Solid Goods

A public librarian in search of responsibly made and sourced clothing and home goods. Read the manifesto here.

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Fashion Icons: Roger Ebert

Ebert is one of those names that stands alone. His legacy of delivering some of the most astute film criticism in the business is what he's most noted for. As a writer, his blog remains as a testament to his dedication to the craft, wit, and perfect sense of delivery. He was an extremely talented man, a soft heart, and all around good guy.

His years of good health saw him in lots of classic attire- crisp white or blue oxfords with knit wool ties, suede chukka boots, cordoroy blazers in the perfect saddle tan color, waxed jackets, and his trademark horn rimmed chunky frames. Ebert's look was always a cool mix of on-the-beat critic with a notepad, practical meets preppy, wispy locks and jolly everyman. Ebert remains one of my major style influences, and I cherish his work in so many ways.

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Recent label studies.

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Book Review: Denim Style

Denim Style by Horst A. Friedrichs is a new release filled with lots of bright, beautiful color photographs of denim heads, denim style, and denim focused garments. Both vintage and contemporary are featured, with an emphasis on jackets and jeans. 

One thing I really liked about this book was the look at unisex style- that is, not just betty-esque denim heads, but some looks at how women wear different cuts of jeans. It's no secret that selvedge has been a boys club for the longest, but more and more women are wearing rugged denim for various reasons, and I appreciate it being addressed in this book.

Another standout feature was the inclusion of perhaps the largest printed index I've seen on denim, with loads of references and definitions of various terms that even seasoned denim heads might not be acquainted with. Overall, this book is extremely beautiful and useful, if you're interested in finding out about more ways to style what denim you already own, view other examples of garment styles, as well as learning about various weights, fits, and sourcing.

Find it in a library or pick up your own copy.

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Everyone needs a good pair of slippers.

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Stay warm.

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Dress code adherence.

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Fashion Icons: Fran Lebowitz

Lebowitz is kind of a jerk, but she's smarter than you so just deal with it. She says things like, "All God's children are not beautiful. In fact, most are barely presentable." Damn man, that's harsh. But at the same time, anyone who has ridden public transportation knows just what she means. She criticizes New York as being too rich to be exciting, and again, damn. Again, anyone who has eaten at the Ralph Lauren Cafe knows just what she means.

Lebowitz is one of those people who arrives unapolegetically as the best dressed person in the room, not because of her crazy expensive or obsessed-over wardrobe, but because of her confidence, succinctness, and commitment to classic. White blended fabric button ups with navy pinstripes, thick scratchy wool sweaters in only neutral colors, straight leg denim and utilitarian boots and pea coats, and herringbone or plaid blazers are her go-to's, and they blend practicality with a nod to fit and form. Almost never without her tortoise shell glasses, she looks smart, and she is.

Lebowitz style is iconic and is the unisex answer to Woody Allen style. I aspire to her confidence, though perhaps not to such a jagged point, but at least enough to get heard in board meetings and a nod of authority when directing others. As a woman who often wears mens clothing, knowing there are those that have gone before me (without looking like a truck driver) has so far, made all the difference.

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Review: Mollusk Windbreakers

Autumn is everyone's favorite season. Allspice is one reason, campfires another, layering still another. Mollusk windbreakers are made using sturdy double needle construction in Oakland, California, and are the best top layer I've found so far for cooler nights or afternoon walks. They're sturdy and water repellant, easily packable and lightweight. I got mine on sale for under $100 at Penelope's, but retail price is a bit stiffer at $150. If you can find one on sale, they're a pretty good value.

Check them out on Mollusk's site.

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Sunday Projects: Hammer Restoration

One post series I'm planning to feature on this blog follows various Sunday projects related to repairing, restructuring, or improving the things we use every day to make them last longer. This hammer, once owned by my late grandfather, who was a master carpenter, has suffered some ill effects of time.

Damaged in a basement flood, this hammer, with it's rich family history and handsome patina, deserved better than the rust it wears in the left photo. Restoring tools is fairly easy, and only took me a few hours.

Oxalic acid works fastest, but can be harmful. Try lime and salt, white vinegar, or a baking soda paste first, in that order. Soak the tool for a few hours, and then remove the rust with steel wool. If the rust is stubborn, try stepping up to the next most extreme solution on that list until you can remove the rust with some elbow grease. This process is messy, but worth it. The hammer looks beautiful again, and though it works just as well as it did when rusted, feels happier in my hands and home.

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Pottery from Guillermo Cuellar

I sort of believe that everyone should have a potter, in the way that they have a doctor, a librarian, a familiar bus driver. You can't put a price on your favorite coffee mug, either, so this handmade stoneware pottery, crafted by Guillermo Cuellar in Minnesota, is one of my favorite options for buying well sourced goods. Until I was gifted one of his pieces by a friend, I never really knew the different between truly masterwork pottery and the stuff hobbyists churn out. This stoneware is museum worthy, but priced for your kitchen. Cuellar's pottery has become my go-to gift for weddings and holidays. You'll know that I really like you if I get you one of his pieces.

On top of their beauty and functionality, these pieces are all microwave and dishwasher safe. Keep your eye on the showroom for rotating availability of vases, plates and bowls, crocks, baking vessels, and of course, coffee mugs.

Pottery by Guillermo Cuellar ($18-$100)

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A person's Every Day Carry arsenal is sacred, unique to them, and can say a little or a lot. While everyone changes up their repertoire a bit, we all have a few essentials we like to have on us at all times, or at the least, within an arm's reach.

Currently, my EDC is larger than usual, but still a pretty tightly curated. I make sure I've always got:

Some sort of watch. The one pictured is deadstock from the Cold War, from a company called Pobeda. I'm saving for my first USA made watch right now though, with my eye on sometime pulling the trigger this winter.

The keys, on a well worn leather lanyard from Apogee Handmade, made in Canada. Two years old.

A basic folding knife from French company Baladeo, useful for everything from trimming threads to slicing fruit or opening letters.

The wallet, well worn, leatherwork from Winter-Session in Colorado. 1 year 2 months.

Multitool Pencil from Monteverde. A full post on this guy is coming someday, but it's a ridiculously useful little pencil ruler screwdriver stylus eraser etc.

And finally, a notebook from the German company, Leuchtturm notebooks. I found out they're made in Taiwan, though, so I'm on the hunt for a USA made journal that isn't Field Notes, because I would lose those way too easily.

What's in your EDC lineup?

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Archival Rucksack

Arguably the best purchase I've made to date, my Archival black waxed rucksack is not only well constructed, but well designed. I initially purchased this bag because I was tired of buy bags at $60-$80, only to have their straps break or holes wear through 9 months later. This was the first purchase I made that I considered to be an investment. The interior pocket is large enough to hold anything I've ever wanted to transport all at once- multiple vinyl records, camping supplies, art projects, and more. The exterior pockets make lip balm, sunglasses, notebooks and pens easily accessible in the array.

They cost, but believe me, are worth it. This bag has seen me through two years of nearly daily use, across country travel, hiking and backpacking, an urban commute on public transportation, and more. Archival is one of the brands and blogs I respect most, with lots of transparency in sourcing and manufacturing. I no longer have to buy a new bag each year or two, which saves money in the long run. This is one I'll have for another five or six, easily. Buy to last.

Rucksack at Archival Clothing ($280)

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To each a well worn denim jacket.

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Look Twice, Buy Once: Sustainability Through Consumer Restraint

"Ultimately, we must all learn to buy fewer things, repair them as we can, and recycle, upcycle or compost them when we are finished. Today, the average American purchases 64 garments each year. Between 1980 and 2005, American clothing consumption increased five times. Purchases have risen because fast fashion, with an ever-moving style target, pushes consumers to continually buy more clothing."

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Yearbook Candles

I am a librarian at a public library. It does not smell very good at my job most of the time. But lots of folks are nostalgic for libraries, studying, college. A kind of peace they associate with the library, and I get that. This candle, peddled by Yearbook Studio in Forest Park, just west of Chicago, is supposedly library scented.

The Yearbook candle line is made in Lunenberg, Vermont, and burns for 70 hours. The Library scent is, luckily, not reminiscent of my workplace, but instead, of oiled leather, waxed fabric, sawdust, and a little smoke. It's the kind of thing that makes a room more inviting, relaxing, and homey.

Candles for sale at Yearbook. ($22)

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The Proper Goods Manifesto

When a person with the means to choose what they consume decides to approach the privilege of choice responsibly, the positive impact on the economy, culture of design and ingenuity, and more, is substantial. Thinking about what we buy, why, and where we get it is something that's always been of interest to me.

Recently I've decided to buy only items made and sourced responsibly. Defining "responsibility" is dubious at best, but what else can a human trying to vote with their middle class income really do? When I buy something new instead of second hand, I want to know where it came from, what it's made from, and how it was made. More and more, I think this is the consumer's right, and that this information should be as transparent as possible. 

As I seek to make this shift in my life, I want to log and share this transition and experience. By making more informed choices about what I consume and support, I hope to attain a higher quality of life for myself and those impacted by my economic decisions.