The Material Review
Issue 059: Yak Wool, The Future of Dress Shirts, The Norwegian Rain Raincho, Windsor Knots, Remembering Garth Hudson from The Band and Our 2025 Reading List
Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.
The Next Big Style Brag for Men? ‘It’s Not Cashmere. It’s Yak.’
“Yak wool is menswear’s new luxe material—rarer and funnier to talk about than cashmere. But is it softer too? Our writer compares a pair of shirts.” [WSJ]
Will Dress Shirts Return to the Office?
“Dress shirts, like ties, have migrated from the center to the periphery of many white-collar workers’ wardrobes. But trends suggest that may change.” [NYT]
Hunting for a raincoat that’s both fashionable and functional?
“All her life Anna Murphy searched for the perfect raincoat — and then she found the Norwegian Rain Raincho” [The Times]
Make Windsor Knots Bad Again
“From Zuck to Bezos, the new technopolitical elite opted for James Bond’s least favorite necktie presentation at Trump’s inauguration. As our returning commander in chief might say, ‘Sad!’” [GQ]
Remembering Garth Hudson, the Man Who Transformed The Band
“The organist will be remembered for his signature style - erudite, but teasing.” [The New Yorker]
A shortlist of things we’ve got our eye on.
Barbour Spey Fishing Bedale Jacket
Sid Mashburn Hornback Crocodile Belt
The Observer Collection Seebag
Lady White Co. Municipal T-Shirt
Buck Mason Welterweight Double V Crew
2025 Reading List
Augustus
The Notebooks of Sonny Rollins
James
The Savage Detectives
Labyrinths
Mother Night
I like the addition of the reading list!
The Savage Detectives was one of my favorites in college. Been meaning to re-read, but in general I've found that Bolano holds up.