them thangs is back!
For those who are and for those who aren’t aware, my favorite photo blog, Them Thangs, went on an unexpected hiatus a few months ago. Full of huge pictures that cover a limitless variety of subjects, moods, and aesthetics, Justin Blythe’s blog had become so popular that in order to keep the blog he would have to pay a substantial fee to handle the bandwidth. In Justin’s own words, here are the specifics of that whole ordeal, which is pretty crazy: “it [Them Thangs] became much bigger than I ever expected, reaching up to 20,000 people a day all over the world. I have been informed that I transfer more data than CNN.com, and would have to cough up a couple thousand dollars a year to pay for the dedicated hosting that would be required to keep this going.”
Well apparently, the donors and the supporters stepped up their game, because last night I received a curious email from Justin that contained a link and a smiling emoticon. I’m happy to report that Them Thangs is back up and running, looking more professional and updated than ever. Again, if you like photo blogs, Them Thangs is surely one that cannot be missed. Do yourself a favor. Check out the new and vastly improved Them Thangs blog, and give Justin your congrats. Fair warning though, some of this stuff is NSFW and can also get a bit dark, but it’s well worth it regardless. Man I love this blog. So…many…big…pictures…
interview | marc hare of mr. hare
Every so often there comes along something so incredible that it leaves you completely enamored, and struggling, unsuccessfully, to recall an instance of something done better. Near perfection is a place that many hope to reach, and almost none do, but for Marc Hare and the launch of his Mr. Hare luxury shoe label last fall, the stars aligned.
Last season’s collection was what intially captivated me with Mr. Hare. Rakish and sharp in design, crafted from meticulously sourced premium materials, and hand cobbled in Italy by some of the finest shoe makers on the planet, the “Purest Form” collection was impeccably assembled, and evoked images of 007, martinis, and British refinement that only a true Brit could conceive. In truth, this collection spoke strongly, and boldly introduced Mr. Hare out of the gates as a true force to be reckoned with. This season finds Mr. Hare adopting a bit of a lighter, more laid back disposition with the “Hot Steppers” collection. A departure from the sharpness and black palette of last season, “Hot Steppers” offers an assembly of color and and suede, yet still manages to work within the refined framework that has come to strongly define Marc Hare’s shoes. The collection is dedicated to “the Dancehall generals who through their sheer brilliance have given us reason to tear up dance floors across all continents,” and as such, each shoe is named after a different Dancehall legend.
Earlier in December, I contacted Marc for an interview. I wanted to hear the creative thoughts from the mind of whom I consider to be my favorite shoe designer, and I sought some personal perspective on both the vision that he has for his company and the concept behind the upcoming “Hot Steppers” collection. What follows are quirky and purely creative responses from a very talented and sophisticated gentleman, Mr. Marc Hare. ”Hot Steppers” drops February 10, and for those who have the coin, you can find them over at Oki Ni. Read the interview after the jump.
taylor stitch | custom tailored dress shirts
If there’s one demand that this newly-awakened style consciousness among men has increased, it is the preference for all things highly tailored, and increasingly, in products made specifically for you. The economic adjustments that we’ve all made in varying degrees over the course of the last year have not only turned our attention back to the goods produced domestically, it has also created a stronger consideration in purchasing clothes that will provide a better value per wear, using production methods that hearken back to the batch production of nostalgic eras. Men now desire garments that are cut to fit them better, that come at a decent price, and garments that are crafted to last with high-quality construction, great fabrics, and yes, excellent customer service. In short, a much more personalized approach to buying, supporting, and wearing clothes. For those who identify with this particular buyer’s mentality, I would like to introduce you to the relatively new San Francisco shirting outlet, Taylor Stitch.
The creation of Michael Maher, Barrett Purdum, and Michael Armenta, Taylor Stitch prides itself on offering button down shirts that are manufactured in America using single needle tailoring by hands who have stitched shirts for generations. Their shirts are constructed of impeccably sourced fabrics from some of the most revered fabric mills throughout the world, and the finished products are reasonably priced with all appearances pointing to an excellent cost per wear value. What sets Taylor Stitch apart, however, is the ability to fully customize your shirts online, even down to cuts that are made-to-measure. And if you happen to be in the San Francisco Bay area, you can even schedule an appointment for a personal fitting at a place of your choosing.
Taylor Stitch is doing something special, and doing it at just the right time. Continue reading about Taylor Stitch and their game changing concept after the jump, as well as a link to a Taylor Stitch product review courtesy of my good friend Lawrence at Sartorially Inclined.
style with benefits x coe | the “menday” fashion panel
A few weeks back, I was approached by one of the coolest girls in the blogosphere, the lovely Ms. Rebecca Lee of Style with Benefits about contributing to a men’s style blogger panel on women’s fashion trends. Despite the fact that she’s a fellow ACC grad who went to the wrong ACC school (University of Maryland–FAIL!), Ms. Lee is a true fashionista who really seems to have her finger on the pulse of menswear. Figuring the project would be a fun chance to share a few groans (and approvals) on some of the more interesting fashion trends among women these days, I happily obliged.
Rebecca lauched the initial “Menday” fashion panel yesterday and the response from her faithful lady readers has been beyond great. Makes sense, especially when you have a panel meant for honest and humor featuring the likes of Nick Maggio (A Time to Get), Shaun Barneveld (Trimmed with Gold Above), Lawrence Schlossman (Sartorially Inclined), Max Wastler (All Plaidout), and myself. Assemble some cool dudes like that together in one place, and really, it’s hard to wrong (hope you’ll excuse the blatant arrogance haha). Be sure to pay Becca’s blog a visit and check back every Monday for her very entertaining “Menday” panel.
-Paul
Feast your ears (and eyes) on the latest COE collaboration project, The Reflection mixtape presented by my myself and my good man Luis Valdizon from Minoru Blvd. Luis and I have been bouncing ideas off of each other over the course of the last month, and what started out as a simple exchange about our favorite music and the stuff we were currently listening to, has ultimately come to manifest itself in the form of The Reflection. Follow the jump for the download, and to hear more about our collaboration.
The Favorites Series | Components of Enthusiasm x L.L. Bean Oxford Shirt
As The Favorites draws to a close, I wanted to end the series by sharing with you my personal favorite garment in my wardrobe. It’s simple, it’s classic, and it’s served me well for the last four years despite an accident involving a gel pen in the wash a few years back. My favorite article of clothing is my green L.L. Bean oxford shirt. Follow the jump to read on.
The Favorites Series | Taylor Stitch x The Belt of South America
I love being one of the firsts to find out about great new things that are under the radar, and this sentiment applies particularly in the case of Taylor Stitch. An online shirting company based out of San Francisco, Michael Maher and his business partners are making it possible to custom make your very own high quality, one-of-a-kind dress shirts featuring fabrics from some of the world’s most respected fabric houses, and the option to have your shirts made to measure at no extra cost. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, I can’t blame you. You’ll be thrilled at the possibilities when you visit the website, so be sure to see what Michael and the guys have to offer.
I think you’ll also find that Michael’s story behind his favorite item of clothing is one of the best of The Favorites. Like Ryan Pletty from yesterday, he was a late addition, but I’m hoping that the concept of saving the best for last is proven true in this case. To read Michael’s story on his attachment to and the making of his belt from South America, be sure to follow the jump.
The Favorites Series | You Have Broken the Internet x Red Wing 1907
Representing the Midwest and opening the last week of The Favorites for us today is Chicago-based Ryan Plett of the great blog You Have Broken the Internet. As this series has featured individuals who are bloggers, musicians, and business owners, it is fitting that Ryan also be featured, especially since he’s another multi-talented blogger. Plett’s creativity and ambition are both strong enough that they’ve manifested themselves in the form of a creative branding and marketing company called Cu5stom Branding. Yesterday, I had a great conversation with him picking his brain a little, and it must be said that the guy dropped some major knowledge and words of inspiration on me. Ryan is doing it up big; he has some major projects in store for the future, and is thus a terrific fit in this series.
Although a late addition to the series, Ryan chose to offer something that reflects what his blog is all about: an appreciation for American products and brands that offer a healthy mix of both heritage and style. Follow the jump to read on about Ryan and his favorite boots, his Red Wing 1907s.
The Favorites Series | The Pursuit Aesthetic x Marc Jacobs for Vans
The Pursuit Aesthetic is one of those style blogs that manage to pair the great style items found in its posts with an equally stylish blog design. Me being partial to not only a carefully crafted presentation, but also the content within that framework, Brennan Woods’s blog was one of the firsts that resonated with me.
I’ll be honest, Brennan threw me a change-up when his contribution showed up in my inbox. But really, in retrospect, it shouldn’t have because the item that he writes about here parallels well with the theme found throughout his blog: a relaxed, sometimes tongue-in-cheek perspective on traditional American staples. No, they aren’t the most trad of American style brands, but Vans and their slip-ons have without a doubt reserved their place among American classic style, and particularly in 1980′s skater folklore. Follow the jump to read Brennan’s take on the collaboration between Marc Jacobs and Vans that culminated in the creation of his favorite style item.
The Favorites Series | Trimmed with Gold Above x Ajax Amsterdam Jersey
Me being the avid soccer player and fan that I am, I had no idea that when I asked Shaun Barneveld of Trimmed with Gold Above and Port Authority to contribute to The Favorites that I’d get something that plucked the strings of my soccer heart. When he submitted his photo and the write up, we had a nice little chat about Dutch soccer, the problem with finding an appropriate place to catch a brew and a game in New York, and John O’Brien, an American player who was an Ajax Amsterdam player for nearly his whole career, and who won my heart in the 2002 World Cup by playing arguably the most intelligent and dynamic soccer I’ve ever witnessed from an American player.
Although Shaun runs two well-styled blogs, it turns out that his passion for Dutch soccer is arguably even stronger than his love for blogging. One of the nicest style bloggers I’ve had the chance to talk with, I think Shaun’s story behind his love for Ajax and what his Ajax jersey signifies to him is a great little read. Follow the jump to read on about Shaun and his favorite article of clothing, his Ajax Amsterdam jersey.
