I’ve mentioned clothes hacking before. This time I’m bringing it up because I did a bit of it myself. As you’ll see it’s small potatoes and most of you will say, “Dude, you only switched the buttons”. And, that’s really all I did, but baby steps. I did add a “hook” slash orange “tag” with spare button (personal branding!!). As well as some navy buttons with green (!!) thread. I like it.

{Please don’t judge my photos…I took them with my iPhone…I know they’re horrible…just wanted some visuals to share}

I’ve worn my Surf Ohio shirt from Homage (yellow) for a couple of years now, but had no idea where the term “Surf Ohio” came from. Now I do. And, I think I’d like to add the pink shirt to my collection.

Ribbed Tee sent along a couple shirts for me to try out. I received the grey, v-neck undershirt and the white, crew-neck undershirt. It’s hard to review an undershirt, but I’ve long been unhappy with what’s available, so I’m very happy to see someone take on developing something more form fitting.

I have a long torso and like to wear my pants with a little room in the waste (it’s all the rap I grew up listening to), so my shirts rarely stay tucked in. The Ribbed Tee(s) are longer than a traditional shirt, so I was able to keep them tucked in quite easily.

The ribbed fabric keeps the shirt from bunching up under a button-front shirt and keeps you conscious of sucking in your gut. The necks on both are a bit too big for my liking – I prefer a tighter neck.

Give them a try if you’re as fickle about the fit of your clothes as I am.

I’ll end with pointing out the RIPT FUSION, ”a body-sculpting undershirt designed to support your core, shave inches off your midsection and enhance your posture”.

I want.

Pierrepont Hicks spring line of ties is H-O-T. I need to get myself some of their neckwear, and you do too.

I call it clothes hacking. Taking an old item of clothing and updating its look with some details (new buttons, a monogram, patches, etc). Here’s a cool example of clothes hacking. For Valentines day a girl stitched hearts and love notes in her man’s shirt pockets. Hidden to the world, but known to them.

I’m in the process of hacking two sweaters with buttons and thread. More info to come.

I’ve been a big proponent of (affordable) bespoke items for a while now. Most of all it’s fun for me to add my own flavor and details to pieces. The New York Times runs down the bespoke trend and identifies that there are far more items you can get custom-made than just a suit or shirt. My favorite bit of the article is some of the reasoning for why guys chose the bespoke route.

Part of the appeal of custom culture is that it taps into the connoisseurship and one-upmanship that has long been central to guy culture. But whereas this was once the province of a certain tax bracket and its implicit fixations — Savile Row suits, golf clubs, cigars and single-malt Scotch — it now includes youthful fetishes with the coolest surfboards, sneakers and skateboards.

You won’t find a better company to deal with. Period. I’m a nutjob with how things fit and Bonobos has been patiently working with me to find the right fit in my pants. And, with that time, they’ve established themselves as my go-to pants company (and are quickly becoming my go-to polo shirt company). I’m dead serious when I say you won’t be disappointed if you do business with Bonobos; I’ve purchased 5 pairs of pants and 1 polo shirt. Contact me and I’ll hook you up with a discount on your first pair too!