Your New Favorite Shirts and Your Towel Have a Lot in Common

Terrycloth, to most of us, means one thing: towels. It’s absorbent and soft and it’s perfect for drying off after a shower (or swim, or gym session). But it’s occurred to a healthy handful of brands that a lightweight version of that same terrycloth fabric could make a terrific summer shirt by virtue of its absorbency and next-to-skin comfort, allowing it to do something even the best linen shirts can’t do in serious heat: keep you dry.

Not only does a terrycloth shirt keep your skin relatively sweat-free, but it’s the ideal transitional piece for a day that involves lots of water — diving into the waves, floating around your friend’s pool, swatting a volleyball or lounging at the health club. While the terrycloth shirt exists in plain t-shirt form — there are some good examples below — by adding a collar or maybe even going for long sleeves, you can class it up enough to wear to dinner.

Check out these options below, from J. Crew’s entry-level offerings to Orlebar Brown’s high-end, James-Bond-worthy polos and blazers. It’s a wet, wild world out there, but at least now that you’ve seen what a few dollars can buy, you can embrace the splash (and maybe some sweat) and live to play another day.

Lucio Striped Terry Tee by FILA $40

French Terry Short-Sleeve Henley by J. Crew $60

Terry Polo by Parlewe $78

French Terry Work Shirt by J. Crew $85

Vacation Cotton-Blend Terry Polo by Universal Works $90

Terry Tee by Sunspel $105

Mr Fantasy Cotton-Blend Terry Polo by Howlin $115

Pipped Terry Cloth Short Sleeved Sweatshirt by Todd Snyder $118

Terry Cloth Polo by Vilebrequin $155

Indigo Dyed Towel Denim Type II Jacket by Pure Blue Japan $280

Edgar Towelling Single-Breasted Blazer by Orlebar Brown $495

7 Things A$AP Ferg Is on the Hunt for Right Now

Editor’s Note: Welcome to In My Cart, a regular series in which we ask some of the coolest guys we know what they’ve recently acquired, are thinking about buying, or need to buy more of — but for whatever reason don’t have in hand just yet. This week, A$AP Ferg, a rapper from New York City’s Harlem neighborhood.

Harlem-born rapper A$AP Ferg has been busy in recent years. He released his debut album Trap Lord in 2013, the same year he won “Rookie of the Year” at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Since then, he’s been the lead artist on 13 singles, the featured artist on 17 singles, and he’s been responsible for two mixtapes and another studio album. This week, the prolific musician can add another accolade to his resume: a limited-edition collab BMX bike made by Redline.

The RL 275 A$AP Ferg x Redline bike features slack forks, 3-inch wide tires, 27.5-inch two-tone rims and Tektro MD-M300 mechanical disc brakes. “I love the big wheels — it’s perfect for cruising, going up and down hills,” he said. “The disc brakes are inspired from motorcycle breaks, too. They’re super tight which is ideal for me because I love doing wheelies.” The new model features a unique gloss Pantone 394 and matte black finish and retails for $799. (He also designed a line of original merch that compliments the bike.)

The collab was a natural fit for Ferg, who grew up riding BMX bikes with friends. “Riding bikes is how I got around in Harlem,” he said. “It was our first means of transportation: I can go from Uptown to Downtown, from the Westside to the Eastside. Redline was able to captivate our attention with the new frames — I always asked for a new Redline every Christmas. I kept wanting to get the newest and the latest model.” His love of Redline bikes is referenced in his music, too: Videos like “Plain Jane” feature BMX styles. And back in April, he even rode his collab Redline onstage at Pharrell’s Something in the Water Festival.

An integral part of the design process, Ferg describes the Tektro brakes on the new model as “lethal, they’re the best in this world.” He designed the bike to be both solid and lightweight (it has a 6061 aluminum alloy frame), and prioritized a comfortable seat position. “It’s the right amount of height, yet it allows you to keep your feet on the floor when you’re not actively riding,” he said.

Before the bike’s June 14 release, we caught up with Ferg to learn what products he’s currently on the hunt for. From a couch designed by an Italian architect to custom jewelry to a classic book, the things reflect a man obsessed with the details. And though he’s been busy with various projects — “I have a few singles that are going to come out,” he told us. “I have been recording nonstop for the past 2 years. We are currently breaking them down into projects now.” — he explained why these products are currently at the top of his list.

Mario Bellini Couch

“I want my home to feel as if it is an art gallery. A Bellini couch is a sitting art piece.”

Reginald Sylvester II Painting

“I love his work; it’s so inspiring to me because his paintings are like living, breathing things. So, I’m looking to add a nice Reginald Sylvester piece to complement my home.”

Silk City Silky and Hair Brush

“It’s the original durag, it lays down your hair, has it looking smooth and there’s nothing in it that will pull your hair out. It makes my hair look good at all times.”

Bike Chain from Will the Jeweler

“That’s just full circle for me, being inspired by Pharrell as a kid and Nigo and all their crazy chains, I always wanted to have something the same. When I was a kid I use to make these big chains with Swarovski crystals that looked like P and Nigo’s chain so that’s where that’s coming from. I dreamed about this piece for a long time and I wanted it to really represent something I love, so we did a bike chain.”

Pearls from Tiffany’s

“I love quality stuff, and I’m really into pearls, but I haven’t got a high quality set, so I’m searching trying to get the best pearl set from Tiffany’s.”

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

“Everyone that read that book always tells me there are real gems about success written down in the book. It’s also one book I haven’t read yet that I want to read.”

Celine Bag

“There’s a new Celine bag that I really love; I asked a good friend of mine to help me find this bag because I can’t seem to find it. That’s the last thing in my cart as of right now, but I always have my eyes on pieces.”

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

The Luxury Luggage Even You Can’t Destroy

I can’t usually be trusted with nice things because I destroy them. My cement coffee table had rings after two days, I take white sneakers out in the rain and my “undentable” luggage has a giant cup-like dent in the corner; you could fill it with cereal and milk and eat out of it.

So, for a fresh start on the luggage, I tried another brand: Montblanc recently released silver versions of its #MY4810 Nightflight Trolley lineup (previously available just in black), so I stuffed the 8.6-pound cabin trolley full for 19 days of work travels through Italy and Spain. I wasted no time in my unintentional attempts to destroy it: Upon arrival at Rome’s central station, I saw that my hotel was 30 minutes by foot, but also 25 minutes by car. Having sat all day, I decided to walk, knowing full well that it was all cobblestone and hills. That sleek luggage took every bump, curb, divet, I threw at it.

Over my travels, I switched hotels 12 times in 19 days (between five cities), and often walked between the properties or dragged the luggage to train stations in very old, rustic towns. And after nearly three weeks, I realized how much more enjoyable my travels were due to this really damn-sturdy piece of equipment. After being checked on four flights and tossed around into 12 different hotels, there wasn’t a single scratch in the wheels, even; they’re perfectly round yet, and they still spin 360 degrees so that I can speedwalk with my big-boy conviction through the airport without stopping to readjust. The leather details are untarnished, as is the polycarbonate case.

I repacked the bag throughout, and somehow added 11 pounds of souvenirs to an already full tow; the jacquard lining seemed to expand around everything, making it all the easier to zip shut and go about my travels. And even when it was stuffed too tight, that pretty trolley seemed to take a deep breath and absorb the bulk — it still glided, spun and plane-checked with aplomb. By the end of the trip, I was genuinely proud of it, so much so that I wanted to tell others about it.

It’s luxury luggage even I can’t destroy.

What’s New: In addition to the silver design, Montblanc launched two blue cabin trolleys with Italian tire maker Pirelli, and its silver Nightflight line includes a soon-to-be-launched compact trolley.

The Good: The design and the durability. The #MY4810 line has lightweight Italian-crafted polycarbonate frames with leather detailing, Japanese-made 360-degree ball-bearing wheels, a German-engineered multi-stop adjustable handlebar with leather handle, jacquard-lined interiors and dual-side zip closures with multiple interior zip pockets of various sizes. (My cabin trolley had five: one the size of the interior itself, two narrow that run the height of the case and two rectangular pouches that each encompass approximately one-quarter of the interior.) There’s a card holder, two zippers and a customizable TSA lock, plus Montblanc will monogram a label for each owner, which is available in black, blue, and red leather, in addition to the actual leather luggage tag that carries your contact information.

Who It’s For: Frequent travelers, long-term travelers, business travelers. It has first-class looks, is built to last and has enough compartments and pouches to stay sorted for as long as you need.

Watch Out For: I found myself oddly disappointed that the cabin trolleys don’t have a handle on their spine. I didn’t know I was missing it until I noticed it was gone. I like being able to carry luggage like a suitcase or grip it from various angles as I check it in for flights and pack it taut.

Verdict: It’s not the cheapest luggage on the market, but that’s the point. Nothing about the quality and design is cheap, either. This is top-tier German craftsmanship under the supervision of Montblanc’s creative director Zim Kamal, so it’s worth your investment.

You know how, after extended travels, you start to hate the clothes you packed and the single jacket you’re forced to wear every day? That same thing tends to occur with luggage, except it never was the case for me with Montblanc on my exhaustingly-long travels. This trolley felt like a companion, a road-trip buddy, never slowing me down and happy to take on the burden of being overstuffed and tossed around. And I felt like a million bucks whenever I trotted into a nice hotel, even if I clunked that thing 30 minutes through Rome’s cobbled streets to get there.

Key Specs

Dimensions: 38 x 55 x 23 cm
Volume: 37L
Materials: Polycarbonate with leather detailing
Closure: 2 zips with TSA lock
Wheels: 4 quiet-running ball-bearing wheels

Alternatives

Away: Four sizes, each available in 10 colors, plus two pouch-inclusive designs with five color selects (and what seems to be an ever-expanding array of options). The Bigger Carry-On will still get you on flights worldwide, though you may have to curb-check on puddle jumpers. Their carry-ons come with a TSA-compliant ejectable battery, have sturdy polycarbonate frames, TSA locks, removable water-resistant laundry compartment (for your dirty clothes), and 360-degree wheels. It weighs 7.3 pounds unpacked.

Horizn Studios: The EU’s answer to Away comes in four standard sizes, as many as eight colors, and frequent guest-designed or limited edition labels. The 35L cabin luggage has all the necessities: Japanese-made 360-degree wheels, German-engineered polycarbonate shell, TSA lock, removable battery and removable laundry compartment. It weighs 6.8 pounds unpacked.

Tumi International Expandable Carry On: Tumi, of course, has a bajillion options for luggage, and perhaps its best is this globally compliant, expandable carry-on. It’s got a durable polycarbonate shell, expands from nine inches to 11, has 360 wheels, plus four interior pockets, and is available in six colors and patterns. It weighs 7.12 pounds on its own.

Montblanc provided this product for review.

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Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

John Mayer Customized These Rare Sunglasses With Tie-Dye Lenses

During John Mayer’s Dead & Company soundcheck at the Hollywood Bowl on June 4, the guitarist shared a selfie on his Instagram story wearing some of the best glasses available. Mayer’s face was only partially in the shot, but his distinct choice of eyewear was immediately recognizable: The sculpted frame and 18K-gold arrowhead front pin are the calling card of Los Angeles-based eyewear brand Jacques Marie Mage.

The style Mayer rocked is dubbed the Zephirin 47 — named after Pope Zephyrinus — and is made in Japan from a 10mm cured cellulose acetate frame. The frame has a refreshing pre-WWII size, a unique silhouette and gold hardware. (Along with the arrowhead front pins, the precious metal is used for hairline-engraved core wires and custom hinges with spur-shaped rivets). Produced in a limited run of 500 pieces, these glasses are notoriously hard to come by. This exact model is currently available for pre-sale on the brand’s website for $595, available July 15.

But, you won’t actually be able to get a pair just like Mayer’s because his Zephirin 47 shades have custom-tinted lenses. Created exclusively for Mayer at Gogosha Optique in Echo Park, Los Angeles, the lenses feature a custom tie-dye tint with shades of orange, green, purple, yellow and blue.

Gogosha Optique opened in 2008 and was one of the exclusive opticians to carry Max Pittion, a French eyewear brand that Mayer acquired the manufacturing license to a few years ago (he’s almost exclusively worn the brand’s frames publicly since then). Before Dead & Company’s summer tour, Mayer approached Julia Gogosha with the proposition to update his eyewear to reflect his evolving personal style.

“He asked me to create whatever I wanted,” Gogosha said. “The only stipulation was he can wear them anytime. So how do you create something neutral and special at the same time? This is one of the four answers we came up with to this question.” That said, if you’re at a Dead & Company concert this summer, keep an eye out for Mayer’s three other custom pairs of Jacques Marie Mage shades.

Mayer’s vote of confidence is well deserved. Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses pay homage to a diverse array of style icons including Hunter S. Thompson, Bob Dylan, Carlo Mollino and Pier Paolo Pasolini. The brand is the brainchild of designer Jerome Mage — who has also designed for Spy, Anaon, Shift, Burton and the Elder Statesman, among others — and features industry-leading craftsmanship and the highest quality materials available. Jacques Marie Mage frames are striking and sculptural, representing the pinnacle of artisanal eyewear.

While you might not be able to score a pair of Zephirin frames like Mayer wore quite yet, you can check out a wide selection of other styles available at on the brand’s site. And though they’re expensive — ranging from $525 to $1,075 — they’re truly in a class of their own. And if you want to up your style with some custom-tinted lenses, check out Gogosha Optique to explore the possibilities.

These Italian Cotton Shirts Deliver the Cool for Under $35

We like Jomers for its affordable, stylish pieces which include slim selvedge denim, linen shirts, canvas jackets and terrycloth hoodies. The brand uses premium fabrics like American denim, Japanese twill and Irish linen to produce affordable clothing that would cost three times as much almost anywhere else.

Today, Jomers released a terrific Italian cotton summer shirt in nine different prints starting at just $30. Considering most premium t-shirts cost that much or more — let alone polos, button-down shirts or knits — your cost of entry here is low and your chances of looking cool are really damn high.

All of these summer-ready prints were made exclusively for Jomers in limited batches, so get yours while you can. The brand’s newly-stocked items often sell out in a matter of hours, and it would be a shame to miss these.

Shirt In Red Logan Palm $30

Shirt In Blue Fish Scatter $30

Shirt In Atlantic Floral $32

Shirt In Cobalt Leaf $32

Shirt In Seersucker Navy Print $32

Shirt In Aqua Tropical Leaf $32

Shirt In Pacific Tropical Leaf $32

Shirt In Midnight Vintage Floral $32

Shirt In Tropic Floral Print $34

What Philadelphia Eagles’ Safety Rodney McLeod Has in His Cart

Editor’s Note: Welcome to In My Cart, a regular series in which we ask some of the coolest guys we know what they’ve recently acquired, are thinking about buying, or need to buy more of — but for whatever reason don’t have in hand just yet. This week, Rodney McLeod, safety for the Philadelphia Eagles and owner of boutique clothing store Back of House.

Rodney McLeod has deep roots in the DMV. Before entering the NFL, McLeod grew up in the DC-metro area and played football at DeMatha High School in Maryland. He went on to play for University of Virginia and the St. Louis Rams before becoming a starting safety for the Philadelphia Eagles. Outside of his NFL career, McLeod owns Back of House, a menswear shop in DC that offers a range of emerging and established streetwear brands.

“My love for fashion began as a teenager growing up in the DMV wearing the latest and most fashionable local brands such as Shooters, All Days and Bonidacci,” he said. “The DMV sense of style is unique yet noticeable — Back of House launched sharing a similar aesthetic.” Founded in November 2017, Back of House opened in the Pentagon City Mall with a fresh range of brands including Saints of Sins, Gentil Bandit, Rip N Repair and Kollar, among others. To better house its wears, the store is moving to a new location in 2019. But during the move, the store is hosting an “Under Construction” Pop Up Tour in a handful of major cities to release new collections and collaborations.

The pop-up events feature installations by streetwear brands like Glaus Angeles, Society Standard Clothing and Hamid Holloman & Dilo, along with live music and art. After a successful DC pop up in May, the next stop on the “Under Construction” Pop Up Tour is Thursday, June 6 in Philadelphia at Arrive University City. There will be a final event in July before NFL preseason games start in August.

And though McLeod has been on injured reserve since Week 3 of the 2018 season after undergoing MCL-repair surgery, he’s looking forward to the start of the 2019 season (in January the Eagles announced that it reworked McLeod’s contract to keep the defensive back in Philly for the year). “The day I run out of the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field in front of thousands of Philly fans that bleed green will be surreal, but a moment I have dreamt of all year,” he said.

We recently caught up with McLeod before the Back of House Philly pop up to learn what he’s currently got his eye on. The products — vintage sunglasses, stretch denim, a Japanese backpack — reflect his strong personal style and the dynamic range of clothing carried at his store. But he says it best.

Vintage Sunglasses from Vintage Julz on South Street in Philadelphia

“Sunglasses are accessories that make a minimal outfit look wavy. One thing I love about Julz shop is all his glasses are vintage, and the best part is adding color to the lens.”

Clearweather Cloud Sneaker

“Clearweather is a brand not many people know about, but if you wear a pair out, quickly they become noticeable. The color waves they have are amazing, but most importantly, they are cozy. Comfort is key!”

Ksubi Van Winkle Jeans

“Denim is big — I can buy a pair of jeans any time of the year. As an athlete my body is unproportioned, and Ksubi offers stretch denim that is tapered at the bottom to sit right at the top of a sneaker. Not only is the quality outstanding, but the pocket tag staple they formed is dope.”

Rip N Repair Drop Out Hoodie

“Hoodies are my favorite especially during summer nights and mornings as I’m running errands around the city.”

Pleasures Logo Snapback

“Every man should keep a hat in their closet for that moment when you don’t have the freshest haircut, or simply when you want to add on to your outfit. Pleasures brand speaks for itself and demands a lot of attention.”

Gentil Bandit GB1997 Backpack

“Traveling is a hobby in my household; my fiancé and I love to travel the world. We must travel in style, and I must have a bag to store my essentials. Gentil Bandit is a Japanese brand with amazing quality, with plenty of storage space.”

Hugo Boss Watch

“Whether I’m casually going to the facility for work or hosting a fashion event, I always wear a watch. A subtle accessory piece to add the finishing touches to your fit.”

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

The Best Way to Tie a Tie

A good tie and one knot. That’s all you need. Forget the Windsors, Pratts and countless other iterations, because with a Four-in-Hand, you’re set. “People overthink it a little too much,” said Jim Parker, store manager at The Armoury in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood. “We’re trying to push that the tie is just an accessory that you don’t need to think about as much.”

The Armoury has a strong reputation for selling some of the best traditional menswear, focusing on timeless designs and top craftsmen. All of its employees swear by the Four-in-Hand. It’s a versatile knot that allows the wearer to express some individuality, without appearing superfluous. Make sure to mind the proportions of your outfit — the collar with the lapel and the tie width with the collar — and practice plenty to tie it just right.

Four in Hand

Your Go-to Knot

Amechi Ugwu

“Even with tying the same knot, there are endless possibilities for how the tie can end up, it just depends on what you appreciate. I generally go for a medium- to small-size knot, I try to keep it really tight and I like my tie to sit up.”

Step 1. Begin with the wide blade of your necktie on the right, hanging 8 to 12 inches lower than the tail. Cross the wide blade over the tail, at a position just below your collarbones.
Step 2. Wrap the wide blade around the tail.
Step 3. Pull the wide blade under and up, through the loop created near your neck.
Step 4. Pull the wide blade down through the loop, adjusting the front of the knot as necessary.
Step 5. Tighten the knot to the collar, covering the top button, by sliding the knot toward your neck while holding the tie tail. Add a dimple just below the knot with your index finger.

Jim Parker

“I used to tie bigger knots, but really what I do is let the fabric of the tie dictate. This is silk and linen, so it’s a little bit flimsy. You’re never going to get a big, full, sturdy knot. It’ll be a little loose and floppy, and I don’t like that, so that’s why I’m tying this a little tighter. Always a dimple. Like most of us here, the back blade is just kind of incidental.”

Store it properly. “Don’t loosen your tie and take it off and hang it like a necklace so you keep it pre-tied. Untie the tie and let it hang,” said Jeremy Kirkland, head of marketing at the Armoury. “Don’t worry about the wrinkles, because gravity, your best friend, is going to take all the wrinkles out of the tie.” As to not damage the slip-stitch that holds the tie together, show your tie some respect when taking it off. “When you’re untying your tie, just reverse the knot instead of yanking on it,” Parker said.