Give me chukkas, year-round. For all the pseudo “outdoorsy” pieces I see on the websites I visit, there are some items that I can imagine actually wearing to do stuff. I have a hunting-trapping-fishing side of the family that rarely puts their seal of approval on things, but I know that they’d like the clean lines of these Red Wing chukkas in warm leather and leather laces. In fact, these could make a good gift for said family members.

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Maybe you’re lucky enough to be heading down to Florence, Alabama the first weekend in June for a party known as The Shindig; for the past two years, Billy Reid (the guy and his company) throws this weekend-long bash for friends and family that’s filled with live music, good food, boating and booze. If you’re not on the coveted guest list and feel like crashing, well, perhaps something from the Billy Reid collection might help you gain access to a weekend of southern-fried fun.

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Remember when the Origins of Lights sunglasses were sold out all over, and I managed to finally hunt them down? Now Oki-Ni has the Chronicles of Never sunglasses in the tortoiseshell frames that were pretty hard to locate before, plus an excellent pair of boots from Boris Bidjan to add to the mix. Neither are cheap, but both I covet immensely. Quality is king; you’ll have to be ready to pay for it.

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Summer inspiration doesn’t get much better than this. I had been having trouble sourcing relatable spreads in my budget: Too many colors, too many untranslatable silhouettes and fabrics, too many fine pieces that could’t be sourced. It’s exciting, but it’s hard when you need to shop fast. Benjamin Eidem got styled up by Albert Torres and photographed by Weston Wells for a collection of shots featuring Maison Martin Margiela, Comme des Garçons, and Paul Smith in navy blue, light blue, royal blue, and gray.

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QUAMTA’s going to offer some pieces this fall that will suit a select number of leather lovers. Their looks aren’t for everybody, but the nifty pouches and zipped holders could help you stay more organized. Billfolds, wallets, and coin pouches are all represented in the QUAMTA collection. Exotic leathers are exactly what you’d expect from a South Africa-based label, and they don’t disappoint: ostrich and python are included in the offerings. There’s a stunning wallet in dark brown and a neat round coin holder in tan, with other notable pieces mixing colors a bit more for pep. The black leather has an impressive sheen, and the texture truly shows up well.

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On the right snappy dresser, these pink-soled shoes could be out of this world. Jil Sander’s bright Memphis 999 shoes are pictured here in black and vivid pink, admittedly not everyone’s go-to colorway, but still a pick that isn’t without merit. Think pop art, avant garde, fresh designers, street art, London, funky suits, and conversation-worthy hats, and your mind will start whirling with styling options.

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I’m getting a slight David Bowie vibe here from this spread in Pen magazine with Oskar Tranum. I love unisex and androgynous looks, and this has its moments of gender-bending, with the cheekbones, high color (after the jump), and slim-cut suits. There’s a dandy vibe, with a certain Asian aesthetic to the garments’ drape. Deeply pleated pants with room to spare look elegant with collegiate separates and bookish style… and if you wear glasses, even better.

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Oak just released a couple breezier shoe styles, and these ones are by far the most agreeable of the newly-dropped options. Oak’s selections are a little mandal-y, a little oxford-y, including a pair with a buckled heel strap and an open design. Oak’s shoes are hit-or-miss this time around, but the Antoine & Stanley Black Calvin Braided Shoes are winners. Highly glossy and textured, these shoes have a dressy shape paired with a more casual upper effect. Those who declare themselves “not the sandals type” will still find the braided ones cool enough for summer.

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Could you pull these off? They’re a challenging summer shoe style, but the pre-Memorial Day and post-spring span always leaves me wishing and wanting more light colors in my collection. These Generic Surplus “Dury” shoes are so dapper that they’re worth the plunge, although matching gets decidedly trickier. Generic Surplus’s shoes are fashioned from fine, sleek canvas with a leather sole, and there’s no doubt that these shoes are made for the budget-wise guy with an eye for luxe: they are priced at $89.

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