From The NY Times: “GUYS with an eye on style might think the place to be this weekend is front and center at the new James Bond film, “Quantum of Solace.” Daniel Craig, now in a Tom Ford wardrobe instead of Brioni, is going to look as smashing as bombs. But if you want a more cutting-edge show, take in the scene at Saturday’s Scottish Ball at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. There you will see, whirling through traditional jigs like the Dashing White Sergeant and the Eightsome Reel, a hot look of a different stripe. Plaid, that is. After a summer or two in which trim plaid Bermudas ousted baggy cargos as preferred attire for the cool kids, plaid has spread, like some sort of geometrically replicating fungus, to almost every article of clothing in a man’s closet. “We’re all looking for something to lift our spirits,” said Tommy Fazio, men’s fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman. ‘Plaid equals happiness. You see someone wearing a cheery plaid shirt, it brings a smile to your face. And even though it’s dramatic, it’s not outrageous. An everyday guy can wear it.’” Read the rest of the article here.
From hypebeast: “Inspired by the traditional US postman style bags, the “Heavy Duty” collection from Porter features a nice contrasting color scheme. A heavy duty cream canvas forms the majority of the bag’s body with a rich leather trim seen on the straps, bottoms and flaps. Two different models are within the range and can be seen over at Ace.”
From hypebeast: “United Arrows’ Beauty & Youth takes the ever popular suede chukka and have updated it for a slightly more refined look. The shoe features a horizontal bit across the toebox marked by the use of brogue. White stitching highlights the colored suede choices with two lace-hole silhouette. Available now at United Arrows.”
From hypebeast: “With Design Miami opening up for a four day showing early next month, Taksahi Murakami’s Kaikai Kiki will showcase its work for the very first time. Coming off a huge show with Hiroshi Fujiwara, Kaikai Kiki’s presence includes a massive 2.5 m in diameter (however a 0.6 m preview prototype seen here) stuffed ball which features the same ornamental pillows available for sale on a consumer level. Stay tuned for more details regarding Kaikai Kiki’s involvement with Design Miami/2008. Source: designboom“
From highsnobiety: “The Neighborhood NGAP Skolet TC jackets have been released. It is definitely one of the most interesting pieces in the Neighborhood Fall/Winter 2008 collection. Heavy applications on the front, reflective stripes on the back and thick fleece hoods and lining are only a few of the details on the jackets. Coming in three colorways, the Neighborhood NGAP Skolet TC Jackets are now available at SlamJam.”
From Refinery29: “A collection inspired by Sharon Tate, Valley of the Dolls, and a pre-scalpel Priscilla Presley? Say no more. With her latest dreamy lookbook—awash in bouffants and bib-front sundresses—Dear Creatures designer Bianca Benitez revives ’60s-era fashions with a punchy palette of mustard and berry plaids and Partridge Family-esque ethnic prints. The billowing, sleeveless Priscilla dress and soft plaid sundresses have that throw-on-and-go quality so well-suited for summer wardrobes. Rest assured, we’ll be suiting up in the “Sharon” paper bag-waisted denim shorts, playful printed rompers, boho peasant blouses interwoven with metallic thread, and babydoll-style plaid Tennessee tanks at many a summer cookout. Barbiturates sold separately.”
From Selectism: “Here is a great shawl collar sweater from Los Angeles based designer, Nick Friedberg’s NSF line which is available now from Context. “NSF focuses on the troika of great detailing, great luxury fabrics and doses of healthy attitude.” The knit details in this sweater are the real treat as well as the great collar buttons and high sleeve cuffs.”
From hypebeast: “Hooking up their classic Court Force High with the Lux treatment, Nike gets ready to launch a set of Tier Zero joints November 15th, 2008. Both sneakers feature a tonal suede upper in a black and light grey color blocks, with Lux tagging on the heel. Definitely a nice clean pair of kicks, compared to the onslaught of recent colorful releases. Tier Zero stockists including Undefeated will carry both colorways as of this Saturday.”
From CtotheJL: “So you think you have serious web log potential, huh? First go delete your 2-views-a-day throwback sneaker blog then hit up established indie street label Mishka, who is currently in need of one or two dedicated bloggers for their “Bloglin”. It’s unpaid, but it’s a big first step to getting involved in the industry. Hey, free Mishka gear ain’t bad either. Click HERE for all the details.”
From Selectism: “There is some love affair with SW6 London at the Chelsea Farmer’s Club in Berlin. Imagine a shop in the center of German football with a love affair with Chelsea cool (doesn’t bother me!). Truth be told, the shop is more interested in celebrating the sensibilities of old England fashions. It is a study into a period of menswear that remained understated and focused on being rustic rather than edgy. Expect galoshes, sweaters, tweeds, and of course, chelsea boots. School’s in session at Chelsea Farmer’s Club in Berlin. (stylemag)”‘
From highsnobiety: “Once again Billionaire Boys Club and artist Rockin Jelly Bean get together. This time they worked as part of the BBC Fall/Winter 2008 collection on some crewneck sweaters. The sweaters come in white and grey and feature a large artwork print on the front.”
From hypebeast: “A personality familiar across these pages, Dr. Romanelli’s apparel customizing abilities have seen few equals. However in this latest project, a similar minded individual with his penchant for giving a new life to vintage materials, A Love Movement’s Tetsuzo Okubo teams up with Dr. Romanelli to create the “Dr. Love” vest. Combing Dr. Romanelli’s panel techniques, it is infused with Okubo’s vintage patch and cashmere letterings to create the ultimate in custom apparel. The vests will release this holiday season with more on the way for 2009. Maxfield in Los Angeles will be the sole retailer of these vests. For more information, please check out the collaboration website.”
From Refinery29: “New-shop-on-the-block Smith + Butler is proud of the community it belongs to. Opening next Monday (officially), the store embodies the kind of easy-going elegance that is at the heart of Brooklyn and many of its loyal inhabitants. Named in honor of the corner it’s located on, BK is as much a part of the store as the merch. Much like her Montauk boutique, Tauk, shop owner Marylynn Piotrowski has filled it with forever classics and modern staples alike. “Tauk is the young surfer crowd,” Marylynn says of her first shop. “And Smith + Butler is the grown-up version…it’s for the person who still loves to be active but wants some polish, too.” Here, labels include Wrangler, A.P.C., Woolrich, and Barbour, to name a few. Local talent has also been tapped, such as yet-undiscovered Save the Manimal—an inspired brand of moccasin boots and leather accessories locally made in Park Slope.”
From hypebeast: “While the use of any woven material often succumbs to the inevitable Bottega Veneta comparison, F-Troupe have on their hands a nice minimalistic slip-on of their own in rich blue suede. A further look at the details of the shoe include a sole with numerous different icons and crests. The sleek profile offers a great deal of versatility over both jeans and shorts. Available at Journal Standard.”
From highsnobiety: “After showing you last week the brown version of the new Visvim Kiefer-Hi 2 Tone Pack, we can show you today the complete line-up. The pack consists of three Kiefer Hi’s, each coming in a mix of leather and suede. Supply has them in stock now.”
From hypebeast: “With each periodical mini-drop, Deluxe has provided a solid case for its cause of producing clean and well-designed pieces. Despite the minimalism behind their design, the brand’s detailings although subtle arguably are the defining points of each piece. In their latest releases, the brand takes an active approach with many winter pieces from down jackets to sweaters and peacoats. Always possessing a strong accessories program, new releases include rings and bracelets along with seasonally relevant gloves and scarves. These will release on November 15th at BridgeStore.jp.”
From CtotheJL: “Winter’s coming and these hand-crafted unisex HI 5 Mittens by accomplished NYC designer kate spade are a nice change of pace. And every pair that is purchased helps women in war-torn countries by “directly supporting a woman as she rebuilds her life, family and community.” Hopefully, a lot of women out there got some money because they’re currently sold out, but you can expect a re-stock soon.”
From hypebeast: “Each season, ESSENTIAL DESIGNS and Porter come together to create a collection of accessories with a strong emphasis on material selection. This season we see two seperate fabrics put to use including a colorful plaid pattern and a colored denim pattern. The denim fabric is particular interesting as streaks of color side-by-side in a subtle manner against a light-colored traditional blue indigo. Wallets, coin purses and a Boston bag are all included in the collection. Available now at ESSENTIAL DESIGNS.”
From hypebeast: “Krooked Skateboards and iconic pro skater Mark Gonzalez will be hooking with with mixed media artists the Clayton Brothers on a set of skate decks. The two piece set will feature original artwork as part of the Krooked Guest Artist Series. Limited to only 300 pieces, the decks will see a release at select Krooked stockists while 25 hand signed pieces will receive even more stenciling by the Clayton Brothers as well as a letter of authenticity, hardware and special mount.”
From highsnobiety: “A nice winter accessory is coming this season from Johnson Woolen Mills - a card case. The card case comes in four colorways, features a simple button closure on the front and can be attached to your belt or messenger bag. The Johnson Woolen Mills Card Case is now available at Hynm.”
From hypebeast: “Despite the inefficient procedures of vegetable tanning, Visvim has utilized this age-old method for much of their recent leather products. The reasoning behind Visvim’s choice has been the durability and perhaps more importantly the inherent aging characteristics enjoyed by vegetable tanning. In a full accessories collection, a recent release brings us the Oiled Wallet-2. The zip-style wallet features a mini-compartment inside for further division of the wallet’s contents. A few different colors are currently in stock at Visvim dealers such as NOS.”
From highsnobiety: “For the past few months previews and sneak peaks of Play Cloths, the new line from the Clipse, have been making their way around the web. Initial peaks show an interest in classic streetwear elements - caps, tees and denim. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the new line is the connection the Clipse already have to fashion. With the official launch of Play Cloths set for November 21, we caught up with Pusha T to discuss the brands mission.” Read the interview here.
From A Continuous Lean: “That’s how much the copy of Take Ivysold for on eBay. At this point, Take Ivy is said to be more valuable than most U.S. investment banks. To quote Carl Fox (Martin Sheen’s character in Wall Street), ‘The whole world is off its rocker!’”
From hypebeast: “The Visvim Valdez is among the latest outerwear releases from Hiroki Nakamura’s heralded brand Visvim. The jacket’s puffy down demeanor features not only a Gore-Tex membrane but a number of different closures from the use of traditional buttons and zippers to button snaps. Leather strap highlights control the depth of the hood and the cuffs. Although unseen here, a coyote fur attachment can also be applied to the edge of the hood for a further parka-like look. Available now at NOS.”
From highsnobiety: “Coming from Levi’s Fenom is this new Skull Sweat Parka. The hoodie comes in beige, navy and white and features a large print on the front. It is now available in all three colorways in the Levi’s online store.”
From hypebeast: “Fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac aka JCDC, presents his 2009 spring/summer collection titled JC In the Sky With Diamonds. The looks combine everything possibly involved in a child fantasy including Clouds and Rainbows. Known for his unique approach to high end fashion design, the Morocco born JC Castelbajac crafts contemporary womens and menswear with this upcoming season seeing certain iconic references. Included are pieces featuring Barack Obama, Disney characters, LEGO jewelry and accessories and even a Piet Mondian inspired suit. Check out the images after the jump!”
From hypebeast: “Entering the 2008 Winter season, New York label PEGLEG continue to showcase their innovative garments with an emphasis on unique detailing and the charting of unexplored concepts. Very much inspired by the 80’s and early 90’s, their latest range includes an assortment of finely crafted knits, sweats, bottoms and hats alongside several shocking items such as the 2 pocket tee, the 2-piece “212″ sweatsuit and the 1-piece long underwear. More information regarding the collection can be found at PEGLEGNYC.com.”
From highsnobiety: “The Burton x Futura Vapor Snowboard that has been first presented months ago, has now finally been released in Burton flagship stores. Featuring a rather simple black upper, it comes with a full on Futura graphic on the bottom with custom Futura Burton signature.”
From Complex: “Can streetwear be sexy? These five breakout female designers know how to turn you on. Feast your eyes on their latest collections.”
Hair by Joshua Barrett for ArtistsbyTimothyPriano.com; Makeup by Javier Romero using M.A.C. at Oliverpiro.com
Violette
Launched this fall, Violette has been percolating in the mind of downtown New York denizen Vashtie Kola for over eight years. Kola got her start as the director of creative services for Def Jam and directing music videos, such as the You Tube favorite “Us Placers” video featuring a baby Kanye. Violette is a mix of hip hop and rock and will primarily be for the ladies, although a Violette Homme line of tees will be launched for men. Already a hit in Japan, Violette is available at Colette in Paris, Fruition Las Vegas, and online at violettenewyork.com.
What once began as a popular trend forecasting website has grown into a full on brand with the push from designer Jennifer Wannarachue. Worship Worthy’s first collection, which plays on the forces of good and evil, is a sexy mix of t-shirts, sweatshirts, and leggings. The brand’s trend forecasting background is evident in their commisoning of a Dutch grafitti artist to create their gothic logo. The line will be available at Reed Space, Cultist Shop, and Bauhaus, and wwtnyc.com.
MadeMe combines designer Erin Magees two loves—Madonna and streetwear—in one rocking mix. A streetwear veteran with two years production experience at world famous Supreme, Magee launched MadeMe to bring quality streetwear to the ladies. This fall marks her third collection, which is a mix of French influences with New York edginess, including the obligatory Madonna references. Check it out at mademeclothing.com.
Complex is feeling new jewelry designer Annie Basulto. Part Around the Way Girls part Missbehave mash up, her collections inspire days of the past. Launched in 2007, what began as a hobby has now evolved into individual high craftsmanship jewelry pieces and can be seen on hot chicks like Rihanna, Kat DeLuna, actress Dania Ramirez and Alicia Keys. Cubannie Links is available at Collecther down in Brooklyn as well as boutiques in Miami, Honolulu, Chicago, Austraila & Boston….check cubannielinks.com
This “street” inspired brand, created by miss Leah McSweeney, was one of the first brands out there that catered solely to females. No longer just a t-shirt brand, MTTM has expanded into cut and sew, denim, accessories not to mention the notable collaborations. These included two bikinis with KAWS, a bag with German accessory house MCM, a cashmere beanie with Kangol, a tee shirt designed by French female- graffiti artist Fafi and most recently, a tri- collaboration sneaker with Reebok and Colette in Paris which sold out in 23 minutes online. 2009 promises to be an exciting year for MTTM. Complex endorsed.
From hypebeast: “Kicking off the the Holiday season, Nike hits us with a set of metallic two-tone windrunners. The collection features 16 different colorways in their timeless windbreaker silhouette. Along with the hooded platform, the jackets combines Nike’s top notch technical details including a water-resistant shell. The set is scheduled to release at the Nike Store Pacific Place in Indonesia on November 15th, 2008. Source: Footurama“
From highsnobiety: “Some things do not only have to look good, but they also have to be functional, especially during the colder months of the year. Beams produced in collaboration with Wild Things two outdoor fleece jackets. They come in grey/blue and off-white/purple. The Beams x Wild Things Jackets are now available.”
From NOTCOUTURE: “Grey jersey jacket, two-buttoned, slouched sleeves. Junya Watanabe. Nice. Minimalist complexity is probably one of Watanabe’s best skills.” Buy here.
From highsnobiety: “As part of their Autumn/Winter 2008 collection, Head Porter Plus presents the Stitch Fleece series. The pack consists of a muffler, hooded vest and hoodie. All pieces come in several colorways and feature nice thick stitching. The Head Porter Plus Stitch Fleece collection is now available in the honeyee.store.”
From 3sixteen: “The folks at The Reed Space have been strong partners in the growth and progression of our brand for some time now. As designers, we need input at the retail level to know what’s performing well and how customers are reacting to our line from season to season, and our close working relationship with them has helped us immensely. A year ago, we moved into their neighborhood directly across the street from them. We’re glad that our office/bench has become an occasional respite from their daily grind, and we in turn swing by often to talk shop and steal Vice magazines. Nico (Reed/Staple) approached me a few weeks ago with the idea to put together a pop up shop in the Reed Annex, a separate space next door to Reed on the Orchard Street side that is currently used to sell merchandise from previous seasons at a discount. We happily agreed to partner up on the space, and will be officially opening up there from November 13th through the 23rd. The entire space will be filled with archived 3sixteen goods from previous seasons and will be sold at those nice prices that you’ve come to expect from Reed Annex. The shop will be open 7 days a week: 1pm-7pm on weekdays and noon-7pm on weekends. We’ll be restocking the store occasionally with fresh product so please stop by often and see what’s new. I’ll be back with some photos of the pop up shop later this week.”
From A Continuous Lean: “If you weren’t lucky enough to score an invite to the Band of Outsiders spring / summer 2009 presentation, don’t fret, the video presentation has surfaced just in time for you to yearn for warmer climates. The surreal video, which was presented on a rainy September Saturday this past New York Fashion Week, is exactly the kind of casual cool one comes to expect from Band. Plus, as an added bonus, I have also included a little (she is literally tiny in the clip) Kirsten Dunst for Boy by Band of Outsiders video. Enjoy!”
From highsnobiety: “After presenting last year their Lego Brooches, Dee & Ricky keep it interesting. This time they get together with sports inspired brand No Mas from New York. Taking vintage Starter jackets, they turned them into duffle bags. These will be available very soon at Fred Segal’s, Conveyor, Colette (Paris) as well as Liqour Women and Tears (Japan). Via The Clones.”
From hypebeast: “With a claim to fame offering a great fashion alternative on a budget, Japanese brand Hare has consistently offered some well-designed pieces which are often current with the latest styles. Their 2008 fall/winter collection is consistent with its brethren of Japanese brands who have looked to both workwear and mountainwear as their seasonal themes.”
From highsnobiety: “When a Vans original meets a bike customizer you can expect a robust result. Oakland’s Max Schaaf took the Era, and made it heartier than ever. Thick leather on the toe cap, suede around the heel and a raw canvas quarter complete the build. Contrasting white midsole looks sharp against both the red and black upper options. This is a limited Holiday 2008 Vans Syndicate Release. Now available at Cali.”
From Selectism: “South2 West8 produced two knit sweaters paying homage to patterns designed by the Cowichan Tribe of British Columbia, Canada. The Cowichan Tribe lived in climate where winters required heavy layering to keep warmth. The Cowichan target pattern delivered in black and white wool (and the reverse) may be a simple design but speaks chapters about it’s heritage and roots. Find it now at Nepenthes.”
From h(y)r collective: “I know I’ve been posted a fair bit of the Opening Ceremony fall footwear collection, but it’s only because I really like it. I am a serious sucker for their thin leather soles. I think they look beautiful and take a casual shoe and dress it up like the desert boot or in this case take a bit more dressy shoe and make it more casual. The sole seems to be able to balance any upper out to a nice wearable state. Of course the thin foot shape and very clean design is pretty appealing as well. While I still looking high and low for some wingtips/oxfords/brogues these Opening Ceremony shoes look like they would fit the bill, at least in the meantime. The have a bit more of a derby look to them with golf shoe style detailing which I’m actually not opposed to.”
From highsnobiety: “Japanese retailer Atmos is presenting a great line-up of technical check jackets this season. The jackets come in three patterns, feature a hood and everything else one would look for in a technical jacket.”
From Details: “Meet the men shaping the future of American fashion - from the Gap’s new designer, Patrick Robinson, to up-and-comer George McCracken. Plus, how they compare with the current giants.”
From Refinery29: “The sneaker industry has a kind of manic feeling about it. Seems every other day sneaker companies are extolling some gimmick: exclusive collaboration! Limited-edition! Neon polka-dot laces for two weeks only! London-based footwear company Pointer, however, brushes off the hype. Instead, they pride themselves on casual but stylish classics. The graphic black-and-white canvas Hesperus sneaker and the simple navy boating-style Bastia model are great for the ladies–they are low-key and a good match for slim trousers. For the guys, the Barajas mid shoe comes in canvas/leather, adding a flourish of woodsman (in brown) or geek-chic (in burgundy).”
From highsnobiety: “Coming from Nike is the new womens winter pack. The pack consists of two Iar Max 1’s and two Blazer Hi’s. The Blazers feature a patchwork pattern on the upper and the Air Max 1’s come in matching colors. The pack is now available at Proper.”
From hypebeast: “uniform experiment has teamed up with eyeglass purveyors Tai Hachiro. uniform experiment chooses an interesting shape to the co-branded frames as the front of the glasses feature an angular approach starting at the arms which take on a less aggressive and more conventional shape towards the bridge. The glasses come complete with a satin bag secured by a wrap. Available now at IT stores in Hong Kong with a suggested retail price of $3999 HKD (approximately $516 USD).”
From highsnobiety: “Uniform Experiment has released their Fall/Winter 2008 scarves. Coming in black and grey, the scarves feature a multicolor finish, while keeping an overall classic look. They are now available at SlamJam.”
From highsnobiety: “O.H.W.O.W. presents their latest book - “Wreckless Abandon” by Rostarr. The softcover book comes with 74 pages of art by the artist. Definitely a nice collectors edition for fans and art connoisseurs.”
From hypebeast: “After celebrating their 10th year anniversary in Paris, Revolver is back in Tokyo to present their new 2008 Winter collection which is very much inspired by the 80’s. Bringing back the authentic but simple golden years of Hip Hop designs into the fashion industry, Revolver’s designer Kiri, with the help of French illustrator SO ME, is making a strong statement as the forefront of Japanese Hip Hop/Streetwear scene.”
From highsnobiety: “Supreme once again hooks up with The North Face this season. This time they did not work on technical jackets, like we have seen in previous seasons, but they made some zip-up wool jackets. They come in teal/purple, beige/royal and also in black/purple, which is not pictured.”
From Evil Monito: “H&M andComme des Garçons’ upcoming capsule collection will include footwear as well. These unisex slip-ons will be a welcome addition to anyone wardrobe. It’s amazing to see how full this collection is turning out to be. The full range will be made available at select H&M stores in the states.”
From highsnobiety: “Spy and Gallery 1950 got together to collaborate once again on some winter goggles. This season they present three colorways - white, black, black/white check.”
From h(y)r collective: “Do you have the perfect brown leather, woven leather belt? I know I don’t but I also now know where it is. Unsurprisingly Ralph Lauren has done the classic justice. I think this is one of the best, most versatile belts to keep your pants up with. Denim, chinos, wool slacks, I’d honestly wear this thing with everything. Just wrench the metal right through the leather, rough it up, wear it in. I really like it when the belt is long as well and hangs down below your shirt hem. Of course that doesn’t work all of the time but I really like it here. Again I wish there was more RL available in Canada and Vancouver. There is one retail spot in Holt Renfrew that must be about 2-300sq feet. I know there are a couple leading independent boutiques trying to get the account in Canada, hurry up…”
From highsnobette: “Part of the Jcrew special Collection The Astrid jacket,available November 6 ,Is one of those seasonless staples that adapt to any wardrobe.There something very festive about it that reminds that the holidays are way too close…”
From hellofrancis: “This is the new school cool ymc helmet bag. specifically made to unzip fom the top and round to the bottom corner so it can be unzipped right the way around for easy access in and out for a scooter helmet. just pull out your ruby helmet and hop on the vintage vespa to complete the look.”
From hypebeast: “Amongst the confirmed releases for Nike SB’s November 2008 launches are the much talked about super heroes pack alongside a new color scheme in the Harbors, Tre A.D’s and P-Rod II’s. Making it debut will be the second Lance Mountain joint in a clean black and white colorway. Look for these to begin hitting SB accounts very soon.”
From Selectism: “Built tough for over 100 years, Keystone Canvas Products have been used to carry everything from library books to big old bags full of money. These totes are made from high quality canvas and feature some great details in terms of shoulder straps, outer pockets and more. Made in the U.S.A. Get it at Zozo.”
From hellofrancis: “the super cool swedish designers lars stoten and john clarke, combined to design and produce mjolk. founded in southern sweden in 2003 and transplanted to australia, the label dares men and women to take a risk with their dressing… here are few of the great looks from the upcoming spring collection.”
From Selectism: “Alyasha Owerka-Moore has worked on a fine collection of shoes and apparel for the Adidas Originals line. Two of the more interesting looks come in the form of these saddle shoes with their tone-tone leather finish. Unlike the typical saddle shoes, the Adidas Originals versions come with rubber athletic soles for a bit of a performance edge. The two colorways in leather - brown/navy and cream/navy - will be available in February 2009.”
