A century ago, an epic boxing match took place between Jack Johnson and the “Great White Hope” Jim Jeffries. Johnson successfully defended his title against Jeffries, but was persecuted by the FBI, and convicted two years later under the Mann Act of a romance with a white woman. Now a movement aims to have Johnson pardoned by President Obama.

Want to show support? A portion of these limited edition t-shirts will be donated to PBS, whose documentary focuses on the life and achievements of Johnson.

Good looking shirt and a piece of history? That’s a win-win. Of course, I was a history major, so I may be a little biased. [via Cool Hunting]

Not sure why casual shoes have been in the news lately, but there have been some great collaborations going on. Case in point: these babies from Band of Outsiders and Sperry Top-Sider are no different. Available online now. Check out the rest of the collection as well. They’re all great. [via Definite Touch]

Next notable footwear item comes from Paul Smith, who comes in with this new twist on a canvas sneaker. I love the different colors. Really makes the pair stand out from every other sneaker out there, doesn’t it? [via Selectism]

And last but certainly not least, we have this desert boot by SeaVees. Does SeaVees making a desert boot sound ironic to you? It may be because these are elements here of a classic boat shoe. Available online now. [via Definitive Touch]

What’s been on your mind lately? Seen any good stuff?

TOMS is one of those businesses that everyone loves. And if you don’t, you’re not paying attention.

Not only do they have an incredible mission, but their shoes look pretty damn cool — a big reason why I’ve covered them previously here. Now they’ve teamed up with one of my favorite nonprofits, charity:water, to offer the Water Project Shoe.

(PS, How a company that already gives away shoes for every shoe it sells can afford to go a step further like this is beyond me. Nevertheless, it’s awesome.)

The shoe comes in two styles: the Water Shoe (women only) and the Map Shoe (pictured above, for both sexes.) The shoes come in at a very affordable $58, and you’ll be simultaneously helping build a clean water well in Africa and donating a pair of shoes to a child in need.

The verdict? Do it.

Having heard the buzz around Haberdash Men’s Shop, I’d been planning to stop by for a while. I finally got my chance last week, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed.

I got to spend a good amount of time chatting with Adam Beltzman, the owner and manager of Haberdash. Adam’s vision is simple: he realizes that guys in Chicago aren’t looking at the label (for the most part). They’re looking at the style, the fit, and most likely the price. Adam takes a similar approach in his vision for Haberdash. Instead of worrying about what big names they’re carrying, Adam concerns himself with what looks good.

But that’s not to say they aren’t carrying some great labels. On the same rack you’ll find Gitman Vintage, Gant, and Rag & Bone, alongside their own private line of shirts in collaboration with Gitman Bros. Not to mention some fantastic offerings from Timberland Boot Company and Tretorn, amongst others.

Haberdash also has custom suits, a loyalty program, and just about everything else you could ask for in a men’s boutique. Keep your eyes on this one, guys. I know I will.

Below are some photos I took on my field trip, or you can check out the full set on Flickr.

If you haven’t noticed, I’ve spent less and less time in this space talking about products. There are two reasons for that. One is because I realized there are other blogs doing it better than I am. And two is because I don’t want to anymore. I’d rather spend my time talking about intangibles than tangibles.

But that doesn’t mean I no longer pay attention to the tangibles. As such, I’d still like to spend some time every once in a while updating you about what has caught my eye.

Gitman Vintage SS10 Neckwear

Let’s start today with a series of summer ties from Gitman Vintage (like the one above). I gravitate towards still wearing a tie in the summer, but switching from the heavy colors and fabrics that you would wear in the winter (just like you should do with the rest of your wardrobe).

These ties, recently available at Blackbird, are what I’m talking about. Fantastic stuff.

Billykirk Leather Journal

While we’re on the subject of Blackbird, these beautiful leather journals from Billykirk are also available there. I’d love to get one, but unfortunately, as my wife likes to point out, I usually like looking at them more than writing in them.

L.L. Bean Ranger Moc

If you’re like me, and you used to write off L.L. Bean, think again. They have done an excellent job reinventing themselves lately, and these beauties attest to that.

Filson Shelter Cloth Foothills Parka

We’ll call this last entry a desirable for next winter. Filson, another great American company to watch out for, has this sturdy and stylish parka that I’m wishing I would have had for the Chicago winter. Almost makes me wish Spring wasn’t coming.

Almost.

As requested, here are my ‘Wants’ for this Christmas season. These are all items that have caught my eye in recent months that I have not previously mentioned here.

Let’s start with the new line of shirts at Hamilton, America’s oldest family-owned shirt maker. Hamilton’s been making high quality custom made shirts in Houston for over a century, and this year they introduced the 1883 line of ready-to-wear shirts. The one you see above is the Oxford, which would be my choice.

Moving down my wishlist, my next item would be these Slim Taper Jeans from Portland-based Nau. I had a chance to chat with some of the guys from Nau on a recent trip to their New York pop up, Here/Nau/NYC.

They’re one of the most socially savvy clothing companies I’ve ever heard about. Not only do they consider issues of sustainability on the front end making their clothes, but they donate 2% of each sale to one of their Partners for Change.

Now that’s just a happy Christmas all around.

Accentuating my work wardrobe would be a tie from Motto & Crest. Inspired by classic British club and college uniforms, ties like this Hintock tie are the perfect addition to any Winter outfit.

For my feet, I’m going to have to go with this bucks collaboration between Mark McNairy and Inventory. I like my shoes to be ballsy, and it’s hard to be ballsier than a red brick sole combined with navy blue suede. Love it.

Considering I’ve traversed the US and suggested two items from the UK, it’s only natural that I take you shopping in Canada, right? This Leather Macbook Sleeve from Palmer & Sons out of Vancouver is worth it.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m an Apple fan through and through, and if I’m paying premium price for my laptop, why wouldn’t I want to carry it around it something that makes it look nice?

Your special lady will thank you for the last item on my list. This bodywash by Molton Brown is steeped in Madagascan black peppercorn oil. That’s not a scent you smell everyday, but that’s a good thing.

Bodywash not your thing? Try their bodyscrub bar.

So there you have it. These are the things I’m looking for this holiday season. What’s on your list?

Sometimes GQ is a little too on-the-nose. Take for instance this herringbone tweed vest by H&M, which may be the best Fall outerwear piece I’ve seen since J. Crew’s Denim Peacoat.

With a price tag of only $49.99, what an easy way to give your Fall wardrobe a shot of cool.

Don’t visit H&M’s God-awful website looking for the vest, because they have yet to incorporate online sales for the US.

Plus it may make your browser crash. Or at the very least piss it off.

You’ll have to go straight to one of two Chicago locations for this one. But at $49.99, I think you’ll be able to afford the gas it’ll take to get you there.

What have your undergarments done lately? Planted a seed for literacy? Protected the world’s rainforests? Protected the oceans? If you’ve answered ‘no’ to any of these questions, you may want to consider PACT Organic Underwear for a change… down there.

With the motto “Change starts with your underwear”, PACT allows you to begin that change by picking from three different fits — trunk, boxer or boxer-brief. You can also choose which pattern you enjoy or which cause most suits you. Either way, it’s about time your underwear supported more than just you.

Ladies, don’t fret: PACT has options for you as well.

This post originally appeared on Smile Like You Mean It. Reposted here for your enjoyment.–cg

Buying a good suit is something akin to purchasing a work of art. You can no more tell a man exactly what kind of suit he should get than you can tell him exactly what he should be hanging from his walls. There are too many styles and genres from which to choose, and every man’s preferences will be different.

However with the right training and a keen sense of style, you can tell good art from the stuff hanging in the Holiday Inn. Similarly you can tell the difference between a man wearing a suit and the suit wearing the man.

First and foremost, it’s a matter of choice. Fabric, cut, lapels, vents – these are all decisions that need to be made. Since suggesting what you should buy depends on a number of factors, from body shape to the occasion, it’s difficult to make specific suggestions as to which suit is right for you. Owning your own shape and your own style will go a long way to figuring out what you can pull off.

So in general, I’m going to go ahead and suggest that, especially if this is your first suit, you should be buying a single-breasted, two-button wool suit with notch lapels and a center vent in the jacket. This should serve you well at most occasions and through most seasons. If you’re a slimmer gentleman you can take a look at a European cut; otherwise stick with the classic American. But no matter what you decide to go with, the most important thing to remember is what I would urge you to keep in mind with your entire wardrobe: fit.

Especially if you’re not familiar with your jacket size, try them on in ever decreasing sizes until you find the one that’s obviously too small for you – then get the next one up. Make sure your shoulders are being hugged, and there are no protruding shoulder pads. You shouldn’t be able to fit more than a fist’s worth of space between your jacket and your body, but should be able to button without straining. Your pants should only have a slight break, and should fit comfortably around the waist.

[Side note : the sales guy is not always your friend. He’s looking to make a sale, not make you look good. Know what you are looking for, and then stick to it.]

Then comes the ever important final step: tailoring. If the place you’re buying your suit from doesn’t have an in-house tailor (or you don’t trust theirs for some reason), take your new purchase to someone reputable. Tell him you want a quarter inch of shirt cuff to show on your sleeves, and if necessary have him alter your pants or take in your jacket. Remember: he’s not a miracle worker, so do everything in your power to get it right out of the store. Under no circumstances should a tailor attempt to reduce shoulder pads or alter a waistline any more than one inch either way.

I hope this simple guide will be a good starting off point for you. If you need any more specific advice for your situation, don’t hesitate to send me an email. I’d love to help you find your work of art.

Photo credit: FromTheNorth

A boutique known for trying to put a modern spin on the old idea of a haberdashery, Haberdash Men’s Shop is not to be overlooked. And to make sure of it, they’re holding a Grand Re-Launch Event this evening from 6:30 to 8:30 pm with Men’s Book.

Those who attend will receive a $50 Gift Card to use toward a minimum $100 purchase. Not too shabby.