cash

Photo heads should check out My Parents Were Awesome.

I'm sure there is denim somewhere in this photo, just keep looking.

^ So is this.

Shit, look what just "came across the wire." (Fort Hood is in Texas).

What will happen: Mesoamericans still using the Long Count Calendar will need to go to the drug store and buy a new calendar -- maybe a tear-away with Far Side cartoons or something with swimsuit models.

Here is a list of stores where you will find Raleigh Denim.

Purely aesthetic vs. meaningful: Look, mod your body in whatever way floats your boat. I think the purest get a little carried away with all the meaning. I doubt most of the sailors from the '20s really felt a super-deep connection to their ink. It was certainly part of their culture, and they had tattoos that "meant" something. However, I'll bet a lot of those tattoos originated in booze (and feeling disenfranchised) more than anything else.

That having been said, I'm old enough to have plenty of friends with bad tribal designs/suns/Aztec calendars. I know most of them would love for their ink to signify something more than "It looked really cool in '92."

On the fence...

I've really liked my 500s. That having been said, here are the pros and cons.

Con: They needed a meatier insole -- the ones they came with were very thin.

Con: The boot won't live up to a RW, Whites, or Alden in terms of quality.

Pro: You can score them for very cheap and they'll work as a nice semi-dress boot. The 500 last is not particularly dressy, so you'll be competing with beefier boots you may already own. Also, it can quickly devolve to a Ed Hardy/Ken Cole look.

Pro: Very walkable and lightweight.

Con: If you are doing the workwear/Americana thing, then paying more than $125USD for these makes little sense. The boot looks wrong and is by no means a heavy-duty boot. You may want to squirrel a little jack away and try snag the RW Chelsea. I suspect it will be a better buy.

^ Co-sign RivetHead. Sometimes, for the right boot, it is well worth the expense. In fact, it might be your obligation to resurrect the boot.

How do you know when a boot is too far gone? For example, browsing ebay, one comes across a pair of vintage leather boots/shoes that are tempting. You would only have the picture in auction to go by. Are there any signs/things to watch out for? Do we know how far the magic of Obenauf's can go in bringing a boot back to life?

Any hints, tips advice...

Check that there are no cracks in the vamp. Make sure the vamp has not separated from the welt. No holes in the leather. Soles will be the cheapest thing to replace. If you plan on wearing them as is, no fixes, make sure the heel is in good condition. You want a boot or shoe to stand flat. If one side is excessively worn, the boot will be uncomfortable. Actually soles aren't the cheapest thing to replace, heels are. As for dry leather, there are plenty of treatments that will bring a boot "back to life."

^ You'd be surprised what can be done to rehab a boot. However, at some point it just gets too expensive.

For example: you score a pair of Red Wing 875 of The Bay for $45. The leather is in okay condition but the sole is shot. Well, a new sole is only $75 bucks. So, you're only paying $120 for $175 boots. Oh, but when they are putting the sole on they realize there is some welt repair that needs to be done, another $25. Now you are in $145 on a $175 boot. See, maybe just buy the new boot.

Whites has a really good rebuild service for $150-$200 you can have the sole and vamp replaced on a Whites boot. So, if you are starting with a $400-$450 boot, you may come out on top. I know RW has a rebuild service, but I am unfamiliar with the cost and what it entails. GregNY would take his boots to some guy in NYC that claims to give the boot a complete redo for $100 plus shipping. So that might work, too. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name, Nelson's or something. Search his posts, he posted last a few pages back. His avatar is the face of a Rolex.

^ Self Edge says the 33 will work..

I'll bet Big Bad Billy Boy's LVC are going to be just fine in the waist and thighs. The 34 length on 32 legs sounds like trouble. Start with the cold soak, wear 'em damp, avoid the first wash and enjoy. You'll get $50 worth of wear out of them. They eventually will be too short and small for proper steez, give 'em to your girlfriend at that point. Save up some money. Buy a proper fitting jawn, as they say.

As I get older I'm not such a fan of sales. I think it's best to know what you want and spend what that costs to cop. You'll waste more money chasing deals than just buying what you really want.

Copping DenimDestroyedMyLife's category: Tradbeast

The wifey thinks I'm bat-shit crazy every time I eat a bowl of cereal without milk. I don't think it's that weird.

Not to go all meta on you guys, but I figured I x-post the Self Edge thread. A little whiskey for the denim heads in New York this weekend.

^ Who lasted longer?

Last night I had a few drinks of this on my porch.

I'm a gin drinker. When I have a whiskey, I usually opt for a bourbon. However, this angry scotch, here, could very well have changed a lot of things. It smells like smoke. I could still smell it on the glass this morning. Too strong for a quick session, perfect for sipping and sipping and sipping all night long.

^ Like someone spilled an entire bottle of CK One?

It's the VMAs not the opera. I want some rock 'n roll/gangsta swagger when I tune in. However, if you pull a stunt like that, say something next-level. Don't pull some Beyonce-shouldda-won drunken babble and end with something stronger than a shoulder shrug. Bring your "A" game or stay seated.

I though the whole reason for "that" look (APC PS) was androgyny?

I had a helluva time in Verona.