When No One Wants to Look Like a Banker – NYT Editorial
Hard as it may be to believe, there was a time when Wall Streeters dictated what it meant to dress with success. As the recession turns social norms on its head, the power suits of yesteryear seem not only dated, but almost vulgar in the face of widespread economic panic. Luckily, the fluctuating Dow Jones does not signal an end to style as we know it, but rather a tweak to office attire. The Style section of the New York Times offers a portfolio of looks for the current working man, with a shift from the standard gray or navy jacket and tie to a more versatile wardrobe for the “creative professional.” Without sacrificing professionalism, the editorial suggests replacing the time-tested two-piece with Phinaes Cole cardigans or Idol Radec vests, or daring Dolce & Gabanna pinstripe blazers paired with Rag & Bone chinos. Sartorial risk takers may also want to dabble in the electric Antonio Azzuolo cotton sport coat or Alexander Olch linen bow tie. Whatever your taste, the new rules for dressing for the workplace are considerably more lax than ever before. Consider your horizons broadened. Read the rest at NYT.
See more images from the article after the jump.
Steve McQueen Antiquorum Auction
Here at Swipelife most of us are always looking for ways to step up our watch game. One surefire way to accomplish this is to buy a classic timepiece worn by arguably one the most stylish men of the last century, Steve McQueen. If your outbid on Antiquorum’s currently up for auction original Heuer Monaco or an alternative Rolex Submariner, a new version of the Heuer Monaco watch has been developed for the 40th anniversary of McQueen wearing the piece in the movie “Le Mans”. Limited to 1000 pieces, the chronograph is delivered in a special box with both an alligator and calfskin strap which resembles the original watch strap.
Check out the Tribute to Steve McQueen watch after the jump.
Zaha Hadid x Lacoste Footwear
Architect Zara Hadid, whose line of work includes designing the London Aquatic Centre and the BMW Central Building in Cincinnati, collaborates with Lacoste to create men’s and women’s boots. Her latest endeavor into footwear design has her producing a few designs for the high-end fashion label, including an ankle boot for men and a calf boot for women, as well as featuring a digitised version of Lacoste’s famous croc logo and a coiled strap system. Limited to only 850 pairs, the boots will be released in July at colette, 10 Corso Como and Dover Street Market.
Daniel Craig on the Set of 007 – Photos by Greg Williams
Thanks to photographer Greg Williams, these amazing images of Daniel Craig were captured while behind the scenes of the last two Bond films. Williams’ portfolio includes the Internet sensation Esquire magazine June cover with Megan Fox, the Jude Law Dunhill campaign, and the ridiculously hot “Love Me Tender” short for for Agent Provocateur . With an understated mood from the black and white photos, this gallery of Daniel Craig congers up thoughts of stylish movie stars past, think Grant, McQueen, and Newman-esqe.
More images from the gallery after the jump.
J.Crew Men’s Store on 484 Broadway in NYC
Two days in a row of previews from A Continuous Lean has brought us a insiders view of the new J.Crew Men’s Store on 484 Broadway in NYC. Chalked full of vintage details and in store experience, the Men’s store is a happy medium of sorts between the J.Crew Liquor Store boutique, which opened last year and the abundant mall based retail stores. With new collaborations between Alden Shoes, Sperry, Baracuta, and Mister Freedom there are plenty of unique pieces that will soon be hard to find. The Men’s Store also looks to feature plenty unique and vintage pieces like watches, pencil sharpeners, and staplers which may be strictly decor or actually available for sale; we’ll have to check out the store ourselves and take a look.
See more images of the new J. Crew Men’s Store in NYC.
History of Black America’s Motorcycle Culture
The Selvedge Yard just highlighted the book Black Chrome and the recent California African American Museum exhibit, Soul on Bikes. There’s been a recent fascination with bike clubs as of late ranging from a Grand Theft Auto video game to the FX show, Sons of Anarchy. While we’re all familiar with these types of motorcycle clubs, rarely has a lot of us seen or even heard of black motorcycle culture. JP definitely gives his readers a great glimpse into this history, aided with amazing images from various blogs and books. Read the rest of the entry now at the Selvedge Yard.
See some of the images from the post after the jump.
Hyunsuk’s Military Watch Gallery
Informative watch forums are hard to come by. Hyunsuk, an avid military watch collector, is here to help. Hyunsuk started his Gallery to present comprehensive records of the watches he’s compiled over the years. His reviews give plenty of details; ranging from the history of each watch, the soldiers, if any, who wore them, and the occasional field modifications performed to adapt the watches to their unique mission environments. If you are interested in having your military watch listed in his gallery, Hyunsuk is open for any donations. This Gallery is constantly updated so it may behoove all of you watch aficionados to bookmark this site.
One interesting watch Hyunsuk features in his Gallery is the Adanac Military Diver/Navigator’s Watch. According to Hyunsuk, in the late eighties, both the USAF and Canadian Armed Force had issued these tough looking Adanac watches to their service members. The one pictured in his review was issued by USAF in 1988. It’s a fascinating watch because it has “Adanac” written on the dial but the case is signed “Gallet”. In addition to that detail, the watch was actually produced under government contract by Marathon Watch Co. based in Ontario, Canada. The watch has an unusual 0-11 marked bidirectional bezel, a screw-down crown, fixed bars that takes a 20mm black nylon band, and is water resistant to 660 feet, which qualifies it as a military diver’s watch. Check out www.50717.com for the full review.
See some of the other watches in the collection after the jump.
Postie Bike Challenge
File this one in your drawer of amazingly cool things to do. The Postie Bike Challenge has been around since 2002 and is more about attitude and an overall experience than high speeds and quick finishes. This 4,000km, 10-day trek through the flatlands and rain forests of Australia is completely different from any motorcycle get-together on the planet. Designed to stimulate more camaraderie than competition, the Challenge puts all riders on the same 110cc bikes, which, to quote the creators, “is the great equalizer regardless of your skill level.” Oh, and did we mention that the entry fees go to local charities? Check out more information for the next Postie Bike Challenge for October this year at the official website.
See some images of the Postie Bike Challenge after the jump.
Khakis Across America from the Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal’s Khakis Across America displays a vast array of khaki clothing modeled by everyday average Americans. From swimsuits to the Spring essential khaki suit, the feature mixes some great photography and locations, with classic spring clothing. Photographed by Gustavo Ten Hoever and styled by Chloe Beeney, the journey across America highlights brands such as Ralph Lauren, J.Crew, and Converse, as well as several great vintage pieces and even some public service work wear.
Check out the slide show at WSJ or move on after the jump for some of our image picks.
Concorso d’Eléganza Villa d’Este 2009
Eighty years after its debut, this auto show continues to be the benchmark against which all others are compared. Its surroundings alone, set against the sapphire waters of Lake Como and the Renaissance gardens of Villa d’Este, make it the most beautiful of all the auto shows. While prototypes and concept cars such as our aforementioned Morgan Aero Supersports and Rinspeed iChange are more likely to turn heads, it’s the immaculately kept vintage and classic vehicles that represent the show’s true colors. Taking best in show this year was Jon Shirley’s 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C, and other vehicles such as a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet and a 1938 Bugatti 57S Atalante stunned onlookers at this most prestigious of events.
You can read about the results at World Car Fans.
More images of the cars after the jump.
