Card-Again! A sweater favorite makes its triumphant return

If you've been hanging around the BONOBOS website - or the Land of Make Believe - you already know that wearing a cardigan sweater is a really simple way to achieve an incredibly sharp look. But far from being a conservative keepsake for neighborly PBS stars, the cardigan is actually quite the style item, and versatile at that. Pair it with a graphic tee or a light flannel for a touch of the hip; throw it over a really slick sport shirt for something a little more classy. And, of course, you can always put it on top of an Oxford and a classic blue tie for that buttoned-up Fred McFeely look if you so choose (and yes, McFeely is Mr. Roger's middle name - who knew?).

As for BONOBOS, we've got a few cardigans of our own, and thanks to the wonders of the (re)supply chain, our much beloved Calling Card sweaters are back in stock. In addition to those old favorites, we're also singing a whole new tune (a sea shanty, naturally) with our maritime-inspired shawl collar cardigan the Ahab. And best of all, we're talking cotton here, so not only are they washable, they're also light enough to take you from winter well into spring. 

So if you're in the market for a winning sweater that will be in the wardrobe rotation until May, take a gander. And if you think you can't party hard in a cardigan, well, Fred McFeely begs to differ. 

Oot and A-boot: How to care for your footwear in the Northern winter

To those of you fortunate enough to live in a place resplendent with palm trees, gentle breezes, and endless summers, please feel free to ignore this post, do a cannonball into the pool, and remain the object of our burning envy. But for those amongst us who inhabit a harsher and more northern clime, the toll foul weather can take on shoe leather is an everyday fact of life. Is there nothing we can do? Indeed there is.

For starters - how ought one protect those brogans from sleet, slush, and salt? There are a few options, depending on just how nasty you want to get. For a basic level of protection that won't affect the appearance of your leather shoes or boots, you may want to consider a silicone spray for protection and/or weatherproofing. A couple quick coats, and if your footwear isn't waterproof, it will at least have a coating of protection to keep out the damp. If you're planning something a little more drastic and Iditarod-esque, you may want to graduate up to mink oil, or a wax-based product like Sno-Seal. The plus-side of these creams and waxes is that they will do a great job of both protecting and conditioning your leather. The downside is that they almost certainly will darken the leather and make it more pliant, ultimately changing the appearance of your footwear, even if just slightly. If you want to give mink oil or wax cream a try, do a test patch first to see how much it alters the color.

Now, for treatment. What can one do when the salt and water stains have already set? Cry, sure, down a whole bowl of clam chowder, why not, but there is a solution . . . and a vinegary one at that. Try mixing a solution of 3 parts white vinegar (save the malt for the fish and chips) and 1 part water, and use a clean rag to get at those stains. More often than not, the stain will vanish faster than those dang Canada geese, which by now are no doubt down south, partying it up with our warm-weather friends someplace with a name like Coral Springs or Palm Gables . . . like we said, burning envy.

So best of luck, see what works, and if all else fails, you can always go galoshes - Bonobos carries a few pairs by SWIMS that are as stylish as they are waterproof. Cheers!

Guess the #SecretCode

 

'Tis the season once again, for eggnog, good cheer, gratuitous gifting, and . . . Twitter trivia? Hey, why not. Because somebody's got to remember the name of all Santa's magic flying caribou, and we all need to be reminded now and then that dreidles spin counterclockwise in the the southern hemisphere. So starting Tuesday, December 13th, and going through Saturday, December 17th, Bonobos will be tweeting out clues to secret promo codes good for up to 60% off. We'll tweet a clue or trivia question each day at 10am ET. As each day passes, the clues will get progressively harder - just like the GRE, but with awesome discounts, or Jeopardy, but with a far less grinchy Trebek. Capisce? Good. Because that's the name of Babbo Natale's magical Christmas toboggan. Oops, there goes question 1! Just kidding. Here's what the #SecretCode's will be good for:

• Tuesday, December 13th: $10 off $50 (60 code uses)
• Wednesday, December 14th: $25 off $75 (50 code uses)
• Thursday, December 15th: $40 off $100 (40 code uses)
• Friday, December 16th: $75 off $150 (20 code uses)
• Saturday, December 17th: $120 off $200 (10 code uses)

There will be only 1 clue and 1 code per day, and each code will be valid that day until midnight, only on Bonobos-branded merchandise. We'll tweet a second clue later in the day if our followers haven't gotten the code. We'll also alert our Twitter followers when the number of uses for that day's code is done.

Seasonally and Trivially Yours,

Bonobos

An apology from Andy Dunn, CEO of Bonobos

We owe you a big apology for the website problems we've had resulting from our Cyber Monday sale. Due to a spike in traffic that exceeded even our highest expectations, we were not able to provide the world-class customer experience that we aim for and that you deserve. We let you down, and we know it. I cannot express how sorry I am to all those who were inconvenienced in any way by our shortcomings.

Please rest assured that we have been sprinting to address these issues, and our team's response to this crisis gives me great confidence in our ability to serve you. While Bonobos.com is now back up and running, we may not be out of the woods yet. More challenges may lie ahead and we are rapidly building our team and our infrastructure to support the growth. In the meantime, we welcome you to continue to hold us to the highest possible standard.

We are committed to making sure everyone who wanted to shop our original Cyber Monday sale gets that chance. We are re-launching our sale to all of you, and we will give you a twelve-hour warning before we turn it off.

I'd like to express my profound sense of gratitude to you. We feel grateful and lucky to have such outstanding customers. You have been candid. Your feedback has been deserved and appreciated. We are thankful for your full confidence to make this right. Your belief, challenge, and loyalty inspire us to build the company you deserve. You are truly the foundation of Bonobos.

Andy Dunn
CEO & Co-Founder of BONOBOS

Burkman Bros & Bonobos: A Perfect Combo

If you've read the GQ blog as of late (take a look at GQ.com), you may have noticed that our Burkman Bros & Bonobos collection is getting some pretty exciting cyber-ink. And you may be wondering what that's all about. So here's the proverbial scoop - and we couldn't be more thrilled with the results:

Doug and Ben Burkman knew from an early age that they would do something great with men’s clothing; Bonobos knew early on that Burkman Bros was a company we wanted to work with. Taking inspiration from their far-flung travels and applying it to menswear classics, Burkman Bros designs uniquely attractive clothing with an easy, comfortable appeal, in stunning patterns and fabrics best beheld with the eye and felt between the fingers. Naturally, when the opportunity arose to partner with such visionary talent, we took it. And now we are thrilled to present the fruits of our collaboration in the new Burkman Bros & Bonobos collection, beautiful, imaginative items crafted with care to be utterly and exquisitely unique.

From the gorgeous Faire Isle knits of the Sheltie sweater, to the versatility and handsomeness of the Gulliver shawl collar cardigan, to the glowing hues of the Highland Plaid shirts, the Burkman Bros & Bonobos collection is a seasonal stand out, and a shining example of what can go right when two fun brands put their heads together. To learn more about Burkman Bros, take a visit to burkmanbros.com. 

And to look sharp as a tack this holiday season, we suggest Burkman Bros & Bonobos.

Denim - it's almost here.

As it pertains to Bonobos Denim, there’s good news, and then there’s even better news. The good news is that although our list for “early access” filled up very quickly due to incredible demand, we will likely be opening up additional spots during the early access period. We will also still notify all those who provide their email the moment when Bonobos Denim launches "officially" – so don’t be shy about checking out the new denim site and signing up. 

And the better news? Bonobos Denim will be available for sale soon! But in the meantime, feel free to peruse the link and watch the video, just to get a feel for what’s in store.

 www.bonobos.com/denim

On Par for Paisley with Cool Material

Can it be? A pair of paisley chino pants so awesome as to transcend lexicon? Well, even the awesomest trousers merit a moniker, and transcendental paisley pants are no exception. Which is why Bonobos paired up with one of our favorite blogs, Cool Material, to host a naming contest for our newest and most resplendent pair of one-of-a-kind Bonobos chinos, with a $500 Bonobos grand prize at stake. And if you’ve been following Cool Material – the finest arbiters of all things cool we know of – you are aware of what a dramatic contest of naming prowess it has been. Because frankly, there were truly some spectacular entries, from “Patrick Swaisley” suggested by Brian, to the “Don’t Paise Me Bro,” proffered by Brad. Ultimately, however, the $500 Bonobos gift certificate will have to go to Jeremy for his “Handkerchinos,” a nod to the classic paisley handkerchief patterns of our youth. As for our 10 runner-ups, they will be receiving $100 in Bonobos store credit. Thanks to all who participated, and to Cool Material for helping to make this paisley party possible, and for keeping us abreast of everything cool coming down the pipe.

Winner:

Handkerchinos by Jeremy

Runner-Ups:

Patrick Swaisley by Brian

Don’t Paise Me Bro by Brad

Paised and Enthused by David

Hankie-Leg by Kel

Bandino Chino by Caleb

Cut & Paisley by Daniel

Seize the Daisley by Dan

Grandana by Lang

Drape Snakes by Gus

Paisley Pandelbrots by Ken

Bonobos on the High Seas

Daniella Zalcman for The Wall Street Journal

Ship ahoy! Land ho! All hands on deck! And other such maritime jargon was shouted this past Monday, when Bonobos hosted an intimate shindig for editors and friends aboard the 83-foot Black Knight, an exceedingly seaworthy vessel that stewarded the party about the waterways of New York on a delightful evening cruise. The event served as an opportunity to catch up and share champagne while discussing some of the awesome new Bonobos lines launching in the near future, including (and we can barely contain our excitement, it’s that amazing) our Bonobos denim, which should be docking into port come November.

We would like to thank our wonderful guests for attending, the owners and crew of the Black Knight for treating us all so well, and our own Bonobos staff for doing such a great job . . . and for not recreating the tragic events of the ill-fated Bonobos booze cruise of ‘08. There’s a time and a place for glass-bottom boats, and an altogether different one for semi-nude Marco Polo in scuba gear.

Marco! Polo!

Ok, enough with the maritime jargon. 

Check out what a few of our friends said about the event:

Wall Street Journal

Esquire 

GQ 

Viva La Revolución . . . de Corduroy!

So what is corduroy, anyway? Great question. For technical purposes, corduroy is a soft, velvety cotton woven textile interrupted with regular ribs or "races", resulting in raised pile ridges that lie parallel to one another forming wales. For practical ones, corduroy is an absurdly comfortable, warm and versatile fabric that goes darn near anywhere with darn near anything, from work to weekend. Not a bad staple for the old wardrobe, if you catch our drift, especially with the arrival of autumn – warm afternoons and cool evenings mean you’re going to need something midweight and wearable, in seasonal tones if at all possible.

So how can we help? Another good question – man, you’re on fire. Well, what if we were to tell you that Bonobos recently came out with three new midweight cords this season? What if we were to mention that we added a hint of stretch to the fabric for comfort and durability, but with that same luxurious softness that makes corduroy so great? What if it was made known that these bad boys are coming to you in a dark khaki, a chocolate brown, and a smoky grey complemented by some pretty rockin’ liners, and in both a sleek straight leg and Bonobos original boot cut? What if there was just enough magic in the September moonlight to conjure five new pairs of fall-ready corduroy pants that would instantly take control of your wardrobe and lead it in a revolution of comfort and style? Friends, this fall, we’d all better hail to the cords . . . because these pants mean business. 

Introducing the Cordquistadors: El Khakitan, the Lead Honchos, the Café Olés, the Panta Marias, the Yucapants, and El Morado – viva la revolución . . . de corduroy!

Packing Light & Living Fast

When Inc. wrote a piece about my travel tips, my sister called me and the hysterics began. As someone who prides himself on packing light, I’ve been know to make emergency trips to CVS after midnight to buy t-shirts, pajama pants, contact lens solution and shaving cream.

(CVS makes a mean Irish plaid in bedtime bottoms. I am not kidding. Although the waistline on those suckers make mom jeans look sexy. Who says your local drugstore can’t be a fashion hub in a pinch? Throw in your Chicago Bears coozy and you can roll to Stanley’s in your handsome jammies.)

After years of such drugstore runs for whatever I forgot on my mission to travel lean and mean, you might imagine my sister had some fun mocking my newfound status as a travel adviser with any level of authority whatsoever.

Touché, dear Monica, touché.

Packing light and living fast is going to lead to some collateral damage, no doubt.

Click to read more ...

Long-Distance Customer Relations

Problem: Our friend/customer Will wanted to have a beer with the Ninjas, but he lives in Nashville.

Solution: Buy a 6-pack, take one for yourself, and send us the resulting 5-pack.  

The black belt level touch on this is sending a local Nashville beer from Yazoo Brewery that a few of us love but can't get when we're in NYC.

The Examined Lifestyle: Collar Popping

"I can't even believe we're arguing if popping a collar is okay. We live in a post-Jersey-Shore society these days."

-Michael, occasional Ninja and Postmodern Gentleman, in response to the "Is collar popping cool?" debate.

The rest of the Ninjas are divided on this one. Read more on Esquire's Blogger Showdown.

Thoughts?

Everybody's Working on the Weekend

Ninjas taking a well-deserved Shake Shack break from Sunday's QA session. via @johnbonobos

Madison Square Park, NYC.

Clipped #4

Proud to be a North American

U.S.Eh! U.S.Eh!

Bonobos HQ, NYC.