We both love Scotland so we thought we’d dedicate an entire issue to one of our favorite places.

The cover sets the tone with a photo of a lovely Highland cow taken by our friend, James Harvey-Kelly. Coggins was on that trip with James, one of many Scotland visits where he’s failed to catch an Atlantic salmon. He writes about that failure and how it doesn’t stop him from returning.

Michael has a story about the enduring appeal of the small town of Machrihanish. We include requisite consideration of kilts, by Scottish native son Ruaridh Nicoll, the curious case of the ghillie shoe, from our own Nathan King.

We love Scotland and go heavy on the tweed, but we’re not ready to go fully kilted just yet.

You can order the paper or subscribe here.

THE PRINT EDITION TWEED

Everyone needs a good tweed. This is our first collaboration and what better place to begin than aHarris? We partnered with our friends, Campbell’s of Beauly, the great Highland outfitters, on our own custom cloth, hand-woven in the Outer Hebrides.

The design is based on an original Hunters of Brora pattern, a house founded in 1901 and renowned for its traditional sporting and estate tweeds, perfectly suited to the Scottish Highlands. We love the rich colors and classic look. The pattern is interesting but not exhausting. The specs: 100% pure new wool. 470-500g weight—substantial, but not too heavy—and 150cm wide.

So what do you do now? In a perfect world, you’d head to Campbell’s and have the owner, John Sugden, cut a length of cloth for your coat. That’s a long commute, it’s easier to have your tailor—on Savile Row, at J. Mueser or wherever you go—arrange it.

When we see you this winter, I will be in my grey version, which you might remember my cloth that made the perfect coat. David will be sporting the olive, as he’s an earth-tone devotee. We’ll raise a glass to a tweed you’ll have for many years.

Order the grey tweed or the olive tweed.

That is the big existential question: can one have too many suede shoes? I don't think so. Is it possible to own too many pairs of Aldens? No! Years in the making: my first collaboration with Alden, made possible thanks to Rivay.

Our mutual admiration for Alden’s unique American heritage footwear has led to these beautiful suede Alden Ranger Moccs. When we looked at the Alden collection, these Ranger Moccs stood out for the moccasin style and the Van last shape.

Made in a rich, beautiful lined suede. The style is quintessentially Alden and distinctly American. This style and material fit perfectly with the larger Rivay collection and sit nicely with the Bedford Boot, the other Rivay Alden special make-up. We're incredibly pleased with how this style came together as the first Rivay x ACL footwear collab.

I love loafers and wear them often, but I also wear a lot of ranger mocs. This pair is a utilitarian combination of those two styles. Rugged for everyday wear, but refined enough to dress up. Perfect for travel. Good for both city and country. Just an all-around great shoe, and I am glad we could create these together.

You talk to Alden and work on these ideas months in advance — there’s a certain amount of imagination required. You’re always excited about what’s possible, but nothing compares to seeing the finished pair in person.

ACL x RIVAY x ALDEN

ACL x Rivay x Alden Ranger Mocc Details:

• Special Edition Model: 450 Blucher

• Upper: Snuff Suede

• Lining: Full Leather

• Last: Van

• Welt: Pre-Stitched Reverse

• Outsole: Commando

• Origin: Made in USA

• Alden Shoe Company — Est. 1884

We talk good hotels, bad airlines, The Red Zone and bowling.

Hope you like it!

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This week I had a chance to talk to Michael Kelly, the actor you definitely know from House of Cards, Jack Ryan, Lioness and soon Landman. He typically (but not always) plays some version of a hardcore U.S. intelligence bureaucrat, but in real life he’s a completely different guy. He’s a lovely guy with great style, which is why I am happy to get a chan…

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Welcome to the ACL Digest. Every month or so I will send all of my related stories from across ACL, The Material Review, and The Old Ghosts so you don’t miss a thing. Plus, some other interesting things I think you might like. Just a note: The Material Review publishes twice weekly, and The Old Ghosts publishes weekly.

Each publication needs its own space to breathe, which is why they exist separately. I would be happy to extend a discount to anyone who wants to check them out and come on as a member. Just DM me via Substack or reply to this email. Ok, let’s get into it.

A Guide to Campbeltown, Scotland

Over at The Old Ghosts, we put together an excellent little guide to a very small town. If you have been to Scotland, you understand just what it takes to get to this sleepy little part of the world, but if you love golf and whisky, there’s no better place to be. Explore it here.

Invest in Quality

A story I wrote for Crockett & Jones about how buying quality footwear matters. It feels good to contribute to the C&J journal and share my affection for one of my favorite brands of all time. [Crockett & Jones]

Central Division Book Club

Did you know David and I have a podcast?!? In the 200+ episodes, we have talked about Maine 48 times, Delta Diamond 94 times and fishing 87 times. We have had three guests on the podcast and so far, but just one book club. We chose Light Years by James Salter, and I honestly enjoyed our conversation about the writer and the book. This book isn't for everyone (and it's a departure for me), but it feels good to read fiction and talk about it with David.

The podcast is open to everyone, and you can still read the book and listen to it.

Links

• Let’s all take a moment to reminisce about the “sit and fit” shoe shop. Think about what we have lost!

• A special “Lake Life” issue. [The Material Review]

• How Japan Made American Denim its Own. [Wall Street Journal]

• It’s that time of year when I resume my hunt for outdoor layers/jackets without hoods. Here are three good options from Pata: Men’s Daily Quilted, Heyes Peak and the Textured Fleece.

• The Unstoppable American Tourist.

• A corner of the golf world where the long game is banned. Lovely portrait of the Bruntsfield Golfers from The Links Diary.

When you hold your child for the first time, you start to understand love in its fullest form. You tell yourself in that moment that you will do anything to make that child’s life the best that it can be. That means sleepless nights, juggling schedules to make sure you are there for the school performance and give them everything they could possibly need. In my case, there was one other insidious threat I would never let my son be exposed to: the Cleveland Browns.

My childhood sports memories are exclusively filled with anguish. My freshman basketball team went an entire season without a win, and that wasn’t even the worst sports-related thing that happened to me as a kid. The Indians (as they were known then) were playing in a 74,000-seat stadium built in 1931, to only a few thousand fans. The Cavaliers had solid teams that would inevitably run into the buzzsaw of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals.

But this was all minor in comparison to the Cleveland Browns. In Cleveland, NFL football is about as important as God. You can’t overstate just how much that team means to the city. It’s too bad because the Browns are one of the most disappointing organizations in all of professional sports. During my childhood, the Browns were so close to actually being good that the hope permeated the entirety of Northeast Ohio. We all shared it, and it was a buoy and a connector for a struggling city.

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There are certain things I just want to see for myself. I spoke to Brett Viberg about a specific suede chukka that I wanted personally. It was an off-the-cuff conversation, one I didn’t even expect Brett to remember. Then a box arrived at my house and inside of it was a first sample and a note from Brett. This is an unlined version of what I was thinkin…

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It’s cliché to complain about the prices of things with $30 cocktails and the overall prices going crazy for everything around us. Recently, the thought occurred to me that there are things I would buy no matter the price. $700 for Alden loafers? Sure. I’m just glad I can even still buy them. Crockett & Jones Pembroke brogues? I don’t honestly care what they cost I am wearing these shoes until the day I die.

While in Osaka with the brand Boncoura, the amazing founder explained to me the insane detail that goes into every garment they make. While examining how nice the sweats are I realized a hoodie is $450, which didn’t even make me flinch. The value prop was all there and I was happy to own something that was so painstakingly considered.

Reflecting recently on the possessions that bring real appreciation, it becomes obvious. Almost everything treasured was an expensive, craft-oriented purchase. That reality hasn't gone unnoticed, and over time, the way of thinking about what we buy evolves. There's also a growing appreciation for how much enjoyment comes from wearing the good things worth stepping up to spend real money on. With that in mind, here's a list of things that bring happiness through their use and utility.

Good Shoes

When it comes to leather shoes, this is the easiest decision of anything on this list. Crockett & Jones checks all of the boxes. Independent and family-owned. Multi-generational. Still made in Northampton, England’s shoemaking capital and focused on quality. This is the primary driver of truly good shoes: the equation between quality materials and build. Most footwear brands are trying to make shoes and boots to hit a price point and market fit.

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In case you missed it, we are having a book club with James Salter’s Light Years. If you have read the book in the past few months with us, then you will be happy to know that the wait is over. Yesterday we recorded our thoughts on the book, on life, marriage, popularity and insecurities. Today we welcome you into that discussion and hope to hear your thoughts on Nedra, Viri, Hadji, Franca, Kaya and Arnaud.

I told David that I don’t normally read fiction, but this book made me feel something— which perhaps is the point of reading. If you haven’t read the book, do that now and save this podcast for later. This was one of the most interesting and enjoyable conversations we have had on this podcast. I hope you all agree and thanks for waiting for us. -MW

-Order Light Years.

-James Salter in The Paris Review.

-The famous James Salter New Yorker profile.

-Thomas McGuane reads James Salter.

-James Salter on Peter Matthiessen.

-Order a copy of The Print Edition.

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There’s a big question I often find myself thinking about. Does the place I live define me? I would probably have a different answer at various points in my life, but it is something I think a lot of us probably consider. We make many decisions in life that help define our “personal brand.” This could get highly specific, but the big things are: What car we drive. What labels we wear, what media we read and listen to, and, finally, where we choose to call home.

I remember when Doug DeMuro (a writer/creator I really love) moved to San Diego, and as someone living in LA, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. (Later I heard that he moved because of his wife’s job and probably also because it’s a great place to live). When I lived in NY and LA, I probably wouldn’t let myself understand a move like that. For a long time, the only places that existed to me were the city and LA. Eventually I realized that if I have an airport and an internet connection, I could live almost anywhere. (I’m lucky that is the case.) After 15 years in NYC and a decade in Los Angeles, I realized I wasn’t willing to suffer the competition of living in New York anymore, and I liked the California lifestyle more than I liked LA as a city.

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One thing I notice about the internet is the fact that most people use it as a highlight reel to only show off the wins. This creates a false narrative of the perfect life, and unsurprisingly, we rarely hear about the failures. I appreciate that this newsletter is different from social media in that it allows me to provide context. It’s not just a portrait of a perfect trip; I can talk about the things I have learned on the way and all of the stuff that didn’t go as planned. So today I will share some of my recent dumb decisions.

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The best part of having ACL is the ability to work with brands I love to make things I want to wear. Today is another chapter in that journey, and I’m happy to report that the good things keep coming with my friends at Rivay. Our latest: The Highland Field Shirt.

I can legitimately wear anything Rivay designs (something I can’t say for many brands), but the shirting really stands out to me. I have an 8-year-old Rivay button-down that’s a trusted friend —threadbare and beloved. Somehow it’s always the thing I want to wear on an errand or a flight. One day, Jon, Katie, and I were talking about how much I wear the Correspondent’s Jacket and about the shirt I have brought with me everywhere. Then it hit us: a slightly heavier shirt (it’s a 6oz Italian herringbone cotton blend) with a good collar and two big pockets would be the perfect combination of those two things.

Over the past few years, we have collaborated on some staple wardrobe pieces — a rich green chore coat and, of course, The Drop Off Jacket — both of which have quickly sold out. Though there was one idea we have had since the beginning that has now become a reality: The Highland Field Shirt. A mid-weight woven in olive drab green made in a beautiful herringbone cotton. It’s the type of shirt you want to wear every day and pack for every trip.

Highland Field Shirt

This collaboration, instead of enlisting the talents of Jake Lacy or Michael Kelly, we decided to take a journey together. So we hired a Land Rover and found a good corner of the Scottish Highlands for an adventure. What better place to test our field shirt than those rugged hills? This shirt can go anywhere and works with almost everything. We love it and think you will too.

Hello from temperate Scotland, where it’s been warm during the day and cool at night. I’ve always liked a place where summer evenings call for an extra layer. After a few recent trips, I realized I should be more intentional about what I pack this time of year. A little bit of strategy goes a long way toward feeling well put together. I spend a lot of time thinking about autumn clothes, but it's usually my summer wardrobe that could use the most work. So I’ve gone deep on summer wardrobe options.

A few months ago I ran into Toby Bateman and the team from Mr Porter. I've been a friend to those guys at MRP and a customer for years. There are very few retailers whose point of view and designer list that I trust more. If I could only buy clothes from one place, this would probably be it. I spent some time building a wish list of pieces I'd actually like to wear over the next few months. We’re in the heart of summer, so here are 50+ good things to wear.

Morjas Deck Shoes

Altea Straight Leg Shorts

Garrett Leight California Optical Sunglasses

Lardini Shell Bomber Jacket

Ghiaia Cashmere Jeans

Drake’s Pleated Chino Shorts

Bleu de Chauffe

Fullcount T Shirt Two Pack

Drake’s Jungle Jacket

Morjas Suede Espadrilles

Porter-Yashida & Co Canvas Duffel

John Smedley Merino Wool Polo

Orslow Straight Leg Jeans

Husbands Double Breasted Blazer

Yuketen Boat Shoes

RRL Banks Beach Tote

Sunspel Half Zip Sweatshirt

Altea Linen Blazer

Cutler and Gross Sunglasses

De Bonne Facture Straight Leg Pants

Drake’s Denim Jacket

Ghiaia Cashmere Cotton Sweater

Norda 005

RRL Striped Linen Shirt

De Bonne Facture Leather Loafers

Sunspel Swim Shorts

Blue Blue Japan Indigo-Dyed Hoodie

Bleu De Chauffe Woven Leather Belt

3Sixteen Cotton Chambray Shirt

Folk Cotton Jacket

J Mueser Western Shirt

Slowear Cotton and Silk Blend Sweater

Fullcount Straight Leg Selvedge Jeans

INIS MEÁIN Cardigan

FALKE Ribbed Wool Socks

MR P Linen Shorts

Morjas Suede Leather Belt

RRL Baseball Cap

Corridor Shell Drawstring Shorts

A kind of Guise Straight Leg Trousers

Hartford Cotton Jacket

Margaret Howell Tapered Cotton Trousers

Sunspel Cotton Boxer Shorts

Valstar Cotton Field Jacket

Saman Amel Suede Loafers

Altea Knit Polo Shirt

A Kind of Guise Leather Belt

De Bonne Facture Camp Collar Shirt

RRL Beach Towel

I. A New Rivay Store in Born

If you’ve been to the village of Bedford, NY, you might have seen the tiny but meaningful Rivay Men's Shop. This summer, the brand upgraded to a larger space just a few doors down. The new shop is open and better showcases the collection in addition to allowing room for vintage items, accessories and cool found objects. There’s also a cashwrap which doubles perfectly as a bar, and if you know Rivay, then you know what that will mean.

As a brand, Rivay hits all the right notes. The line manages to make timeless, masculine clothing that fits well. It’s wearable and looks classic. I don’t think there’s another brand that gets a higher share of my wardrobe.

With this new space, founders Jon and Katie continue to show their good taste and ability to world-build despite being such a small company. As always, I’m impressed with their efforts. If you find yourself near Bedford, this shop is a worthy diversion.

II. The Haunting

You’ve likely seen the famous par-3 16th. There may be no green in golf that cries out “try your luck” more than the 16th at Sleepy Hollow. With views of the Hudson, the famed Short template, its moat green, and a thumbprint for good measure, it’s about as much fun as you can have on a golf course. Together with The Old Ghosts, I am organizing an open event at Sleepy Hollow Country Club on August 11th for The Haunting. So if you’ve always wanted to see this in real life, this is your chance.

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Hope you like it!

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The third incarnation of The Print Edition is here. Meet The Summer Issue, just in time for relaxation, grilling and nostalgic beer. The cover is a wonderful Fairfield Porter painting of Maine, which sets the right tone for where we want to be.

In the pages we’ve got Graydon Carter on banned words and Brian Gallagher embracing truck life. John Brodie heads to the Bahamas while Yasi Salek remembers Lollapalooza 1995. Josh Condon warns us about summer menswear gone wrong, Al James reveals what’s in his very full garage and Tony Traina files a field watch report. You’ll also learn about the art of house-guesting from Nathan King, our writer-at-large, and discover the Mister Softee order from Significant New Yorkers™.

There are drawings by the great John Segal and a conversation between, wait for it, Michael and Coggins.

Thanks to Crockett & Jones and all our advertisers for all their support.

We’re into The Summer Issue, we think you’ll be into it.

So order your copy here or find them out in the world at our beloved newsstands.

Enjoy the season!
DC & MW

Order Issue 3

There’s a stretch of the north Cornwall coast where people paddle out into the North Atlantic in the dead of winter. It’s not the image of England we might first imagine, but it’s the very real place and way of life that inspired the brand Finisterre.

The company takes its name from Finisterre, one of the sea areas in the Shipping Forecast — the beloved …

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