This week on Blamo! I’m joined by one returning guest and one first-timer — Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris. Mac is the current — and ninth ever — National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, a New York Times bestselling author of more than 60 children’s books, and a two-time Caldecott Honor recipient. He’s also a past Blamo! guest, which made this feel less like an interview and more like picking up a conversation we never really finished. Shawn is an award-winning illustrator and author whose book Have You Ever Seen a Flower? received a Caldecott Honor and is a personal favorite of mine — one of those books that quietly rewires the way you see the world. Mac and Shawn are close friends, serious book people, and — somewhat under-the-radar — real fit gods. We talked about good books, good stories, and good clothes!

...but it's ok because I wore a dope fit! IT'S A HOLIDAY HIJINX SPECIAL EDITION FREE EPISODE! Jeremy, Jian, and Jeff recap the holiday hang at Meta Lab, fit checks, dinners in the village with J. Mueser, and what pieces they wore the most in 2025. See you in 2026!

My guest this week is the musician, artist, and composer Keaton Henson. Keaton is one of my favorite artists. He’s a rare songwriter whose music feels like it should always be playing somewhere in the background of your life. The kind of songs you immediately replay because there’s so much feeling, detail, and restraint packed in that you’re convinced you missed something the first time. You know exactly what I mean. Keaton and I talk about his new album Parader, good clothes and big jumpers, suits as a form of armor, life in Surrey, collecting, and what’s been holding his attention lately.

Patreon Preview from Blamo! Happy Holidays from Die, Workwear! While it’s a ton of fun to shop for yourself, it’s nice to give someone something special, too! But how do you give a (good) gift? Derek and Peter tackle the age-old question and share their recommendations. Plus, as always, a nice serving of “Hey, Nice Pants!” ** Listen to the entire episode on the Blamo! Patreon

One of my favorite guests returns for a three-peat: Todd Snyder. Todd is exceptionally good at what he does, and he understands every part of building a brand — not just how to make clothes, but how to make a brand that lasts. We discuss the role tailoring continues to play in shaping his world and why it remains central to the brand's identity. We get into the tier of “good, better, best,” and what it means to grow retail without losing your soul. We dig into collaborations that make sense, not just noise, and how the holidays change everything — for the business and the customer.

Welcome to the first installment of our new quarterly AMA series, generously sponsored by our friends at Bezel. Derek and Peter received far more questions than any reasonable human beings should, so they spent over two hours trying to answer as many as possible. They get into dressing for your body type, keeping your clothes in good shape, finding budget brands that don’t feel like compromises, picking accessories that actually help, and choosing outerwear that works in real life rather than just in lookbooks.

My guest this week is Geoff Snack. Geoff teaches illustration and openly admits he doesn’t know how to draw—but he absolutely knows what looks good. His taste level and his instinct for curation are a big part of why your favorite stores feel so welcoming and inspiring. He’s a book dealer, a vintage dealer, and one of those people who just has that thing—the perfect mix of humility, good taste, IYKYK energy, and storytelling. Geoff and I get into reconciling “cool” with work, everyone’s obsession with Donald Judd, the art of editing, and whether or not you should actually write in the books you own.

A lot of guys who are into menswear nowadays get into the hobby through shoes — and with that, learning how to take care of their newly acquired purchases. Shoe shining, in particular, can be therapeutic for today's keyboard class. But historically, it was a rough trade taken up by orphans, newly arrived immigrants, and the most marginalized in society. Peter and Derek talk about the history of shoe shining, and how it moved from what was widely considered a lowly profession to now an elevated craft with global competitions and boutique French products.

This week on Blamo!, we’re joined by a true designer’s designer: Nur Abbas. Nur is based in Portland, Oregon, and his résumé reads like a tour through every corner of modern fashion. He’s designed for Margiela, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton; worked alongside Christophe Lemaire at Uniqlo; served as Design Director for Nike ACG; and even did a stint at Yeezy. What struck me most in our conversation is how seamlessly he’s moved between worlds—ultra-luxury houses and global, accessible brands—and how much they actually have in common. Nur has a rare perspective on what ties them together, and what separates them. We dive into his design studio, Onlylight; his new project, Parsel; gorp culture and the legacy of Nike ACG; why it’s always the person—not the clothes—that makes a fit; and how the best design is almost always a team sport.

Avery Trufelman is the host and creator of Articles of Interest. She's one of my favorite journalists, is an encyclopedia on clothes, and is BACK on Blamo! We discuss tattoos (because I keep getting them), the new season of Articles of Interest, military clothing, ethical consumption, camping, and then finally, we go back and forth discussing US history stories and fashion design for the military.

My guest this week is musician Chris Thile. Yes, that Chris Thile, the virtuoso musician with the big colorful sweaters who absolutely SHREDS. You might know Chris from Nickel Creek, his solo music or covers of Elliot Smith and the Strokes, or his work with the Punch Brothers or even Yo-Yo Ma. And yes, he’s on Blamo! We got into some deep creative talk about what it means to play Bach, recording clothes, tennis, Paul Smith, and what’s next.

Ah, yes —the age-old question: what is personal style, and how do you find it? You would've thought we'd discussed this by now, but we haven't...until now!Derek and Peter dive into what personal style means and share their thoughts on how to find your own, including what has gone right (and wrong) for them. Plus everyone's favorite, 'Hey Nice Pants!'

My guest this week is Anthony W. Madsen Sylvester. Tony is a prominent fashion writer known for his insightful analysis and deep dives into fashion trends. Sylvester has written extensively in the fashion and cultural realm (Vice, GQ Style, and Permanent Style), and for brands like Mr Porter, Drake's, Turnbull & Asser, and Globe-trotter. Tony contains multitudes. He’s also a musician, writer, and creative director, and is about to release his book, An Informal Guide to Workwear: Form, function, and fashion. Tony and I discuss the intersection of music and menswear, what led to creating his new book, his brand AWMS, chore coats, berets, and more.

My guest this week is Tal Silberstein, the co-founder and creative director of Colbo Described as a multi-disciplinary space, Colbo has fast become one of the best in NYC. A space filled with great records, coffee, and a tightly curated selection of clothing you quickly fall in love with. Tal and discuss the recent Sperry collaborations, stores being community centers, the infamous Colbo bench, music, and more.

It's Die, Workwear! Derek Guy and Peter Zottolo are joined once again by Nina Penlington, who first appeared on the show in March of 2024. Nina returns to share more of her story and give an update on running her label, Nina Penlington Bespoke. The conversation ranges from the craft of Western suits to the allure of wearing velvet, with plenty of detours into music, style, and the details that shape her work.

My guest this week is Sean Dunnevant of GLOM — and someone who also helps keep things running here at Blamo. As we head toward our 500th episode, there’s honestly no better person to sit down with. Sean and I get into his time working at Self Edge, that unforgettable "Glass" riff, tour fits, the upcoming GLOM record, and of course, his unlikely rise as a meme god.

It's Die, Workwear! Derek and Peter discuss the legacy of Giorgio Armani and the influence of the designer in the fashion industry. They also chat tailoring, old Brooks Brothers catalog, plus a new round of "Hey, nice pants!"

My guest this week is Adam Scott. You probably know him from Parks and Rec, Party Down, and of course Severance. But beyond the screen, Adam’s a guy with serious taste—big fits, big tunes, and a love of style that runs deep. We talk about clothes, music, and more. Plus, yes, plenty of Severance talk.

Last month, Guess took out an ad in Vogue, where they showed a flawless model wearing a striped maxi dress. Printed in small font along the ad's edge, there was a disclosure: this model was generated using AI. And this past week, J. Crew had to come clean about their use of AI technology to promote their Vans collab. Peter and Derek talk about what AI might mean for the menswear industry. How might it impact jobs and creativity? Or how could it change factory production? And what might it mean for the culture that gives our clothes meaning?

My guest this week is Andrew Chen, the founder of 3sixteen. Andrew’s actually been on the pod before, way back in the very first season, around four hundred episodes ago. It had been so long that we both realized he needed to come back on. For many people, 3sixteen is simply a denim brand. But for others, it’s the seasonal collections, the lookbooks, the whole world they build around it. We get into all of that—mainly how Andrew and his team have managed to evolve the brand without it ever really looking like it’s evolved at all. Andrew and I talk about what’s been happening at 3sixteen, why everyone seems to love bigger jeans right now, big lookbook energy, the rise of run clubs and cafés inside retail stores.