A year ago today, my favorite Levi’s arrived in the mail. I tend to measure time in clothes, especially denim. In quiet moments I examine the fabric to see how it’s changed since I first started wearing it and I try to remember the landmarks that have come and gone in that same chunk of time.

The Levi’s in question were a complete shot in the dark - the 557 for Cowboys - a funky model made beginning in the mid-late 80s, which seem to pretty openly rip off a ton of Wrangler details. I bought them on Ebay and they arrived on my porch the morning after a gnarly breakup. A new pair of jeans, a new phase of life. The timing felt apt, but yes, also very sad.

A year has passed and some very humble fades are beginning to show in that pair of jeans (they came to me fairly washed-out and vintage, which is a little harder to set fades into ((imho))), so I wanted to remind myself of the handful of pieces that were so good they faded into the realm of everyday. So perfect and seamless that I sometimes forget they’re even there.

The Jeans

I’ve talked about these to no end, but they really are just so good. Fitted in the seat, high in the waist, wide in the thigh, with an incredibly subtle bootcut - what more could you ask for. The denim is a different hue and hand than I’m used to in Levi’s, but still a lovely one. My fades are exceedingly subtle still - I don’t do too much physically demanding shit in my jeans - but they’re coming in slowly but surely.

I really only like wearing them with cowboy boots so they’ve definitely made me lean into my cowboy shit even more over the last year. I like them so much I found and bought a pair of unworn 557s I’ll keep on ice for a rainy day. (Maybe to cheer me up after the next bad breakup.)

The Watch

On my birthday, I wandered into the store where I’d bought my first Tudor in 2020. (Bhindi Jewelers in the Glendale Galleria.) Every time I’d tried to see the Black Bay 58 in person, I’d been foiled. They were seemingly impossible to find anywhere. I’d meant to go to the public pool later that day (classy bday plans as always), so I arrived at the fancy watch store in huaraches, swim trunks, and a big goofy hat. They of course didn’t take me seriously at all, but the joke was on them, because I walked out with a watch I’d pined after for the last five years.

Even though I’ve been on a small watch kick, the Black Bay 58 is just perfect. At 39mm, it has just enough presence while still retaining that vintage feel. The biggest surprise was how alive it felt - I think mostly thanks to the gilt detailings on the hands and indices. Even though the dial is matte black, those little gold hits make it feel so warm and inviting. The domed crystal catches the light in all kinds of great ways and even though it’s always nail-biting to spend that much money on something, I felt 100% vindicated in my purchase.

The interesting side effect this watch had was to get me into gold jewelry - that little bit of gold was enough to get me to ditch my sterling silver chain and spice things up. Am I a gold boy now??

Side-bar - Tudor has just announced a new Black Bay 58 GMT that will surely be perfect - and better still, this new movement has a thinner case, which I imagine is a change they’ll make on the 58 too. So if you were on the fence, maybe hold off a little longer.

The Belt(s)

I had to have them made for myself, but the collab belts I did with Maximum Henry were on my waist pretty much every day of the last year. Especially with such high-waisted jeans as the 557, they worked perfectly. Despite the patina and wear, the leathers on both show no signs of giving up, they just get better and more gorgeous with time.

Thanks, Max!

And stay tuned for more designs - if you didn’t like the colors and width of the first batch!! I’ve found these work best on very high rise workwear-ish pants and anything dressier, lower-rises requires something thinner — so that’s kinda what we’re planning.

The Shirt

During my last New York trip I undertook an exhausting odyssey to see all the retail destinations I’d been meaning to visit. I fully intended to shop, but kept getting the “your money’s no good here” thing. Now, this is obviously a dream, but I really wanted to support my friends!

The last stop on my voyage was the Knickerbocker store. I’ve been following those guys since they were making their stuff in an old factory in Queens (complete with half pipe). I think they were one of the first brands I really fan-boy-ed over in college.

But anyway, I walk in and immediately I see this shirt. A black and tan houndstooth, a pleasing feel to the fabric - they only had an XL left but lo and behold it was perfect. A pretty darn ideal 50s style sports shirt with flap pockets and spread collar. It had a tiny bit of cashmere in the cotton fabric for a shirt that was juuuust warm enough to be cozy. Tucked or untucked, it was perfection and I found myself wearing it day after day after day.

The Boots

Now I know that cowboy boots went best with the 557s, but the real MVP in the boot category was from (who else) Paraboot. I scrimped and saved for these, but I’ve felt very validated in this purchase. They’re called the Bergerac boots and they really check all the boxes for an everyday six-inch lace up boot.

I always love how Paraboot walks the fine line between dressy and workwear. It’s not too dainty - nor is it like a bulbous Red Wing. The lug sole and the thin laces and the padded collar are a great mash-up of references that make for a surprisingly versatile footwear item. Also, they’re comfortable from the jump - and though they’re certainly not hiking boots, they’ll take care of your feet on a long walk on your next vacation.

I’m very sorry I’ve been so lackadaisical about writing more here! None of this is very applicable to summer wardrobes, so I’ll be sure to tackle that next - as well as (I hope) an essay on cowboys.

Love,

Albert