...And While You're At It.

I know I literally just called the Tretorns new summer standards, but since you're going to be pushing around on a zinger, may as well wear the appropriate footwear and look the part. I spotted these over at Bows&Arrows(and aside from Vans, they stock a really respectable inventory of kicks) and now, I'm gonna have to make it over to Telegraph Ave. when next I'm in the Bay area. Loving the Vault chukka Sierras.

On the Subject of: Summer Standards.

The Zip Zinger. Cruisable. And as Krooked ripper Brad Cromer demonstrates, totally shreddable. Get on one.

Summer Standards: Tretorn Canvas Nylites.

I've been called a heretic for making this statement, and although I still love me a pair of authentics, there's nothing wrong with a little variety. The Tretorn Canvas Nylite is a tennis shoe that, while it doesn't have the same scrappy pedigree as Vans, still holds classic status. (the rest of the line, eh...)"born in 1967, were soon regarded as the first luxury sports shoe. These canvas tennis shoes reigned supreme on courts around the world in the 1970s. Today‘s Nylite maintains the same timeless design." I'm calling it, summer standard. I'm hunting down a navy pair.

Been There, Done That: Winter in Vermont.

After an epic winter spent getting up to Vermont as much as possible, Spring's in the air and I'm feeling it. Time to put away the snowboard and wax up the longboard. Trade base layers for board shorts. Flannel for madras.Until next year Vermont. Time for a new exit strategy.

Tighten Up.

The Black Keys have a new album, Brothers, coming out on May 18th (playing MSG two days later). Click over to their MySpace page to have a listen to the first single, Tighten Up, produced by Danger Mouse. Good stuff.

Iconic: Kurosawa's 100th.

March 23, 1910 – September 6, 1998.

Received: O'Shields-Ricker Canvas Bag.

I first encountered Jeff Ricker's bags at the wonderful NK Shop in LA. They're constructed from old military duffels and postal bags. Cotton webbing straps. Each one unique. As sturdy as they are handsome. I brought one back with me from LA (you might remember this post from last year). Well, I recently received a box from Jeff. He was kind enough to send me a sample of the new bunch of bags he's been busy making.
An RL alum, Jeff now lives in the mountains, a self-described "lake hermit", living the good life, making some really great bags under the name O'Shields-Ricker. The vibe, as Jeff explains it, is a sort of utilitarian mash up of Kapital meets 45 RPM meets hippie lake bum. In the coming weeks, O'Shields-Ricker will launch, what's been described as, a "very lo-fi" site through which the line will be available. If you'd like to get in touch about a bag or want to be notified when the site launches, email Jeff at oshieldsricker@gmail.com

Agenda: Ryan McGinley, Everybody Knows this is Nowhere.

Opens today.
March 18th – April 17th 2010

team (gallery, inc.)
83 Grand Street
ny ny 10013

Sasha, 2009

Dutch Harbor: Where the Sea Breaks its Back.

"The last place to go"...Chad's post over at PTLDME reminded me of a film I had on VHS, "Dutch Harbor: Where the Sea Breaks its Back". Years back, my roommate was working with Braden, one of the the filmmakers, and brought it home one day. I watched it so many times over the years. Described on Truckstop's site, "Dutch Harbor, located on Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Chain, has long been considered untamed territory... as far west as one could go, a place comprised of the harshest elements and hardy fishermen, with only the most minimal law & order. Now, however, Dutch Harbor is a community in transition; one of the last true bastions of frontierism is becoming civilized by encroaching commercialization." It's a beautiful film with an equally rad soundtrack by The Boxhead Ensemble. The clip below is a segment with music by one of my all time faves, The Dirty Three. Get your hands on it.

Dutch Harbor: Where the Sea Breaks Its Back---The Restless Waves by Dirty Three from factory twenty five on Vimeo.

Happy St. Pat's...

Wear&Tear: Start w/ Typewriters + Secret Forts.

Jeremy, the man behind SWT, has a good thing going. I can appreciate a dude who doesn't take all of this so seriously. Maybe that's why, when he asked if I would take part in Wear & Tear, I was all, "fo sho". I chose to chronicle the W&T of my ACL+McNairy longwings. Click over there now to read about it.

Total Ripper: Grant Taylor, Nike SB "Debacle".

So Tough.  Day like today, hit the streets.
NIKE SB

Debatable: 3Sixteens, 3 Months In.

Head over to Denim Debate for an update on how, a 1/4 into the year-long project, my 3Sixteens are holding up (pretty well, actually).
Also updated, Emil's Ooe Yofukuten's; un-wawshed, smelling "gross" and blown out crotch.

Q&A: Studio Visit w/ Dana Lee, NYC.

On a recent Saturday, I paid Dana Lee a visit in her new studio at the enviable south end of Crosby st(nearby is Ted Muehling, Saturdays, Derek Lam, Quality Mending Co. and next door is Tyler Hays' BDDW showroom). She's been there a while, moving studios a few times within the same building. This particular move is up to the top floor, the benefit of which is the presence of the skylights in her new place. Its a big move, bigger space and in a way, represents the large strides she's taken with her collection for FW10. I've always been a fan of hers, first A-Z, and now her eponymous line. With FW10, she's gone for it. All made in North America, one thing about Dana I've always appreciated was her fabric choices and fit. She has a knack for elevating the basics. And as I've taken note of over the past few seasons, outerwear. With this collection, she's been working with Cory Gomberg (of Greige and most recently, Bureau) and the combined talent has resulted in her strongest collection yet. I'm always excited to see what she's up to so I spent some time, looked through the racks, tried a few things on, landed a "modeling gig" and got her to answer some questions. Below, Dana talks about finding inspiration in plates, how FW10 came together and what we might expect for Spring...

Making of: Tale of Two Shoes.

Tenue de Nimes, the Amsterdam-based denim concept shop, offers two videos of the same thing, a shoe, being produced in two very different ways.(They seem to be on a streak of producing highly-watchable videos. If you haven't yet, have a look at their short interview with The Man, mr. Nigel Cabourn.)
First, a visit to Grenson, in Rushden, Northamptonshire to have a look at the roughly 250 step process in making the traditionally English, Goodyear-welted Grenson shoe. With much of the work done by hand, Grenson still produces footwear much the same way (not entirely, of course.) and to the same standards as it has since 1866. The pride taken in their Goodyear welt is evident. And you'll notice a pair of 40 year old Grenson's in there for repair. Goodyear welting allows the shoe to essentially be rebuilt from the sole up and worn for a lifetime. It's a really interesting look at the modern state of the British Heritage brand.


The second, from Tenue de Nimes blog, follows a pair of shoes, beginning to end, manufactured by MOMA. Now, although their line isn't my thing(*NOTE: I make exception for their desert boots and a few others. They look rather good and I wouldn't be surprised if J.Crew's MacAlister boot wasn't manufactured in the same factory. Anyone know?), the very stylized video had my complete attention. It hums with effeciency. Certainly a different feel from the very personal, hands on Grenson approach, but very cool none the less. You'll notice the main difference between the two, aside from Grenson's roughly 120 year seniority, is the sole construction.

It's an interesting side by side comparison in manufacturing and qualities inherent to each step along the way. No pun intended.

Pacific Time.

HBO's 10 part series begins tomorrow. Looks to be bad-ass.

More bad-ass, the color film taken during the war and aired on the History channel.

The Great Outdoors: Rock Robertson, LIFE.

From 1953, Robertson at 31. Of Scottish/Montagnais Indian descent. 6' 205lbs.Log driver, timber cruiser, cook, government surveyor, trapper, bulldozer operator, hunting party guide ...
"He has been known, when the mood takes him, to pick up a stove and heave it through a cook-shack wall." Real deal.

Into Right Now: A New York State of Mind.

Always on point, SUPREME ushers in the coming heat with some serious heat of their own. SS10 is full of striped pocket tees, more Zip Zingers (a particular fellow blogger should be especially stoked on those pictured), Ripstop Crushers, chino workshorts, clean s/s oxfords, dope outwear(as usual) and you know I love the nunchucks.
Looking forward to cruising the city streets this summer on one of those decks. If there'r even any left. Get over to Lafayette st. or N. Fairfax while the gettin's still good.