A BRAZILIAN PLAYLIST
A few songs, including “Towa Tei” by Technova, courtesy of our DJ who spun old-school Bossa Nova at last night’s Havaiana’s party at The Webster in Miami Beach.
THE WEBSTER MIAMI LIBRARY
You can tell a lot about a retail store by simply perusing their collection of magazines and books for sale, and this certainly holds true for the eternally chic Webster in Miami Beach. I’m in town for a store event tonight and had a few moments to flip through their impressive lobby library, curated with the same attention to detail and impeccable taste that has defined their unique collection of brands. Attached are a few shots of books you might find interesting, and magazines worth flipping through, including the massive 600-page hard cover “magazine” shown above, “Fashion for Men” by Milan Vukmirovic, one of The Webster’s founders. (more…)
DOLCE & GABBANA & YOUTUBE
This is one of the best uses of a YouTube channel, particularly for a luxury fashion house. Dolce & Gabbana’s recently relaunched YouTube page opens with a cheeky 60′s inspired video montage “Italiana,” directed by Luca Finotti, starring Bianca Balti & Anna Orso as a chic mother-daughter tandem cruising along the Italian Riviera. You have the option (more…)
ADIDAS ORIGINAL PROJECTION VIDEO
Super creative, great kicks. Buy them here, in perhaps the best color ever: “pool.” (more…)
TOP SUMMER SUNGLASSES
The new “Nelson” sunglasses by Gant Rugger have a silhouette favored by Paul Newman during his blazing hot, iconic career. It’s the classic tortoise shell frame and subtle green lenses that makes them cool. Bling them up with gold accents and big logos and the charm is lost – unless you like hanging out with ravers in Ibiza. (“It’s pronounced Ibitha!”). Nelson by Gant Rugger, $125, available at Gant.
MADE IN MAINE: RANCOURT & CO.
Tucked away amongst massive, long abandoned brick warehouses along the Androscoggin River in Lewiston, Maine, sits a small, rather unassuming building humming with activity, and doing big things. Rancourt & Company is a third generation, family owned and operated business who’s commitment to the art of shoe making is genuine and timely – with only a handful of shoe manufacturers remaining in the U.S., word has quickly gotten out to an American menswear industry consumed with all things “Made in the U.S.A.” I recently made the trip north to see the factory, and meet with Kyle Rancourt, the youngest member of the family business. He discussed the companies history, their signature shoe and what it means to be “Made in Maine.”
Rancourt & Company is a family owned American business, tell me briefly about the company and the unique skill set of its workers? My family is in its third continuous generation of shoe making in Maine – with Rancourt & Co. my father and I really had a goal of expanding beyond the contract manufacturing we’d done in the past and creating our own brand that reflected our heritage and the skill set of our craftspeople. The skill set in our factory is really unique because we have the ability to (more…)
THE BELLEVILLE BY TREK
The stunning Belleville by Trek is a great option for riders who put comfort and style at the top of their list, who’s riding gear involves flip flops, not spandex. Designed in timeless cream and dark gray powder with color-matched fenders, chainguard, front and rear racks and dynamo-powered front and rear lights. $750. For a list of retailers, click here.
FAHLGREN TIES AT STAG
I’m excited and honored to have my new spring tie collection carried at Stag in Austin, Texas – one of the top menswear stores in America. Check out their newly designed web shop, a testament to the vision and creativity of owners Steve Shuck, Don Weir, Ted Allen, Bobby Johns & Joel Mozsersky. Their mission statement says it all: “STAG is classic and modern; traditional and progressive; new and old; respectful and rebellious. We’re several parts clothing, part antique, part gift, part accessory, and part apothecary. We’re a modern day general store for every man.” www.stagaustin.com
CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 2
Expect to see ridiculous sales figures from Activision come November when the latest Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is released. The original Black Ops made $650 million in it’s first five days – blowing away the best 5 day gross record by a movie: The Dark Knight at a comparatively modest $250 million. Here’s the recently released trailer.
GENTLEMEN AT THE MET
The Costume Institute Gala, considered fashion’s biggest stage, was held last night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The focus naturally lands on the women in attendance but here are a few men’s looks worth covering. Number one would go to Tom Brady and his daring, aggressive side swept Mohawk. You could imagine Tom and Gisele debating the merits of such a look, with her throwing out David’s Beckham’s global marketability as proof that taking bold sartorial/hairtorial? action leads to campaigns beyond the world of Uggs. I personally think it just barely works. Those salty New Englanders pulling lobster traps off the coast of Maine? That’s another story. But it’s the off season, so Tom can have fun with it. The Tim Tebow show officially arrived in New York and he played it (more…)
VINTAGE TENNIS STYLE
Tennis season is upon us, take a cue from Swedish champion Lennart Bergelin (2nd from left) and go clean and classic. Bright neon fancy shoes that look like snowboard boots are en vogue, but unless you’re Nadal, a solid pair of classic tennis sneakers will provide more then enough support. They also look a lot cooler, and are more versatile, as they can be worn on and off the court. The Nylite sneaker by Tretorn was ‘born’ in 1967 and is widely (more…)
SUMMER GROOMED: MALIN + GOETZ
If you’d like to update your grooming routine this summer, and not just your closet, Malin + Goetz is a great place to start. Launched in 2004 as a simple and honest local apothecary in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood by Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz, the company quickly expanded to wholesale operations. You can now find their perfectly branded products in just about every hip hotel across the country. Their refreshing peppermint shampoo cools, stimulates and clarifies your hair and scalp – a great way to start the morning. $20. And always protect your face: their oil-free Vitamin E facial moisturizer gently hydrates your skin with soothing chamomile and works for all skin types. $45. Best paired with a white tee shirt and flip flops.
L.L. BEAN TRAIL MODEL JACKET
As we’re in the midst of a rain soaked week all along the east coast, it brings up memories of summers spent in Maine, running around in a battered and duct-taped bright yellow L.L. Bean rain jacket. They’ve updated the jacket a bit by making it more lightweight and durable, but here it is, in all it’s unfaded glory. It’s the perfect remedy to summer squalls, and although you could go with subtle navy or black, yellow just looks cooler and will brighten up an otherwise dreary day. $69, available at L.L. Bean.
JAMES PERSE LIMITED EDITION SKATEBOARD
Designer James Perse showcases his incredible versatility through a series of limited edition works of art, including this stunning 70′s inspired skateboard. Capturing the soul of Souther California, each board is individually handcrafted in Los Angeles from select solid walnut planks accented with solid wenge strips for added stability. You can go with a longboard for casually cruising around town, or a standard kicktail board meant for freestyling. For pricing and buying information, visit the James Perse site. (more…)
DOLCE & GABBANA THE ONE SPORT
“You smell good” is one of the most basic compliments a woman can give a man. It’s also one of the safer and more lighthearted approaches a woman can take if she happens to be interested in you, which can be quite helpful, as most women wait for men to approach them first. Make it easier on yourself and give her a reason to come closer by finding a memorable scent for the upcoming summer. My favorite fragrance for the past few years has been (more…)
SUMMER RUGGED
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
We often forget that there is a tougher side to summer, one with a spirit of adventure that provides as much, if not more of a vacation for the body and mind than leisure pursuits. Instead of the beach, head to the mountains, or the fields, or best case scenario, the forests of Yellowstone, our nation’s greatest National Park. For an east coast option, head north to Acadia National Park, Maine and watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, and hear the ocean crack at Thunder Rock. If you make the trek, pack accordingly. The Wabasha Chukka boots (more…)
RETAIL SIGHTING: PATCH ATTACK
This is an interesting trend that’s certainly not new, but seems to be having a moment and will be appearing en masse come fall. Authentic-looking patches, purposefully frayed and sewn on (by a machine) with a hand-stitched look. Ralph Lauren is very clever when it comes to presenting clothing as part of a romantic and story – despite the fact that these clothes are brand new and not part of a “Himalayas RLPC” or “Broadpeak PRL Expedition” outfit. The closest these jackets will come to the Himalayas was during their fly-over from China. Disingenuous? maybe, clever? to be sure. (more…)
BEST OF: ATLANTA
If you’re tired and bored of your typical dress shirt and tie daily uniform, these portraits from last night’s Gucci & GQ event in Atlanta might provide a bit of inspiration. Sophisticated, daring, unique, with graphic color, contrasting patterns, homemade bow ties, sparkling tie pins and perhaps my favorite, a small badge written in Japanese that translated to “I Love Kyoto” – the exclusive city and hub of luxury in Japan. The new dandy is alive and doing quite well in Atlanta. Here are the close ups: (more…)
TOP SHOP: MOSCOT BROOKLYN
Here’s a great example of superior windows: the new Moscot eye wear store in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. It reads like a trophy case featuring the “Moscot Sun World Champions 2012″ – a collection of moody, beautiful characters who look like offspring from an Addams Family – Royal Tenenbaum’s tryst. Well conceived and perfectly executed, this new shop looks right at home in a neighborhood that values hip originality. Here’s the full squad: (more…)
CASUAL PREP: GITMAN VINTAGE
Wearing a dress shirt and tie doesn’t have to be stuffy. Just take a stroll across any New England prep school and you’ll notice a purposefully disheveled approach, with loosely knotted ties, untucked, wrinkled shirts and who-knows-what type of trouser. It’s charming at age 14, but fast forward to 28 and you’ll need to tighten things up a bit. Tuck the shirt back in, wear fitted trousers that compliment your shape, but keep the tie loose. Casual prep is a hugely popular trend at the moment, with “The Hilfigers” campaign a perfect example of old meets new. Take classic inspired American sportswear, (more…)
