Fall's hottest comeback? Believe it or not: the briefcase. We've spotted both hard-siders and gusseted versions in the clutches of downtown hipster types, not to mention in the more moneyed hands of our friends on Wall Street. (Then again, did those guys ever stop carrying them?) But more importantly, we've seen them being lugged around by, well, guys like us. The appeal's not hard to understand: Attaché cases offer a grown-up style that you can't get from a messenger bag or backpack. And they match the return of Eisenhower-era fashion as seen in Mad Men or Thom Browne's collections—the designer even showed this Swarovski crystal-enhanced version for fall. And while that's (regrettably or perhaps thankfully) not for sale, we found a number of covetable alternatives at that ever-trendy vintage store: eBay.

Plus: Judging by Alexis Petridis' column in The Guardian this weekend, some of our friends across the pond are hoping the comeback travels there soon.

Todd Haynes' nutty Dylan biopic finally lands in theaters today. As you might have heard, six actors play Bob, including Cate Blanchett and her jacket. Hey, it's gotta be better than Masked and Anonymous—not to mention the rest of this week's family-film-heavy lineup.

A low crime rate and socialized medicine were just the start. Our northern neighbors have just come up with another quality-of-life enhancement: great desktop speakers. The Audiobyte system is the first PC-ready offering from Axiom, a 25-year-old Dwight, Ontario, brand that has recently earned south-of-the-border raves for its home-theater sound systems. Despite the speakers' diminutive stature—five inches tall by five inches wide—they offer a powerful 55 watts per channel, augmented by an optional subwoofer that's probably best skipped if you live in a top-floor apartment. (The set also includes a clever USB port for charging your iPod as it plays, but unfortunately not even these speakers can make MP3s sound good.) Available in three display-worthy finish options (matte, high-gloss, and lacquered walnut), the Audiobyte starts shipping this week. As for decent, affordable health care coverage: Whatever you may have heard on the campaign trail, that's not currently slated for U.S. release.
Axiom Audiobyte, shipping now, $349 (matte), $399 (high-gloss), $559 (lacquered walnut); optional subwoofer, $179; axiomaudio.com

Here we present a very young and very nervous Steve Martin bringing his own brand of magic to the giggling audience of The Smothers Brothers Variety Hour. His new memoir, Born Standing Up, is out this week—what's that saying about magicians and secrets?

Until then, Sebastian Bach's new solo album will have to suffice. Angel Down includes two duets with Axl Rose: the Aerosmith cover "Back in the Saddle," and new tune "(Love Is) a Bitchslap." (You can sample that last gem on Bach's MySpace page.) Also out today are two reissues worth noting: the Gorillaz' outtakes collection D-Sides, and U2's The Joshua Tree: Deluxe Edition, which includes a DVD of the band's 1987 concert in Paris. The singer has quite a voice—whatever happened to that guy?

Fashion and fast cars were honored at last night's "Luxury Oscars," awarded by the Walpole Group of British luxury brands at the Banqueting House on London's Trafalgar Square. (Yes, they give awards for everything these days.) Marc Jacobs won for International Luxury brand, and Formula One prodigy Lewis Hamilton scored for Sporting Excellence, but the real buzz was for Medal of Excellence honoree Daniel Craig. (He was joining the company of past winners like Ian McKellen, Gordon Ramsay, and J.K. Rowling.) The audience gasped when—despite having his name written in boldface on the invitation—it was announced Mr. Bond hadn't bothered to show up. Still, you gotta hand it to the guy: Even in absentia, he stole the show. (Maybe he was too busy celebrating another honor: Being named one of GQ's Men of the Year.)

Just nine months before the Olympics, France's Accor hotel chain has opened the Sofitel Wanda in Beijing. The place has such capitalist-friendly accoutrements as a restaurant by Paris-based Michelin three-star restaurant Lenôtre and (of course) flat-screen TVs in the bathroom. (All of which should make the new French president feel at home when he stays here next week.) The hotel kicks off the company's $2.5 billion (with a "b") rebranding campaign, which includes closing 60 hotels and restoring dozens more into either heritage properties or boutiques. Insert "going for the gold" reference here.

[Globerati]

Todd Lappin of Telstar Logistics has dug up a very cool forties-era navy manual, Flight Thru Instruments. The artwork was designed by the General Motors graphic engineering staff, led by Harley Earl—the guy who created the first-ever automotive tailfin for the 1948 Cadillac. As Lappin points out, the book is a "sneak peek" at Earl's automotive designs, but what's more, it can help you fly a plane in bad weather.

[Telstar Logistics via BoingBoing]

As the city gears up for next month's orgy of partying, commercialism, and oh, yeah, art, two new crash pads are jostling for reservations from the Miami Basel hordes. First, there's Angler's Resort. Though it has been designed by Wallace Tutt, who did Gianni Versace's Ocean Drive manse back in the day, the hotel forsakes neo-Italian opulence for a fishing-in-the-Florida-Keys vibe. Tucked away off the oceanfront, the accommodations sprawl across four low-slung villas, hidden behind leafy gardens with rooftop decks and—what else?—outdoor showers.

The place has serious competition, though, from the KOR hotel group's revamped Tides, above. The iconic building has always had some of the largest rooms on Ocean Drive; now it has bold decor to match. Designer Kelly Wearstler—who (in what we assume is a coincidence) is married to KOR CEO Brad Korzen—seems to have taken inspiration from The Mummy Returns: While the rooms themselves are relatively subdued, the public spaces have a 1930s, Cairo-by-the-Sea feel, complete with caryatids flanking the front door. What, you were expecting restraint from the woman who judged the last season of Top Design?
Angler's Resort, doubles from $250, 660 Washington Ave., South Beach, Miami, (305) 534-9600, theanglersresort.com; The Tides, doubles from $545, 1220 Ocean Drive, (800) 439-4095, korhotelgroup.com

Hearts of Darkness, which documents Francis Ford Coppola's battle with studio execs, Marlon Brando, and his own sanity while making Apocalypse Now, makes its long-overdue DVD debut this week (seems anything to do with Apocalypse has a habit of getting delayed). Much of the audio—including the director's sometimes suicidal ramblings—was secretly recorded by his wife, Eleanor. (Somehow, the two are still together.)

Also out: Werner Herzog's relatively down-to-earth 'Nam pic Rescue Dawn; Kurt Cobain's eerie near-final show, Nirvana: Unplugged in New York; and the font-tastic documentary Helvetica.

Think of legendary Hollywood bad boy Robert Evans, and the first thing that comes to mind is… eyewear. Okay, maybe that's not the first thing, but it's doubtful the Godfather producer would be quite so iconic without his signature specs. That's why it's fitting Evans has designed a new pair of glasses for Oliver Peoples. The resulting plastic frames, shipping this week, can be worn as shades or eyeglasses and boast a straight top, boxy shape, and—in suitably raffish fashion—a little extra width at the temples. The Peoples brand is celebrating its 20th anniversary, so it makes sense to team up with the guy who did for nearsightedness what his buddy Jack Nicholson did for balding—namely, made it sexy. We assume the Robert Evans for Christofle miniature gold spoon will be coming next year.
Robert Evans for Oliver Peoples, $465, available at all Oliver Peoples locations, oliverpeoples.com

Given the brand's ideal audience—i.e., guys who "fix things"—it's ironic that Tretorn is making its retail debut in a city known for being broken. That's right, the Swedish label is opening an 800-square-foot shop today in Washington, D.C. Located in Georgetown, where the line's preppy leanings seem likely to find a following, the store includes the company's full line of sneaks, menswear, and boots. The wares are laid out inside specially made mod-style wooden boxes, which are shaped to resemble the Swedish flag. Talk about, ahem, displays of patriotism....
Tretorn Shop, 1237 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, D.C., (202) 944-9870, tretorn.com

Meet the Smart Closet. Invented by researchers at the University of South Australia (which apparently exists), the device tracks your wardrobe choices via tiny electronic monitors sewn into your clothes. It then uses that info to suggest what to wear the next day. Frankly, we felt a little threatened by the news—but fortunately it's still a prototype, with no plans for commercial production. At least not yet.

[Business Edge via Engadget]

The Economist—that old bastion of coffee trend news—recently ran a story about the Clover, a slow, expensive, and complicated new coffee machine—in other words, the perfect machine for the four-bucks-a-cup crowd. Basically the device allows coffeemakers a more hands-on approach to brewing specialty beans, which has made it popular with niche shops like San Fran's Ritual. And while the resulting cups o' joe ain't cheap, try bringing the Clover home: It costs $11,000. [The Economist]

Of course you do. But that didn't stop the Times from indulging producer Brian Grazer's complaints about his supposed anonymity. "Despite Mr. Grazer's enormous success in the movie business," the Paper of Record reports, "his public profile remains relatively slight when compared with his Hollywood peers." Yeah, so slight that he guest-starred as himself on The Simpsons (in 1998, no less). Can Jerry Bruckheimer say that? No, he cannot.

Elsewhere, the Gray Lady reports that the Vice boys have been getting Viacom to fund their online video site, VBS.com. In exchange, MTV Networks can show the content on any of its channels. So is Viacom classing up the rowdy mag, or is Vice besmirching Sumner Redstone's good name? Find out Saturday, when MTV2 airs the first American VBS special.

[NYT]

...until A.P.C. opens in Williamsburg. Jan. 11 is now the official launch date for hipsterdom's equivalent of a total eclipse. Dubbed A.P.C. Surplus, the long-delayed shop will carry customized vintage military pieces, discounted items from past seasons, and, of course, the line's signature denim products—in other words, everything you'll need to blend in with the neighborhood.

Can't wait that long? Stop by one of the French outfitter's existing locations, where this week the brand will launch its first-ever winter madras collection. (File under "Things we didn't know we needed.") So is it, you know, any different from the summer version? Kind of—the shirts (above) are made from heavier cottons and linens, and feature muted colors and patterns. Created in India with British-Jamaican designer Jessica Ogden, the collection is called Madras 4.5—perhaps Monsieur Touitou is taking his nomenclature cues from the software industry.
A.P.C. Surplus, 33 Grand St., Brooklyn; A.P.C. Winter Madras 4.5, available this week through May 2008 at A.P.C., 131 Mercer St., New York, (212) 966-9685; A.P.C., 619 North Croft Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 297-0414, and apc.fr