A few process shots from a double front denim the guys from Hartford made for me.

Curb Your Enthusiasm’s return last week reminds of a potentially polarizing truth – Larry David is a style icon. He’s mastered casual. He celebrates comfort over unnecessary layering. And, he proves that leisure has a distinct elegance.

He wears Simple Old School Sneakers.

I’ve been featured in this month’s issue of Tattoo Artist Magazine. While at SXSW promoting Homeward Bound, Oliver Peck inked me with some classic Sailor Jerry Flash. The new tattoos play a prominent roll in TAM’s coverage of the event.

An exciting moment in my life and a true honor.

My friend Adam Sills was the perfect wedding date…

Adam Sills is…THE PERFECT WEDDING DATE from Nate Houghteling on Vimeo.

… until he got married last weekend. Congratulations buddy!

Here are some of the great outfits from Aspen Fashion Week.  My favorite is the old dear in yellow sunglasses and an orange coat.

A highlight from Aspen Fashion Week.

A handsome dude, two cougars, and a guy wearing a shirt similar to that worn by the two cougars.

I maintain a horrible diet.

This, certainly, is a direct result of having lived in Philadelphia for the past three years. For two of those, I ate a cheesesteak special from George’s on 2nd three times a week. $5 for a cheesesteak, fries, and a budget brand soda. The meal balanced well with my efforts to cycle at minimum 10 miles a day. While my legs hardened my midsection soon housed the only non-drinkers beer belly in the world.

People from outside of Philly will always ask, “Where is the best cheesesteak?” They will also tell bland stories of having visited Pat’s or Geno’s. My short answer to the previous question begins with “not Pat’s, not Geno’s.” The long hits hits at a laundry list of elements that make a proper cheesesteak, and for the eater are more or less completely subjective. For example, while I like both the bread and the name at Chink’s (added bonus here, they serve ice cream), I’m partial to a chopped steak and as such wouldn’t rate the place as tops. The only time I’ve ever eaten at John’s Roast Pork was at 8am (coming off a flight home from Tampa) so the only ultimate drawn from that establishment is the level of my bad decision making.

For my money (and proximity to my former home), Johnny Hot’s in Fishtown ranks top 2 (just behind Dellassandro’s). Located under 95, the place has been featured on Food Network and is primarily known for hot sausage (pause) and fishcakes. Undervalued, in my opinion, is the cheesesteak. Unlike Dellassandro’s, Johnny Hot’s also has fries, making it 100% more enjoyable an actual meal.

Larry’s, apparently is also terrific. The below video should be convincing enough.

John Gotty, myself, and Tim Yu.

I haven’t posted about a press trip I’ve been on in quite sometime, but I love this image snapped, without our knowledge, by Marcus Troy. The three of us were walking from our hotel to the Staples Center to watch the Celtics clip the Lakers. It is always a pleasure to spend time with all involved in this photograph.

Hartford Denim Company.

Great things are developing in downtown Hartford, CT. My father tipped me to Hartford Denim Company – he has his ears to the city streets – a few months back and the guys were nice enough to let me visit with them. The studio space on Pratt Street is full of wonders.

All jeans and jackets are hand made, all experimental, and all produced with great love and admiration for American craft. They source as much as possible in New England… who else wants to promote the history of brass manufacture in Waterbury?

They’ve got BIG ideas and have recently received some solid press.

For example, they were featured on NPR. And, they caught the eye of my friend Marcus Troy while walking through PROJECT during New York market week.

Congratulations guys!

Below are some quick shots I took in early November (lost my camera for two months, thus failed to post then).

Dickie’s, in my humble opinion, is doing a terrific job with their LA lifestyle video series. The latest takes us to Hawleywood’s Barbershop.

They manage to celebrate all the Americana that I am really into – proper haircuts, proper personalities, and proper tattoos.

The basics -

HAWLEYWOOD´S BARBERSHOP
DONNIE HAWLEY
COSTA MESA / LONG BEACH, LOS ANGELES, CA

Hawleywood’s Barber Shop and Shaving Parlor is the kind of joint where you would see old mobsters with their faces covered in hot towels and shaving cream.

This is the original men only, period correct 1940’s style shop that specializes in the hot towel, straight razor shaves and the high and tight haircuts like the Full Back High Pomp, Slick Back, Johnson Boogie, Hawleywood Puff, Old Fashioned Taper, The Waterfall, Flat Top, Mohawk and Medium Taper with a Part. Donnie Hawley and his crew offer the cleanest haircut you can get in the Southern California.