House slippers are the new sneakers
+ what's dropping this month, and why we're wearing pants made for kitchen cooks.
Sprezza is a new kind of newsletter exploring men’s style.
We talk about independent menswear, WTF style means, cover drops, review products, and the business of retail.
Marc Nolan’s spring collection
A quick note on last week’s Dirty Ivy drop
Thanks to everyone who bought stuff on Dirty Ivy last week! Your orders are going out this week and there are a few pieces left.
Part of sales go towards helping Ukrainian families in need, so would love any support if you see something you dig!
All remaining products are on sale from the original prices, so help me find these dope pieces a new home :)
The rise of house slippers
I’ve been seeing more and more brands designing cozy house slippers recently.
Yeah, sure, it’s no secret that the residual effects of COVID have created an uptick in comfy loungewear for the home. But there’s more to it. We aren’t just seeing slippers anymore, we’re getting this strange mix of boot, slipper, and mule (sometimes all in one). It’s more than Netflix lounge-worthy, it’s functional too. In fact, there seems to be some influence coming from outdoor and Gorpcore genres as well.
One brand arguably getting the most airtime is The North Face.
Even Kendall Jenner has been seen rocking them.
Another is UGG. And if there’s a brand that deserves recognition for owning this aesthetic despite all the years of ugly-ass (comfy, albeit) shoes they’ve made, it’s them. My wife recently copped a pair of the Tasman slippers even though I urged her not to. And you know what, I was wrong! They turned out to look very dope.
I never thought I’d be saying this, but UGG has actually made some slippers I’d cop.
Here are a few other noteworthy brands making a splash in this market.
Keen
This is a brand I discovered from influencer + photographer Matthew Spade who’s based in the UK. He’s had an ongoing partnership with Keen for a while and consistently rocks their house slippers and more outdoor functional ones too.
Suicoke
Japanese brand Suicoke is another great one. Traditionally known for their sandals, Suicoke is blowing up right now and is stocked by great retailers like Bodega and SSENSE. This is a more premium option as well. These “shloeppers” run for about $235 and their sandals cost $270. Still look like you could do some damage in them!
L.L. Bean
And then we got L.L. Bean’s wool clog-like slippers with the rubber sole, which looks super durable too. These aren’t fashionable by any means, but they do look snuggly!
Are we about to look like line cooks?!
Service Works is a new-ish brand launched in 2020, and I have to say, I’ve never wanted to wear pants made for line cooks until now. Everything about this is just lit. Sure, functional baggie has been in for a while now, whether it’s Dickies, Carhartt, or Gramicci.
But I like the narrative around these trousers. They’re well-priced, functional, they have a great flow and taper to them, and SW offers a nice range of colors too.
Notable drops in March
March 10: Supreme x Burberry
March 10: Palmes Tennis Society — spring collection
March 18: PSG is opening a NYC flagship on 5th Avenue
Editor’s note: It’s a fascinating move by both brands (PSG x Jordan) to further position themselves in the luxury market. Jordan has already had a wildly successful foray into football with PSG, and they’re going to iterate on that. As of this year, their exclusive rights deal with the French club is done, meaning Jordan will have the opportunity to sponsor other kits with clubs like AC Milan, Barcelona, or Liverpool.
March 25: Bodega x HOKA
Next time we discuss
The problem with KITH and logo-slapping
The founder of Rapha and Tracksmith is taking on futbol next
GUCCADIDAS Gazelles
+ more!
Think the slipper revolution was driven by remote work and the pandemic?
The slippers are sold by LL Bean but they're made by a Danish brand called Glerups. They're cozy (and i'm rocking a pair right now)!