If Marie Kondo left you with a clean closet, but nothing to wear, Unionmade is holding an impressively good sale from now until the end of Tuesday. Take 30% off any order with the checkout code GETHAPPY. The code applies to both new arrivals and the sale section, although only new arrivals are returnable for a full refund (the website’s return policy suggests otherwise, but I called Unionmade’s store in San Francisco to clarify).
Unionmade is a great shop for workwear, heritage brands, and hard-to-find Japanese imports. They carry everything from Levi’s to Deveaux, but the clothes come together in a way that can be roughly described as a semi-classic, casual West Coast aesthetic. There are slim-straight jeans for guys who normally wear sport coats, as well as a huge selection of casualwear drawing from militaria, workwear, and neo-retro outdoor gear. Here are five things I think are particularly worth a look:
LVC 1947 501s: Levi’s 501s has gone through a number of iterations over the years. The 1947 edition was the first one produced after the end of WWII, and as a result, it featured details that were previously lost due to wartime rationing measures. The watch pockets were made with rivets, and the back pockets regained their arcuate lines (those double needle, “batwing” stitches). It was also made with a classic slim-straight cut – slimmer than the company’s current version of the 501, but with a bit more room in the leg and slightly higher rise than many slim-fit jeans today. If you’re looking for a slim-straight jean that can be worn with workwear and sport coats, you could hardly do better.
Carhartt WIP Work Pants: You definitely won’t look as good as Daniel Day-Lewis in these double-knee work pants. Or even as good as Haley at Man Repeller, who tried to look like DDL. But if you’re anything like me, that won’t stop you from considering them. A few months ago, when these photos came out, the internet went crazy over DDL’s combo involving a popped collar work jacket with a watch cap, thick-rimmed glasses, and these work pants. After more photos of him wearing the same work pants surfaced, Mr. Porter started carrying the model (now sold out, but available in single knee form). Admittedly, on a younger figure, this is the uniform of a Bushwick bartender or an “NYU creative writing major with an ethnomusicology concentration.” But it also looks achingly cool and the pieces refreshingly affordable. With the Unionmade promotion, they’re barely over $100.
Lady White’s T-Shirts: Why would anyone pay so much for a t-shirt? Lady White’s are knitted from a soft but sturdy 6oz jersey cotton in Los Angeles. Their white, unbleached cotton has a subtle slub, and the fabric holds up well in the wash. The t-shirts also fit well with just a hint of vintage appeal without being as unforgiving as LVC’s tees. I prefer their Clark model, which features a Browns Beach vest-inspired chest pocket, but these plain tees are also great.
Work Jackets: Unionmade has some wonderful workwear-inspired jackets this spring. Arpenteur’s chore coats are exceedingly simple — just a button-front closure with a fold-down collar and couple of pockets. But the French style goes well with jeans, chinos, and chambray work shirt, and is the sort of grab-and-go style that I often find I reach for when running out the door on short time. Grei’s raw denim jacket has a shorter, boxier fit that I think lends a more interesting silhouette. And then there are the two Eastlogue jackets you see above, which are imported from South Korea. The M70 parka looks especially handsome and is made from a lightweight, tear-resistant Cordura fabric. Plus, who couldn’t use another piece of olive green outerwear?
Camp Collar Shirts: I love oxford-cloth button-downs, but they do better with a jacket than worn on their own. When paired with just chinos or tailored trousers, they swing a little too close to business casual for my taste. So when it’s too hot for outerwear, I like camp collar shirts for their more distinctive style. Unionmade has some nice ones this season from Arpenteur, Sage de Cret, and Hartford. This striped Deveaux also looks fantastic, but even with the discount, the price is dizzyingly expensive.
