John’s Instagram wardrobe

My husband and I are both guilty of wearing clothing we owned in high school. I don’t say that as some sort of backwards humble brag (I think most people would agree that is not something to brag about, ha!) but just a simple acknowledgement that we aren’t what you would call “clotheshorses.” For a very long time, the line items for clothing were near the bottom of our budget priorities, and so we just… wore clothes for a very long time. John especially – I could count on one hand the number of clothing items he purchased each year.

In the last year or two, he has increased his budget bit-by-bit, and his sartorial horizons have expanded alongside – mostly into the corners of the internet. After just a few purchases, Instagram gleefully tagged him as a ringer, but he’s not mad about it: in fact, he’s delighted that his new favorite outfits were hand-delivered to him through IG’s algorithm and ad software. (Thus the title of this post – I call it his “Instagram wardrobe” not only because of where it was found, but because most of the companies originated on the internet, have little brick and mortar infrastructure, and are the darling of influencers.)

Since Father’s Day is coming up, I thought it was high time to share a few of his favorites with you. While more expensive than your standard Old Navy or Target fare, we have found the quality to be excellent across the board with these picks, and have gifted them to many friends and family members. They’re the type of stuff we’ll be happy to still have in our closet after a decade :)

P.S. You’ll see the words “lightweight,” “stretchy,” and “comfortable” pop up many times in this post. Apparently John has discovered that girls have almost exclusively worn “fake” clothes for the last pandemic year, and wants in on the clothes-with-give game.

Allbirds sneakers | The gateway drug, if you will – one of his first niche purchases. John has a pair of Tree Dashers, which get worn almost daily, and specifically for running. Previously, he had a pair of gray Wool Runners, which he also loved and wore as everyday sneakers. (I have the navy Tree Skippers and am likewise obsessed – so comfortable!) Something else to love: Allbirds is very big on sustainability, from the materials they use to their initiatives as a company.

Olukai sneakers | These “Hawaiian-inspired sneakers” are the newest addition to his wardrobe. He’s only had them for a few days, but anticipates wearing the Mio Li as an everyday sneaker. (In a fun twist, the back folds down to become a slip-on style, though he hasn’t tried wearing them that way yet.) He got them in the limited edition Pavement colorway.

Fair Harbor shorts | This was his original “fancy clothing” purchase! He has several pairs of the One Short and they have become his work-from-home Zoom uniform of choice (paired with a more standard dress shirt, of course) as well as for cycling. Since I posted about them last year, we’ve heard from many of you that have gifted these shorts on our recommendation and received glowing reviews, which makes us so happy!

Why you might love them: they’re lightweight, flexible, and have a soft built-in liner (no need to wear underwear!). You can use them as a swimsuit, though he doesn’t think that’s their highest and best use. John has the Amber, the Blue, and the Navy (which reads as charcoal gray in real life).

Faherty Brand shorts, pants, and tops | Faherty markets itself as the “highest quality clothing with a laidback sensibility,” and I’d say that’s accurate. John owns a polo, two pairs of pants (the Original Comfort Twill in khaki and the Del Mar 5-Pocket in deep navy), the Legends Sweater Shirt, and the khaki All Day Shorts from Faherty, and they have quickly become some of the most-worn items in his closet. The shorts are “stretchy and very, very comfortable,” but look just like dressier shorts with a very clean style.

His favorite of the bunch might be the Legends Sweater Shirt, which he’s become a bit evangelistic about (and even bought as a gift for his Dad!) Says John: “It’s like a fleece sweater, but it looks like a flannel shirt.” (Then picture him dropping a mic.) It’s soft, warm, but lightweight at the same time. “Perfect for a cool evening,” he says.

Vuori shorts | Same general idea as Fair Harbor, but a little sportier in design. They also boast a “buttery soft” liner, so no need to wear underwear! He has the Kore shorts in indigo and mostly wears them for athletic pursuits.

Marine Layer | Our brother-in-law gifted John a tee from Marine Layer from Christmas, and he was immediately hooked (and proceeded to buy several more during after-Christmas sales). He describes their tees as “comfortable and simple, with fun accents of color.” I’d say they have a West Coast sunshine-and-beaches vibe. A few current favorites: this one, this one, and this one. True to their marketing copy, the fabric is absurdly soft.

Western Rise pants | John has the Diversion pant, which he wears for being active (hiking, yard work, etc.). He likes that they fit well, have a little bit of stretch (but not as much as some of the others listed), and are water repellent. They also have a lifetime guarantee!

Bombas underwear and socks | Everyone knows Bombas for socks, but their underwear has been a happy surprise! John describes them as (you guessed it) “very, very comfortable, almost silky.” And yes, the socks are great – he says the no-show are the best he’s ever worn by far, and the ankle socks “shape onto your foot to provide really nice support.” And of course, we love that they donate a pair for each pair purchased.

Shady Rays sunglasses | Last but certainly not least, he ordered the Timber sunglasses when Shep dropped and cracked his Ray Bans (ouch). “Just as stylish for half the price!” was the verdict. There are LOTS of frame and color options, and all are lifetime guaranteed (with free shipping). They also sucked him into adding the “mystery pair” to his cart, and for $18, he’s pleased to find he wears them as much as the ones he selected himself!

Whew – that’s a lot! Though I wouldn’t expect anyone to run out and duplicate all of these purchases in one fell swoop, if you’re looking for a great Father’s Day gift for a husband, brother, or dad, we can happily vouch for any of these items! Happy shopping, friends!

P.S. I’d love to hear if you have a favorite “Instagram brand” that has lived up to its reputation!

Affiliate links are used in this post!