Editor’s Picks: Electric SUV, Michael Caine Glasses and Home Coffee Roaster
From a pair of motorcycle-ready denim jeans to a first-person flying drone, this is what we want this week…
Words: Jonathan Wells
Why should refinement and ruggedness be mutually exclusive? Who says something can’t be beautiful, but also be bashed around a bit? Here at Gentleman’s Journal, we’ve long been proponents of both the practical and the luxurious — and this week’s Editor’s Picks walk that line with alluring, well-designed durability.
We’ve got the future of SUV carmaking; all-electric and funded by Amazon. We’ve got a pair of sleek suede sneakers that will make short work of even the deepest puddles. We’ve even got a trio of denim goods — well-cut and trimly tailored from your jacket to your jeans. Take a look below…
Saddle up: Bike Shed Resistant Indigo Jeans
Style, meet safety. Bike Shed’s tapered-fit, five-pocket, contrast-stitched jeans retain all the cool and swagger of your usual blues — but with an unseen protective upgrade. Crafted from COVEC raw indigo denim (the stuff NASA uses), these slim strides are AA-Rated tear and abrasion resistant. So, next time you saddle up and ride out, you can motor along in safeguarded, suave comfort.
Frame job: Curry & Paxton 'Yvan' Tortoiseshell Frames
This Sunday, Michael Caine turns 88. He’s had a long, successful and stylish career — just check out his natty three-piece in Get Carter — but one particular fashion statement cropped up a couple of times during his early work; his Curry & Paxton spectacles.
Recently re-released, these dark tortoiseshell ‘Yvan’ glasses feature five-barrel hinges, genuine pin fastenings and are identical to the frames Caine wore in films from The Ipcress File to The Italian Job.
Take off: DJI FPV Combo Drone
‘FPV’, for those of you not plugged into the world of drone-racing, means ‘First-Person View’. That’s right, this is a drone you can pilot through a virtual reality headset; specially augmented goggles with a cinematic view. The ‘Combo’ model is drone giant DJI’s first foray into the FPV flying world — and it comes equipped with low-latency video transmission, super-wide 4K video capture and even an emergency ‘brake and hover’ feature.
Check it out: Joshua Ellis Cashmere and Silk Check Scarf
This distinguished, established British brand has been producing the finest cashmere and woollen scarves for over 250 years. And both the craftsmanship and confidence are palpable. After all, which other brand would think to create such a soft, supple silk check scarf in the rugged blue hue of denim? Joshua Ellis would, Joshua Ellis did — and Joshua Ellis delivered with this lightly patterned, effortlessly elegant accessory.
Crowning glory: Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921
What better watch to strap around your wrist in 2021? With a century-old namesake, this Historiques American 1921 from Vacheron Constantin reinterprets a model launched exclusively in the United States for the Roaring Twenties. With rumblings of those same roars beginning to echo around 2021, this terrific timepiece’s railway dial-train, black-painted numerals and rakishly diagonal dial promise to bring the party.
Deep pockets: Tommy Hilfiger Painter Denim Jacket
Workshirt. Painter Jacket. Bleu de travail. Call it what you want — the overshirt is having an overdue moment during lockdown. Bridging formal and casual, these button-up jackets are versatile, functional and stylish. Tommy Hilfiger’s denim design affords the garment even more ruggedness and reliability; woven from recycled cotton and with three deep patch pockets for every practical possibility.
Give it some beans: Ikawa Home Coffee Roaster
Created in a small London workshop, Ikawa’s Home Coffee Roaster is here to revolutionise your morning cup. Crafted strongly from custom-extruded aluminium, you control the countertop roaster using an app — selecting your roast recipe and smelling the rich results in less than ten minutes. If you’re a real espresso enthusiast, it’s the perfect gadget to complete your existing coffee grinder and machine set-up.
Sit tight: Sternzeit Retrostar Velvet Chair
Fancy a bit of Feng Shui during lockdown? We’ve been refurnishing our flats and houses with some decadent designs — this Sternzeit Retrostar among them. With its sloped back and steel suspension, it’s a comfortable, practical option. But, thanks to that opulent blue velvet upholstery, it’ll add a touch of luxury, too.
Feeling blue: Mr Marvis ‘The Boulevards’
Bright trousers; they’re a tricky style to get right. Just ask Steve McQueen — who knew a thing about pale, pastel colours. In fact, earlier this week, we suggested you invest in a pair of ‘The Longs’ from Amsterdam-based style brand Mr Marvis to mimic McQueen’s style. For that purpose, we recommended the all-white ‘The Wimbledons’. But, to ease yourself into softer shades, why not try this beautiful light-to-mid blue hue, ‘The Boulevards’?
Lead the charge: Rivian R1S
When a tech brand as big as Amazon throws funding behind a project, it pays (literally) to take notice. Enter Rivian. The Michigan-based automaker announced back in 2017 that it would build an all-electric SUV. This, the futuristic R1S, is the brand’s vegan-upholstered, quad-motor ‘Launch Edition’ — capable of 300+ miles on a single charge and boasting a 0-60mph time of just 3 seconds. No wonder Bezos bought in.
Lace up: Uniform Standard Series 1 Sneakers
Spring has sprung. And that means suede. No longer will we be worrying about misstepping into frosty puddles or getting caught in sleet showers — and that means we can finally lace up some brushed, textured kicks. Our pick would be Uniform Standard’s hand-stitched Series 1 sneakers. Seen here in ‘Triple Earth Suede’, this particular design is lined in Italian leather, crafted in Portugal and finished with wax cotton laces.
Want more of the best gear money can buy? Check out last week’s Editor’s Picks…
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