Friday, May 29, 2009

J. Press


J. Press is a nice example of American menswear - it's a little uptight, but all brands are if you wear them head to toe. Just stay away from those sack suits and khakis! Oh my. I like the plaids J. Press chooses - just seeing them reminds me how textiles are a record of our nation's history, and how circular the fashion industry is. It's nice to see patterned textiles take center stage without looking tacky.

Classy basics like PJs and handkerchiefs are timeless:




You might have seen these pants at a 1960s golf course:


But this neckwear - it looks so fresh! Hipsters, I know you're breaking your piggy banks for these gems:





I am continuing to explore what it means to be an American, and what in our nation's short history has influenced the rest of the world in a positive manner. Not imperialistic things, but more along the lines of boundary-pushing perspectives, enthusiasm for hard work and quality, and the unbreakable faith in dreams. For anyone who might challenge that these things still reside deep within American ideals, perhaps citing Wal-Mart and cheese puffs and Grand Theft Auto as examples, I beg to differ. I've added a new label, "classically American," and I hope to cite more brands and sites that help to prove my point. So #1 on the list (in no particular order) is J. Press, a company that values craftsmanship and expresses a style that can only be described as American. Thanks, dudes!

Sign Language

The Telegraph has this great photo journal for funny signs, all submitted by readers. I miss seeing this kind of stuff in person...I think it's time for a vacation.




Sunday, May 24, 2009

Sound and Image

I haven't watched music videos in a while, so the other day while sewing I clicked around on Pitchfork and found some I like:


Tortoise - Prepare Your Coffin



You can tell, almost instantly, that this is San Francisco. The wires, the bumpy BART walls, that church in Japantown. I like the mix of action and still photography - it works well with the song and helps you to see the photographer's perspective. Nicely done!

Royksopp - The Girl and the Robot (feat. Robyn)



Robyn always wears the craziest things...things that inspire me to branch out a little. Look at those earrings! Ah! I also like the part where the scientist/salesman winks at the other guy. Oh yeah.

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

Two Weeks


I saw this on stereogum. It's so strange, and so beautiful. Unco!

Stop Motion Videos

I can't get enough of this stuff - stop motion is so simple and yet, with a little ingenuity and some time you can make amazing videos. My recent favorites:

Wolf and Pig / A Wolf Loves Pork (via designboner)




Shapemaker (via Tas-ka)

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Flight of the Conchords

This video cracks me up - I like the puppetlike way his arm moves when he says " Voila mon passport!" And the grocery store scene! Hahahaha!