I was thinking today about how I’ve been very pleased with my most recent set of work boots today and thought it could be interesting if anyone else had any particular favorite clothing items that they have really been enjoying.
Clothes are a very personal choice, as we’re all built differently and do different things, but I’m curious to see if any trends show up in what we like.
I got the Keen Braddock Low Tops almost a year ago. I had a previous pair of Keen’s imported boots a while back, and my new job makes us go through their provider instead of me getting reimbursed for buying my own boot of choice, and I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of buying safety toes without getting to try them on first, as some can be pretty uncomfortable. I saw they had the US made Braddock though, which I had been wanting to try to see if it was an upgrade from the now discontinued boots I had from them.
I like Keen’s because my old ones held up tremendously well. The thick rubber toe may look a little odd, but it doesn’t scuff up like a leather cap boot, and it’s asymmetrical so it fits my big foot better than many safety toes where both caps are the same shape. They feel very sneaker like, which is nice since my feet don’t need serious protection from a super stiff and tall boot. I like the design is enough to be interesting, but nothing too wild.
These have been holding up very well, though I have 3 pairs in my rotation now, I also have a pair of leather CAT steel toe low tops and a pair of Carhartt composite toe fabric low tops. They each have their ups and downs, but the Keen is my all-arounder. It’s not as light as the comp toe, it’s a little bulkier than the leather boot, but it’s the most comfy and feels to be the best built of the 3.
The one physical thing I took with me when I left the infantry in the '90s is a pair of really-new standard issue Canadian combat boots.
I wore them in the Calgary winters, walking to work with a looped cassette of Thompson Twins Cool World Play with Me, trimmed as a form of 1990s pre-CD-era ‘repeat’. I stomped all the way there for my 2-hour shift (fuck you conservatives and your shitty labour laws) and I’d stomp home or off to the other job.
When I went to America, 5 years after that, I had a chance to buy a really-new standard Canadian Navy ‘surplus’ overcoat with the zipped liner. There was no NJ winter that thing didn’t dominate. I’d gone back to sneakers for the years I was in America, but I was rarely cold.
But the sneakers hosed the bursa in my heels and now I’m relegated to sandals that are neither the boots I love nor fitting with the overcoat. Both sit on the closet pending a bilateral arthroscopic calcaneoplasty. whee. I’m on the list, and pre-covid the list was 2 weeks long but I wasn’t a suitable candidate. Now I am, but the indolent hillbillies, used during COVID as a cheap political tool - by the cons again - bullied the docs into rage-quitting; and the wait list is a year.
My hatred of our pseudo-aristocracy for their hatred of people aside, the navy overcoat that fit so well in new Jersey and the combat boots I could kill in a series of Calgary winters remain my favourite pieces of clothing.
It’s hard to pick just one! I have a pair of Todd Snyder x LL Bean “utility cargo” sweat shorts that are a nice soft texture and a pleasant heavy weight. They are one of my go-to pairs for wearing around the house or when doing errands. The quality of the fabric and construction really stands out to me and I enjoy them every time I wear them!
The other one that came to mind is a lightweight linen long sleeve button down shirt in dark blue plaid that I also got from Todd Snyder. It was my first linen shirt and as soon as I wore it I realized that linen is my favorite fabric for warm weather because it breathes so nicely and feels great on the skin.
I had a linen shirt once, and this super hot summer this year had me wanting to give linen another go. It’d be nice to have at least one for occasions that are a little nicer during the summer.
I bought a proper country jacket last year for far more than I’d normally spend. It’s very heavy, very waterproof, very full of pockets, very farmerish, very good.
My Welcome To Night Vale leggings!
I saw a couple, but this kind seemed the most common. They are indeed very awesome looking. May have to give the show a listen as well.
That’s the ones I have!
My Brooks Ghost 15 shoes saved me from double heel spurs, double flat feet and a bad knee.
I am on my third pair in two years, I wear them all year round, from 30C to -20C, and they are fantastic.
I need extra wide shoes, inlays and a soft sole.
Sure, they don’t last long, but the earlier shoes I had put me in a bad way where I for months cried out of pain when dragging myself back home from the bus after work.
Somewhat boring, but I just love my merino wool t shirts. They don’t have any logos or swag, but they are incredibly comfortable, don’t smell and you just air them out every evening instead of constant washing. They are also expensive as he’ll for those considering them
Your mom.
Wait, that doesn’t make any sense.
Wait, it not masking any sense has never deterred anyone from making a your mom joke, so it’s fine after all.
Wait, that’s actually a pretty grim appraisal of the state of what is considered to be humorous.
In that case, I’ll go with my sweatpants instead, if I may.
All of my hoodies. I love having a hoodie with a zipper down the middle of it. People say I’ve lost weight because it sort of hides my belly 😂 but I like the feeling and the cool weather that comes with wearing one.
It’s a shame I can’t always wear one.
That’s nice that it gives a tangible feel to the seasons changing. I feel that way when I switch the flannel sheets in/out.
And anything that makes you look better while also being comfy is a major win.
ItemLabel Big Shirt.
Simple. Roomy. Big. Comfy. Has fantastic embroidered fish on the pocket.
10/10.
I found the nerdfighter!
Rude.
Oh, I have seen this somewhere before! I remember the fish very clearly! It is indeed fantastic.
Compression leggings for my ashtanga practice. I have had them for years and the texture, grip and colors are still great.
I like how they don’t roll down at the waist and how their length is a tad above the heel of my foot while still covering the ankles.
They have a Wide range of sizes and designs. luleåmindulf is the brand.
You really nailed what kind of description I was hoping to hear: that specificity. A lot of things that make something great can be hard to put into words, but in your case it’s very clear what these leggings do that you love about them.
Bought an old navy denim jacket when I was 8, I desperately wanted one but they only had men’s large and I decided I’d grow into it. I did, 6 years later. Now is 22 years later and it still my favorite jacket. I’ve dyed it every 10 years to a match my current style and it still fits me like a glove. Doesn’t even look a year old, I guess old navy used to be a lot better quality.
You know, I came into this thinking I didn’t particularly like clothes, but now I think it’s just clothes shopping I don’t enjoy.
I got a Starter windbreaker type jacket around 98-00 and I still wear it every spring and fall. I got a new and upgraded zipper on it a few years back and I just rewaterproofed it last year and it’s still awesome. That is probably the oldest clothing item I have and it’s something I enjoy at least as much, if not more, than when I bought it since it’s been through so much of my life with me.
I bought a massively oversized NASA t-shirt the last time I had to go to JCPenney’s and it’s so fucking comfortable that I’ve literally worn holes into it.
My ex-girlfriend complained that so many of the pictures that we had taken together had me in this shirt. It was just a comfy shirt and I still have it but it’s probably time for me to find a new one.
My ex-girlfriend complained that so many of the pictures that we had taken together had me in this shirt.
I always got told by my ex it looked like we did everything in one huge vacation since all our travel photos had me in the same few comfy shirts! 😁
My cashmere sweater from Nadaam. I have several and they’re comfy, stylish, and super warm. Their OG sweater (of which I own 3) are under $100, but the one I’m talking about is a recycled cashmere (made from leftovers of other products) which is thick and soft and fuckin amazing
Those look nice! I’m surprised the OG one is in the somewhat reasonable splurge price range. I was expecting closer to the price of the recycled one.
When I saw you say it was made of the leftovers, I was picturing something like the Cotopaxi Del Dia stuff, but it probably makes more sense what it actually is where it’s normal colors. 🤪
My combat boots were the first thing to come to mind, along with the socks. Bought both 3-years ago and none show any real wear.
I’ve abused hell out of the boots, and they’re stained with oil and god knows what else, but they fit perfectly and don’t have any “mechanical” wear, only cosmetic. I was a little leary of the low price, but damn, they’re a steal. I’d buy them again but I’d have to drop the original pair in a wood chipper to fuck them up.
The socks are still elastic and warm, cushiony, never popped a hole. Wish I could afford another set and I wish I hadn’t looked that up. Just too broke ATM, and will be for some time.
Lately I’ve been on a kick wearing stretch pants. Like yoga pants for men? What are those called? Got a pair at TJ Maxx, went back the next day for another.
Thick wool socks are pretty great, very comfy when it gets cold out (so like a month or two from now for me)
I want to pick up more pairs than just the Walmart cheapies I’ve had. I’ve really started loving wool the last few years. I have a thin wool blanket on my bed all year now on top of the top sheet, and it keeps me the perfect temp all year. I toss a second one on top in the winter. I’m typically very hot all the time, and the wool keeps me at that just right point.
Carhartt makes really good wool socks if you want recommendations
