Retail Therapy 077: Merch, Jazz Bros, and Luggage Wealth
Plus cigarette cases, tzatzikitinis, and more.
Listen to Retail Therapy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube (see above), and anywhere else podcasts are found.
A very sincere welcome to the first listener digest on the Retail Therapy newsletter. If you’ve migrated over from Sunday Scaries, welcome. If you subscribed via a recent episode, we appreciate you finding us. If you have no idea why you’re here, that’s okay!
In or Out: Merch (It depends who you talk to.)
A recent article from GQ titled “The End of Merch” inspired quite a lengthy discussion between Barrett and I that really revolved around one question: Do we buy into what the article is actually saying?
Here’s a (small) tidbit of what it said:
The rise and fall of trends is a predictable cycle. Early adopters get a style popping, and by the time it has trickled down to the masses those on the bleeding edge of cool have long since moved on. Merch had a long, steady rise. It was cheap, plentiful, and often incredibly compelling. The low barrier to entry—all you needed to make your own line of tees was Photoshop and a screen-printing plug—meant there was always a new wave of exciting original graphic design, as well as a constant stream of new iterations of an increasingly gonzo aesthetic.
But the decline of merch was extraordinarily swift. By the time pandemic restrictions were all but a memory, we reentered the world with a specific kind of anxiety. In an increasingly chaotic cultural landscape, our merch was ourselves, how we fixed the boundaries of our identity. But at a certain point it felt like our niche combination of interests, or at least the heavily stylized graphic garments that advertised them, was simply one big trend that had gone way too far.
While the article was an enjoyable jaunt down a road of the past (hi yeezus merch), I did think it undercut some of the very real reasons merch exists: to help those with limited resources to profit off things they pour their time into.
It is worth the full read if the topic tickles your fancy, however.
Aime Leon Luggage
$2,300 for luggage? In this economy?
Rimowa’s luggage collaboration with Aime Leon Dore officially hit everyone’s inboxes throughout last week. The luggage has beautiful lines, a very ALD-feeling palate, and details that will make you beg for people to ask you about them at baggage claim.
What does luggage symbolize? Can you justify buying this if you’re not already flying first class all the time? Are the normal Rimowa suitcases actually better looking than these? We tried to answer those questions and more.
The Jazz Bros are rising (and we may be okay with it)
You could argue bros ruin everything and I’d probably agree with that notion. After all, I too exhibit bro-y qualities. But the bro-iest of bro-y qualities is pretending you know way more about subjects than you actually do. It’s a hubris play.
Well, apparently there are fears in the world that they’re coming for jazz.
Via Nylon:
Jazz bros are not to be confused with jazz fans, or the people who have been going to Village Vanguard, Blue Note, or Birdland for years. The jazz bro is here for the vibes more than the music. He’s smart, calculating even, in painting himself as a mysterious and intellectual outlier, either to those he matches with on dating apps or to the general social scene. In reality, though, he spends more time planning the Instagram post from a night at Bemelmans or Ornithology in Bushwick than actually checking out the quartet playing. Ironically, it can be harder to ID a jazz bro in a dark club, but elsewhere, he’ll gladly tell you all about the nuances of “Take The A Train.” (A good case study can be found in the below Sex and the City episode: Big is clearly considering adapting the jazz-bro lifestyle — and is even more annoying because of it. Meanwhile, Ray King, though also annoying, can’t be considered a jazz bro because he can actually play and owns the bar, even if he takes jazz way too seriously.)
As an avid jazz listener for years, I will actually (and hesitantly) welcome the bros to the world of jazz. It’s under-appreciated, it’s enjoyable, and it could use some more community support in a lot of cases. Let’s split an Uber to the jazz club, first round of Americanos on me. We can all get matching cigarette cases.
Here’s your jazz recommendation to dip your toe in:
Are we doing tzatzikitinis?
Please no.
While I could go on about over-food’ing our cocktails, we did a lot of that in this week’s episode (and I also did it on Washed Weekly this week).
Articles of Interest
Paul Mescal / Daisy Edgar Jones teasing something new — Link
Also he’s just in London with Natalie Portman? — Link
Where do we stand on jean sweatpants? — Link
Of course, we closed things out with our wishlists and imminent cops.
For 2024, we’ve hit the reset button on our wishlists and made them a bit more digestible for the year ahead. To access the complete version of our 2022 and 2023 wishlists, look no further than our final Listener Digest of 2022 and our final Listener Digest of 2023.
Will’s Wishlist (2024)
RRL Officer Khakis ($241.50 on sale) — Link
Abercrombie Workwear Pants ($68) — Link
Nike ACG Russet Moc ($100) — Link
Soho Home Nadine Rug ($1,016) — Link
Acqua di Parma Colonia C.L.U.B. Eau de Cologne ($150) — Link
Drake’s Swim Shorts ($145 on sale) — Link
Dark Brown Belgians ($675) — Link
LL Bean Field Coat (price unknown) — Link
A&F All Day Shorts ($60) — Link
Vintage Duck Camo Pants ($225) — Link
Boy Smells x Kacey Musgraves Deeper Well Candle ($56) — Link
Kavu Organic Strapcap ($40) — Link
Predator Mundial 2024 ($120) — Link
Every Other Thursday Hat ($44) — Link
Kermit Oak Foldable Chair ($300) — Link
Block Crochet Knit S/S Shirt Navy ($450) — Link
Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NRG ($190) — Link
Vintage Patagonia Stand-Up Shorts on eBay ($25-$60)
New: Drake’s Soleil Graphic Tee ($145) — Link
Barrett’s Wishlist (2024)
Margaret Howell Fireman Trousers ($495 Retail / $371.25 Sale) — Link
Vass Shoes Black Leather Cap Toe Oxfords (€417) — Link
Uniqlo Down Parkas ($40-$150) — Link
Montblanc Meisterstück Stainless Steel & Black Onyx Cufflinks ($280) — Link
Second/Layer Pico Blazer & Trousers ($340 on sale) — Link
Lululemon Soft Jersey Short 5” ($68) — Link
Abercrombie & Fitch “Handcrafted” 3-Button Polo ($90 on sale for $72) — Link
Bode x Nike Sneakers ($150) — Link
JJJJound Sambas ($250) — Link
Post O’Alls x Bagsinprogress Beach Bag — Link
Toga x PORTER Nylon Backpack ($1,135) — Link
Sacai x Carhartt WIP Cotton-Canvas Shorts ($470) — Link
Guest in Residence “Breezy” Sweater ($395) — Link
Noah Slouchy Sock ($22) — Link
Garrett Leight “Webster” Sunglasses ($249) — Link
New: Buzz Rickson Type CWU-9/P 1960’S Jacket Liner ($355) — Link
New: Prada Woven Shopping Tote ($2,050) — Link
(Madewell ($80.50) — Link)
Listen to Retail Therapy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube (see above), and anywhere else podcasts are found.
Merch is the one thing I allow myself to always spend on-it’s an easy way to support smaller bands/artists I love consistently.
Will, if you haven't copped a rug yet, the Soho Home one you want is on sale!