Yes, I'm a bit too old for Nike SB Dunks, but these just caught my eye immediately as somewhat of a collector's item. That's definitely the old man in me talking. Even so, Nike's clearly been trying to up the standards of their designs as of late, and this hi-top offering is no different. The shoe features a sea-green leather exterior that will reveal a rusty underside with regular wear and tear from skating, ass-kicking or whatever strenuous activity you put these through. Not to mention, they've got a special logo on the tongue to commemorate Lady Liberty herself. The Statue of Liberty Dunks drop in February, just in time for the weather to start clearing up. Check out a better view after the jump.
It's been a minute since I've posted any clothing, sneakers or apparel in general. I think I came to a realization about fashion, or clothing brands more specifically: If a clothing brand doesn't have a motif, a theme or a general feel to its apparel, then it's less likely to catch on. The most successful brands that my generation is drawn to like SUPREME (not my favorite, but influential nonetheless), Polo, Orisue, Levis among others, all have branched out into becoming 'lifestyle' brands that encompass a way of living or thinking. LRG, in their Spring collection does just that, exemplifying an earthy approach to fashion and life. Set in the woods, shores and skies of Washington and San Juan, and featuring a buttery-smooth song in backdrop, this preview from the good folks at LRG is a testament to their brand: simple, refined and one with its surroundings, no matter if it's the forest or the concrete jungle. Check it out...
Fall is always such a weird time for footwear. The changing weather makes keeping your heaters clean a challenge that only the most dedicated of sneakerheads can fathom. While some turn to boots, loafers, mocs and the like, I prefer to stay with some sneakers. Clean colors and simple designs are the name of the game with this Air Max 1 Premium slated to drop this holiday. The sail colorway has a very light gray tint to it, with the upper made of premium leather with canvas accents, and topped off with a horse hair swoosh. The soles take after a traditional fall chukka with a crepe sole that provides a different look from the regular soles on Air Max 1's. The result is a sneaker that can brave the elements of the colder months as well as be a fresh look when Spring comes back around. Check out some closer pictures and be on the lookout for these when they drop come Christmas...
With the recent trend of rocking wooden chains and jewelry, why not just add watches to the equation and send us right back to the tribal days. That's the idea environmentalists at Italian brand WEWOOD have come up with to extend the trend, using different kinds of timber to craft timepieces. The result is a completely sustainable watch, made with scrap wood and only needing a watch battery to operate. The kicker for WEWOOD, though, is that for every watch sold, they'll plant a tree. Not that I'm a tree-hugger, but the prospect makes the product's purchase that much better. WEWOOD has a lot more colorways for their CRONO and DATE. Check their website or hit the jump to see them...
Remember about a week and change ago when I said the first round of 'iPad killers' would be making their way into the mainstream in the coming months? The first one was the Samsung Galaxy Tab was the first one to hit the market, and now, the good people over at RIM have prepared their answer to the iPad: the Blackberry Playbook. Billed as the first 'Professional tablet,' ironically the Playbook is going to be an 'amazing gaming platform' according to Research in Motion co-CEO Mike Lazaridis. That's a big departure from the usually business-oriented Blackberry mantra, but I'm interested to see how they pull it off. The Playbook will have Flash out of the box, so that immediately puts it at an advantage over the iPad. In addition, the Playbook has an impressive spec list that clearly outdoes the iPad, with a 1 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a bigger screen. The Playbook also features a front-facing camera for video chatting over either a 3G or 4G network. The introduction of the Playbook might be a lost cause considering the iPad's hold on the market, but then again, what's a market without options? Not to mention, the Playbook looks pretty and polished. Check out some flicktures and rendering in the video...
Think someone's just on a Bluetooth idly chatting with what seems to be themselves? Think again. For those moments that you want to record, but can't see yourself lugging around a video camera, there's the Looxcie personal video recorder. You wear the Looxcie just like you would a Bluetooth earpiece, and when you want to record, you just turn on the camera to get 30 seconds of video. The idea looks interesting, especially because you can instantly upload those videos to Youtube, Facebook or Twitter from your phone. Speaking of phones, the Looxcie functions as a regular Bluetooth headset. The video quality is mediocre, but the possible applications for the Looxcie are attractive. Live video blogging and World Star Hip-Hop can definitely make use of this. Check out the Looxcie in action...
Now that the iPad has officially taken hold of American consumers and virtually made people into walking zombies viewing their huge telescreens (word to dystopian futures and George Orwell), it's time for the fleet of 'iPad killers' to hit the stores and slowly try to whittle away at Apple's heels while Steve Jobs takes over the world. The first attempt at such a device is the Samsung Galaxy Tab. The Galaxy is on Orion's belt powered by Google's Android operating system, which I'm quite partial to. It features a 7-inch LCD screen, a 1 GHz processor and can be used on both a 3G and 4G networks (unlike the iPad). Add to that, the Galaxy Tab also has Flash, something the iPad faithful have been salty about since day 1. Will the Samsung Galaxy Tab be able to dethrone the iPad? Absolutely not. Will it be able to grab some of the market from Apple, and simultaneously open the floodgates for other 'iPad Killers'? By all means. I see a Christmas season dominated by tablets. Cue up the Big Brother conspiracy theories at once. We're entering dystopia, and Apple is holding the door open...
Those of you who've been following Dear Whoever for a while now might notice that I've all but curbed most fashion and sneaker posts, save a few exceptional ones. That's not because I've given up on it. It's just that most brands are melding into the same category, and, as I find myself getting a bit older, hanging on to traditional streetwear brands is a bit lame. Some however continue to surprise me, if not by the designs themselves then by the way they're presented. ALIFE is always going to be on the scene. They've got way too much pull and a lot of creative minds rocking with them at this point. I guess it's no surprise that the lookbook for this year's fall/winter collection is so dope. A series of stop-motion photography with a white backdrop is all the NYC brand needed to show off their new collection of traditional graphic tees, flannel button downs, sweaters, hoodies and of course, their sneakers. The music does the video justice too. Check the lookbook out in slower motion here...
If I told you that the old ideas about 'the Future' from movies would come true in the next decade, would you believe me? Now that I think of it, I might not believe you either. The fascinating technological concepts of movies such as Minority Report, the Matrix and the latest Star Trek, always seemed farfetched, considering how slowly companies are to unveil their future plans. However, that doesn't mean those pipe-dreams can't or won't be achieved in time for my generation to care or take advantage. Swedish tech startup, TAT, commissioned a bunch of designers, tech people and computing engineers to design a realistic and aesthetically-captivating model of the future of the touch screen, called Open Initiative. The result is quite astonishing, to say the least. The video above shows a rendering of what the future holds for us, computing-wise. From alarm clocks you don't have to fumble around the snooze button for, to mirrors that show news headlines, to wireless collaboration and sharing over touch-friendly user interfaces, it seems as if the sky is the limit. It will be interesting to see if companies pick up this model or can run with it at all, because this simply looks cool. The fact that it's integrated in regular life, but not hindering it by being too (there is such a thing; think robot vacuums) has me thinking the future won't be as automated as we think. My only concern is how integrating all of the networks we have will work out. That's neither here nor there at the design point, though. Check out the video, and see what the next generation is looking like...
I've always been a Nike head at heart, but with the dearth of re-releases, re-re-retroes and otherwise rehashing of Nike classics, it's getting hard to find sneakers and shoes that stand out. I guess it's only right that adidas come in where Nike left off. They've undergone somewhat of an overhaul in the lifestyle side of things (as opposed to the athletic style. One of those changes is the use of newer and less-athletic looking silhouettes on their sneakers. This particular piece is a collaboration between Japanese style house Kazuki and adi's brand. The ZX Mocc takes aspects of both the traditional adidas ZX and a Native American moccasin to create a unique kick that's neither casual nor too sporty. It's just right for any occasion with a black colorway, white accents around the shoe, and a trace of gold on the upper that makes for a hell of sneaker. The ZX Mocc is available only at David Z. down in SoHo, and has a hefty price tag, but for those of you looking for a different kick to rock, they might be well worth it. Check out some choice flicktures...
Everyone loves the Peanuts. If you don't, then I'm not sure what planet you're from, or if you have a heart. 60 years ago, Charles Schultz started penning what would become the most popular comic strip in the world (sorry Boondocks), running from October 2, 1950 to February 13, 2000, now in syndication. From Lucy's constant bullying of Charlie Brown, to Linus' love affair with his blanket, to Marcy and Peppermint Patty's questionable relationship, the strip could captivate even the surliest of readers. To commemorate the anniversary, the good folk at Lacoste decided to team their iconic crocodile (not alligator) with Schultz' rag-tag bunch of baseball-playing suburban kids on their classic white polo shirt. The result is a nice set of shirts that have charming written all over them. The only thing is, they're available exclusively at Dover Street Market in London. That means you'll have to get your overseas connects up to get your hands on one of them... Either that or eBay. Whatever the case, the concept is dope. Check out the Peanuts x Lacoste 60th Anniversary Collection...
What does it really take to redesign one of the oldest concepts in the book? Some try to make the old design better by adding on to it and trying to make more out of it. Others, on the other hand go forward by going backwards, simplifying the design. That's the case with Yaniv Berg’s Digital Reflex Camera. Instead of being a typical box-shaped camera with a lens protruding out, the Reflex Camera has a periscope-like design, enabling all you photographers out there to take pictures from a different angle and stance. The designer, Yaniv Berg, took a hint from the cameras of olden days that had their eyepieces at the top of the camera instead of the back. The camera also can be turned on its lens for a unique photo-viewing experience. I know some of you photographers that read the blog wouldn't mind getting your hands on one of these. No word on whether it'll hit the streets, but you can ogle these pictures until we find out...
Not sure if I would rock these, but they're definitely an eye-catcher...
Recently, I've grown an infatuation with Sperry's. My father, unbeknownst to me until about a year ago, is the freshest man on the planet, starting with his shoes. His favorites, which are ironically (ironic, because I thought I'd be wearing sneakers for the rest of my life) mine now are Sperry Topsider Authentic Originals, which are essentially classics in the boat shoe industry. California brand Band of Outsiders has been collaborating with Sperry for the past few seasons, adding new materials and colorways to an austere silhouette. The collab continues this fall with more funky designs from Band of Outsiders. This season we look forward to a furry Original Authentic, a black leather high-top chukka, brown corduroy on some penny loafers and Original Authentics, and a grey canvas design as well (must-cop). These new takes on a classic brand are conservative enough for my father, but fresh enough of a concept for me. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Check out some flicks of the collab between Band of Outsiders and Sperry...
From top to bottom: The Bronx (*shots lick off*), Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island & Brooklyn
If there ever was an iconic sneaker in the culture of New York City, it's the Nike Air Force 1. Uptowns, as we call them were one of the first kicks to have a cult following (aside from Shelltoes), and that's before Nelly made the world go ape shit for them with his track 'Air Force Ones'. Overexposure aside, it seems only right that the Air Force 1 get some colorways specifically about New York. That's why Nike and DJ Clark Kent combined their forces to create the Borough Pack. The pack gives a different style for every borough in the fair city of New York, each with a fabric and tumbled leather upper to mimic a varsity jacket, and gum bottoms for the old school sneakerhead in us all.
The best part about this release is that Nike is also sponsoring a block party at their 21 Mercer Street location in New York to commemorate the release, as well as the World Basketball Festival going on. All boroughs are invited as an initiative to bring New Yorkers together under one banner. I love what Nike's doing here. They're making every effort to appeal to people, and it's a great look for sneakerheads, basketball fans and everyone else in between. The block party is tomorrow, July 31, starting at 6. To top it off, DJ Clark Kent, along with DJ King Solomon and Miss Banks will be hosting the party. This might very well be the spot to be at in NYC tomorrow. Hopefully you can make it. Check out some flicks of the 'Borough Pack' as well as a flyer for Nike's All-Borough Block Party...
I've never been one for gold sneakers. They either stand out TOO much or they come off as looking tacky. These, however, I can mess with. The Nike Air Max 97 is one of those shoes that gets lost in the shuffle behind 95's and 90's, but always seems to have really simple, yet fresh colorways. Nike's come back hard with retro's this summer especially in the Air Max department, and this is one of the shoes that was resurrected. These 97's feature a metallic gold upper with white stripes for contrast, as well as a red swoosh on the tongue, and the 97 Air bubble that can't be missed. These kicks are an international release and should've already touched down at your local spot. Hopefully you jumped on them...
Summer is more than halfway over. That still doesn't mean you can't carry over some hotter apparel into the school year. adidas has really been impressing me as of late with some of their releases. This one is no different. Taking a unique spin on the traditional boat shoe, adidas used a very lightweight black canvas material for the upper, a white midsole and a very funky red-striped interior. The Summer Deck shoe is perfect for late summer/early fall and looks great with damn near everything. And at $60, you can't go wrong. Check out some more choice flicktures. Props to Ronnie Fieg...
Earphones are a necessary evil for those of us who want to take our music with us, but don't want clunky headphones to weigh us down. Earphones are cheap, provide good sound quality and are portable. Yet, one of my pet peeves about them is how easily that misshaped earphones can fall out of one's ear, or just provide bad sound because of their placement. The good people over at Yanko Design picked up a new way to create earphones, which puts a simple cord loop on the earphones so that they can wrap around your ears and hold the earphone in your ear. It's the simplest of tweaks, but it does so much for the design. It's a shame Sony or one of the big electronics companies didn't come up with this idea. This could easily replace those crappy molded plastic earphones that itch and make your ear hurt after a while. Check out some different views of the i-Sound Transformable Earphones...
I thought I'd grown away from rocking high tops, but these simply appealed to my eye like no sneaker I've seen floating around the interwebs the past month or so. adidas, along with having much fatter pockets due to the World Cup, is also riding high on a huge redesign of their whole aesthetic. Gone are the days of simple silhouettes and plain materials. Adi's company is on a whole new tip, and the Roundhouse Mid is a perfect example of that new direction. The black and white pebble leather and suede are minor touches that add some class, while the strap and high profile add a bit of edge. These bad boys should be hitting our shores soon, after already being available in Japan. Check out some closer flicktures...
For all of the foreboding talk I have about 'the Future,' and what it will do to our bodies and minds as humans, this is honestly some of the coolest shit I've ever laid eyes on. I thought that we'd reached somewhat of a plateau in terms of interactive gaming when the Nintendo Wii came out in 2006, where we were actually controlling the game with ourselves, rather than using a 'controller' in the traditional sense. Microsoft has shattered that mold at E3 (the world's biggest gaming conference) with the unveiling of Kinect for Xbox 360. Last year, I previewed Kinect, but it was known as Project Natal at that point. It still talked about motion sensing, as well and motion recognition, but less than a year later, Kinect has surpassed everything I could have expected.
Microsoft describes it as a 'controller-free gaming and entertainment experience' that boasts 'a natural user interface using gestures, spoken commands, or presented objects and images'. It uses cameras and infrared light emitters to 'see' what you're doing and transpose it with what is going on in the video game or application. In laymen's terms, that means as you move and act and speak and interact with other players, Kinect is able to track those actions and translate them into a gaming experience. The possibilities for such technology are endless!! The new hardware will be like a virtual touchscreen, where you can access all of Xbox 360's functionalities. In addition to that, new home theater software will come with Kinect, enabling you to access ESPN (see below), movies, and TV shows all from the 360. Last but not least, we've got to discuss the games that come with this new technology. First up is Kinect Adventures, which is like a virtual obstacle course (see below). They're also developing Kinect Sports, DDR for Kinect and Kinectimals (see below), which is like a Tamagotchi for the 21st century. Kinect, and the new, slimmer Xbox 360 will be available starting this Novemeber. I, for one, will be copping because this is simply epic. Check out some videos and look out for more titles coming for the Microsoft Kinect...
This is viral marketing at its best. Phillip Annand of The AwardTour has been tweeting on and off about an initiative called the Madbury Club lately, much to my confusion. Here's the first piece of media actually associated with it. Looking at the video, it's pretty much a who's who of really fresh NYC fashion personalities. Joe La Puma, Marcus Troy et. al. show their faces getting special invites for whatever the Madbury Club is offering. We'll probably get more word as to what the madness behind the Madbury Club is in the coming weeks. Maybe by then I'll have come up with enough explanations for what exactly it is. Check the video out...
