Tag: TOJ

Above TOJ1 Varsity Jacket in the “Jason Bourne” Colorway

Varsity jackets, aka letterman jackets, are a classic wardrobe staple that underwent a strong resurgence in 2008. While traditionally worn by students to represent one’s school and/or team, it is not uncommon to to see various interpretations being offered by labels such as Visvim, Balenciaga, Junya Watanabe, Number (N)ine, and A.P.C. to name a few. Up until this point, the only letterman jackets available for purchase to consumers were either vintage or commissioned to be produced in bulk (Skookum aka Centralia Knitting Mills being one such company); either route usually resulted in a boxy fitting piece with awkward proportions and standard materials. This particular piece resulted from an individual’s effort to fulfill a demand among superfuture members for a high-quality letterman jacket that was also slim fitting and reasonably priced. Although initially started for a small group of members, it quickly caught on and to this day is still one of his most demanded pieces.

More after the jump

Our sense of style is rarely stagnant; I love that as we evolve and change as people, our wardrobes quickly follow. Since I’ve met Charly he has added many pieces that compliment his lifestyle and changing physique. While fashion is often focused on the concept of an “ideal” physique it is more inspiring for me to see people who are comfortable in their clothes. Rick Owens once said “Working out is modern couture”. Perhaps the larger lesson from that statement is that clothes shouldn’t dictate your lifestyle, your lifestyle should dictate the clothes you choose. Some of you may be familar with Charly from his role as community manager with TOJ (purveyors of fine leather jackets) but this feature should provide you plenty more insight into his personal style.

Look 1
Rick Owens Intarsia mid-collar leather jacket
Rick Owens sweat pants
Custom made T-Shirt
Ann Demeulemeester combat boots

When did you begin caring about clothes and how has your style evolved since then?

The first time I began caring about clothes was in middle school when I got my first pair of Jordans and then Timberlands during my high school year in Philadelphia. This evolved into brands like Akademiks and Enyce paired with a throwback and a pair of AF1’s on my feet. Then in college, I got my first glimpse into some quality clothing by being introduced to Japanese raw denim. Since then, my style has just been whatever I feel comfortable in and silhouette that I want to achieve.

Look 2
Rick Owens Intarsia mid-collar black leather jacket
Custom made T-shirt
Rick Owens DRKSHDW combo sweat pants
Rick Owens Ankle Boots

Explain how you first got into weight lifting and how it has impacted the way you shop for clothes.

Coming into my junior year of high school, I was 5’11” and whopping 120-125 pounds of skin and bones. I didn’t like the way I looked and wanted to change my physique, so like most boys my age, I started to do a bit of lifting – nothing serious. Then as I got into college, my lifting intensified. By then it was part of my lifestyle instead of a chore, but I still had no clear path for the lifting. It did affect the way I shopped for clothing because my arms, legs, and butt would not fit into some of the skinnier pieces I wanted to wear. However, I kept that in mind and made sure I stayed a certain weight (170-175) so I could still fit into a lot of the clothing I liked. About 2 years ago, I got hooked onto powerlifting and that’s when my outlook on training and clothing changed. I realized that powerlifting made me happier than any piece of clothing would. Since then my training has took priority to fitting into clothing.

Much more after the jump, click through.

Coveted: TOJ1 Varsity Jacket

Style Profile: Charly