Photos of Fairfield County residents by Nina Leen for LIFE, 1949.Nina Leen, one of LIFE Magazine's most prolific photographers, was one of the publication's first camerawomen. A few years ago The New Yorker argued that her photos were intensely layered. An interesting opinion given how bucolic this series looks at first glance.
"Though many of Leen’s assignments were quite pedestrian—her photos have titles like “A Couple Looking for a House to Buy,” “Children Attending a Birthday Party,” and “American Women Playing Bridge”—her images are packed with as much violence, sexual tension, and mystery as any David Lynch film. Her photos wouldn’t look out of place next to Cindy Sherman’s on a gallery wall. But, unlike Lynch or Sherman, Leen found tension in the real world, and her subjects weren’t actors—they were just everyday people living out their lives."—James Pomerantz, The Surreal World of Nina Leen.
Made by fifth generation cobblers that hand stitch each pair, they are certainly made with love, and absolutely are crafted to age well and last long. In fact, one of the Sabah makers' last name is Dikici, which translates as stitcher in Turkish—that's how much heritage is piled into a pair of Sabahs. 
If you're lucky enough to live in New York City, there's a limited supply of stock at the Sabah House which you can visit by making an appointment (info on 
And just think, in eight weeks or so, we'll all be in the sockless zone as well.
To place an order, email orders@sabah.am and they will direct on ordering. I'm so looking forward to mine arriving this Spring. 
This indigo chore coat is my new favorite item. It's soft but sturdy, totally utilitarian and multi-functional, the perfect blue, and American-made. What I like just as much as the coat, is how I came to it. I met Anaïs of the photo duo 
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Valentine's Day—it's loved, hated, and inevitable. Luckily, our pals at 
In my experience, if there's ever a month for great socks, it's January. It's cold, it's gray, it's the perfect time to add some color and fun to your feet. Enter 
Bloggers, photographers and web peeps out there will find this most useful, but had to share 
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A concert by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at 
When I first saw the Montana Winter series by Los Angeles-based photo duo 
When it comes to menswear that we "borrow" from, or buy from to be more accurate, there really aren't that many strictly menswear labels that really, well, work for a woman. I don't mean that just in terms of sizes or things looking boxy in a good way. I'm speaking more to an intangible feeling. But there are a few menswear labels out there where it feels not only OK, but right to shop from and one of them is American-made 
