Levi’s Denim Trucker Jacket, Jean Jacket

I bought this Levi’s jean jacket because I had to finally retire my well worn Roots jean jacket that had served me for years.  I was excited to buy a Levi’s jacket because it was so iconic.  Unfortunately the sizing on this jacket is pretty terrible.  I literally had to try on 20 different jackets (same style), until I found one that I felt comfortable in.  My biggest problem was how they’re cut, mostly around the shoulders and biceps they felt really tight.  I like my jackets to fit loose because I wear a lot of sweater hoodies in the winter.

Thankfully I finally found this jacket, though it is a little loose on the waist (I’m sure after the first wash it will shrink a bit).  Besides the fit, there’s really nothing else wrong with this jacket.  I bought it in a darker blue jean colour, so it really looks nice when I wear it with a pair of khaki pants and a black or white t shirt.  I especially love how the simple but iconic red tag pops as well.  For now, I am loving this jacket and I hope that it lasts me just as long as my former Roots jean jacket had lasted.

Levi’s: www.levi.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ha_RFWefnI

Club Monaco Heritage Crest Sweatshirt

Back in the 90’s Club Monaco was a very popular brand to wear in Canada.  It was similar in style to J. Crew, The Gap (90’s) and Calvin Klein; with it specializing in basic wear such as khakis and plain white shirts.  However what was most popular from Club Monaco was their sweatshirt sweater with their logo crest.  Club Monaco has now brought back this iconic sweater and is calling it the “Heritage Crest Sweatshirt.”

Fortunately I still own my “old” sweater which is now considered vintage.  And while it has seen better days, I still use it during the chilly seasons.  But like I said, Club Monaco has re-released this iconic sweater so I had to buy it in grey.  The only differences that I now see is that it’s made in India (not Canada unfortunately), the logo crest is slightly different, and the sizing is very slim.  As for the sizing, that’s not a big deal because Club Monaco has catered to smaller sizes for years now.  Other than that this is a wonderful sweatshirt sweater that makes 90’s style a forever classic.  (I recommend pairing it with khakis)

Club Monaco: www.clubmonaco.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97e4Rs3DNfg

Southpaw Regional Wrestling Shirt

Dear WWE,

When y’all have Southpaw Regional Wrestling t-shirts, size extra large?  I am ready with my $10, plus shipping.  It's still real to me dammit!

Your #1 fan,

Piper2381

Blue Jays Starter Jacket

So here’s my second Starter windbreaker jacket, and of course it’s from my favourite team the Toronto Blue Jays.  I always wanted one as a kid, and now that I have one I feel happy.  Just like not having a certain pair of sneakers when you were a kid, being able to finally attain what you always wanted as an adult makes you feel fulfilled and accomplished.  The thirst is finally quenched.

While I am ecstatic at finally owning a Blue Jays Starter jacket, I do realize that the jacket is more for nostalgic purposes than for utility.  Unfortunately these windbreakers aren’t very good at keeping you warm in the cold, and will also make you sweat indoors.  That’s okay though because when I wear my jacket I feel proud and I also get a couple of compliments from dudes who appreciate it.

This windbreaker is a retro of the Starter pullovers from the early 90’s, however Starter decided to use the current Jays logo being used by the team.  While having the Jays logo from the World Series days would have been nice, this current logo is still satisfying.  The quality of the jacket is amazing with minimal loose threads.  My only complaint with this jacket is the solid light blue used throughout the jacket, I would have preferred a royal blue to be the dominate colour.  Other than that this is a jacket that any Blue Jays fan can proudly wear to games.

Blue Jays:

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Starter:

http://www.starter.com/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuCpa_R7NLI

Starter Jacket

Well here’s a jacket I never thought would be retroed; Starter windbreakers.  I first fell in love with them on the playground back in grade school.  They were cool to wear, however provided little warmth during the harsh Canadian winters.  Yet, kids wore them because they came in popular sports team colorways, such as the Bulls, Magic, Mighty Ducks, Cowboys, Raiders, and Yankees to name a few.

A few years ago I tired looking for a Bulls jacket on E-Bay, however I became disappointed when I realized how expensive the asking price was.  They were also used, since deadstock jackets were difficult to come by, which made it even more difficult to purchase because I don’t like wearing used clothing.  Then suddenly one day, I walked into my local Champs store and noticed that they were selling retro Starter windbreakers.  I couldn’t believe it, the one piece of nostalgia from my childhood that I had been looking for, for a long time was suddenly before my eyes.

The teams they had at Champs were of the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Bulls in a black colorway, while Footlocker had a red version of the Bulls and also the Brooklyn Nets in black.  Though I’m a fan of the Jays (my home town), my favorite jacket was the Chicago Bulls in black.  The retail price for the jacket was $180 Canadian, but since I’m frugal, I decided to pass and wait until they went on sale.  Unfortunately by the time they went on sale my size was sold out, but I was lucky enough to be able to special order my size from another store in Montreal (extra $8 for store transfer).

This 2013 retro is very similar to the original jackets from the early 90’s.   They’re made with all the same materials, stitching and embroidery as the originals.  Although a complete comparison is difficult because they made so many styles of the originals to give a side-by-side comparison.  The most important thing is that they’re true to the style and fit of the original windbreakers.  Keeping true to the original also means that they have the same quality, which means they won’t keep you warm.  But that’s okay with me because these jackets are meant to be shown off.  As for fit, they are very slim, so I suggest you go up a size if you do prefer more room.   And in case you’re wondering if you’re too old to wear this jacket I would say that if you love to wear jerseys, you’ll also love to wear this jacket (I was surprised at how good it looked on me).  Trust me, this is one jacket you won’t regret showing off in.

Starter:

www.starter.com

Iconix Brand Group:

www.iconixbrand.com

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiB6YKt9nT0

JP Arencibia Twitter

Today I wore my Arencibia twitter T-shirt in support of JP; @jparencibia9.  Currently he’s been having a bad streak with the Jays.  However this bad experience is magnified by the Toronto media.  They’re using him as the scapegoat of the team’s losses.  I can’t stand what they’re doing to him because it’s unjustified.  The real cause is beyond one player.  At this point the Jays have little chance of making the playoffs, so rather than complain about all our troubles I’m just watching the games for entertainment.  Toronto is my team and the players are like family.

Nike AW77 Graphic Men's Sweater

Inspired by the 1977 Athletics West running team, Nike created a special collection of Sportswear in 2009.  The original designer was Geoff Hollister, the 3^rd Nike employee.  I was lucky enough to find this sweater on sale because it is made with exceptional quality; the French terry fabric is soft to the touch, yet strong enough to support athletic use.  I swear sometimes Nike makes the best clothing on earth.

Retro Star Wars T-Shirt

Today’s big news was that Disney bought Lucasfilm Ltd.  This means that they’ll now have the chance to create another Star Wars film and continue the legacy.  Personally Episodes IV-VI were classics, and I have eventually come to love Episodes I-III as well.  They’re an acquired taste, but they are good.  So I might be in the minority of thinking this was a good thing, so I can’t wait to eventually re-live the experience of another film and all the hype the surrounds it.  Mid-night releases, toys, advertising on buses and buildings, and fast food collector cups.  Today’s t-shirt is a retro Star Wars t-shirt I bought from Old Navy, it has this worn and faded look to it.

2012 Olympics Bay Sweater

With the 2012 Summer London Olympics now underway I went to my local mall to buy some Olympic gear.  The official sponsor for team Canada is the Bay, and they have been doing it for many years now.  I love the quality of their stuff, and their styles.  I picked up this red hoody that comes in this bright red color that catches the eye.  The material is nice and thick, so it will keep me warm in the fall and winter.  I plan to wear mine with a jean jacket and a pair of khakis.  I also love how they added these Canadiana patches that remind me of summer camp from my childhood.

The Bay:

www.thebay.com

Nike Kobe Deadly AW77 Hoodie

Since when has April been colder than February?  I usually like to do a little spring cleaning around this time, by putting away my winter clothing and bringing out my summer clothing.  But this year has been so bizarre that I’m still wearing my winter clothing. Luckily it gives me an opportunity to wear my hoodies.  I’m a Kobe Bryant fan, and so I’ve been wearing my Kobe AW77 hoodie.  It features a black mamba screen-print graphic on the left chest, and kangaroo pocket.

Polo Teddy Bear Painting

I have been a fan of Polo Ralph Lauren since the early 90’s when I first started caring about how I dressed.  Before that it was grade school, when all I wore was sweat pants and sweaters.  But then one day I saw a magazine ad that featured Polo, and when I saw the pony logo I knew I had to get a shirt.  Needless to say many years later, I am still a fan and will continue to be one for many years to come.

So what is it about the brand that I like so much?  Well I think it’s because it’s marketed in a way that creates a great fantasy lifestyle.  For this lifestyle Polo provides everything from underwear, shirts, jeans, dress suits, wall paint, cologne, sports gear, doggie gear, high end gear (purple label), etc.  Other reasons I like the brand are because it’s good quality at decent prices, and because it’s a classic style that will still look good in the future.

Recently I purchased some new wool sweaters I had been wanting for years, especially the grey heather with maroon pony.  A few years ago I saw a girl wearing the exact same one (probably her boyfriend’s), and it looked so luxurious that I have wanted one ever since.  This purchase actually inspired me to do a Polo themed painting.  I decided to choose their famous Polo Teddy Bear.  Like most of my paintings I work on a limited budget with dollar store items.

Unfortunately I don’t own any shirts with the bear, so I had to print out pictures online.  Most of the images have this almost watercolor effect, so I tried to give my painting the same effect with acrylics.  I wanted to add stripes as well, but my early attempts at adding them didn’t look so good so I didn’t include them.  Overall this was a fun project to do, and I’m very satisfied with the end results.  I have now framed this painting, and it looks really classy on my wall.

Polo:

http://www.ralphlauren.com

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8ulguLVepQ