New York is for Shoppers Part 3

Previously on Thread and Sole! Our heroes left the big apple on a train bound for the small apple that is Poughkeepsie, NY. Not a week had gone by and I was already planning my next trip back to NYC. This time we wouldn’t go on a Sunday and we wouldn’t go on a day when it was raining. Again I had the whole trip mapped out with a short trip to Brooklyn.  So we hopped on the train and headed to Grand Central.  This time we were pros and knew exactly what to do. We arrived around 11 a.m. and headed to Times Square to see what is all the hype.  If you have never been it is an experience you have to see at least once.  And once you go, you might never want to go again. The place is jam packed with tourists staring at giant T.V. screens and shopping at their favorite mall stores. Only these mall stores are 5 stories high. There was only one place I wanted to go and that was the Levi’s store.  Levi’s had just released their commuter line of apparel and I wanted to test them out. The Levi’s in Times Square was quite small compared to the rest of the stores, but they still had wall to wall jeans.  The commuter collection was on the first table as we came in the door, and I quickly grabbed my size in the jeans and the jean jacket.  I headed to the fitting rooms to try them on.  The jeans were amazing, raw denim with some nice stretch for riding your bike. The jacket was not exactly my favorite so I passed.  I will tell you that the jackets have stretch and all the same attributes as the jeans.  If you want all the details on the 511 commuter jeans then read this blog.

We left the store new jeans in tow, and headed for our next stop which was a bakery; cooking is my wife’s passion. I am going to fast forward a little because we spent the next few hours eating and drinking with some friends. We hopped a taxi with 21 Mercer as our destination. If you don’t know what 21 Mercer is then stop reading my blog. Ok, 21 Mercer is Nike’s exclusive NYC boutique with a wide variety of Nike sneakers. As we walked up I saw their big blue ice cream truck and instantly became a kid again.  The ice cream truck is a new Nike fixture that sells exclusive kicks, tees and even ice cream. We bi passed the truck and headed into the store, which like most boutiques was not big, but has some amazing products. One shoe in particular caught my eye: the Nike SB Stefan Janoski Black/Mint.  The guy grabbed my size and I knew I was getting a new pair of shoes.  I paid and left with the new SB’s in my bag. 21 Mercer is in SOHO along with many other stores including kidrobot. kidrobot was a very small store with an amazing collection of dunnys. I spent a little time looking at all tees and hats, but I really only wanted a Simpsons figure. At this point we were exhausted and ready to head home. We left New York City again, hot and tired.  Ready to get back to our air conditioned apartment and our little baby puppy.  This isn’t the end and the next time I am going to special sneaker haven. FLIGHT CLUB NY!!! 

Back to School Advice

It’s that time of year again.  The time of year where one bad choice in fashion can ruin a teen’s entire year. Back to school shopping is a huge time of the year for retailers and children.  For the kids and teens it means a fresh start. A great outfit can make everyone forget about that horrible mistake in fashion you made last year. 

Parents, listen to your children and children, listen to your parents.  For example, your teen wants a pair of pink skinny jeans and you want them to were some khakis;  so you get a pair of slim or skinny twill pants in burgundy.  I remember when I was in high school everyone was wearing Polo and Tommy Hilfiger.  I wanted a pair of Hilfiger carpenter jeans with Tommy Hilfiger stitched down the side, I was also going through a hip hop fashion phase. They were hideous (also expensive) and my mom pay for the jeans. I was dead set on getting them, but I finally gave in and bought some denim elsewhere. I was super mad at my mom.

I look back now and thank my mom for not letting me waste a lot of money on these horrible jeans.  I still make decisions when I buy most things on a scale of how much this piece of clothing would embarrass my family. This is the same reason I don’t wear offensive t-shirts or jeans that are too tight even if they might be in style.  This brings me to another point. Guys please stop wearing jeans made for girls. They make extremely skinny jeans for guys now.  I don’t have anything against guys wearing super tight jeans, but girls jeans are not made for a guys body. Our bodies are very different. Also, parents stop buying clothes for your teens without your teens being present to either try them on or to give their opinion.

Parents and teens get together, go shopping together and make smart decisions.  Parents sit down and watch your child’s favorite shows and get ideas on fashion choices. Teens listen to your parents and take their opinions with a grain of salt. Also look for the best deals, not just the cheapest rack in the store.  You didn’t want that piece of clothing the first time around, so why would you want it now. We can come together and help everyone dress better this school year.

New York is for Shoppers Part 2

When we left our last post, our heroes were heading downtown to the meatpacking district. We did make a pit stop in Little Italy with my wife’s relatives and they treated us to a wonderful lunch at Il Cortile. After lunch we hopped a cab and headed to the meatpacking district, with the new Levi’s boutique as our destination.  The Levi’s Meatpacking store is a premium concept store housing only the finest fits and washes in the Levi’s catalog. If you can’t find the perfect fit for you there is also an in-house tailor to custom fit your jeans. Let me be frank, this is not a store for an everyday jean shopper.  This store caters to people who appreciate high quality denim and those who want their denim to fit perfectly. It’s not a huge store, very long and narrow, but it is packed with Levi’s greatest hits.  You might even walk right pass it and never know because the main sign is a blank red Levi’s arch. All the usual suspects were accounted for and stored in their own little sections. This store also carries some of Levi’s more exclusive collaborations; at the time it was Levi’s x Pendleton. I most enjoyed the window display that showed Levi’s support for the newly passed gay marriage bill in New York. I only wish I had spent more time in the store but it was our first trip and we still had lots to see.

 

(in front of the store not enjoying the muggy weather)

I didn’t buy anything at the Meatpacking store this trip. Mainly because we still wanted to do some shopping at the Chelsea Market and we were pressed for time. I did make one more stop at Urban Outfitters to pick up the 501 cutoff shorts I had seen earlier that day. I do recommend that you check out the stores I have mentioned if you are looking for some of the best of Nike and Levi’s. We returned home tired and beaten to a happy puppy who desperately had to go to the bathroom. The adventure doesn’t end here I just got back from a trip to the city this week.  It was partly a sightseeing trip, and partly me trying to convince my wife to move to the city when she finishes culinary school. Stay tuned for part 3 of my posting on NYC, the next one is in 3-D.

Levi’s for Cyclist!

I just ran across an article, from the blog Refinary29, about the newest line from Levi’s.  The collection is geared towards urban cyclists using their bikes as transportation. The Levi’s Commuter Line may look like regular items you would find in any store, but it’s what is inside that counts.  The jeans boast 2% stretch for getting on and off with ease; this also helps with comfort while riding.  It doesn’t stop there, the jeans use advanced fabric technology to avoid stains and to help keep sweat from funking up your jeans. Don’t worry about showing too much crack to the people behind you, these jeans have a higher back rise. If you still aren’t sold, there is a utility loop for a bike u-lock.  I would recommend you wear a belt, because most u-locks can be very heavy.

To go along with their denim, Levi’s is modifying their famous trucker style jacket for a rider friendly fit.  The arms have an accordion sleeve to help with ride height and a similar cotton/stretch blend for comfort. There is also a hidden iPod/iPhone sleeve to help keep you going on a long ride. The jeans will come in a skinny fit for $78 and the trucker jacket with run for $128 respectfully. Look for these to hit selected Urban Outfitters in August, but if you just can’t wait the Union Square store in NYC should have these this week.

via Refinery29

New York is for Shoppers! Part 1

Welcome back readers!  I enjoyed and loathed this hiatus I have been on the past few months.  A lot of events have happened in my life; I got married and moved to NY. No, I didn’t move to NYC, but a smaller town north of the city, Poughkeepsie. It’s not exactly the fashion capital of the state but it’s a lovely little historical town and I only have to take a 45 minute train ride to the city.

My wife and I decided to make the excursion to the city on a rainy Sunday.  We hurried to the train station excited for the adventure.  I had the whole trip planned out on my iPhone, which consisted of all stores that I didn’t have available in Florida. Every place seemed like it was walking distance from Grand Central Train station.  I was so wrong.

New York City is humongous.  Every building towers above you and all the streets look the same.  When I was looking at Google maps, everything looked so close and walking to all my destinations would be no problem.  My first stop had to be Niketown on 5th Avenue, but we had arrived to early and nothing was open.  We started to walk down 5th Avenue passing street after street avoiding the rain and traffic.  I soon realized we were headed the wrong way. (damn you Google maps!)

We then trucked back the other way and stepped into Urban Outfitters to avoid the rain.  This Urban was amazing.  It was set up like a NYC style loft, with tons of wood displays everywhere, including a giant Levi’s emblem with nails driven into the wood for a nice 3-D effect.  My wife bought a dress and I bought an Obey tee, shocker, and a kidrobot Simpsons figure. 

We moved back to the street with the rain and wind picking up as we moved on towards Nike.  We passed all the really upscale stores, and finally arrived at Niketown.  I was not expecting a five store mega store.  I was expecting a lot of shoes and that’s exactly what I found.  I believe it was the flash of the store or the fact that I was shopping in NYC for the first time, but I just had to get a pair of shoes.  The fifth floor my was destination of choice; this housed the Sportswear line and vintage shoes.  I picked a nice vintage Nike Air Vortex in light blue/black.  They came in a light orange vintage Nike box and we headed out to meet up with my wife’s relatives that were in town so we could get some lunch. We had been in NYC for 2 hours and I only had 2 stores checked off my list.  I had a lot of places I still wanted to visit and we had a lot of ground to cover. 

To Be Continued!!

Wednesday Rant–Bad Customer Service

It’s Wednesday time for a rant.  I know I haven’t done this segment in some time but something happened today that really pissed me off.  I will keep this short and to the point.  Nothing pisses me off more, when shopping, then horrible customer service.  You walk into a store looking to find a new piece of clothing and the person working there could care less and just has an attitude the entire time.  I was shopping today and I went to a store, that will remain nameless, and the person was just rude and just had  horrible attitude. The worst part was they had the item I was looking for and I didn’t want that person to get the sale so I left.  I did find that item at another location and made the purchase, because the people were extremely helpful and polite.  I am not asking for people to throw rose petals at my feet, just remember that I am the customer and you are selling goods. If I don’t buy the goods at your store then you don’t make money. I happen to know this company does work on commission, so I don’t know why this person would act this way. Hey person, maybe you should remember you are at work and that you make money off of sales and not walkouts.  So next time you work, try and remember that a little bit of kindness goes a long way.

New “Ship” Tuesday 03/15/11

It’s Tuesday once again, so let’s check out all the new arrivals.  We’ve got lots of goodies to show you  today.  I’ve decided to feature a top to bottom outfit; shirt, shorts and shoes.  After hours and hours of searching the internet I have found three pieces that I know you will love and again I will post the links, in case the urge to purchase takes over. Let’s start our journey.

Spotlight: Hurley Phantom Series

Continuing on our path to warmer weather, I bring you the Hurley Phantom Series boardshorts. The Phantoms are the most comfortable boardshorts money can buy.  They will cost a little more than your usual pair of Corona boardshorts from Target, but they will last a lot longer and they are much cooler than anything else on the market.  These boardshorts don’t hold water and they dry much faster than conventional trunks. All three of the pairs range in their fit and how much stretch they contain.  Each pair is different, but they are all equally revolutionary.  The rest of the story after the break.

New Ship Tuesday

This is a new segment for Tuesday; the day everything new drops in stores. Things like DVDs, music and everything else.  I am mainly going to focus on clothes, shoes and maybe some special items.  Basically every Tuesday I will scour the internet for you guys and bring all the new stuff.  Come with me on this new journey and you might just find your next purchase.  The rest of the story after the break.

Top 5 Shorts

For most of the country it’s time to break out the shorts.  I know some of the readers are still buried in snow, but eventually it will too hot for pants and jeans.  I figured we should get a jump start and check some great styles that you may not have thought about in the past.  Let’s journey into the world of short pants.  The rest of the story after the break.

Top 5–Nike Air Max Running Shoes

I love vintage running shoes and the most collected is the Air Max series.  They are the flagship running shoe in the Nike Brand and a have a loyal following for each release year.  I chose the 5 that I think represent the series best. The rest of the story after the break.

Nike Air Foamposite One “Penny”

The Nike Air Foamposite One “Penny” released last night at retailers. Did you pick yours up?  What do you think of the Foamposite “Penny?” The rest of the pics after the break.

SOPHNET x Carhartt Collection “Capsule”

Have you ever wanted to dress like you worked on the American railroads?  SOPHNET and Carhartt are making you dreams come true.  The “Capsule” Collection is a collaboration celebrating denim uniforms of workers that Carhartt used to make.  All four pieces are made of 9oz denim with the star being the denim jumpsuit; sure to be a crowd pleaser at your next party.  What do you think of the capsule collection? The rest of the pics after the break.

Sixpack France “Dust to Dust” Collection

Are you looking for a new brand of sick tees to wear?  Well look no further than France! Sixpack France has released an immense amount of tees.  There are parody tee, art tees, political tees and even weird tees.  They have releases pics of 24 tees so far and hopefully there are more coming.  I am salivating looking through all the great shirts and they are all great tees.  Some real stand outs are the “Pink Flag” and “Jazz, Poetry, Drugs” tee.  What do you think of the Sixpack France collection? The rest of the pics after the break.

Billionaire Boys Club 2011 S/S Lookbook

He makes great music and he also makes great clothes.  I’m, of course, talking about Pharrell Williams; super producer and sneaker and clothing enthusiast.  Billionaire Boys Club have dropped their 2011 collection and it’s a little out there and a little everyday wear.  I don’t recommend this collection for those with a heart condition.  What do you think of the BBC 2011 collection?  The rest of the pics after the break.

Band of Outsiders 2011 S/S Lookbook

“Look it’s Cyclops!” It’s actually James Marsden for the new Band of Outsiders2011 Spring/Summer Lookbook. He’s just having fun at the Gaylord Hotel in LA.  The best part about this lookbook is it was shot with a Polaroid Camera; it kind of gives it an overexposed, vintage look.  What do you think of the Band of Outsiders lookbook?  The rest of the pics after the break.

adidas Originals Questar–Available Now

Remember these beauties?  The adidas Originals Questar just popped up on the Originals website for sale.  The shoe retails for $125 which is reasonable for most retro shoes. This is a must have for any sneakerheads shoe collection, even the biggest fan of Nike Shoes.

pics courtesy of adidas Originals

Video: adidas Originals Jeremy Scott Cover Shoot

The video is a photo shoot for the cover of XOXO magazine. It’s a pretty short video of the behind the scenes of the shoot. 

Nike SB Dunk Pro “Denim”

More and more denim covered sneakers are dropping lately.  We had seen grey denim and dark selvage denim, and now we get a mixture.  The newest SB Dunk is covered in dark obsidian/midnight navy denim.  The Dunk also features the new and improved sole and mid sole, that I talked about a while back. It’s a pretty damn good looking shoe, but right now it’s only available in store at UK skate shop Dissent. I’ll keep you posted if and when these drop in the U.S. What do you think of the Nike SB Dunk “Denim?” The rest of the pics after the break.

Nike Air Pegasus 83 SI

Why are all the good vintage shoes only available overseas?  That includes the Nike Air Pegasus 83.  A great vintage running shoe from the early 80’s; made with a mixture of nylon and suede.  The current colorway, magenta/grey is so far my favorite version of the shoe.  These aren’t available yet but I’ll keep you posted.  What do you think of the Air Pegasus 83?  The rest of the pics after the break.

Nike Air Wildwood ACG

This is the shoe you wear in the warmer times while hiking the trails.  Winter is on it’s way out and warmer weather is on the horizon.  You don’t want to wear your winter boots in the heat and you don’t want to wear any regular running shoe on the trail. The Wildwood blends both the durability of a boot and a slim, comfort ability of a running shoe.  I’m not loving the design; I still prefer the Air Max 1 ACG running shoe.  What do you think of the Wildwood ACG?  The rest of the pics after the break.

Spotlight: adidas Originals Running Shoes

The adidas Originals started as a way for younger people to experience the popular shoes of the 70’s and 80’s.  It’s also a way to display their history in actual form and not just pictures.  People, like myself, crave what we once had and love to cherish past innovations.  It’s no surprise that I love vintage shoes but, I really have a thing for vintage running shoes.  I think one of the big reasons I have a thing for vintage shoes, is that when these shoes came out I didn’t have the money to buy the shoes.  So now I am making up for lost time and I can afford to purchase most of these lost souls.  Check out the rest of the story after the break.

Top 5 Packer/Steelers Colored Shoes

I have been a Green Bay Packers fan since birth.  I am so happy that they won the Super Bowl and are receiving the recognition that they deserve. I didn’t want to do just a Packers colored shoes Top 5, because frankly there aren’t that many in the true colors.  So I included the Pittsburgh Steelers colors, Yellow and Black, because they had a lot of heart and played a fantastic game.  I have decided to to use only the team colors and not colors that might match. Check out the Top 5 after the break.

Nike Challenger

If any more retro shoes are released my head will probably explode.  Not likely, but I am super excited that Nike is dipping back into the 70’s running shoe catalog.  The Challenger is an updated version of the 60’s waffle running shoe and it comes in a grey/blue colorway.  Hopefully there are more of these shoes on the retro horizon.  What do you think of the Challenger retro?  The rest of the pics after the break.

3 New Levi’s Fits

Always on the cutting edge of denim design; Levi’s has released 3 new fits.  The 520 Taper is a slouchy skinny fit. This fit isn’t super innovative, but I am excited to see Levi’s take on this emerging fit.  The Skinny Carpenter is workwear combined with fashion.  I am still not sure of how this one is going to look, but I am willing to give it a try.  The Ex- Girlfriend a satirical take on the popular boyfriend fit for woman. The fit is the exact opposite of the boyfriend fit; it’s an ultra skinny stretch jean.  This is the jean for the guys who find the 510 a little too loose.  I am glad to see 3 very different fits being released and Levi’s seem to be taking a risk with the carpenter and ex-girlfriend fits.  What do you think of the newest Levi’s fits?  The rest of the pics after the break.

New Balance 576 “Lake District Pack”

What better way to honor your heritage than making a shoe to represent your English factory.  The Lake District Pack was to designed after the New Balance Flimby Factory.  Each shoe is wrapped in leather and all represent the Lake District location.  The shoe are the NB 576, which one of their most popular retro running shoe.  What do you think of the Lake District Pack? The rest of the pics after the break.

Nike Zoom Bruin SB “Mulder”

You may remember my first encounter with the SB Bruin as the shoes that Marty McFly wore in the first Back to the Future. Now they are getting the retro treatment thanks to Richard Mulder; who designed the shoes colors after the LA Dodgers. I wish this shoe was red and white instead of blue and white. What do you think of the SB Bruins colorway the rest of the pics after the break.

Grotesk x Carhartt Tees

On the heels of Carhartt’s new collection comes a amazing collaboration with Grotesk.  The collection is all tees designed by artists with a vintage feel.  Each shirt is different and unique, which is a breath of fresh air considering most of the crappy tees some brands are putting out. What do you think of the Grotesk x Carhartt collaboration?  The rest of the pics after the break.

Carhartt Spring/Summer 2011 Collection

My only experience with Carhartt was workwear and western wear, until now.  I have noticed more and more Carhartt collaborations with high end fashion brands.  Now Carhartt is moving more and more into the mainstream fashion world, but you can see their roots in workwear with this collection. What do you think of the 2011 S/S collection from Carhartt?  The rest of the pics after the break.

adidas Originals ZX 380 “Ice Grey”

I am glad to see adidas joining in the old school running shoe release party.  The latest addition is the ZX 380, a sleek, slimmer version of the adidas OG releases.  These are available for pre-order at End clothing. What do you think of the OG ZX 380?  The rest of the pics after the break.

Nike Sportswear Video: Love to Run. Live to Inspire

This is a short video on artist Jack Greer’s passion for running and living in New York City.  It also chronicles how he finds passion and what things inspire his art. Jack can be seen wearing the Air Vengeance Vintage in Black/Varsity Red and his dog is chewing on a Air Vortex Vintage in Sail/Metallic Gold.  He is also wearing various Sportswear jackets and tees. It’s a great video and only about a minute long.

Common Projects 2011 Spring/Summer Collection

Common Projects has released their 2011 Spring/Summer collection.  These shoes would go perfect with the Gitman Bros. Vintage collection.  The collection is full of solid colored shoes; with the main focus on having no labels or logos.  The only thing on the shoe is the numbers pictured above.  This is the kind of shoe all those older men should be wearing instead of “dad shoes” or “mandals.” What do you think of the Common Projects collection?  The rest of the pics after the break.

Gitman Bros. Vintage S/S 2011 Collection

A collection full of madras and plaid shirts; it’s the perfect spring/summer combination.  These shirts look like the slightest bit of pressure and they would shred to pieces. I am sure that’s not the case, but I imagine the shirts are going to be the lightest, most comfortable shirts you will ever own.  A shirt this thin will be great it you live in a hot and humid climate, because it breathes very well.  What do you think of the Gitman Vintage Collection?  The rest of the pics after the break.

kidrobot x Family Guy

It was bound to happen and I am glad it happened.  On the heels of The Simpsons and Futurama collection; kidrobot has released series 1 of Family Guy dunny collection.  I am already a collector of The Simpsons dunnys and now I am looking forward to starting my Family Guy collection.  With only preview shots out I can already tell the stand outs; the old man, Seamus, death and the evil monkey.  I can only hope that the chicken is a mystery one or greased up deaf guy.  The collection will be available on February 17th.  What do you think of the Family Guy collection?  The rest of the pics after the break.

It’s Trash Day–Vans Sk8-Hi “Disco Pack”

It’s Friday, time to take out the trash. What happened to these shoes?  Somebody went a little crazy with the sequins.  I know that everyone is designing crazy shoes lately, but those shoes at least look good.  This shoe looks like someone’s bad attempt with customizing a shoe.  It’s not really just the sequins that I have a problem with; it’s how crappy the sequin pattern looks.  Read the rest of the story after the break, including more pics.

Vans Chukka 59 x John Cardiel

It’s nice to see Vans shoes getting the royal treatment. This Chukka is covered in grey suede with tan accent and a white sole.  The shoe is a pro model for John Cardiel, but I don’t think I would want to ruin this shoe skateboarding. What do you think of the Chukka 59?  The rest of the pics after the break.

adidas Originals “Blue Collection” Part 2

Last month the preview shots for the adidas Originals “Blue Collection” hit the internet. Now more shots of the collection have popped up on the web. The collection is full a simple items tees, jackets, button ups; what really shines, again, is the jeans.  It looks like a tapered skinny fit and a slim or regular fit.  What do you think of the new Blue Collection pics?  The rest of the pics after the break.

Converse S/S 2011 “Black Mountain College”

Converse has launched their 2011 S/S collection, which draws it’s inspiration from a college closed by the Nazi’s in the 30’s.  The pieces are typical clothes you would find people wearing on a college campus now a days.  What do you think of the Converse 2011 S/S Collection? The rest of the pics after the break.

Norse Project 2011 Spring/Summer Lookbook

What do you do in Denmark in the Spring/Summer season?  You go to the beach of course.  That’s what Norse Project thought about when the designed their 2011 S/S line.  The collection is a mixture of jackets and shorts; which seems like a weird combination, but seems to work effortlessly.  This collection has summer in Maine feel; a walking on the beach at night with a cold breeze. What do you think of the Norse Project Collection?  The rest of the pics after the break.

adidas Originals Zx 500 Iron/Blue/Yellow

Can we please have more retro running shoes?  adidas Originals is releasing the Zx 500 in a new colorway, iron grey/blue and yellow.  adidas Originals is known for releasing bright colored shoes and that’s exactly what we have here.  You can stop worrying about buying this shoe until it’s March release.  What do you think of the Zx 500?  The rest of the pics after the break.

Hectic x Mita x New Balance MT580BKX

The newest addition to most new shoes is wood grain.  Lot’s of different brands have been experimenting with this pattern. Sometimes is soars and other times it falls flat, but that’s part of experimenting. New Balance partnered with Hectic and Mita on the 580 model.  Their wood grain version looks great on this shoe.  The mix of black/orange and white really compliment the wood grain sole.  The 580 is a little bulkier than I prefer but it still has the perfect vintage running shoe look. What do you think of the New Balance collaboration? The rest of the pics after the break.

Levi’s: Made and Crafted 2011 Collection

Levi’s new line Made and Crafted has released their 2011 Spring/Summer look book.  More after the break.

Levi’s Vintage/Made and Crafted “Mt. Rushmore”

Who better then Levi’s to celebrate one of the most impressive creations in United States history.  Mt. Rushmore was constructed from 1927 to 1942 and it took over 700 men to help build the mountain creation.  This line is dedicated to the men and the work outfits they wore while on the job.  The line is loaded with tapered jeans and work style one pocket wovens. The look is no frills, non treated denim and shirts.  What do you think of the collection?  The rest of the pics after the break.

Stone Island 2011 Spring/Summer Lookbook

Out of all the lookbook’s I have posted, this is the most non traditional book.  Stone Island has launched Shadow Project their latest collection.  This collection is what I imagine we will be wearing the future; non cotton fibers with lots of built in zippers pockets in neutral tones. Most of the items look like a mix between workout clothes and high fashion pieces. What do you think of the Stone Island Shadow Project?  The rest of the pics after the break.

Nike Air Pegasus 83' SI

A vintage running shoe, yes please. The Air Pegasus 83 is a great looking vintage shoe, especially in the concord grape and wolf grey colorway.  It looks like a combination of the Cortez and Waffle shoes. This shoe the reason I have a love for vintage running shoes. These are available at Caliroots right now.What do you think of the Air Pegasus 83? The rest of the pics right after the break.

Our Legacy Spring/Summer 2011 Lookbook

The Swedish brand Our Legacy has released their 2011  Spring/Summer Lookbook entitled “Observation.”  The collection is a call back to the styles of 1980-1981 with a modern spin. Which is only fitting because they started the company in that era. They did a great job combining the past and the present; while keeping with fit of today’s styles and fits.  What do you think of Our Legacy’s 2011 S/S Lookbook? The rest of the pics after the break.

Wednesday Rant eBay Sellers and Buyers

It’s Wednesday, time for a rant.  This one has been bugging me for a while.  I used to love shopping on eBay and I was constantly on the site looking for the best deal. eBay used to be a civilized service where most sellers would make deals and people were honorable. It used to be fun to put in bids and even get into a war over something; when you won you felt proud, like you had done something great.

Now I get on the site and it’s either full of fakes or the sellers’ are trying to scam the buyers. The latest scam is putting an item up with a $1 buy it now, but also putting the shipping at like $200 dollars.  What happens is Mr. Buyer comes along and see the insane deal, uses the buy it now and now he’s owes $201.  Some people could say this is fair and the buyers should read the whole auction before they bid. That’s correct but most people are caught up in the $1 deal that they jump on the item before anyone bids. That’s what the seller counts on and hopes the person doesn’t read all the details.

The other problem with eBay is there is too much buyer protection and the sellers are getting screwed.  I don’t know how many times a buyer has made up something and I had to suffer the consequences.  I would even present solid evidence and eBay would still rule in their favor.  eBay values the buyer more than the seller.  I can understand this because most sellers sell fakes, sell items and never ship them and bid shill.  Bid shilling is when the seller sets up another account and increases his own bids to create a larger amount.

You just can’t trust anyone on eBay anymore.  There are too many fakes and too many shady sellers. eBay used to be the epicenter of the home garage sale. A place where people could take the old gently used items and make more money then a pawn shop would offer.  I was hoping things would get better but every time I go back to eBay and look around, I am reminded of a better time that is long gone.

Spotlight: kidrobot The Simpsons Figures

I am a huge Simpsons fan.  I have watched the show from the beginning, collected memorabilia and I am dangerous at Simpsons trivia.  When I first heard about the kidrobot collection I freaked out.  Then when I found out it was a blind box collection I thought, “what’s a blind box?” For those who don’t know, a blind box means you don’t know what you are going to get.  So in order to collect these figures you have to just keep buying them and hope you don’t get the same figure. That’s what makes collecting these so fun and nerve racking.  There are 2 series so far and most of the main characters have been released.  Let’s take a look at some of the characters from series 1 and 2, right after the break.

New Balance 998 “Made in USA”

Get ready for the Fall and more retro running shoes.  New Balance has just released a preview for the 998, which is being released in Fall 2011.  I really like the look of this shoe; it’s definitely drawing inspiration from the 90’s style.  What do you think of the 998?  The rest of the pics after the break.

Nike SB February 2011 Releases

Each month Nike SB releases new shoes, colorways and redesigns.  The Dunks, Janoski, V.Rod and P. Rods were all given new colors.  The stand out is the Zoom Omar Salazar with the “Flywire” and the gum sole. What do you think of the February SB releases?  The rest of the pics after the break.