STORE LOCATOR - COUNTRY HOUSE

Country House, Rotterdam was founded by Harry Polderman in 1981. He was one of the pioneers of the Dutch Denim scene. The first Country House at the Oude Binnenweg was closed down 5 years ago, but like a sphinx it raised from his ashes. Last year October, after 8 weeks of hard labor and with a warehouse stocked with vintage industrial furniture and lamps, Harry opened "Country House - Authentic Blue". This store is based on Iconic brands like Pendleton, Filson Bags, CP Company, Levi's Vintage, Redwing, Barbour, Lee 101, "Big E" to name a few heroes. With a friendly team, great coffee and a fine selection of merchandise, the message is clear. Harry tells me that clients from the"old" Country House already find their way back to the store, but also a new group loves to buy here. Authentic Blue is back in the city of blue collars. 

CLUB MONACO SS 2012 LOOKBOOK

This ain't J.Crew or Todd Snyder nor Bellerose, but the new Spring Summer 2012 collection of Club Monaco.

 In 1985, Canadian Joe Mimran and Alfred Sung opened the first store in Toronto. Until 1999, Club Monaco was a Canadian company. It is now owned and operated by Ralph Lauren, which acquired Club Monaco in 1999. Club Monaco is a mid-priced, high-end casual clothing retailer owned by Ralph Lauren, the company was best known for its classic "black and white" styles, from which pieces of colored are paired. With this Spring 2012 collection the designers brought us a full preppy collection yet sporty with lots of style. (click here for more pics)

DENIM & SUPPLY, THE SPRING EDITION

A view of the Spring 2012 collection at the Denim & Supply Store in Amsterdam. Is there anybody who knows how many mannequins they have in this store?

THE HILL-SIDE SS 2012

New York City based The Hill-Side is a small company run by Emil Corsillo and his younger brother Sandy. He once said "there's nothing functional about a tie, but a handkerchief has a foot in both worlds. A gentleman might carry one in his jacket pocket to offer a lady, but the man in the fields tucks it into his back pocket to wipe his brow". Whoever you are, you will love The Hill-Side. 

LEE STORM RIDER JACKET - HISTORY REPEATING

Paul Newman in a Lee Storm Rider Jacket

A Raw Denim, A used and an inside out Lee Storm Rider

the original labels

"Loco" Jacket

Chambray Quilted overshirt

Alaskan lining blanket

Tonight, I paid a visit to the Lee Showrooms in Amsterdam and I got a full explanation from Rutger on one of the icons of the brand. 

In 1931, Lee introduced the famous Lee Rider jacket. It was a slim jacket that had inward slanted breast pockets for easy access. This jacket was introduced with the cowboy in mind. The "Slim" jacket was the very first shorter, more tailored western-style jacket. In 1933, Lee launched what was to become one of its most famous designs, the Storm Rider Jacket. It was a winter version of the "Slim" Lee Rider Jacket and it featured a Alaskan Blanket lining, a product which was used for horse blankets. And it had a corduroy collar, which was softer for the neck than a denim collar. 

For Fall/Winter 2012 the Alaskan Lining of the Storm Rider Jacket is the red thread of the Lee 101 line. The lining is used several garments for example in a chambray quilted overshirt, on belts, wallets a Denim "Loco" Jacket coated with Teflon and even the chairs are covered with the Alaskan lining. You can find the Lee 101 collections at selected dealers throughout Europe.

After several hours, lots of info and photo's I went home, not brainwashed, but stonewashed.