McGee (right) in Mozambique.

Audwin’s loft is in a renovated historic building on a little Southern “main street.” The apartment makes up basically the entire second floor of the building. It’s a roomy space filled with taxidermy and old photos, but the thing that sticks out at you most is all of the wood. There is beautiful rich brown wood everywhere, and apparently all of the restoration work was done by Audwin himself. That would make sense because I don’t think I could come up with anything the man can’t do. At the end of the long kitchen / living room is a big studio for painting and sculpture. I was dying to take pictures and was happy when Audwin didn’t mind. The only sad part was that I didn’t have my big camera (and that I had had a few drinks), but I think the photos turned out okay. The loft has a Garden & Gun feature written all over it — truly incredible.

A few months removed from my trip to Alabama, I hope to get back down there and hang with Billy and Audwin again. Or better yet, Audwin invited me on safari to the enromus game reserve he helps run in Mozambique, that could be cool too. And when I say cool I mean that as one massive understatement.

Old school freight elevator right in the middle of the apartment.

Audwin's studio is right there in the middle of the loft.

A few of Audwin's paintings.

On the back side of the apartment is an area that is a little rough like a work room. When we went through it I thought is was Audwin’s office, which prompted me to ask if that was the case. Audwin’s response politely steered me away from the idea that he is the type to have an office. I believe he called it a “work room.”  I respect a man that doesn’t want people to think he has an office. Right out of frame of these photos is a giant garage door (keep in mind we are on the second floor) that opens to reveal the Alabama sky. It is a pretty awesome room.

There is really nothing like a clothing factory. And I mean clothing in the proper menswear sense of the word — suiting. It really is amazing that I haven’t visited the good people at Martin Greenfield sooner, but I never really had a good opportunity. When Tyler Thoreson and I got to talking about Gilt’s Martin Greenfield suit offering it was just the chance I was looking for. Ladies in smocks constructing jackets, sewers sitting together stitching by hand, and of course, Martin (along with his two sons) on the factory floor full of enthusiasm. Check this off my list.

You can tell this place never stops and probably hasn’t for years. (Note the GGG clock.) The floor gets layered and layered around tables and machines because there is no time to stop production and redo the worn out floor. The factory has been there so long the neighborhood went from good to bad to hipster in a blink of Martin’s eye. During their breaks, the Greenfield factory workers spill out onto the sidewalk in front of the building and mix with seemingly unemployed creative types that inhabit the post-industrial streets of Bushwick.

At one point Martin took me to his office and showed me some of this photos. The man has dressed presidents, police chiefs, celebrities and even his honor, the current Mayor of New York (who was scheduled for a fitting the day after I was there). It was so interesting to listen to the stories Martin was telling me about his childhood, how he survived The Holocaust and came to America to start at the bottom in the clothing business. Eventually he owned the company. His story is truly the American dream and I can’t think of anything that is more deserving a nod here.

Made to exact U.S. military spec, the Campbellsville Apparel Company sells the same tees that our boys are wearing out in the field to the general public. $9 gets you a 3-pack of the 100% Combed Cotton and $12 gets you a set of the moisture wicking polyester model (which is slightly too mock-necky for all but the most necessary situations.) Respect to our friends from Cold Splinters for digging this one up. Everything is made — per Berry requirements — right in Kentucky. Get some. [Campbellsville Apparel Company]

The beach has been my number one priority of the summer, you know, on my attitude adjusted priorities list. So after a particularly relaxing day at the ocean I decided to document some of my preferred beach attire. Obviously, you need to consider swimming and sand, but also post-beach drinking. For this look I mostly focus on the post beach drinking part. Actually, this is everything I wear with the exception of my swimsuit. So think of this as my real life ‘That Summer Look” (just like the autumn looks I have done in the past) and use it for inspiration. If you see me at the beach chances are I’ll be wearing some variation of this. And don’t forget the sunscreen — you don’t want to literally be “crispy,” just figuratively.

• Vans Original Classic in Navy
• Hattan Navy Hopsack Hat
• Alexander West Custom Shirt (Made from Thomas Mason fabric)
• Mark McNairy Expo Shorts
• ACL & Co. Large Canvas Coal Bag
• ACL & Co. waxed canvas bag
• Ernest Hemingway: To Have and Have Not
• Randolph Engineering Sportsman Sunglasses

(Please note that I do press for McNairy and Alexander West. That said, they didn’t pay me to wear this to the beach.)

Flap pocket is the only way to go.

Even the park rangers complimented me on these RE Sportsmans.

My pal Sullivan and I grabbed our bikes yesterday and took a recon mission to see my newest collaboration in store — at one of my favorite stores. Just landed at J.Crew (Liquor store, 484 Broadway, East Hampton and online) are two special canvas coal bags made under my own ACL & Co. label by old-school American maker Dandux. They make a great summer bag and will last you a lifetime. The small tote with carry strap is designed for using while biking around the city and the large coal bag is the ultimate beach bag and was a lifesaver at Brimfield. Originally designed to carry coal (hence the name), these bags are even used by the US Forest Service out West to clear trails and remove debris. [J.Crew] [ACL & Co.]

The large coal bag and small zipper bag at J.Crew 484 Broadway in NYC.

ACL & Co. Large Zipper Coal Bag

The people at Schott NYC have something nice and new coming for Spring ’11 — a little off-shoot collection of outerwear called Perfecto Brand by Schott NYC. The new goods were designed by none other than Mr. Greg Chapman, who seems to have given up Britain for the New World (at least for the time being). And not to worry Greg, if you keep designing clothes as nice as these we’ll let you stay. The initial line includes several shapes and materials, everything from the pictured Cone Mills selvedge pea coat and duffel, a rip-stop nylon parka and a small selection of leathers (a nod the the Perfecto heritage no doubt). Prices range from $400 to $1000 — everything made at the Schott NYC factory in Elizabeth, New Jersey. We’re getting an early look at this stuff, so you will have to wait until next January before you can add any of these to your closet.

If you are in the market for a new suit, the time is now. If you are attending a wedding soon and need a suit, the time is now. If you are someone that just likes to wear suits, the time is now. I can’t say this enough.

One of the most common emails I get from people needing style advice is about finding and buying a good suit. I have a few favorite places I generally point people to (one of which was Hickey, may it rest in peace), so when I heard from Gilt about the suits the commissioned from Martin Greenfield I got legitimately excited for a few reasons. 1. Because these are the perfect recommendation for anyone needing a suit. 2. The value for money for this clothing is off the charts. 3. Martin Greenfield makes really nice suits. 4. I’m in the market for a new suit.

After speaking with the folks at Gilt it was clear I had to trip out to Bushwick to the Martin Greenfield factory to see the clothing in its natural environment. Before we start looking at photos of the merchandise, let’s go over the hard details for the Martin Greenfield for Gilt tailored goodness.

• All suits feature full canvas construction.
• The jacket sleeves have attached buttons, but also are made so that they can be lengthened and have working buttons added once proper fit.
• The collection is comprised of six different super 120s wool suits, two summer cotton options and a peak lapel tuxedo.
• Everything but the tux are of the 2-button notch lapel and side vent variety (I like to call side vents “dual exhaust”).
• The jackets have a passport pocket, pen pocket, cell phone pocket and your normal breast pocket.
• The entire collection is made in Brooklyn, USA.

All of the suits are full canvased with a lot of hand sewn construction. No bullshit, I went there and saw it being done. The cut is slim and trim, but not crazy small. I was even able to pour myself into one and it looked pretty great. I will say that I needed to size up, so take that into consideration. That said, I spoke to Gilt about returns and they informed me that this sale will have the normal 21 day return or exchange policy (Gilt will even work to get you the size you need it they are sold out). Also keep in mind that all of the Martin Greenfield  for Gilt suits will be sold as separates, so you can mix and match. File this whole thing under “no brainer.”

The pants are priced from $178 (for the cotton) to $198 for the wool. Suits range from $698 for cotton to $998 for super 120s. The tuxedo is priced at $1048.

Everything goes on sale tomorrow —Thursday, July 15th at 12 EDT [Martin Greenfield for Gilt]

The man himself, Mr. Martin Greenfield.

Mr. Greenfield's cuff links.

Update: Gilt’s Tyler Thoreson gives us another look at the offerings.

I was shopping the same field as this cool Japanese couple, just a few rows behind. I was trying to catch up with them to get a picture but then they just disappeared. That was right around the time we were heading out, so I figured I had missed my opportunity. Luckily they just went to drop off some stuff at their car and we caught them on the way back in.

Team Jack Spade. Note their matching backpacks.

Lighting genius Gadi Gilan from the ACL film that Sean Sullivan and I made.

Kyle from Sit and Read furniture inspects the canvas. That’s #8 duck. Respect.

These folks were kind enough to pose for a snapshot. That’s Chris from Stanley & Sons on the right. No telling who the gent in the background is.

Sullivan takes this stuff seriously — look at the man's concentration. In the end he did buy the chairs. Good pick brother.

Beat the heat.

This about sums it all up.