I’ve been having this thought lately….that I feel like I have no influence on the physical world anymore. I get up, stumble around in my apartment getting ready for the day, walk downstairs and out into the street. I wait for the bus, or I wait for the train, or I walk somewhere. Enter a building, wait for the elevator. Walk to my desk. Wait for emails and telephone calls. Wait for the day to be over so I can wait for a train or a cab or walk home. I feel like my effect on the physical world is negligible. If I didn’t get up and leave my apartment all the buses and trains and elevators would still run filled by other people moving throughout their lives. Don’t get me wrong, I still feel MENTALLY and SOCIALLY connected and active, just not physically. The only time I feel connected and aware of the physicality of existence is the hour spent playing indoor soccer on the weekends, bumping into walls and against other players as we scramble around NYC high school gyms, chasing an giant tennis ball.

So this spring and summer I am going to reconnect with both my roots and my grounding in this city. I am going to feel the concrete under my feet and probably under my jeans when I’m sprawled out on the sidewalk somewhere. My new method of transportation:

OK well, I probably won’t be doing anything like that rad dude, but I am committed to getting some exercise and ripping up some curbs on the way to work in the AM. I ordered a complete from CCS and it’ll be here in 8-10 business days….and I cannot wait, especially with the next 5 days being sunny and in the high 50s, promising spring to arrive soon. I got the Zero Safari deck:

…which I think elicits a new pair of sneakers and some new colorful summer wear. Maybe a new pair of DC Pure’s…

…or classic Van’s Chukkas.

And just to prove I’m not crazy, skateboarding as a reliable means of transportation is nothing new. Check out this article about Matthew Settle, the all-American dad-rocker on Gossip Girl, who is crazy enough to skate through traffic in Times Square, and look good doing it! So think about how you move in the world and how, if at all, you connect with the tangible world around you, and if you’re feeling disconnected, try skateboarding!

Well, the warm weather has begun teasing we New Yorkers about the coming Spring, and with these warm mornings and bright sunny afternoons comes the shedding of winter mentality and layers. I refuse to wear another warm coat. If I freeze so be it, I am willing it to be warm out. Winter is almost over…

…and with the passing of this season makes the second winter that has come and gone without the bowler hat becoming popular again.

I bought one at Lord and Taylor in the fall of ‘08 dedicated to bringing it back, or if that doesn’t work, making it ‘my thing.’ As I’m sure you all know, they haven’t come back. And despite trying as best I could to wear it in public, it just never became my thing. I always felt kind of clowny wearing it…like it was just screaming ‘hey everyone; look! I’m wearing an unnecessarily silly hat!’ I’m beginning to think these have been relegated to costume/period pieces and aren’t ever going to be popular again. But why? I start looking at the perception of bowler hats in popular culture and realize they have become ’silly.’

The trademark of the most famous goofball/slap stick comedian of our time….

Iconic of the faceless, soulless business man….

Stuffy article reserved for royalty….

Are there any others? Needless to say, this is a healthy list of stereotyping bowler hats. The conception of bowlers and people who wear them has been forever tarnished. They’ll never really come back. It’s too bad too…they are very comfortable and warm hats. But one cannot change history. On to the next trend!

Note: I apologize for my absense lately. Starting a new job and a computer hard drive crash have been pretty all encompassing recently, but I will try to keep up the frequency from now on.

Last night was the Academy Awards. The night were all of Hollywood asks their stylists to dress them up in something stunning and different so they can in turn be the subject of talking heads across the internet, print, and TV worlds. Well here is my take: I can’t get on board with the ‘Dress Sneakers’ thing. Here are some of the examples I found just checking out the net….some examples from Dior, DSquared2, and Topman.

Wearing sneakers with suits has been more and more popular lately, especially with the styles and materials that make up sneakers changing a lot. Where sneakers used to be all canvas and rubber, all functional for skateboarding, running, etc., designers are embracing sneakers as the next item to mold and reinvent. I’m 100% for cool stylish new sneaker designs, but don’t wear them with tuxedos on the red carpet.

I have nothing against RDJ as a man and actor, just as a man wearing sneakers and a tuxedo. Taking a traditional outfit and tweaking one part of it to make it unique is the basis of fashion innovation, but a man’s shoes are something that should set the tone of the rest of the outfit. Want to refresh a boring tuxedo? Do something with a tie color/style, or maybe a hat or patterned scarf. I would even prefer something as outlandish as NPH’s sequin sparkle tux jacket to sneakers. They say a man can be judged by the quality and style of his shoes. When wearing a tuxedo, keep the shoes nice and dress down something else.

If you’ve read any of my previous posts you know I am not a big proponent of jeans. I’ve already ranted about this before, so I won’t go through it all again, but you can imagine my disappointment with the US Snowboarding teams uniforms.

Designed by Burton, they are relatively plain and straightforward. A plaid ski jacket with a large crest on the front and jean look-a-like snowpants. Snowboard fashion often is highlighted by bright patterns and flashy designs, plaid is huge right now on the slopes and in the streets, and let’s not forget how popular tartan patterns are this winter. The choice makes total sense, it’s topical, trendy, reserved but still flashy. It reflects current styles, especially the large logo crest which is reminiscent of the large crests Ralph Lauren has all over his latest stuff.

I get it. But shouldn’t snowboard fashion, which is often outlandish and convention-breaking, lead the charge into some new stylish area instead of simply reflect the common trends of the day? This is the Olympics, where the best in the world come together to represent our country and pioneer new feats of strength and skill. Burton decided to clad our snowboarders, a sport where the US is way out in front of everyone else, in drab tartan plaid jackets with Ralph Lauren rip off crests? Unfortunate.

What is even MORE unfortunate is the jean pants. Jeans are bad enough already (look back to old posts for more anti-denim ranting), one thing that was always differentiating about snowsport fashion was the loud patterns and colors of the snowpants. To cover our most elite athletes in denim look-a-like is a sad reflection of our nation’s gradual slide into ‘casual’ homogeneity.

Articles abound about how young men are shifting back to the dressed up styles of the past and breaking with our parents generations feeling that success was the opportunity to dress down. We young men are embracing style and saying to the world that we can be gentlemen, look good, and live well in the world. Perhaps Burton could have played off this feeling rather than paint the blank canvas of snowpants with something as quotidian as denim.

…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.

If you’re anywhere near the music scene in NY you’re familiar with the absolute explosion of electro-pop bands like MGMT and Passion Pit. I certainly love these bands and while I’m not about to claim that they are ground breaking musicians or song writers, they are catchy and fun to listen and dance to. That said, beware: beyond their upbeat, colorful, uber-pop is something very sinister….

They say that fashion in financial downturns becomes colorful and showy to give people something to smile about despite other more negative aspects of life. I don’t mean extravagant in price or ‘luxurious’ as it were…but more flamboyant in accessories, colors, styles, etc. Styles that need not be more expensive thought; if the trend is what it is there will be options at all price levels. This has been reflected in the growing focus on mens fashion and how the things men are wearing today are much more daring and colorful than in recent years. Articles about this have been in the Times, GQ, etc. so I won’t rant further about it. Another example I’ve noticed recently is that the aforementioned electro-pop scene has adopted quite a flamboyant style of its own. One reminiscent of a wonderfully horrific time in our fashion history….let’s take a look at some of the big bands on the scene right now:

First, and arguable foremost, is MGMT:

Here’s a little montage from Around the Bend by Asteroids Galaxy tour….

How about these shots from Dress to Digress by Boy Crisis….

Last one….Here’s an album shot of Empire of the Sun….

Look familiar at all? The flowy shimmering gowns…the old school repeated rainbow mirror imaging in the music videos…the bohemian/glam beads, sequin accessories and patterned tunics….long hair and mustaches behind a soft focus camera lens and back lit glowing smoke. Anyone? Anyone?

That’s right! Disco. Make your own judgments based on personal tastes and experiences….but the similarities are striking. Here is a compilation of screen shots from classic disco videos.

Perhaps the crowds that see these bands will start channeling Travolta in both attitude and appearance. We’d all be better off….right?

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….

This past summer I had the realization that we are all slaves to trends. Not all, of course, some people wear the same cargo khakis and t-shirts their whole lives, and if they are comfortable with that, then carry on, god speed. But most people at least to some degree follow trends, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We all want to fit in, or stand out, or be different, or whatever. Often, standing out and being different turns into trends and then what once was eye catching becomes common, and trend setters have to keep pushing the bounds. This is the natural cycle of style. So this past summer I remember showing up to meet some friends in Hell’s Kitchen and I was wearing the ubiquitous heather grey deep neck V t-shirt and jeans…similar to this fellow:

The first few times I wore this sort of shirt it elicited comments or laughs…which is the point of wearing what we wear right? To be noticed? To stand out? By the third or forth time, it became common place, people expected everyone to be wearing such shirts. They were everywhere. So the V’s started getting deeper, and the pants started getting shorter…and I thought to myself, ’self, this is a ridiculous trend. This may be the first trend I’ve followed that I’ll look back on and laugh in 20 years.’

In the 60s, it was tie die ponchos and birkenstocks, the 70s polyester suits, the 80s….well we all know what the 80s were all about. I imagine that back in those days people saw these trends developing, dabbled in some new outfits, and received laughs and comments. But then after awhile it became common place, everyone was doing it. So it got bigger and better, bell bottoms got wider, neon vests got shinier, hair got first longer, then bigger. And it was 100% serious in the moment, just like we are 100% serious right about about hipster moustaches, skinny high-water jeans, and ray ban sunglasses. (maybe not 100% serious…websites like www.latfh.com parody at least the hipster movement. Surely there were similar sentiments during all the previous trend decades, but there wasn’t an easy universal outlet like we have today with the interwebs). So I’ll leave you with this picture…surely our fathers looked like this one day. And one day, our children will look at pictures of us and laugh just as much.

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!

Winter is the season of black and white. Dark nights, snowy mornings, black coats, pasty white skin. All one sees in these dreary months are the extremes, the harsh colors of the winter wardrobe repelling the harsher winds of January. In NYC, it’s even worse. The tall buildings block out what little sun there is in the afternoon, and the wind funnels down the avenues creating tunnels of misery. So we respond with layers upon layers of black jackets, gloves, scarves, and hats. Perhaps it’s because black absorbs the sun and keeps us warm? No, that can’t be it…there’s no sun on the streets of Manhattan. Perhaps it’s because we are morning for the passing of the lovelier months and the love they bring to us, be it sunny summer afternoon, runs through the park, or rooftop drinks with good friends. Or perhaps it’s because we think we look good in black. It’s ’slimming’ and hides a lot of our wintery selves, which we inevitably ‘let go’ due to the desire to hibernate instead of track to the gym.

A good friend of mine says that all girls in NYC are, at any one time in the day, wearing two of the following three things:
1. Boots
2. Jeans
3. Something black
I would say that it’s more like all of those things at all points of the day. And it’s not just true of females here, I myself don’t own a black jacket, but I do wear boots and jeans very often. So does everyone, it only makes sense.

But a look at this article may sway you. Apparently, 4 out of 5 of us look old and sad in our black outfits, not slim and sexy like we thought. I’ve been saying since the beginning that breaking up the monotony and depression of winter with brightly colored clothes is not only good style sense but also good for your psyche. Throw on a camel coat and a tartan scarf! Mix some patterned scarves and red gloves in with that dark coat! Wear those white pants with your heavy jacket!

You’ll feel better and add a little bit of pizzazz to the world.

Oh, and Happy New Year.