“Fresh” taken to another level. Fuck all the oxfords, loafers, mocs, and desert boots, deep down I’m a sneakerhead. When the re-release of the Infrareds was announced, I was ecstatic that I’d finally be able to grab one of my grails at retail. Don’t let hype confuse you though, the Air Max 90 isn’t some technical running shoe masterpiece. It’s the more the combination various aspects that made this so sought after. The overall comfort of the shoe is excellent, the long panels of the AM90 that give each color equal balance on the silhouette, and the Infrared colorway itself. The majority grey and white upper, is just enough to balance out the black and red hits, but not mute the entire shoe. Thats enough, I don’t need to write a thesis on this shoe, all I can say is, my patience has finally been rewarded, and if you’re on the hunt, I’d advise to pick up a pair or two before they disappear again.
Watches are made to be functional, accurate, and in some cases, serve as an interesting conversation piece. They should flow well with your outfit, and never look like the star of the show. Not many brands can say they’ve figured out this formula while staying in an obtainable the price range. With pieces that look like they have their own gravity and orbiting satellite, your average consumer would consider these, big name, “super watches” to be some sort of frivolous purchase, and move on to something more realistic. The husband and wife run, Skagen, have figured out how to make affordable timepieces, that have a simplistic aesthetic, while displaying quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. Constructed using materials such as carbon fiber, steel and titanium, these watches are also some of the lightest I’ve come across, yet seem to easily put up with day-to-day abuse. Currently I have three of my own, and with a sub 200$ price tag for most of their watch line, you really are getting a hell of a deal.
Worth the 20$ I spent to get it. While the adjustable strap hardware looks about as sturdy as a paperclip, the canvas material used and construction seems pretty solid. Perfect daily commute bag for me.
Its not very often that people seek my opinion on things, usually I just blurt it out followed by a stream of four letter words. Fortunately for me, the great guys over at Free/Man, were kind enough to include me in their S/S interview series. The piece went live yesterday, and I’m very pleased with how it turned out, and from my analytics, it generated a nice bit of site love. So to my new readers I say, thank you for stopping through, I hope you stick around for the fun, and to my regulars, high five! Here is a direct link to the interview itself for those of you interested in checking it out.
Months ago I decided to finally dip my toe in the selvedge denim pool, as I began to tire of crappy quality, ill-fitting jeans, that I would just end up donating months later. With much research and budget consideration, I settled a pair of New Standards, by the French label A.P.C., as my inaugural pair. Well this weekend marked three months into project second skin, or “are you wearing those same damn jeans?”, as its more commonly known. Originally, these jeans were purchased two sizes down as I was aware of A.P.C.’s tendency to stretch, and after the first week they were almost perfect waist size 34. So far the fading is going according to plan, and overall they still feel nearly as crisp and solid as they did after that first week of wear. I’m very pleased with my pick and would highly recommend then to those interested. I’m really looking forward to comparing shots in a couple months to see the progress and will keep you guys up to date.
As someone that generally avoids reading at all costs, I do enjoy magazines. I thinks its mainly because of my A.D.D., and the fact that a magazine is just the appropriate length to retain my train of thought without feeling like a lecture. An advantage of the format is that its just a bite sized amount of info on a multitude of topics, ever page a new experience and possible lesson learned. Most of what I pick up fall into a few main categories; fashion, shoes, design, and the occasional auto tuning mag. Lately I’ve been taking full advantage of a bookstore in San Francisco’s Japantown to grab copies of all the Japanese magazines I’d otherwise miss out on. Here are some of my regular pick ups:
If I was to describe myself, I’d honestly have to say I’m a realist, not a person to waste time bullshitting you. So if a month ago you asked me if I’d ever own a pair of Visvims, I’d have flat out responded, NO, while crying a little on the inside. Its not that I’ve never tried to obtain a pair, there are just hurdles that constantly stone walled me from my goal. The first hurdle is the resale price of Visvims. I can honestly say I understand the relatively high retail price point for their shoes. Given quality of leathers sourced, and the hand construction of each pair, they can easily command 300$ minimum. But the kick in the teeth comes by way of the resellers, who mark up the shoes north of 100$ over retail. The fact that very few shops outside of Japan actually get any to sell makes it a bitter pill that you sometimes have to swallow.
The final problem is, the size runs. Most of the releases seem to only go from size 8 – 11(US), with 12 being a rarity. I’m guessing this is because the Japanese brand might have a tough time selling the larger sizes within the country, or that Nakamura just plain hates me. Now at some point a bit of karma finally came my way, and I manage to secure a pair of FBTs in the rare size 12(fits more like a 12.5/13) at a bit under retail price. To describe the shoe kinda doesn’t do justice, and is something that you really should see in person. The buttery suede make these moccasin style shoes, feel more like slippers, and the removable collar allows you the versatility to wear your FBTs in stealth mode, or dress them up to break necks. Now if i could just secure a pair in honey/dark brown leather, or sand suede, I can die a happy sneakerhead.
One thing about living in San Francisco is that there is always change and movement, such is the case with actually residing in the city. Considering 90% of the people in the city could probably never afford to own their current residence, you never know when you may need to pull up the stakes and relocate. I found myself in this sitation recently, and I can say that having to relocate puts everything else on hold. It shuts dow your work productivity, your social life, and in some cases your health (see also: fucked up back). Regardless I find the change refreshing, and sometimes look forward to it, but the single thing I hate most about moving… is having to deal with my shoes.
This picture is actually cart one of three needed to move just my shoes. I’m not gloating, I just like shoes, and its a bitch of an obsession to deal with. I’m finally set up in my new digs and settled in, which means I can turn my focus back to other projects, such as this site. Thanks for sticking around, and lets get on with the show. Cheers
…It’s not about how other people see you. What works for you? And what works for you might not work for somebody else.
Today marks the first day of the relaunch of Free/Man, a site dedicated to quality, style and individuality. I’ve been following Darian’s blog for some time now, and he recently hinted that he was up to something. After pulling the cover off of an amazingly clean and stylish redesign, I can see why he kept quiet. With this relaunch, comes an addition to the Free/Man staff in Luis Valdizon of Minoru Blvd, as Art Director. I know this partnership will spawn amazing things, and you should definitely keep an eye out for them in the coming months. I’d like to say congrats to my friends on the relaunch and future success.
Every morning, as I walk to the door of my apartment, the first couple words I always mutter are; “keys, wallet, phone”. These are the most important things I need to leave out in the morning with, but of the three, keys have the greatest weight of importance. Keys control your life, they open your door to work, they start your car, they unlock that drawer of stuff you don’t want your co-workers stealing, and the open the door to the apartment where you left your wallet and phone. That being said, having a solid accessory to retain all the possible keys I could need for the day is a must.
Over the years I’ve managed to rely on a single, purple carabiner that I’ve managed to beat the hell out of. I’ve somehow scratched off most of the anodized purple making it look more like I’ve been using it to carve stone instead of just carrying some keys, so I figured it was time for an upgrade. Looking for something a little mature, and handle the abuse at the same time, I invested in a Tanner Goods Lanyard, and I can say it was worth every cent. The piece is constructed by hand from vegetable dyed bridal leather, with a single snap and nickel plated clasp, giving me the feeling that my keys are more likely to break then this lanyard. If you are seriously in the market, or just have have 32$ burning a hole in your wallet, I would highly advise you pick one up.