The look: Saturday Night Fever meets The Great Gatsby, by way of Kermit the Frog. The source: the 1977 JC Penney catalog, which was recently unearthed by 15 Minute Lunch. (Blogger Johnny Virgil found it in his wife's grandfather's attic.) It's worth a click for the terry jumpsuit alone (seriously).
And for more menswear mishaps, check out GQ Regrets.
One of which belongs to Kate Moss, who adorns the cover of Albert Watson. The new monograph includes 117 images from the photographer's 38-year career, during which he has shot heavyweights both literal (Hitchcock, holding a dead goose) and really literal (Mike Tyson, though only the back of his head). And then there are the photos where you can really appreciate Watson's technique: i.e., his pics of scantily clad supermodels like Gisele, Naomi, and, of course, the aforementioned Ms. Moss.
Albert Watson, text by James Crump, $39.95, phaidon.com
Pardon the self-promotion, but you can see how RZA—yes, that RZA—fares against a 16-year-old chess prodigy in our newly posted Obsessives video.
Swimwear guru Tomas Maier's long-awaited Palm Beach boutique has finally opened its doors. The 2,000-square-foot shop (the designer's second) houses both Maier's own resort collection as well as pieces from Marni, Azzedine Alaia, and, of course, Bottega Veneta (for whom, you may have heard, Maier does a little design work). The space itself is notable as well: A neo-Spanish landmark, it was the onetime design studio of the city's famed architect Addison Mizner. Tomas Maier Palm Beach, 38 Via Mizner, (561) 650-1221, tomasmaier.com
This weekend marks your last chance to buy Iggy Pop's tambourine, Ryan Adams' guitar, or one of five other pieces of rock 'n' roll memorabilia at an auction produced by noted CBGB fan John Varvatos. Proceeds go to VH1's Save the Music campaign. Want to help the cause without shelling out for a high-end guitar? Pick up one of these Varvatos ties, on sale now at Bloomingdale's.
The John Varvatos Star USA tie, $98, available at Bloomingdale's nationwide, bloomingdales.com; Bloomingdale's and Varvatos Rocks Auction, through 5 p.m. tomorrow, vh1auctions.com
We got the chance to take a sip of that 55-year-old Macallan we mentioned Wednesday, and—big surprise—it's quite tasty. More shocking (to Macallan aficionados, anyway): The whisky has a smoky character. Because it was distilled just after World War II—when fossil fuels were going to military use—the whisky was fired with peat, which sets it apart from anything else Macallan has made since. Whether or not that makes the stuff worth $12,000 we'll leave up to you.
Those interested in the "awesome right-now relationship between graphic design and fashion" may find themselves drawn to the debut issue of Oakazine, published by Brooklyn retailer Oak and source of the aforementioned quote. Check it out online here, or in person at the launch party tonight at K&M in Brooklyn. Just remember that what happens in Williamsburg...probably ends up on some hipster's blog.
Oakazine launch party at K&M, 225 North 8th St., Brooklyn, RSVP to service@oaknyc.com, oaknyc.com
The BBC reports that thousands of Brits queued up in the rain to get their hands on the iPhone—remember that thing?—which went on sale today in the UK. No word on when exactly Steve Jobs plans to suddenly drop the price by 200 quid.
With no funny accents, no cutesy folk songs, and no bowling hippies, No Country for Old Men is the Coens' first smirk-free movie since Miller's Crossing. (In case you couldn't guess, we're calling that a good thing.) Also out: Redford and Cruise's Lions for Lambs, which—true to form—is roughly 40 percent as good as it really ought to be.
New Ferragamo watches not doing it for you? Consider Audemars Piguet's new Shaquille O'Neal chronograph. Other than a bit of bling—that bezel's set with 32 brilliant-cut diamonds—it's a standard Royal Oak Offshore. Well, with one other tweak: a black-and-red color scheme based on Shaq's current employer, the Miami Heat.
Besides a great head of hair, that is. Expect to see both at January's Pitti Uomo trade show in Florence. Bruno Cucinelli, of course, is a fixture at the Florence trade show, while Kimmel, organizers just announced, will be there in a special "guest designer" role. Consider it one more sign that the current generation of American menswear designers is up to something worthwhile.
The Queen wasn't the first time Stephen Frears managed to make gripping cinema out of a pretty parochial topic (to Yankee eyes, anyway): The Deal, its 2003 precursor, concerns the tangled relationship between former Brit prime minister Tony Blair (The Queen's Michael Sheen) and the current PM, Gordon Brown (David Morrissey). No offense to Her Majesty—who, we hear, is a pretty nice girl—but the first flick may even be more engaging. It makes its U.S. debut tonight on HBO.
The Wall is back. No, not the Pink Floyd record (which, sadly, never really went away)—the 1973 Forrest Myers mural at the intersection of Broadway and Houston in NYC. The giant blue-painted installation was pulled down five years ago during a legal dispute, but it was recently put back up. (One story higher, actually, so the building's owners could use the space below for billboards.) To check out recent (and ad-free) examples of Myers' work, stop by his eponymous show, which opened today at Friedman Benda gallery in New York.
Through Dec. 20, Friedman Benda, 515 W. 26th St., (212) 239-8700, friedmanbenda.com
With its just announced line of timepieces, the label is betting that at least a few people will answer in the affirmative. The standout of the collection is this automatic chrono, which sports a Swiss-made Valjoux 7750 caliber movement (which also powers timepieces from Tag Heuer, Breitling, Montblanc, and others) and comes with a choice of bezel (gold or silver), dial (black, silver, or champagne), and strap (stainless steel or alligator).
Salvatore watch collection, $1,200-$7,300, available in December from Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques worldwide, salvatoreferragamo.it
Apparently, men used to wear silver and copper cups on their belts when they went drinking—sort of a BYO-shot glass system. We're still waiting for that trend to come back, but until then these handblown shot glasses—inspired by said cups of yore—should suffice. The set of six is created by Yoko Devereaux and DFC Casa (who also make a stylish decanter) and called the Science Series Bullet. Guess they're taking the whole shot thing literally.
Science Series Bullet, $455, available at the Future Perfect, 115 N. Sixth St., Brooklyn, (718) 599-6278, thefutureperfect.com
[NYT]
Following the news of his collaboration with Eastpak comes a report that the Belgian designer may have partnered again—this time with Fred Perry. The good news: It's reputed to be a full-on menswear collection, not just accessories. The bad news: The line wouldn't be out until Fall '08, if ever—neither side would confirm the rumor. You'll know more as soon as we do.
[WWD]
Meet Haight-Ashbury's newest resident: VASF, the first full-fledged store from streetwear brand RVCA (we asked, and both acronyms stand for nothing). Such blatant disregard for linguistic decorum seems only natural for a label known for its art-world connections, which have led to the creation of a sweatshirt for Deitch Projects and a Jean-Michel Basquiat sneaker with Reebok. The 4,000-square-foot store, opening today, is plenty artist-friendly: Window displays are by Ed Templeton and Clare Rojas, and the space includes a gallery. (Its first show is called Family Matters and features work by Craig Stecyk and Phil Frost). A curated collection of books, magazines, DVDs, and music will also be on offer (something tells us the selections will be more LES—that stands for Lower East Side—than Haight). Can't make it to San Fran? Locations are planned for L.A., New York, Tokyo, and Sydney.
VASF, 1485 Haight St., San Francisco, (415) 701-7822, rvcaclothing.com. Opening reception Nov. 8, 7-11 p.m. Family Matters runs from Nov. 8-Dec. 31.
Alan Licht's new history of experimental music, Sound Art, may well be a fascinating read, but we've been too busy listening to the accompanying CD, which features rare recordings by seminal avant-garde composers like Bill Fontana, Anthony Burr and Charles Curtis, and Destroy All Monsters, to find out. Whether you read, listen, or both, it's a better way to relive the sixties than Tom Brokaw's Boom!—or as it was originally titled, The Not-So-Greatest Generation.
Today in unnecessary collaborations: Behold the new Gap-themed Vespa and (even less explicably, though slightly more purchase-worthy) the new BoingBoing.net-themed hoodie.
[Gap]
[BoingBoing]
Finally, a blazer to go with your gold-fiber-bedecked Canali tie: Come January, Italian label Luigi Bianchi Mantova plans to introduce the Golden Jacket, left, which easily makes those pricey Canali cravats look downright modest. And like the ties, the cashmere and gold blazer is much more wearable than you'd expect (though that may simply be a function of one's expectations). So how much will it set you back? Twelve grand, or the price of a good bottle of scotch.
Luigi Bianchi Mantova Golden Jacket, $12,000, available in January from Burdi, 58 E. Walton, Chicago, (312) 642-9166
We've just published the 10 Essentials of the brothers behind Barker Black, and if it takes a little crass self-promotion to get you to check the story out, so be it.
With the word that Wall Street bonuses might be down as much as 15 percent this year, the release of the Macallan's new single-malt—a 55-year-old that comes in a crystal Lalique decanter, has a limited run of 420 bottles, and costs $12,000—might seem a little ill-timed, but look at it this way: There's never been a better time to pour yourself a nice drink. And besides, a gazillion minus 15 percent is still a lot of cash, right?
MORE: See our Scotch Hotlist.
A mere two years after it was announced, the Ghostface Killah doll is finally available for purchase. The nine-inch, velvet-robed toy utters four of the Wu-Tang Clan member's lyrics ("Ghostface, Ghostface," being the most family-friendly). Only 1,000 of the little rappers will be made, but you can read about its adventures here.
The Ghostface Doll, $500, theghostfacedoll.com
[Pitchfork]
After introducing its more fashion-forward European line to the U.S. earlier this season, Woolrich has teamed up with Red Wing for another export-turned-import. Part of Red Wing's previously Euro-only Heritage Collection, the new Lumberjack boot, which features a swath of traditional Woolrich plaid, combines style and function in a way that can only be described as, well, American.
And there's more: Timberland is bringing its Timberland Boot Company brand stateside for winter. Like the aforementioned lines, the three-year-old collection was only available overseas and, like the aforementioned lines, is way cooler than the stuff sold here. Now if only we could get our hands on one of those European-only cell phones.
Red Wing Heritage Collection Lumberjacks, $210, redwingcasuals.com; Timberland Boot Company, $225-$300, timberlandbootcompany.com
Worried your iPod is making you deaf? Try a pair of AirDrives. Out this week, they're actually approved for long-term listening by the workplace safety experts at OSHA. That's thanks to their unique over-the-ear structure, which transfers sound directly via your cartilage rather than through your fragile eardrums. Sure, it sounds a little...unnatural, but the things do sound surprisingly good. And reasonably loud: Sound tops out at 80 decibels—good enough for serious rocking out, though well below the level that'll turn you into another Pete Townshend (minus, of course, the whole playing-in-front-of-Keith Moon excuse).
InAir AirDrives, $100; airdrives.com
If you only buy one painted-enamel snuffbox this year, make it this one. Dating to 1830, a pre-Internet era where men shared their porn after dinner over cigars and brandy (uh, it sounds innocuous enough), the piece goes on sale later this month at Bonhams—and could be yours for just an estimated $80,000.
Nov. 20 at Bonhams, Montpelier St., Knightsbridge, London, 44-0-207-393-3900, bonhams.com
Yep, it's Sigur Ros' Hvar/Heim. Okay, not really, though the Icelandic band's latest is as chilly as Denzel's titular tough guy in American Gangster. As for the new Gangster-inspired Jay-Z record, it doesn't disappoint. Also nondisappointing: The unexpectedly amusing first season of HBO's Flight of the Conchords, out today on DVD (our favorite bit: Rhys Darby's loopy turn as Murray, the New Zealand attaché-slash–band manager). Finally, former Sleater-Kinney guitarist Carrie Brownstein (herself no stranger to comedy) has started a music blog for NPR. So far, at least, it's a cliché only in concept, not execution.
A wine blogger and a "sustainability metrics specialist"—now there's a job that didn't exist five minutes ago—have gone and tracked the greenhouse gas emissions involved in wine distribution. The results: If you live east of the line displayed above, French wines actually have a lighter carbon footprint than those trucked over from California, with bigger bottles deemed most environmentally friendly. In other words, it's a wonderful way to justify that magnum of Petrus to the folks in accounting.
PLUS: For a few less-sustainable drinking recommendations, check out our Hotlist of expense-account wines.
[TreeHugger]
Despite the city's reputation for tiny spaces, Armani's new Tokyo megastore is a monster: The 12-story Ginza location is the tallest retail outlet in the neighborhood, boasts 65,000 square feet of space, and cost $20 million to build. Inside you'll find an Armani Casa shop (the city's first), a Privé bar, an Italian restaurant, and even a spa,—an Armani first. Also available: clothes. [WWD]
Although he made his name with Mexican cuisine in restaurants from New York to Dubai, Chef Ricardo Sandoval is only now opening his first outpost back home. Debuting this week (three years after its New York predecessor), Pampano Mexico City offers new confections like sliced salmon over pickled vegetables with chive oil and papalo (a Mexican herb), miso- and chipotle-glazed salmon with grilled asparagus, and tostones de costilla, a dish with short ribs, shredded beef, and plantains. Despite his track record, Pampano feels queasy about facing his "harshest critics yet—the Mexican people." Something tells us he'll be fine, though his worries are far from over: In December, the chef takes over his family's Acapulco eatery, Madieras, where he got his start three decades ago.
Pampano, Moliere 42, Colonia Polanco, Mexico City, 011-52-55-52812-010, modernmexican.com
The white surface most snowboards seem designed for these days? Gallery walls. The latest example in the trend is the new Artist Collection by D.C.-based Monument, which features designs by artists like Maya Hayuk, Peter Beste, and Donny Miller (who did the neo-noir deck at left). The project was the brainchild of art director Chris Glancy, who first brought art to Monument two years ago when he asked Surface 2 Air to design a board. (Ben Frost, Craig Costello, and Brendan Donnelly are lined up for next year's collection.) As you can see, the results are pretty cool, no matter how you choose to mount them.
Monument Artist Series, $349-$459, monumentsnowboards.com
Another nail in the coffin of the compact disc: In December, EMI will release Radiohead's entire back catalog (including digital artwork) on a single USB stick (in CD-quality Wav format). Music will also be available for download and on CD.
About $165, radioheadstore.com
We've heard salesmen at Brooks Brothers' Madison Avenue flagship talk about the "Black Fleece customer" as a separate breed, so it makes perfect sense that Brooks Brothers CEO Claudio Del Vecchio would ponder separate retail locations for the more fashion-forward line. "I'm convinced that it can be its own location," Del Vecchio tells DNR, adding, "there are certain cities where it will work." No word on what those might be, but we'll keep you posted.
While he was at it, Del Vecchio reminded the world that Black Fleece and Thom Browne aren't necessarily synonymous. "The attraction will be Black Fleece," he says. "It doesn't have to be Thom Browne, it can be another guest designer." Hey, Claudio, we know this dude out on Long Island named Helmut who'd be perfect….
[DNR]
Google is expected to announce today that it will be developing open-source software for cell phones. What it could mean for you: high-def video, hyper-personalized content, and simple music and video sharing, coming to your mobile as soon as next year.
PLUS: Andy Rubin, one of the guys working on the Google Phone (possible release: middle of '08), has a robotic doorbell and looks a lot like Buster Bluth.
[WSJ]
The designer (who, in case you hadn't noticed, likes the rock music) is hoping to open a store in the 3,300-square-foot space next spring. Among its possible features are a stage for in-store performances, a special "315 Bowery" collection, and a selection of clothes geared to the "rock and roll customer." As for actual rock and roll musicians, Varvatos promises to put some of the store's proceeds toward an artist development fund.
Given how frequently it's worked with brands like Acne and Opening Ceremony, you could be forgiven for thinking that Tretorn was Swedish for "collaboration." But judging by the brand's first-ever menswear collection, the century-old Scandinavian company is perfectly capable of making clothes on its own. Debuting this fall, Kläder (Swedish for, yes, "clothing") features low-key, intelligent apparel in muted colors, like the Trisvam Rand (a subdued merino wool sweater) and the Cykel (a canvas pant—guess the country's penchant for wacky product names doesn't end with Ikea). "It's meant to appeal to the well-rounded male," says brand rep Antonio Bertone, "the kind of guy who likes to fix things." Including, presumably, the holes in his wardrobe.
Tretorn Kläder, available now at Louis, 234 Berkeley St., Boston, (617) 262-6100; and in mid-November at Hus New York, 11 Christopher St., NYC, (212) 620-5430; and at tretorn.com
