Permanent Press Picks: 001
The Hoodie Team Canada Should Be Wearing
Howdy! After a long pause and back, trying to be better about hitting send on here. (The drafts folder keeps growing.) So, we’re going to keep it simple for now. Quick hits of things I think you should be aware of, things to read, vibez, etc.
Permanent Press Picks
Winter Favourites So Far…
The sun’s sticking around a little longer each night, and daylight saving is almost here—but let’s not kid ourselves, we’ve got a long way to go. So since it’s been a while since I sent a ‘Stack, here are a few things I’ve seen and worn this past winter that are genuinely worth your time.
🍁 House of Blanks Vintage Maple Leaf Hoodie, $150 CAD
House of Blanks—the Toronto maker of quality fleece and cotton knits—made its first non-blank just in time for the Olympics. Unlike the official (disgraceful) Lululemon gear, it’s actually made in Canada. The red-and-white crewnecks disappeared fast, but there are still hoodies left. Their regular blanks are the real story: beautifully made hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, sweatpants and more, available in plenty of colours, and produced entirely in Canada.
I wrote about the brand in the Globe and Mail last month, if you want to learn more about a leader in Canadain fleece.
Every Other Thursday Wool Fistherman Knit Turtleneck Sweater
A chunky turtleneck can feel like a bold move. I’ve found that this one from Every Other Thursday makes it easy—roomy through the body with a structured chunky turtleneck that holds its shape and frames the face. And if that still feels like too much, the same cut is available as a straightforward crewneck.
🍁 HAVEN Superfine Wool Waffle Crewneck, $275
Okay, stay with me. Waffle long-sleeves are usually cotton. Vancouver’s HAVEN swapped that out for Japanese wool instead—breathable, moisture-wicking, and far better at resisting odour. She pricey, but it’s been an excellent base layer all winter, which I’ll continue to wear on its own once things warm up. Easily the softest thing I’ve put on this season.
The entire HAVEN brand is tremendous. I just wrote about my favourite pants for GQ as well.
Buck Mason Cabinessence Flannel CPO Shirt, $188 USD
A funny thing happened at some point in the last few years. Buck Mason, a brand that started in the DTC boom of the early 2010s (very similar to Frank & Oak, a Canadian brand I used to work for that no longer exists, RIP), now makes some of the best menswear around and earned the respect of a lot of the heads. They even bought a factory in PA. They’ve obviously made some smart strategy decisions to get to this point and not burn out like the F&O’s and Everlanes of the world.
All that to say, this midweight flannel I picked up in California is cut like a classic work shirt and pulls details from ‘40s U.S. Navy shirts, all with brushed indigo-dyed cotton that looks even better after I washed it.
Note: If you’re in Canada, the shipping/duty charges are absurd (something I hope they rectify soon), so it’s best to check things out in-store if you’re ever down south.
Nothings Something Fleece-Lined Jeans, $200 USD
This is the coldest winter we’ve had in years. These fleece-lined jeans from Scandi brand Nothings Something have carried me through it.
Sometimes it’s nice to splurge on socks. These are super thick, super warm, super high — wish I had one for every day of the week.
Uniqlo Spring ‘26 Picks
The good people at Uniqlo Co., Ltd. invited me to their Spring/Summer preview earlier this week.
As usual, there’s a lot to like. The collabs and sublines are firing on all cylinders as usual, from the reliably good JW Anderson collection to the Clare Waight Keller–designed C collection (my favourite), to the main line gear. A few things I saw up close that I’d actually recommend…
I hurried to the store to snag this one as it’s already selling out. It’s technically a women’s piece (but designed to be unisex), but I was sold the second I saw it on the Uniqlo team at the showroom. It’s sort of a cardigan, sort of a track top and the white contrast zipper really pops. I grabbed the beige, but only the dark brown is left. Worth moving fast if you want one.
C Barrel Pant (pictured above)
Keeping the brown theme going, I picked up the collection’s 100% cotton twill barrel pants. I wasn’t totally sold on the barrel shape at first—it’s got that rounded, roomy leg that narrows slightly at the hem. Was it too trendy? Once I threw it on with the zip-up, it made complete sense.
This denim jacket is modelled after a Levi’s Type I trucker jacket, a style that they produced in the ‘50s and ‘60s, defined by the vertical front pleats, single chest pocket and back waist synch (as opposed to the more popular Type III that everybody knows and loves). On trend. 80 bucks. Can’t lose! (Available later this month.)
They’re going bigger on sunglasses this year, with a wide range of styles and a tidy $30 price tag. I’m generally not in favour of cutting corners on eyewear— they’re front-and-centre on your face—but these hold their own. If you’re prone to losing your sunglasses you could do a lot worse.
One Last Thing…
on Uniqlo, last month, for GQ, I wrote about how I flipped my Veilance puffer for one from Uniqlo. I’ve been really impressed by how warm it is for a fraction of the price of a more “designer” coat. It also fits better. You can read the full story here. All of Uniqlo’s coats are on mega sale, so if you’ve been contemplating a new coat, it’s a good time to grab one.
Links
Stories to click/tap on.
First up, a great little post about learning how the sausage is made.
Handsome at Any Cost — NY Times
This profile of the Looksmaxxing influencer Clavicular is genuinely fascinating. He’s apparently set to appear on The Adam Friedland Show this week, which should be… something. Lol.
Is Good Taste A Trap? — The New Yorker
The $20 Side Dish is Here — Grub Street
Ouch.
How to Dress Like JFK Jr. — GQ
4 ways to replicate the sui generis swagger of the Kennedy clan's oddball menswear icon.
Keith McNally’s “Words to Use Sparingly (Or Never At All)” — IG
This account shares club fliers/posters and gives us a look at what was happening at each. This one, in 1984, was a 70th birthday party for William S. Burroughs at NY’s Limelight attended by Allen Ginsberg, Kurt Vonnegut, and Madonna.
Thanks for reading.
—BK
All good picks! The belt you’re wearing in the Buck Mason picture is the unsung hero IMO 👌🏻