Dessert is a good thing
Coming down with something nasty. Felt it come on last night, and woke up to an awfully congested head. Went to MKT for breakfast, where I caught up with Diamanda in Atlanta. about UFO euphemisms and the national debt. The man in the tie dye tshirt next to me seemed entertained as I shared my conservative views on the election and national debt, causation between nuclear reactor meltdowns and the sight of unidentified objects, and my childish use of espanol (palabras anyone?).
2024 closed with errands along Polk. Smoke Signals still doesn’t have the latest issue of Dazed, so I left empty handed. Took the time to peruse Russian Hill Bookstore (resisted the urge to buy clearance holiday items). Bought a new tea diffuser and finally found an antique handheld mirror which ended up being half off ($10!). Mourned the shift in curation at Stuff (RIP Valencia location).
Went over final adjustments to my waxed cowhide leather jacket order from Johnson Leathers. I need to seriously stop. I wore the type 3 model that I had them make for me last year, and it’s really all I need in my closet, but this leather illness of mine is seriously the definition of sick.
What I paired with the type 3 jacket… mixed results at best. I blame it on a poor night’s sleep and a clogged head. I’ve certainly worn worse, but I can’t say I loved the end result. Sums up 2024 for me. Sad!
The last errands of 2024 outfit
Johnson Leathers Type 3 cowhide jacket
Last year when I hung out with Lincolnshire Atom in Seattle, I brought this guy with me to brave the elements. Atom marveled at how heavy it was, and he still hasn’t forgotten how it could stand up on its own stiffness.
I’ve broken him in more over the year. I especially love how the back panels look.
Urban Outfitters cap
I think I bought this at Urban in Seattle, but don’t quote me. All I know is when I first saw this hat I loved how it looked exactly like a churro. Anything that makes you look like dessert is a good thing.
Heart t-shirt
I’m not one for vintage band tees, but my love for the Wilson sisters makes this my most prized shirt. Found in Buffalo Exchange while attending Money20/20 in Vegas for like $20. The collar is fading fast but I don’t care - I will wear it at the home when I’m bedridden.
Fake Gucci flora scarf
When I saw one of the many men on the streets of Rome selling fake designer scarves, this one caught my eye. Not for what it purports to be, but because it looks like comic book art when it’s wrapped and draped around the neck. It resembles a battle scene - at least when I look at it. Maybe it’s just me.
Golden Goose suede sneakers
I’m ashamed to admit that I have a few pairs of Golden Goose sneakers. The shame stems from the fact that they’re exorbitant Italian skater shoes that are neither comfy nor uncomfy, intentionally scuffed, and mostly worn by people who don’t skate (points to self). Are they any better than Chucks, Feiyue or any other plimsoll? Hell no. But when found pre-loved at a fifth of their retail price, I’m an idiot who suddenly needs red sneakers to go with his leather jacket. I like these shoes, and I deserve your finger wagging.
Fake Celine leather tote
I swear I don’t seek out fakes when I’m in Rome. But I was in a big vintage shop in Trastevere, chockablock with used leather bags (and cool rope necklaces), when I found this guy. I was smitten with its capacious size, metal feet, the glorious hand of the leather. The shopkeeper warned me that it was fake, hence its low price, but brand was irrelevant. I bought this tote for being a fantastic, floppy, functional feat of leather. You could carry fussy twins in this thing and I promise it’d pacify them while getting better with age.
Vintage handheld mirror
How do I explain this… Some people are afraid of dying while on the toilet. I’m convinced (and worried) they’ll find me having passed on to my great reward holding a mirror to my face, my expression frozen in disbelief and horror upon seeing the ravages of time.
Burberry plastic clutch
I will say: I love Daniel Lee’s take on Burberry, especially after the horrible reign of Riccardo Tisci. I love his exaggerated zoom-in on the check pattern, his use of purple and yellow, the cuts, the ads. But I was especially delighted to see Lee course correct what Tisci did to the logo; I’ve always loved the Prorsum emblem, but he resurrected it with the historic font, in that wonderful shade of blue.
When I saw that he made a plastic tote bag and clutch that indulged in the new logo, I wanted a piece of it, but the prices were shocking (they seemed out of touch with reality). I resigned myself to look at the Burberry outlet in Vegas after the collection was a season or two old (I’m not rich, and I don’t pay full price for most things). Imagine my delight when I found the clutch exactly where I’d hoped - at the outlet, a year later, on sale with an additional 40% off. Yet even with the significant price slash, I was skeptical about buying logo mania clutch and made out of plastic. That is, until I picked it up off the display shelf and felt it for the first time. The plastic feels…LUSH. Call it British ingenuity (or alchemy). It’s stitched in a way that gives it a supple, padded texture. There are nights when I’ve held it in my hands while watching Hulu. Plastic magic.