Perks and Mimi kill it for summer. The only thing missing from this collection are pacifiers and candy necklaces. Inspired by 24-hour club haven Ibiza, P.A.M. provides a refreshing take on island style. This is a decidedly summery collection; we see graphic color blocks, violet and royal blue nylon, salmon mesh tanks, and a bugged out Whoopi Goldberg graphic tee (can someone hook me up with this?!). As fun as this collection is, P.A.M. still delivers seriously great fashion here. The suede pieces are downright chic, and the color-blocked shirts are beautifully tailored. I also love the modern cuts they play with on the pants in the collection. Check out their online store to get your rave looks on point, and see more looks below.
I’ve always loved the fantasy in fashion. You can dress up, become whoever or whatever you want to. Clearly the good folks at LV love playing dress up as well. The Cape Cod realness they served up in the latest Cup Collection is a far cry from the houses history of fine Italian tailoring (did anyone else get an early 90s Nautica vibe?), but it is just as sharp and precise. Inspired by sailing culture, this collection puts as much emphasis on utility as it does on aesthetic. The pieces featured are water and salt resistant, and are comfortable to move in. But let’s be honest - we probably won’t be sailing anytime soon in this collection. Luckily, it is perfectly street ready. Featuring a range of outerwear as well as watches, dufflles, and glasses to fill out the accessories, this collection can fit nicely in any urbanite’s wardrobe. Check out more looks below.
I remember in the early 2000s when I was in middle school, the pinnacle of adolescent social life was meeting at the local skating rink on Friday nights. After everyone’s parents had dropped them off and skates were laced up, the “DJ” would drop 90s booty jam after 90s booty jam (think Miami booty bass or So So Def Bass Allstars) as the soundtrack for young love. This track would be perfectly at home in one of those sets. Julio Bashmore kills the production with a steady bass kick and frantic drum machine rhythm, but the soft synths coupled with Jessie Ware’s bedroom croon smooth it out nicely. The video is just as sweet as the track, with Kate Morross featuring Jessie in fields of flowers and tree-lined paths. Jessie Ware keeps showing more and more promise with cosigns from the likes of SBTRKT and Joker. The track is out now in the UK, with a summer release for the album slated for the summer via PMR.
I admittedly love kitsch. Give me anything bright, bold, and almost over-the-top and I’m in sartorial heaven. But like I said – almost. This is why I geeked out over Mark McNairy New Amsterdam’s beautifully playful Fall/Winter lookbook. With an impressive professional career (former director at J.Press, and current designer for Woolrich Woolen Mills, one of GQ’s Best New Menswear Designers in America ), I’ve come to expect really smart handling of classic Americana from McNairy. He certainly delivers on his solo venture. The prints are next level playful: all-over Desert Storm camo, huge graphic hibiscus blossoms on khakis, and a giraffe print. Beyond that, this collection manages to toe a delicate line between playful quirk and serious design sensibility. Keep in mind that McNairy doesn’t rely on color and pattern; the more subdued pieces display great craftsmanship and a keen eye for detail. We see bold pops of color, and with collaborations with Timberland and New Era the looks manage to be both classic and young. See more of the looks below.
A.P.C. kills it for fall with a decidedly British vibe. Taking a detour from their usual Parisian streetwear, the collection features argyle sweaters, well-worn corduroy, tartan pants, oxfords, and bowties. I especially love the use of unusual hues of blue and red with the more understated browns and grays. Maintaining A.P.C.’s tradition of slight and classic cuts, this collection is perfect for a highly stylized smart look. More looks after the jump.
I don’t wanna do that thing that music critics did with Santigold and M.I.A. - draw asinine connections between woman musicians of color. That’s lame and discredits the creative merit of the individual projects; however, considering my overall disappointment with M.I.A.’s creative out put with /\/\/\Y/\, I can’t help but wonder what a logical (and palatable) next step would be. And I think Maluca answers that question for me. Not that she necessarily sounds like M.I.A. It’s just that the legit know-how that is communicated through China Food’s international bleeps and bloops is refreshingly rustic. Besides, Maluca has made a name for herself by being a kick ass house/dancehall/reggaeton/tropical/ghettotech diva in her own right. Check out this vibrant mixtape below and download HERE for free.
Danish streetwear gods Norse Projects have teamed up with noted bag designer Ally Capellino to create this beautifully understated bag - The Mountain Rucksack. These bags are perfect for any style-conscious urban explorer (or mountaineer, apparently). They’re versatile enough to work with a ton of aesthetics, plus they’re actually functional. Made with waxed canvas, a laptop sleeve, and leather straps, you’re good to carry around all your must-haves.
Ok. The only thing about this track that I do NOT like is the fact that Belgian favorites Aeroplane didn’t do an original track for this. Originally, they produced this 90s house gem for a remix of Friendly Fires’ insanely catchy single “Paris.” But instead of having a bunch of energetic British dudes banter over this sleek, sexy little diddy, they recruited the women of Au Revoir Simone to do a cute whispery sing-song thing over it. It worked. Very well. Anyway, this remix is kinda like that. The only difference is instead of getting female vocals from Au Revoir Simone, Aeroplane lifts the vocals from Flight Facilities’ jam “Crave You.” Get it?! Download HERE!
Soulland showed for the first time last week at Paris Men’s shows. This is a strong debut with a focus on interesting proportions, and fresh takes on classic menswear ideas. I love the use of denim and khaki in this collection, and the tunics add a bit of drama to some of the looks. Inspired by legendary poet/singer-songwriter, Leonard Cohen, the latest from Soulland offers up classic cool. More looks after the jump.
It’s as if Buckmaster read my mind (or my previous blog posts) when he put this mix together. All that shit I’ve been talking about cold drinks, late nights, and loungey music is embodied in this. Like, I don’t know if you could pull this set off before 1:30 A.M. Given that so many DJs/producers right now are always on some super-hard heavy house shit, this mix is refreshingly subtle. He takes his time to let the dark and brooding feel of the set build into something that is really current and chic, even. Anyway, I’m gonna play this back one more time and figure out what I’m wearing tonight. Be sure to download the mix for free HERE
