New Dandyism
Anytime you find Houndstooth and Hoody in the same sentence you know it will be a good day. Well, today has been a great day and New Dandyism, the lovechild of a conglomate of lusty designers — Sons by Obedient Sons, wood wood and Call of the Wild — is the reason. It’s a surprisingly coherent and articulate project for one cooked up in a kitchen filled with chefs. In their own right, all of these designers have an illustrated vision, but together it is a pleasure and a joy to find such a clear and defined voice in making great clothes together. Their design is so clean, so effortless and so modern; when they say ‘Dress Like You Mean It’ they’re not kidding. They’re the sort of clothes that require a heavy hand on the iron, but unlike traditional dandyism this is bricolage and would both make or compliment any style, any form and any situation you put them in to.
Tagged: bricolage, hoodies, street fashion
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There is just no stopping Betty White, but in all honesty, who would want to? That woman has got the world wrapped around her finger, and I know I’m not the only one who supports her rule. Now you can show your love and support for Ms. White by wearing one of these smashing hoodies that she and clothing company Jerry Leigh created. Read more
Kim Gordon’s Mirror/Dash label
As a So-Cal suburban teen, I was a die-hard Sonic Youth lover. So when Kim Gordon launched X-Girl clothing in 1994, I became an insta-fan. My favorite T-shirt was electric blue and said X-Girl in neon orange and pink and wearing it immediately helped me separate the kids I’d like to know from the ones I wouldn’t: every jock would say. ‘X-Girl, does that mean you’re a dude now?’, while every music nerd would give a knowing nod of alliance. I still mourn its American, demise so I’m thrilled that Kim Gordon is back in the fashion game with a new line called Mirror/Dash, coming out February 16 at Urban Outfitters. The collection has a feminine, tomboy feel, much like Gordon herself, and features a slouchy pocket t-shirt dress, a casually sexy wrap dress, and the necessary blazer staple, among other items. Whether she’s rocking out with Thurston Moore in Sonic Youth, making art, or jamming with her other band Free Kitten, Kim Gordon continues to epitomize cool. And I have no doubt each piece in her collection will, too Read more
Aside from creating startlingly original looking hoodies and tees, fashion label Carrot Clothing also has an interesting story to tell. The label was founded in Serbia, where the owner, Alex, ‘in an effort to uplift lagging spirits and voice personal concerns about freedom, began printing t-shirts featuring unmuted anti-war messages for family and friends’. This landed him in jail and at the mercy of unforgiving local authorities for spreading allegedly ‘terrorist’ policies. Since then, he has ‘joined forces with skateboarders, street artists, and other creative minds to establish Carrot Clothing, a brand whose essence is based upon the family-like relationships between global art, skate, and street communities’. Read more
Also by CAROLYN DEMPSEY
For an industry that spends so much time fratenising with musicians, few designers ever admit to being primarily influenced by the music industry itself. Electronic Poet are an exception. Read more
Highly unwearable but aesthetically riveting, Nova Dando is making killer waves in the notoriously hard to crack London fashion scene. Perhaps the reason she is so visible is that her collections are consistently outrageous, exceptional and innovative showstoppers. Read more
While I feel I am not alone in breathing a sigh of relief over this season’s purging of fluoro, in retrospect there was a lot to be learned from the experience: don’t wear all fluoro, or don’t wear fluoro at all. And we slowly trudged back to black, which, despite what other colors may think, will always be the new black. Read more
YOU'RE SAYING (2)
Mike said | 8 April, 2008
You’ve sort of have missed the point about Chris Torres’ New Dandyism and the store’s concept. I think Rittenhouse, Surface 2 Air Paris and You Must Create best represent what the store offers.
HAVE YOUR SAY
I’m not usually into super-slick illustration, but Rory Kurtz’s stuff is really amazing. He’s able to render cinematic depth-of-field contrasts as well as exaggerated angles and foreshortening. It’s not surprising that he’s done a lot of work based on current films. Read more
Little White Lies is an excellent film magazine. In fact, it’s the best film magazine on the shelf. Back issues can be read online as digital editions.
I’m really excited about the Melbourne band Plug-in City. They remind me of Belle & Sebastian, The Kooks and Cut Copy all in one. What more can us New Yorkers ask for?
We’re smitten (kitten) by the look of the new Standard Hotels’ Pendleton blankets, which were designed by the artists Geoff McFetridge and Chris Johanson. Composed of 82 per cent pure virgin wool and 18 per cent cotton, only 40 of each blanket design have been made. Read more
Anyone interested in the importance of limitations on creativity should check out the new publication Vormator: The Elements of Design. Begun two years ago, it challenges artists to create a visual by using a very limited palette of shapes and possibilities. Read more
Concept albums have always been a hit or miss affair, all too often to be taken with a pinch of salt. Some work brilliantly; many fall flat on their esoteric face. Dr John’s response to Hurricane Katrina is an intriguing album. Some is rousing, some depressing: it’s littered with political statements, perhaps too much at times but given it’s purpose the over-saturation isn’t surprising. Read more
A classic and recent criminal shopping post of mine, Agent Provocateur has great stockings (insert photo here of me wearing them, which I want to take, wearing a men’s shirt reading the Wall Street Journal and wearing glasses). Read more
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Benjamin Edminston’s psychedelic heads seem to have some fearful wisdom behind their blissed-out eyes. Read more
Michelle Blade’s psychedelic artwork
Michelle Blade’s washed out paintings are deceptively simple, her washy acrylics creating psychedelic textures and conjuring ghostly figures from the past. Read more
Pencils made from recycled newspaper
The problem with awesome things like these pencils made out of recycled newspaper is that you almost don’t want to use them.
The return of the Brionvega rr226
Italian brand Brionvega has resurrected the classy Radiofonografio piece first created in 1965. The updated version is just like the original turntable/radio unit, but also has a CD/DVD player.
It’s refreshing to see artists like Joe Kievitt who are contented to explore the beauty in simple forms and asymmetrical patterns. Read more
Necklush is a original multi-strand scarf and necklace hybrid. The multiple, seamless cotton loops allow for many different styles and forms, while remaining simple, yet modern. Hand-printed and handmade in Brooklyn. Read more
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Gary said | 27 March, 2008
The designs are superbly sleek and simple. Very ‘Sportswear-American’. I like the fit of the cardigans.