GEARING THE GUYS UP FOR DERBY IN THE DERBY CITY IS NO SMALL TASK, BUT I FOUND ESSENTIAL GEAR AND ACCESSORIES IN SOUTHERN INDIANA AND ACROSS THE BRIDGE.
Bowties are the thing at Derby, and Gifthorse never disappoints. Check out this boutiques huge selection of handmade leather, feather and Derby-related bowties. Don’t forget the cufflinks!
GIFT HORSE
554 S. Fourth St. | Louisville 502.681.5615 | www.gifthorseshop.com
Smell that? The scent of Derby-inspired body wash is intoxicating, musky and masculine, and is mixed with tobacco and notes of vanilla. A good friend recently handed a bottle of this to me and told me to open it. I told him I’m not drinking this early in the day, but I would if I could. But I digress: this is soap, not liquor. The boozy-shaped bottle and color of the wash had me fooled, but no longer: I use it daily.
My Grandpa Kochert always had a toothpick in his coat pocket and a bottle of bourbon nearby. These toothpicks are a great reminder of a great man, for me, at least. Steeped in 6-year-old Kentucky bourbon, the flavor of the Northern White Birch toothpicks start out subtle but build complexity when warmed in the mouth. A dozen toothpicks served in a brown glass tube would’ve made Grandpa quite happy.
REGALO
234 Pearl St. | New Albany 812.542.6567 | www.regaloart.com
Olivia and The Mysterious Rack have added so much color to the River City. Her hats are always on point, handmade, perfectly fitted and exquisite. She crafts insanely beautiful women’s hats and fascinators, and, harder to find in Louisville, men’s hats made to fit perfectly and stylishly.
THE MYSTERIOUS RACK
558 S. Fourth St. | Louisville | 650.731.2546 | www.themysteriousrack.com
I love my beard, but these handmade badger hair and wood shaving brushes make me want to change up my look. Made by local Hoosier Cory Smithson and paired with shave soap by Louisville’s Earthy Browns, this set is a morning ritual in the making.
COPPER MOON GALLERY
221 Pearl St. | New Albany | 812.944.4078
My favorite belt comes from and is exclusive to Craft(s) Gallery by artist Jan Strait. Notched leather with horse bit buckles are available in brown and black leather, with gold or silver buckles.
CRAFT(S) GALLERY
572 S. Fourth St. | Louisville 502.584.7636 | www.craftslouisville.com
Super well-dressed men in town know Rodes. So does everyone else. Everything in the store has the look and feel of luxury, and the staff is always kind and superbly helpful. I fell pretty hard for this raw silk Isaia Napoli jacket in teal with the little coral lapel pin. I want to stand out and get noticed, and this is definitely a win. Trust me.
RODES FOR HIM
4938 Brownsboro Road | Louisville 502.753.7633 | www.rodes.com
Each issue, we send our resident explorer JD Dotson on the hunt for items that embody the spirit of Southern Indiana and make perfect gifts for family, friends or even yourself. We hope you enjoy JD’s picks as much as we did. And if you have a suggestion of your own, send an email to extol@extolmag.com.
Just be sure to put “My Favorite Things” in the subject line.
