All That Glitters

DO YOU SEE THE JUNYA WATANABE COMME DES GARCONS MAN M-51 JACKET ABOVE?! I mean, do you SEE it? It's AMAZING. I picked this out a couple of weeks ago to share with you but then I got distracted by Inception. As fate would have it, however, I was at Barney's the other day looking for a tie (which I found, by the way, a gorgeous purple narrow number that pair very well with my architectural brown striped shirt but that is another post) and there the MAN M-51 was in MY SIZE.

I realized something about myself, as I stood drooling over Junya Watanabe's perfect clothes and their insane price tags. I discovered, rather profoundly, that I don't give a shit if I can never afford this or many other beautiful things. I will still go to Barney's and revel in their lines and their materials and their perfect, perfect fits. I love imagining my yacht life and in many ways I also love that I don't really live it. So, this was originally going to  be one of those you-don't-need-cash-to-look-awesome posts but, I figure, fuck it. You know that and I know that but let's just drool over shit we can't afford.

So, speaking of Mr. Watanabe and his magical, magical world, check out these shirts coming out in his Comme des Garcons Man Fall/Winter collection:

He's such a genius! Check out the texture play on the back:

All above photos from Hypebeast.com

It's the perfect detail! OHMYGODILOVEIT.

Speaking of freaking out over things I didn't know I needed, look at these gorgeous RUCKSACKS by Norse Projects and Ally Capellino!

Wow! These are so rad. And they are 203 pounds. I don't even want to look up the exchange rate. I would rather spend this moment dreaming of some sort of urban exploring situation--possibly in western Canada--where I am on a beautiful boat in a nautical sweater, on my way to a beach island with a picnic on my back. Check out the lining:

Photos from Highsnobiety.com

I actually wish I lived somewhere freezing enough to wear this Hunter Earflap Cap, also from Norse Projects:

Fifty-four pounds! WHY NOT! If I was in Boston I would be justifying this purchase right now. Freshman year, waiting for the bus near Boston Common, someone told me that a classmate's ears had fallen off the week before from frostbite after standing outside for twenty minutes in a subzero blizzard. Obviously, this was not true but I don't care I still want that hat!

I will leave you with these Yuketen Hunt Boots from Yuki Matsuda which are gorgeous and which I would wear with slim dark denim in my 477 pound dreams:

                             

Photo from Hypebeast.com

Champagne wishes! Here's hoping your week is full of beautiful things, dear readers. Whether I own them or not, I know mine will be. 

Revolutionary Outfits

Don't let this fashion emergency happen to you. Geez, guys.

Michael von Braithwaite recently put up a brilliant post on Ironing Board all about outfitting the reluctant bystanders of the impending revolution. She was joking, sort of. The inspiration for her tongue-in-cheek-how-to was our shared experienced hitting the floor in our apartment last weekend as the sound of rifle blasts intermingled with helicopters and sirens. The psycho symphony was a result of an anti-government nutcase letting loose on the cops two blocks from our house.

After Michael's post, I have spent the last few days contemplating our situation and, frankly, I've been concerned. I know what happens when the more masculine-attired among us let themselves go and--if there's ever a time to not give a shit about how you look--it's when the downtrodden white guys rise up en masse against the ACLU. Don't let this happen to you.

Listen, we have seen the airport sweatpants, the ill-fitting shirt, the flip flops. It's easy to get sucked into that sad, sad place. Ultimately, will the external chaos be worth the style sacrifice? You got to look better to feel better, as we all know.

The proposal is: everyone is going to have to at least pretend to choose sides when the white guys try to take down the white guys, but some of us just want to camouflage ourselves long enough to get over a border. We need sensible clothes that say both F-the-NEA and, simultaneously, God-Save-the-USA. Or whatever. But there's no reason we can't look dashing and be stealthy while dashing stealthily.

In this house, where we greet overwhelming situations with dark irreverence, we have begun planning our "revolutionary outfits." Here are some of my offerings for your consideration:

The Look

Search no further than Junya Watanabe's Fall 2010 collection for the perfect how-to. You need mysterious swagger. Wild cards can successfully acrobat out of dicey situations when their outfits brim with sophistication that is both clean and rugged.

The coat can weather the elements. The pants look classy, but sturdy. The hat allows you to catch a nap while on the run. The tie makes a great bandage, if necessary.

I take issue with one component: the shoes. While sweet, the kicks are impractical. You don't want to be slip-sliding down hills and across major freeways.

Shoes

Ok, this is important. Functionality is key but you don't want to throw the look. I mean, why waste your time with a tie in the first place if you're not going to really OWN it, you know? I hate when people pair ties/bow ties with jeans and go to a dance night. Only, like, five people can do that well. And they know who they are. But I digress. There won't be dance parties until the revolution ends.

Shoes! This pair by G-star will definitely look awesome on your motorcycle as you head for the hills.

These AMAZING shoes are a collaboration between Band of Outsider and Sperry. They are clearly all-element and look toasty, which is good since you probably won't have alot of time for yachting.

Back Up

Since the pants/shoes color combo I just suggested is likely controversial, you might want an extra pair of pants. Also, you're probably going to get a little gross after a few days and there's no need to sacrifice hygiene.

Obviously, you need jeans and you probably will have to lose the tie (see my diatribe above). But that's cool. Keep the rest of the elements and add a pair of Nudie's dry black coated denim. I have a pair of Nudie's and I can attest that they look rad, fit right and hold up. Plus, black jeans will look excellent with the rest of your oufit. Keep it classy!

Supplies

Alright, you're going to need to carry your fancy clothes and supplies like water and canned goods. You need something durable but not militaristic--you don't want either side pinning you down, remember? That spells trouble.

May I suggest this waterproof roll-up from Chrome? If bike messengers can't destroy it doing whatever makes them so grimy, you won't either.

Excellent work!

I think my job here is done. We're all going to look like a million bucks if the militias come out of the woods. Over and out.

Dear Junya Watanabe: A Love Letter

Dear Sir:

FUCKING A! Are you reading my mind or what?!

You have envisioned, in your 2011 collection, the EXACT LOOK I have been aspiring toward--on my best days--for the last couple of years. Bad-ass-but-tailored-boat-club-regatta. No dorky stuff--all wide stripes and white pants, for the gentleman of leisure who probably has awesome tattoos.

Did you make this hat for me? I think you did.

Mostly I have aspired for this look in the hopes that the actual life of leisure would follow, with little luck (though I did charter a sailboat for my life partner, Ms. Michael von Braithwaite for her 28th birthday, a gallant affair that almost ended in a capsized ship but DID NOT involve anyone spilling their champagne, against all odds).

Your clothes, in that sense, are a bittersweet reminder that if my life of leisure were truly in motion I would be able to afford the grand I need to buy your nautical sweater or whatever. But I forgive you the reminder because you made THIS JACKET:

In addition to the amazing things you are doing with boat shoes, blazers and TOGGLE COATS, I also want to commend you for your choice in Monsieur Mustache as a model. This man, perhaps due to his redheaded-ness, somehow looks awesome and not like a total douche with this sailor handlebar. Or perhaps it's the white pants/fat stripes/exposed ankle situation. Anyway, this looks like the kind of guy I would drink martinis with at the yacht club after a long day drinking martinis on the yacht.

Your long history of geniusly updating classic looks makes me all the more convinced that I would be way better off buying all my clothes in Japan. You do American cool way better than any stateside-born designer I can think of. I mean, look at this guy:

The shoes: brilliant. I wish you would write a memo to all the dumb dumbs wearing Chucks with their ill-fitting department store suits. This is how it's DONE.

Look, the point is: thank you. I sincerely hope that I reach a point where a white designer toggle coat makes sense in my life plan. Thanks to you, I have one more reason to keep the dream alive.

In solidarity,

Page McBee