Ruby and I are moving in a couple of weeks, on my birthday of all days, so I’ve been taking the opportunity to look at everything in my life with fresh eyes.
I’m getting rid of a good chunk of it.
I’ve always liked the idea of owning things that get better with time, but that doesn’t mean everything deserves to stay. So I’m trying to be more honest about what I actually use and what I actually like.
It turns out that is a pretty good way to refine your sense of taste, too.
A few things I’ve been wearing on repeat lately:
They’re still slowly breaking in, which is part of the fun. Burgundy is one of those colors that works with almost everything, and I’ve been wearing these enough that they’re finally beginning to show it.
I’ve been wearing these on my days with Sid Mashburn, paired with a jacket and tie, which is my favorite way to wear jeans. The higher rise and slight bootcut make them feel more deliberate than a standard pair of five-pocket jeans, without making me look like I’m trying too hard.
Proper Cloth “Soft Ivy” Button-Downs
I’ve settled on a very specific version: an Ivy-style soft collar, vintage hem, no sleeve-placket button, and chunky Australian mother-of-pearl buttons. I have white Oxford, white poplin, and sky-blue end-on-end for now. I’d like to add some color and pattern, but these three have become a very useful foundation.
I’ve owned this for more than a year and am only just now realizing it’s probably the best T-shirt I own. The single-needle seams, slim ribbed collar, vintage fit, and slubby loopwheeled fabric all add up to something that just looks good with everything. It’s comfortable without looking like a comfort shirt.
Casio F-91W / Taxco Silver Chain
The minimalist Casio F-91W has been getting the most wrist time. I still reach for my Captain Willard when I want something more substantial and my Omega Seamaster when I want something more refined, but this little sucker is hard to beat for daily wear. On the other wrist, summer has meant my Taxco silver version of the Hermès-style Chaîne d’Ancre.
Alex Mill Perfect Weekend Tote in Olive
My olive-green tote has become the default. Their team hand-painted my initials on it in cobalt blue, which makes it feel like mine, and it’s not bulky yet more than big enough for packages, records, or whatever else I inevitably end up carrying around.
The Bengal Stripe × Papa Nui Denim Hell Cat
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the denim cap I made with Papa Nui. It’s a bit floppy and scrunchy now that it’s broken in. I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops as I continue to wear it.
I’m still on the hunt for good boxers and dress socks, so recommendations are welcome.
I’ve been thinking about this at the same time I’m thinking about what to keep in my closet. When I started putting some of The Bengal Stripe behind a paywall, it made sense. I wanted to see if I could build a paid readership and put a little more weight behind the work.
It worked well enough. More importantly, it taught me something about what people responded to. But I’ve reached a point where I’d rather have more people reading than fewer people paying.
I don’t want The Bengal Stripe to be something you have to decide whether you can justify subscribing to before you can read it. I want the work to travel. I want someone who has never heard of me to stumble across an article and find something useful in it. I want the ideas to reach people who are interested in clothes, objects, craft and the way we live with them.
The more I think about it, the more I believe that taste and craft are at the heart of all of this. Taste doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have an opinion on everything. It’s simply knowing what is for you and what isn’t. And craft isn’t about taking things to a place that’s inaccessible to most people, but making something well enough that it earns its keep. That is what I want The Bengal Stripe to be about, so I’m removing the paywall.
There will still be ways to support the work, and I’ll still be figuring out how to make this into a sustainable business. But the writing I do here will be free. I’m also going to write less, but with more intention. There is already enough stuff competing for our attention. I don’t want to add to it unless I have something worth saying.
That’s probably the same standard I’m going to apply to what I own: Keep the good stuff. Get rid of the rest. Make what remains count.
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