Nigel Cabourn Spring/Summer '11

Nigel Cabourn S/S '11

Take a look at Tenue de Nimes's coverage of Nigel Cabourn Spring/Summer '11 collection  

Outerwear Kit: Naval Jacket from Army/Navy Store

Naval Jacket

Starting with the basic shirt, sweater, tie combination; I decided to put a few kits together for the fall highlighting my favorite outerwear pieces. Sixth: Naval Jacket from the Army/Navy Store

Army/Navy Find: Navy Jacket

Naval Jacket $12.50

Following a great lunch with Joe Gannon a few weeks ago, we walked a few blocks to the Army/Navy Store to see if we could score some bargains.  Right away, Joe spotted a pile of jackets by the door with the killer price of $15 each. And after a little convincing and a little bargaining, I walked away with this great jacket for $12.50

Navy's Golden Thirteen

(seated in front row, left-to-right):Ensign George C. Cooper, USNR;Ensign Graham E. Martin, USNR;Ensign Jesse W. Arbor, USNR; Ensign John W. Reagan, USNR; Ensign Reginald E. Goodwin, USNR; (standing in back row, left-to-right): Ensign Dennis D. Nelson, USNR;Ensign Phillip G. Barnes, USNR; Ensign Samuel E. Barnes, USNR; Ensign Dalton L. Baugh, USNR;Ensign James E. Hare, USNR; Ensign Frank E. Sublett, USNR; Warrant Boatswain Charles B. Lear, USNR.

In January 1944 sixteen black enlisted men gathered at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois to begin a cram course that would turn them into the U.S. Navy's first African-American officers on active duty. The men believed they could set back the course of racial justice if they failed and banded together so all would succeed. Despite the demanding pace, all sixteen passed the course. Twelve were commissioned as ensigns and a thirteenth was made a warrant officer. Years later these pioneers came to be known as the Golden Thirteen, but at the outset they were treated more as pariahs than pioneers. Often denied the privileges and respect routinely accorded white naval officers, they were given menial assignments unworthy of their abilities and training. Yet despite this discrimination, these inspirational young men broke new ground and opened the door for generations to come.

Their story is retold in Paul Stillwell's book, "The Golden Thirteen."

Navy-ism

Back in March of 2008, ACL (one of my daily reads), scanned a few pages of his favorite Japanese magazine Free & Easy and I stumbled upon them this past weekend. This issued covered everything U.S. Navy and was aptly named Navy-ism. Free & Easy had a follow up issue to Navy-ism called Cadet Style, which appears to examine military style from a college and academy perspective. Check out Mister Freedom's Navy inspired apparel at Self Edge.

The Pea Coat

Schott's Navy Pea Coat

As seen in earlier this month in Valet and GQ, the Pea Coat should be a stable in any man's wardrobe and I would totally agree with that statement. I've been eyeing J.Crew's Pea Coat for some time now but my new found love of American Made Products compels me to take a hard look at Schott's Pea Coat. Schott's history and description of the coat reads like a Edmund Morris novel and if the specifications for a great coat is good enough for the US Navy than its good enough for me.

Click here for The Selvedge Yard's tribute to the Navy.

U.S. Navy Jacket

J.Crew U.S. Navy Jacket

If you know me well enough, then you know that I am obsessed with all things Navy. I almost went to the Naval Academy out of high school and I always come home with some sort of Navy gear when we drive down to Annapolis. Well, maybe one day I can score the cool U.S. Navy Jacket from J.Crew's Men Store.