Last month, I wrote an arduous deep dive on my ‘fits of the week — a semi-self-serving yet unapologetic and (hopefully) resourceful breakdown featuring some of my favorite brands and vintage finds from over the years.

This month, if you’ll allow it, we’ve tweaked the format essentially act as a monthly update on all things men’s clothes.

Today, (and going forward) we’ll cover the broad strokes of brands we keep tabs on, my favorite ‘fits (which I’ve been sharing on my IG lately) and just general news in the world of — as the kids say — “putting that sh*t on”.

‘Fit of the Month

As the heading indicates. this is the section where I’ll share my favorite ‘fit from the past few weeks. Anna and I took a quick trip to see family in friends back in Atlanta, and I used that opportunity to continue my crusade to bring back wearing real clothes when you travel — it ain’t much, but it’s honest work.

I don’t think I meant to do this, but I ended up wearing some of my favorite finds all at once:
*Shop using the links below.

Cap | Vintage 96 Olympics Basketball Hat

Jacket | Polo Ralph Lauren ’67 Blazer

T Shirt | Madewell Allday Tee

Jeans | Levi’s 550 92 Jeans

Sneakers | ALD x New Balance 827

Knickerbocker Can Do No Wrong.

I’ve mentioned Knickerbocker before, but we haven’t gone into much detail about the brand that’s remained my favorite since I first heard of them in 2017. Their designs are timeless and interesting in the sort of effortlessly cool manner that every clothing brand hopes to achieve.

How do they do it? Probably by taking their work seriously while simultaneously not giving a crap what anyone thinks about what they do. They clearly seem have a vision for how clothes should be made, look, fit, and feel that seamlessly integrates into today’s trend cycle while meticulously paying homage to heritage sportswear, workwear, prep, and even skate culture.

They quietly stick to their ideals, and the results are extremely well-made garments that legitimately look like something that always has and always will look cool. If the pants are big, they aren’t big because big pants are “in”, and if the t shirts look like the one’s Carmy wore in The Bear, it’s not because TikTok told them that’s cool now. They’ve looked back on silhouettes and ideas from a long time ago, and decided they’re going to do their damndest to re-imagine those things today — and make it really freaking well.

The the influence they draw from and attempt to put back into their neighborhood is emblematic of how all neighborhood businesses should be. They host local up-and-coming authors and artists, film festivals, and even create their own content that reveals the creative vision behind their clothes that extends well-beyond fashion — which is increasingly a breath of fresh air in the space.

They started as a manufacturing business over 10 years ago after founder Andrew Livingston bought Watman Headwear Corp’s factory and used the space to host multiple manufacturing businesses while creating and selling headwear of his own. It’s thrilling to see a brand that started from the imagination of a 20 year old who wanted to create something within the context of “fellowship with other creators”, to what it’s become now. I found the brand shortly after they burst onto the apparel side of things, and I can honestly say that, if someone were looking to start over with their wardrobe and needed one brand as a reference point, I’d tell them Knickerbocker is the choice.

All of their clothes were once made in New York, and now have found a manufacturing home in Portugal, which has helped them maintain insane quality with interesting fabrics while keeping a generally reasonable price point. They don’t seem to be on a quest to capture the zeitgeist, sell to a big fashion conglomerate, or follow trend cycles ad nauseum. Their hats are consistently the best silhouettes (and have been since before I started buying from them), their t shirts fit perfectly, their pants are flattering on everyone, and their footwear and outerwear is as high end as anything you can find at their price point!

All of this to say, Knickerbocker dropped their first two collections of Spring, and everything in it is beautiful. High quality denim, ludicrously lightweight cotton-linen blends, casual suiting that I think my dad and my nephew could both wear without looking goofy, the Catskills jacket that evokes Barbour and vintage fly fishing jackets from the 90s, shirting that anyone can rock and look good in, and updated basics that are as good as any they’ve made to date. I’ve already added a t shirt, hat, and an overshirt from this season to my ever-growing KNY collection, and I highly recommend you check out what they’re doing if you haven’t before!

Knickerbocker SS24!

Casatlantic Is Keeping It Simple, in the Best Possible Way.

I’ve been keeping tabs on Casatlantic since they launched a few years ago, and I got my first sweater from them last fall. Their quality is off the charts, the fit of everything they make is so intentional and flattering, and their lookbook creative styling, which weaves in a lot of awesome vintage pieces, is some of the best from any menswear brand out there! They also create some fun cinematic content that feels just left of center from the norm.

All of their clothes are made in Casablanca, and, much like KNY, they clearly have a specific vision for what they want to create and what resonates with them as “cool”. They make a few shirts, a few knits, sunglasses, and 4 variations of pants in core colors in seasonally appropriate fabrics. When I see Casatlantic have a drop coming, I know what I’m getting in terms of potential products, fits, colors, and quality, and I kind of love that kind of commitment to a specific yet classic vibe — it resonates with me in a major way!

Cherry LA Has Figured It Out.

I wrote earlier this spring about Aime Leon Dore’s 10 year anniversary and how they’ve reinvigorated storytelling in the fashion industry (and continue to do so, even if their designs and products aren’t keeping pace), but Cherry Los Angeles is the brand currently taking things to the next level.

They’ve found the perfect lane of nostalgia-fueled lookbooks with a personal touch that feels unique from the ALD copycats out there. They’ve avoided ripping the classic “cool guy stands in front of cool back drop with 8 layers of clothing on” aesthetic that we’ve become accustomed to seeing. Instead, they’re creating scenes, moments, and stories that I want to see more of.

Last year they shot a campaign inspired by 90s celebrity airport paparazzi photos followed an awesome F1 collab featuring 90s king, Ethan Embry, an outdoors-y shoot reminiscent of 80s/90s Eddie Bauer or LL Bean, a denim release highlighting multiple style icons of yesteryear… all of which led to their most recent Spring lookbook, which centers around a vintage Land Rover Discovery from the legendary 80s/90s Camel Trophy competition. It’s all so fun to see a brand having fun with their marketing and leaning heavily into an era that everyone loves to be reminded of.

As for their clothes… they seem cool. I have a sweatshirt from them, and I’ll say it’s a bit steep for the quality at this point, IMO.

Buck Mason: No Longer a T-Shirt Brand.

I remember finding Buck Mason about 10 years ago, and they were making really good t shirts for about $30. This was when long-line and scalloped hem tees were very popular, and their scalloped hem t shirts were about as good as anything you could find. They started to expand their offering, but to me, and most other people, they were a t shirt brand. They made 2-3 variations of the same style of tee, and they were flattering and high quality at a price point that felt too good to be true.

In 2024, Buck Mason is no longer just a t shirt brand, and after years of making great clothes (now for both men and women), they’ve found their lane in what they described last year as “West Coast Ivy” — which is as succinct, brilliant, and on point as branding can get. I love what they’re doing and can’t recommend their clothing enough — it’s another one of those clothes makers who you could probably just buy all of their stuff and look “put together” day-in and day-out.

Shop some of my favorites from their new arrivals by clicking the images below!

Tyler the Creator Continues to Make Fashion Fun.

In the world of “high” fashion, Tyler the Creator collaborated with Louis Vuitton to drop a Spring collection that’s very much in line with his oft-lauded tastes. The collection, along with the content he made for it, is fun, light-hearted, and actually has some pieces I’d rock.

That’s all for TPE Menswear Monthly. If you have any questions or have suggestions for future topics, hit us up in the comments.

Talk to you in a couple of weeks!