July Investment Prospectus

My favorite recent pickups from the past month.

It’s been a busy month so far, and despite the recent lookbook posts I put out (1, 2), I’ve had a few pieces come my way recently that I’m really excited to share.

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The Johnny from Tecovas in Honey Suede

I’ve been on the hunt for a sturdy pair of comfortable cowboy boots for a while, but I didn’t want to shell out a ton of cash for something super nice and then not wear it at all. These Tecovas are a few hundred dollars and offer incredible value, being made in León, Mexico, from pretty damn good materials. The suede is soft and lined with a tonal leather that feels plush underfoot while still delivering the support you need. Many reputable cowboy bootmakers seem to vouch for Tecovas as a solid entry point—I had one friend call them the Timex of cowboy boots. This particular style, The Johnny, looks great and cleans up nicely, so I’d probably equate this to Timex’s Marlin.

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Adele Tote from Bleu de Chauffe in Black

I’ve been in need of a good weekend bag as an upgrade from the dusty old L.L.Bean Boat and Tote I’ve been lugging around for a decade. The criteria in my search included something that would age just as well, was robust enough to carry heavy and hazardous goods (read: groceries), and had a polished look without appearing too much like a high-end “luxury” item. Enter Bleu de Chauffe, named after the blue chore coats worn by French workers, which has also become a term for getting down to business. While their men’s line is more utilitarian, I found this tote buried in their women’s section and was surprised by how elevated it looked. In person, the supple, unlined cowhide appears just as good, with sturdy veg-tanned bridle leather handles that anchor to a belt around the top. Time will tell how it ages, but it seems they’ve discontinued the style. While the Black is already out of stock, a few remain in Rust leather and Ochre suede.

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Canine Leads from Happy Patina

I have two dogs, in case you didn’t know, and I often neglect to take them on walks. We could all use some getting-out-of-the-house more, and I was happy to discover that my friend Oscar, who does CP Slippers, also makes other leather goods. These canine leads match collars I also purchased for the dogs and are entirely made from natural, vegetable-tanned tooling leather with polished chrome hardware. Veg-tanned leather is similar to raw denim in that it develops a patina over time through the oils in your skin and exposure to sunlight. After about a month, the color on these has warmed up, and I imagine it’ll start to darken the more I walk them, which is encouraging me to get out more.