Friday Finds – 11/29

Curios from across the internet this week.

Welcome to another roundup of my favorite things from the past week. This week includes a couple of things I personally own, my favorite experience in NY, and the one runway show that remains a north star for me in terms of aspirations and personal style.

A New Brand: Mark the Tailor

Newly launched this past Monday, Mark the Tailor was kind enough to send me a couple of pieces to try. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Adam and Lindsay Mark, the line is inspired by Adam’s grandfather, a Holocaust survivor and tailor who found a home in Boston and opened a short-lived tailoring shop in 1960 before he passed nine years later. The concept is essentially bringing back the intentionality of tailor-made clothing by starting with sustainably-sourced natural fibers, meticulously considered yet simple designs, and making everything right here in the US. I’m personally not a huge fan of visible logos or even graphic tees at my age, but everything else they’re doing is a home run by my standards. The American wool fleece pullover and Italian moleskin pants were my picks from the first collection, and they’re both quite dense with a very luxe feel. Certainly hefty—and warm—enough for winter. The fleece has a double-layer yoke and collar that make for a masculine, structured appearance with the benefit of added warmth, while the moleskin pants’ single reverse pleat helps create a columnar silhouette, which I find very flattering.

Aurora Shoe Co. T-Strap in Black

I’ve got another style of Aurora shoes in a draft for a non-stocking stuffer holiday gift guide. Does anyone still want to see that? Anyway, Aurora is named for the town they’re based in, and for about thirty years, they’ve been handmaking Horween leather Vibram-soled shoes with a wide toe box and natural footbed that mimics barefoot walking. The result is pure comfort that will not only last but keep your feet healthy and strong. It’s no wonder they’re big in Japan, carried by Drake’s, and counted among Steven Alan’s favorite things. I snagged the T-Strap in Black (technically a women’s style, but essentially a closed-toe fisherman’s sandal) while in NY and have enjoyed pairing them with chunky socks (a la William Frederick) and a beanie for maximum gnomecore.

Stoffa: The Undyed Series

When I first met Agyesh, Stoffa’s founder, around fourteen years ago, he opened my eyes to how important fabric is in the equation of a garment. Focusing on that key detail—fabric (“stoffa” in Italian)—is central to the brand and has unlocked a whole new approach to clothing for myself and, I’m sure, many of Stoffa’s other patrons. I was lucky enough to be in New York at the same time as their tenth anniversary and the launch of the new entirely-undyed collection, which was shown among bales of raw, undyed fabrics and backlit woven tapestries that highlight the beauty of natural textures and tones. This obsession with bare, unadulterated material is unfortunately often overlooked and underappreciated by the masses as something categorically austere. Still, it’s a beautiful, if idealized, vision for what the future of garment production could be. Beyond that, it was fun to snap photos and try stuff on in the company of friends and fellow enthusiasts.