Tailors.

Know Your History: The Wright Brothers.

History is a little bury when it comes to the "FIRST" to have powered flight. But none the less the Wright Brothers did their part to bring the age of men being able to fly into the reality and a common occurrence that it is today.


Cheers.

Killspencer Bags.

The work coming out of Killspencer is awesome styling to say the least. They say they use reclaimed military fabrics, like truck tarps. to create their goods. I really like their messenger/briefcase.



Check out their offerings here.
Cheers.

Want: Trench Coat.

I have found that I have a sudden interest in coats and jackets as of late. I think the reason being is that with a nice well chosen jacket it just finishes off the look of your style, whatever that may be.

As I cruze the internet on a daily basis pulling images of styles and looks that I like, I find that I have gathered quite a collection of well dressed stylish folks that are rocking a trench. This one by Journal Standard in Japan is on point. It looks like it has a great fit and a nice "modern" length, as in it is not too long. It also has a hood witch makes it very funcional if you wear it on a stormy day. And you can't go wrong with black, ever.

Cheers.

Want: Bluco Work Garments.

In this time of amazing workwear styling for the menswear market no one has more options and do it better than the Japanese. Nuff said there.
While taking my daily cruze on the "information super highway" I found several shops and companies over there that have some great goods. One of them is Bluco Work Garments.
One of the better pieces they currently offer is the OL-015 Work Coat. It has very thought out detail and styling. One detail that I find so perfect is the hammer loop. Oh and can't forget the large file inside pocket. Genious! If this is your kind of thing check em out... Now if only we had such great product here in the states.






Cheers.

Know Your History: The Model T

Cheers.

Image Archive: Barber Shops.

It is my long term goal to open a brick n' mortar "Emporium" in the not so distant future. I plan to have at least two chairs for the art of barbering, a place for a man to relax and recive treatments of some of the "lost" arts such as the hot shave.

I have gathered many images of the past from this wonderful tool known as the internet and plan to archive them here over the next few weeks. There is so much detail and nostalgia found in each image from the interior of the shops to the clothes that the barbers wear and the tools they use, even the look of their patrons. Stoked!



This image below has to be one of my favorite ones.


More next week.
Cheers.

Greats: TGE

One of the greatest movie of all time with one of the great, stylish actors of all time Mr. Steve McQueen. The Great Escape.

Must Have: Band Of Outsiders, F/W09

Yes I know spring weather has not even hit the states yet and already the designers are showing their Fall/Winter 2009 collections.
Well I am not much of a fan of the spring or summer months when it comes to dressing. I find it hard to wear very little but if you layer on a jacket or sweater then the heat is up and I just drip like a dirty mop... so I like F/W much better.
With that said, the other night Mr.Sternberg, creator of the Band of Outsiders, put on his little showing of his F/W09 collection. (To see a nice overview go here.)

My must have from this collection of goods has to be this toggle coat. I am drawn into it for some reason, one that I can just not put my finger on... I just like it.

Cheers.

A Tip of The Hat.

Congratulations to Mr. Robert Geller this years winner of the GQ/ CFDA Best New Men's Wear Designer in America award.

The finalist for this year along with Mr. Geller were Rogues Gallery, Shipley & Halmos, Benjamin Bixby, Save Khaki, and Yigal Azrouël

Question, why do they call it the best NEW men's wear designer when none of the above mentioned brands/designers are new, per say, as they all have been doing it for a while now, some even for several years? Oh well....

Cheers.

Work Places.

There is a great little post up today over at A Continuous Lean that goes into the office of Mr. Frank Muytjens, J.Crew's VP of men’s design. It is always so inspiring and fun to see how people work and how they surround themselves with inspiration. If you have not seen it yet go here now and gives a look.

Also if you really like the "behind the scenes" with how things are built or made Etsy has a nice video segment series on a few various artisans and craft folks called "Process" Check it out here.

Cheers.

Want: Crescent Down Works.

A great quilted shirt jacket

and a well cut parka

Both by Crescent Down Works. A little pricey for me, but I can still obsess.
Both available at South Willard in LA.

Cheers.

New Label Layout.

Built a driver style hat the other day and needed a new label for it so this is what I came up with.
The pattern for the hat I built from an old corduroy driver from Levi's that is from the 1970's.
I will share more about the hat when I get a good photo of it, which is turning out to be a much harder thing to do than one would think.

Cheers.

Must Visit: The Jalopy Journal.

If you are into old cars and hot rods then you already should know about the Jalopy Journal. If not, and you like machines that are loud and fast with the beauty of the hand finished details then you need to check this site out. If you are a man then you need to at least pop on over and pay a visit to this site.(Women too if this is your thing or just curious) If you like early Americana, mostly with a focus on post war era, then this is a must for stories, images, and know how. What is it you say, well I will let them tell you..." (We aim) to spread the gospel of traditional Hot Rods and Kustoms to hoodlums worldwide… We wanted to be the voice of the working man, a tool in the toolbox of the guy that does it himself, and a place where citizen journalists could show the “big-time” media a thing or two. We haven’t done it all yet, but we aim to in time…"
So go over and help them out. While there check out the H.A.M.B., the online forum that shares insight into each article and post on the Journal as well as updates on folks who are building or Kustomizing their own rigs.

Cheers.

Archive: 1920's Jazz age.

Cheers.

Foals: Balloons Music Video

More here. Enjoy.

Cheers.

Friendly Fires: Paris Music Video

Check out more here. Enjoy.

Cheers.

Spring Collections: 68&Brothers.

The new spring 2009 collection from 68&brothers is up here.
Looking over the goods offered it is not so much a spring collection as it is a collection of goods that are available with a spring delivery date.
With that said, I am not sure were you can get the goods state side, but I am really liking their 'Army Hood' jacket. The simplicity of the jacket and the fact that it is a pullover attracts me for some reason. Also really into the 'Fireman Pants'. I am a big fan of the details on these pants. The fit I am not so sure about.I know they are both based off of actual workwear samples from days gone by... Here is a question, with today's remakes of old workwear is it ok to update it with modern fits and finishes or is it best just to knock it off and try and keep it as close and true to the original? Is that really designing of is it just styling a look? If you are a real traditionalist then you would buy the original to begin with and scoff at the remake. But if you are down for the look, style, function, and dear I say, trend, then does this matter as long as you feel good wearing it? I will give my thoughts on this on a later date....


Anyway, I also found this on their site while rooting around a bit. This jacket is a must have! I am not sure who it is made by..? (downside of not knowing Japanese Kana and Katakana) I have been wanting to build a jacket out of an old army blanket since way back in 1999 when I had the idea while sitting on the dock of ZCMI department store waiting for a delivery to come in while I was working there.....

Have a good one.
Cheers.

Archive: Tim Walker Vogue UK Feb 2009.

These photos are amazing. Great lighting, good composition but what makes it so amazing is his prop layout. After seeing this I had to find out more about this Tim Walker kid. Check out his work here.
I find his work so interesting because he builds a story in his own wonderful made up reality. I like photo spreads that tell a story not just "here is a model in some clothes just hanging out trying to look beautiful". I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future.


Cheers.

For A few Min.

h(y)r collective has their online magazine issue #10 now up. Click here to go see.
There is a nice little interview with the young bucks behind the apparel label Shipley & Halmos.

There is also a nice overview of The Hudson Bay Company that has been around since 1670!