As the days get lighter and the temperatures hopefully soar we all need some lighter garments in the arsenal. It’s not easy for any designer, especially when people are wearing less clothes in general, so less layers to play with, and fewer textures, but Mike Hodis has done it again with this selection from his Eagle Rock CA. based Runabout Goods.

We, quite literally, have your back covered to start the season with three Spring/Summer staples from Runabout Goods, who manage to produce equally interesting kit for the warmer months as they do for the more brisk!

An iconic image from the important Take Ivy book

The whole collection is based on 1960’s Ivy league when brats were shipped off to the Hamptons to cavort and fraternize with their filthy rich peers, at parties, at BBQ’s, on boats. But boy did they look good. We are hoping you’ll be doing some of the same. Please send photos to @pickingsandparry if indeed you do.

For the top half we have the Marina Polo, a raglan sleeve knitted polo style shirt, more relaxed and airy to deal with the heat. You will look like the most delightful Neapolitan Ice Cream but still retain some class. The mother of pearl buttons are a nice touch, too. If you know Jack our Barber, this has him written all over it.

Runabout Goods Marina Polo with Janitor Hat 

Mike took some serious inspiration from the iconic book 'Take Ivy' for this collection (if you haven't read it, look it up!) so next up on top is the Oxnard; aptly named after the Southern Californian coastal town. A 1960’s short sleeved popover, done in Oxford cotton, obviously - what else for Ivy league! It is a half placket and true to size so little or no shrinkage should occur. Slightly boxy, as was the fashion, with four inch side slits to sit properly and help it ease over the head. Details include Melamine cat’s eye opaque white buttons.

Runabout Goods Oxnard Shirt - Milk

Lastly, and naturally at the bottom, depending on your preferences, we have the campus chino for all alumni and also for those who have never been near a university campus. In Italian chambray (70/30 cotton/linen) it is light as a breezy day. A bang on straight fit, not too wide & not too slim. Details include a lovely white selvage and curved side seam pocket.  This is the perfect spring summer trouser, dressed up with a loafer or more casually with a pump. No shrinkage on this one, but order one size up as they fit true to measured size - no room for vanity here!

All in all, Runabout have done it again with their first class approach to design and manufacture. Mike and his team have the ability to take inspiration from times and styles in history, without coming across as overly 'vintage' or 'heritage' and there's still no denim in sight! Check out the collection from Runabout Goods here, or pop in to our store and see it for yourself!

A good bag is like a good pair of boots or a good leather jacket, it is something that will travel with you as you go through life and it's many adventures. In the case of bags, travel is what they're made for. Whether it's to and from work, heading to the gym or half way around the world, they need to be tough, practical and fit for purpose.

Seattle's CC Filson are famous for their stubborn commitment to quality and their bags are probably the most well known example of this. They started out specifically to cater for the rugged prospectors heading North to find their fortunes in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897, so the products they manufactured had to be built to withstand some extreme usage.

Supply companies servicing demand for the Klondike Gold Rush

Still based in Seattle today, Filson are still making things for the outdoors and they're still made to last the distance. The harsh conditions of the North American wilderness haven't changed much, and neither have the folks at Filson. 

So, what makes their bags so good? Well, it's the materials that make the difference, and the construction helps, too. Built predominantly with 22oz drill cotton cloth, they are extremely strong and durable, and they can even be waxed to protect the fabric further and help resist rain. The zips and hardware are all solid brass, so there's no risk of surface plating coming off, and there's no corrosion. The straps, handles and harness points are all made using strong bridle leather, which lasts well can withstand a rather heavy load. All in all, they don't cut corners.

A well used Filson Duffle Bag

Being so well made and with natural materials, they also tend to get better with age. I purchased my first Filson bag 9 years ago now and have used it at least 3-4 times a week ever since. It never lets me down and looks better than it did when new. It's been around the world, through many a rainstorm on the back of a motorcycle and has had it's fair share of knocks along the way. Since then I've added another two bags to the collection and I think there'll be one more to come.

We've just added the very popular medium duffle to our site, and we try to keep a few in store at all times, so if you've never seen one, or you're in the market for a bag that will take a beating, pop in and see us; you'll be ready for your next adventure!

Years ago before I had ever been to Japan, a friend who had recently returned told me, amongst the gargantuan amount of things to do whilst there, was to buy some Japanese socks…’You will never buy any other socks’, he told me.

He was not wrong…in design and weight and durability they can’t be surpassed.

The major brand now in my arsenal is Anonymous Ism.

Anonymous Ism Socks AW17 in the P&P Window

Slightly reclusive Designer Hirotsugu Yoshimura hails from Nara, home of many sock-making factories. The brand has a stated goal of being not just a company but a team that can help everyone find true happiness and so the name Anonymous Ism seems to fit perfectly well.

In the age old Japanese notion of doing one thing incredibly well, Hirotsugu and team create a collection of timeless, seasonal socks that are equally matched to be worn anywhere and everywhere, whether it be jeans or slacks, suits or boots, they really do go with everything. And in line with the normal remit of Pickings & Parry, they last the distance!

The now famous Anonymous Ism standard - The Patchwork in Khaki

Inspired by work wear, vintage, marine & military clothing, they are normally cotton and woolen blends, though for AW17we have some of their limited edition hemp versions, too!  In addition we have the ever popular patch work socks, their now well-coveted indigo-dyed socks and a whole heap of others.

The Indigo dyed cable knit sock by Anonymous Ism

Like a few designers, he couldn’t see the very thing he wanted to wear on his feet in the shops, and so took the plunge and set up a company to fill that gap - Anonymous Ism was the result and we're happy with it.

Woven on vintage machines, assembled in the 1970’s, that can make no more than 50 pairs a day depending on the technicality of knit, they are by no means mass produced. Like most of Japan's output, quality and integrity are paramount, which fits perfectly with our principles as a store, so... what are you waiting for? Get some Anonymous Ism on your feet and put a smile on your face.

Related Tags: Tanner Goods | Pf Flyers

Those of you lucky enough to be stoking fires at home will have noticed that the temperature is dropping and will continue to do so. As winter approaches, we have had drops from the brands that deliver those great outdoor garments. Aero, Runabout and Filson are all currently stocked and waiting to take care of your body temperature needs. However, one maker in our stable brings us a truly iconic piece: Buzz Rickson’s USN N1 Deck Jacket.

Buzz Rickson Navy Department N1 Deck Jacket 

The Deck jacket was designed to keep sailors and naval personnel warm on board whist bracing the biting Atlantic Sea. Cotton grosgrain jungle cloth on the outside with an alpaca and wool interior did the trick. First they were made in Naval blue then this changed to the khaki colour as it was deemed more suitable for the stencils and military embellishments that adorned them. In addition to strong outer layer and warm lining, the wool knit ribbed cuff and drawstring bottom to kept the cold out making it a solid piece for the winter, or even summer if you're in the North Sea!

Buzz Rickson have produced the original Navy Issue model, and the later, more commonly seen Khaki Issue colour and we now have both on our racks depending on your taste. Made in Japan, the Buzz Rickson's brand is a purveyor of true replica clothing with fastidious attention to detail and quality, creating pieces to be worn and loved for a lifetime. Established in 1993, it takes its name from Steve McQueen’s character Captain Buzz Rickson in the film ‘The War Lover’ where McQueen plays a bomber pilot.

Steve McQueen as Pilot Buzz Rickson in The War Lover  

Most jackets were built for a specific purpose, and the N1 is no different, but a truly great piece of design is something attractive and functional. The terrifying theatre of war has created many things, amphetamines for one... yes really! (they were hatched up by a chemist to keep bombers awake on their missions) but more importantly, and legally, some amazing pieces of outerwear. They were built for a specific function and they were built to last, two of the many reasons why they remain timeless and continue to be manufactured and sold year in, year out. Before the second world war there was the Reefer Jacket, which became the famous woollen Pea Coat, a naval staple that is still well known and widely worn today, also the clip front deck jacket (see below) made as an evolution of the N1 so heavily gloved cold hands could more easily open and close the jackets wind flap. This design feature still exists today in various incarnations, most notably on the front of Nigel Cabourn’s signature piece, the Cameraman Fishtail Parka, an amalgam of two jackets. Said jacket is currently featured in our window and is made of L24 Ventile, another fabric that came about as a result of war; but that's another story.

A USN Clip Front Deck Jacket in Use on Deck

Vietnam gave birth to the ever popular A2 deck jacket, a modified version of its predecessor the N1, and also the Tropical Combat Jacket, which is another one on our racks. Probably the most recognisable to come out this era is the much copied but never bettered M65 field jacket, which went from fighting the Vietcong to Taxi Driver and onwards from there...

Motorcycle Gang Member in a Spot of Bother Wearing an N1 Deck Jacket

For almost a century military clothing has been a huge influence on civilian fashion, especially post WW2 when all the garments produced began to filter into army surplus stores and were readily available for the ‘lay-man’ to purchase. The Hells Angels were formed in 1948 by WWII veterans, some of them ex-bomber crew, wearing a combination of old military jackets and leathers complete with their own additions and modifications. Later, screen legends such as James Dean and Paul Newman were photographed in many an iconic military jacket, not to mention the original godfather himself, Marlon Brando, who shot to fame with The Wild One and with it catapulted the perfecto leather jacket into legendary status, along with the more affordable white t-shirt and blue jeans....

Buzz Rickson's N1 Jackets, Jeans, White T-Shirts and Leather Jackets are all things we love. Why not pop in and check them out before Winter fully takes hold.

Long standing patrons of Pickings and Parry will already be familiar with the top notch footwear of California-based Yuketen. As well as recently receiving a batch of their luxe, Birkenstock-inspired sandals, we’re also proud to announce the arrival of a new brand to the roster; Monitaly. Yuki Matsuda is the man behind Meg Company, the parent company behind Yuketen, Monitaly, Epperson Mountaineering and Chamula. The eclecticism of their ranges is astounding, drawing inspiration from a full century of American design and dragging it kicking and screaming into the present. 

"I'm determined to make clothing that I would love to wear. My background is in vintage so I've seen so many great vintage clothing pieces, but vintage fit is usually two-dimensional or disproportionate, and it's not comfortable to wear in any practical manner. But I know how to fix these discrepancies, so I decided to overcome my frustration with ill-fitting clothing by making my own. My goals for Monitaly are great fit with impeccable attention to detail. Made in U.S.A. is very important to me too."

All Meg Company products are made in the USA and Mexico.

Monitaly (if you’re wondering; Monica (Yuki’s daughter + Military + Italy) is certainly not a purists heritage brand. Largely influenced by the brand’s Hermosa Beach headquarters, Monitaly see’s classic Americana silhouettes filtered through Yuki Matsuda’s wild imagination. 

Their artisanal approach sees formal and casual garments re-contextualised, details exaggerated and fabrics re-appropriated. The end results are well-considered, functional modern menswear. 

Despite a playful approach to design, quality and manufacture are treated with the highest respect at Meg Company;

"I like things made slowly with care and attention to detail. That's why I collect a lot of vintage shoes and clothing. As you know, back in the old days people cared and appreciated how to make things by hand and were therefore proud of the products they created with their own hands. I have the same feeling. I care about what we make and I'm always thinking of ways to improve our products, and in many respects, I think what we are doing is like fine art. But at the end of the day, the most important thing to consider is how much I care for each product we make."

To kick off we’ve selected a mid-40’s inspired Zoot Pant in mil-spec Vancloth, a heavy linen Vactation shirt and Vancloth Smock. 

Vancloth is a fairly incredible, high density cotton fabric specially developed by Monitaly to be both lightweight and tough as nails. It also happens to be water resistant. Nifty, huh? As a testament to it's powers I recently took a pretty impressive fall off my bike and grazed a fair chunk of my left side. My Vancloth pullover? Unscathed. Painful field testing of quality fabrics is just one of the many services we offer here at Pickings and Parry.

Shop the collection in-store and online. The weather outside is soon to turn dull and grey, but that certainly doesn't mean you have to as well.

Our friends at Nigel Cabourn's Tokyo HQ have put together a very nice seasonal look book for SS17. This showcases a sample of the collection across all three menswear sections - Authentic, Lybro and Mainline - many pieces are available on our shelves and we thought it worth sharing for reference and inspirational purposes. Enjoy!

SS17 Fishtail Cameraman Parka with Lybro Mountain Div. Big Palm Tree Shirt, Rail Jacket and 4 Pocket Jeans

Lybro SS17 Desert Rats Short Jacket with Camo Combat Pants 

Wide Lapel Tibet Jacket and Bombay Bloomer Shorts. Nigel Cabourn Authentic SS17 

Lybro SS17 Mountain Div. Big Shirt Palm Tree Print with Bombay Bloomer Shorts 

SS17 Nigel Cabourn Lybro Rail Jacket in Natural Stripe 

Lybro Naval Dungarees for SS17 with POH Shirt 

Mountain Div. Sherpa Lybro Jacket and British Army Desert Pants with USMC Cap 

SS17 Lybro USMC Cap, Desert Overcoat and Mountain Div. Big Shirt in Black 

SS17 Nigel Cabourn Lybro Desert Overcoat and Mountain Div. Big Shirt in Army