THE PADDED VEST BY H&M
We always appreciate well priced good style here at Style Ledger and there’s no better example then this sporty padded vest by H&M. At $59, it’s a smart spring buy for a layer that can do it all: wear it over a dress shirt for the office, or under a sport jacket when sunny afternoons turn to chilly April nights. The stand up collar with white stripes adds just the right amount of collegiate cool. $59, available at H&M.
THE MAKING OF: PRADA DRIVING SHOES
True artistry at work.
THE CONWAY WATCH
Jack Spade only recently got into the watch game, but they arrived with guns blazing – red hot. Their collection of timepieces are both well designed and reasonably priced, an often hard to find combination in the elitist world of one-upmanship that is the watch industry. You can either go low and embrace the everyman approach, like Swatch, or shoot for the stars, with mighty Rolex. For a versatile, summer friendly option, go with the Conway. It comes in three colorways, but as red is our favorite color this season, try something new and bold. $298, available at Jack Spade.
FRIDAYS SONG
SUMMER SPORT
Here are four fun items for the beach or lawn this summer, beer coozie not included. Adidas Country Jacket, $78, available at Adidas. The key is to balance out the sporty look with casual items and avoid pairing with hi-tech running shoes – unless you’re in training. Riviera blue mid-length swim trunks, $240, available at Orlebar Brown. Pricey, but notice the mid-length cut of these shorts. Styles that cover the the knee are too long. Island Slipper, $89, available at Island Slipper. Handmade in Hawaii since 1946, these incredibly comfortable flip flops are right up there at the top of a very crowded field. Artemare beach racquets, $190, available at Threads & Fins. This beautiful set is constructed in California using hardwoods, including American pine, walnut, teak, purple heart and African mahogany. The set comes with a ball used traditionally in racquet ball, making your game more challenging then traditional paddle beach racquets.
WATER BY MORGAN MAASSEN
Stunning.
THE Gi ELECTRIC BIKE
No word yet on when the Gi, a fold-able electric bike, will be available, but from the looks of it, it’s a winner. Incredibly lightweight, it easily folds to a manageable size with a simple flip action. It’s also loaded with cool tech features like an internal GPS hub that links to your apps and maps, and a lock you can control from your iPhone. It also runs 40 miles while on battery, not bad for when your legs get a bit tired and you just want to cruise about town.
And from a branding strategy, it’s smart that they’ve put together a well-designed website in advance of their Kickstarter campaign. Too often we receive links to Kickstarter efforts and it’s the first you’ve ever heard of a hopeful product. A good strategy is to create a teaser like the team at Gi has done with their press release, website and short video. Get people behind the effort before asking for dough.
APRIL KICKS
You can’t go wrong with any of the sharp colorways from the iconic Stan Smith line of sneakers from Adidas, but we’re feeling red for spring. When paired with navy denim and a white or gray v-neck tee, there’s a laid back, All-American sportswear vibe that’s just right for warm weekend afternoons. $75, available at Adidas.
JUPITER ASCENDING
This actually looks pretty cool. Let’s hope it’s better than director Andy Wachowski’s last film, “Cloud Atlas,” that left audience asking themselves “WTF was that??” Jupiter Ascending hits theaters July 18, 2014.
LA STYLE: MODERNIST CHAIRS
Having good style isn’t just about dressing well and wearing the right clothes. It’s about living a complete lifestyle, from knowing how to pick out a great bottle of wine, to playing a killer playlist while entertaining, to setting up your home with timeless, beautiful pieces. LA-based company Modernica has created a series of fiberglass chairs that trace their roots to the late 1940′s and furniture pioneer Sol Fingerhut. Using a high pressure fiberglass molding process, the result was an ultra strong industrial grade material with a beautiful depth of color and translucency that made this chair (more…)
GANT OCEAN ACADEMY
It would be very easy to find an actual working yacht with handsome sailors who know how to work a boat. Instead the minds behind “Ocean Academy” have cast five models with perfect hair and not a single callous to look like students of the sea. It’s asking a lot, especially if you’ve ever spent time on the water, where things get worn and rustic fast. But the imagery isn’t the main problem, it’s the (more…)
SAINT LAURENT VS. AIR JORDAN 1
Saint Laurent’s supremely talented designer Hedi Slimane must be a huge Michael Jordan fan, because that’s clearly where the inspiration for his SL “Court” high tops came from. The sneaker has a very similar look and feel, and shares the same colorways, available in black & red, or black & blue. The biggest difference? The price tag – $570 for the SL’s, $140 for the Jordan’s – just good luck finding a pair, they’re hard to come by.
THE STYLISH COMMUTER
A healthy and stylish spring resolution: spend more time on a bicycle – made easier if it’s as sweet a ride as the Gaston 5 from Linus. It’s subtle and timeless, with a beautiful cream color scheme, white wheels and chocolate brown leather seat and handles. The best part about this old school looking bike? It’s thoroughly modern when it comes to the mechanisms. It has an internal gear shifter, with legit levers on the frame, instead of the cheaper, more popular plastic twist shifters. Grab your favorite book and head to the park, then the office. $769, available for online order at Linus.
ALL TIME GREATS
“Brass Monkey” by The Beastie Boys live on Soul Train. Priceless.
“Ordinary World” by Duran Duran. This video is so 80′s it hurts. In a good way.
“Your Silent Face” by New Order. All time classic.
“True” by Spandau Ballet 1985. Remember Live Aid?
CLASSIC WHITE
Par down and simplify with a basic tee and classic white accessories. Armani Exchange makes one of the best v-neck tee shirts out there, with the perfect fit: the sleeve length falls to middle of the bicep, the v doesn’t plunge too far, and it’s fitted on the sides. Get it in both light gray and white. $25 available at Armani Exchange. As the tee is cheap, you can spend more on your kicks – the “Achilles” by Common Projects is the best of the bunch. Streamlined and subtle, in a matte white leather, $410, available at Mr. Porter. And finally, an off-white, cream colored corded belt keeps the look relaxed and summer appropriate. $85, available at Gant.
