kai d: utlilitarian style

April 8th, 2010 | manhattan, shops

i know i should probably cover more men’s stores but it’s a hard road. first off, there are way fewer of them. of those that exist, many are either too out there, or too darn boring, but when i find the good ones, i become a fan for life. in addition to save khaki and sean, i think we’ll be adding kai d to our twice a year shopping ritual to update j’s wardrobe (he needs it more than that but that’s as often as i can get him out there). kai d has some great staples, with excellent style. i particularly like this knapsack at $175 above, versatile, useful, well constructed and i could actually see j. using it which might be a miracle.

this spring, kai d was carrying lots of great lightweight linen jackets in a range of browns, tans and greens for prices between $245 and $300. clean cut, simple but clearly very well made, these would be keepers in my book. kai d also had a nice mix of t-shirts as well as button-down shirts (though not cheap with some around $299) with checks, stripes, some with a bit of western flair. the cotton was of a high quality and i particularly liked the small details like a different fabric, more like a ribbon, along the button strip (i’m sure that area has a name but i have no idea). i am eager to get j in for a fitting to see if kai d makes their sleeves long enough (at 6′ 2″ and skinny as a bean, that’s where all our difficulties start).

the guy behind this shop, kai d fan, likes to focus on “utility,” what someone might need so there are lots of pockets, and the products are meant to last. mixed in with his designs, are some vintage goods like the shoes above. the kai d blog has  the collection laid out, as well as a fun look book. only open a few months so far, the kai d shop already feels like its been here for ages. kai d, 75 orchard street between broome and grand streets, manhattan, new york, .

lower east side, manhattan, mens' clothes, shops , ,
No Comments »