SHOES WITH A GOOD SOUL

When Blake Mycoskie went to visit Argentina he discovered the typical soft shoe called Alpargata (similar to the Spanish Espadrilles), but also that a lot of children don't have shoes which leads to major health issues. Blake saw an opportunity for a business idea that 'makes life more comfortable' and returned home with exactly that: TOMS Shoes was born.
It's simple: with each pair of TOMS you buy ($38), a pair of shoes is donated to a child in Argentina on your behalf. And what's also comfortable to know is that the shoes are produced in Argentina under strict 'no sweatshop' criterias, made from local materials such as canvas and leather. Women, men and 'tiny' shoes are available across the US, in all sorts of colours and patterns as well as a limited hand painted graffiti edition by Tyler Ramsen or special editions from Rugby.

MONDAY BOOK MANIA

Yosemite, a book by Glen Denny who was a photographer and climber. He pictured his fellow climbers in the 60's in Yosemite National Park. The granite walls of Yosemite Valley have drawn a lot of visitors over the years. In the late 1950's and through the 60's, they galvanized a group of rock climbers, who saw their glacier-polished faces as the urest challange. When those climbers first made their way up Half Dome and El Captain, they ushered in a new era. They developed techniques, tools and philosophies that would change the sport forever.

SUNDAY STATE OF MIND PART 2

Pennsylvania State Flag

Pennsylvania State Quarter

Pennsylvania License Plate

Where to find Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is the second State, who joined the United States in 1787. The Capitol of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg, but the best known city is Philadelphia. Not because of Will Smith or Rocky, but because of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July 1776. Pennsylvania is also know for the Amish, these people life in Dutch County and they still travel around with horse and carriage. The nickname of Pennsylvania is Keystone State, because of it's central location and commercial and political importance among the 13 colonies.

VINTAGE STORES IN AMERICA

Mister Freedom, Los Angeles, CA.

Chucks Vintage, Los Angeles, CA.

Eleven, New York, NY

Designers Pick, Montauk, NY

What comes around goes around, New York, NY

and Los Angeles, CA

Stock Vintage, New York, NY

I'm not really the guy who shops in thrift stores, but I must say, that I very much like these pictures. It gives me an idea, how the atmosphere is in these stores.

GQ runs an article on the 25 Best Vintage stores in America. Check the site for more details.

STYLE ICON

 

John John, or as we all know him John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. Born on November 25th, 1960, sixteen days after his father was elected as President of the United States. He died in a plane crash in 1999. His style is still used as an inspiration for that particular East Coast prep look.

ALL ABOARD....

I read a post on the GANT Rugger blog about old rail road tickets. That reminded me of this picture on Mister Mort's blog of a hat from The New York, New Haven Railroad. This is the way Mr. Bernhard Gantmacher,  founder of the GANT brand followed. Arriving in New York in 1914, he started to make shirts for Brooks Brothers and others, after several years he started in 1949 in New Haven, CT.  GANT Shirtmakers. The rest is history......

OLD STUFF, BECOME NEW STUFF.

The Bucket hat worn by those old preppy guys, is back in fashion. As you can see in the fashion show of Dsquared and on the blog of Close Up and Private. They bought theirs a J.Press or Brooks Brothers. Make sure, that you get one yourself before you'll be an old prepstar.

LESSON OF THE DAY

BEST KEPT SECRET?

Best kept Secret in Lower East Side, New York.

Only hipsters and odd celeb know about Freemans. Hidden at the end of Freeman Alley is the intimate bar and restaurant. When I was in New York in February and strolling through Rivington checking out Freeman's Sporting Club I saw this cozy restaurant. I felt like, I was the first person who ever find this place. The food is great, prices reasonable and the service very nice. The Hunting lodge decor is unexpected in the middle of the city.

JUST BAG IT!

Found these bags in a Japanese site called Kapital, I don't know whether it is a brand or just a store, nevermind I liked those bags.

LEVI'S FALL/WINTER 2010 PREVIEW

This looks very interesting. I very much like how they displayed the goods on different levels.