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Pair of KingsAuthor: Pair of Kings
Hosted by Sol Thompson and Michael Smith, Pair of Kings is a fashion podcast exploring streetwear culture, designer pieces, and the relationship we have with our clothing through themes of identity, sustainability, and collective affinity. Each weekly episode dives into streetwear outfits, emerging designer brands, archive fashion, and the stories behind Grailed finds that define modern menswear.The podcast exists between legacy fashion media and new-age influencer coverage, highlighting creatives who push the envelopefrom streetwear hoodies designers to luxury sneaker collaborations. We cover everything from techwear essentials to vintage band tees, Rick Owens shoes, Japanese denim to Chrome Hearts jewelry, examining their distinctive impact on the fashion world.Whether you're into Yeezy Gap drops, Archive Raf Simons, Nike Tech Fleece, Patagonia Baggies, Salomon Sneakers, Arc'Teryx Jackets, Helmut Lang vintage, CP Company Google Jackets, or just building your personal style uniform, Pair of Kings focuses on what's new, invigorating, and notable in contemporary menswearfrom Stone Island technical pieces to thrifted gems, New Balance 550s to Balenciaga runway analysis. Language: en-us Genres: Arts, Fashion & Beauty, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Avery Trufelman on Why We Wear Military Clothes, M-65 Field Jackets, and how Military Surplus Shaped Modern Fashion History | 13.12
Episode 12
Friday, 26 December, 2025
Where does your field jacket actually come from? Were WWII soldiers the original hypebeasts? What is the M-43 jacket? Sol and Michael sit down with Avery Trufelman, host of Articles of Interest and 99% Invisible veteran, to break down the military origins of menswear and why everyone's suddenly obsessed with gorpcore. The trio dive deep into the history of the M-65 field jacket, how World War II military surplus shaped American fashion, the invention of layering (yes, someone had to invent it), why Special Forces operators became fashion influencers, and the complicated ethics of wearing military aesthetics as civilians. Further, Avery shares insights from her latest podcast season "Gear," explaining the connection between outdoor brands and military contracts, the decline of army surplus stores, why The Row is making combat boots now, and how Buck Mason's militaria collection tells the story of American style. They also discuss Vivienne Westwood's punk legacy, the upcoming Antwerp Six book, athleisure as health signifier, Rick Owens' influence on tactical fashion, women's gear and the "pink it and shrink it" problem, plus whether military fashion makes you complicit in something larger. Other topics include: the Parsons jacket and Supreme-style military drops, George Doria inventing venture capital AND the field jacket, challenge coins and PowerPoint patch design, Americana Pipe Dream's hunt for rare surplus, Cher and the Armenian diaspora (a future episode?), and why fashion never really goes away — it just cycles back.Want to support the podcast? Subscribe to our HeroHero for giveaways, extra episodes, and more!We hope you enjoy just as much as we did recording!Lots of love!Sol---Episode Tags: Avery Trufelman, Articles of Interest, military fashion, field jacket history, M-65 jacket, gorpcore 2025, menswear history, military surplus, tactical fashion, outdoor gear fashion, American style origins, 99% Invisible, fashion podcast, cargo pants history, Special Forces fashion, athleisure, Rick Owens menswear, The Row combat boots, Vivienne Westwood, punk fashion origins, Antwerp Six, Buck Mason, vintage military clothing, workwear fashion, heritage menswear, Americana Pipe Dream, OG-107 pants, archival fashion, techwear, Stone Island, CP Company, Helmut Lang, fashion trend forecasting, militaria collection, Patagonia military, Arc'teryx fashion, North Face history, functional fashion 2026Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.Message us with Business Inquiries at pairofkingspod@gmail.comSubscribe to get early access to podcasts and videos, and participate in exclusive giveaways for $4 a month Links: Instagram TikTok Twitter/X Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) Sol’s Instagram Michael’s Instagram Michael’s TikTok
