Eye Candy: Band of Outsiders Fall 2010 Lookbook

OK first off: Yes. I realize that every blogger and his (or her) mother has posted or will post something on the new Band of Outsiders lookbook for Fall 2010. But in my defense:

1. The clothing looks great, and the styling is pretty on-point
2. Polaroids are awesome
3. The star of the show, Andrew Garfield, is gonna be motherfuckin’ Spiderman in an upcoming reboot of the movie franchise. And despite the fact that Spiderman 3 was an enormous ball of suck, I’m still excited that they’re giving it another go

So yeah, it’s ubiquitous. But I dig it just the same. So I’m reposting a series of my favorite shots of the soon-to-be Petey Parker rocking some very nice (if undoubtedly pricey) duds.

In terms of specific pieces, the shearling toggle coat is a damn fine offering:And like I said, I’m excited for the Spiderman reboot. So I couldn’t help pulling a couple shots of Andrew Garfield in Spidey mode. Dude is clearly made for web-slinging.

You can check out BoO’s blog for more shots.

That’s all for now, kids.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Band of Outsiders)

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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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Eye Candy: Dana Lee FW 2010 Lookbook

New York based (but Canada born) menswear designer Dana Lee‘s FW 2010 lookbook has an ethereal feel to it that’s an interesting offset to the relatively timeless pieces being showcased. The photos were shot and manipulated to mimic the look of portraiture from days long past, which is what’s giving me this sense of the whole thing being suspended in time (I think).

But rest assured! These pieces are not rotting away in the attics and basements of our collective great-grandparents. Quite the opposite, in fact, as they’re sure to be hitting shelves pretty soon.

Muted colors, simple and flattering cuts, and an altogether classic vibe means that regardless of trends, you’ll be able to wear these pieces for years to come and still look decidedly put-together. So maybe someday an aged photo of yours will call to mind the same strange faux-nostalgic/can’t-place-the-time-frame feeling this lookbook is giving me.

On to the shots!

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Hypebeast and Dana Lee)

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Eye Candy: Roark Collective FW 2010 Lookbook

LA-based label Roark Collective is a brand new player on the scene, and these shots are from their debut FW 2010 collection. It’s a strong showing regardless, but especially impressive for a new line.

The feel of the whole thing has some of that “post-apocalyptic street urchin” vibe that I go for sometimes, but it also looks to be wearable for actual people. Maybe not for your Average Joe, but at least something that a relatively fashion-forward guy can wear out of the house without looking like he’s doing some sort of crazy cosplay thing.

The look above is my favorite from their lookbook. While it’d definitely raise a few eyebrows, it doesn’t strike me as something that would get any wholehearted “what the fuck?” stares. (I’d even go so far as to say it’d be a lot easier to pull off than the hyper-preppy Go-To-Hell look on the opposite side of the menswear spectrum.)

There are definitely a couple pieces/looks that are pretty out there, but on the whole, the collection isn’t insane. Basically it’s pushing the envelope without tearing it to shreds, which is something I really dig.

More looks:

My recommendation? Add a shirt if you decide to try this look…

One of the aforementioned “out there” pieces

They kinda nailed it on the staging here, too. Appropriately urban-blight-y.

Check out Roark Collective’s website for a very cool promo video, too.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Roark Collective, and found via Adam Christopher)

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Eye Candy: Gant Rugger F/W 10 Preview – My Top 5

Yeah, I’m on a Gant Rugger kick lately. But you can’t tell me this stuff doesn’t deserve some love. That jacket in the look above? Killer. My favorite piece from the entire lookbook.  And I’m really glad that they opted to leave the contrasting stripes on the cuffs/hem/collar off of this iteration of the varsity jacket. Keeps the whole feel of the piece much more clean and streamlined.

You can check out the entire collection of lookbook images at Prepidemic. And for the Sartorially Inclined take on things, just pop on over here. Basic gist of their coverage? With Christopher Bastin at the helm, Gant Rugger nailed it on this one. I’m inclined to agree.

Since there’s already decent coverage of the lookbook as a whole, I’m just going to present my personal Top 5. Top marks, far and away, go to the picture above. The remaining four follow.

There you have it, folks. Now if August would just hurry the hell up and get here so I can score that maroon/cream varsity…

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Gant Rugger, via Prepidemic)

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Eye Candy: Penelope’s Fall 2009 Lookbook

I was reading this post on the Fall 2009 Lookbook for Chicago boutique Penelope’s over at all plaidout, and I couldn’t help myself. I needed to get these great photos up over here.

A brief primer: Penelope’s is the creation of husband and wife team Joe Lauer and Jena Frey. They sum up their story quite well on their site:

Penelope’s opened in 2002 in the Ukrainian Village/Wicker Park area of Chicago with the aim of bringing some of our favorite young and under-represented designers to the neighborhood. We feature clothing and accessories for men and women as well as a selection of housewares and gift items. Our style is sophisticated yet fun, with an emphasis on clean lines, great colors, and contemporary takes on classic shapes and designs.

The lookbook for the past fall shows a couple (not Joe and Jena) on a weekend away, and it does a fantastic job of representing the store’s stylistic philosophy.

And now I desperately want to leave the city and take a weekend (or a week…or two) at a cabin on a lake.

Hit up all plaidout for more great content. And if you’re inspired by the style in these shots (I know I am), head over to Penelope’s fantastic online shop to check out their wares.

—Jonathan

(All images courtesy of Penelope’s, via all plaidout, and shot by David Robert Elliot)

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