Here at GQ Recommends, we spend countless hours toiling in the e-comm trenches to curate cool things to buy so you can shop like one of us, whether you’re looking for a new suit or a fresh three-pack of boxer briefs. Our unrivaled window shopping brings you everything from the best new menswear to the hottest menswear deals. But do those selects always align with our own personal order histories? They do not. So we thought we’d give you a tantalizing peek into our very own actual non-imaginary shopping carts. Here are 15 things our editors copped last month—much of which you can cop for yourself, too!—including big honkin' clogs, an alkaline stick that helps you recover (and makes your H20 taste better), and so much more.
Gerald Ortiz, Style Commerce Writer
Me? Obsessed with wooden clogs? Perhaps that's a Freudian window into me as a person, but I'll have to pencil in some time on the weekend to crack that open a bit more. Anyway, I added another beefy clog to my growing collection of arguably impractical shoes, and your boy couldn't be happier (or taller!). I had my eyes on the Picasso clogs from Troentorp for some time, and though they're certainly not a cubist style as the name would suggest, they're perfect for just about every pant in my closet.
The famed Japanese writer Haruki Murakami is known for his obsessive taste almost as much as his enigmatic writing. Though I haven't quite gotten around to reading any of his fiction (yeah, yeah), his Absolutely On Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa got me hooked on his personal aesthetic. Murakami: The T-Shirts That I Love is basically a show-and-tell of the author's favorite T-shirts from his massive collection. It's a delightful read that peeks not only into his closet, but into his mind. Through vintage Harley Davidson tees and banal burger merch and everything in-between, what we get is a sort of sartorial autobiography that may or may not inspire me to buy more vintage tees.
While many a swaggy guy I know loves the Our Legacy Camion boot (myself included), I wanted something a little different but still sorta the same. Frye's Campus boot has been around for decades and, like the Camion, it has a beautiful square toe and stacked leather heel that looks amazing with jeans, slacks, and chinos. For whatever reason, the black colorway was only available in women's sizes (and, recently, Frye seemingly removed the Campus from the men's collection altogether). Quite a conundrum. But the upside to having smaller feet is that I can fit into women's shoes, too.
Gaylord Fields, Copy Manager
In a time when it seems that fast fashion rules now also apply to eyewear, I still prefer to patronize eyeglass establishments that carry more adventurous (and more rarefied in price) spectacles. The way I literally see it, as a lifelong four-eyes, the hardware on my face is my face. So when I was steered toward Bevel's Chicoutimi in Diesel/Mimosa during a recent visit to my favorite optical boutique, I knew I was pushed out of my comfort zone just the right amount. I also knew this ultra-light and equally ultra-strong titanium frame will be just as easy on my nose as it will be on the eyes of any onlookers.
Having just arrived home from a recent trip to my favorite vacation spot (and, I hope, future retirement spot), Palm Springs, I ached to relive the architectural wonders to be found in that literal midcentury-modern California oasis. The most meaningful way to do so was to secure a copy of the lavishly illustrated Paul R. Williams: Classic Hollywood Style, written by architectural scholar—and Williams's granddaughter—Karen E. Hudson. Paul Revere Williams, a rare Black architect during an era that shamefully offered scant opportunities for African-American advancement, grew up in an LA orphanage around the turn of the 20th century. Yet he went on to design Hollywood mansions for stars that included Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball—as well as homes, in some instances, he legally could not live in himself due to racist covenants.
Speaking of Palm Springs and Blackness, as I perused all those architectural wonders found in that desert city, I needed to protect myself from the sun while avoiding the sunscreen bane of every darker-hued human: ashy skin! Fortunately, Black Girl Sunscreen, rated SPF 30 and formulated specifically to not leave that chalky film that can discourage use of sun protection among Black populations, comfortably protected my face and arms—and my growing bald spot. It's imperative that we dark-skinned folks are encouraged to slather up in the name of skin health, and brands such as Black Girl Sunscreen can serve as part of that education.
However, when those 90-degree Palm Springs days transform into those 50-degree Palm Springs nights, what better way is there to cover up my no longer sunburn-prone bare arms than with a jacket by the city’s premier leisurewear designer, Trina Turk? This almost-vintage Mr Turk cotton-elastic unstructured blazer in olive brown—and anyone wearing it—is also hot in the daytime and cool in the evening.
Yang-Yi Goh, Style Editor
Cargo pants have been cool again for a long time now, but it's still absurdly difficult to find a pair that hits all the right notes. Lean too real-deal military, and you wind up looking like an extra from Full Metal Jacket. Go too tailored and preppy, and those side pockets suddenly feel superfluous and just for show. Manresa's take nails the in-between: the herringbone fabric is handsome and weighty; the cut is full with a nice slight taper; and the details—from the watch pocket to the pleats—are all practical and considered.
The funny thing about being on the product beat at GQ for as long as I have is that, inevitably, when you're looking to buy something, there's a 97% chance that an old article exists with great recommendations and your byline. That was the case recently when I decided my pen rotation needed a top-to-bottom overhaul, which led me to this 2018 story I wrote called “The Best Pens Under $10 Will Make Your Handwriting Legible.” In addition to the welcome reminder that I was much smarter and funnier five years ago, I was also reminded of the existence of the Sakura Pigma Micron PN, a pen I praised at the time for "its super crisp, clean lines delivered in waterproof archival ink that won’t bleed or fade." Back then, I included the Sakuras as a mere runner-up, because the younger, more reckless me preferred rollerballs with wet ink. But present-day me ain't got no time to wait for no stinkin' ink to dry before turning the page. I bought a big clutch of Micron PNs, and my notes have never looked better. Thanks, Young Yang.
Chris Gayomali, Articles Editor
I've been on an alkaline water kick lately, nominally for recovery reasons but also because it just tastes better. I throw one in a Nalgene, let it sit overnight, and the next morning you have water that tastes closer to Essentia.
I needed a backup pair of beater glasses, and these from Jins are great because they're not super expensive and are designed for low nose bridges (i.e. Asian faces), so they won't fall off my sweaty face when I'm, say, peering down at a book while standing precariously close to the subway platform edge.
Rob Vargas, Global Executive Design Director
It was a point of contrarian pride that I was a grown(ish) man who never owned a black suit, much less a tuxedo. Recently, an event that called for creative black tie felt like the right moment to bite the bullet. In an exhaustive search for something that has a modern elegance with a subtle unconventional slant, I came across the perfect suit from Wooyoungmi. It has a rebelliousness to it thanks to the well-placed hardware details, such as the chrome logo applied like a pin on a denim jacket, and a tailoring quality that rivals the traditional luxury fashion advertiser set. Only thing better than that is that the brand is South Korean, and female-owned. I found exactly the black suit I’ve been postponing my adulthood for.
My reality is not ruled by invisible benevolent forces, but by chaos (and you know the thing about chaos, it’s fair). In spite of this, I’ve encountered certain moments where I’ve wanted to channel my hopes and desires into something other than a perfectly made Negroni. Although manifesting has become a total cliché, it provides, at the very least, a way to direct a cluttered mind to sit with a single thought. The vessel I chose for this occasional ritual is a hunk of citrine, which was readily available at my local gem store (welcome to Brooklyn). Laugh if you will, but I’ll be having the last laugh from my castle in southern France with my wife Cate Blanchett and BFFs Michelle and Barack Obama.
Tyler Chin, Associate Commerce Editor
If you want to dress up like you're a tablecloth from the early 20th century, you shop at Bode. At least, that's what I did. I've been eyeing Bode's very-excellent pieces before I ever started at GQ, and I finally pulled the trigger on this short-sleeve shirt, which will inevitably be on me all spring and summer long. The cross-stitched daisy motif is nothing to sneeze at (literally—my seasonal allergies have me going through some things this year), and I love the signature cropped and boxy fit.
OK, I went a little HAM on Bode this month. But you really can't just buy one thing at a time! It's like I needed to scratch that Bode itch. I copped a short-sleeve shirt so I felt like it only made sense to cop a long-sleeve option. When I say this is a breezy shirt, I really mean it. The lace makes it so that every gust of wind goes straight through, so I imagine this will be an excellent top for the hot and humid days ahead. The shirt is so light that I won't be putting anything in these pockets because they just drag the whole shirt down, and the compliments I've received so far make up for the high price.