This section of CBBS will be devoted to personal effects and wanton consumerism with the ultimate goal of maintaining proper dress. It's easy for country folk to get overwhelmed by the glitz of big city, often ending up in square-toed shoes and rhinestoned shirts. That's no way for any person to present themselves, country or city or otherwise. This first installment is about something simple and often overlooked: The Bandana.
(Life archives)
Admittedly, most of us don't have jobs that keep us in a coal mine, or require us to do stoop-down work out in a field somewhere. That shouldn't be a reason not to have one of these on your person at all times. If the fact that Grandad wouldn't be caught dead without one isn't a convincing enough reason to make this part of your EDC (hard to fathom), here's a few reasons more why you oughta give one of these a shot:- Drip some coffee or carbonated beverage onto your laptop? Fuck a genius bar, the solution is right in your back pocket.
- Itchy, watery eyes in the springtime. I'm not about to carry a box of kleenex in my jeans.
- A man is going to sweat and sneeze. It's either this or your sleeve.
- Air hand-dryers.
Do it for a week, you're sure to say to yourself, "I never knew how useful this thing could be until I started carrying it!" For you who are more sartorially minded, that little line of color sticking out of your back pocket is nice addition (See some of the dudes at Denim Debate for fine examples of this).
Now, you got options.
Nothing at all bad to say about these ones. Polly/cotton, get them at the J.C.Penny, pack of five run you ~12 bucks. That's a value that even grandad can get behind. Technically, these are handkerchiefs. Bigger than pocket squares, smaller than bandanas. You'd be hard-pressed to tie one around your head, but it'll carry the weight of any other task you put it up to.
Next are your standard paisley bandanas--get them cheaply at the dickies outlet. The one you see in the masthead is mine. Made in the USA, and worn in so perfectly that it's softer than any tissue. Downside: You walk around with one of these dangling and people are likely to have suspicions about your bedroom practices; Those in-the-know about the code might misinterpret my maroon bandanna as a signal that I enjoy two-handed anal fisting.
Finally, if you want to make an investment in a bandana that will age nicely and last for years without falling to pieces, you can't go wrong with The Hill-Side. Pocket squares, handkerchiefs, bandannas, and other American-made garments with classy japanese selvedge chambray. These are a little larger than a standard bandana, which means you'll be able to hold more if your financial circumstance requires you to use a bindle as your primary storage device. Don't tell Grandad what you payed for it or he'll give you a lecture about how you'll be bindling sooner than later.
The red one is appealing (if you like fisting), but I opted for the hickory stripe (also in the masthead). I got it from a real nice menswear shop in LA called Craft on La Cienega. A cool, no-bullshit place that carries the kind of goods you buy once and have forever--Friendly staff too. If you intend to use your bandana as an accessory as well as a tool, you might consider the tri-color number they had made up special for their store. Pick the color that matches your kit and fold it that-side out. Pretty clever.
(Photo from craftworkwear.blogspot.com)
Serious now, do it for a week and let me know your thoughts.
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