Bob McClellan

Wildsam City Guides

June 6, 2016 By Bob McClellan

“For tireless seekers of the authentic” – Wall Street Journal

When I moved to Nashville in 1992 there was nothing like the city guides you see here from Wildsam. Granted, the Nashville of 1992 and the Nashville of now are polar opposites, but I still didn’t have any bearings on where the locals went or what businesses were run by “true originals”. Over time and through friends I made, I would find these things out, but it’s always a little helpful to have a head start.

That’s where these city guides from Wildsam come in. As Conde Nast says, “these guides get at the soul of a city.” And they do. They are the best city guides of their kind. Wildsam guides get down to the brass tacks, and give you the direction you need to dive into a city and come away with a memorable trip. If you want to get far off the tourist trail then these guides are for you. The select suggestions given in these guides could just as well be smart picks a close friend might offer. It all adds up to guides that lead to inspiring and memorable travel.

These guides get their authenticity from a heavy reliance on the advice of locals – prominent and not so prominent. When I saw listings for Hawk’s Crawfish, Fred’s Lounge and Pascal’s Manale, I knew the New Orleans guide was for real. Likewise, when I saw Lafayette Hot Dogs in the Detroit guide there was no doubt the locals had been consulted. These guides aim to shed light on the lesser known, the complex, the real things. And they succeed brilliantly.

With the summer season starting up, these Wildsam’s guides are the perfect inspiration for your travels. Full of maps, artwork, interviews with locals, listings of the best of the best, suggestions for food, drink and action as well as essays that give insight into the personality of the city, these guides are a must have.

M. S. McClellan proudly stocks guides for Nashville, Charleston, New Orleans, Detroit, Brooklyn, Austin and San Francisco.

– Bob

Going to Brooklyn? Here are some essentials….

Apparently, Austin is known for their swimming holes… Here’s where you can find the best ones…

A handy guide to deciphering the fog signals in San Francisco…

A cool interview with a Shinola watchmaker in Detroit…

An interview with the oyster shucker at Pascal’s Manale in New Orleans. Think he knows a thing or two about the city?

Who better to write about the heartbeat of Nashville than Rosanne Cash …

If you happen to be caught in Charleston and find yourself in need of some emergency rags…Grady Ervin, M. Dumas, Ben Silver and Berlin’s all check out. And they are friends, too!

If you want some side trips while visiting New Orleans then here they are…and they’re legit.

All guides, like this one for Austin, feature a wide variety of local contributors who know the ins and outs of their cities…

There’s nothing odd about the odd jacket…

April 7, 2016 By Bob McClellan

“A jacket tells the world you are open to fun…Anytime I see a man playing golf or tennis in a his jacket, I know he and I could be friends.”

– Luciano Barbera

Our friend, Mr. Barbera, has it right. The odd jacket (named so because it does not match with a pair of suit trousers) lets the world know you’re not one to be confined to the bland uniform of the IBM workplace. As he says above, you’re up for fun and not afraid of some individuality.

Here at the M. S., the odd jacket is the wardrobe foundation for the man with style, and we have plenty of them just for you if you should be that man. We’re happy to present selections from Canali, Samuelsohn, Southwick, Empire, Crittenden, Hickey Freeman and a particularly eye catching jacket from Coppley. They all match wonderfully with our trouser separates, shirts from Eton and a variety of neckwear. Don’t forget a pocket square for an extra bit of sprezzatura.

If the odd jacket presents a challenge when it comes to the art of matching – let our professional staff assist. You’ll leave looking like a million, and ready for fun.

Pink linen popover from Gitman Bros. with a soft coat from Flynt. Add some our Res Ipsa slippers and a pair of white jeans and you’re good…

If you think you saw this in the fall, you’d be right. But it was in a heavy wool. This good looking number is a silk and cotton version. Cool enough for summer and equally so on you. Paired here with cream trousers.

You’ve seen this beautiful Canali sport coat before, but it’s paired here with an awesome sport shirt from Culturata. Wonderful Italian craftsmanship is on display in both. We’ve got more Culturata for you to check out, so give it a look.

Empire double breasted jacket in new blue with Eton sport shirt.

The beautiful Traveler Jacket from Hickey Freeman…

Lavender and brown from Empire.

A great soft coat from Nikky.

Peter Millar

The Summertime Blazer from Samuelsohn… part of the ABS 10 Collection. This is a great warm weather alternative to your go to navy blazer.

Cool and unstructured, these soft coats from Crittenden can dress up denim or casual pants easy. Add a Culturata sport shirt and a pocket square to complete the look.

How about this beauty from Coppley – paired with red linen from Hiltl. The Derby isn’t far off.

The Colors of Canali

March 28, 2016 By Bob McClellan

Spring came early this year, and that’s a good thing. It’s time to put away the heavy woolens and embrace lightweight wools, linens and silk blends. And just in time, we’re stocked up with beautiful sport coats from our Italian resource – Canali. This has become a prized collection for us and for our discerning customers. When it comes to the fabrics and colors, Canali can’t be beat. And the silhouette pleases the gentlemen looking for classic styles with a hint of the contemporary.
Make a point to drop in and check out the following selections. For added inspiration, we’ve created some looks for your consideration.

Beautiful blue and brown houndstooth….so many options!

A great sport jacket for the spring and summer. We absolutely love this take on a teal blue jacket with various colors of windowpane. Take your pick and pair up with some cream dress trousers or your favorite pair of AG Denim.

This mid-blue suit is perfect for the coming warm weather. Pair up with some burnished brown shoes and it’s very Italian indeed. Increasingly, we’re seeing men go back to the suit but leave the tie at home. Therefore, we suggest that you start treating the pocket square as the new neck wear. It’s a splash of color and a healthy dose of sophistication.

Now you’re ready to take on the spring!

Peter Millar – Spring 2016

February 24, 2016 By Bob McClellan

With each new season we always get excited for the new offerings from our friends at Peter Millar. And this season is no exception. We’re seeing great colors and patterns in shirts, shorts, sweaters, pullovers and soft coats that do not disappoint.
The E4 Performance wear is becoming increasingly important to this collection, and we encourage you to give it serious consideration. Consisting of polos, button downs, pullovers, shorts and trousers made of synthetic material, the E4 program will keep you cool, comfortable and unwrinkled in the warmest of days…whether you’re on the links, on the water or a backyard party.
Click the link below to see the Peter Millar Spring 2016 Look Book. And make a note that our Peter Millar show is Saturday, April 16.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PETER MILLAR SPRING 2016 LOOK BOOK

A beautiful one of a kind from Alden …

November 20, 2015 By Bob McClellan

Just in from the shoemakers at Alden is this whiskey toned, pebble grain dress loafer. Shoes from Alden, as many of you know, are a work of art, but the special leather takes this shoe to another level. All the hallmarks of handcrafted artistry will be evident upon your initial inspection, but it’s when you slip these beautiful shoes on your feet that you will feel the expertise of an artist’s hand. These loafers will look great with flannels or cords that are paired with your favorite sport jacket. If your closet allows, these shoes will work with any number of country tweed suits. And as we are showing here, they are nicely enhanced with new socks from Nigel Knox.
This is an exclusive make up shoe just for M. S. McClellan, so when they are gone …. they are gone.
Come in soon and try a pair on!