ATELIER DE L'ARMEE - BECOMES MORE BEAUTIFUL OVER TIME

Elza & Joost of Atelier de L'Armee did it again!

 They really created a great lookbook of their handmade bags, leather goods and vintage finds.

The handcrafted bags are made Amsterdam. Created by mixing high quality deadstock or repurposed materials. Elza & Joost love old military fabrics because they have aged beautifully over time. The distinctive look of markings, wear, stamps, stains, repairs and, patches tell a story about the previous owner. The heritage clothing is a carefully selected mix of rare handpicked second hand items and most are collectables. They are all inspired by denim, vintage workwear or military clothing. And last but not least their leather goods are made out of limited batches of deadstock leathers. They are functional, build to resist and iron-branded.

CHAD MEETS BLAIR OF GENERAL QUARTERS, LOS ANGELES

During my trip, I had the chance to pay a visit to a store called General Quarters on La Brea Av., This is a very hip part of LA, with stores like Undefeated, Union, Stussy & American Rag. But General Quarters is different, Blair Lucio welcomes you heartily and that's a world of difference comparing to the other stores. Blair told me that he started 3 years ago with just a credit card and his love for some great brands like, Filson, Gant Rugger, Pendleton, Scott NYC, Tellason etc. He only sells what he would wear himself.  The funny thing is the next day we met again @ the Rose Bowl flea, it's a small  world after all.

General Quarters

153 S. La Brea Ave.

Los Angeles, Ca.

90036

CHAD'S ROAD TRIP THROUGH THE SOUTH-WEST

I travelled through 4 different States, drove over 3250 miles, visited 11 National Parks, 4 State Parks

and 2 Native American Parks. Did a Hamburger contest and the Umami Burger won. Lost some money in a slot machine called The Hangover and I saw Las Vegas from above no not from a plane or helicopter, but from the New York New York Roller coaster. The highlight of my trip was a hike through Arches National Park, the hike was 8 miles, climbing over rocks and heaving the feeling that you walked on the rim of the world made this hike unforgettable.

CHAD @ THE ROSE BOWL FLEA MARKET

Last Sunday, I went to the world famous Rose Bowl Flea Market, the heaven for vintage freaks.

Over 2500 vendors and 20.000 buyers looking forward to this monthly event. The parking lots of the Rose Bowl are packed with vintage clothes, vintage shoes, Navajo Rugs, Americana, food and much more. Highlight of my visit to the Rose Bowl, and that's why I put the first picture ever of myself here, was meeting with Rin Tanaka author of the My Freedamn books. I bought his latest book Scott NYC 100 years of an American Original, which he personally signed for me (no I don't wear high heels).

KEMO SABE - THE WILD WEST IN SIN CITY

"Kemo Sabe" is a Native American word which means faithful friend, and that's the way

Tom & Nancy Yoder like you to feel when you enter their store. They opened their first store in Aspen in 1990 and since October this year they have a "trading post" in Las Vegas. This is Cowboy heaven, you find here everything from top to toe or better said from hat to boot and everything in between.

At the Stetson Hat Bar they even can customize your brand new hat with sweat stains and bullet holes.

As the Las Vegas Rodeo was in town, you could find a lot of Cowboys in the store as you can see in the picture with the trophy bull. Do you know what you see in the last picture………? No, that's not your cup of tea, that's what they call the balls of the bull.