It’s one of those days…

Dockers x Designers

Looks like Dockers is releasing a line of “deconstructed” khakis featuring various designers. I really only like Alexander Wang’s design as he cleverly dyes the fabric grey and creates this patchwork look that’s very contemporary without looking too out there. I wasn’t pleased with the other ones so I won’t even bother posting those. Also, I can’t find the link on their website so you snooze, you lose Dockers. I think these khakis are around $200 so not exactly the most affordable designer piece.

I was in the Dockers section last week and I’ll have to say, they have the potential to really grab the American prep demographic for Fall 2011 if they do some editing. Anyway, they’re heading in a more youthful direction so they’re not your Dad’s weekend pants anymore. A little more sex appeal should be injected into the campaigns. Come on, Dockers! You have a whole gay guy market out there who is sick of J. Crew! I found a few coloured chinos that were actually nicely cut and some sweatshirts that were on the border of luxe. Despite everything being 60% off, all the sizes were XL and larger.

Wait, isn’t that the Asian guy from Lost?

10 bucks…

ME AT NINE, PERFORMING TO MADONNA IN SUMMER ’91! from Robert Jeffrey on Vimeo.

… says he’s face down on the floor of a bathhouse restroom right now.

He knows the moves! You go, Robert!

Pizza Beret

Pretty self-explanatory.

Just Shoot Me…

I actually think this Rick Owens scarf is very beautiful but I think this piece of fabric is $3000 or something.

So hey Rick Owens’ people: feel free to send me this if you have an extra one lying around.

The Roots for John Varvatos Fall 2011

John Varvatos has many friends in the rock and roll industry. Maybe because he throws rock-oriented parties at his stores and supplies clothing to people like Mick Jagger, Dave Matthews and even Howard Stern.
He also utilizes rock icons in his campaigns including Iggy Pop, Perry Farrell and Ozzy Osbourne. His clothes are functional but have this edgy vibe that attracts both businessmen and bikers alike. His coats hark back to retro Beatles and his silhouettes are inspired by items worn on stage by the Stones or Bowie. Very rock and roll.

So it’s great to see The Roots, one of my long-time favourites, starring in Varvato’s Fall/Winter 2011 campaign. In a review for Phrenology, a music writer referred to The Roots as one of the “greatest rock and roll bands” today. Yes, they’re black. Yes, they’re urban. And yes, they rap. But hands down, referring them to one of the best in rock and roll is an understatement. The guitar riffs and drumming in Seed 2.0 is proof that aside from being one of the best in conscious hip-hop, they’re also a solid rock group who have become cultural icons.

I ❤ The Roots.

Horny Music

Not fashion-related at all but I think this Enandis station is so hot.
I wonder if it works with just a shitty iPod as I don’t have an iPhone and probably never will. I hate all that sliding and screen touching. But the design of this “passive speaker” is awesome.

Stealing a glance

I saw these Fall 2011 oxfords by Cole Haan today but with red laces. I know they’re a little out there and probably uggo but I want want want them. I just looked and looked as I shouldn’t spend any money on shoes right now (or ever) because there are more important things to spend money on than shoes.

Is it pathetic for a guy in his 30’s to shoplift?

Rest in peace, Jack

My greatest memory was seeing you at Pride each year hanging out in the beer gardens with the rest of us. To a wonderful political figure who based his life on serving his country and contributing to the greater good, I bid you a warm farewell. Jack Layton was a fearless leader who represented Canadians in the greatest light and advocated for all minorities in Canada. He was a stylish and endearing man with core values that brought out the best of us and made Canadians want to do better for our communities. He inspired me to dedicate over 10 years to community work and activism. Inspiring even the conservative right, he was a man of strength and integrity. He has done amazing things for our riding and will continue to inspire Canadians of all backgrounds. He was a kind, altruistic and beautiful leader that will forever be in our hearts. Jack, your death came too soon but you have left a legacy and a country that will continue to thrive because of your hard work. May you rest in peace and my condolences to your lovely wife Olivia Chow, your children, your family, your friends, your constituents, and of course to the city of Toronto who loved you dearly.

This was Mr. Layton’s last letter to Canada taken from CBC.com:
August 20, 2011

Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,

Jack Layton

Making Ssense

Every once in a while, I like to check out Ssense’s sale section and drool over the “I-still-can’t-afford-this-shit-cuz-a-new-deck-is-more-important-than-a-sweater” pieces. Here are a few recent picks that I yearn for:

Cheap Monday suede baseball bomber. It’s only around $60 but of course, small sizes are sold out.

A beautiful violet Helmut Lang motorcross jacket.

Lots o’ pockets dad-crop coat #1.

Lots o’ pockets dad-crop coat #2.

Beatles-esque Surface To Air black lace-up boots.

A beautifully sculpted belt.

A fun Alexander McQueen speckled cardigan.

And what I REALLY want: a leather McQueen duffel weekender with the skull motif (to match the McQueen jeans I bought in Europe).

Delicious.

I guess to buy any of this stuff from Ssense, I’d have to make some ccents soon.