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.
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…)
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…)
BEST OF: FJALLRAVEN
Fjallraven is one of those cooler outdoor lifestyle brands that you may never have heard of. Based in Sweden, the company began manufacturing day packs over 50 years ago. “Fjallraven” translates to arctic fox in Swedish, in case you we’re wondering. Here are a few top picks from their website: The Fjell jacket in Uncle Blue, $230. This is a highly water resistant, wind proof and durable jacket that isn’t bulky, making it a perfect year-round option. Vintage Retro L backpack in bold red, $130. This is where the company shines, and (more…)
LOUISE VUITTON SHOE MAKING
A charming look at the making of Louis Vuiton loafers in the Fiesso d’Artico’s workshops. Fiesso d’Artico is a town in the Province of Venice, known for it’s incredibly talented artisans who handcraft the world’s best shoes. High prices make a bit more sense after viewing the manufacturing process.
RS BARCELONA FOOSBALL TABLE
Foosball is one of the best (and most underrated) social games as it’s quick paced, involves four players, takes up 1/4 of the floor space a pool table requires and most importantly, anyone can play (just no spinning). The R#3 model from RS Barcelona is a great summer option as it has no plastic parts and is entirely made of weather-resistant steel. The steel is coated in an electrophoresis process to keep it shiny and new for endless games – both indoors and out. It can be easily relocated from room to room, poolside to terrace. Make sure to get cup holders that snap easily onto the sides for holding ice cold beer bottles. $2,650 available at A+R Store. Check out the other color options: (more…)
SUEDE BROGUES BY MARK MCNAIRY
A smart looking pair of lighter color, beautiful shoes can really brighten up your spring look. These stone colored suede wingtips from Mark McNairy New Amsterdam will match up nicely with jeans or khakis, or a navy or light gray suit. Balance the sophisticated look of the shoes by wearing a simple classic white tee shirt. Stone suede longwing brogue, $385, available at Mark McNairy.
THE GAME CHANGER: NIKE FLYKNIT
Just a few weeks ago on February 24th Nike announced the launch of their latest shoe called the Flyknit and shares of the company have already seen a steady rise on massive expectations. The design teams goal was to create a shoe that felt like a sock, yet could stand up to the pounding of a runner’s life. The answer: yarns and fabric variations are used to form a featherweight, formfitting upper. It’s not only revolutionary, it’s more cost effective and simpler to manufacture – with one knit piece used for the upper vs. stitching multiple panels together. Keep a close eye on the Flyknit – the next step for Nike is to create retail stations where customers can get fit for a custom woven shoe. (more…)
SPRING COLOR
Oh man, these sweatshirts make beautiful spring afternoons in the park seem that much closer. Waiting on deck with a cold beverage in one hand, softball bat in the other is an April rite of passage. And as Robe Lowe proved in About Last Night, the diamond can be a hot spot for meeting the ladies; going so far as to meet, fall in love, and later reconcile with a very hot 1986 Demi Moore, all by a dugout. What’s good about these sweatshirts is the bold, fresh colors, and reasonable price, only $48. Color block sweatshirts by Alternative, available at Stag, Austin. Royal blue gets put at the top of our line up. (more…)
AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL
Check out this classic picture of Paul Newman chilling on his enduro motorcycle in the hills of California looking like the man. After dominating the acting scene for decades Newman became a passionate race car driver, placing 2nd at the grueling Le Mans 24 hour race in 1979 – an impressive feat for a driver who only got his start at the age of 47. He attributed his entrance into racing as a way to quell his intense competitiveness – and only half-jokingly – to provide a break from the terrible scripts coming his way. Take a lesson from this true original: it’s never too late for adventure. Toys for the garage: KTM 350 XC-W, $9,600. Any enduro racer worth his dirt knows that KTM is the bike of choice (more…)
THE DEMON OF SCREAMIN
Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler peformed the national anthem at yesterday’s AFC Championship game between the Patriots and Ravens and it was more humorously entertaining then a well-executed performance. He did a good enough job, although the press this morning has been ripping him up. It was a fair choice to have Tyler perform – his range may be “limited” but his passion for the Patriots and his New England roots go deep. His choice of outfit was kind of funny: leather and fur jacket, running shoes and a vintage logo tee shirt – looked like he had just come from the Salvation Army en route to the game. As he concluded the national anthem, a massive Hercules C130 military plane roared overhead, a welcome relief to the fading voice of the “Demon of Screamin.”
BACKYARDS BY MARMOT
This is a terrific video because it shows skiers you’re less likely to know of: the incredibly talented, smart guides and members of the ski patrol who’s main job is to help people experience the great outdoors while staying safe. Instead of Spicoli on skis talking about how rad he is and how much “pow pow” dumped last night, you get down-to-earth Mike Leake of the Grand Targhee, Wyoming ski patrol discussing his authentic love for skiing, respect for the mountain and unique way of life. A natural, soft-sell brand extension for Marmot.
TRIBUTE TO THE PIONEERS OF SKIING
This is a great tribute to the pioneers of skiing by Warren Miller, inventor of the adventure skiing film genre. It’s also a pitch-perfect look at original alpine mountain style that is currently so popular. Inspiration by simply looking back.
JORDAN: LOVE THE GAME
Check out this great Nike spot, debuted during this past week’s Monday Night Football game. The song is “Rhythm” by Awol One & Daddy Kev.
GLOBE BICYCLES
I spotted this bicycle yesterday on the streets on New York and had to stop and find out the manufacturer. Had never heard of Globe before but am now a fan. Take a look at their great line-up of bicycles that are well positioned for those laid-back riders who enjoy a good brisk fall ride, minus the spandex. Globe is a spin-off of the popular mountain bike company Specialized. The above model is the Daily 1, and will run you a very reasonable $550.
SKEPPSHULT BICYCLES
Spotted on the streets of Stockholm, the “Promenade” from Skeppshult. It’s the steel chain guard, fenders and rack that give it an old-school 1950′s classic Chrysler look. Founded in 1911, the Swedish company is known for their beautiful, handbuilt, and expensive, bicycles, with their “V” model used as a hugely popular commuter across Europe. With the addition of successful public bike sharing programs in Minneapolis and now NYC, there may come a day when two wheels become more popular than four. For a list of U.S. dealerships: info@skeppshultbikes.com. Here’s a pic of the V: (more…)
MOUNTAIN MEN by DARRELL HARTMAN
Born in Maine and based in New York, Darrell Hartman writes about society, fashion, adventure travel, and other topics. He’s covered the Met Gala and worked as a ranger in the U.S. Forest Service. A recent backpacking trip in Utah inspired him to write about mountaineering style in his first post for SL. He tweets at @darrellhartman and keeps his writings on darrellhartman.com.
DH - Menswear has been on a mountain high lately – never mind that the majority of guys wearing these alpine-inspired looks are hiking up to the third or fourth floor at most. But hey, he’s capable of reaching great heights metaphorically. He’s got a sense of adventure. (more…)
UCLA SUMMER BASEBALL HAT
Baseball hats can vary dramatically, they’re either douchey or cool, this one is awesome. Worn and ready to go, California dreamin. $38, available at Kitson.
ONE TO WATCH: ALEX MORGAN
Alex Morgan is the youngest member of the U.S. Women’s World Cup team at 22, and certainly the hottest. If you haven’t been watching the tournament, tune in to the final on Sunday at 2:45 E.T. as the team takes on Japan. A former All-American at Cal, she’s (more…)
FORMALWEAR FOR THE TALLER ATHLETE
Formalwear can be a challenge for taller men. Take this pic of Novak Djokovic and his beautiful girlfriend Jelena Ristic at the Wimbledon Champions Ball. Notice that the jacket fits well enough, although it could go in on the sides a bit and it’s almost too long. It’s the trousers that end up suffering. Djokovic is in ridiculous shape and at 6’2″ he’s probably a 42 Long jacket (more…)
