Everything I Purchased in May
A monthly confession of my sins.
Oh God. Oh God. What the hell was I thinking? I was excited about the idea of making this a monthly series until I sat down, searched my email for all my e-receipts, and compiled them in one place. I was alarmed by the number on my screen. I immediately started thinking about pieces I could return. Surely I didn't need all of these things. I'm in the process of building myself a new wardrobe that reflects my desire to be a conscious consumer by emphasizing quality craftsmanship and natural fibers. I'm also trying to better understand the silhouettes that fit my body and aesthetic. But did I really have to buy an entire wardrobe in just one month? Couldn't I show the slightest bit of self-restraint? Isn't buying so many clothes in one month directly at odds with being a conscious consumer?
In my defense, May was not a normal month. I had a few rare opportunities to see some of my favorite brands in person, which I don't often get. There's only one shop in my area that aligns with my aesthetic, and while I visit pretty regularly, they don't carry many Japanese brands. We traveled to Northern Virginia to see some friends, and I immediately started researching which stores had opened since we had left. Of course, I'd hit Uniqlo, but I had no idea that Withered Fig was based in NoVa. And while their brick-and-mortar storefront has not yet opened, I was able to grab some time with Richard, the owner (and main model), to try on some pieces. You already know the story of my New York trip. I took advantage of my wife's work trip to take a day off and go shopping. My main goal was to try on some Iron Heart denim. Did I try on a single piece? No. I couldn't find anywhere that had the UHR series in a size that fit my stomach. But I did get some cute lil Iron Heart socks, so I will be joining a biker gang imminently. I also bought many, many other things while I was in the city.
Wait, what's that? Not every store gave me an e-receipt, and there are still more items to account for? Okay. Okay. Everything is fine. Money is fleeting, SS26 is forever. Here are all of my purchases for the month.
Photos below are all mine, plus a direct product link for every item.
The Tees
Buck Mason Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee in Speckle Grey
Buck Mason's Field-Spec line has been all over my feed lately. And while I genuinely like the look of many of the pieces, their branding makes me feel like they're a big corporation trying to appeal to upper-middle-class dads who just heard about tailoring. I'm skeptical that the quality can warrant the prices they're charging. I decided to grab this basic tee as a trial to see if the quality lives up to the hype. At 310 GSM, this is more than double the density of their core tees. I've only worn it once thus far, but it seems like a solid tee for the price.
3sixteen Heavyweight Boxy T-Shirt in White
I picked this one up after seeing it recommended by another big-guy fashionista I enjoy, Eugene Park. The new boxy iteration takes their heavyweight jersey, gives it a wider chest, and cuts it shorter and boxier than their standard 2-pack. At 270 GSM, it's substantial enough to maintain structure (which is important for flattering my shape) but not impossibly heavy to wear in the summer months. It fits pretty snug without the oversized fit that I've come to associate with the term "boxy" as of late. I was told this sold out online almost immediately after launch, so I was grateful they had these in stock at their Flagship. Euge is also a fan of the Buck Mason tee and also recommends the loopwheel tee from A New Medium. I hope to get my hands on one of those to review in the coming months.
Lady White Co. Municipal T-Shirt in White
I walked into Cueva looking specifically for Lady White. I was hoping to pick up one of the Rugby tees, which I had heard were heavyweight and a boxy fit. Cueva didn't have any of the Rugby tees in my size, but said this Municipal tee was their basic offering. I found out that it is not actually the case, but the Municipal tee does seem very similar to Our Tee, just a little boxier and with a high neckline. Which might actually be a little better for me. The cotton comes from North Carolina farms and weighs in at six ounces (203 GSM), so it doesn't quite have the same heft structure I enjoy about heavyweight shirts. I've been wanting to try LW for a while and didn't want to leave empty-handed. This is certainly a quality piece, but I'll likely be wearing this one more as an undershirt. Cueva gave me a solid quality branded tote with a zip closure with purchase, which made me feel a little better.
Lady White Co. Rugby T-Shirt in Pewter
This is the piece I wanted. After not being able to find my size at Cueva or a color I liked at C'H'C'M, I ordered this one online. This is Lady White's heaviest offering - ten-ounce jersey (340 GSM), sewn in Los Angeles from 100% US cotton. It's unclear if it's the same NC cotton as the Municipal or sourced elsewhere. It fits wide in the shoulders and chest with a high, set-in collar. Don't ask me what that means. The shirt is stiff and structured the way I like my heavyweight tees to feel, and LW promises it softens with washes while retaining its shape. I really enjoy the fit and the feel, and it seems like it will only get better with age.
Whitesville Tubular Knit Pocket T-Shirt in Pigment Dyed Black
I had no intention of buying this shirt. In fact, I didn't even think I liked Whitesville's shirts. I bought the infamous two-pack at this same store a few years back. I do appreciate the quality of the material, but I feel like the fit isn't very flattering on me. I had to size up to an XXL (shattered ego) to get the chest to fit, but then the stomach is large and billowy. Clearly, they're doing something right, though, if everyone else loves them. Whitesville was one of America's most popular sportswear brands in the 1950s before being overtaken by bigger players and eventually shuttered. Japan's Toyo Enterprises revived the name in 2007 and has been carefully reproducing the original tees ever since. This one runs bigger than the two-pack, and I went down a size, but it maintains the broad chest and boxy fit without the billowing in the stomach.
The Shorts
Human By Nature Seaside Nylon Track Shorts in Purple
Inspired by - and I quote - "the effortless sports style of John F. Kennedy Jr.," these lightweight nylon track shorts channel 1990s New England summers with six yellow side stripes. Cape Town-based, Tokyo-influenced, and obsessed with American athletic nostalgia, Human By Nature filtered this piece through several different cultures before dropping it off at my doorstep. Unfortunately, I do have some ethical objections to this piece: I've been making a concerted effort to avoid synthetic fibers, and this is 100% nylon. TBD on the fate of these shorts in my wardrobe.
William Ellery Highkick Shorts
This might be the biggest highlight from my New York trip - discovering William Ellery. William Ellery is a small-batch Brooklyn brand that produces what they call outdoor and workwear from both new and repurposed materials. The Highkick Shorts are made from 100% cotton sashiko, which they refer to as Judo fabric, with subtle diamond-stitch detailing down the leg. The fabric feels substantial, the 5" inseam does me lots of favors, and the leg opening isn't overly wide. These shorts are white, and WE recommend dyeing them at the end of the season to refresh them for next year, even selling the indigo dye themselves.
The Shirts
William Ellery Pocket Picnic Shirt in Striped Rope
Billed as "the smallest viable piece of outdoor gear," the Pocket Picnic Shirt is a shacket that doubles as a picnic blanket in an emergency. This one is yard dyed blue with rope stripes, made from a six ounce 100% Japanese cotton, with corozo nut buttons, keyhole buttonholes, and dual internal waistband pockets with buttons. The construction is meticulous.
Polo Ralph Lauren Striped Oxford
While my wife hunted for a Polo Bear sweater, I did the responsible thing and perused the sales rack. A classic piece from Ralph, the blue stripe is versatile enough to wear in any setting. Made from 100% cotton, the company says it uses a secret wash that gives it "instant character, ease, and a heathered softness." Did I need to make this purchase? No. Do I now own this shirt? Yes. And that's what's important.
J.Crew Colorblock Shirt
Did you know that eBay now has a livestreaming feature? I clicked a notification, tapped the screen once, $6 was deducted from my bank account, and 3 days later, it was on my doorstep. I honestly don't even know where this shirt is right now. But it was $6. (One-off eBay auction find — no stable listing to link.)
RRL Indigo Chambray Workshirt
My first foray into the RRL world. I was overwhelmed and spent way too long looking through every piece in the store. I was equally overwhelmed by the prices of most of the pieces, especially considering the Philippine origin of many of the products, which they purposely leave off the product descriptions. I was quite impressed by the detail of the pieces, however - bartacks on the breast pockets and a defined pen/pencil pocket convinced me to give the shirt a shot. The fabric is thin enough to breathe in summer but would still look good layered under a jacket.
The Pants
orSlow Regular Fit Fatigue Pants in Green
orSlow's Fatigue Pants are one of those pieces that seem to come up in every conversation about fatigues. These have been on my mind for a long time, but when I wear high-waisted pants, I have to go up substantially in size compared to my jeans size. Richard from Withered Fig met up with me, and I ended up purchasing the XXL, the largest they make. They're uncomfortably tight, and I'm not sure they're wearable for any extended period, but I was so excited that they even buttoned. The Regular Fit has a mostly straight leg and an accommodating top block - relaxed without being baggy.
Uniqlo Barrel Pants in Off White
As a millennial who got into fashion in the mid-2010s, I've always geared towards skinny/slim fits - especially when I was smaller. Part of growing up (and out) and learning to dress for my body is realizing that these cuts no longer suit me. I was very hesitant to try a silhouette so wide, thinking they would only make me look bigger, but I actually love the way these fit me. These pants come from the UNIQLO:C Spring/Summer 2026 collection by Clare Waight Keller and are among the very few pairs of high-waisted pants I have found from a retailer I like that come in my size.
The Jacket
Uniqlo x JW Anderson Zip-Up Blouson in Navy
This might be one of the most worn pieces in my wardrobe in 2026. Part of the Spring/Summer 2026 JW Anderson collaboration, which leans into ivy with vintage workwear references, it has a cropped, relaxed fit that lends itself perfectly to the high-waisted pieces I've been trying to get into, and is sufficiently light that I've kept wearing it as the days get into the high 70s.
The Shoes
J.Crew Camden Leather Loafers with Rubber Soles in Black
I am partially color blind and decided a while back to stick to mostly earth tones to simplify my life - but I can't deny the appeal of the black shoe. I have wide feet and searched far and wide for a loafer to try on before purchasing. I was intent on the Bass Weejuns but couldn't find a single store with them in stock, so I took the shot on the J.Crew version and just sized up to accommodate my width, only to find out I didn't even need to - they fit great in my normal size. These also have a rubber sole, which is nice for a night of walking around town.
The Accessories
UES 89-DR Brass Key Ring
It's a key ring. UES is a small Japanese label founded in 1994 by Chuji Matsumoto, whose name is derived from the English word "waste" as a philosophy against disposable fashion. The key ring is engraved on both sides and is designed to age with oxidation, just like their denim.
Studio D'Artisan Indigo Jacquard Boro Bag
Studio D'Artisan is one of the original Osaka Five and a foundational name in Japanese heritage denim. This tote is crafted from their original sashiko jacquard fabric, distressed for a worn-in appearance. The boro-patch design features varying degrees of indigo shading, giving each bag a slightly different character, and it will continue to fade over time.
Self Edge x Iron Heart Zippo 1941 Repro Lighter
I went around New York looking for Iron Heart, and I'm leaving with Iron Heart, damnit. Engraved with both Iron Heart and Self Edge logos, this Zippo stays in the chest pocket of my Type 3 jacket to encourage fades.
Iron Heart Heavyweight Socks in Gray/Navy
These were recommended to me by the associate at Self Edge when I was looking at the Merz B. socks. I didn't realize they contained polyester when I bought them, but they are quite comfortable with cushioned soles and a snug fit.
Somewhere out there, the responsible version of me is scrolling down this mile-long list of items and shaking his head. I'm choosing not to make eye contact with him as I refresh the William Ellery PuddleJumper Shorts page, hoping they sell out before I buy them. I'm going cross-eyed staring at my other monitor, waiting for the Wonder Looper restock at Blue Owl.
See you in June, hopefully with more restraint.