The Sartorialist: A Heavy Dose of Workwear...

The 'workwear' label has been popping up quite a bit on the Sartorialist as of late. It seems that this look is really solidifying its spot in the fashion word, and with the right styling it is now seen as a very legitimate aesthetic. Pairing authentic, well cut flannel with some worked in selvedge or raw denim and a good boot like a Redwing Irish Setter will always be seen as classic and timeless. Scott Schuman (the Sartorialist), has caught some very well put together looks, and here are a few of my favorites.

Band of Outsiders: Sperry Topsiders S/S 2009

The Band of Outsiders S/S 2009 collection has been featured before on 84/85, and this time around its the Sperry Topsider shoe collaboration that's has being featured and seen in full. With styles ranging from all-over velcro to a distressed black model featuring safety pin closures and a full rubber loafer, they're perfect for our rainy Northwest climate . The full collection is definitely one of my favorite looks for the upcoming season, featuring tailored cuts and a great color pallet. Band of Outsiders do it again with the full package, from the goods to the presentation of the product.

Rouges Gallery S/S 09'

Rouges Gallery have just released their S/S 09' look book on their blog, PTLDME. The line is based out of Portland, Maine, and this collection takes a heavy influence from nautical themes and the grunge movement of the early 90's. I wasn't a huge fan of their fall/winter collection but there were a few stand-out pieces. This collection looks solid, with a good range of pieces and a well put together lookbook featuring some nice photography from Carter Smith.

throwback - The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai OST

on new year's day I re-watched Afro Samurai, the now-classic manga miniseries directed by Fuminori Kizaki and featuring the vocal talents of Samuel L. Jackson as the title character and his frenetic sidekick. released in early '07, the Afro Samurai OST contains much of the RZA's most inventive and exploratory arrangements and compositions. erie synth/string atmospheres and skeletal beat patterns intersect with guest verses from artists such as GZA, Talib Kweli, Thea, and Big Daddy Kane. complimenting the film perfectly, this is definitely one of my all-time favorite soundtracks. the tracks together posted are sequential on the album, and really highlight the overall cohesive sound of the project.

The RZA - Oh (Stone Mecca)

The RZA - The Walk (Stone Mecca)

The RZA - Tears Of A Samurai (instrumental)

The RZA - Take The Sword Pt. 1 (feat. Beretta 9)

The RZA - Afro Samurai Theme (first movement)

The RZA - Afro Samurai Theme (second movement)

Blackberry Messenger (bbm)

after a few months of debate, I finally broke down and bought an iPhone. the 3G internet, glossy widescreen, and insane app availability were all strong selling features for me, but the thing that made me hesitate for so long was the impending loss of Blackberry Messenger. with my 20 or so contacts being basically my sole form of communication, losing that instant back-and-forth is going to be a weird change in my day-to-day. all I'm really saying is that bbm is/was awesome, and I'm going to miss it a lot <3. 

wants and needs: Canon G10

Recently I have really been getting back into photography (more specifically film photography), but I have been looking to get a new digital camera. I have a compact Canon Elph but was really looking to step to the DSLR range. The only problem that I find with a regular DSLR is the lack of portability and sheer bulk size. I wanted a camera that I could fit into my pocket but still had the capabilities and functions of performing like a DSLR.  Through plenty of research I came across the newest member of the G series from Canon, the G10. It has all the functions of a DSLR but is the size of a compact digital camera. It has the option of shooting RAW format with 14.7 mega pixels as well as many other notable functions. Not only are the functions and features right up my alley but it is also very well designed and aesthetically pleasing. It has the look of a vintage style camera and is also constructed like a tank. All in all I'm very happy with the camera so far, so if you're in the market for a new digital take a look at the G10 - it is a winner in all categories in my books.

a closer look: Actual Pain

Now a days I am not really into graphic tee shirt companies, as I would generally prefer a little more depth to a line. Sometimes there is an exception to the rule, and in this case it is Seattle's Actual Pain. They are a small company but have been making their mark with great designs and solid collaborations with like-minded brands such as Flying Coffin, Italian brand Vanguard, and most recently Mishka. With hardcore death-metal inspired graphics and a "don't give a fuck" attitude, Actual Pain are ones to watch out for.

Public School

since we didn't start this blog until November, we missed the opportunity to cover many of our favorite designers when they dropped their F/W 08 collections. Public School (like Corpus) is one of my favorite brands that has yet to show their spring/summer 09 line.. so here is a look back at my fav styles from this season. leather, wool, flannels.. the clean/dirty dichotomy continues. look for more leather (PS remains one of the only labels to invest deeply in the material), sharply tailored shirts with dramatics embellishments, and more biker/rock/thug/schoolboy inspired high/low couture in the S/S 09 collection. 

Gaza

with a ground incursion looking more and more likely as tensions escalate, the conflict in Gaza looks to be history repeating itself. all I can say is how sad I am, and how I hope resolution and peace will prevail. 

mini retro synths by Dan Mcpharlin

Dan Mcpharin is an Australian designer who builds all sorts of model musical equipment out of cardboard and paper. each one takes about 2-3 days to finish and comes complete with moveable knobs and switches, and has all the accurate wiring patterns and dimensions.