From Khelan Bhatia. Follow Khelan on Twitter @KhelanB or email him at khelan[AT]borderstan.com.
Happy Spring, Borderstanis! My seasonal resolution (rather than creating one for New Year’s which is sooooo dated) is to be a little more frequent with my columns.
What can I say? I miss you guys!
Naked & Famous jeans by khelan on polyvore.com. Click for more images.
Since the season that brings about cherry blossoms and tourists that lack self-awareness is upon us, I’ve decided do a little spring cleaning. Starting with my closet. Specifically, my jeans.
My friends have often referred to me as a denim aficionado…okay, addict is probably the more accurate term. And I’m beginning to come to the conclusion that they…well…may have a point.
So, I did a serious inventory of what’s actually in my Elfa-built drawers in my closet. And it was less a sprucing as much as it was a trip down memory lane. (I mean, did I really buy that many pairs of boot-cut jeans?!)
Thankfully, nostalgia quickly was put aside for unsentimental pragmatism as I was debating whether to keep or chuck a pair of Rock & Republics from 2007. If I haven’t worn you outside in the past year, off to Goodwill you go.
In post-purge cathartic glow, I decided to reward myself. With what you ask? Why…another pair of jeans of course! (Yes, I’m aware of my ridiculousness).
But I couldn’t just purchase any run-of-the mill pair, especially as the weather is getting warmer. I wanted a pair that I could wear in the warm summer months, which will be here before I finish writing this piece.
Turns out I was in luck. I made a quick trip to my favorite boutique in Borderstan, Rue 14 at 14th and S Streets NW, where I found this fab pair from Naked & Famous, the fine purveyors of rare, high-quality Japanese denim.
The lightweight Painter Denim, which is part of their Weird Guy line (I know what you’re thinking, and you can just shut it!), weighs only 5 oz, making it the lightest pair of jeans I’ve ever owned. While they’re cut like low-rise, tapered-leg denim, they feel more like pajama bottoms. If there ever was a venn diagram for form and function, these bad boys would feel right at home in the middle.
That’s it for me this time. Talk to you soon!
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Khelan Bhatia writes about style for Borderstan. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Khelan Bhatia. You can follow Khelan on Twitter @KhelanB. He lives in the U Street area and writes about style for Borderstan.
Hi there, Borderstanis. It’s been a long two weeks. And yes, I’ve missed you too.
In a recent conversation with my friend and former colleague Lisa on topics ranging from office gossip to the unfortunate fashion disasters, Lisa mentioned a mutual friend and fellow office worker, a character notoriously known for his stench.
Stench, not in a bad way — but in a really overwhelming, “what cologne did he reek of and how many feet away was he from you when you smelled him?”
After our laughter (and unmistakable bitchiness) subsided, she suggested I write a column about the proper and more subtle way to wear eau de toilette.
Cologne: Since we’re heading into warmer months, I’d recommend a lighter, more citrusy scent.
So, thank you former colleague and office mate for the inspiration. I had wrongfully assumed that, like learning how to shave and how to tie a basic four-in-hand knot for neckties, part of the essential father-son education was how to use cologne so you’re not offending people in a three to seven foot radius. Guess not. I suppose the cliche is true: an assumption is the mother of all f*ck-ups. (And it was Mother’s Day two days ago, after all).
Khelan Bhatia: The basics of buying a trench coat or jacket for spring weather in D.C.
From Khelan Bhatia. You can follow Khelan on Twitter @KhelanB. He lives in the U Street area and writes about style for Borderstan.
Hey there, Borderstanis. Hope you’re having a lovely week. I don’t know about you, but I am completely over winter. The only things getting me through these last few miserable weeks are visions of beach weekends, short-sleeve button-downs, denim shorts and Havianas.
Of course, before we even get to that point, we have to endure eight or so weeks of the awkward period I like to call “Springtime in the District.” Not warm enough for t-shirts and short-sleeves; not nearly cold enough for wool sweaters, top coats and heavy parkas. It’s basically the Twilight Zone of seasons. With rain. Copious amounts of rain. And tourists… ugh.
Dealing with people who’ve never used public transportation (or, apparently, walked on a sidewalk for that matter) in their lives is a chore. Finding outerwear for spring shouldn’t be. Let’s start with the basics, shall we?
