Dress Code: Wu Tang Street Style

-Wu Tang Clan is notable not only for their groundbreaking rap stylings, but also for the plethora of streetwear collaborations they have done over the past couple years.
-In addition to shilling for Supreme, Raekwon has worked closely with Diamond Supply Co. on a few separate occasions. The below tees were released to commemorate the Rock the Bells tour and Raekwon's alter ego Lex Diamond, respectively.

-Ghostface Killah's various alter egos have also been immortalized on several tees, including the following collaborations with Zoo York and DOWNSIDEUP. While ZY decided to list all Ghost's known aliases, DSU's shirt is a simpler homage to his Toney Starks persona and the official shoe of Wu Tang, the Wallabee.
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J School: Kings of New Media

-Kings of Leon have been busy since releasing their last album, Only By The Night. After tons of success overseas, the band has been trying to reach a larger audience here at home. For such a quintessentially American band, Kings of Leon have had surprisingly little success here, despite their superstar status in the UK. Europeans love Western movies, so its not hard to understand their love for a band that is essentially the musical equivalent.
-KOL have also been doing their part to kill print media once and for all. This months Spin Magazine features the band on the cover, and a free digital version has been released online. This new format is green, convenient, and features all of the same content, including the most informative Kings interview to date. more

PoliSci: W.

-With the November election looming, George Bush seems relieved that his reign is coming to an end. However, he won't get off easy. Oliver Stone's biopic W. hits theaters on October 17th, and it will undoubtedly be a scathing and hilarious critique of Dubya's life. Plus, YouTube is having a W. mashup contest, so you can wistfully compile footage of your favorite Bush blunders.

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School Supplies: Blazin'

-Hi-tops have been hugely popular as of late, so we thought we would showcase some our our favorites. I have been skating the SB Blazers for some time now, and the fact that the shoes share a name with our favorite NBA team was just a coincidence.
-However, according to High Snobiety, Nike will be releasing the Blazer NBA Pack in the next few weeks. They don't feature team logos, and the specific teams have not been released, but we are assuming the black ones to be the Blazer Blazers. Keep an eye out.

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Music Theory: Fall Albums

-A bunch of our favorite artists released new records this month, so we thought we'd do a concise round-up rather than review all of them.
-Due to our mutual admiration for Andrew McMahon, we have reached an editorial consensus and decided to abstain from reviewing the new Jack's Mannequin as it is absolutely terrible. We'll give it an I for incomplete.
-Kings of Leon's Because of the Times was my favorite album of 2007, and their new one might just edge out Nas for this year's title. The band insists that Only by the Night is their most upbeat record, and for the most part it is. However, tracks like the aptly titled "Cold Desert" are still saturated with the Southern edge that got them famous and the desolate ambiance that defined Because of the Times. A.
-LA's best rapper just released a new album, and it's not called LAX. Murs has worked his way up from the underground with the help of steady campaigning and word of mouth. Murs for President is a solid record, but too much political commentary has me wishing he would go back to spitting about girls and skateboarding. B-.
-TV on the Radio blew me away a few years ago with their Young Liars EP, and I am still completely floored by everything they put out. There is nothing left to be said about the indie media darlings: they are black (almost), they live in Brooklyn, they kind of sound like Genesis, yada yada. All I know is that they are easily the most sonically creative band since Radiohead. Still, Dear Science is a small step down from their last few. A-. more

Dress Code: The PNW Resurgence

-Back in 2003, a Gawker blurb predicted a massive hipster migration from Brooklyn to Seattle: "It won't be long until kids in post-Williamsburg Brooklyn will be glomming up all the Patagonia pullovers they can get their pale white mitts on." According to Selectism, that prophecy will be eerily fulfilled by a new Patagonia for Urban Outfitters collection, featuring both full-zip and pullover fleeces in a variety of colors.

-The streetwear market has been flooded with classic Northwest gear lately, to the point where the Louis Vuitton Don is dressing more like Paul Rudd circa 1994. Companies like 10 Deep and Stussy are pumping out overpriced flannel, and for all we know it won't be long before Andre 3000 changes Benjamin Bixby to Eddie Vedder. Those of us who grew up in the Upper Left know that one must look no further than Value Village or dad's closet to find any of this stuff. Still, we don't mind the attention.

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PoliSci: PAlife

-While he was always clearly the hip candidate, the streetwear movement has latched on to Obama to an alarming degree. The good folks at Complex decided to explore the alternative, and see what a Hockey Mom x Hypebeast collabo might look like instead. More here. more

School Supplies: Be Like Spike

-Spike Lee is easily the most recognizable filmmaker in the country, mostly because of his ability to stay in the spotlight (or just courtside) at all times. Whether he's acting with MJ or feuding with everyone from Reggie Miller to Clint Eastwood, Spike has never had any trouble marketing himself. That said, the new Jordan Spizikes are the coolest Spike/Mike collabo since the Mars Blackmon ads, New Era recently dropped a Lee-designed Yankees hat, and Casio is set to release a Spike Lee G-Shock watch in the coming months. Unfortunately, these are all about as rare as a positive review of Spike's latest movie. more

Geography 101: Blame Canada

-Despite the fact that it is only 20 minutes north of us, we rarely give any credit to Canada. If you can get past the generally sketchy appearance, Vancouver is a prime destination for anyone who enjoys art, film, fashion, legal marijuana or underage drinking. Plus, instead of traveling across the country to buy ALIFE gear, we can just head 45 minutes north to ALIFE Vancouver.
-ALIFE recently released commemorative maple leaf shirts (below) at their Vancouver store, in addition to being behind the ALIFE x Canada Goose down coats that were released a little while back. The latter was the first collaboration done by Canada Goose, a quintessentially Canadian company, and proof that ALIFE cares about our northern neighbors, and we should too. more

Dress Code: Play Cloths

-Our favorite rap duo, The Clipse, has finally begun releasing news regarding their long-awaited clothing line, Play Cloths. The PC site has been under construction for months, so aside from a few video spots the line has been pretty much under wraps. However, the new Play Cloths blog has given us a closer look at Clipse's product (which, for once, isn't white powder). Malice and Pusha T know their fashion, so don't expect another Ecko, just a brand that Clipse describes as "all work, all play." PC's first collection is set to release in November. more

Music Theory: I Love College

-School starts this week, and bro-rap pioneer Asher Roth is back with another red cup anthem entitled "I Love College". Roth may not the best rapper of the decade, but he's the only one who raps about Miller Lite and beer pong bounces so there is always a place for him here at Class Act.



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Design Major: Wood Wood

-We first noticed Danish designers Wood Wood after their killer New Balance collaboration, and they have recently been involved in some equally ill joint ventures with Converse and Penfield.

-Penfield has had their share of collaborations recently, and this one looks especially promising. The weather is equally dismal in Copenhagen and Seattle, so I trust the Danes at Wood Wood to put together some solid outerwear.









-The Wood Wood Cons are part of the (Product) RED AIDs benefit program, and will release on October 1st.

-Wood Wood's Winter 2008 collection proves that they can, in fact, do alright on their own. Below, an interesting take on the classic Scandinavian sweater.

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Faculty: Jay McInerney

-If you tuned in to to the Gossip Girl premiere, you may have recognized Dan Humphrey's mentor as author Jay McInerney, who rose to fame some 24 years ago with his debut novel Bright Lights, Big City. McInerney and American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis redefined the concept of literary celebrity in the 1980s, as their exploits were well documented in the media and their own work.
-GG aside, McInerney has also been in the news recently in the wake of John Edwards' extamarital affair. The main character in McInerney's novel Story of My Life is based on Rielle Hunter, his ex-girlfriend and Edwards' mistress. Her character, Alison Poole, also has a bit part in B.E.E.'s American Psycho, and ulitimately falls victim to the novel's sadistic protagonist, Patrick Bateman.
-Before he got wrapped up in teen drama and political scandal, McInerney wrote The Good Life, a novel based around the events of September 11th. Like several of his other works, The Good Life received mixed reviews and was criticized for focusing exclusively on the lives of overprivileged New Yorkers. Regardless of the socioeconomic status of his subjects, McInerney's writing has always been earnest and heartfelt, and I will definitely say that Bright Lights, Big City is one of my favorite books. Jay might be getting older, but he obviously has no desire to leave the lights or the city behind. more

Plagiarism: MaNiKe SB

-The popularity of Manik skates has skyrocketed over the past few years, and in our opinion they are Seattle's illest clothing company. We still love their product as much as we did when we started, and since the release of their George Carlin shirt and newest line of Artist Series decks it has been clear that Manik can't/won't stop.
-However, on a visit to Trickwood today I noticed a newly released Nike SB hoodie (on the right) that looked almost identical to an older Manik one (on the left). It is clearly pretty weak for a giant newcomer like Nike to snipe shit from a promising upstart, but it is also not surprising in the least.

-Anti-Nike sentiment is pretty common throughout the skate world these days, as an industry based around the underdog is now being taken over by the king of all corporations. Regardless, as long as Nike keeps putting out cool product (see: Nike SB x Shoe Goo) and getting people like P-Rod and ?uest to rep their SB gear, then they will remain a respected (if hated) force. more

Music Theory: Inland NW Love

-For being a Northwest-centric publication, we really don't give enough love to Idaho. Our neighbor to the east has exported some talented musicians over the years, and they deserve some recognition.
-Boise's finest, Built to Spill, has set out on a tour to play their 1997 album Perfect from Now On in its entirety. The Stranger had eight writers discuss their favorite songs off the classic record, which reminded me of a similar piece about Death Cab's Plans in the The Seattle Times a couple years back. Built to Spill will play tomorrow night at the original Showbox in Seattle.
-Another one of Idaho's best acts is Josh Ritter, who recorded his best record, The Golden Age of Radio, for less than $1000. Lately, Moscow's Ritter has become quite popular with the college set, and for good reason. His post-Golden Age albums are full of earnest alt-country that acts as a fitting soundtrack for the dusty Inland NW. Check out his stellar set on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic here.
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Field Trip: Alife Rivington Club

-On the last day of my NYC trip, I had to book it down to the Lower East Side to see Alife Rivington Club. I made it 5 minutes before closing, just enough time to catch a glimpse of the store that last month's GQ described as the city's ultimate destination for sneakerheads.
-A.R.C. was fresh off of a collaboration with Lacoste and the release of ?uestlove's exclusive Air Force 1s, and their shelves were filled with everything from your standard Dunks to Saucony runners, all branded with the A.R.C. logo. The service was unexpectedly good, and the dude with the ill Islam beard had more sneaker knowledge than anyone I've ever met. A.R.C. was by far the most impressive (though expensive) store I went to in NYC, so make it a top priority when you are in town.

-According to Hypebeast, A.R.C. recently released a line of outerwear with Penfield. Penfield is known for being pretty style-conscious while putting out some of the highest quality outerwear around, making this an unexpected yet welcome collabo. If you are trying to skip the fleece this fall, then check out A.R.C.'s online store. more

School Supplies: Fleeced

-Most of the complaints we hear about collegiate style tend to center around the prevalence of the North Face fleece jacket. Its an easy target: an overpriced, seemingly contrived product that has become overwhelmingly popular on Greek Row. While buying multiple colors for the sake of matching is ludicrous (and surprisingly common), so is the outcry against such a practical garment. We live in an area famous for shitty weather, and a light fleece jacket can be a huge asset. Believe it or not, you can stay warm this fall while retaining some semblance of originality.

-There was a time when The North Face was simply known as one of the best outdoor companies around. They recently commemorated the 1990 Trans-Antarctica Expedition with some throwback colors and minor design changes. Calling these colors loud would be an understatement, but they are anything but unoriginal and they make the jacket pretty hard to lose at a kegger.

-Patagonia is a pretty solid company, as they don't force you to sacrifice style for the sake of your ecological footprint (as evidenced by one of our first PowerPoints). Anyone who has ever worn a North Face fleece can tell you that even the slightest amount of wind renders them obsolete. Patagonia's Retro-X is windproof, thus making it a lot warmer than the alternative. After all, before pink fleeces and Uggs got popular, warmth was the reason people wore jackets and boots to begin with. The times they are a changin'....at least according to the guy on that Lucky shirt. more

English 101: The Importance of Being Earnest

-If English majors manage to get one thing out of their education, it's the ability to add the word 'post' to the beginning of pretty much anything. We've been hearing the term 'post-ironic' quite a bit lately, so we thought we'd take a minute to examine its definition and stylistic connotations.
-UrbanDictionary.com defines 'post-ironic' as "being sincere or earnest as opposed to being flippant and sarcastic." Back in junior high, ironic clothing was all the rage. However, post-puberty, there is really nothing more obnoxious.
-For example, in 8th grade I never hesitated to rock my 'Michael Bolton: Time, Love, and Tenderness Tour 1992' shirt, because it was hilarious, especially post-Office Space (sorry, I'll stop). I hate Michael Bolton, as everyone should, so it was truly ironic (and pretty fucking annoying). However, let's say I wore a John Denver shirt to school instead. While some would wear it to be ironic, I genuinely think John Denver is a badass songwriter. Thus, wearing the unintentionally tasteless concert tee pictured above would instead be considered 'post-ironic'.
-This new trend is incredibly refreshing, as people are owning up to the things they actually like rather than just hating on the obviously shitty (i.e. Michael Bolton). Here are some more examples from our boy The Cobrasnake:


















-The above photos show prime examples of cliched ironic clothing. The Copperfield tee is still pretty legit, regardless of intent, but Hello Kitty and post-Napoleon Dynamite (had to) wolf tees are ridiculously overt attempts at irony.
-On the other hand, assuming this guy legitimately likes Popeye's as much as we do, his shirt is a perfect example of post-ironic style. The dude is Canadian, so some might assume that he is being ironic in promoting a southern, Cajun-style chicken joint. A few years ago, that may well have been the case. However, we live in a new world full of sincere stylistic possibilities, where people are free to express their appreciation for Popeyes and John Denver. more