Showing posts with label FM Allen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FM Allen. Show all posts

04 August 2010

F.M. Allen - Something to Shoot For...

Peter Greer of F.M. Allen


My favorite Desert Boot





Ice Bucket




Something for your paddock




How to sell shoes



That whole southern safari thing




More southern safari



Not so much



Green & Tan safari



I saw nothing made in China



There's a store in TN - I haven't been south of SOHO in two years


Peter's unique Euro/American/Safari style


The way to attract men


Shoot high here and avoid the tshirts and polos


Boat shoes made in USA

F.M. Allen has only recently gone from selling antiques to selling apparel at their 962 Madison Avenue location. A three Martini stumble south of Bemelman's Bar and smack dab in Manhattan's UES shopping district I call, "Fur Sink Money", where shops don't blink at bending you over for $300 khakis and $450 polo shirts. But there are some deals. You just need to know where to look.

Peter Greer spent 13 years with Polo (poor guy) and managed their Paris operation. Consequently, he has a style that incorporates a European sophistication with a very American, "khaki rules" spin. It's unique and I like it. I'm not fond of their $40 T-shirts and loud logo polos pushing $90 but we're smarter than that.

Have Peter show you the Hertling made khaki for $125. That's a fair price for a quality pant that'll last. The desert boot is a favorite of mine. At $475, it's more dear than Clarks but it's a beautiful shoe made grown up by being waterproofed, leather lined and made in Italy with decent arch support. And if you were on that safari train in the '80s, there's a Ghurka short with side tabs made in England for $98 that'll give you Ronald Regan flashbacks. Better you than me.

All in all, there's a honest vibe to the place despite my first impressions or the book Peter gave me on taxidermy. It's amazing the things you can stuff. For more arcane taxidermy details and some great writing, check out the FM Allen blog here.