Ninjasonik

Ninjasonik is a Brooklyn 3 piece consisting of Reverend Mcfly, Telli Gramz and DJ Teenwolf.

Prada detachable collar

I think Prada is killing it with the detachable collar and it's accompanying ad campaign.. whether it's a clean white shirt and suit look or a sweater or t-shirt combo, Prada is on to something. the only question is if this can be legit street steez or if its something best left to the catwalk. comments?

throwback - Wu Tang

we had to go with the vids on this one.. mid 1990's to early 200's Wu Tang was the best for two reasons. first, the lyricism is some of the best of all time, and second, the style was as equally untouchable. Ghostface Killah is prolly the 84/85 favorite.. the NY swagger is massive.

note Cappadona's Canadiens jersey in 'Ice Cream' and Ghost's fur hat in 'Run'

Plain Gravy sweats

I've been wearing jeans to laze around the house for years now. I just never felt like I should be one of those doods who bum it up in oversized nike workout isht when on the couch.. but recently that changed. maybe it's all the PBR-induced hangovers, or maybe I'm just getting older.. either way, I've been on the hunt for a good pair of sweats for a hot minute. I had some on order from James Perse, but damn if they aren't taking forever to ship up from LA. so today I was going to crack and cop some AA joints to tide me over.. that is, until I mentioned the Plain Gravy sweats (which are currently out of my price range) that I've been lusting over at a local boutique to my lovely gf. so what do I find on the bed after I come home from a ride? a slick pair of cuffed, pocked heather-grey sweats that steez harder than most pants, let alone sweats. love that girl x. 

check out more Plain Gravy via High Snobriety

a closer look: Moncler

even though I don't live in a climate that demands I own a down winter jacket, if I did, it would surely be by Moncler. Founded in 1952, the brand has always made top-performance winter goods (with respectable spring/summer collections) while always maintaining a catwalk presence in Milan and Paris. now collaborating with famed Comme De Garcon  desinger Junya Watanabe, the brand has a strongly defined look of pure Euro luxury and sleekness. plus the Matterhorn-esque ad campaign has a killer retro look that encapsulates a past era of simplicity and style. with boutiques opening in major cities all over the world, Moncler is a brand on the rise. 

XLR8R 2008 ARTIST OF THE YEAR: DROP THE LIME

84/85 fav artist and one of the nicest guys you'll meet, Luca 'Drop The Lime' Venezia has just been named XlR8R's 2008 'Artist Of The Year.' I just want to say mad congrats to Luca, who's production has been at least three steps ahead of everyone else all year (well, for a few years). check out his choices for favorite things of '08 here, and make sure to sift through his library of songs here. 

and since I posted on DTL's softer side a little while back, here's a few certified bass stunners to showcase what is truly his forte. 

Moby - Alice (Drop The Lime remix)

Robyn - Who's That Girl (Drop the Lime remix)

French Vogue 2009 Calendar by Terry Richardson

French Vogue will be releasing this 2009 calender with their December/January issue. The shoot is done by none the notorious Terry Richardson and styled by Carine Roitfeld, dressing these beautiful girls in nothing less than Louie Vuitton lingerie and shoes. The styling is perfect for Richardson's provocative style, bringing a little more of a refined and professional feel to the shoot. Check Viacomit for all the photos from the calendar.

hangover cures

the 84/85 boys like to drink. hence, we are often hungover. and while I prefer the above method combined with greasy food and litres upon litres of water, that doesn't work for everyone. the good folks at men.style.com just put together the best list of cures I've seen yet.. check it out in their Upgrader section here 

Garrett Reynolds

we here at 84/85 primarily get down with track bikes, but it's the BMX vids that really get me hyped. while parts in snowboard / skateboard movies have stagnated as of late, progression in the BMX world is out of control. peep Garrett Reynolds part in the upcoming Nike 6.0 video.. the trick 27 seconds in.. WTF.


garrett reynolds nike6.0 from shithead on Vimeo.

tipped off by Trackasaurus Rex

a closer look: Engineered Garments

here's a look at the Fall/Winter 08' collection from Engineered Garments, as seen on Odin New York online store. I've been seeing a few pieces from the the F/W 08' line around and really liked the styling. Daiki Suzuki, the designer of the collection, has taken inspiration from "1920's and 30's coal miners, loggers, railroaders and construction workers, and how they lived their lives, specifically how wool tailored jackets and trousers were todays jeans and t-shirts." A very interesting approach to a line, and the outcome is one that I am really feeling. check Odinnewyork for more looks from the collection as well as a short interview with the designer.

Urban Outfitters: Space 15 Twenty

love them or hate them, you cant deny it - Urban Outfitters are good at what they do. they have their market down pat, consistently stay in tune with what is happening, and keep up with the retail curve. this time around U.O. have opened a "retail experiment" called Space 15 Twenty. the project allows them "to collaborate with creative brands we find inspiring and interesting." right now this includes: Alife, What Come Around Goes Around, We the Free, Hennessey + Ingalls, Snack Bar, Samantha Pleet, and Hope Gallery. The space is looking great with lots of wood, exposed brick, and complimented by that huge Andy Rementer billboard. It is located in a warehouse turned "hipster strip mall", off Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles. another great move in the retail world from the folks at Urban Outfitters - it should be interesting to see where this project goes. Photos and info via Kitsune Noir.

bikes!

sorry for the long delay between posts.. Brendan and I both just got new bikes, and were out riding those stallions (and drinking PBR) all weekend. but we promise to rectify this situation with a content-packed week! hopefully with all the riding we can one day rip shit like this..

damn your flowing locks Bacon!

ad appreciation - Zadig & Voltaire

Zadig & Voltaire are a streetwear line in the same vein as fellow French punk-infused brand The Kooples. glam styling, skeletal tailoring and that dirty-rich-beautiful vibe make their ad campaigns a thing of beauty. I include the bottom photo as it's used in their current European marketing (still working on that scanner).  

throwback - Gonzales' 'Solo Piano'

Jason Charles Beck, aka Gonzales, is a man of extremes. from his days in an alternative rock band to his European hip-hop phase (as well as collaborating with the likes of Feist and Jamie Lidell), Beck has shown the public many different faces. and none of these are more striking than his 2004 album 'Solo Piano,' a purely-instrumental effort that bears close resemblance to the work of Erik Satie (wikipedia agrees with me on this). a perfect soundtrack for fall and winter, 'Solo Piano' falls in to my piano library alongside the likes of Ravel and Reich. 

Gonzales - DOT

Gonzales - The Tourist

buy Gonzales 'Solo Piano' here

Alden Shoes: Chukka and Indy Boot

The Alden shoe company got its start back in 1884 focusing on comfort and craftsmaship, with each shoe being hand made in the US, and they still carry on this tradition to this day. They have a great selection of Oxfords and Brogues but it was the Chukka and Indy boots that really caught my eye. These Chukka boots are a timeless style, done in tan suede with a white contract stitch and a beatiful wood and leather sole. Secondly the Indy boot, these are the real stand out piece in my mind. With classic work wear styling, constructed of beautiful waxhide leather with the mocc style toe these are a great look for Fall and Winter. The Indy's are available at Stevenalan.com and the Chukka and all other styles can be seen at Aldenshop.com.

Barack & Curtis: Manhood, Power, and Respect

now I'm not a sociologist or cultural anthropologist, but I think the emergence of Barack Obama as a new model of mainstream black masculinity (in this case contrasted with Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent) is an interesting subject.. and this short doc does a good job examining all sides of the story.

the history of Pabst Blue Ribbon

Pabst Blue Ribbon as we know it today is the beer of choice for hipsters and alts all over North America. From Vancouver to Montreal, Portland to New York, you can find it being served at a grimey bar in a seedy area near you. This wasn't always the direction Pabst (also known as PBR) was headed - the company first got its start in 1882 in Milwaukee and was originally marketed as a luxury beer to an upper class market. as time went on the it was later marketed as a beer for everybody and was no longer seen as a high class. The beer was popular throughout the middle of the century, but in the 80's and 90's PBR went almost unseen. it wasn't till the early 2000's that Pabst made a huge comeback on the market. It was endorsed by the hipster scene and soon became a somewhat of a cult classic. I personally get down with Pabst - the price is right and the taste is good, it is basically the equivalent of Lucky but with a little more alt clout. Check here for a look at the history of the iconic beer through their advertisements.

Vitaminsforyou

Bryce Kushnier is a talented guy. by way of his lo-fi electronic alter ego Vitaminsforyou he has released two of my all-time favorite albums - 2003's 'I'm Sorry for Ever and for Always' and 2006's 'the Legend of Bird's Hill.' exploring and even expanding on the IDM terrain set forth by artists like Jimmy Tamborello, Kushnier has captured the attention of listeners worldwide who appreciate rich texture and attention to detail in their music. having also played in both Do Make Say Think and Fritz Helder and the Phantoms, Kushnier is a versatile musician who's skills encompass many genres and styles, making him one of the leading figures in the Canadian arts scene today. alright, enough fan boy-ing.. since relocating from Winnipeg to Toronto, Kushnier has been collaborating like crazy and working on his long-delayed new album (tentatively titled 'He Closed His Eyes.. So He Could Dance With You'), hopefully on the way in early 2009. you can buy Vitaminsforyou material from his label, Intr_Version. 

Vitaminsforyou - So Long Pleasant Bay (off 'the Legend of Bird's Hill')

Vitaminsforyou - B4U (off the forthcoming LP)

note: I would have loved to post something off "I'm Sorry...' but all I have is a protected AAC version :( 

Hermann Scheer

Last night the always-excellent CBC Newsworld program the Fifth Estate aired a compelling documentary entitled 'the Gospel of Green.' taking a hard look at why our Canadian governing bodies are so resistant to a real green shift in our ways of producing power, the doc showcased Hermann Scheer, a German MP who has been the driving force in both his native land and Europe as a whole when it comes to viable renewable energy sources, namely solar. the statistics are astounding. combining solar with wind and hydro sources, Germany is on pace to be energy self-sufficient within the next ten years. our Canadian politicians could learn a lot from Dr. Scheer, who fought corporate interest in Germany for years before he finally won out and started his green revolution. it's time the financial benefits of renewable energy be made widely known to the public, so that the catalyst for us to put real pressure on our leaders for viable change can finally occur. for more on 'the Gospel of Green,' go here. 

Deluxe: The Street Tailor Collection A/W 08'

Here is a look at Japanese label Deluxe's Autumn/Winter 08' collection. This is just another example of how the Japanese are taking traditional American work wear styles and reinventing them with quality construction, materials and tailored cuts. I am a sucker for good work wear because of the timelessness of the pieces and the durability and heavy construction of the garments. This collection is looking strong with some great outerwear, shirts and knit pieces as well as a nice range of khakis and trousers. Check here for the full lookbook.

High Rankin'

since I already made my love for a new breed of dirty dubstep known in our first post, I thought I should give you all some more choice cuts from the genre. High Rankin' is a producer based out of Brighton in the UK who has been creating both inventive dubstep and drum 'n bass for well over a hot minute now. and while d'nb isn't my thing and probably never will be, his dark, driving, gangster-ass dubstep is right up my alley. these two tracks come off the 'You, Me, and the Devil' ep, out now on Suicide Dub. as always, be sure to buy more on Beatport.

High Rankin' - Sulfur Tears

High Rankin' - You, Me, and the Devil

Makr Waxed Canvas and Suede Bags

Makr is another really great leather goods company making bags and wallets all hand made in North America. They have just released these two waxed canvas and suede bags, in both a tote and duffle style. The all black waxed canvas and suede give the bags a rugged but refined look. Men.style.com have included this duffle in their "roughing it" feature about canvas accessories, check here for the rest of the feature.