$500 for Adidas? Nope.

The classic roundup returns with standout pieces from ssstein, Comoli, and Blurhms, and a hot take — might be about those sequin Adidas that just dropped.

Before We Begin —

In case you’re reading Duchump for the first time, or you’ve been MIA, you can catch up on my latest work — the last three posts are just below:

• The Art of Storytelling: A Conversation with Greg Jackson

• Cult From A Different Cloth: An Ode to Comoli

• Past, Present, Future: Inside the World of Outbreak Lab

• A Casual Chat on Graphpaper

Please consider leaving a like and sharing this publication if you enjoyed reading this article, found it informative or fun, or if it simply helped pass the time.

Thank you for your support. Any and all feedback is appreciated.

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction
   - What I’ve picked up recently, outfits I’ve worn.

2. Personal Favourites
   - Things I would love to pick up for myself.

3. General Picks
   - List of pieces that may fit in your wardrobe. Several great options right now.

4. L of the Week: Wales Bonner & Adidas
   - A quick review on one of the most anticipated shoe releases of the year.

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Introduction —

It’s been a while.

If you’ve been following this publication since day one, you’ve probably noticed how much it’s grown and evolved since those first few posts. Honestly, it’s best we leave those early articles in the past — if they can even be called articles. But that’s all part of the process. You can’t grow — in any medium — without starting off a little out of your comfort zone, or releasing something that doesn’t quite match your vision, but helps you get there.

New pickup: The Mechanic Jacket in Antique Black by s.k. manor hill, picked up from Wallace Mercantile. It’s been getting plenty of wear already.

I’ve even grown stylistically through discovering newer, smaller brands I hadn’t heard of before launching this Substack. In the early days, I kept talking about building a uniform — if you haven’t read my interview with Greg Laboratory on that, I highly recommend taking a peek — something easy to wear without overthinking, or cycling through fits for hours. Eventually, I realized I needed to stop yapping and actually put my ass to work: finding brands and collections that align with my new values — simplicity, decluttering, and and skipping pieces that end up collecting dust until that one special occasion finally rolls around.

Instead of keeping my Balloon Skirt by Comme des Garçons, I sold it to purchase wearable joints like Graphpaper’s Fine Wool Longsleeve Shirt, which is ridiculously soft and delectable to the touch. Or, Polyploid’s Shirt Jacket C in a Dark Berry — a beautifully constructed linen shirt that features a box-pleat on the back, along with two sizeable chest pockets. It’s an interesting pattern, as the back is about an inch longer — nothing too dramatic.

Polyploid’s Shirt Jacket C in Dark Berry, paired with the Two-Tuck Wide Shorts by Amomento and Klove Black Leather Sneakers by Our Legacy. There are two other versions of the Shirt Jacket available at Neighbour right now.

All in all, I’m finally feeling good about the direction I’m headed — both creatively in my work and with my wardrobe. The two feel connected now, almost like I’m dressing for the job I want. With that, I’m here to share what I’ve recently found — with you, and readers like you.

Enjoy.

*This segment will be changing from weekly to bi-weekly.

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Picks of the Week —

First, let’s start with my favourites — the ones I would pick up for myself, if not for this ridiculous and imaginative concept: money. For those in Vancouver, I highly suggest visiting Sycamore to see what they currently have available. It’s a hidden gem in the city that’s already stirring up noise with how effective and efficient their buying is.

Before purchasing anything, take a moment to consider your current situation, your rotation, and whether the piece sitting in your cart is truly worth picking up right now. If you haven’t read my pieces on Comoli and Graphpaper, I highly recommend doing so — both brands share a similar perspective: creating garments that fulfill a need in your wardrobe, or daily life.

Think before you buy!

Before checking out, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this something I need right now?

• Do I have something similar to this? If yes, then is it worth picking up something I basically already own?

• Are you looking for a temporary pick-up, or something long-term? How do you feel about the current state of your closet?

I’ve been asking myself these questions more often before picking things up — and by doing so, I’ve felt much better about what I own, why I own it, and what I’m wearing. I literally stopped myself from picking up a Stein jacket because it would’ve put me in the red, compared to last year — I’d be picking this up and eating sleep for dinner every night, while wearing whatever new piece I bought.

Just food for thought.

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Graphpaper
Silk Noil Viscose Sleeping Shirt Ecru
$515CAD
(I own the black version of this, which you can see in my second most-recent Instagram post. Very comfortable, highly recommend.)

Maatee & Songs
Full Zip Silk/Cupro Anorak Khaki Green
$1,275CAD

Gnuhr
Shag Sweater v2.0
$149CAD

A.PRESSE
Silk Linen Open-Collar Shirt
$905CAD

ssstein
Satin Zip-Up Short Jacket Dark Brown
$1,090CAD

Herill
Cotton/Silk Hooded Pullover
$875CAD

Rier
Popeline Jacket Inox Wool
$1,350CAD

Graphpaper/Mizuno
Wave Prophecy X (US10)
$685CAD
(This might be my favourite for the week. They don’t ship to Canada, so if anyone’s got a plug that could help me out — I need these in my life.)

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General Picks —

Now onto pieces I really like — ones that could easily fit into someone’s rotation right now, just not mine at the moment. There are a few heaters in here, like the Ciota and Comoli joints.

Take a peek — your next pickup might be in here.

Auralee
Product Dyed Finx Gabardine Jacket Navy
$1,020CAD

Vintage
British Railways Jacket
$68.89CAD

Post Overalls
Mechanic Blouse 2 (Indigo Deep Wash 8oz. Denim)
$678CAD

Comoli
Striped Longsleeve Shirt
$188.32CAD

SOSHIOTSUKI
Black Wool Judo Shorts
$500CAD

Seya
Mineral Green Zipped Sweatshirt
$785CAD

James Coward
Workshop Shirt Dark Brown Linen
$380CAD
(Could possibly become your go-to shirt for the summer. Very breathable, and it’s the perfect shade of brown imo. Gorgeous shirt.)

Graphpaper
Military Trainer Suede Black
$420CAD
(These are very comfortable. I’m typically a 43 and these fit TTS.)

MAN-TLE
R18 S7 Block Jacket in Black Wax
$1,017CAD

Comme des Garçons Homme Plus
Black Shorts (idk what they’re called ok)
$202.60CAD

Album Di Famiglia
Unisex Collar Shirt in Stone
$564CAD

Comoli
Reversible Track Jacket
$1,485CAD

Blurhms
Hollow Yarn Baseball Raglan Tee
$270CAD

s.k. manor hill
Lunar Pant Antique Black
$459CAD
(I’ve got the matching shirt/jacket to this, and it’s easily become one of my most-worn pieces recently.)

Yoke
Blurred Ombre Plaid Open-Collar Shirt
$535CAD

Awasa
Tasian Nylon Sailing Jacket
$1,230CAD

Yoko Sakamoto
Work Shirt
$664CAD

Sage Nation
Gray Box Pleat Trouser
$365CAD
(You already know how I feel about this. My most-worn trouser for the last few years — super easy to wear, comfortable, and a subtle statement piece.)

Ciota
M-41 US Army Denim Coverall Jacket
$495CAD

Body of Work/Mephisto
Match Loam Brown
$610CAD

Lemaire
Gray Utility Shirt
$825CAD

ssstein
Cargo Pocket Wide Easy Trousers
$575CAD

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L of the Week —

The Devil almost got me.

We saw the latest collaboration between Wales Bonner and Adidas drop this past week, and I almost picked them up — I’ve been wanting a fun, flashy shoe to pair with my casual fits. I had this vision in my head: wearing them with my Graphpaper Silk/Viscose Shirt and Two-Tuck Shorts by Amomento. But after seeing them in person, I’m glad I didn’t grab them.

They’re cool, they’re just not for me.

First, let’s talk about the price. Some shops had them at $450 CAD, others at $490CAD. I’m a fan of Grace Wales Bonner — even if most of her stuff either doesn’t fit me or doesn’t quite fit in my wardrobe. But I’m not paying anything near $500 for a pair of Adidas.

After trying them on, I came to the conclusion that:

1. They’re not comfortable. It’s an original silhouette, but the sole isn’t my cup of tea — and definitely not meant for long walks, which is my favourite thing to do in any outfit. These are event shoes. You pull up, flash them, and leave.

2. The tongue is lacklustre. It’s bare, with just the Adidas logo up top. I get that the sequins are the main event, but don’t leave the rest of the shoe hanging out to dry. It could’ve used an additional bit of flair.

Sequins are cool — and these will absolutely be one of the most photographed summer shoes; popping up in street style collections from Vogue, or whatever publication you read. But it’s a temporary shoe. One you’ll wear for a season, then end up contemplating whether to sell it for a pair of Tokyos — not as flashy, but can be worn everyday and for any occasion. Except funerals, maybe.

They got me in the first half, but I’m glad I didn’t fall for the hype and waited to see them in person before making any rash decisions. Sorry, Satan.

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Thanks for reading!

I appreciate your support as I work to grow this newsletter into something bigger — a full publication with interviews, collection coverage, and maybe working with larger publications.

Please like, subscribe, and share this publication if you’ve enjoyed this post.

- Chris