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Each week, our inbox runneth over with news of gear, apparel and tech releases from around the world. In this feature, we’ll parse through the best of it. Today: Soft Services drops a new spiced soap, Knickerbocker goes to print, and St. Agrestis bottles the internet’s favorite cocktail.
J.Crew x Beams Plus
Beams Plus is known for their Americana-inspired styles with a distinctively Japanese point of view. J.Crew’s history is steeped in a very similar type of American style, which is why their latest collaboration has nods to prep and workwear. One of the standout pieces is the olive green and beige patchwork corduroy chore jacket that borrows design details from ’50s military chore jackets. We’re also fans of the red, black and gray argyle cardigan sweater that has a fuzzy wool texture that looks similar to mohair. The collection also has tartan-patterned cargo pants, a reversible liner blouson and a few other pieces that prove once more that J.Crew is back.
Knickerbocker x The New York Times
The folks at Knickerbocker have teamed up with the New York Times once again to bring us another capsule collection featuring a vintage inspired zip jacket in fisher stripes and an Oxford staff shirt with a custom embroidery detail. Knickerbocker’s vintage references are always subtle — a wink and a nod to the past, done with a modern point of view. One of their past New York Times collections had a knit shirt that was in reference to Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless, so you know they pay attention to the details. The latest collection also has matching fisher stripe hats, pants, a cardigan and simple pocket tee with the Times logo.
Turkey Flavored Busch Dog Brew
Thanksgiving has come early for your four-legged friends as Busch has brewed up a batch of turkey-flavored brews that’ll pair perfectly with whatever leftovers wind up in your pooch’s bowl. Made with bone-in turkey, sweet potato, sweet basil, peppermint leaves, turmeric, ginger and water, it’s an all-natural product that helps to promote a healthy digestive system and won’t cause a hangover.
Reigning Champ x retaW “Sea to Sky” Candle
Toyko-based retaW has long been the “if you know, you know” fragrance purveyor of choice, which probably explains why “if you know, you know” boutique athletic label Reigning Champ tapped the Japanese scent-makers for a limited edition candle. “Sea to Sky” celebrates the Coast Mountain Range of British Columbia that RC calls home and contains tasteful notes of Cypress, Eucalyptus, and Geranium with a Cedarwood and Patchouli Musk base.
Vollebak Garbage Fleeec
This jacket is trash. No, serious, Vollebak’s Garbage Fleece is fully crafted from garbage, sporting Italian-made outer and lining made from recycled materials like wool, polyester and polyamide. It’s technical, handsome and impossibly warm — oh, and did we mention good for the planet? That too.
BALMUDA The Speaker
Made to “recreate a full sensorial immersion into live music,” BALMUDA’s small speaker packs a hell of a light show, with precisely synchronized (we’re talking 0.004 seconds here) LED lights that are crafted to react in tune with whatever Pavement album you choose to partake in.
Williams Sonoma Elite Cutlery Collection
Combining professional-grade materials with favored performance features, Williams Sonoma’s Elite Cutlery Collection is forged by world-renowned cutlery masters in Solingen, Germany, with CrMoV15 stainless steel, which offers superior edge retention as well as resistance to chipping and corrosion. Think of the set as katanas for your kitchen — what’s not to love?
Levi’s Vintage Clothing 1963 501 Jeans
There’s zero question that deadstock Levi’s of old are the American heritage brand’s crowning achievement, especially those hailing from the golden age between approximately 1950 and1970. While they’re not exactly vintage, the brand new 1963 501 features all the hallmarks of the original, from the standard 501 straight leg and traditional arcuate stitching right down to the Red Tab pocket and the Two-Horse pull patch. If that weren’t enough, the replicas are sewn from deadstock Cone Mills White Oak denim and reproduced to look like Levi’s shrink-to-fit fabric from the 1960s, making them a true recreation of the original icon. They’re just as cool as your grandpa’s jeans and just as hard to score — the style is currently only available in Japan.
Soft Services “New Spice” Buffing Bar
The best-selling microcrystal exfoliating bar from DTC skincare brand Soft Services recently received a holiday makeover. The Buffing Bar still effectively scrubs away dead skin on the body but is now available in a (very) limited-edition seasonal spice scent. The fragrant brick has notes of powdered cinnamon, fresh cedar and tonka bean, for a warm, familiar scent.
Stratia Interface
Engineered to stimulate protein production, increase skin’s elasticity and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, Interface is the latest addition to Stratia’s lineup of heavily researched skincare products. Use morning and night for firmer, plumper, more invigorating-looking skin.
Cartier Pebble Limited-Edition Reissue
Cartier isn’t exactly sure how many Pebble watches it made in the 1970s. According to Hodinkee, it’s been “estimated that only six large Pebbles were ever made (and perhaps another few in a smaller size).” To give fans a better chance of adding this little-known but highly coveted Cartier London design to their collections, the company has created an updated Pebble featuring an 18-karat yellow gold case and hand-wound movement that will be released in a limited run of 150. (Compared to six, that’s an absolute glut.) They’re priced around $45,000 and expected to be spoken for before their official release in November, so best to express your interest now if you’re so inclined.
Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater
The backyard domination of Solo Stove continues with the Tower Patio Heater. Unlike most traditional models we saw fly off the shelves during the early days of the pandemic, Solo Stove’s iteration is fueled by wood pellets, not propane. You could buy some locally or tack on a couple bags from the brand, and the 25-pound capacity hopper will burn for up to three hours without you needing to refuel. A couple other welcome touches, like small wheels to help move it in place and a sleek powder-coated design, make it a contender for patios everywhere.
Arby’s Smoked Bourbon
We love smoked whiskeys, so it’s no surprise that the idea behind Arby’s smoked bourbon — an aged bourbon smoked with hickory, mesquite and pecan woods (the same woods used to smoke the meats on Arby’s Smokehouse Sandwiches) would actually sound appealing. Sadly, it sold out right after its announcement.
St. Agrestis Negroni Sbagliato
Some of us are already sick of hearing anything about this suddenly trendy drink/meme, which replaces gin with sparkling wine. But we’re fans of Brooklyn’s St. Agrestis and their bottled Negronis are legit good, so this take — featuring St. Agrestis Inferno Bitter Aperitivo, house-made Torino style vermouth and imported Prosecco from the Veneto — will certainly outlive the viral hype.
HearO Bluetooth Speaker
What do you do with old tennis balls? Add in a Bluetooth speaker. These unique portable audio devices can’t be bounced, but they are all crafted out of balls used at championship tournaments.
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