colored one; it’s a nice black-but-not-black choice that works with anything. Wanze is a new designer (also from Toronto) who does very simple silhouettes with precise detailing. The classic button-up stripe shirt is really good, insanely nice fabric with a wider silhouette without feeling oversize. And Uniqlo cashmere crewnecks are good enough, inexpensive, and go with pretty much everything.
Shoes
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* Matthew Schneier, New York’schiefrestaurant critic: Kleman makes an affordable dupe of the Paraboot that everyone wears. The dye bleeds, so all your socks will turn black, but in my experience, it washes right out. And I wear them every day! I want another pair in brown. (Editor’s note: Kleman lists all prices in euros, so the price shown is an approximate conversion to U.S. dollars.)
* Dan: It’s not easy for me to find footwear in size 15. Fortunately, Blackstock & Weber makes an amazing loafer and does so in my size. I’m more of a sneaker guy, but this is a great shoe that can be dressed up or down. And one of my favorite Nike silhouettes of all time is the Air Max TN. Last year’s collab with A Cold Wall has been a go-to for me of late.
* Jason: I’ve been wearing these Jack Purcells since high school. They used to come in baby blue. Something to think about, Converse.
* Mario: Currently sold out but checking the website daily for the new New Balance x Miu Miu 530 SL suede sneakers. I always liked New Balance sneakers but was never a big fan of a chunky sole, so these are perfect.
Other Stuff
* Dan: Packer does a great job putting small, tasteful spins on the most famous hat in the world. Also, often an overlooked item in a guy’s wardrobe, but these Druthers boxers are best in class for quality and comfort.
* Jason: I did not go to the Culinary Institute of America or the Central Intelligence Agency, but the hat is funny.
* Nick Sugihara, Ijji: Maximum Henry slim three-piece belt. Perfect little accessory.
Check These Out Too
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* In our last send, we identified two great lamps from a picture on Michael Bargo’s Instagram (the Lumina Daphine reading lamp and a Walter Von Nessen brushed-metal torchiere). But what we failed to identify, Geoff Snack helpfully pointed out, was a half-obscured poster sitting in the corner. It’s “a really great Walter De Maria, available at Dia for only $25. A beautiful design and an insane deal, in my opinion.”
* There’s a Frette online outlet sale happening! We’re very tempted to go for this under-$200 duvet cover, down from nearly $500.
* The Primary Essentials is doing a pop-up with a brand-new children’s company, Darling. The line is all made from deadstock and vintage fabric. Lauren Snyder, the owner, told us a little more: “We don’t usually sell clothing, but I have two young children, and so many of our customers do as well, so working on this felt fun for us — these pieces feel so extremely special, they are really heirloom items.” It runs March 14–24 in store. Darling’s site will be stocked soon; email info@theprimaryessentials for more details.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
