Max Wastler's Spring 2013 Selections

Allplaidout blogger, Made Right Here series co-creator, Buckshot Sonny's co-proprietor, traveling face of Basil Hayden's bourbon and friend of NoMa, Max Wastler shares his personal Spring 2013 preview in menswear, music and hot sauce. 

Portrait by Carolina Mariana.

• Apolis Standard Issue Civilian Chino in Olive 
I purchased a similar pair a few summers ago in Florence while there for work. In spite of their delicate Italian construction and several hundred dollars worth of repairs, they're my favorite pants. I am hopeful the sturdy-as-surfboards California construction of these trousers will outdo those Italian jobs. 

• Houston Astros Official 59FIFTY Cap 
Heading to Texas to kick off summer, and I'd love to pick up an Astros cap to commemorate the trip. During the off-season, I was impressed with their rebranding efforts. They brought back the old logo with a star that would suggest a subtle nod to their color-blocked Tequila Sunrise days. It packs all the fun of those earlier uniforms and as elegantly as possible. And although I'm sad to see my Saint Louis Cardinals—and for that matter the entire National League—lose the 'stros as a punching bag, I anticipate the American League—with its silly DH and all those pitching aces—will be a welcome change for the studs of Space City. 

• Alden's Indiana Jones Boot 
Not necessarily a summer item, these are newly returned to me from the company's restoration service. I had my eyes on these boots from the time I was eleven years old, and my friend's dad relayed the story of Harrison Ford's famous construction boots, and a couple years ago, for my thirtieth birthday, I treated myself, and they have treated me very well. Excited to break them out as soon as the salt is off the streets.

• Buckshot Sonny's Indigo Linen Vacation Shirt 
We got these back from our factory so late that I wasn't able to enjoy wearing it much last summer. I am hoping it gets a few laps around the track this summer. Growing up, because my dad thought linen shirts were itchy, my brother and I never had one. This pre-washed shirt arrives soft and gets better with each wash and dry. Plus, it's organic.

• Proof NY's Spellman Shorts 
I received these as a Christmas present this year, and I recently wore them for an entire weekend in Palm Springs. Made with the same material found in rock climbers' softshell jackets, they truly can do anything and go anywhere. On a nicer day in Chicago, I ran five miles in them. I swam in them, but I'd recommend doing that in a place where you can take them off and hang them to dry. I made the mistake of wearing them to dinner after a late-afternoon swim. It brought a whole new meaning to "surf and turf."

• Banquet Beer in Buckshot Sonny's Kool Kan Koozies with a big bag of Rold Golds and a Chip Clip.
Growing up, after a day helping him mow the lawn out in the yard, while he watched the last rounds of whatever golf game was on TV, my dad would wax poetic about cruising I-70 from Quincy, Illinois to Golden, Colorado to load up his yellow Chevy Nova with all the Coors that would fit and zoom back to a hero's welcome at his college campus. That gold can and blue bag of pretzels are as much a part of my summers growing up as anything.

• Fair Ends' It's Not That Freakin' Hot Sauce 
Yes it is, or my name ain't Nathan Arizona. Okay, well, it actually isn't Nathan Arizona, but you get the point. I put this stuff on everything, but it works especially well on those breakfast eggs. Wowee! Onomatopoeia is just about the only thing that'll suffice in describing Ben Ferencz and Martin Carvajal's Industrial Strength hot sauce made from chiles grown in the greenhouse at Casa Fair Ends, just outside Missoula, Montana (Go Cats!).

• Wild Belle, Isles
Two Words: Summer soundtrack.