Since then, I’ve dropped in there as often as I could. Got myself a couple shirts and saved all my pennies for those suede chukkas I was drooling over in the first post. Over the past year I’ve gotten to know Jordan a little bit, and it just reinforces the enthusiasm I had for the shop at the beginning.

So when the chance to do this short video for the shop’s website came up, I was excited. I hope my admiration for what Jordan is doing comes through. I think he’s a top-notch guy with a great aesthetic and strong vision. It’s not every day that a job also doubles as a passion project. But it is a great day when it does. Enjoy:

Winn Perry from 4+1 Productions on Vimeo.

I couldn’t wait to get a few of my favorite shots out there to all of you. Some of these are outtakes, some might make it into the commercial. We haven’t color corrected anything yet, so this is just the way it came out of the camera.

Enjoy.

TEASER: The New Reliability from 4+1 Productions on Vimeo.

CREDITS:
Director: Jacob Hinmon
DP: Travis Cline
Art Director: Megan Pugmire
Stylist/Makeup Artist: Ebel Artistry
Actors:
Adrienne Vogel
Bernadette Miller
Adam Davis
Seth Allen

We were heading to Seattle for Thanksgiving, so I brought along my new Canon 7D in the hopes I would get a chance to document my inevitable visit to The Field House.

My first impression was that the store was put together right. Some shops are cool, but uninviting. A shop that is put together right is cool, but comfortable; you aren’t checking what they’ve got hurriedly and rushing for the door or collapsing under the pressure to buy something.

So what is The Field House? It’s one part general store (this part is mostly cosmetic, it’s no Trader Joe’s), two parts cozy hub for the workwear-style attire and accessories that are such a part of the current zeitgeist. Add a dollop of solid handmade goods of yesteryear and you’ve got your recipe.

If asked to explain pictorially, I might present it this way (click on pictures to enlarge):

The Field House has the product list you would expect–Filson, Quoddy, Pendleton, Red Wings, RRL, Alden Shoes, Tellason Jeans–but the devil is in the details, and getting them right is why the store feels the way it does.

Here are the details:

As I paid for my goods (another sign of a good setup: sell stuff I can buy that won’t break my bank.  In this case locally-made soaps, the slow down card pictured above, and a Mexican Coca-Cola), I got some insight into what made this store tick. I asked John, the guy helping me, how involved he was in the setup. He mentioned that his boss, Nicole, headed up the project but as soon as he heard about it he lobbied to be a part of it. It fit his personal aesthetic.

John mentioned how exhilarating it was to put the store together–they spent a full week laying it out–and how satisfying it was when they finished up and stepped back to observe the final product.

I consider this a natural byproduct of people working on the projects they are passionate about, whether or not the economic climate tells them now is the time. It is a big risk to take on a project like this right now. The folks at Blackbird have gone out on a shaky limb and come back with something that is just the opposite. Solid.

Here they are. Let the journey begin.

I hope Pendleton Woolen Mills is going to bust out of its late 30s-early 40s age-group-rut with the clothes soon as well.

There was a very cool blue plaid shirt that didn’t fit me exactly right, and a wool jacket that was really cool. My favorite had to be this shirt:

Super comfortable cotton. The actual color is more blue than this, more like the last photo below.

Justin had a whole explanation about ancient looms and weaves that sounded very mythic. All I know is the look and feel matched his enthusiasm. I grabbed a couple detail photos to share as well.

Get there before Timothy Hutton comes back and buys the rest of the haul.

“The main thing I would like to establish is that my customers can come in and not have to worry about the quality of the product, as that will already have been taken care of for them. The only thing I want the customer to think about is the fit and detail, and if it will be something they can use and is worth their money.”

I definitely felt that about the shop. All the products were of high quality (he even has that Our Legacy mail carrier’s bag I’ve been lusting after), and the shop was laid out nicely for browsing. I also felt very comfortable there. Which was nice. Oftentimes when I enter a shop that has really nice things and is empty I start feeling pressure from the sales representative and run. I didn’t feel that way with Jordan or his shop. So I would say he’s succeeding with his aforementioned goal and then some.

Here is my rundown in photo essay format:

This shot kind of sums up everything great about this visit: Gitman Bros. Vintage shirts and Alden shoes. I finally got a chance to try on the Gitman Bros. Vintage and it fits perfectly. It doesn’t billow out in the back like some shirts, it fits comfortably across the chest and and correctly around the neck. The real kicker is when I lean forward to simulate riding a bike and there’s a bit of stretch in the back so that it’s not too tight. Jordan tells me this is due to the center box pleat on the back of the shirt. I think it’s due its awesomeness.

Either way I was very impressed. Here’s how it would look hanging on your wall, if you lived in a dressing room:

Pretty cool, right?

The second gem of that photo is something that really grew on me over time. At first they seemed kind of cool, and the more I looked at them I really love them. That’s right, the suede desert Chukka boots:

Jordan himself was wearing these very boots and swears by how comfortable they are. The uppers aren’t stiff like most shoes are at first, and since they can be re-soled, there’s really no downside. I imagined myself wearing those on a nice warm summer day with no socks. And it was fantastic.

Also, not to be overlooked is the selection of Quoddys. I’ve been jonesin’ for some boat shoes and these are in tough competition with Russell Moccasins for my attention.

To finish it off, here are more great photos (go ahead, click on them, see what happens) that give you a tiny feel for what it’s like, but you really should check out the store yourself.

In fact, if The Most Interesting Man in the World had thoughts on popped collars, I’m confident they would be similar to his thoughts on rollerblading:

But then you see a photo like this:

And it makes you wonder. I mean, that’s Paul Newman. He owns cool.

Take a look at the photo from Jake Davis’s Blog:

That collar is dangerously close to being fully popped. And Jake Davis is known the blogosphere over as being one of the most stylish, cool kids in NYC.

The evidence piles up and you need to start making exceptions. Why? Because that’s what we young men are supposed to do in order to become wise, stylish, well-aged gentlemen. At least according to Oliver Wendell Holmes. With that in mind, I propose a few exceptions to the “Never, ever pop your collar” rule.

1. Weather
Rain, snow, a big chill. Bad weather can cause a guy to pop his collar. Redford demonstrates here:

The same goes for any scenario where you are out in the sun and worried about burning your neck.

2. Fishing, boating, proximity to moving water
I don’t know why, but it just seems right. Newman again. He really knew how to do it:

3. Workin’
Joe Jackson is a great example here.

Yard work, car work, bike work, ballgame work (if you’re living in the late teens of last century). If you’re getting grimy and using tools you have permission. Especially if the sun is beating down, as mentioned above.

And that’s it. Notice I didn’t say workin’ it. Not at parties, not at the clubs, not on a date. Not as a fake joke (because you don’t want to own it). Just don’t do it. If you’ve recently showered and you’re not planning on getting wet or dirty, leave the collar down.

I’m sure I’m missing an exception or two. Or maybe I’ve gone too far. Are there no exceptions? I know you have an opinion here. Let’s hear it.

JAPANESE-AMERICAN

Kicking Mule Workshop 1980s. I tried these guys on again, they’re comfortable. The rise isn’t too low, and Blake swears by them. They’re supposedly very good for bicycling, which is a huge plus. Very interesting, very pricey: $275

FRENCH STANDARD

APC New Standards. The scoop is, they stretch right to your body, and keep the shape while they’re at it. A ton of people swear by these, including Justin at Local 35. Price is very reasonable, considering what they are: $155.

STRAIGHT FROM SWEDEN VIA ITALY

Nudie’s Average Joe, raw selvedge. These have kind of a classic/vintage feel to them. Certainly the most distinct of the three. They kind of fit right in between the other two choices.  Price is tricky: $269-299 depending.

Now that the sun is out, I’m not even sure how much use I’d get out of jeans for the summer. It may wind up being a late summer/early fall purchase. Let me know your opinion on the final 3.

Man, is he cool.