Hasta La Ideas

Premium basics built in California with the creative individual in mind

As a former graphic designer in the creative hub of San Francisco, Ryan Donahue watched as his wardrobe and those of his friends working in similar industries slowly shifted towards a more casual, yet refined taste. Consisting of a crisp T-shirt and perfectly worn denim, this “modern workwear uniform,”…

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Seven bright picks channel the coming season

With Spring dawning in half the world—including at CH HQ in NYC—we’ve been inspired to brighten up our warmer weather attire to the match the early blossoms. After searching for Spring-ready neckwear, we have gathered together a selection of ties and bow ties that best convey the renewed energy of the season.

Pierrepont Hicks

Using Thomas Mason’s coveted fabrics, the “Cameron Bow” ($62) accurately captures the ethos of spring and summer sun. Microcord cotton adds texture and natural striping to this New York-made accessory.

Monitaly

For a something cheerful but still subdued, this pastel striped tie ($58) hits all the right notes. Made by Monitaly, the cotton construction is cut for a slim silhouette and is casual enough to wear without a jacket.

Ernest Alexander

You can’t go wrong with a traditional rep tie. Ernest Alexander’s version ($72) uses micro-stripes to break up the green and blue dominance, and lines the silk exterior with a somewhat sturdier and more laid-back chambray.

Drake’s

Fit for the office and sunday brunch alike, this brightly hued royal twill tie (£95) is screen-printed by hand in England. The luxe brand’s simple polka dot design injects a sense of fun into a look that can still pass as conservative enough.

Shipley & Halmos

The “Artist Jacquard” ($98) from Shipley & Halmos balances the dominant pink with a navy that comes through in the furrows. Printed across the silk are renditions of a painter hard at work, for a thoughtful and humanizing little riff on the critter motif.

Etro

The bold hues of this knitted silk tie ($190) fall in line with the Italian brand’s trademark mastery of prints, but in a slightly unexpected form. The squared end stands out, and lines of tan anchor the colorful spectrum against a formal ensemble.

General Knot & Co.

Part schoolboy geek, part retro badass, this cotton check tie ($88) is made from vintage 1960s fabric. Plus, the ultra-limited run of 12 ties comes lined with a charming shamrock pattern on the underside.

Alexander Olch

Pink seersucker serves as the cornerstone to any spring tie collection. Hand-sewn from woven English cotton, the texture of Alexander Olch’s take ($140) softens the shirt-and-tie look with casual preppy spirit.

The many shades of Brazil’s more sustainable cotton movement

While most think of caipirinhas and Havianas when it comes to Brazil, you might not know that the country leads the environmental movement in several areas. Already home to a nation of flex-fuel cars and Osklen’s fish-skin shoes, a new fashion brand, Natural Cotton Color, has made their focus using the spectrum of cotton colors that exist naturally. If, like me, you thought cotton only came in white, you’ll be surprised to find out that there are 40 different natural colors of cotton.

Original varieties come in a range of colors: mocha, tan, gray, brown, black, mahogany, red, pink, blue, green, cream and white. Colored cotton has become obscure because shorter fiber lengths make it unsuitable for industrial milling, but it’s in fact more robust and sustainable than commercial white cotton, which requires an enormous amount of pesticides to keep it viable.

The cotton for Natural Cotton Color was developed with the support of the Brazilian Agro company. It eliminates the need for chemical dyes and uses 70% less water than conventional production. Grown on small farms to support local agriculture, the collection also uses accessories and needlework produced by local artisans from the poorer Northeast area of Brazil. Local prisoners also provide product for the collections; for every three days worked, their sentences are reduced by one day.

Retailers in Japan, Spain and France, as well as the U.K., stock the collections.

The ultimate hammock from the makers of the ultimate bed

Bringing their “floating on water” sensation to a classic hammock, fifth-generation mattress builders Hästens make a compelling argument for mellowing out this summer. Covered in iconic blue-and-white check fabric, the Hästens hammock is a re-release of a limited edition the esteemed Swedish brand produced in 2010, which sold out before ever reaching the U.S.

Like their built-to-order horse-hair mattresses, the bed experts make their cotton hammock using the “finest natural materials,” free of chemicals or toxins. Hästens claims their mattresses are “absolutely the best bed in the world” and we’re sure their hammock isn’t far off. The perfect place to chill out with a book as the weather warms up, the hammock sells from stateside Hästens stores for $284.

Building on their solid business model marrying modern-casual style with philanthropy (for every pair sold, they give a pair to a child in need), Toms Shoes recently rolled out some fetching new looks for summer.

The mostly nautical-inspired collection includes several altogether new styles, as well as updated spins on the well-worn classics. The first-ever Toms heel, an open-toed wedge, brings a dressier more feminine silhouette into the mix, available in three solid colors (black, yellow, and pale green) and stripes (navy, orange and red). Interpreting surf-inspired streetwear, the neon Scuba classic (pictured at top in orange and green) makes an on-trend choice.

Similarly, the men’s Bimini Stitchout, with its durable sole and back drawstring, handsomely riffs on the classic dock shoe (available in navy and washed-out white).

Just one season after being released, the popular lace-up Cordones gets three new faded plaid prints that look as if they’ve already endured several seasons on a sunny boat deck. (Pictured top.)

The men’s Bimini Stitchouts ($68) are currently available for purchase on the Toms site, while the wedges ($69), plaid Cousteau Cordones ($69), and Scuba classics ($48) come out at the end of this month.