Issue #307 | Why Outdoor Gear From the 1990s Is Coming Back Into Style

Why Outdoor Gear From the 1990s Is Coming Back Into Style

This is such a dad take, like when someone asks if you’ve heard of Tame Impala, and all you can think is, what rock have you been living under for the last decade? Jakob Schiller, 42-year-old father, is pretty revved up to see that L.L. Bean and New Balance are “back.” We won’t tell him nostalgia for ’90s fashion was gorpcore’s primary pillar, if you don’t. However out of touch the explanation for the return of outdoors gear, our excited dad is discovering that the golden days of his youth are shining on with a younger audience, which in and of itself is something to celebrate.

Outside

This ’60s-Inspired Tool Watch Doesn’t Believe in Second Chances

[Partner] Things can come at you quick in this world. But if speed’s your game, then you’ve already got a handle on how to navigate the twists and turns that lie ahead. Split-second decision-making boils down to honed instincts—and those come from knowing you can trust the tools you have at hand. Cutting its own track alongside iconic ’60s and ’70s racing watches like the TAG Heuer Autavia and Omega Seamaster, Vaer’s R1 USA racing chronograph is a rock solid meca-quartz movement piece that will get you there and back, whether diving to the depths or road tripping to the edges of the earth.

Get dialed in.

A Day With L.A.’s Most Exclusive Bootmaker

Cottage industry is a tough racket these days, especially when paying fealty to corporate overlords for a fat paycheck and stock options is the game many now play. But a gritty few are less interested in trading their time for a tech salary and more inclined to soulful pursuits, like Brian Truong, who makes engineer boots in L.A. His path doesn’t come with any parachutes. “You just put everything on the line and don’t have a plan B,” he tells Role Club. “I think it’s honestly true that if you give it your all, it will work out for you.” Here’s how the exclusive bootmaker built his own future.

BootSpy

The Best Menswear From Super Bowl 2024, Including Post Malone’s Coolest Outfit Ever

The big game is a huge opportunity for celebs to make a statement, whether it’s a platinum blond Beyoncé announcing the drop of a new Western-tinged album, or Post Malone singing “America the Beautiful” in a bolo tie and boots. OK, so there was a lot of cowboy cosplay. (Reba McEntire singing the national anthem confirms it, country music is in.) But it wasn’t just big hats and no cattle: Here’s what everyone from Jon Hamm to Jermaine Dupri wore to watch the Chiefs eek out a win at this year’s Super Bowl.

GQ

Five Fits With: Rob McMillen of In-the-Know Barbershop Mildred New York

You’d never get a haircut from someone who didn’t have a good one. With Rob McMillen, who runs beloved New York barber shop Mildred, you’d be in good hands. But if you’re in for a trim, you might also consider engaging his services for a little fashion advice, too. The stylist remixes workwear like Sears shirts with capital “F” fashion to effortless effect, and like good hair, it has a lived-in feel that comes from a depth of experience. In his latest column, Chris Fenimore chops it up with McMillen on how to fend off trends—in clothes and hair—in pursuit of personal style.

Esquire

• J.Crew Cashmere Collared Sweater Polo – $168

• Banana Republic Italian Twill Wide Leg Pant – $220

• G.H. Bass Larson Weejuns Loafer – $295

• Seiko Essentials 29mm – $162

• Byredo Burning Rose Candle – $45

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