Not the Shoes! » That’s Cool

Shwooden Shades

Theo — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 20:11:50 +0000

Came across these today, thought they were pretty wild. The Portland-based company is called Shwood and they hand-make sunglasses out of wood drawn from locally sourced and sustainable lumber yards.

The glasses look very similar in design to Raybans, the Canby design more or less mirroring Wayfarers, while the Govy takes a squarer approach to the classic style. Not outlandishly expensive (about $95-125 a pair), Shwood glasses are a unique way to shade those eyes. I especially like the stain treatment on the wood…it’s sort of like tortoise-shell but somehow more authentic. I don’t know. Wooden Sunglasses….who’d a thunk.

Finally- Custom Dress Shirts Online

Theo — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:46:56 +0000

We all know someone who buys custom dress shirts. The uncle who goes to Singapore and get a dozen shirts made, or the Grandfather who had his whole wardrobe stitched in London 40 years ago, or the banker friend who gets all bespoke from Madison Ave. It’s the pinnacle of fashion and style. And now it’s available to the masses.

Introducing: Blank Label. A website that runs a lot like Nike ID or any other custom design site on the webs. Myriad choices make a wide range of combinations possible, and it’s really easy to make unique shirts. Choose every bit of your shirt, from the design to the fabric to the accents.

Whether you like wide collars with french cuffs, narrow button down collars with epaulets, two breast pockets with red buttons, or covered buttons and no pockets, the variations are endless. Add an embroidered initial and you’ve got one of a kind dress shirts. Starting out at $45 a shirt plus incremental costs for custom elements isn’t too bad, especially compared to the cost of flying around the world to find cheaper vendors or seeking bespoke garments in brick and mortar establishments. The story of the site is the classic start up: two friends look for something, don’t find it, start it themselves, and make it a reality. Classic story, classic style, modern presentation. All in all, a very cool company.

The Stick Pin Tie Iron

Theo — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 02:30:59 +0000

In other news, I guess I wasn’t even in the finalists for the Penguin model search. I guess I’ll stick to writing! Oh well. On to the next project…

I saw this via trendhunter and I’m not sure if it’s real or just a concept, or perhaps a concept that will soon become real. I hope the latter because this is a wildly cool piece of technology. It’s called the Stick Pin Tie Iron and its a dual purpose tie clip. Yes, it holds your tie to your shirt and keeps you looking put together, but it has some sort of ceramic plate on the back that can heat up to a certain degree and then be used as an on the fly tie iron. Drag it up and down along your tie and the heated plate flattens out the wrinkles. It can also be used to dry a damp tie, so when you spill ketchup on your new Thomas Pink cravatte and then pour water on it (because that always works!) you can dry that damp tie and press it at the same time. Again, I don’t know if this is real or even possible, but it is a great idea and a cool mixing of technology and fashion.

There’s no end to ironic T-shirts…

Theo — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:15:16 +0000

…and most of then aren’t too impressive. But these really struck me as both clever/original and really well illustrated…the art is fantastic. They, and many more, are all available here. I’ve been into the long sleeve T with a graphic T over the top lately…middle school style. It’s a nice way to add some color and warmth in the winter while also showing off your ironic T shirt collection. And also something that people don’t expect on anyone over 16. Give it a try, adds a nice casual feeling to any outfit.

Who dat say gon beat dem Saints?

Theo — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:41:43 +0000

As you could likely guess, I’m not a huge fan of NFL Football. Never been my sport of preference. But alas, Jets fervor has (now, had) taken hold amongst we commoners in NYC. I spent my Sunday over on 19th St. watching the Jets and then the Saints. I’m not here to commentate about the outcomes of either game or express any sort of educated sports opinion. What I will say is that the Saints have pretty rad uniforms.

Black and gold is an undoubtedly powerful combination. Black, being the quintessential color of mystery, the color of the night and generally devious things, is usually a safe bet that most things with go with it and it will look good. That said, what really makes black such a devastating color is how it brings out the power of other colors. Gold being the color of wealth and decadence, the ultimate shine-in-your-face symbol, juxtaposes with black to create an aura of shielded deviance, hidden grandeur, perhaps even secret splendor. Paradoxical linguistic flouries aside, black and gold is something not to be taken lightly. Who else sports the color combo? A few top of mind examples are Pontiac, Missouri, West Point/Army, and Lamborghini. Not a bad company to keep.

So I started looking around for some Saints apparel that might make an entry into my rotation. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice how stylish a lot of the Saints gear was until now, and now that they’re in the Super Bowl sporting any branded items will likely draw accusations of bandwagon fandom. So any big purchases are thwarted for now at least….but there is some really cool stuff out there. I found some great jackets, and I really love the fleur de lis….it adds something very French/Old World to the look. Perfectly reminiscent of New Orleans, the decadent European Flower representing the culture and history of the city, laid on top of the gritty, dangerous blackness that creates a magnetic draw to visit and experience a city like none other. Check out these cool jackets…or if you’re a band wagon fan like I am perhaps just a t shirt or hoodie will do for now….

Some Classy (and Talented) Gentleman

Theo — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:33:21 +0000

There is always something interesting going on in New York City. This past Tuesday I got turned on to the Two Man Gentleman Band, a dandy duo of folksy musicians who happened to be performing at Superfine in DUMBO. These guys are a riot. Not only are they complete Dandies, but they are great musicians and songwriters. Coming to the stage with songs like “William Howard Taft,” “Fancy Beer,” and “Let’s Make a Sandwhich,” the inevitable knee slapping and toe tapping is surely accompanied with hearty laughs and a stupid grin permanently affixed to your face.

What really made me love these guys though was the style they played off perfectly in tune with their music and demeanor. Andy, the singer, was sporting a button up vest, bow tie, and the palm-aid side-part ubiquitous in the revival preppy movement that swept NY this past summer. His consort Fuller was ripping bass lines in a dark suit and tie, topped with a top hat and kazoo hanging from a wire around his neck. Both looked 100% natural and comfortable, and absolutely hilarious. On their website they have a photos section that is just classic too. Reminds me of the Tweed Ride bicycle group that had their first event in DC last summer (upon googling tweed ride, results came up in Philly and SF too, it’s expanding!).

So check out their album online, support the band. If you see a performance in your area definitely check them out you’ll have a great time!

‘The Rolls Royce of Chocolate’

Theo — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:23:05 +0000

I tagged along with a friend who needed to pick up some last minute gifts yesterday and found myself in the newly opened, literally closet sized, NYC outpost of K Chocolatier.

K Chocolatier is the new line of luxury chocolates made by Diane Kron, who has been making chocolate for the stars (Andy Warhol, Jackie O, Katherine Hepburn, etc.) since the 1970s and is widely viewed as one of the finest in the country. Their products had been only available in their LA storefronts until a few months ago when this store opened on Madison and 69th. It’s still a family business and Diane’s son was behind the counter offering copious samples and knowledge about the history and products of the company.

Aside from the general line of chocolates, there are two products that really take the cake, so to speak. The first is the ‘HIBALL’, which is a ball of dark chocolate filled with Johnny Walker Blue. This isn’t some sort of scotch flavoring, it’s actual liquid scotch (about 1/2 a shot) contained within rich, dark chocolate walls. The strong scotch taste really hits you when you bite into them, but it mixes incredibly with the dark chocolate and trust me, they are irresistible. If not for the fact that two bites is the equivalent of a shot of scotch….they can get dangerous quickly.

The second is more of a niche/novelty product. It’s called K Sensual and is a mix of various types of cocoa beans and an ancient Chinese concoction of herbs and spices traditionally known as not only an aphrodesiac, but one that specifically effects women. It’s supposed to not only stimulate but intensify ‘the experience.’ The website has a clip from a morning TV show interviewing people who’ve tried it, to apparently great success. It doesn’t do anything for men, so I can’t say I have or will ever try, but could be a fun gift for you boyfriends out there.

Victorian Cycling replaces Hipster Fixed Gears

Theo — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:32:04 +0000

I bought a bowler hat last November because I’ve always wanted to be a hat guy, but didn’t want to fall in line with the fedora trend. I wore it a few times but the constant strange looks and weird comments eventually turned me off from it. Apparently I was about a year too soon. This article in the Times today relates how the Victorian style is coming back in full force, Tweed Vests and Top Hats where there used to be skinny girls’ jeans and colorful sneakers. It mentions how many people are starting to tuck their fitted pants into their boots and wear more classic patterned fabrics (I won’t claim to be any sort of prophet, but a look through old posts will prove prescient). These trends are outcroppings of groups like Tweed.cc and other niche areas of Dandyism.

Tweed.cc is a bicycling club that rides in England, keeping alive traditions of leisurely jaunts through the country side, dressed to the 9’s and carrying the essentials: picnic, wine, finger foods. The Tweed.cc style guide claims that bicycle technology reached it’s pinnacle in the 1970’s with full steel, simply designed bikes, and that fancy new carbon fiber technology “will be rendered irrelevant by a cheese-and-pickle sandwich and a thermos of soup.” Merino wool jerseys keep the rider cool in the summer and warm in the winter, while silk scarves and patterned hats become necessary only on brisk fall afternoons. Luckily for us, this idea has crossed the pond.

Dandies and Quaintrelles, a dandyism blog that organizes such events around the US, has put together the first ‘Semi-Annual DC Tweed Ride’ which will transplant the elegance and attitude of the Londerer’s rides to our nation’s capital. The ride route carves a path through Downtown, painting Pennsylvania and Constitution Ave’s in houndstooth and plaid.

I’m 100% behind this trend, as I believe it is ripe time in America for some sort of return to formality. This country has turned into a nation of slobs, content in their denim and sweatshirt material wardrobes, bemoaning any occasion where a structured jacket or piece of neckwear is expected. If this takes a mainstream track and gets more and more people on the street into hats and coat tails, we will all be better off.

For Those About To Rock

Theo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:19:50 +0000

Rock and Roll never dies, and it’s styles don’t either. I came across a magazine ad for Guess’s new line ‘The Portrait of Rock’ and it looked pretty interesting. Turns out it’s just what it claims to be: a high fashion take on what is always on the shelves at Trash and Vaudeville – studded belts and bracelets, skinny leather jackets, black boots. Pretty cool stuff and pretty reasonable too. Perhaps they are grasping for inspiration, but the rock and roll thing is always right on the border of mainstream, edgy enough to be cool, and classic enough to sell. Check out the shots from the Guess site.

And while we’re on the subject of Rock, check out Danny Clinch, he’s a photographer who specializes in music and concerts. His site and published books are full of incredible shots of musicians that inspire a sense of what it’s really like to be a rocker.

YSL Manifesto – Cool for a Friday

Theo — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:44:14 +0000

Thought I would leave you with some cool shots from the YSL Manifesto on this cool and damp Friday afternoon. Nothing really to say about it except that the photography and design are rad and the juxtaposition of the skin with the clothes leads to some interested effects. Check out the site too for a really righteous video.