SLED IPHONE BEZEL CASE
Stunning gadgets have quickly become a key part of a man’s style: much like a watch used to be the finishing touch to a great look, now it’s an iPhone slipped into the breast pocket of a tailored suit jacket. There are plenty of interesting cases out there, but to make your phone uniquely your own, consider adding a stunning bezel case, created by the talented artisans at Sled. Pick from a variety of beautiful leathers and natural woods, including ash, walnut and cognac shown above. The bezel actually replacing the back of your phone through an easy installation and becomes part of it. There’s also a custom option where you can dial it up with your initials. Our pick? Go with the mountain-lux look of the Ash wood. $79 for the wood cases, $89 for leather, available at Sled. Here are a few more pics: (more…)
SUNDANCE STYLE
Here are three things to bring along if you’re lucky enough to make it to Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival, January 19th through the 29th. Yes, Robert Redford’s Mountain Cineplex is about watching movies, but late-night parties and special events have become essential stops along the way. So pack accordingly: items for staying warm and taking a few runs down the slopes, but nothing too clunky. Think boots that are lighter and slimmed down, a jacket that you can layer underneath accordingly and chic sunglasses to balance the look. You just might score an invite to that late-night (more…)
STARTING TODAY: PITTI IMMAGINE UOMO #81
If you’d like to expand your knowledge on the world of menswear, a good place to start is by simply familiarizing yourself with the industry calendar. There are key dates throughout the year that shape and define the fashion landscape and one of the biggest, and perhaps most prestigious, begins today, January 10th, 2012 in Florence, Italy: Pitti Immagine Uomo. Uomo = Men’s, #81 – the 81st showing of the impressive retail trade show. Although calling it a trade show doesn’t really do Pitti justice – it’s more of a finely-tuned art exhibit than a jumble of overzealous brands and tacky booths. For three days Florence (more…)
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.
MARMOT STOCKHOLM PARKA
If you dig Moncler but find it crazy overpriced and could care less about logos, here’s an alternate version, just as striking, and at $240, a 1/3 the price. The “Stockholm Jacket” from Marmot has the same glossy down-proof fabric (no feathers sticking you while trudging back country), combined with high-quality 650 fill goose down – natures insulator. “Fill Power” measures the quality of down, specifically the amount of cubic space that one ounce of down will fill. For example; one ounce of 650 fill power down will fill 650 cubic inches of space, one ounce of 500 fill, 500 cubic inches of space. To try to make it more clear: a down jacket that (more…)
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.
TOP SITES: MONCLER
Clean, classic and straightforward, Moncler’s website sells an aspirational lifestyle as much as it does expensive winter parkas. While aligning itself with Verbier, Switzerland, one of the top mountain destinations in the world, Moncler puts itself amongst chic company and legitimizes the technical attributes of it’s collection through its partnership with the famous ski school. I’ve skid in Verbier and it’s a pretty extraordinary experience. Driving up a dicey switch back road from the valley far down below, you arrive (more…)
FURTHUR AT RED ROCKS COLORADO
I’m super jealous of a few of my buddies who are heading out to Red Rocks Colorado this weekend for two concerts by “Furthur,” a group formed in 2009 by former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh. If you haven’t been, Red Rocks is one of the most dramatic and (more…)
ASOS BEATBOXING CHOIR TOKYO
This is a fresh and innovative brand extension for shopping site ASOS – As Seen on the Street. Their YouTube channel is killer.
NITTY GRITTY STOCKHOLM
Of the many shops visited in Europe’s most regal city, none was more flawlessly executed and merchandised than Nitty Gritty. Much can be learned by walking through this shop. It takes an expertly trained eye to pick out such a smart mix of brands, from the regulars A.P.C. and Adam Kimmel to the lesser-known, yet just as influential, Visvim and Nigel Cabourn. And if you ever needed ideas on how to divide a store into clear categories while still retaining a seamless, overall point of view, take a look.
KNOW THIS BRAND: HERSCHEL
The Herschel Supply Co. can trace it’s roots way back to the early 1900′s when Peter Alexander Cormack and his wife Annie immigrated from Wick, Scotland, to Herschel, Canada. Cormack was a barrel maker by trade, but fortunately for us, the company transitioned to making highly functional and rugged backpacks and bags. Inspiration is (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…)
THE 5 BEST WAYS TO HANDLE MONEY
I’m not talking about your 401K, that’s not one my strengths, I’m in fashion for gods sakes. I’m talking about how to literally handle your money – taking it from your wallet, paying a check, tipping, using a credit card, etc.
1. THE DATE. I recently watched a guy completely deep-six any chances of getting action following an otherwise stellar dinner date. Once the bill was presented, he leaned to his side like he was suffering stomach cramps and pulled out the biggest wallet I had ever seen. Not so bad, yet. He then put it up directly in front of his face like he was going to smell it and began to slowly review each bill, as if admiring a sweet baseball card collection. I could tell his date (more…)
SAN FRANCISCO RETAIL INTEL
Editors Note: Grant Taylor is a man-about-town in San Francisco who will be reporting in from time to time on all things west coast style. Here is his first post:
SAN FRANCISCO: A city with style, but not too concerned with fashion. The Northern California ideal of achieving cool without really trying defines the sartorial spirit of the city by the bay. While in many ways SF is the antithesis of LA, this is still California, and the blight of the hoodie lives on. Casual comfort is the theme, but SF does have an edge up: generic hipster has given way to a more thoughtful, vintage-loving and well-proportioned wardrobe (as evidenced by the only Freeman’s Sporting Club outside NYC, in the Mission District). It’s easy to dress in lace-up leather boots, hometown Levi’s, and a Pendleton jacket year round in fog city. (more…)
BEST OF: ZARA
I just returned from a two week trip to Italy and Spain and found it interesting to see the differences between Zara in Spain and here in the U.S. Despite the intimidating Euro, prices can still be cheaper in Europe, which was a surprise. Take the jacket above, my favorite item in the Zara store in the massive Madrid airport. It was priced at 99 euros, or $143 dollars based on today’s (more…)
GEORGE CLOONEY FOR OMEGA
I’d love to know how much George Clooney was paid to be the spokesman for Omega watches. This is a beautiful lifestyle shot, capturing him in his summer getaway destination, Lake Como, Italy. Just a short drive from Milan, it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. I spent a week there in July years ago following the men’s fashion shows in Milan. For a hidden gem restaurant visit (more…)
THE MAINE GUIDE ROLLING DUFFLE
I finally broke down recently and bought luggage with rollers. I didn’t like the look of pretty much everything out there and always just carried everything over the shoulder. An upcoming trip to Italy and Spain with kid in tow made that no longer possible. The Maine Guide Rolling Duffle is the perfect size, you do need to check it, but fits tons of clothes and gear. The look is rugged and the waxed cotton fabric durable. It doesn’t quite look like a roller, with subtle handle and wheels. If you’re in the market, this is a good choice. $250, available at LL Bean.
FALL LAYERING WITH PATAGONIA
Patagonia is such a cool brand, if you’re a guy who spends a ton of time in a city or at a desk, just flipping through the catalog will make you feel like a wuss. Every dude featured in it is either hanging off a precipice sans rope or barreling down some ridiculous trail off piste with nothing but skis and a bright orange Patagonia ski parka. There are however lots of great items for guys (more…)
URBANEARS FROM STOCKHOLM
These bold headphones are on just about every subway car in NYC this summer. Made by Urbanears from Sweden, the Plattan sounds more like a piece of furniture from Ikea but there’s nothing boring about them. Name aside, these are fantastic headphones with 15 colors to pick from and many great features. Number one would have to be the Zoundplug, a socket (more…)
AUGUST ESCAPES: TOSSA DE MAR SPAIN
Just two hours north of Barcelona lies Tossa De Mar, a stunning little seaside town with beautiful beaches, happy outgoing people and a massive, dramatic castle set into a stone outcropping at one end of the bay. While everyone else flocks to Italy or Greece, go your own way and explore the coastal area along the Mediterranean (more…)
