#the bloke

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Style & Fashion Drawings: Drake’s Trunk Show is my newest strip, which you can read in bigger size without this Tumblr compression on Put This On

[ethanstyle]

The Drake’s selection at the Bloke. 

-- Blog post 

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Store Visits: Pasadena’s The Bloke

If you’ve never been to Southern California, I will say this: Pasadena is an odd town. On the one hand, it has a sense of place that’s tough to find in a region where outside of central Los Angeles, things can feel like an uninterrupted exurb. It’s a real town, with big trees, third- and fourth-generation civic leaders and two really kick-ass parades. On the other, it has a deep conservative bent, and a casual So-Cal feel that’s more Cheesecake Factory than cutting edge.

It makes sense, then, that Pasadena would be the home of one of California’s odder simulacra: a recreation of London’s Burlington Arcade on an otherwise unassuming commercial street. Most of the shops are entirely unremarkable - there's no Penhaligon’s perfumes, though there is a store that only sells houseplants.

Into this odd environment steps The Bloke, a new shop which specializes in the intersection between traditional English aesthetics and American Ivy style, with a dash of mod for good measure. Owner Jeffery Plansker is new to retail, having led a career as a director in advertising to this point, but the store has a personal feel. 

The square footage isn’t huge, but I found shirts and ties from Drake’s, sleepwear from Hilditch & Key and trousers from Tellason among the options on display. There were Sanders Playboy chukkas, a few Alden models and hats (I bought one) from the British stalwart Bates. There are also a few preppy classics, like some killer needlepoint belts and a rack of vintage club ties.

Among the cased accessories were some favorites of this blog, like the Junghans Max Bill wrist watch and Braun travel alarm clocks. There’s also a small browsing library of books on style (and lifestyle) from the owner’s personal collection, which included the braille edition of Playboy that our director Ben is reading above. There are also books and magazines for sale, including new copies of The Heritage Post, The Rake and Monocle and back issues of Japanese favorites like Vintage Life.

In an adjoining room is a pop-up space - it’s currently occupied by an installation of records, books and art from Groove Merchant in San Francisco. I brought home a couple of albums (Ray Barreto and the Fania All-Stars, if you’re keeping track), as well as a few back issues of the great music magazine Wax Poetics. The shop’s manager told me they’re getting new records every few weeks and that there will be further developments in the space every few months.

In can be hard to convince an Angeleno to cross town, but hopefully it won’t be too much to ask for the many Northeast Angelenos to stop by The Bloke next door in Pasadena. It’s a lovely shop with a breezy vibe and a air of sincere personality.

The Bloke

380 S. Lake Ave

Pasadena, California 91101

Wed-Sat 10-6 / Sun 12-5

(Photos by Jesse Thorn)

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Some fast drawings from the Drake’s trunk show at The Bloke this weekend, showing off their S/S 2019 stuff. 

I love talking to Chris Gumbs, who is a genuine fan of everything they carry, is very knowledgeable and easygoing to share about how the company works, and dresses so handsomely and with JOY. Ahhhhh I loved his crayon stripe shirt on Saturday!

The Bloke is such a beautiful store, inside and outside (it’s in Pasadena in this recreation of the Burlington Arcade). They have great stuff. It was pretty eclectic in the beginning but it feels a lot more comprehensive or grounded with all the Drake’s stuff on display. 

Yes, I bought something very nice. Maybe I shouldn’t have spent the money, but it was something I’ve wanted for years and Drake’s just happened to make a great one this year. Oof, though. I’ll tell you about it later!

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I drew a flyer for my local shop The Bloke, who are hosting a Drake’s trunk show this weekend. I think I already blew my clothing budget for the spring! But, I’m stoked to go and meet some friends and try some things on. Images on the flyer come from this Spring/Summer’s Lookbook. Let me know if I’ll see you there!

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Style & Fashion Drawings: Drake’s At The Bloke

My newest strip for Put This On. Everyone I met here was so nice and I look forward to seeing them again.

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I wrote about another trunk show I visited this year - at The Bloke, a great small store in Pasadena. This was not a whole cocktail party with celebs - just a nice afternoon shopping and trying stuff on. I bought a great jacket. The strip is up at Put This On today!