Welcome to the weekly FIELD JOURNAL by LIVE A LITTLE, the place to get style & gear news, outfits, & inroads for the adventure-seeking man.
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I’M COMING OFF a week feeling recharged and with some wind in my sails. That’s due to my recent trip to San Diego alongside my brother, one that I recapped in a quick-hit gear and travel guide this past Wednesday.
The main objective of the trip was to find a place near the ocean. That’s because I believe the ocean has healing properties for the mind and body. There’s something in the breeze that flushes out my nostrils and lungs, giving me a renewed sense of calmness and freedom.
When I’m out swimming in the ocean, I’m at the means of a natural world. The waves take me in. The waves take me out. When I finally emerge, I’ve gone through this kind of ritualistic cleanse. One that strips away my current state of existence and revives me the moment I sit down on the sand and let the water drops evaporate in the sun.
Ahead of this week’s Field Journal, I’m reminded to never underestimate the powers of the ocean. It will do wonders on your health if you tap in and let go.
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Learn about everything that’s happening in the LAL style and gear universe. Discover what’s new and find out what you missed.
My favorite release of the week is the Easymoc x Flint and Tinder Scout Boot. It’s my latest campaign at Huckberry I led from marketing inception to final rollout. That’s including the copy.
The collab all started with a 1940s U.S. Army pup tent that Easymoc sourced at Bobby From Boston, the famous MA vintage outfitter that started by the late Bobby Garnett. This place has a ton of lore, but the story that gets brought up the most is how much Ralph Lauren loves to shop for inspiration here.
Read more: 14 Style & Gear Brands That Go All-In on Storytelling
Next step came the boot’s assembly at Easymoc’s Lewiston, Maine workshop, where they cut the boot from crazy horse leather, then applied the pieces of the tent for side paneling. Each boot is finished with tonal brown stitching, brass eyelets, and Vibram soles.
It’s not everyday you get to work on a project that’s equal parts real history and American heritage. And I honestly get so fired up when working on these collaborations. I truly love the process of bringing each one to life and telling their stories. This is another pinch-me moment where I’m grateful I get to do these kinds of projects for my job. Priced at $398.
I first covered Brew Watches back in my story on the “15 Independent Watch Brands to Know.” New from the founder Jonathan Ferrer is the Retrograph Espresso. Like it’s coffee origins, the watch is inspired by the “organic patterns created as milk swirls through cold brew coffee.” Ferrer captures that natural movement using a genuine pietersite stone dial that makes each watch a one-of-one. I’ve never thought much about buying a stone dial watch, but I’ve got my attention towards them now. I love how clever and classy this one turned out. Limited to 250 and priced at $775.
Arc’teryx just dropped a ton of new fall apparel, and while there’s plenty of standouts in the collection that are worth a look, my favorite part about the season is they have this new Nucleus (yellow) color for the season.
They have jackets like the Beta AR Jacket and Atom Hoody in Nucleus, as well as the Torque Beanie. My favorite product in the seasonal color is its application to the Aerios 35 Backpack. It’s a 35L technical lightweight pack made for quick day-hikes and overnights. Priced at $250.
According to Taylor Stitch, The Milton Overshirt takes inspiration from the popover-style workshirts of the 1920s. Their version here is made from a garment-dyed denim and then washed for a lived-in look and feel. Priced at $168.
Crooked Creek Holler was founded by Danny Reed, an Ashville-based tattoo artist who owns his own studio in Asheville, North Carolina. He started Crooked Creek a little over a decade ago, blending his tattoo background with his love of fishing and the outdoors.
That’s since turned into a full-blown apparel brand for CCH, which has led to this new collaboration here with Topo Designs. There’s a ton of pieces I like in the collection, but the most-enjoyable to me is this mug. It’s only $18.
Made from recycled oyster shells, FreeFly’s Seawool Flannel is a soft, easy layer for the transitional weather ahead. A piece like this will likely wear way longer if you live in climates like Charleston (one of FreeFly’s main HQs) and Austin, Texas (where I live). Sometimes flannels are too hot and stuffy for the Austin weather. The Seawool is lighter and thinner, perfect for where I’m at. Priced at $118.
I’m a fan of the Casio Pro Trek series. The watches have excellent outdoor toughness and are usually no more than $600. The latest release of their bestselling PRJ-B001EX-1 model starts as a Japan exclusive, but will arrive for U.S. purchase soon.
The watch features a specially designed band that doubles as a wallet for cash, keys, and small EDC. There’s also an inner cover on the band that can be wrapped over the watch face to protect it from dings and nicks. The best part is the price. Just $210.
Fantasy Explosion is a small vintage shop located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn that’s just a few blocks east from McCarren Park. Every now and then, the outfitter makes their own merch inspired by their own vintage finds.
Their latest release is this Louis Vuitton Cup hat from 1995. The LV Cup is a real yacht race, first founded in 1983 and still happening today. The winner of the LV Cup goes on to challenge the reigning champion of the America’s Cup, the oldest international yachting competition dating back to 1851.
The 1995 LV Cup was held in San Diego and the winner was Team New Zealand, who eventually went on to win the 1995 America’s Cup. Priced at $45.
These new waffle thermals from Bronson MFG are made using a rare Raschel knitting technique. It’s a slower process than other common knitting types. You have to have a special type of loom to create the deep pockets on the fabric that help insulate while also remaining breathable and stretchy.
Bronson’s take comes in a warm 14.2 oz knit made on a vintage loom to capture the same look and structure of old-school undergarments. Priced at $60.
I've always enjoyed the home goods from One of These Days. This new blanket is made from a 80/20 wool and polyamide blend, and features a landscape design in woven jacquard. Measures 50” x 60”. Priced at $275.
Come for the style and gear news. Stay for the outfit picks.
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Stories that inform, inspire, and entertain. Find an inroad and see where it leads.
Fellow Missouri-native like myself, the actor sits down in a rare profile ahead of his fall film with director David Fincher, The Adventures of Cliff Booth.
When you spend it right, alone time is good time. A couple of the ways I spend alone time include going to the Austin downtown library and reading on the rooftop, or making a Moscow Mule on a weekend and playing my acoustic guitar along to easy cowboy chord songs.
Shoutout Terry Blacks (Texas), Peter Luger (New York), and The Columbia (Tampa). Which ones have you been to?
Live a Little has a vast library of content. Here are some stories you might’ve missed:
One of my favorite stories I’ve written this year is on the “34 Small Ways to Maximize Your Life”. Check it out and let me know what tips you might start actioning.
If you’re looking for some creative inspiration, check out my essay on the creative fire of Robert Plant.
And if you ever want to brush up on your men’s style history, these are the 6 menswear books I recommend every guy have in their library.
Leave a comment, or send me a DM, if you wanna talk style and gear.
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