Quickies: The Most Hipster Thing Ever Made and A Few Other Things

Thing the First
I present to you the most hipster thing ever made:

We can't see the entire bike, but it's no doubt a fixie. And really? You need to bring a single beer with you on your bike ride? Well, at least it's a PBR so you can keep your hipster cred. If you want to become a hipster or you live in Portland, you can get this thing here for $64.00. It's handmade, so that's legit...

Also. PBR is not good beer. Ever.

Second Thing

Daniel Radcliffe goes DB:

Daniel Radcliffe is a fairly well dressed man about town. And this isn't exactly bad, but it's just not his best work. Consider that Harry is only a hair over 5'5", which is not exactly tall; one might even call him a bit short. As such, he should be considering his stature when he's dressing (or rather, his stylist should). And in this case, the four button (instead of the traditional six), makes him seem even shorter. To add to this miniaturizing effect, the jacket is cut about an inch shorter than it should be. With that said, it fits him perfectly otherwise. (via Esquire)

Third

Scott Morrison has started two denim companies in the past (Paper Denim & Cloth and Earnest Sewn), both of which have been wildly successful. So here is a man who knows denim. So for his third venture, he upped the ante (or at least his overhead), and decided to start 3x1 (a reference to denim's standard weaving construction and to the fact that it is Morrison's third venture.

They provide three levels of service: ready-to-wear, custom, and bespoke. The ready-wear-jeans are pre-made and ready to go; you get to pick the buttons and rivets and they hem them onsite, so within 20 minutes you've got a new pair of amazing jeans. For custom, you choose the rise and leg fit their cuts, then choose the stitching and back pocket design. Bespoke is from scratch, a jean made just for you, to measure. It also starts off at $1200. Pretty ridiculous. Ready-to-wear jeans range from $295-$395. Also ridiculous. But also some of the best jeans that you'll ever own. 

Quickies: Outerwear Done Right

The good people at Things Is Cool just posted up about Stone Island's coats, and I must say, they are quite nice. Stone Island is a well-known brand on the other side of the pond, but here in the US, nary a soul has a clue about the label. The company is an offshoot of the popular Italian brand C.P. Company (think Banana Republic, but much better quality). In 1982, after C.P. & Co. designed a coat that just didn't seem to fit with the rest of it's line, the decision was made to create a new brand based on that design, the so-called tela stella. Stone Island has a strong maritime and military influence in many of it's pieces, and every single one looks great. I especially like the field jacket and the duffle (about $650 and $800, respectively):

Word has it that Europeans go nuts for Stone Island when they find them in the States. But word also has it that European soccer hooligans have co-opted the brand and it's been copied a thousand times. Either way, the coats look great.

Like the look, but can't afford to spend over $500 on a really nice coat that is guaranteed to last?...
Cheap(er) Shots:
Cole Haan Duffle for $290
Spiewak Field Jacket for $280

The Fashion Spectrum

First, let me explain that style and fashion are two different things. This has been discussed endlessly on various sites on the webnets. Suffice it to say that style is timeless and something that is unique to each person who has it (though not all have it), whereas fashion is the of-the-day sartorial pursuits of designers and fashion houses. This time of year, those designers and fashion houses are starting to strut their upcoming Fall/Winter collections. And with that comes some great opportunities to illustrate the fashion spectrum, which ranges from detestable and unconscionable (let's say 1), to sinfully desirable (let's say 10). Here are three examples that illustrate the full spectrum:

1: Juun J

...5: KRISVANASSCHE

...10: Ovadia & Sons

This illustrative list was a bit rushed and is hardly comprehensive, but the bottom line is more you say "What the fuck?," the more you're getting into Fashion. And if you don't have that reaction to anything you see, then it's already too late. If you've already ogled Ovadia & Sons, you're doing it right.

For Your Hell's Angels Friends

I'm just kidding. I don't think there are Hell's Angels that are slim enough to fit into this. There's a weight minimum for that club, right? Maybe they're trimming up. But if you want to do a leather jacket, it's best to do it right. The message that a nice leather jacket sends is "I'm not only confident enough to wear a leather jacket, but I'm also badass. There's also a 50/50 shot I own a motorcycle." And the new Real McCoy Buco J-22 Horsehide Leather Jacket sends that exact message.

It's got zippers, and pockets, and more zippers. And layers of leather you don't know what to do with. And I think that one pocket on the bottom right is made for cigarettes. And we all know that cigarettes are badass. Also, it's made of horses. It's like wearing Secretariat--also badass. This leather body armor will cost you about $2700, over at Blue in Green. The original Bucos are bygones, but you can find pretty spot-on replicas that are of great quality, and they're half the price of this one. (via Selectism)

Cheap Shots:
Schott NYC for Barneys New York for $995
Shades of Grey for $182

Shoegasm!

I've lost count of the number of shoes I have: that I keep separate and clean, I know it's something like 12-14. I know this is a paltry sum for most women, and not very impressive among the more stylish men. I also have a closet floor full of shoes I don't take care of. Probably an equal amount. So a safe guess would be between 24 and 28. Who knows? The bottom line is you only need a few pairs of shoes: black leather, brown leather, and sneakers. That being said, the well-dressed man inside of you should already own or endeavor to own many other pairs (sandals, loafers, monk straps, et al.). Here are a few suggestions to get that collection growing.

Superga is an Italian brand started in 1913 (named after a hill east of Turin). The above shoes are a new color of the classic 2750, originally made in 1925. Baller. 40 British Dollars. Use these to add some (likely) needed color to the bottom of your wardrobe this summer. (via Selectism)

Typically, the less seams you see on a shoe, the more skill it took to make. These "sueded" Sergio Rossi will run you about $600 over at The Corner, so they are obviously not worth it. However, I wanted to make a point that a neat-looking shoe (less seams) often means a high quality shoe. But not always. And that by no means implies that a presence of seams means a lack of quality (think brogues). (via Selectism)

Nike Air Vortex Vintage. These are hyper 80s kicks. These are the shoes in which your older brother was cooler than you. You should have at least two pairs of very casual sneakers in your arsenal. They should not be the same color and one should be grey or another easily-pairable color. These are available around the web for between $75 and about $105. (via Hypebeast)

Also check out these gorgeous monk straps, coming soon from Thom Browne and Leffot. Perfect.

Ménage à Trois

Here's three quick ones for you.

If you use this in Italy, you're just smart. If you use this in the US, you're an obnoxious hipster. And you're probably also an alcoholic. $25.00. Guess where it's available? Etsy. (via LikeCool)

California-based Wolfard Glassblowing missed the mark by about 130 years with their new oil lamp. If you're really stupid and are a fan of archaic luminescence, then you can buy it here for just under $360. (via Hypebeast).

Finally, something good. General Knot & Co.. Handmade in the USA out of high-quality fabrics (most of them older than you, some older than your parents). Limited run florals, chambray, solids, novelty prints. All classic, all stylish. Perfect summer ties. Starting at $70, direct from the website. Get them now, cherish them forever. (via Hypebeast)

For That "Special" Someone

I think I've ranted about how there are times when the sites I look at seem to just post things without considering them. They post things that they get a lead on as if they are the greatest innovation in style since the button. CoolHunting, a normally amazing aggregator of awesome, has recently committed this egregious error. It's a rare miss, so I'm going to allow it, but I wanted to share it with all (seven) of you.

This headwear abomination is referred to as the Cap-Sac Kids (yes, there's an adult version). It is, as far as I can tell, for the same kids who need a tardguard (that's the railing that some kids need when they sleep on the top bunk). Imagine your mom annihilating your social life so early on that there's literally no chance that you can recover. That's what this does. They come in bright colors so they're sure not to be missed by bullies and kidnappers. The best part: at $13 per cap, it's one of the cheapest, easiest ways to sabotage your kids' friendships and ensure that they stay at the bottom of the social ladder. (via CoolHunting)

For Your Prostitute Friend

Recently, most of my hooker pals have been lamenting the lack of innovation in high heel footwear. I can't blame them. Anybody who has been out at 3AM trolling for a good time in any major city has surely noticed the sea of sameness that has pervaded the feet of our country's streetwalkers. I've long been a proponent of taking inspiration from unconventional places. And now, so too have shoe designers.

The wonderful people at St. Augustine have just released these concept shoes with LED underlightings. I'm assuming the inspiration for these LED Stilettos was taken from the LED runners that brighten up the night at street racing events in your local hamlet. Now, as those cars illegally rip through your city, the ladies of the night can share in the delight of undercarriage luminescence. No word on pricing, but they will be widely available (like your prostitute friend) in 2012. Hot damn! (via LikeCool)

How to Be A Supervillain

There are a few key aspects of being a supervillain: mindset, appearance, and action. As far as mindset and action goes, I can't help you much. Either you're an insane narcissist or you're not. It's one of those things you're born and/or neglected as a child into. Where I can help you out is appearance. You can be an insane, power-hungry villain and have a brilliant plot for world domination, but if you don't have the look, you don't have a thing. One thing every supervillain has is an evil-looking mode of transportation (remember the stealth boat from Tomorrow Never Dies?). Years ago (high school times) a friend of mine told me about Wally boats. Specifically, we were ogling the WallyPower 118.

The boat itself is intimidating. Nevermind whatever evil genius owns it. This is the kind of boat Satan cruises in. This is the top of extravagance. This is the type of boat where you sit on the back talking to the owner, say the wrong thing, and then he shoots you and tosses you overboard like you're nothing. Because you are. Or maybe the Coast Guard is hot on your tail because you just set off some hi-tech biowarfare. No problem: this boat will zip you away at 60 knots (for a boat this size, that's like light speed). Wally has you covered. Check out the deets on the Wally website above. (via BornRich)

Cheap Shots:
1964 Crownline Thompson G1400 for $1,200 (get it while it's hot!)

9 Millies for Your Honey

You ever have the urge to get your girlfriend an item similar to one you own so you guys can hit the town in matching style? You haven't? Good. That's not ok. If you've ever seen a couple wearing the same damn outfit, you understand. If you've ever actually worn your partner's clothing (and same-sex couples are exempt)...I don't really have any words for you, but I would like you to leave my site. Anyway, a while back I posted these epic earphones. And now some hipster on Etsy has put these in their virtual storefront:

How great are they? Those kids over at Etsy have it all! I've got a friend who rags on Etsy on the regular, but I have to admit, hipster or not, they are creative. The "artist" (who likes Fall, lives with a cat, and uses words like "up-cycled") makes all kinds of crap out of bullets. Unfortunately for your violent hipster girlfriend, these earrings have been sold. But I bet if you asked real nice, he'd make another set for you. Or you can buy the shotgun shell cufflinks. Act quickly so you and your gal can strut in matching style (I'm assuming you've already purchased those earphones, right?). Maybe you can make up a story about how the metal for the bullets from your earphones and the metal for bullets from her earrings came from the same refinery and have a magical bond! (via Getting Beat Like You Stole Something)

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Inspired by this, I bring you these:

George, John, Ringo, Paul.

Elvis.

James.

Marlon.

Keith, William. Andy.

Steve.


Breakfast is cool.

For Your Girlfriend

Send this to your girlfriend. Or the girl you want to be your girlfriend.



Seriously. You're welcome.  (via LikeCool)

An Open Letter to Prada

Dear Prada,

Thank you. Never being able to afford your various wares was not enough (not wanting to, in most cases, certainly helped). But I could always count on you to point me towards the upcoming trends in fashion. As often seems to be the case, you Italian fashion houses seem to be ahead of the curve. You opt for this or that pattern for your fall line, and us Americans do so a year or so later. You've always been reliable when it comes to this. And this time, there's no exception.

With the "Creeper," it's refreshing to know that clown shoes and colorways will be making a comeback this upcoming summer. I'm not only excited to dust off my oversized Bozo shoes that have been sitting on the top shelf of my closet since I was 4, but I'm excited for the thousands of clowns and Clown College students that no longer have to change their shoes when going into public. It's just great news all around.

And thank god for those thick soles you've brought back. After years of shame, you've validated the Spice Girls' footwear selections. And with that same stroke, you've made Skecher Shape-Ups cool.

Your gift, as always, is undeniable and everlasting.

Sincerely,

The Best Thing Since Yesterday

(via The Shoe Buff)

Hint for the Reader: Like the top-to-bottom proportions of a car (the Chevy Aveo Sedan is not an acceptable car), your shoes will look goofy if the sole-to-upper proportions are off. The Pradas above are an excellent example of such a thing.

And Now for Something Fantastic...

We've all been to movie sites. Joblo.com will give you too much shit you just don't care about. Rotten Tomatoes requires a screening process to become a reviewer, and sure, it's a great place for an overall gauge of a movie, but you won't find much else there. IMdB will get you caught in the Wikipedia Vortex of never-ending clicking until you find yourself at Kevin Bacon, when all you wanted was Jon Hamm. Metacritic serves the same purpose of Rotten Tomatoes, but it's less reliable and has a worse reputation. And Ain't It Cool News is just fucking obnoxious. The list goes on, and every single one leaves you wanting for just a bit more. Well, want no more, weary surfers.

Flixist, the greatest movie site ever created, went live this Monday. And to no one's surprise, they're killing it. Standardized review scoring and multiple viewpoints for every review? Check. Exclusive videos of movies that aren't even out yet? Check. People who know what the hell they are talking about? Check. People who care about movies like you do? Check. The list, again, goes on. But instead of being left wanting, you're left with a satisfied calm only achieved by the greatest of websites. This is one of them. Don't agree with something the staff writers have to say? Join the community and start an epic flame war. Don't be shy, community is the backbone of the site (along with fantastic writing) Oh, and also, my brother runs the site. And one of my best friends writes for it. No bias.

Mr. Jones and Me

A few months ago, the good people at Urbanbloke.com had a sale on a few pieces from London watch desinger Mr. Jones Watches. They are the kind of time pieces you don't think of. The ones that you wear and every once in a while, a friend--or better yet, a beautiful woman sitting next to you at the bar--can't help but ask, "What's that watch you're wearing?" And it's not because it's a gorilla-sized piece of bling, or because its got an ornate shape. It's because of whats on the dial.

The above two watches are called "The Average Day" and "The Accurate." Click the image so you can read through the average day's dial. At present, Mr. Jones offers 7 watches in its "permanent collection" and 5 watches of varying availability. The "Everyday Special" is a set of 366 one-offs, each with a different date as the minute and hour hand.You can go to the main site (link above) and see if your birthday was still available. There's something truly justifiable about a watch you wear once a year, even if it costs $185. All of the watches are available directly. You can also get some of the models at a slight discount at Watchismo.

The idea behind these watches, for me at least, is that you're getting something unique. This isn't one of the standard watches on your dresser. This is a fun watch, but not something that's so out there that you'll have trouble finding something it goes with. As with all such items (watches and others), it should be worn sparingly and modestly. Let the compliments and intrigued glances come naturally.

Dell Venue Pro joins AppleTV, Communism

...in the Great Ideas Destined for Failure Club (meetings are biannually held on Sweetest Day in the cockpit of the Spruce Goose). It looks like Dell has put in its bid for the next "cool" phone. The Dell Venue Pro ($TBA) runs Windows Phone 7, Microsoft's latest foray into the smartphone operating system market. It seems intriguing: real-time updates for "tiles" that you choose for your screens. 

Here are the issues: 

1) Dell is submitting an entry to a contest that's already been closed. Android, iPhone, and Blackberry have the smartphone market somewhat cornered. 

2) To my knowledge, there has yet to be a successful Windows OS phone. As a lifelong Windows user, I feel I have earned the right to voice an opinion here: Windows is only dominant because it long ago achieved a state of comfort and complacency in the minds of the global consumer. Seriously, would you buy food with that many bugs in it?

3) It's being released on T-Mobile. Coffin, meet nail.

Dell's best bet for these likely trashcan fillers is the route which they have taken with all of their peripherals: free with your purchase of one shitty computer. (via Uncrate)

When Ingenuity Triumphs

Two things caught my eye today during my blog troll. One is simple and elegant; one is complex, exhaustive, and mind-boggling. Both are evidence of ingenuity in today's market. Here's the first:

You may be thinking, "Why the hell didn't I think of that?" It's one of those obvious creations that anyone could have thought up, but the gents over at GW International got there first. The trade show at which this toilet neighbor was unveiled had it similarly stocked with bathroom necessities. But I shun this notion that it must be for such things. How bout three side panels. The one by my head is for bathtime snacks. The one in the middle is for my water torpedo, rubber ducky, and army men. The one at my feet is for my goggles and snorkel gear. The one on the end of the tub will be for shampoo, conditioner, and solving the debate as to which one is better. (via LikeCool)

Here's number two:

Unfathomably exhaustive. That's the only way to describe the Astor & Black's new Bespoke Visualizer. Well, you could also describe it as Bespeak (from Alan Flusser) on crack. Both are true. You can literally create any suit you want. And you can go beyond that to customize the shirt, tie, vest, and even an overcoat. It seems gimmicky; but these are the kind of suits that will make people complete forget how shitty your PowerPoint presentation to the board was all because they are gawking at the impeccably craftsmanship thats draped effortlessly on your person. The cheap ones start at $499. And that's with nothing going on. These are great entry level suits that look like they were crafted for the gods. And yes, I did make a Cash Money Green suit with an All About the Benjamins lining. (via Esquire)

A Word on Sunglasses

Two recent items have spurned me to write a bit on sunglasses. The first is a collaboration between Atlanta-based Wish and Portland-based Shwood Eyewear. The collab was done on Shwood's Govy model, which is essentially a wooden Wayfarer with a more pronounced bridge. Typically the wood for these frames come from East Indian Rosewood or Zebrawood (which bares strikingly little resemblance to a zebra). These bad boys are sourced from nondescript wood from "African countries." I'm assuming it's similar to blood diamonds, but with wood.

Only 50 were made, each individually numbered and hand-everythinged. As such, they are all gone, so if you want them, you'll have to steal a pair or hunt your heart out online.

The second, and far more important pair of shades are Persols (if you know eyewear, you know the name; if you don't, check the link). But these aren't your everyday Persols. These are the Persols favored by the King of Cool himself, Steve McQueen (if you don't know who he is...you need to leave).

Note the extra hinges on the bridge and temple pieces. A questionably necessary addition to increase portability? Certainly. Cool? Absolutely. There's no shortage of these classic eyepieces, and Sunglasses Hut has you covered, starting at $310. Go for the tortoise with blue lenses, McQueen's favorite.

Sunglasses--and eyewear in general--can be tricky. You can rely on the go-to guides for buying them. But what it boils down to is the shape of your head. I have quite a limited range for eyewear, and have landed with these Armani frames. The bottom line with glasses is that you need something that looks good and feels good on you. There's good odds that whatever may be the latest trend for shades just won't look good on you. Don't worry, that'll make the frames you find all the more special. You'll be the guy who people say "Damn! I've never seen those pulled off...but it works on him." Everyone wants to be that guy.  As with all shopping: avoid doing it online when possible, and always bring a friend.

For a daily dose on eyewear, check out FrameGeek.

Quickies: SmartCrutches

I've been lucky enough to never need to use crutches. Though I've had many friends whose skeletal structure is far more fragile than mine, making them prone to silly breaks in their bones. And I've heard that the crutches necessary are outrageously uncomfortable. Thank god, then, for SmartCrutches.

You may be confused. Those are, in fact, crutches--not power tools with extenders attached. Rumor [read: marketing done by the people at SmartCrutch] has it that these things are the best thing to happen to cripples since not being crippled. Here are some features I don't really understand, but seem important and groundbreaking: rotating arms that allow for multiple angles; increased surface area which reduces pressure; and ergonomically designed grips. What more could you ask for? Oh...right...not being a gimp. Well, maybe don't try to jump that 20 set on your Kids 'R' Us skateboard. Dumbass. (via LikeCool)

Quickies: This Guy...

Mister Mort just threw up this shot of a gentleman wearing Thom Browne on the streets of San Francisco. For those not in the know, that's how the pants are supposed to look. Thom Browne is all about short. Anyway, I just can't support this lack of color. Especially in a beautiful city like San Francisco.

He looks like he fell out of an M.C. Escher drawing. Or maybe he made his suit from the wallpaper in his grandfather's closet. Maybe he just had to have a Thom Browne suit, but he arrived late to the trunk sale, and this was all that was left, and he had promised himself he'd get something. That's what I'm getting from his stiff-lipped facial expression: "I'm not happy in this suit. Can I run home and put on my Tom Ford suit? Then you can get a great picture!" I mean, at least buy a colorful tie or something. Jesus.