A Gentleman's Guide

APRIL | 2020

APRIL | 2020 | STYLE

SHELTER IN STYLE 

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Spring is in the air, but unfortunately so is COVID-19. It would appear that all the planning we did around our spring wardrobes was for naught as self isolation and social distancing have done their best to ensure that none of use well be seen unless we’re going to our essential jobs or stocking up on quarantine snacks at the Walmart.The temptation of lounging around our living rooms in the nude is luring, but being naked is easy. Too easy. We probably didn’t realize how much we’d miss putting on clothes, but if nothing else, this pandemic has taught us all the importance of comfort under confinement. 

Do you own a bathrobe? If not, then you should probably considering adding one to your collection. Some use their robes as a substitute to using a towel to dry off with after a shower. We don’t recommend that because it doesn’t seem kosher, but if that’s your thing, then let it be your thing. Those of us who own robes know that they’re great at keeping us warm after we shower, and they are as effective as towels when it comes to drying off...but again, we wouldn’t recommend you using a robe for that because, yuck.

A good robe will make itself hard to take off, which is perfect for those of us who are following our state’s shelter in place orders. Nothing says grown ass man like a good, quality robe, which is why we’re more than happy to share one of our recommendations with you. 

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GOODFELLOW & CO. | ROBE LIFE

We’ve featured a couple of products from Goodfellow & Co. in the past, and there’s a reason. The brand offers selections that are as stylish as they are affordable, and since Target is one of the few places any of us can go, their exclusive presence there serves as an added bonus. Consider spending a little time with Goodfellow’s Lightweight Robe, which is available at Target and retails for a smooth 26.99 (USD), and is worth every red penny. 

Swath your body in this piece of inexpensive luxury while enjoying its soft, breathable fabric, which will feel great against your freshly bathed skin. Like most robes, this one  has an open front design, and comes equipped with a tie belt to ensure that you can adjust the robe to suit your comfort. Its clean cut style will make it one of the most timeless pieces of at-home leisure wear you’ll own, and if its the first robe you’ve ever owned, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to buy one. The robe is a cotton poly blend, as a split neckline, and can be purchased in Thundering Grey, or Xavier Navy, and is will serve as the perfect accessory for you as you shelter in place. 

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BOOHOO MEN | SWEAT SHOP

Grey sweatpants season is one of the most anticipated seasons of all, and we think you all know why. It doesn’t get more casual than a pair of sweats, and they’re one of the only pieces of clothing that have been exclusively designed for our comfort. Its safe to say we all have that one pair of sweats in our wardrobes. Its also safe to say that our stay at home orders have us wearing them more than ever, so it might be time for a new pair. 

The options are almost limitless when it comes to sweats, but we’re going to stick to the options we know from a brand we trust, which means that we’re about to spend a little time with some of our favorite options from our friends, and men’s fashion’s best kept secret, Boohoo Man. 

The brand is living up to its philosophy of not taking life too seriously with their Basic Skinny Fit Fleece Joggers. Our first pair of faves from the brand are a poly cotton bend and skinny fitted to perfection. These joggers are sure to find themselves in your sense of fashion’s favor as they can be perfectly paired with a tee of almost any color and their care is low maintenance. These joggers can be purchased in black or grey, and are currently on sale. Snag a pair or two for under 17.00 ($16.80, USD)!

And since there Boohoo’s site is filled with a seemingly endless selection of sweats, we’re going to hit you with another selection. We realize that the skinny look isn’t for everyone, so our second feature is one that’ll give you the crotch space you deserve. Boohoo’s Signature Loose Fit Jogger gives a new meaning to legroom with their loose fit. These joggers are equal parts cotton and polyester. Unlike their brother-in-brand feature above, they come with two side pockets, with one at either side of the waist. These sweats come in basic grey and retail for $21.00 (USD) and will make for the perfect addition to your quarantine wardrobe. Sad part about it is that nobody’s really gonna get to see you rock them. 

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LUCKY BRAND | PLACID PLAIDS 

A lot of us probably can’t remember the last time we owned a pair of actual pajamas. Most of us sleep in the nude, with a pair of shorts, or slip into slumber wearing a pair of sweats older than the notion of actually meeting a Beaux in person. The end of the day finds us too tired to worry about what the hell we’re wearing to bed, but luckily for you we’ve done some of the leg work for  you. 

Lucky Brand understands more than jeans, they understand the importance of at home comfort. This understanding became evident to us as we were searching for some affordable leisure wear and found their pandemic pajamas. Of course that’s not what they’re called, it’s just a name we gave them given the occasion. We were actually shocked to discover that the brand sold more than jeans, and found two great options for you to consider. 

The Lucky Branded Red Plaid Jogger set is mostly cotton and, as stated in its name, only comes in plaid. You might associate plaid with wool, but trust, these babies are mostly cotton (95%), so you don’t have to worry about getting the itchy scratchies. No shade to wool, but its season has long since passed. The Tartan inspired theme these bottoms (*giggle) follow is evident in the fabric’s criss-crossed horizontal and vertical multi colored bands, which give a rustic, cabin in the woods effect.

These joggers are great for lounging around the house and are durable enough to make it through this, and any future pandemic that requires us all to shelter in place. They are thin and as lightweight as they are comfortable. The fit is pretty regular, but we found that you can generally go a size up or down depending on how snug you want your joggers to fit. They retail for $35.99 (USD), and you can find a quick link to this piece here.  

The Lucky Branded Thermal Pajama set mirrors the makeup of the brand’s Red Plaid Joggers, and most of the difference here is in their design. The red, white and blue window pane plaid design. All plaid is not created equal, and this design is easily identified in the way it resembles the pans of a window. The stripes that cross to form its windowpane checks are often thicker and farther apart than those of other plaids. Raise your hands if you’ve learned something today. 

Your purchase won’t just include the bottoms, but Lucky Brand embroidered top as well. Trust us when we say that the material is quality and you’ll be surprised at how soft the pair feels in person. And if you’re expecting the typical thicker weight of a stiff thermal, don’t, because this set is anything but. The current sale price is listed at $35.99 (USD), so you might wanna go ahead and jump on it. 

Leisure wear is often looked over, and many of us don’t put too much thought about what we wear when we’re lounging. However it's essential that we look our best for every occasion, even if that occasion involves us spending the majority of our time indoors. Our style is, and always will be a reflection of our personality so we shouldn’t exclude leisure wear from the equation of our style expression. 

Many of us have been granted a little extra time at home as the result of this pandemic, and we can dedicate a portion of this time to evaluating the current state of our leisure wear’s affairs. Are we still rocking the same sweats we’ve had since the great recession of ‘08? Could we benefit from the purchase of a high quality, yet affordable robe, and when will we finally gift ourselves with the pajamas we deserve?

These suggestions are but a few of many when it comes to indoor leisurewear. Whether you’re practicing self isolation, working from home, or doing your part to flatten the curve through social distancing, this month’s recommendations are certain to ensure that you, if nothing else, are not only sheltering in place, but sheltering in style. 

Jeremy Carter