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Off work this week, took a day trip to Mackinac Island today. Mackinac Island is a historically significant car-free island technically in Lake Huron, one of the 5 Great Lakes. Lake Michigan ‘flows’ into Lake Huron through the Straights of Mackinac, an almost 5 mile wide channel that separates Michigan's lower peninsula from the upper peninsula. Due to this strategic location, Mackinac Island has been used as a fort since 1780 to control the Straits. Originally built by the British, it was taken by the Americans not until 1796, 20 years after independence was declared. The British also briefly reoccupied the fort and island from 1812-1815. Of course, the location was also strategically and culturally important to Native Americans long before. I remember reading an excellently illustrated book as a kid about Mackinac Island, which according to Native American legend was formed by a giant turtle. The name Mackinac actually orginates from the Ojibwe word meaning ‘great turtle.’ Interestingly enough, the French spelled it Mackinac and the British Mackinaw. The island and bridge use the French spelling, but the city on the mainland the English. As an island, the only way to reach it is by boat, plane, or if the straits freeze over, snowmobile. There is a small year round population, but it’s largely a (very popular) summer tourist destination. It’s an incredibly unique and beautiful place! Fort Mackinac, where you can see historic reenactments. Typical ferry The Grand Hotel (view from the ferry), which boasts the longest front porch in the world, and has a formal dress code (and is very expensive). View of the Mackinac Bridge from the ferry, which connects Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas. When it was built, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at 5 miles. Downtown. The only transportation on the island is horse-drawn carriage and bicycles. Fort Mackinac sign American Trench / Whitesville / Left Field / Hokas

Nice @ATWM! For myself, I find a patch quicker to get repaired and less obtrusive–darning [almost] always comes out super stiff, like cardboard, in most cases that I have had it done. Plus, the wait time can be 4-10 weeks. In saying that, I had my SEXI26s repaired at SELA from my moto accident, the whole crotch and left leg were ripped entirely, and it feels like a new pair of jeans after repairing. Soft and pliable.

Just got back from a couple of weeks in Bali, there was just one day when the clouds burned off around Mt. Agung to reveal all of its 9000 ft glory

Some extra info for anyone interested. We’re in Kefalonia, one of the Ionian islands, which became better known via Louis de Bernières’ novel ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ and the subsequent film starring Nicolas Cage and Penélope Cruz. I won’t give you the potted history of the island as I’m sure Wikipedia can do that much better than me. We’re staying in Lourdas on the south coast, just below the village of Vlachata and about a mile walk along a meandering road to the sea (it must be very salty here as it’s the only place I’ve ever been able to float in - I’ve never been to the Dead Sea). It’s at the foot of Mt Aenos, which stands at 1628m, almost 300m higher than Ben Nevis, and the peak is often shrouded in cloud. You can see the neighbouring island of Zakynthos very clearly from here. I’m just with the teenagers as Mrs F is currently working (on series 2 of CIA thriller ‘The Agency’ starring Michael Fassbender). We’re having a very low-key week as my daughter just got back from a week at surf camp in Galicia and my son is due to do his DofE Gold expedition in Snowdonia (Eryri) next week having done the practice expedition in the Brecon Beacons (Bandai Brycheiniog) earlier this month and then working at a Forest Camp in Ireland. Consequently we’re all happy to do very little! Here’s a selection of the wildlife we’ve encountered so far (lizard, dead eel, praying mantis) and also my holiday reading. We were visited by a big Labrador type dog last night that tried to get into our pool! That’s all folks!

Jeans came in, same dark denim & pink-selvedge line as my jacket - LF44 I believe @Broark? Seller had washed pretty gently but I needed a fair bit more shrinkage for a size 34 to work, so chucked them in a 40 wash / 1600 rpm spin-cycle and a short run through the dryer on low heat. Definitely brought them to life (making me tempted to give the jacket the same treatment but don't need the shrinkage with it). Fit is good now and not too short in the inseam luckily. Looking through old Mercari listings (trying to gauge what shrinkage other people might have gotten) I spotted the same lot number visible on an older listing for a still raw pair, so I'm actually the third owner it seems 😅. Some before and after washing (with a day's wearing in): With the jacket (which is tub soaked only). It's the only matching denim tux I own but still doesn't look like it matches 😂. Well at least for now anyway.

Back from the Midwest Great Lakes / Union Special / Hollows / Cane’s / Frank’s

A Chilean friend of mine (who's lived in the UK since his teenage years) said that when he was a kid back in Chile, he would grab a couple of geckos and let them bite his earlobes.. once they gently bite you let go and they won't release their grip if they can't feel their feet on the floor so he'd be walking around the house with a couple of geckos dangling from his ears

Not today but last week... Ladies and gentlemen, the UK’s 2025 City of Culture… Bradford I like the place, it’s full of diversity and character… screw the haters Loved this collection of photos from the 1980s in the Lumb Lane area of the city… on show at the Science and Media Museum Tower of Now is in the city centre… commissioned recently to celebrate the city's diversity And then a Caribbean lunch at a nice little food hall (erm Darley Street market, rather than Greggs this time)

I bought these shades in a half price sale at Clutch Café a few years back.

Some shots comparing my 1 year old TCB 50s vs new 50s (with an indigo tab!)

Inherited this very cool Soviet watch, don’t know much about it but I really like the look. It keeps time really well and even has a mechanical alarm! The twisty hand sets the alarm time and the top knob winds it up, and it buzzes (for quite a while depending on how much you’ve wound it) when the hour hand aligns with it. So cool!

Long time no post… been working 60 hours a week in the 100 degree heat. My work clothes get so dirty I don’t dare wash them at home so I’m at the laundromat on this rainy Sunday. Levi’s jacket I got at a Boot Barn 10 years ago. Red Clouds chinos & Straye sneakers

This deserves more rep! Maybe not for everyone here but this is an amazing watch. My current favourite is a Junghans Max Bill, one of the original configurations, with plexiglass crystal. It's on a titanium mesh strap today but I also like it very much on black apple leather with Working SKEWed Slack Jeans

It seems like they went through a pretty significant rebranding around 3–5 years ago, from more general (non-repro) workwear to more modern streetwear / workwear, with wider cuts / sleeker details / a pretty big price increase I’ve been tempted to try them out a few times

That does look like the LF44 denim, nice pickup! I still haven't gotten around to washing my SO02 pair yet, been trying to practice some delayed gratification. I'll wash them once it cools off maybe.

^ what the hecko!

Not directly but i've posted about them once or twice over the years

I wasn't being facetious at all Martin, l genuinely thought a gecko wasn't a lizard (like a salamander) so my bad. Enjoy your break

Some M-series jackets (Type 1 and 2) from the linen patch era if anyone can make a 51 cm chest work. Sleeves seem a little short though unless they are measuring armpit to cuff M11026 【M品番】 SUGAR CANE　【1st 大戦モデル デニムジャケット/M11026】 シュガーケーン デニム ジャケット ファースト Gジャン 25070179 item details | JDirectItems Auction | One Map by FROM JAPAN M11027 【M品番】 SUGAR CANE　【507 2nd タイプ デニムジャケット 】 シュガーケーン デニム ジャケット セカンド Gジャン 25070509 item details | JDirectItems Auction | One Map by FROM JAPAN

Yeah i jumped on a pair of 224 knowing the denim was ceasing to be produced (goddammit marketing gods, shaking fist at sky...) and I do like a 15oz denim.

Speaking of losing and gaining weight - and I am not generally one to focus on this stuff at all, given how problematic it can be for people - but Inoue San is looking slender!!

I just measured them, they’re actually smaller than my warehouse 800, I think the rise makes them not fit right. Hot soak fit photos. going in the washing machine now

Here's mine 40 wash and a dryer

Size 3 in the 132 should work well for you

Freenote short sleeve, Buzz Rickson original spec chinos, Viberg 2030 Service Boots.

Update on the Freewheelers war jacket. here you go @Dr_Heech

Flat head, canes, lone wolf. I love this shirt!

Hakusan 1950's Champion Gildan Freewheelers Lofgren

As August usually is here. The dead of summer. All goes sort of quiet because people stay indoors mostly when it’s not dark. It’s been mostly routine stuff - office, baby stuff, sunset dog walks etc. no jeans in site for a month now. Cloud makers. Upside down for some reason decent steak from a few days ago. Also, a friend of mine opened the first denim shop in our parts. Very nice store and much more convenient now that I can go and try on stuff in person and buy it, rather than DM brands on IG about how they measure thigh width. I bought this Pherrows Henley.

Kefalonia

Butcher Products Cossack style sports jacket. Size 42 Cotton with quilted satin lining Excellent Condition USD160 + 35 shipping shoulder: 18.75” pit to pit: 22” sleeve: 21” length: 24.5”

Went to put on my jeans (LVC 1944) for work last Monday and noticed that the crotch stitching had begun failing (that famed Levi's quality ) I slipped into my Canes instead and after work I went and raided my dad's work bench; among the boxes of nuts, bolts, screws, and nails, there was of course a box of odds and ends. After a bit of sifting I found a few copper rivets in all different sizes, the smallest looking like it would work to shore up my crotch. I used an awl to make the hole, pushed the post through, put the head on, and used a pair of pliers and a hammer to secure it in place (couldn't find a setter so I made do.) A pair of snips removed the excess post, and I hammered it flat.

Sold the FOB jacket…I wasn't happy with the fit, even though I think the jacket and its quality are great. I bought a Sugar Cane 1962 instead and couldn't be happier with it! Fits like tailored 🙂

About 4 months of wear in my SOA03 with washes each month

Yes, interesting fact. They're writing, that 9oz in the old linear yard standard equals 11.6oz in loomstate and 12.75oz once sanforized. So the 10oz that is on the Levi's labels would translate to 12.9oz and 14.17oz resp..

my 129s washed and going away for the summer

Took awhile but finally received the Pherrows items. Solid stuff! The 451 is quite ww2 era, contrast color thread archs ( think they used to paint the arcs during ww2 to save thread), herringbone pockets ++ This is 34x34. Very straight fit not much taper. Waist 43.5cm Inseam 84-85 Front rise: 30cm Back rise 35.5-36cm Leg opening: 24cm Good space in thighs.

speaking of old Fxxx and pioneer v. frontier... from the dark ages and at one point having a pair of both F380 and F350 (which were still the best patterned pair i've worn). was doing a little closet cleaning and found this pair in an old bin... wish i would have had some foresight about 17 years ago and bought about 4 more pairs of these... dig that pocket shape