Unabashedly Prep

  • Aprés-Ski on the Street

    Style | Dress Code  

    As foul weather settles in, I've noticed après-ski wear making its way, en masse, onto the streets of more than just mountain villages this winter. But this is not a new phenomenon. Preppies have long donned their sportswear after the fact of actually playing said sport. While certainly functional against the bitter chill in cities with skyscraper-propelled winds, après-ski wear can be refreshed when pared with tailored pieces—a move empowered by paired down parkas, down filled jackets, and slim ski pants offered by a handful of designers.

    Photographed in New York, NY by Michael Norwood

    One collection leading the charge is Ralph Lauren’s luxurious performance line, RLX. Its design is driven by a particular emphasis on technology. The pièce de résistance? An orange solar panel backpack ($800) made in Italy of water-resistant fabric. While it’s certainly not cheap, its solar panel can charge a phone in two to three hours while carving up the slopes...or running around Manhattan. Let’s get real, it could potentially save your life if you were stranded on a mountain—or perhaps even your job if you forgot your charger while running errands. I digress. There are more familiar pieces as well. My RLX “AC Ascender” down jacket is crafted in water-and-wind resistant featherweight nylon packed with 160 grams of down fill for an ideal balance of warmth and comfort. It’s available in fun, bright, preppy colors as well as tamer options like grey and black. The winter collection as a whole, available online at RalphLauren.com and in Bloomingdale's, is just as much at home on the street as it is on the slopes. Just because you’re back from Aspen doesn’t mean your ski gear must be relegated to the back of your closet.

    Rig:
    • RLX (everything)
    • Deja Vu Refinery tortoise shell sunglasses

    Jan 3, 2012 | Permalink (13) View/Leave Comments

    Joey Dee left a comment on 1/8/2012 at 9:30 PM:

    Nice pants. Are the pockets smaller,concealed versions of cargo pockets? If so, its about time someone took the bulk out of cargo pockets.


    DJ Ren left a comment on 1/4/2012 at 7:11 AM:

    Thanks FEC, but not exactly answering my question. I “own” a vintage Patek, but I didn’t buy it - it was my grandfathers, then fathers.

    Did you purchase the jacket retail?


    S.G. left a comment on 1/4/2012 at 1:37 AM:

    @AEV, that was a pretty “jerkish” remark


    M Arthur left a comment on 1/3/2012 at 8:59 PM:

    Rugged look F.E.  Your lime shades would hunt well with the look.  As for technology and functionality wardrobe design, I have to give the Oscar to Zegna.


    JNN left a comment on 1/3/2012 at 8:34 PM:

    Love it all but the shades. Those just don’t do anything for me.


    DBCC left a comment on 1/3/2012 at 3:14 PM:

    @FEC, I love the bright colors that are offered by RLX and I enjoy how you’re showcasing them in the city.  Happy new year.


    AEV left a comment on 1/3/2012 at 2:39 PM:

    Fred,
    How do you weigh/balance the profiling of items that almost no one would ever wear with the need to market pieces that are gifted to you?


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 1/3/2012 at 2:15 PM:

    @DJ Ren—I own the jacket.

    @Bill—I ride bowls occasionally on my snowboard. There are probably other readers that ski off piste though.

    @MGM—The trail/hiking boot with pant tucked under wool socks can work in the city when the rest of your look isn’t so literal. It’s about the mix…and massaging it until it feels comfortable for you.


    Paul left a comment on 1/3/2012 at 1:26 PM:

    Please tell us about the scarf and pants!


    DJ Ren left a comment on 1/3/2012 at 1:07 PM:

    Were you gifted the parka and backpack, or did you purchase them retail, FEC?


    Bill left a comment on 1/3/2012 at 10:39 AM:

    Stranded on a mountain? Do you do a lot of off piste skiing Castleberry?


    Angelan gel left a comment on 1/3/2012 at 10:05 AM:

    @MGM- I haven’t seen it with tall boots just yet, but I have seen that look with Chukka boots

    Angels Point of View


    MGM left a comment on 1/3/2012 at 8:17 AM:

    This is a great look, although I do wish you would have shown us what was covering your feet.  When I see looks like this featured on Ralph Lauren-type sites, I notice that many of the models wear high boots with their pants tucked into their long wool socks, which rise above the boots.  What do you think of this look?  I am reluctant to try it, largely because I have NEVER seen anyone wear this look in the “real” world.


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  • January 2012 Playlist

    Music & Books  

    Listen on Spotify

    Jan 2, 2012 | Permalink (11) View/Leave Comments

    Tanner left a comment on 1/28/2012 at 1:52 PM:

    Love this mix, have you ever heard of Ghostland Observatory?? Check out their song Glitter or Sad Sad City. I think they’ll fit into your mix.


    Brian left a comment on 1/17/2012 at 9:05 PM:

    Thanks so much for the music Fred, great choices as usual!


    Samuel left a comment on 1/17/2012 at 3:43 PM:

    Where on earth is the link to download???


    Isabel left a comment on 1/16/2012 at 2:16 AM:

    Thanking you for introducing me to the ‘Of Monsters and Men’... I’ve fallen in love again.


    Jeff left a comment on 1/15/2012 at 6:40 PM:

    Couldn’t be happier, LOVE your site and LOVE your monthly music!


    Valerie left a comment on 1/12/2012 at 3:51 PM:

    Agreed! Thanks!


    megan left a comment on 1/12/2012 at 12:27 PM:

    Thanks for making my month a little more tuneful.


    Gustav W left a comment on 1/12/2012 at 9:48 AM:

    Great mix man!


    Raquel left a comment on 1/11/2012 at 7:14 PM:

    The Strokes and The Kooks… excellent choices!


    David Brandorff left a comment on 1/11/2012 at 5:55 PM:

    Gracias for the tracks man. I’m locked in a very nice hotel room in Santa Monica making edits on commercial scripts and I needed jam out for a bit.


    Niles left a comment on 1/11/2012 at 4:04 PM:

    Love the mix.


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  • Deja Vu Refinery

    Style  

    It’s rare these days to find a designer that is not only pouring their entire being into their collection but actually creating quality pieces. Jason Pollak is one of those designers. His voice gets pitchy when he starts talking about his 45 degree arm joints, historically accurate flat lenses, and custom lens colors (like beer bottle green and polarized beer bottle brown). In a previous life, Pollak was a men's vintage clothing and accessories dealer with a particular fascination for iconic eye-wear. Today, he is holed up on the east coast painstakingly designing luxury eye-wear under the masthead Deja Vu Refinery.

    DEBONAIR BRAD tortoise shell frame w/Beer Bottle Green lenses ($333)
    Image via Eric Ryan Anderson

    Deja Vu Refinery’s DEBONAIR frames, vaguely reminiscent of vintage Tart Optical Arnels, are handmade by master craftsmen and boast 7 barrel hinges (not just five), functional rivets, and rounded arm ends (an improvement on the Arnel). But one need not be an eye-wear connoisseur to appreciate the meticulous attention to detail. The flat face and lenses are an instantly recognizable distinction between modern interpretations of vintage eye-wear and period accurate vintage reproductions. It’s readily apparent Deja Vu Refinery has crafted something special (each frame is assigned a unique serial number). The spectacles are presented in a time capsule case wrapped up in brown butcher paper boasting quirky skeleton art and a glow-in-the-dark wax seal. Deja Vu Refinery offers 10 custom colored high quality zylonite frames in the DEBONAIR silhouette. Though the go-to-hell TOSH frames (my favorite) in translucent lime green aren’t for everyone, the traditional tortoise shells are as classic as the iconic frames that came before.

    Dec 16, 2011 | Permalink (18) View/Leave Comments

    cam left a comment on 1/4/2012 at 2:42 PM:

    And I would select these over Cutler and Gross because?


    Kabin left a comment on 1/3/2012 at 6:20 PM:

    Lens technology has only advanced but very little since the 1950s/60s. Yes, you may select some now-au-go-go advanced lenses but you may find that they are little more than “hype”. Just the fact that the “modern” lens offerings are used on 6 & 8 curved lenses practically nullify “advancements” when compared to the flat lenses lack of distortion. So one must weigh the benefits of “newness” versus timeless beauty.


    oxford cloth button down left a comment on 12/29/2011 at 6:56 PM:

    Nice jacket. Those glasses look pretty cool.


    Dan from England left a comment on 12/26/2011 at 2:50 PM:

    Fred, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas and all the best for 2012.


    Julien left a comment on 12/26/2011 at 1:41 PM:

    A well-dressed man driving a beautiful car: it’s perfection!

    And also a good combination to pick up girls : )
    Well done Fred !
    (Of course, it’s a joke and I hope you’re not shocked).


    Kionon left a comment on 12/25/2011 at 6:33 PM:

    Merry Christmas, FEC.


    B. L. Davis left a comment on 12/25/2011 at 11:47 AM:

    Fred:  Merry Christmas.  It’s been a good year for you and U.P.  I’m wearing your shirt from Jack Robbie for the Christmas Eve celebrations.  Hope that all is well.  2012 is going to be even better.
    Ben


    Joey Dee left a comment on 12/24/2011 at 1:11 PM:

    Thanks for another great year of style tips and ideas.
    To all the readers, and FEC:
    May the blessings of light peace and prosperity be with you now and for the year to come
    Joey Dee


    DEJA VU REFINERY left a comment on 12/24/2011 at 12:27 PM:

    @KDM Just go check the photos on our DEJAVUREFINERY.COM , because we shot them with people like you in mind. Some shots (RIVER for ex.) are actually through the lens and at the at typed words, for evaluation of clarity. You get an uncommonly accurate sense of each of our lens’ clarity if you look at the slide shows on our website. No joke; ‘world’s best contender’.


    KDM left a comment on 12/24/2011 at 12:05 PM:

    @Dejavu
    Thank you for the clarification, at least now I know that FEC isn’t driving his BMW around blind.


    Tim left a comment on 12/23/2011 at 5:53 PM:

    Can’t do 333 but all the styles look wicked cool.  Glad to see such dedication to a product.


    DEJA VU REFINERY left a comment on 12/23/2011 at 10:04 AM:

    @KDM Our lenses are custom manufactured and offer better vision than anything you currently own. Our lenses are hailed as the best on the market by some of our customers (see facebook). Our lenses meet FDA & EU standards, as do our frames themselves. I hope this clears up your perception.


    KDM left a comment on 12/23/2011 at 9:46 AM:

    Why would one pay 300+ dollars for a pair of sunglasses that have “vintage” lenses.  Unlike many other articles of clothing, shoes, blazers, watches..ect, lense technology has improved greatly since the 1960s.  The reason costa del mar glasses are so popular is because of the quality of the lenses.


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 5:17 PM:

    @$Bill42—

    Jacket: Norman Hilton
    Tie: Ralph Lauren
    Shirt: Rugby
    Jeans: Rugby
    Watch: vintage Omega Seamaster
    Pocket Square: navy bandana handkerchief


    $Bill42 left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 4:46 PM:

    Where can the rest of the “ensemble” be found?”  (jacket, tie , shirt….?????)  Norman/Nick Hilton????


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 2:33 PM:

    @Thea—1987 535i BMW.


    Snaaby left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 2:31 PM:

    Looks like an e28 in the pics. If so, what year? The glasses are killer, by the way!


    Thea left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 2:31 PM:

    what car do you have?


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  • Bill of Rites for the American Man

    Music & Books  

    K. Cooper Ray, friend and esteemed gentleman, has been publishing what I consider to be an essential read for every gentleman in Social Primer. Manners, conversation, style, handling your liquor...Ray covers it all, and matter-of-factly. Bill of Rites for the American Man is a handy, paperback version of the popular series presented on Social Primer over the past year. With original illustrations by Victoria Molinelli, this pamphlet (or primer) is an easy to follow guide for gentlemen of all ages...and just as easy a stocking stuffer at $12.

    Dec 15, 2011 | Permalink (2) View/Leave Comments

    K. Cooper Ray left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 11:30 PM:

    Thank you, F.E. Your support means very much. Sales on Amazon shot up when you posted. Grazie mille. As for the font, JSN, you will have to ask the talented Alison Blumenfeld. She designed the book cover (when she isn’t designing house interiors).


    JSN left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 2:04 PM:

    What is that suave font you use Mr. Ray? I am in love with it at first sight!


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  • Allen Edmonds Long Wingtip

    Top Drawer | Style  

    It's a chilly November night in the Empire City and I'm walking into a hotel bar in midtown...Lex bar, I think. The heads of Allen Edmonds have set up shop on the pool table—an impressive spread of their 2012 spring collection of chukkas, brogues, and loafers in new color ways, burnished leathers, and refined silhouettes. I take a couple BBQ sliders in hand. They're good. I don't recall eating lunch—or breakfast for that matter—so they're better than good. They're on the verge of great.

    Allen Edmonds Williams Long Wingtip (brown burnished calf, $445)

    Allen Edmonds call themselves The Great American Shoe Company. Perhaps that is fitting for the 90 year old shoe manufacturer out of Belgium, Wisconsin that was, until 1978, run solely by family. Elbert W. Allen built the company on his innovative manufacturing techniques that relied on Goodyear welting to make fashionable and durable shoes that were nail-less and shankless (meaning they had no uncomfortable metal bar under the instep).  Before you've taken your first step, Allen Edmonds has already taken 212 in each handcrafted pair. That, along with strong and steady leadership, set the precedent for long term success despite the hard times of the Great Depression, the rationing years of World War II, and the mounting pressures of foreign competition in the 1960s and '70s.

    Mark McNeill, Allen Edmonds' head designer, is walking me through his latest designs. We stop at The Independence Collection, a new line of higher-end shoes priced at $445. I finger the reworked long wingtip (named after Declaration of Independence signer William Williams) for a solid five minutes before McNeill's discourse snaps back into my consciousness just in time to learn about wheeling, a sole detail that has been reintroduced for the first time in 30 years. Supple yet durable, the brown burnished leather is the finest Allen Edmonds can get their hands on. In fact, over 70% of the skins are rejected for The Independence Collection. As I polish off my last BBQ slider, I realize these longwings aren't just good, they're on the verge of great.

    Dec 14, 2011 | Permalink (14) View/Leave Comments

    Mike left a comment on 12/23/2011 at 9:13 PM:

    If you have not worn a pair of AE’s I think you will switch from Alden to AE.  AE is like butter.


    emjkmj left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 1:32 PM:

    I don’t know if it’s a Ford vs. Chevy thing, but I find there is two camps in the American made shoe world.  The Allen Edmonds camp and the Alden camp.  Since I have been wearing Alden shoes for church since middle school, I find myself in the latter.


    Morty62 left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 9:28 AM:

    I bought a pair of brown AE wingtips earlier this year and absolutely love them. They look very elegant, fit to perfection and the detailing is very subtle.


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 9:07 AM:

    @LG—There is no such thing as a free lunch.


    LG left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 9:04 AM:

    Are you getting free stuff for these endorsements? If so, it would be ethical to bring that to everyone’s attention…


    Cheap adidas shoes left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 1:23 AM:

    Do the Adidas Angry Birds Shoes needs patience, and there is really a Adidas Mickey Mouse Shoes in the heart


    AEV left a comment on 12/21/2011 at 5:07 PM:

    Nice shoes - no doubt.


    Shoedog left a comment on 12/20/2011 at 2:30 PM:

    Wisco Kid… Allen Edmonds doesn’t make any shoes in MN.  Their factory is in Port Washington, Wisconsin.


    Ron left a comment on 12/20/2011 at 10:29 AM:

    Great shoes , we used to call longwings Royal Brogues back in the early 70’s , a timeless design .

    They should bring back the Cornell or another split toe monk !


    Mike left a comment on 12/19/2011 at 10:15 PM:

    I remember my first purchase of Allen Edmonds lace ups.  When the sales man tighten and tied the laces, it was a beautiful thing!  What quality and comfort!  The long wing is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship!  I intend to grab a pair!


    Wisco Kid left a comment on 12/19/2011 at 8:37 PM:

    As a Wisconsinite, I respect and wear Allen Edmonds.  Though they are generally now made in MN, they are still 100% USA - which explains the quality.  A little tip for those looking to not pay full price - check out the factory stores!


    MGM left a comment on 12/19/2011 at 6:11 PM:

    Yea, I love me some Allen Edmonds shoes.  In fact, I just love shoes generally.  That is the one item I will never get tired of perusing when I walk into men’s department stores.  Blazers, shirts, ties, etc. etc.—I have seen them all.  Nothing really to look forward to (it is just a matter of collecting everything I have seen).  But with shoes, the thrill (for me) never dies when I walk into a store to see all the lovely variations of various style of shoes.  And Allen Edmonds is certainly one of the best companies out there doing it.


    DNubbins left a comment on 12/19/2011 at 2:25 PM:

    Glad to see Allen Edmonds get in the game. Alden has stolen their thunder recently. I’ve been wearing their shoes for years.  I hope other blogs catch on.  I agree with Richard: their resoling program is excellent.


    Richard Ross left a comment on 12/19/2011 at 12:42 PM:

    Allen Edmonds is such an outstanding company. I have been wearing them for years but it is due to my father’s long term relationship with the company. I have several pairs of my father’s shoes that are over fifteen years old. Still kickin’. Their resoling program is top notch.


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  • THIS ENTIRE SITE Ⓒ 2009—2012 F.E. CASTLEBERRY. ALL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS HEREIN (DENOTED BY "PHOTOGRAPHED IN... ") ARE COPYRIGHTED BY F.E. CASTLEBERRY. IMAGES (DENOTED BY "IMAGES VIA...") ARE READILY AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS PLACES ON THE INTERNET AND BELIEVED TO BE IN PUBLIC DOMAIN. IMAGES POSTED ARE BELIEVED TO BE POSTED WITHIN MY RIGHTS ACCORDING TO THE U.S. COPYRIGHT FAIR USE ACT (TITLE 17, U.S. CODE). NO PART OF THIS SITE, OR ANY OF THE CONTENT CONTAINED HEREIN, MAY BE USED OR REPRODUCED IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER(S).