Eye Candy: Wrangler Blue Bell FW 2010 Lookbook

The Wrangler Blue Bell FW 2010 collection is a slightly darker (both in mood and color) take on mid-20th-century Americana of the non-preppy variety. Think rockabilly and motorcycles as opposed to cardigans and khakis (no hate!). Dark denim is paired with plaids, some wool pieces, and one very nice looking leather bomber for a package that’s pretty successful on the whole.

While there are a couple of missteps (namely in the overprocessed jeans department), I’m a fan of most of the offerings, and the collection shines when the Wrangler folks have the good sense to keep things simple.

And it kind of goes without saying, but: I want that jacket.

Some more shots:

Blue Bell is, sadly, a Europe-only endeavor. When will American denim giants like Lee and Wrangler realize that there’s a whole contingent of people in the US that love their overseas lines, despite the…ahem…issues with the local varietal?

Oh well. At least I can give you the heads up that Cultizm has stocked Blue Bell before, and may be a decent spot to look for the new stuff.

For now, go check out the website. It’s highly interactive, and honestly just a fucking blast to play around with. Also, more in-depth looks at the clothes. There’s that, too.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Wrangler Europe, and thanks to Hypebeast for putting this on my radar)

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Black And Tanned: Act I

Let’s start with an appetizer. An image that’s informed the collective concept of the leather jacket for decades, and with damn good reason:

Just take a look at Marlon there. Cool as hell in his Perfecto, and doubtless an icon of American style.

And yet, in the current climate, there are very few vehicles out there on the web right now that pay any real attention to leather jackets for men. Some spots like Selectism, GQ, and Hypebeast cover leathers, but within the context of menswear or streetwear in general. And, even by their own admission, most approach the subject rarely.

I find this somewhat shocking. To me, the leather jacket is an object of fascination and (I’ll admit it) obsession. I currently own 9 (NINE!), and I’d have twenty more if it weren’t for all that pesky money they so often bleed out of my bank account.  I feel an affinity for them that I can’t even explain fully. Perhaps, with time, I’ll get to that answer here.

But for the time being, this blog will serve as my humble attempt to fill a tragic gap in the conversation surrounding men’s clothing and style.  My aim is to center the writing here around leather jackets and leather goods, while maintaining a more general focus on men’s style in the context of these pieces.

I’ll take a look at pieces (like a great pair of jeans or boots) that compliment the leather jacket, as well as the jacket itself. I’ll probably digress from time to time, but rest assured, I will do so only with the best of intentions. And always, I will keep the core purpose of this blog in mind: to create a forum where leather jackets can get the attention they deserve.

SO: Welcome to Black and Tanned. The name refers to tanning (the process of making leather), to black (the color of the iconic Perfecto jacket), to a damn fine beer concoction (and don’t we all love beer) and to whatever else you’d like it to.  The blog is Act I, and you’ll see new content consistently in the days and months and years to come. Please feel free to contact me, comment, rant and rave, and just get in on the conversation.  We’ll see where Act II takes us when we get there..

For now:  Thanks for reading, and see you tomorrow.

—Jonathan

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