Kate Beaton is the shit. She writes comics about historical fuckery. She’s not drawing awesome Kraven the Hunter comics for Marvel’s Strange Tales. If she would just accept my commission offer to illustrate a poster of Ed Hocken crossing the Delaware with Danny Trejo, Gary Busey, George Washington, Bob Saget and Spiro Agnew; I’d be a happy man. Now, I’m just trying to pimp her wares. The lady’s a cool dude.
THE LATEST IN AXE COP T-SHIRTS
Axe Cop is what happens when a five year old writes a comic for his older brother to illustrate. The years have passed and the cast has expanded, but the merchandise keeps getting better. Move your ass over to Topataco and pick through the latest and greatest in the line-up. I’d recommend checking out the Obama style CHOP t-shirt. Some people dig on Uni-Baby, I don’t really care for it. Whatever floats your boat.
First off…fuck the Pound to Dollar exchange rate. You limey fucks are laughing it up because W. pissed away all of our money. We’ll get it back and then we’re going to blow it on building a mechanical Jesus to stomp the Church of England into rubble. Cake or Death? More like Creationists pouring out of Jesus’s nose to go all Four Lions on your ass.
Back to Last Exit to Nowhere. Awesome shirts, great designs and terribly expensive for American buyers. The Brits can take advantage of cheaper prices and rock out the latest and greatest. I’m just waiting for the next sale when I can finally get my hands on that Morrie’s Wig Shop shirt from Goodfellas.
In honor of our favorite ad men of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, why don’t you go and get yourself a new suit? There’s never been a better time to be bespoke than right now with Barney Stinson, Don Draper and Nucky Thompson arriving every week onscreen “suited up” and ready to go. Why don’t you do the same?
If you want to go Full-Draper, go ahead and choose Brooks Brothers. Their 1818 line should be a perfect match for your Madison Avenue sensibilities. If you want a more classic looking Bert Cooper/Lane Pryce suit, their Madison Donegal is going to be exactly what you’re looking for. Feel a bit more Pete Campbell? Check out the Regent Sharkskin. If you want something with more of a Roger Sterling/Don Draper look, try their Fitzgerald. The Mini-Plaid is perfect for the Sterling in you, the Houndstooth for the Draper. But if you really want to nail the look, there’s nothing better than the Milano Herringbone. (Pictured to the right) With its slim cut, its short jacket, slim trousers, narrow lapels, high armholes and slanted pockets this is the 1960s elegance that everyone envies while watching the show.
Don’t want to drop a grand on the suit? Banana Republic has had a long-standing relationship with Mad Men. Their suits have enough style and flair to bring images of Don Draper to mind. Try their Italian Wool three-button (Pictured, left) or single-button suit depending on your build. Their tailored two-button herringbone suit has echoes of the Brooks Brothers’ herringbone without the flash and style.
Would you rather bypass these shops altogether and head to your nearest tailor in Chinatown for 3 suits for 100 dollars? If you’re going custom, here are some tips: Wool. Wool. Wool. Have I mentioned? Wool. If you want to look like Don Draper, go ahead and spring for some nice wool fabric. A herringbone or very subtle pinstripe (or very VERY finely woven houndstooth) will be sufficient to add variety to the fabric.
When it comes to your jacket, you can stylistically ask for a slightly shorter cut on the jacket (like the BB Milano). Look for slanted or angled pockets, and tailor the coat to cut in at your true waist to give a truly tailored and slimming look to your jacket. Have the underarm cut high, and the sleeves tailored slim. Decide on either the two or three-button depending on your body type.
Your pants? Whatever you do, unless you want to be that guy, don’t get pleated pants. ESPECIALLY if your jacket is cut a bit short. Just don’t do it. Flat front or go home trouserless.
If you want the tailored feel but don’t want to buy a full suit, why don’t you try building a custom shirt? Brooks Brothers and many other fine clothing shops can fit and custom build shirts. They are far cheaper than a new suit and a tailored shirt can be just as pleasing and confidence-building as a new wardrobe.
Nothing can be more disappointing in an ensemble than a well-fitted suit that disguises a poorly-fitted shirt. If you don’t want to go custom and don’t want to drop a pretty penny try Express. Their men’s dress shirts look great and come in a variety of colors from traditional white to Pete Campbell’s Suit Electric Blue. Their 1MX Modern Fit are great traditional shirts and their 1MX Fitted Stretch Cotton Shirts (Pictured, right) offer the same color choices but cut in about an inch-and-a-half for a more tailored look. That tailored look is especially nice for the broad-shouldered.
As far as ties go, designers with a menswear line will offer a selection of ties that will look great with your suit. Whoever it is that strikes your fancy, be it Michael Kors, D&G or none of the above, look for their ties and enjoy. As you’re checking out, don’t forget the accessories! If you need them, look for some cufflinks that won’t draw too much attention but look great when noticed. And most importantly, don’t you dare forget your pocket square. The final touch to any good Mad Man’s ensemble is the pocket square. With everything in line, including the pocket square, all you need is a little scotch and a whole lot of swagger. – Brian Owen
EDITOR NOTE: It’s Anderson again…I have to leave you with one more booze recipe. It’s Don Draper’s favorite drink and the recipe was born in my hometown. Step up and try an Old Fashioned.
Don Draper’s Old Fashioned (via Mad Men)
2 oz bourbon whiskey (Glenfiddich 12)
2 dashes bitters (your choice)
1 splash water
1 tsp sugar
1 maraschino cherry
1 orange wedge
Done with the booze, now back to whatever Brian was doing.
Whose t-shirt collection would be complete without this image? No one’s. The idea of the Delorean and the TARDIS colliding is one that existed only in the minds of the most unbathed of geeks until this shirt arrived. Now anyone can have a shirt that most Americans will think is the time machine from Back to the Future colliding with a Port-a-John, but we know better, and we’ll smirk about it. – Brian Owen