To Recap: How 5 (Still Available!) Of a Kind Editions Were Born

For us, one of the coolest things is getting to see how—and why—a designer makes an edition. Like, what makes a good hide of leather, and what is shibori-dyeing exactly? Here, five makers give the scoop…on editions you can still buy (25% off with the code JULY4THEWIN ‘til Sunday!). 

1) The Art-Gallery-Fueled Story Behind Our Baron Wells Tee

BUY / 40 of a kind / $62

2) The Making of Our Lisa Levine Earrings

BUY / 30 of a kind / $125

3) The Leather Skills That Went Into Our Materials + Process Case

BUY / 45 of a kind / $88

4) The Shibori Dye-Job That Fueled Our Study Top

BUY / 50 of a kind / $78

5) The Painting Project That Was Our Partners & Spade Tie

BUY / 25 of a kind / $125

For more recapping, head this way, ASAP.

Alumni News: The Baron Wells Boys Launch Their (Really Well-Priced) Reference Collection

One of the biggest challenges of producing here in the U.S. of A.: cost. While consumers (you and me and everyone we know!) support local production ideologically, how many times have you heard someone say, “Why would I pay $150 for this shirt when I could buy something similar at Zara for $70?” Yah. 

Well, the awesome, tremendously thoughtful guys behind Baron Wells have somehow struck a balance: By paring down their crisp, classic-with-a-twist menswear—ditching mother of pearl buttons, for instance, and limiting the details—they have been able to slash prices so that guys who typically shop J.Crew have no excuses not to scoop up their slim olive chinos (88!), aluminum writer’s post cufflinks ($15!), and Japanese twill safari shirts ($98!). They’re calling it their Reference Collection, so get on that. As the internet would say, YOLO. —erica

S/He: Makr’s Round Backpack Makes a Case for Gender Neutrality

 Clockwise from top left:
+ Mary Meyer for Of a Kind scarf  
+ Thomas Sires for Of a Kind shirt
+ Tsumori Chisato cardigan
+ Robert Clergerie shoes
+ Cacharel pants
+ Makr backpack 

Of a Kind

Listen, I know our guest model Will McGinn (of Except For This One) could make anything look damn cute—you should see his whole face!—but this Baron Wells tee is pretty rad on its own. Dominick Volini, one half of the BW team, snapped the pic of this aloe plant in Montauk, and the guys painted it not its standard green but their signature color: the sort of rich yellow that can motivate you to crawl out of bed in the morning. —erica

BUY / 40 of a kind / $63

Read more about the Baron Wells duo:

+ On their surf essentials.

+ On three of their favorite materials.

+ On why they decided to hand-paint these tees anyway.

On Friday, 11 up-and-coming designers presented their spring collections at Gen Art’s (16th annual!) Fresh Faces show. And guess what? Three of those designers (Ace & Jig, Ann Yee, and Collina Strada) have already made appearances on our site, and you’ll see a few others around here very soon. So, you know, humblebrag minus the humble part. Here, three of our fave looks, from top to bottom:

1) Ace & Jig doing some really kick-ass pattern mixing. Also: that sock-oxford combo…swoon.

2) Check out the hemline on those blue Baron Wells pants: It reveals the perfect amount of ankle.

3) Hey! Ann Yee is doing knits for the first time next season! And we’re psyched because, judging by her own wardrobe, she’s some sort of sweater master.

Of a Kind

Why do the lemons on this Baron Wells T-shirt look so juicy? They’re painted by hand. Mmmm. —erica

5 Places in…Mid-City West

Because we’re New Yorkers, we walk—even in L.A. And, thankfully, you can do that in this part of town without looking like an utter lunatic. (Ok, we might even make our way over to Tenoversix and Maxfield in West Hollywood without moving the car, too.) —erica

1) Satine: This is where we discovered one of our favorite L.A. designers, Kelly Bergin—the warm, airy boutique carried her first collection.
2) Joan’s on Third: Get a bunch of little salads. Or the turkey meatloaf. Or those mini baguette sandwiches. And whatever way you go with the food, try your hardest to score a table outside.
3) Douglas Fir: This might just be my favorite men’s store in the country: It carries lines like Noodle Park, Baron Wells, and Folk that don’t get half the love they deserve.
4) The Reformation: For some reason, we find more at this brand’s West Coast outpost than at its NYC shop—the stock’s less broody goth and more chill desert-dweller.
3) Milk: The inventory can be overwhelming, but there are always designers we haven’t seen IRL anywhere else.

More on L.A. month—and our favorite destinations—here.

In Character: Ferguson Darling

Clarissa got major props for her wild-and-crazy ensembles on her namesake Nickelodeon show, but Ferg Face’s looks were just as memorable—even if they didn’t include glue-gunned earrings. As baby-broker as his style was, he certainly wasn’t afraid of adding Martha’s Vineyard-worthy colors to the mix. —erica

A Gilbert & Lewis collared shirt loud enough to disrupt your sister’s train of thought.

Well-pressed khaki pants from Baron Wells. You wouldn’t want anyone to think you’re a sloppy kid.

Suspenders from the Suspender Factory of San Francisco, worn for their function, not their fashion. Naturally.

Read More

Of a Kind

The pockets on the spring shirts from Baron Wells will be in the shape of iPhones. Because why not? —erica