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It started with a flyer. Old one. Faded red ink and a bad scan of my face mid-yell. A bandmate from college texted it out and suddenly we were all talking again. Reunion set. New recordings. Maybe even a little tour. For a second, we believed it.
Truth is, I don’t even know where my bass is. Probably in my brother’s attic or under a pile of coats. Still, I let the optimism linger. It felt like tour season again.
Santa Rosa wasn’t the venue, but it had the vibe. Close enough to memory, far enough to rewrite it.
The Uniform:
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[John Varvatos Brando leather jacket – $598]
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[Official Rolling Stones prism heart tee – $19.99]
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[7 For All Mankind Austyn relaxed-fit jeans – $154.86]
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[Cuadra ostrich leather boots – $648]
Not trying to dress like the headliner. Just trying to look like I’ve been backstage before.
Fourth Street was hitting its late summer stride. Sunlight bounced off bakery windows, breeze carried notes of sourdough and orange blossom. I ducked into A’Roma Roasters around 4:30 p.m., mostly out of habit. Ordered an espresso just to hold something warm.
At the corner table, a group of friends were finishing iced matchas and planning a weekend in Napa. They had that kind of electric calm. Mid-20s, linen shirts, sunglasses on the table, maps open on their phones, laughing about who forgot to book the tasting at Ashes & Diamonds. I wasn’t jealous. Just grateful to witness it.
The jacket’s new, but it doesn’t look it. Supple sheepskin, zippered like a second thought. Clean cut with the edge of a baritone note. It’s not trying to rebel. It already did. I wear it like punctuation. Says what I’m not about to.
The tee? Loud graphic, soft fabric. Classic fit, lightweight enough for late July. I wear it like I caught one too many shows at Shoreline and kept all the wristbands. It tells people I remember things that happened before I was born.
The denim was dark rinse, relaxed fit, unbothered. The kind that makes you lean instead of slouch. I’ve worn this pair long enough that they’ve taken on their own rhythm. One I don’t have to think about anymore.
The Addition:
Cuadra ostrich leather boots. Dusty elegy in boot form. Black, hand-detailed, part rock star, part ranch. Picked them up six months ago on a whim and never looked back. At
Spinster Sisters, someone asked if they were vintage. I just said, “Working on it.”
Worn To:
Oysters and bourbon at Jackson’s. One bartender, no wait. Seated next to a couple trying to decide between dinner here or heading to The Parish Café. They asked what I ordered. I said, “The truffle fries and a memory.” They laughed. We toasted to indecision.
Small Philosophy:
You don’t always need a reason to dress well. Sometimes the moment shows up later.
Where It Works:
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Jackson’s Bar & Oven counter seating
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Spinster Sisters brunch with friends
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Fourth Street record crawl
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Saturday afternoons that start as errands and end as something better
Get the Look:
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[John Varvatos Brando leather jacket – $598]
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[Official Rolling Stones prism heart tee – $19.99]
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[7 For All Mankind Austyn relaxed-fit jeans – $154.86]
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[Cuadra ostrich leather boots – $648]
Close:
Didn’t need anything new today. Just needed to wear something that already knew where we were going.
