This Sunday, July 20, 2014, marks the 45th anniversary of the first-manned landing on the moon accomplished by famous astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin aboard the Apollo 11. On that first, dangerous mission to the moon so many years ago, Aldrin sported an Omega Speedmaster; thereafter, becoming the first object to take claim of the lunar landscape’s time. Originally designed as a sports and racing chronograph—in conjunction with Omega’s status as timekeeper for the Olympics—the first watch worn by an astronaut on the moon has since become one of the Swiss watchmaker’s most iconic styles on earth as well. To celebrate the upcoming anniversary of the lunar landing, Omega has released a new commemorative Moonwatch Anniversary Series Speedmaster Apollo 11 timepiece.
Paying homage to the colors of the moon and the Apollo 11 lunar and command modules, the limited edition watch features a 42mm brushed grey grade 2 titanium case, a black, laser-engraved PVD dial, and a brown coated nylon fabric strap. The wristwatch is limited to 1,969 pieces, a number that reflects the year of the historic Apollo 11 mission. During the landing Armstrong famously said, “This is one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Today, what better way is there to remember that legendary moment than with the prestigious brand whose watch first accompanied those fearless leaders?
The Moonwatch Anniversary Series Speedmaster Apollo 11 timepiece is available online now.
Added online just this week, luxury fashion house Bottega Veneta‘s most recent men’s release joins the e-commerce space as the perfect accessory to help you reckon with the upcoming wintery season—because at a certain point you just have to accept that the cold is coming. Known particularly for high-quality leather goods, the new offering is perhaps one of the Italian brand’s most exquisite, complimenting its ready-to-wear collection in the form of a messenger bag.
Image: Bottega Veneta.
Titled the Gardena, the bag exudes style without accents of overbearing design and continues Bottega Veneta’s logo-less branding, embodying the famous “when your own initials are enough” mantra. Generous in size, styles feature an adjustable leather shoulder strap, and are available in buffalo, ostrich, calf hair materials, as well in a variety of colors. Here’s looking to a more tolerable winter!
Image: Bottega Veneta.
The Gardena is available online now as well as at select Bottega Veneta retail locations.
With Summer’s rays at an all-time shine, there’s no shortage of eye-shielding sunglass offerings to choose from this season, but SunsTruck may be the only shop that comes to you. Launched this past May, the mobile boutique expands on the ever-popular food cart model, pioneering the on-the-go shopping experience to a literal territory. Each day the New York City-based truck stops at the sunniest spots in Manhattan, Brooklyn and other nearby Tri-state areas to offer a wide range of stylish frames to customers on the street.
Image: SunsTruck.
The project of husband and wife team Shaun and Rachel Moss, the interior of the nomadic store resembles that of a SoHo boutique and hardly feels like the backseat of a moving truck. Originally a Craigslist find, the vehicle was refurbished by the couple to include sunset-inspired lighting, complete product shelves, and branding of the store’s logo. The sentiment of retail comfortability is further emphasized by generator-powered air conditioning and movable mirrors. In terms of choosing spots to park the couple said, “We choose spots with good foot traffic and where we’ll find clientele that want something different for their fashion choices-people who are up for a little retail experimentation.”
Image: SunsTruck.
This assertion is certainly accurate, given the diversity of brands offered. Of this, the pair said that they “try to make sure there is something of quality for everyone’s budget, whether that be luxury or cheap-and-cheerful.” Brands available include WildFox, Mink Pink, Proof, and Le Spec, as well as hand picked vintage styles and SunsTruck’s own bamboo frames. This variety of options is crucial, especially since customers vary with each location.
Image: SunsTruck.
“Scouting successful locations has also taken a lot of experimentation, but wherever we go it’s been a pleasure to interact with customers and introduce them to the SunsTruck experience,” said the couple. In terms of the future, they are hopeful that one day there will be multiple SunsTrucks all over New York City, and even in different regions. Until then, check out their website and follow them on Instagram and Twitter to find out where they’ll be parked next.
Distinguished UK companies Turnbull and Asser and Globe-Trotter have partnered for a limited-edition release of two travel cases that combine the best of both brand’s illustrious histories. Established in 1885, Turnbull and Asser has a stellar reputation for gentleman’s bespoke garments, having dressed everyone from Picasso to Charlie Chaplin. Only a smidge younger, Globe-Trotter first emerged in 1897 and has since served a similarly impressive clientele that includes both Sir Winston Churchill and HM Queen Elizabeth II. But don’t think the two brands are stuck in the past.
The new Turnbull and Asser x Globe-Trotter collaboration re-interprets the classic travel case into two new forms with enhanced technical features and updated aesthetic design. Lined with Turnbull and Asser’s signature blue gingham (used famously in their shirts), the exclusive cases also carry an enhanced vulcanized fibreboard exterior and leather trim, providing additional durability. Both pieces, however, still retain the sense of original craftsmanship that has fueled both companies since each’s birth. Launching on July 21, 2014, the collaboration will be available for purchase at Turnbull and Asser’s retail stores, as well as online, in 18” ($1605) and 21” ($1835) versions. Sure to improve your summer travel experience—even during a layover—the new cases will ensure that you exude style no matter wherever it is you land.
Photos courtesy of Turnbull and Asser x Globe-Trotter.
This summer, The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) hosts an exhibition dedicated to New York City’s leading craftsmen entitled NYC Makers: The MAD Biennial. With a focus on the preservation of contemporary handmade art of all mediums, the museum displays permanent collections of jewelry, sculpture, and other objects. The new showing—the first under newly appointed Director Glenn Adamson—features work from over 100 artists, artisans, and designers—spanning from Yoko Ono to Hood by Air—from all over the five boroughs of NYC, with pieces ranging from large-scale installations to small sculptures and clothing design.
Inside the show, inconspicuously placed on the 5th floor east gallery, Tilt (1994) by renowned experimental performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson is an immediate stand out. Constructed out of a carpenter’s level and multiple sensors, the piece produces a duet of two voices depending on how it is tilted. When inclined to the left, the artwork emits a woman’s voice; a man’s when tilted to the right; and a harmony from both when completely leveled. The piece successfully integrates sculptural and musical components, embodying two of the mediums prominently presented in the exhibition.
One floor below, in the northwest gallery, is placed the work of hat designer H E I D I L E E, whose elaborate designs have garnered media attention and public following. Her constructions are often influenced by current media trends, particularly Instagram culture and its effect on fashion. “I gravitate towards things that appeal to me and weave in stories and histories into the narrative of today,” said Lee on her approach to design. The artist’s piece in the Biennial, entitled Parasol Skeleton Hat (2012), re-imagines silhouettes of classic female headwear as elaborate headdresses in a mix of materials including wood, straw, and cotton.
Diagonally across from H E I D I L E E’s tall headwear stands an outfit from trending fashion brand Hood by Air‘s (HBA)Spring/Summer 2014 collection. Entitled Parachute Jacket and Flight Short, the monochrome army-green ensemble exemplifies the line’s dystopian, futuristic aesthetic and street sensibilities, with textured metallic detailing and multiple drawstrings. Designer Shayne Oliver said of the piece, “the details are laid out in ways similar to HBA graphics to create a bold, distinctive statement that is very true to [the] brand.” While the lack of graphics may surprise some familiar with Hood by Air’s most popular apparel, the shared DNA between this piece and the brand’s more ubiquitous t-shirts is evident in the use of repeated patterns. Regarding the show in general, Oliver said, “I was really into the exhibit showcasing artists and makers all based in NYC and from all different mediums, sculpture, fashion, lighting, etc. It felt great to be included, to feel the support of the museum and all of the other artists involved and to have our work featured in such an amazing museum.”
Overall, the success of The MAD Biennial comes from its variety, both in mediums and of personal artists backgrounds. The range of pieces displayed is impressive and truly encapsulates the goal of “presenting a diversity of cultural producers on a level playing field.” Even with such an assortment of artists and a presentation spanning two floors, the show feels like a cohesive portrait. NYC Makers: The MAD Biennial is on display until October 12th and is the first in a series of exhibitions examining the process of making in urban communities.
Photos courtesy of the Museum of Arts and Design, H E I D I L E E, and Hood by Air.
While the interaction between the worlds of art and fashion is a constant occurrence, the relationship is easy to overlook in today’s retail-dominated world of trend-hopping. Over the last decade, under the lead of Creative Director Riccardo Tisci, the house of Givenchy has continuously worked to pull the designer-stitched wool off of unseen eyes—often juxtaposing images from the deep seas of art history and cultural phenomena atop sleek and contemporary cuts—but it was Tisci’s Men’s Spring/Summer 2015 runway show this past month that particularly re-cultivated the idea with a unique sculpture from Dutch artist Paul Veroude. Building off the spectacle nature of the storied French label, Veroude hung from the ceiling of the arena a dismantled 1964 Reims Cessna F172E airplane, entitled “Exploded Plane,” which served as the fashion show’s centerpiece.
Circulating around the installation, the collection featured variations on formalwear in a black and white color palette. Outfits disrupted traditional men’s attire with floral graphics, sleeveless cuts, and a mix of formal with casual. Ties were paired with shorts, bombers were layered over button-downs, and nearly every outfit featured heavy black boots. These isolations mirrored the exploded plane by drawing attention to the individual parts of each look, and the omnipresent boots added an industrial aesthetic that echoed the separation of the suspended machinery.
Not to say that this season’s runway show was an independent thought, but rather—a weighty reckoning for the public eye. Tisci himself has history as an appreciator of all art forms and frequently collaborates with the art/design group M/M Paris on like-minded avant-garde projects. A duo consisting of graphic designers and creative geniuses Mathias Augustyniak and Michael Amzalag, M/M is most famous for its artistic collaboration, having worked with musicians (Kanye West, Madonna, Bjork) and fashion designers (Yohji Yamamoto, Jil Sander, Tisci himself). The creative partnership between all three men has resulted in exclusive invitation design for Givenchy shows since Tisci joined the label in 2005—a series of elaborate creations that have become as anticipated as the shows themself—and a printed book, entitled “The Givenchy Files,” featuring works inspired by the designer’s collections. The anthology, like Veroude’s contribution to the Spring/Summer 2015 show, exhibits the symbiotic nature of fashion and the visual arts, transcending consumerism and, instead, emphasizing the oft-forgotten craftsmanship of designer fashion.
Admittedly, Tisci’s work hasn’t always been quite so high-browed. Shall we say that it is a bit ironic that the brand has become famous for those ubiquitous ‘Rottweiler’ sweatshirts and ‘Pervert 17’ t-shirts that have affected consumer culture in less-than-ideal ways? Since their arrival, countless e-commerce stores and St. Marks pop-ups replicated the designs, bombarding the initial boldness into a trend that surely lacked in innovation as much as it did in artistic heritage. Maybe. But Tisci’s offering for SS15 reads as a departure from the designer’s previous menswear, favoring crisp button-downs and combat boots over graphic sweatshirts and chunky high-tops. Perhaps Tisci will persist with this ‘formal’ style, but regardless, his ability to incorporate various art mediums into his collections through it all is refreshing and essential in an industry often unfairly viewed as the embodiment of vapid materialism. By emphasizing the bond between these two worlds, fashion houses can express the notion that their clothes are wearable art, and not simply attractions for the brand-whores. Moreover, Givenchy’s collaboration with Veroude this season provided a new perspective to the idea of a ‘collection display,’ showing that a fashion show could become a multi-dimensional artistic experience.
Images courtesy of CEYMS, Federal News Radio, Style.com, MrPorter, and M/M Paris.
Following in the legacy of late visionary Massimo Ost, Italian brand Stone Island gears up for Winter with a new campaign and video featuring the robust outerwear that the brand has made famous. Within the upcoming release, high-collared jackets button and zip to the top, ensuring optimal warmth in the Arctic tundra (or during your morning commute). Other pieces feature tortoise shell patterns, giving a streetwear vibe to the sturdy garments. Fur collars adorn some, contributing a luxurious accent to the militaristic jackets. Established in 1982, Stone Island often employs sports and workwear influences, and the brand’s Fall/Winter 2014-2015 collection carries these motifs to new elevations, literally. It’s never too early to start looking for that perfect winter coat, but fortunately you don’t have to climb mountain to don one of these.
Hip-hop elder statesman Snoop Dogg (or whatever animalistic rebirth of a name the rapper has taken today) is teaming up with Swedish sock-makers and masters of the print, Happy Socks, for a collection entitled “The Art of Inspiration.” Having repped streetwear giant HUF last year, the celebrated rapper is no stranger to the world of this-how-you-should-be-dressing-if-you-want-to-be-a-star, and the new campaign provides yet another outlet for him to expand his influence. That, plus Happy Socks’ mission to turn an often-overlooked wardrobe staple into a colorful accessory, equates in a great platform for us everyday people to view the world through Snoop’s eyes. And since his humor is always on point—as most recently exemplified by his video with Psy last month—what better way to express that than through a pair of eye-popping socks? The collaboration will be unveiled globally on November 1, 2014, but until then you can watch a trailer for the mash-up and shop the brand’s current collections online, which the iconic rapper has already incorporated into his wardrobe.
We all need more energy in the day, and this summer Italian coffee giants illy are making that easier than ever with the new Francis Francis Y5 iperEspresso Machine, a one-touch operation with two programmable volume settings that makes preparing espresso at home quick, delicious, and easy. Efficient in speed, the machine also features an aluminum and glass body, combining form and function in a sleek design.
Joining the expertise of the new release, illy master barista Giorgio Milos arrives with a new blog that covers everything coffee. The web portal hosts a multitude of articles like “Coffee: Even Better with all Five Senses” that are ripe with invaluable tips such as “The shade of brown in your cup should directly correlate to preparation method, setting up the taste experience to follow,” and “I urge (make that, plead with)-you to sip, never guzzle coffee or any other fine beverage.”
As every coffee enthusiast knows, it’s never just coffee, and Milos’ blog expertly articulates his (and our) passion. Check it out here, and purchase the Francis Francis Y5, available in both Black ($279) and Satin ($299) finishes, here.
Few names are as synonymous with American footwear as Cole Haan. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1928, the iconic lifestyle brand has a history of producing classic footwear with modern detailing, exemplified by its ever-popular LunarGrand line. Now, Cole Haan continues this tradition by unveiling a new men’s line of brogues, ZeroGrand, which features the flexibility of running sneakers and the style of well-made shoes.
Image: Cole Haan.
The line features Grand.OS, a new engineering and design platform that emphasizes lightness, flexibility, and increased cushioning to construct comfortable yet classy dress shoes. With each shoe weighing less than 290 grams, they are the lightest that Cole Haan has ever created, and are available now in both ‘No Stitch’ nylon and reverse full-grain suede. Remember, just because you’re going to a business meeting doesn’t mean you need to be uncomfortable!
Image: Cole Haan.
The Cole Haan ZeroGrand collection is available online and at Cole Haan store now.
Joe and Rick Lotuff, brothers and the design team behind Lotuff Leather, have been preserving traditional American craftsmanship for generations. The pair sites their parents and grandparents as primary influences on their commitment to producing high-quality, made-in-America leather goods. Now the brand has reissued its particularly popular leather backpack after months of backorders, appealing to men seeking an alternative to the ubiquitous messenger bag or traditional briefcase. Formerly a wait-list only item, the bag is available now, and we suggest you hurry given its previous popularity and limited availability.
Image: Lotuff.
Constructed of vegetable-tanned leather in the brand’s Norwalk, Connecticut factory, the backpack is a marriage of aesthetics and functionality. Three separate interior pockets, including a zippered one, are perfect for storing a laptop and documents. Additional exterior pockets at the top and back easily hold a tablet, passport, or other small items that require easy access. Yet all this storage space hardly sacrifices style: with a fully leather interior and gold-tone buckles, this backpack easily compares to any briefcase. So if you’re still using your backpack from high school (you know, the one with all those extraneous straps and buckles intended for mountaineering), look no further and wait no longer for an upgrade.
Lotuff’s Leather Backpack ($1,200) is available online now.
Dior Homme’s Winter 2014 accessory collection demonstrates the French brand’s passion for black, updating its flair for luxe and youthful design with an understated polka dot pattern—inspired by ties from Christian Dior himself—and silver-toned details. Complimenting sharp menswear tailoring that referenced Savile Row and high-end street wear, the accessories line includes shoes (both dressy and casual) bags, belts, and other small items—all with subtle ornamentation that retain creative director Kris Van Assche’s signature minimalism.
Image: Dior Homme.
One pair of black and white calfskin sneakers ($1,450) feature polka dot adorned uppers, providing a pop of silver to the shoes’ sleek silhouette. It is details such as this that can add contrast to any monochromatic outfit without sacrificing elegance—or color ways.
Image: Dior Homme.
Similarly, the collection’s black calfskin small zip wallet ($960) has a like-minded design, but substitutes polka dots with four “lucky charm” emblems, displayed on the wallet’s exterior. With a matching silver-tone zipper, the piece embodies restrained luxury.
Image: Dior Homme.
Together, the full Dior Homme Winter 2014 accessory collection elevates the classicism of the iconic fashion house to a new territory—sleek in style and subtle in humor—and will be available at select Dior Homme retail stores and online soon.
