WEAR WASH REPEATthe art of KOMBOH

Donning the walls of Nation Toys this November is the works of KOMBOH (aka Michael Mateyko & Hans Thiessen). With a very descriptive theme you can gather that the show will focus on wearable art. There is an assortment of incredible hand screened imaginative and simplistic graphic tees accompanied by some beautifully framed illustrated prints. I have a feeling that both the tees and prints wont be around long and their reasonable price *ahem $30* certainly makes them a great gift idea and hotter than the hottest of hotcakes… I guess if you could wear hotcakes the former would be true.

From my angle the work of KOMBOH epitomizes not only clean contemporary design (with a side of whimsy) but also the diversity to switch from amazing typeset documentation to cute and colourful vector illustration & animations.  I look forward to seeing whats next for this talented duo.  I’ll be sure to post photos of this month’s show.

The opening is tonight: 6pm – 9pm @ Nation Toys & Tees so if you are in Calgary we hope to see you there!

The work of Michael Mateyko & Hans Thiessen.

KOMBOH is comprised of two individuals who realized that working together solved more problems than it produced. Michael Mateyko and Hans Thiessen approach the visual world with the belief that creativity is a process, not a formula. A process that sometimes involves medium-fit, 100% cotton t-shirts.

Go to komboh.com for more form-fitting goodness.

Whoo there was a brief period of no posting there. Apologies. We lead busy lives (read: easily distracted). We have a fair bit to share but I’ll start the ball rolling with a fashion blog I’ve been hooked on recently. Enter Definitive Touch. Focusing primarily on men’s fashion, this blog continues to offer up designers and brands that walk the line of professional yet fun, modest but not boring. I am particularly fond of the Ladies Touch section where you get a critical dissection of some featured outfits. Or why not visit the Lifestyles section for some quick interviews with some interesting innovators. Okay that was a quick one and next time I promise to have somethin’ for the ladies.

Calgary is now becoming home to more unique boutique stops. The latest boutique stop, espy, is situated in a character building on the main drive (9th ave.) of Inglewood, an eclectic suburb of the downtown Calgary area.

This boutique shop is all about class and fashion; bringing in designer names and fashions that are not typical to the Calgary fashion market. Espy has a so much to offer fashion hungry consumers and offers the latest in fashion and trendsetting.  This is a great destination to go and peruse on a weekly basis to check out the new stock. Take a look at the space which espy occupies… great design and fits so well within the character space. Perfect place to pick up a unique gift, outfit or that one piece to complete your ensemble.

Images are all taken by Alix Broadway and are from the espy website.

espy space during grand opening night.

James, Christy and I at the opening, having some very much appreciated beverages.

espy owners and employees, celebrating and enjoying the grand night.

Ah yes. finally! Bridging the gap between fashion destination stores and pertinent fashion blogs, Holt Renfrew, always creative and innovative with their window displays, are once again proving their worthiness. Commencing with a “Fashion Blog” definition displayed on an introductory window we see that each progressive window is designated a fashion blog and corresponding visual theme. It is well executed and it’s fantastic to see large fashion venues such as Holt Renfrew with an appreciation of the influence of blogging in a fashion context. Not only have they used their store as a venue to show that they’ve got their fingers on the fashion pulse but there is also the opportunity to promote these new online pioneers of fashion. This is a great cross promotion idea and obviously advantageous for all parties.

Click on “more” to see each window, blog and my thoughts!

This blog is one of my favourites. They shows a lot of street style pics of men’s / women’s fashion and runway. They focus mostly on very high-end and innovative fashion, always visually inspiring.

www.jakandjil.com

Great blog! It’s focus is on fashion and culture and formatted with images and brief captions which means it’s very to the point but still engaging. While the inspiration behind this blog is about shoes it’s definitely not only about that. There are images of fashion that follows with the shoes, street pics, and the culture that surrounds it all.

www.seaofshoes.com

While very much involved in fashion, shows and the scenes in which they exists. The blog has a very directed cultural, inspirational approach surrounding fashion, music, and day/night life.

www.bryanboy.typepad.com

I’m excited to see this blog as one of the windows as it has been a favourite in my blogroll for some time now. While it shares both men’s and women’s fashion, it focuses mostly on men’s which is great because there are so few that do. It showcases street and runway fashion…always fun to go through the images and gather inspiration.

www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com

Wow, this blog’s got it all.  Runway and street fashions, events and parties, arts and culture, and more more more. There is lots to look at on this site and definitely interesting to see the wide spectrum of content.

www.iwantigot.geekigirl.com

This blog focuses on women’s fashion trends and showcases mostly street styles, runway, along with illustrations which are more often than not, overlooked…but oh so important to design.

www.garancedore.fr/en

When dressing in your favourite threads, shoes are the final touch, or, in some cases, the starting point for piecing together an outfit.  Check out these converse with a pixel-like backing. it’s the perfect nerdy-chic-flare to add to any outfit. This addition was made exclusively for Foot Locker and runs about £55 ($100 CDN) and seems to only be available through the Foot Locker UK online store.  Good news is that they ship to Canada!

Browsing through the world wide webby, I stumbled across these really minimal but very well designed bags. The bags are made with industrial wool felt, aluminum rivets, and distressed leather for the straps, which give them an unconventional look. Carga has a fair variety of styles to choose from ranging from courier, to handbag and even a “murse“.  I’m quite impressed with these bags, they look modern without compromising quality and durability.

www.cargabags.com

MoMAMuseum of Modern Art - NY

With Father’s Day fast approaching, I thought I would post some great gift ideas that you would be able to give to you Pop without sacrificing often overlooked design and coolness factors. These are just a few of the stellar gifts that they have for purchase through the MoMA online store.

If for whatever reason you find yourself planning a trip to NY and want to fill your itinerary with “must sees” definitely move MoMA to the top of your list.

So as you may notice from my previous posts, I really enjoy shopping and fashion.  I have identified it as a problem but continue to feed my fashion hunger rather than starve it. I have a tendency to stumble upon (more often I seek out) many different outputs that can feed such an addiction. This weekend a friend pointed me in the direction of  Whiskey Militia.

The idea behind the site is genius, they showcase one item at a time for a duration of 20 minutes. From there you can choose to add the item to your list or wait for the next item to be posted. Either way, once the item is gone, it’s gone! Great site, great idea, and a great way to steer a shopping addiction into voracious realms.

MeatbagsArt & Accessories by Jennifer McCaw

We are lucky enough to be surrounded and inspired by so many people on a regular basis.  One of our most favourite people has just released a line of hand tooled leather clutches with a deliciously carnivorous twist.  Jennifer McCaw, once our fabulous neighbor and still a fabulous friend is a talented jewelry designer / metalsmith, fashion connoisseur and expert in all that is  kitsch and lowbrow (pertaining to art and fashion).

See &/or shop for more of her brilliant creations @ lookscouldkillartboutique.com (aka LCKAB)

I’ve heard about this whole “cell phones cause cancer” thing, and I buy it just as much as I buy cigarettes causing cancer. But I still smoke, so I doubt I’ll be procuring a pair of these pants. However, if you are worried about electro magnetic radiation, act now! Distilled has crafted a pair of pants just for you.

You can pick up a pair of these wonders at Bloomingdale’s, or by ringin’ up (415) 558-8395.

Source: Taco Lab Blog

Dover Street Market

Located in London England, Dover Street Market is a very progressive kind of market. It mixes industrial design, lounges, restaurants, and shopping all under one roof. Each area is as unique as the next and brings together different designers and products to create a sense of organized chaos. Because the market offers such a wide range of products it has positioned itself on the forefront of eclectic style and trendiness… I want to go to there.

So I have been on a mission to find a bow tie for everyday use, well maybe not everyday, that would be a little extreme. I’m not looking for some formal event bow tie or any of that biz, but seeking a geek-chic bow tie. I know they are out and about in the fashion world but somehow I think the “Calgary shipment” was forgotten about, and now, I am forever longing for this ultimate accessory.

Any-who, thought I would share with you this pretty swank bow tie I found online for your viewing pleasure. As for me and my venture, if you see me walking down the street sporting a nice n’ shiny bow tie, everything will have worked out real nice. Word!

www.male-mode.com

Who doesn’t love to mix a bit of vintage apparel in with their wardrobe to add a little yester-year flair? Now, what if you had the opportunity to dodge wading-through the mass of retrowear and be given a selection of hand picked gold? Fox Sparrow to the rescue! Fox Sparrow Vintage offers an online boutique that selects stylish vintage combo’s to save you a little time (and money).

This project is the brainchild of dynamic duo Lindsay Sutton and Heather Saitz. You may have been fortunate to enjoy Heather’s recreated, found and vintage photography exhibit in the early days of our Nation gallery. That was a few years back, and as you can tell ambition continues to be one of her signature maneuvers.

For the time being you can find out Fox Sparrow on:

• Their Facebook Group.
• Their eBay Online Store.

You may also happen to catch them live in Calgary at various local events this summer.  I’ve even heard rumours that they may hook-up with local retailers in the near future.

Now you can back to struttin your new threads on the streets and perhaps be shot (photographically that is) by one of the many the fashion savvy bloggers out there.

If you haven’t already guessed, I have an affinity for amusing alliteration. But this post not about me. In fact it’s the opposite! It’s about… others… and their… style.  The whole concept of snappin’ digi-photos of hip kids and their street fashion is not particularly new.  I believe it would take something close to like a caj-illion years to list all of the blogs out there covering this field.  What is a mite new is finding myself drawn in as if by some sort of indie-couture tractor beam.

I don’t feel I particularly missed my calling as a designer, model or fashionista (sounds like a well dressed uprising!).  Perhaps these sites just speak to my naturally voyeuristic tendencies.  I’m not talking a creepy George McFly hanging out in a tree watching his future wife get undressed before his time traveling son hits him with a car sort of voyeurism.  I mean more of a “Hey people are awesome!  Look at them being awesome!” kinda voyeurism.  Is there a difference?  I’m not entirely sure. My mind inevitably moves on to musing about the nature of their underwear before I can answer that question.

Now don’t be so quick to judge.  This is the age of the internet dang-it!  An age which demands we all point our collective peepers outward and bask in each others… everything.  It’s from this basking that we arrive in a graceful boomerang-like manner, to the topic which started all of this; the street fashion blog.  What could we call this trend?  Nu-stalking?  Paparazzi for the under-famed? Oooh the anti-pop-arrazzi!  I feel things will get a little too portmanteau if I keep this up.

To gain a better understanding of what I’m attempting to touch on here, I recommend you pop your interwebbin’ head in at StyleClicker.  This site focuses primarily on the area of the world known as Munich.  What I love is that you get a healthy mix of everything from the casual, the formal, and the I wouldn’t wear it but way to be bold fellow humanaught.  Also this site has a pretty solid international blog roll if you want to get the four-one-one on other cities.

Once upon a time Calgary had their own steet style site… Company of Wolves, I believe… which appears to be defunct.  If you have any suggestions on where I can stalk individuals within my own city… please let me know.

Source: alexandchloe.com