APOCALYPSE DUDS: Clothing, Community & Culture

In an interview close to the original thrust of the show, we speak with Baltimore knife artist, Henry Hyde, on the meandering path from making toys out of sticks as a kid to forging and smithing cutting-edge kitchen implements, most especially knives. We talk about imagination, his favorite building in Baltimore (it’s in Sandtown!) Instagram cooking videos, John Prine, importing his dream vehicle, boots, and more!

Pulling back the curtain on one of Instagram’s most mysterious recluses: @fez. We secured a global exclusive, an hour-long interview with an inspiring, enigmatic creative. We go back and forth about writing, writing clothing, motorcycle gangs, thrifting abroad, Kalamazoo, hoarding and other compulsions, resellers, Steely Dan, and a gobble more…because Fez lives in Turkey…

This week, we checked in with our friend for his sequel episode, the Ramblin’ Man himself, Jim Parker. We talked about what’s been going on with his brand, @tazewellclothes, we learn the trials and tribulations of making clothes in the USA, the day-to-day life of a working musician, his signature guitar tone, music gear, the Solar Eclipse, making the perfect OCBD; and also talk a little shit about a certain book. All this, and more,  coming at you in this great conversation.

Another brick in the wall... "brick” meaning a guest, and “wall” meaning our show. One more oral history for the music—>clothing pipeline. Attorney-in-training, guitarist, wit, our next guest is THE Perfect Gentleman…but not precisely. Clea Carlier on her first suit, Pink Floyd, her “deep, deep” love of music, accents and language, learning from YouTube, how things should fit, and more. 

We are joined by yet another DIY disciple. We revisit the old hardcore/punk/subculture to clothing pipeline and collect, yet another, unbiased perspective for our undeniably scientific “research” (which only serves to deepen our already unflappable opinions). We chat about what’s in a name and the etymology of Wooden Sleepers, the notion of home, how workwear and Ivy feed off of each other, the case against being cutthroat, church basement thrift stores, and how Brian’s reputation precedes him, and, of course, the Adidas Samba.

Just like that, the number of Nobel  Prize winners who have appeared on our program has increased.  Prize aside, Colin has been to the ends of the Earth: sometimes providing life-or-death food, sometimes in hot pursuit of elite Jordan's. We also talk about coffee, Renaissance graffiti, how to be and not to be a tourist, backpack evangelism, Tinker Hatfield, sneaker culture, hip-hop, our favorite bags, arguing with your tailor,  the effect of the sneaker/dress shoe hybrid on the American Psyche, and The Magnificence of the Human Spirit.

In studio, we are joined by Bryan Batt, triumphant triple threat. Bryan was on Broadway,  Bryan was in movies, Bryan was on The Simpsons (!!)  Bryan was on Mad Men, that’s what we will cover today, Bryan plays Salvatore Romano, closeted art director at an ad agency in 1960s New York City.Bryan described the the impetus for his love of clothing, and vibrant scenes from New Orleans, behind the scenes for the costuming of Mad Men, Bryan and Conor were in the same place unawares once in 2008, and a resolute belief that life is too short.

A marvelous and mostly mature roundtable discussion with a mob of Mad Men maniacs.  For part two of our Oral History of Mad Men, we hop in the way back machine to find out what our roundtable of guests were doing in and around the year 2007 (arguably, one of the last good years on Earth) and what initially drew them to the show. We explore the show’s cultural impact, social commentary, and the influence it had on each of our guests. 

We’re thrilled to finally bring you a project close to our hearts, years in the making. For the first in our three part series, we’re joined by our friends and fellow clothing nerds, Zach DeLuca and Peter Zottolo. Each has a deep history with the show and with 1960's tailored clothing. We spoke with them about their menswear origins, the broader cultural context of the late aughts, the influence of Mad Men on the fashion internet, Thom Browne, and how the ascendant trends the show brought still reverberate today.

Our annual year in review with the Apocalypse Duds’ Godfather, Renato Pagnani. We talk about our collective years in clothing, music, and life in general. We get into hockey (to Conor’s chagrin), Renato crosses a publication off his bucket list, we learn about an up-and-coming clothing brand in Connecticut, and his favorite concert of the year.

This week, a long and winding road of a chat with illustrator, Gnomecore Godfather, and jovial dude, Wesley Robinson. We talk about the 90’s English skate scene, Green Day, metal, skinheads (traditional, not racist assholes), growing up in a multicultural place, having your team around you, the creative process and loads more. 

What the hex?! Enter The Season of the Witch, with Z.G. Burnett, author, editor, menswear merchant, tastemaker, New England enthusiast, professional Instagram user, and more to be revealed! We talk about antiquing, the ubiquity of L.L. Bean, liking the old fashioned stuff, the heyday of GQ  , When Levi's came to Newbury Street, and a cauldron more! This week, on Apocalypse Duds!Photos by Annie Minicuci @annieminicuciphotography on IG . Taken at @ladyfingerstealounge  in Newburyport, Massachusetts.#podcast #tailoredclothing #ivystyle #tradstyle #madeinusa #menswear #style ##guerrillaclothingshow #newengland #stamfordct #menswear #mensstyle #mensfashion #wiwt #ootd #apocalypseduds #boston #greenday #gq #aughts

This week on the show: Trad Dad, rakish entrepreneur, founder of Junior’s of Philadelphia fame, all around solid dude, Glenn Au. People love him, fish fear him. Our convo gave insights into the formulation of Junior’s and what it’s like to dive in head first, learning through experience, taking a stance and believing in it, living in your clothes, exclusively wearing brown suede shoes, and many more tangents.

This week, we interview our first Eagle Scout! Milk musings, inadvertent sobriety, the positive effects of the online menswear community, the social power of clothing, trying to be approachable, embracing your genetic destiny and many other tangents. Link in bio.

We are joined by political powerhouse and 3500 Club Member, James Darley, @blazers_and_buttondowns. We separate the literal from the figurative, talk Glengarry Glen Ross, how to stand out in a private school uniform, trying to project an image, how to make your life suck less, hiking, snowshoes, and many other tangents.

Long time friend of the show, true OG (of many things), Suburban Dad, and Instagram’s Sexiest Man 2023, @threadbareandrumpled. First, we celebrate the triumphant 44th birthday of the one and only Peter Toatley. A raucous episode, we discuss The Bush Years (Not Gavin Rossdale) and the current echoes, Matt is Born Again by Peter’s retelling of seeing Fugazi live. Helly Hansen gets a mention, and about perception versus reality of our American lives.

Join us for an extremely wholesome and illuminating conversation with genuine Canadian, Jamie Ferguson. We discuss BEING A REDHEAD, the Stan Ray Painter Pant, Intramural sports, Trial and Error, Bucket List Items, Imposter Syndrome, and “Bob’s Your Uncle,” this time on Apocalypse Duds!

An action-packed (and potentially venomous) episode with genuine Aussie illustrator, Richard “Dick” Carroll: The New York Bagel Situation, The Pitfalls of Masculinity, Dressing Up For the Punk Show, What’s In a Name, On The Observational Cartoonist,The Validity of Australian Stereotypes “AccaDacca,” Silverchair (again?!) Turning Yourself Into a Cartoon, and heaps more!

This week, we have the privilege and honor of hosting the brilliant Stace Santiago Pisani: an emergent novelist, a maestro of musicality, a compassionate veterinary nurse, and an old hand at looking extremely cool. Get ready as we dive deep into their fraught journey of gender expression through clothing, explore the vivid soundscape of Brit Pop, look behind the scenes of writing a book, unravel the degrees of separation from the legendary Ralph Lauren, and so much more!

The Return of The Undisputed Heavyweight Overcoat Champion of the World, Shane Curry, on brands at the thrift that make him say “Motherfucker!”, Tips and Tricks for the Novice Picker, the perks of being a regular, fusing knowledge with experience, forming relationships and building community, The Thrifting Olympics™, looking at things from a buyer’s perspective, and a dossier full of classified information, this week, on Apocalypse Duds

Walking Before We Could Crowley: A Charming and Funny Conversation with Sean Crowley, founder of Crowley Vintage. We cover much ground this week, but, ironically, we were having so much fun, we never talked about the shop! Sean regales us with stories of Ralph, Star Wars, his many teachers and mentors, and much more

This week, on another illuminating episode of Apocalypse Duds, journalist and budding politico, Ebrima Sanneh. Your Dynamic Duo chew the political fat with the young buck, we see the sausage being made, we talk political clothing styles, experiences gleaned from travel, embracing identity, what it’s like buying your first suit, Ralph Lauren (duh),and loads more.

This week, the amazing Sam Rockwell! We talk deeply about vintage, Indie Sleaze, union work, the merits of reproduction fashion, Beauty and The Beast, 1940's pin-ups, Y2K fashion, 1980's Chuck Taylors, rats, the Satanic Panic, and, as ever, much much more.

This week we had a fantastic conversation with music archivist, collector, and all around wonderful human, Chris Walker. He takes us through his clothing evolution, what it’s like being the child of a diplomat during civil unrest, paying your respects to your vintage items, hanging out with Ian MacKaye, and a whole lot more.

On our latest episode, we speak with fashion writer, menswear model, former hardcore frontman, and founder of the AWMS brand, Anthony Sylvester, about growing up in the UK during the subcultural explosion of the 80s.  As American films, skateboarding, hip-hop, breakdancing, and more hit Europe, culture and subculture began to mix like never before.  Beyond that, we explore how Ivy Style has always been a disruptor, shopping in London, what it’s like when you find your people, building relationships, Dead Poets Society, and far more. 

Our Funniest Episode Yet: An Airing of Grievances with Nick Andry @ta.ska.shi. We talk with the “weird, little kid” about almost everything: ska, stanning Gwen Stefani, cut off khakis, Chipper Jones, learning to tie a tie, Beach Punk, being named after a National Treasure, Tom Waits, and way more!

This week, our Parisian Correspondent, Romain Lastrolab. We talk collecting (Romain’s enormous collection of ______ inspires and horrifies), the supposed death of thrifting, Parisian Ivy, French geography, egalitarian secondhand shopping, the gateway drug of tailored clothing, et beaucoup plus!!

On a very special episode of Apocalypse Duds, we unite with menswear writer,  editor at Put This On,  creator of⁠ ⁠@RLGoesHard Ralph Lauren Fan Club, reluctant Twitter celebrity, and occasional DJ: the omnipotent Derek Guy. We cover a lot of ground: Ralph Lauren the GOAT, The Politics of Americana, The Very Non-Trad Roots of American Style, Breakdancing, Remix culture, Lo Heads, the ideal Brooks Brothers Oxford, and way, way more.

This week, our man in Werl,  long-time booster of Apocalypse Duds, Florian Dümpelmann. We talk the connotations of military clothing, radical underground music, ICE CREAM, learning from the past, and much more.

For our inaugural episode of Season 3, we talked with the dashing Darren Johnston about embracing American tailored clothing, recontextualizing Ivy Style, Turner Classic Movies, Speed Racer, collecting vintage magazines, the lack of Black faces in the fashion world, and more!

The Professor is in! This week, polyglot genius, Dr. Henrik Wilberg, is on the show! We discuss being late to the #menswear party, becoming the object of your students’ Whats App obsession, Stolen Valor: College Edition, the profound influence of subculture, the winding path to American citizenship, and more, on our longest episode yet!

This episode, Baltimore City Schools Teacher, William Fleming. We talk perception of Southerners, heirloom clothing, art, every day quirks, "the most written about region in the US," presenting yourself to the world, Luther Vandross, window shopping, and much more, including what it's like to be a public school teacher in Baltimore, Maryland.

This week: Jim Parker, Merchandising Director at The Armoury, Head Honcho at Tazewell Clothes, virtuouso guitarist, Southerner, New Yorker, redhead, and much more. We talk unhinged 90's fashions, The Colorado Rockies, accents, Hank Williams, Ronnie Van Zant, The Allman Brothers, clothing on an emotional level, and that's just the first 15 minutes!

World-renowned editorial cartoonist Kevin Kallaugher dropped by the Apocalypse Duds Depot to talk Ivy Style, pattern matching, coming of age in the 60s and 70s, nature vs. nurture, how he draws a caricature, and much more!

We go deep in the stacks with @combat_threads’ Charles McFarlane to explore the complex relationship between the military and clothing. Surplussed false teeth, what’s wrong with the M65 Field Jacket, Charles’ first really big score, research tips, rejecting grail culture, and more.

This week, on an action-packed episode of Apocalypse Duds, “The Only Menswear Enthusiast Who Is Also a Drag Queen,” @brettwhite @barbhardly, schools us on The Most Stylish Mad Man, the importance of representation, the history of drag, old sitcoms, comic books, and more! This is easily my (Conor's) stuffiest episode yet, my voice more nasal than I even thought possible. I think you'll enjoy it nonetheless, this was an amazing show.

On this episode, we talk with Laura Arnold about photography, what style looks like, the clothing world as a community, and more!

We talk getting lost “with conviction,”unearthing hidden treasure, music’s influence on clothing, and more.

This week, our guest is writer and dresser extraordinaire, Pete Anderson. We discuss the menswear scene in Washington, D.C., precious clothing memories, buying records down the Jersey Shore, and more sacred knowledge.

On our latest episode, the Swedish Sensation, @philipgregard, talks European tailoring styles, dressing for the occasion, and the worst clothing experience of his life. Link in bio.

A special episode reviewing the year in art, music, clothing, and more with writer and friend of the show, Renato Pagnani.

This week, we chat about becoming your own boss, developing a love of clothing, and the 2010s heyday of  #menswear.

We talk shaking up things up, breaking into the clothing industry, following the evolution of a idea, and forging your own path with the fascinating Jason Sandagon.

Our guest is Shane Joseph Curry, thrifting sleuth, educator, metalcore dude, spectacle enthusiast, and all around good guy.

We talk with Zach DeLuca about being dropped into pop culture without a map, Abercrombie & Fitch, collecting vs. hoarding, and canonical vintage.

On this episode we talk natural style, Southern Rap, and the importance of mentorship with Robert Waldrup.

Our guest is harm reduction advocate and freehand stitch artist, Sam Kerr.

Our guest is self-proclaimed foodie, clothing connoisseur, customer success guru, The Titan of Thrifting, The Vintage Vampire, friend of the show, Bryan Cardenas.

Today, on Apocalypse Duds, we are joined by photographer, voiceover actor, artist, kink model, and more, Benji Loveless!

What are you wearing to the end of the world?