School Supplies: Class Act Endorsements

-This post comes from a few different things floating around in my head this morning. Firstly, its been raining, secondly: Hypebeast had a blurb about the Band of Outsiders x Sperry collaboration, albeit they're a little late with the news, given that GQ and even Teen Vogue had pieces from the collab months ago. We are, of course, true Sperry fans, and I've been a B.O.O. fan ever since I saw their take on classic ties. But I've always had a problem with overpriced simplicity. To me, Band of Outsiders didn't do much different to the classic Sperry form, but the price of the collab shoes are between $200-300, instead of $50-100 like most Sperrys. Marc Jacobs did Vans slip-ons and they were priced at a reasonable $85. The point of all this is that, like the overpriced B.O.O. Sperrys, their ties are also overpriced, for what they are (muted tonal striped ties, mostly).

-That brings me to this: Although my co-editor dissed Urban Outfitters in the last post, I think that if you approach U.O. with the right perspective, you can pick out the gems (like Fred Perry or Modern Amusement^1).

-I was recently at urban and they had a line of ties (pictured) I was previously unaware of. The brand on the ties was Hi-Brow, but I couldn't find a company Web site, so I'm unsure of the origin. Nonetheless, there was an assortment of interestingly patterned, perfectly narrow (6cm at the widest point) ties. For about $28, not $128. However, there were about 30 different ties in the store and I could find only two from this particular line at the urban online shop, so make the trip to the nearest retail location. 

-Now I know that the counter point, as it usually is when arguing in favor of designer goods, is that the pricier goods are quality made, probably by hand, probably not by kids in Indonesia, probably with better materials. But when you're young and on a budget let your conscience and wallet take a break and score some fresh ties. 

1-Interestingly, a Modern Amusement logo patterned tie that was, to me, overpriced, was featured in both GQ and Details in recent months, it's whatevs.

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PhysEd: Bike Month

It was recently brought to our attention that May is National Bike Month. As the Northwest rain subsides, biking becomes a much more plausible and enjoyable mode of transportation. If you are looking for an environmentally friendly way to get around, buy a bike. If you are looking for an image, go back to Urban Outfitters.
I saw this bumper sticker at Monorail Espresso in Seattle a few months back, but I didn't have my camera. Fortunately, someone else did. Perfectly put, "your track bike is not a fashion accessory." more

Design Major: Hedi Slimane x Diesel?

<---There are a few rumors circling around today about where Hedi Slimane, the former Dior Homme creative director, might find his next job. The concerning part is where he's rumored to be heading. Some rumors have him heading back to Louis Vuitton, which would be fitting, however some reports have him collaborating with Italian denim label Diesel. This concerns me because I've never been a fan of Diesel, and the bro'd out destroyed denim (or most overpriced designer jeans in general) they produce.

-Adding to the intrigue of the story, is the aspect of Kris Van Assche, who came out of relative obscurity to take over Slimane's position at Dior. Van Assche's style is decidedly more masculine that Slimane's which may have been a conscious theme change by Dior.--->



-Of course, Class Act predicted that KVA would blow up when we first heard of him nearly four years ago, and had the picture below on our myspace under the heading "name to remember." We're on our shit. Overall, if the Diesel rumors materialize, we say KVA is still on the way up (if not already at the top) and Hedi Slimane is on the way down.

Sources: Hypebeast, WWD, SlamxHype

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Extra Curricular: Weekend

-Never take a weekend off from being stylish:

-Below: shirt by Blacktooth

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Faculty

When French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard famously stated that "all you need to make a movie is a girl and a gun," he overlooked another key element: an actor who knows his way around both. Jean-Paul Belmondo's breakthrough role in Godard's Breathless proved he was the right man for the job and propelled him to New Wave stardom. Despite countless cigarettes and a battered face reminiscent of Joe Frazier after the Thrilla in Manila, Belmondo's effortless style rightfully earned him a place on GQ's list of the 50 Most Stylish Men of the Past 50 Years. We recommend the newly re-released Pierrot Le Fou, 110 minutes of girls, guns, and precise filmic and sartorial style. more

PowerPoint: Blues

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PowerPoint: Ray Bans

-And scarves and boots and such. Well done.

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Art School: Aaron Kraten + Carry5

-When it comes to art, even those of us who admire the modernist greats like Marcel and Jasper long for art that exhibits the themes we are familiar with.

-Thats why we at E5S-CA think you should know about Aaron Kraten, one of our favorite contemporary artists.

-Aaron's self taught brand of mixed media pieces are filled with imagery anyone vaguely familiar with any of the various urban subcultures of the past decade will find appealing. If I had any sort of income, I would purchase one of his pieces.

Above: Reclusion, 18" x 20", mixed media on wood, $475

Above: Analog Skys, 12" x 16", mixed media on wood, $350

-What makes this post timely is that Kraten contributed to the Carry5 Art Exhibit & Fundraiser in Seattle today.

- Carry5 is a project created by Nancy Chang of the Old Redmond Firehouse that aims to raise awareness about the need for clean water in third world countries like Honduras and Bangladesh. Besides working for the City of Redmond Parks & Recreation department, her off time is spent utilizing her passion for art to address international humanitarian issues she feels strongly about.

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