Bags, bags, bags, blowing in the wind.
The Syllabus
- Editor’s Note – Paid Subscriptions!
- Ernest Goes To The Mailbox
- Around The World
- ICYMI
1. EDITOR’S NOTE
Hello there, and welcome to August, our first business-as-usual month on our new, fully independent interface.
Everyone got a free Premium subscription in July (if you were charged for the month—please reach out! You weren’t supposed to be!) as a thank you for sticking with us through our migration. But we’d be lying if we said we didn’t also hope that the Premium preview would entice some of you to take the Paid Subscriber Plunge. Did it?
Within the next week, we will start to make portions of our site available to Paid Subscribers only. We will also start sending our paid-subscriber-only newsletters, which will contain special features and columns never-before-seen in the Free iteration. That means that unless you spring for a paid subscription, you won’t even know what you’re missing! Though here’s a taste…
Paid Subscribers will get:
- At least 2 additional newsletters per month
- Access to the entire OHM archive
- Super-fast email response times
- Tools, Resources and Plans created, tested, and approved by the OHM team
- First access to live events (both URL and IRL)
- An annual gift
- Discounted group/corporate subscription rates
- And more!
We should note that we’ve had to update our subscription prices to account for the increased operating costs we’ve incurred as a result of our editorial independence. Turns out doing things solo is expensive. But we assure you, we plan to give you your money’s worth. Our increase in fees comes in conjunction with an increase in output—both in terms of quality and quantity.
IF YOU’RE CURRENTLY A PAID SUBSCRIBER, we will be sending additional correspondence later this week alerting you to the price changes and giving you the option to opt-out without any penalties, if you can’t (or don’t want to) swing the increased cost.
If you’ve been thinking about becoming a paid subscriber but were waiting for the right time… that time is now!
SPRING FOR A PAID SUBSCRIPTION TODAY!
2. ERNEST GOES TO THE MAILBOX – and talks about shorts
We’ve received a few e-mails recently asking for advice and insight about certain cultural industry-related topics. Some of that advice is based on broader questions around strategy and analytics, and some of it is straight up Ask Sally type stuff. This recurring column will focus on that latter type. Currently, we don’t have a name other than “Ernest Goes To The Mailbox.” (So if you’ve got any ideas for a sick name… please… we need them.)
This week we have a question about an underutilized yet essential part of the modern wardrobe: Shorts.
Question: “I really have no right asking this. But I’m a newsletter subscriber for the last year and truly treasure all your ideas and advice. I wanna know what shorts do you recommend. What brands. No rush.” – Justin
Answer: First off: Justin, you have every right to be asking this. Second off: I’m so happy someone is finally asking questions about shorts. It can feel at times that we get drowned in a sea of sneakers and a tidal wave of tees, but when it comes to shorts, the options leave…a lot to be desired.
Shorts aren’t as prioritized in the wardrobe as shorts aren’t usually top of mind unless you need a pair, and FAST. That frantic energy is responsible for some of the greatest sartorial war crimes: Camo shorts, cargo shorts and jorts. It’s like the Axis of Evil, but for your ass.
Nowadays, those who have adopted the WFH lifestyle are heavy into shorts, as a wave of brands have popped up with options on multiple fabrics, weights and colors. This Golden Era of Shorts presents a myriad of options, across every budget and in every fit and length you can imagine, from snug 1983 Big East Tournament-looking 5 inch shorts to extra-long board shorts that can go past the knee, thus giving off a “Ozzfest VIP Weekend Pass Holder” kind of vibe.
So, I’m not going to send you off with just one option. I’m actually going to give you two.
For Brunch/Lunch/General Hangs/A Very Very Casual Date:
Hybrid Tech Chino Shorts for Men — 7-inch inseam (By Old Navy)
Yup. Old Navy. Look, this is probably a great time to point out that people don’t seem to get the idea of high/low culture and how it can be expressed via your clothes. I actually was suggested these by a good friend who I trust on these matters. His direct words:
“I’ve worn them to brunch, lunch, the pool and the golf course. They’re formal enough with the zipper and button to dress up just enough for lunch and the golf course, but comfy enough with the half elastic waistband & tech material to lounge in all day.”
Look, if you’re like me, you have a few rare or slightly expensive items in your closet. Instead of putting all your heat on at once, supplement those grails with affordable options like these that look great without breaking the bank.
For WFH/Errands/Target Runs/Outdoor Hangs/Hangovers/Damn Near Everything Else:
NOTE: There still seems to be a broader shortage of Baggies at the time of writing. Do not less this discourage you from getting these shorts. They are absolutely perfect and come in absolutely insane colors. In the last few months, there have been a ton of articles written about both the shortage and why it’s happening in the first place.
– Like this one in the WSJ.
– And this one in GQ.
They plead the case better than I ever could, but between these two options, you should be covered for whatever might come your way.
No this is not Sponsored Content, but we’re absolutely not above that.
Want to get your product featured? Email us! Let’s talk.
3. AROUND THE WORLD
- MEL Magazine acquired from Dollar Shave Club by Recurrent Ventures
(Axios, Sidebar: Y’all know Sara Fischer is the Woj or Shams of media and the creator economy or whatever the hell it is we do around here is called these days, right?) - Bonus from Digiday when Office Hours Mag 2021 Brand To Watch MEL went kaput that’s worth a read.
- How Going Home Helped Inspire Leon Bridges’s New Album—And Saved His Life
- John Swartzwelder, Sage of The Simpsons: The first major interview with one of the most revered comedy writers of all time.
- GME, Doge, Supreme: How Getting Rich Went Full Internet
4. ICYMI: JULY 2021
If you’re new here, suffering from a backlogged inbox, or just missed them the first time, here’s a list of everything we published in July. Happy catching up!
And as always…
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