Badowers April 10th-13th

Save the Date(s)

Tuesday, April 10th is our Spring trunk show with Eton of Sweden and Luigi Bianchi. Eton of Sweden was named as Esquire Magazine’s editor’s pick best dress shirt. Luigi Bianchi is a 100 yr old Italian clothing line and is getting lots of great press for the LBM 1911 collection of soft coats. They make a great selection of unlined sport coats from the main line that would be perfect for the warmer months ahead. The shows are a great time to grab a piece in season and pre-order for next season. Promotions and more details to come.

LBM 1911 Cotton Suit. Eton Shirt. Cause and Effect Belt

Thursday, April 12th is our Spring Launch Party featuring Billy Moore of Cause and Effect leather goods. He will be bringing a selection of belts, bags, and other leather goods made up for this event. On Friday the 13th he will be in the store all day to take special requests and cutting belts to your specifications. We are putting together gift bags for our guests on the 12th with the help of our friends at 8/7 central. Should be a good time and, as always, we will make our way to the Alpine Tap after the event.

Putting our order together at the Jane Hotel NYC

Saturday, April 14 is the Iowa State University Design School Fashion Show. This year’s guest designer is Todd Snyder. After many years designing for Ralph Lauren, J.Crew and others, he launched his own line last fall. He is a native Iowan and ISU design school Grad. We hosted Todd last September in the store. Recently he was named to GQ’s list of Best New Menswear Designers in America. Todd has a long history with Badowers. This is a great opportunity to see the Fall/Winter 2012 collection. Check out the these pictures from the Todd Snyder Show from Fashion Week Fall 12.

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/photos-of-the-moment-todd-snyder/

The Fashion Show 2012 Poster-1

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Todd Snyder Sport Coat

Done with shopping for Fall/Winter 2012. These are a some of our picks from the showrooms and shows in New York and Las Vegas. Enjoy!

Todd Snyder Wool Cargo Pant

There are too many local connections for us not to carry Todd Snyder. Native Iowan, ISU design school grad, tailors assistant at Badowers. If you missed him last Fall there is talk of him coming back next Fall for another in store event. There is an expanded selection of suiting for FW12 made in the USA by Southwick. Recently He was named to GQ’s List of Best New Menswear Designers in America. Todd and his team are great to work with and the clothes are great to wear.

Barbour X Tokito

Fall 12 will be our first season with Barbour. We will stock some of the basics but were drawn to the special pieces. This Barbour X Tokito comes complete with a back game zipper pouch to accommodate the days catch. Michael is looking forward to testing it out this spring on the stream.

Schott Sweater

Quilted Shirt From Naked and Famous

Baldwin Denim

Too many good things coming from our friends in Kansas City next Fall to key on just one piece. The great new washes coming out for next Fall were our favorites.

Baldwin Denim

Wolverine 1000 Mile Courtland Boot

The Courtland is a moc toe with a rubber sole. This appointment was one we were very impressed with. Along with the Courtland we have a Filson collaboration coming to the store next Fall.

Courtland Boot Wolverine 1000 mile Collection

Filson X Wolverine 1000 mile

LBM 1911

We sold out of 3 different deliveries from LBM 1911 with in a few weeks last Fall. The sportswear line from Luigi Bianchi Mantova continues where it left off. Great fitting jackets you can wear with almost anything and anywhere.

LBM 1911

Des Moines Shoe and Luggage

My shoes did look embarrassing. Des Moines shoe and luggage is where I go when I need a shoe repaired, resoled, or something done for a client. The Raymond family has been in the shoe repair business for over 40 years and occupies a shop in Valley Junction that has been a shoe shop for over 100 years. Most men spend too little on their shoes, wear them for a year and then throw them out. Every time I stop by the store they ask me to bring a new Alden and Allen Edmonds catalog. In the same way a tailor appreciates working on well made suits. These guys love working on shoes that are made to be worn and worn out, then brought back to life like they were designed to. They give great advice about quality and shoe care products. They work on everything from bags to custom shoes and boots. But it’s sad to see all these great old machines and knowledge work on lesser quality shoes.

-Kevin

Des Moines Shoe and Luggage
204 5th st
West Des Moines 50265

M-F 8am to 5:30 pm
Sat 8am to 3pm
Closed Sunday and 12- 12:30 Daily for lunch

The boot is the Dalton in Walnut Shell Cordovan from Allen Edmonds

Baldwin Denim Reed

Chris Ford stopped by the store and we had to get a few pictures of his jeans. He’s been wearing the Baldwin Denim Reed for just over a year and still without a wash. Chris is a musician fronting Christopher the Conquered. He plays in numerous side projects and runs a record label, Maxixum Ames Records. In the last year he’s sent a lot of guys into the store, Thanks Chris.

Finally Winter

This is more of a “what I’m wearing today” but with our first real blast of cold and a bit of snow I was excited to put on some flannel pants with a thick oxford cloth shirt and flannel tie. Topped it off with an unlined flannel jacket. On the bottom some great new walnut shell cordovan boots by Allen Edmonds. I love seasonal clothing.

-Kevin

Boots. Allen Edmonds Dalton boot in walnut shell cordovan
Grey Flannel pants. Gant by Michael Bastian
Striped Oxford shirt. Gitman Bros.
Grey Flannel Tie. Gitman Bros.
Unlined Double Faced Navy Jacket. Luigi Bianch Montova “Dream” Jacket

Full Circle

Twice a year we travel to New York to pick out what we hope you’ll love to wear. We usually visit the showrooms of our favorite lines to see what’s new. Or If you’re Billy Moore of Cause and effect a room at the Ace Hotel or the lounge at the Jane Hotel. Billy is as much fun to hang out with as his goods are to wear. Billy is a one man company making belts, buckles, bags, leather goods, bracelets and jewelry under the brand Cause and Effect. Here are some pictures of us checking out the offerings from Cause and Effect and the new belts that just hit the store today.

Baldwin Denim Reed 4 Months

A client of ours stopped into the store to pick up a few things after an apartment fire left him only with his Baldwin Reed’s and the shirt on his back. You could tell he loves these jeans. Since picking them up in mid July he hasn’t taken them off and they look great. He’s lucky he wasn’t home at the time of the fire and that no one was hurt. Also lucky that these beauties weren’t destroyed.

New Reed next to Pair with 4 months wear

: Baldwin Denin Reed 4 Months

: New Reed next to Pair with 4 months wear

Shop Small Everyday

This guy was so excited to shop Badowers on Friday that he camped out. It is our sincere hope that you spent time with friends and family, watched football, and slept in on Friday morning. But apparently 100 Million people stayed up late or got up early to save a buck or just be part of the madness. This isn’t a big versus small thing. We understand that large corporations employ people and deliver goods and services that small businesses can’t. We do think it’s wrong to make an underpaid workforce come to work in the middle of the night on a holiday. No one would be worse off if the malls and large retailers opened at a sane hour. The small businesses in Des Moines are what make it a great place to live. Chances are the people working there know more about the things they sell and service. They really want to help you, want to know your name, want you to come back again and again. They work for you. We don’t have door busters. We do have hundreds of items picked out with thought and care to help you and the man you’re buying for look and feel his best. Happy Holidays!

Outerwear

Most guys try to cut corners on two very important parts of their wardrobe, shoes and outerwear. Each fall we bring in dozens of great coats and jackets. We cater to people who love getting a new piece each winter, and people who just get cold….Here are some of our favorites.

Goat Suede Jacket by Gimos