Image Archive: Barber Shops II.

Here are some more Barber Shop Images.











More next week.
Cheers.

Banjo.

I love the Banjo. I do not know what it is about this instrument, but something about the twang of those steel strings just does it for me and ya just can't help but feel moved to ether start tapping your toe or shedding a tear or two.




If you have a 5 string and just don't know what to do with it, or, if you are feeling a little rusty check out Patrick over at Tangier Sound. He is awesome and is more than willing to teach you how to pick and strum that 'ol banjer like it is no bodies business. If the banjo is not your thing then how about some blues guitar? He shares his know how on that as well as all sorts of other goods. And he does it all for free through open source file sharing and youtube. Here is a link to his video tutorials. If you are really serious you can also download all of his books for free. Now go play something!
Cheers.

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.