Margaret Howell S/S 2011

In case you missed Margaret Howell's Spring/Summer 2011 menswear show in Paris, here are some of the looks. You'll note the relaxed cuts and jackets that feature a soft shoulder.

Kehinde Wiley

Kehinde Wiley is a Los Angeles native living and working in New York. His portraits, which reflect contemporary style and attitude, feature models found in urban landscapes throughout the world. Their poses reflect imagery from the history of art.

The Three Graces, 2005. Oil on canvas, 6 x 8 ft.
Santos Dumont - The Father of Aviation II, 2009. Oil on canvas, 7 x 156 in.
Portrait of Lady Mary Guildford, 2006. Oil on canvas, 6 x 5 ft.
Encourage Good Manners and Politeness; Brighten Up Your Surroundings, 2007. Oil and enamel on canvas, 5 x 5 ft.
Count Potocki, 2008. Oil on canvas, 9 x 9 ft.

Human Scales: Archipelago Collection

Swedish brand Human Scales love the allure of the sea, and they love to play with the notion of fishing. The Archipelago Collection revels in the nautical theme, but with a splash of American prep.

(Amazing beard.)

Lark Sale

Lark, one of the best boutiques in Vancouver, has quite a few items (for women and men) on sale at the moment. You might want to check it out.

Zuo Modern Chaises

Rhumba Chaise.
Palm Chaise.

Awesome Showing

The All Whites finished the group stage with their third consecutive draw, this time 0-0 with group leader Paraguay. Unfortunately, it was not enough to see them through to the round of 16. It was a valiant run, with dramatic goals throughout and consistently staunch defense. Look for New Zealand in 2014...

Corter Leather

Each piece from Corter Leather is made by Eric Heins in Boston. "Holes are punched and sewn by hand, hardware is set with a mallet, and though most leather is left natural, colored leather is dyed and oiled in house. No templates are ever made; each piece is cut by memory, making no two pieces perfectly alike." Custom orders are available.

Dark Fall

New N.J. surf film that looks legit. Premiere is July 16 in Atlantic City at The House of Blues. More info here.

Run of the Mill

You would like to offer congratulations to Lawrence Schlossman, Jon Moy, and Jeremy Kirkland for being the latest men's style bloggers to successfully launch an online store. Run of the Mill currently features six pieces from design wizard Mark McNairy, and they will be looking to add additional items and designers as the seasons progress.

Betty Carter

(Dave Holland has an amazing beard.)

Still Alive!

New Zealand continue to shock the football world, drawing today with Italy, 1-1. The All Whites used an early goal and a complete defensive effort to keep the Azzurri pinned down. Their second consecutive World Cup draw puts them very much in the thick of things in their group. Next up for the All Whites are group leaders Paraguay.

Yuketen Dirty Bucks

An older offering from Yuketen, these are still one of the best-looking takes on a prep school essential.

Pat Towersey | Mexico | Campbell Bros. Bonzer

Pat Towersey and his 6'7" Campbell Brothers Russ Short model in Mexico.

Picture and video are courtesy of www.bonzer5.com.

Still Life NYC: Straw Hats

You've risen early this summer day, and it's still cool. Breakfast with friends at the yacht club is on the morning agenda. The usual crew will be there, though as old age sets in fewer regularly make the trek. The outside stairs that lead up to the cafe take their toll, but it's worth it for the company and the view of the turquoise bay through the palm fronds. Sometimes a card game is played, or dominoes. Always there is talk of the island's development, its growing population. The occasional sail unfurls in the bay and stirs someone's memory and a tale is told. From time to time, old friends stop by, visiting from England or the States, and while their enthusiasm freshens the morning, it's another reminder of how quickly time passes. Your mind's drifted again, and as you pad about the bamboo floors of your bungalow, you notice the angle of the light changing. The rising sun is already chasing away the clouds. You'll need a hat.

Martinique.
Darlene.
Coca.

Zuse Digital Toaster

The Zuse toaster from Inseq Design is not appearing on this blog only because it can recognize the presence of bread and then burn designs into it using matrix printer technology. No. The real reason is that the owner of this particular toaster chose to design and toast the likeness of perennial "Amazing Beards" favorite Ernest Hemingway. Clearly, Ernest is either in the midst of speaking out of the side of his mouth or exhaling cigar smoke.

(Note: You may also see a front view of two long-distance truckers in the cab of an 18-wheeler with one headlight out. If you see something else, leave it in the comments.)

Excerpted: "The Royal Tenenbaums" by Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson

INT. LIBRARY. NIGHT.

Eli stands at a podium reading from a book to a crowded audience. A telegram marked “Ship to Shore” is tucked into his coat pocket. His voice is quietly dramatic.

ELI

The crickets and the rust-beetles

scuttled among the nettles of the

sagethicket. Vamanos, amigos, he

whispered, and threw the busted leather

flintscraw over the loose weave of the

saddlecock. And they rode on in the

friscalating dusklight.

Eli looks up. He closes his book. The audience applauds uproariously.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

Eli was an assistant professor of

English Literature at Brooks College.

The recent publication of his second

novel --

INSERT:

A copy of Eli Cash’s latest book, Old Custer. On the dust jacket there is an illustration of an Indian in warpaint with a long, bloody knife clasped between his teeth and a yellow scalp hanging from his hand.

INT. LOBBY. NIGHT.

Eli walks among the card catalogues surrounded by a crowd of admirers.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

-- had earned him a sudden, unexpected

literary celebrity.

CUT TO:

Eli standing near the circulation desk with a group of professors drinking cocktails.

ELI

Well, everyone knows Custer died at

Little Bighorn. What this book

presupposes is:

(tentatively)

maybe he didn’t?

Eli shrugs and smiles.

CUT TO:

Eli placing a call from a pay phone in the lobby. He unfolds a newspaper clipping and looks at it while he waits. He says suddenly into the receiver:

ELI (CONT’D)

Let me ask you something. Why would a

reviewer make the point of saying

someone’s not a genius? I mean, do you

think I’m especially not a genius?

Isn’t that –

Someone gives Eli a book to sign. He scribbles his name on it and hands it back without looking. He says sadly:

ELI (CONT’D)

You didn’t even have to think about it,

did you?