This year marks the 100th anniversary of L.L. Bean, and one of the many ways the company has chosen to celebrate is by building a stylishly unlaced and "larger than life" Bootmobile, which an unnamed driver is planning to park in Times Square tomorrow from 1 – 3 p.m., if you'd like to drop by.
And if the Bootmobile inspires you, they're also selling a 100th-Anniversary Hunting Boot, calf-high and with Louboutin-esque red soles, that's "as true to L.L. Bean's original [1912] design as possible." (The women's version goes for $139.)
They've also started a 100th Anniversary blog, on which not a single person has left a comment, although that somehow seems fitting.
Um, if I ever get another dog his name might have to be Leonwood.
I plan to open a shop that specializes in hip hop records, outdoorsy fashion, and nonsensical 60s/70s catchphrases. I shall call it L.L. Cool Beans.
So, you guys? LL Bean's signature line is actually kind of cool: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/71133?feat=505968-GN3&attrValue_0=Black *hides*
@spacevalkyrie Omg you're riiiightttt!!!!!! *afraid to ask jane*
@spacevalkyrie omg this is amazing. Don't tell anyone else about it! This needs to be a secret!
I frequently astonish and delight people with the fact that L.L. stands for Leon Leonwood. By which I mean, I test people's tolerance for me with tedious facts. No, but seriously, try it on your friends, usually you get at least an "Oh, really? Huh."
@Marzipan I've been doing this lately with Mitt Romney's real first name: Willard! Nobody seems to be as amused with this as I am.
@Marzipan I was hoping maybe it would be like LL Cool J..."Ladies Love Bean?"
@travelmugs Two percent of Americans believe that his first name is actually Mittens.
This makes me think of the moment in "Best in Show" where the yuppie asks if the actual rural guy is wearing LL Bean, and then goes into his collar for a label check.
I did get an LL Bean gift card for Christmas this year, but not for $139.
Also, I want so badly to see the Bootmobile parked next to the Wienermobile. Do they have a convention where all the cars shaped like things get together once a year? I HOPE THEY DO.
The LL Bean center up in Maine does a buncha free/super cheap awesome classes in the summer - I wanted to do fly fishing but everyone else gave thumbs down: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/1000001692?nav=ftlink
@parallel-lines And you can go test-drive their kayaks for freee!
I fucking love my bean boots. I would buy the 100th anniversary boots without the slightest tinge of embarrassment if they came in black.
@MKE Yes! Me too. And I am wearing these today in the slush, no shame, and they are the best thing I ever received for Christmas (because I was too cheap to make the initial plunge myself).
@thisisunclear Are they as amazing as they look? I've been wanting those or the bison ones for yeaaaaaaaaars (hiking boots with socks being my only winter boots), but neither my bank account nor my relatives have seen fit to bestow them upon me.
@Faintly Macabre THEY ARE AMAZING and last forever. Best investment ever. I've been wearing mine all day at work and they're super comfy and snuggly.
@Faintly Macabre Yes! I love the aforementioned snuggly-ness of the shearling, and they keep me super warm (this from a woman who spent seven years of NYC winters ruining sneakers in snow puddles before moving away and learning how to really survive winter). But, I had to beg my parents for them. As I own approximately two other pairs of shoes that cost over $100...
@MKE I love that someone else is as unabashedly mad about her bean boots as I am. Being able to wear them is the only thing I miss about slushy east coast January weather.
@MKE They have them like this?
@sarabara My "these boots last forever" count: LL Bean mukluks (short moccasin boots), 15 years. LL Bean rainboots, 27 years. Thanks Mom and Grandma for the handmedowns!
Fun Fact: Current CEO of LL Bean is Leon Leonwood's grandkid Linda Lorraine, so her initials are also LL Bean!
Funner Fact: Linda Bean is a total asshole!
@sarabara Please tell us how you know this.
@sarabara yep, spill the Bean(s).
@sarabara I'm guessing this is in reference to Linda Bean's crazy conservative ways: http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/27/us/heiress-to-ll-bean-champions-conservatism-in-race-for-congress.html
LL Bean doesn't care about gay people! (Despite every lesbian stereotype ever!)
@emily deckerson & others: yus, as shown by that article, Linda is full of the conservative crazy. She's also full of the bizarrely-entrepreneurial crazy...she's been nosing around in the lobster business for the past couple years, trying to make a whole bunch of weird changes and throwing around a whole bunch of money in the hopes that she can profit off of trademarked lobsters and lobster recipes (she wanted to change the name of lobster claws to "CUDDLERS" for pete's sake). Lobstermen are none too happy with her.
I mean, I've never met the lady, she could be perfectly nice, but the fam is from Maine and not a lot of people like her.
I was lucky to get a pair of Bean boots for Christmas this year. They are perfect for Midwestern slushiness and snow. Additionally, their customer service was excellent. (The initial size I ordered was too small and exchanging them for the size up was the most hassle-free process ever.)
LL BEAN 4 LYFE. LL Bean for Lyfe Lyfe?