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Frye Celebrates 150 Years

By Cator Sparks Dec 21, 2019 6:24 PM

Frye boots have always been in the American vernacular when discussing the working man’s boot. Well, since March 10, 1863 that is. That’s when John Frye opened his shop on Elm Street in Marlboro, Massachusetts. The shoes were developed to ease the daily grind of hundreds of local factory workers and became a staple for laborers. When the homesteading adventures began out West, many men rode out in their Frye boots, which brought the company nation wide attention.

Each generation of Frye contributed to the company, rolling out footwear they saw a need for. Frye’s Harness boot came about way back then, inspired by the American Calvary and is still one of the most popular boots the company offers. It has a near cult fashion following.

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In 1930 Frye’s grandson was in D.C. and met a U.S. Navy Admiral who couldn’t find a Wellington that suited him. Frye made a pair for him and continued making them through WWII.

These stories and many more can be found in the new book, Frye: The Boots that Made History, 150 years of Craftsmanship coming out October 22. The book is full of amazing ye ole pictures of the family (those Raccoon coats!), the factory and even a newspaper clipping of First Lady Jackie Kennedy and her Frye riding boots. There are also excellent images of the factory through the ages and advertisements that would make Don Drapper jealous as well as a fair share of scantily clad actresses bounding and bending in their boots.

While you are immersed in all things Frye, be sure to check out the 150th Anniversary collection on their site. We have our heart set on those Engineer boots for weekends in the country. Santa are you listening.

Fashion & Style

The best casual watches for men (to upgrade your everyday style)

Work wear blues watch close up

Watches are more than a tool. They are more than an accessory. They are the kind of tool and accessory that make a statement. They are an expression. They are a statement. A man can look incredible: the right top, the right bottom, great shoes, great hat. The wrong watch can ruin a look, or even the whole essence. Here is the rub: the wrong watch can be subjective. For instance, most people will tell you that a Timex broken watch isn’t the right watch for a pinstripe power suit. However, it was my grandfather’s watch, and I wear it anytime I need him and his guidance. The point? That is never the wrong watch. Once you find a casual watch that works for you, it will be your everyday wear and will never be the wrong watch.

That is what I collected here: The best of the casual watches you can pick up today that will become your everyday wear.

Fashion & Style

Audemars Piguet launches pre-owned program to rival the titan of the second-hand watch market

Audemars Piguet

Rolex has dominated the watch world for nearly a century. The industry is a deep and complicated web of luxury houses and independent hopefuls. While brands like Patek Phillipe and Cartier vie for their place on the podium, Rolex holds a death grip on the chronophile’s aspirational collection checklist. But Audemars Piguet has decided to challenge them somewhere most other brands are deciding to ignore: the pre-owned market. Now, while something like the Royal Oak is an icon among enthusiasts, AP launching their own certified pre-owned marketplace to chase the reported $1 billion Rolex pie will certainly upset the market.

Like I said, it is a deep and complicated web, so I sat down with a horological expert and founder of WatchGuys, (317K on Instagram), Robertino Altieri, to have him walk me through what this means for watches and their passionate collectors.

Fashion & Style

Round two of Wrangler’s imogene + willie collab leans on America’s last big denim mill

Jeans, Pants, Belt

Wrangler and imogene + willie have released the second of three drops in their made-in-the-USA denim collaboration, and this one is built around fabric from America’s last large-scale denim mill.

Capsule No. 2 dropped Saturday, Oct. 24, and features Wrangler’s signature broken twill in jeans, jackets, and shirts. The fabric was developed with Mount Vernon Mills in Trion, Georgia, the last mill of its size still making denim in the US.