Monday, August 31, 2009

School Supplies: Vintage Red Wings on eBay


-I Picked up some vintage Red Wing boots on the side of the road the other day. They're too big for me, but the find inspired me to finally follow through on an idea I had along time ago, to make an eyefivestyle eBay page. On our eBay I'll sell any thrift finds that I think may be of interest to our readers. These boots are listed now and I'm gonna throw up some old Levi's later today, check it out.
-Update: 1-hour left on this auction, great deal, buy these.
-Update: Sold! You missed out, but more good stuff is coming this week.
more

Sunday, August 30, 2009

School Supplies: Rubber Boat Shoes


-The Sperry x Band of Outsiders nuttiness is back in action with these rubber boat shoes. They look good, but are they practical? Comfortable? I dunno, but as a rule I don't say anything negative about Sperry.
more

Friday, August 28, 2009

Arts & Crafts: Dee & Ricky?

-The media, Marc Jacobs, Scott Shumann, basically everyone, loves Dee & Ricky. And because I love nostalgia-inspired design and I really love Lego, I'm inclined to love the brothers-turned-design-team as well, but I'm not sure if I do. I love the fact that they've employed an innovative yet relatively simple idea, and a lot of the press they've received is well deserved. They struck at the perfect moment, a time when hip-hop icons like Pharrel and A3K are proliferating a sort of garish preppy swag. I really dig the cigarette brooch and the belt buckles and most of their products, even the barrets and stuff for women.
-So I had the thought awhile back, 'Maybe I'll buy one of those Dee & Ricky brooches, I wonder how much they are?' Then I looked and saw that they're all around $75 which isn't bad for designer accessories. But then I had another thought: 'I could just fucking make this shit myself.' Really, I have a shit load of legos anyway, and if I didn't I could acquire them cheaply, and then I'd just need some glue and a safety pin. So here's the question, is it more legit to own a piece from the originators, or to do it yourself exactly how you'd like it, and for less money?

more

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Snow Day: 686 x New Balance


-Ski season is still a ways off, but that doesn't mean it's too early to get excited about this unexpected collaboration between 686 and New Balance. I've been a fan of 686 for a long time, even though my snowboarding career ended when I had to start paying for lift tickets with my own money. Living near one of the world's best ski resorts and knowing a few people at snowboarding's finest publication keeps me interested in the sport. Last summer we saw a great collaboration between 686 and Levi's and it's good to see the brand keep innovating with this Timso approved boot.
more

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Summer Vacation: Back in Session


-I've just returned from my sans-communication vacation in Priest Lake, Idaho, that place of my childhood summers which has been stolen from me the past few years by the necessity of work. Blogging will resume at it's normal pace tomorrow, and there are some pictures from Priest and other recent happenings on our Flickr.
more

Saturday, August 22, 2009

School Supplies: Gilt Fuse

Many of us are long familiar with the exclusive members-only sample sale mecca that is Gilt Groupe. For the past two years founders Alexis and Alexandra have offered men, women, children and homes luxury goods at ridiculously pocket-friendly sale prices. Now the overwhelming success of Gilt has allowed A&A to further their stake on upscale e-commerce.

Enter Gilt Fuse, the original's twenty-something little sister you can find gracing a Mark Hunter party album or the pages of Nylon (forget thrift store couture, she's the one in the lamé top and Ksubi stovepipes). Barely a few weeks old, Gilt Fuse currently offers only womens apparel that falls under the category of undeniably hip, fierce and very, very bright. Since membership was extended only to existing Gilt members, you're still going to need a personal invite if you're an outsider but it's well worth the trouble. If you want in, leave us your e-mail addy and we'll send an invitation your way. Hurry though, the WeSC sale ends at 9 AM PST on Sunday the 24th and there are still plenty of those ultra-fly, bright pink Gullmaj nylon jackets to be scooped up for $44 instead of $121. Now that's unbeatable.
more

Friday, August 21, 2009

Dress Code: Company of We


-I'd never heard of Company of We until I saw them of SL the other day, but when the designers drop lines about their clothes being for guys who 'aren’t about to drop $700 for a pair of shorts,' and they make super-trim peak-lapel DB blazers in the $200 range, I'm already a fan.
-Update: WE ARE THE MARKET caught up with the guys behind Company of We and asked them a few questions about their line.
more

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

School Supplies: Burberry Packable Trench


-Ever since I got a khaki trench, I've really wanted a navy one. Like any self-respecting sartorialist, I aspire to own a Burberry trench someday. At just under $700, this travel-friendly trench isn't something I'll be able to get my hands on any time soon, but it's a bit nearer than its $1200-$1600 older brothers.
-Via Selectism.
more

Monday, August 17, 2009

Dress Code: I want a wacky fall sweater


-These sweaters from The Inoue Brothers, a design team I'd never heard of before seeing these but have since become very intrigued by, reminded me of an important concept I need to keep in mind for fall. I've never been one to make novelty or garishness a major tenet of my dress, but on the other hand, I've always hated the idea falling into a pattern of routine dress. The latter seems to happen to us more and more as we age, we adopt a uniform and perfect it (for me the fall uniform usually consists of Levi's, oxford shirt, tie, crew neck sweater). As sartorialists we must always be looking for new ways to re-work the items we already own, and in the same vein, looking to add pieces that maybe break the consistent mold we've created for ourselves. I really like the idea of a bright, almost cartoony sweater for the fall. These impeccably made sweaters could be used in a variety of ways, I'm thinking over a dark oxford/tie combo, under my trench coat.
-This is a nerdy sweater that for some reason I put in my blog folder and now since I'm talking about wacky sweaters I included it. I'm not commenting on its merit, but it did remind be that's it's never a bad thing to include a little occupational or academic humor in your attire. Occasionally.
more

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Film School: Trailer Crazy

-Maybe it's just my mood today, but I found a bunch of movie trailers really entertaining today. So, y'know, here's some of them.


-This is Heath Ledger's last movie, and Johnny Depp takes up the role in the scenes Heath hadn't finished at the time of his passing, so it will make a shitload of money and looks cool too. Probably better than the new Alice in Wonderland.

-This just looks cool. And it's got the dude from Toyko Drift, one of the most underrated films of our time.

-After taking a 3-year break from watching Napoleon, I re-watched it and realized that it's still a brilliant movie. This new one from Nappy D director Jared Hess looks good, unlike his last film, Nacho Libre.

-This one looks like it may allow me to forgive Gerard Butler for 300 and whatever that newish romantic comedy he's in is and pretty much all the movies he's been in because their all shitty. Wait, I didn't see Rock 'n' Rolla, that's probably good.
-So, I guess I'm just in the mood for some dumb, pure entertainment cinema these days.
more

Professors: Tomei for Boy


-From My Cousin Vinny to Alfie to that episode of Seinfeld to (especially, you know why) The Wrestler, Marisa Tomei has always symbolized iconic mature beauty for me. Now, Tomei lends her touch of class to Band of Outsiders dope female label, Boy. A CA approved collaboration.
more

Friday, August 14, 2009

School Supplies: Winter Sperrys




-Most of us here on CA have referenced Sperry Top Siders on numerous occassions for their great versatility and classic American style. Despite their versatility, Top Siders should only be worn during spring and summer, leaving most to rebel against sartorial standards and also sport them in the fall and winter. With Clark's coming back out with the Desert Boot as an anniversary collection, those who worry about breaking those sartorial standards need not. I spotted these at my work a few weeks ago and thought they would make the perfect fall/winter shoe especially with coming in 7 different colors.
more

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Design Major: Geller x Levi's


-I haven't been that pumped on Robert Geller, even with him winning GQ's best new menswear designer earlier in the year. His stuff is a little too modern for me. But I'm passionate about Levi's, and this collaboration, what little we get to see of it, looks like it's going to be amazing.
-Worthwhile press release after the jump.

American designer Robert Geller and quinessential denim purveyors Levi’s embark on an upcoming collection set to release on September 10th. The collection includes a series of pieces based on archival Levi’s styles ranging from the 1910s through the 1950s as he made an effort to give a contemporary platform for vintage construction and workwear. A full press release seen below gives further insight into the collection.

Designer Robert Geller has created a cobranded denim collection with Levi’s that will hit stores next month.

The 11-piece capsule range will be sold in 12 Bloomingdale’s units, on bloomingdales.com and in seven Levi’s stores in New York, San Francisco, Miami Beach, Beverly Hills and Bucktown, Ill., beginning Sept. 10.

The collection will be celebrated with a party at Bloomingdale’s Manhattan flagship on Sept. 9, and is featured in the September issue of GQ. The project comes after Geller’s win in GQ’s Best New Menswear Designer in America competition in February.

“The most important thing I tried to do was to get to the source of what I think makes Levi’s so cool, while bringing to that my own ideas that might make the garments more modern and nice for my customers,” Geller said.

In that vein, Geller took historic Levi’s archive pieces and evolved them toward his own sensibilities. The 606 Super Slim jean from the line was developed from a Sixties model, while a chambray shirt was given a salt wash, and Geller’s signature armhole pleat was added. Military taping was applied to a denim work jacket’s sleeve placket, and a denim parka was given a swallowtail hem, another signature Geller flourish.

Geller worked closely on the project with Carl Chiara, director of men’s and women’s brand concepts at Levi’s Americas, during the design process.

“Robert was especially inspired by vintage constructions and workwear styling and wanted to address that aspect of our history through his voice,” Chiara said. “We pulled work coats from the 1910s to the 1950s and worked off the functional yet minimal approach to purposeful, rational design and put it in a new context.”

Prices for the collection range from $95 for the 1853 sun-bleached T-shirt to $575 for the hooded parka with blanket lining. The jeans in the collection are $275 and the shirts range from $195 to $265.

This is the second year Levi’s, GQ and Bloomingdale’s have partnered for the men’s design competition. Engineered Garments won last year.

“[GQ creative director] Jim Moore and his team have brought a great level of excitement to this endeavor, and it’s projects like these that keep department stores vibrant,” said Kevin Harter, vice president of fashion direction for men’s, home and young world at Bloomingdale’s.

Geller, who received a $50,000 cash prize, is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and a former partner in the now-shuttered men’s label Cloak. He launched the Robert Geller collection in fall 2007. It is sold in about 60 top specialty stores, including Odin, Confederacy, American Rag, Lane Crawford and Isetan.
more

School Supplies: Kermit Sweater


-I've said it a bunch of times before, I have a soft spot for design that appeals to memories of my childhood (on that note, remind me to expound upon Dee & Ricky tomorrow). I've never heard of Jean Charles de Castelbajac, but I like this sweater a lot.
-Via Hypebeast.
more

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

School Supplies: New KZO


-I've been digging on KZO since I first encountered the label about a year ago. In the spring I bought a KZO windbreaker, and I'm really digging a couple of their newer items. Seattle's Blackbird has a bunch of their new shit, including this Muir wool check shirt, also in blue and red. The shirt is cool but not too unique, but I really like these Timber pants. I always need certain pieces to remind me to break out of the jeans, jeans, jeans lifestyle. Neither of these pieces are within my current clothing budget ($.50) but maybe they'll turn up on Gilt sometime like my windbreaker did.
more

Monday, August 10, 2009

Field Notes: Stream of Consciousness


-Everyone knows I love Sperrys and I've been thinking about acquiring a new pair, so I was pumped to see this SS/10 preview. Those suede greys look dope. Hey, speaking of new Sperrys.

-Check out these chukka boots from the next installment of Band of Outsiders for Sperry. I've talked a lot about my Band x Sperry boots in the past and now I really want these. Hey, speaking of my boots, I'll get to wear them tomorrow because it's supposed to rain and I have to go walk in the woods for 8 hours taking pictures for a nature photography workshop.

-So here's a bit a nature photography, more of which you can find on our Flickr. There will probably be a ton more photos of trees and leaves and other really cool naturey stuff after tomorrow's field trip.
more

Film School: New WTWTA Trailer


-I hereby submit and encourage the unilateral fervor of support for this film. I just re-watched Being John Malkovich to get into my Spike groove and I'm hopeful that he'll once again use Catherine Keener to the best of her abilities. more

School Supplies: Hall of Fame Size Caps


-These straight forward New Era fitteds from Hall of Fame bring a new yet simple design that I like but think would be more useful if applied to underwear.
more

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Professors: Hughes' Making of Style Icons


-I was always put off by James Spader wearing that white suit to school. Did people, even rich douchers, do that? Didn't he realize he already looked like 28 and should therefore try to dress younger not older? As someone who grew up mostly in the 90s, watching Molly Ringwald and John Cryer in John Hughes' classics was one of the primary ways I learned what not to wear. Over at The Moment they've got a slideshow of some iconic brat pack style, though the collection of photos is much less extensive than it ought to be.
-Blaine? His name is Blaine?
more

Classmates: MFG Jeffrey


-Rocking the J.Crew white chinos and purple gingham, new Sperrys, and blue rasberry MD 20/20. Party the fuck on.
more

Friday, August 7, 2009

Retirements: John Hughes


-Anyone born between 1975 and 1990 is undoubtedly saddened by the passing of director John Hughes. The crazy thing, for me, is that I heard about Hughes death literally 10 minutes after I had a brilliant Hughes related idea: Remake the movies, starting with The Breakfast Club, same script, same shots, same everything, same actors, but now. Don't you think people would come to see Judd Nelson looking up fat Molly Ringwald's dress? I do, someone call me about this and we'll get the ball rolling.
more

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Art School: Old Paining, New Barry


-Today Grace and I transformed the ugly, unsigned painting of a woman in a bathtub that's nailed in our back room and applied a little Barry Obama love and now it's cool (even though it lacks a political message!,) not ugly.
-More on our Flickr.
more

Administrative: eyefive Twitter



more

School Supplies: Minifig Keychains


-I love LEGO, I like things that illuminate dark spaces, I like this keychain.
more

School Supplies: Incase DSLR Bags


-As an avid shooter and someone who associates with many more talented photographers, I'm always on the lookout for gear bags that aren't hideous. With these new releases Incase keeps it simple, padded and waterproof.
more

Review Sesh: More Big Kid Backpacks


-Today folks over at The Moment re-hashed the sentiment we reiterated a couple times way-back-when about the challenge of finding a backpack that doesn't make you look like you're heading to 5th period chemistry. The pack they chose to illustrate the point is the JanSport Heritage Collection Wayback which sells for the Class Act approved price of $40.
more

Classmates: Delonte West is a Champ


-Anyone who knows me knows that I hate the Cleveland Cavaliers vehemently and even though 90 percent of the people I know are from Seattle, I hate the Sonics. But I've liked Delonte West since the St. Joe's days and with this video he's solidified his status as one of the funniest NBA players. Dude gets $47 worth of chicken and raps about it for 5 minutes.
-Via BDL, probably the best NBA blog on tha web
more

Monday, August 3, 2009

Administrative Leave: Back on our Grind


-Daily posting from now on, big stuff coming later this summer, thanks for sticking with us! Tell your friends eyefive is back in action! more

Film School: The Skateboard Film Festival


-If you're going to be in Seattle August 14th and 15th you should try to weasel your way into some tickets to The Skateboard Film Festival. The festival is the world's first film festival devoted entirely to skate related content. Among the many great films to be shown, A Day at the Park, a film by Scott Yamamura which features footage from Seattle's best spots and parks will premier at the festival. Sponsored by Manik, Goods and Nike SB among others, the festival should be an amazing event for northwest skate fans.

more

Peer Review: GQ Fall Buyer's Guide


-Here's the few worthwhile items I found in the GQ Fall Buyer's Guide:
1-Michael Bastian DB blazer, $2,195
2-Pendleton blankets, $198, probably will have these at the Portland Outdoor Store.
3-Robert Geller's take on the classic Levi's jacket, $445
4-Band of Outsiders tailored sweats, enough said, $400
5-Woolrich John Rich and Bros. flannels, as good as my Rogues flannel? IDK, $145
6-Opening Ceremony quilted dress shirt, hated on Ceremony a lot, growing on me, $380
7-Patrik Ervell, one of my favorite designers, dope sweater, $325
8-Property Of... backpack, clean, $275
9-Spurr peacoat, I hate peacoats but if you must, at least get something other than black or blue, $1,950
more

Film School: Good Days with P-Rod

-A lot of people like to hate on P-Rod because he rides for Nike, skates a lot of competitions and is the good looking son of a kind-of famous actor. With the X-Games on this week I was thinking about Rodriguez and I decided that I like him, not only because he's an incredible skater, but because he has a personal mission to make skaters recognized among other professional athletes. The above video is an extended version of an ad featuring P-Rod and Koston along with Kobe and Ice Cube that Nike has been running for a couple weeks. Props to Theotis for making the extended cut.
-Oh and there is some behind the scenes footy on the Nike SB site and here's Hypebeast with a dope interview and a new show from P-Rod.
more

Film School: The Dangerous Task of Adapting Dorian Gray

-Here is the trailer for the big-screen adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic The Picture of Dorian Gray. Dorian is one of my all-time favorite novels and so I could easily jump on the hater bandwagon, but I'm willing to at least see it first. I've got some respect for Colin Firth (because of his role in the 6-hour Pride and Prejudice, not his role in Nanny McPhee,) and I've got no respect for the kid from Prince Caspian because I watched that movie with no sound on the train and it just looked like a bunch of kids playing with swords in a field.
-Commenters over at iWatchstuff are already bitching about how the movie neglects the obvious-to-anyone-with-a-3rd-grade-reading-level homoerotic element of the book which, although a valid complaint, doesn't ruin the idea for me. The movie will probably suck, but that doesn't mean a modern twist on Dorian is an offense to Wilde, it's just a movie.
more