It's not as easy as it should be to find a decent umbrella, so we were happy to stumble on the Norwegian-designed SWIMS Automatic Classic. It's reserved enough not to embarrass you, but its modern touches give it a bit of flair (it comes in yellow/black and gray/black, too). Plus, the well-made brolly won't invert in a spring breeze, and it closes by itself at the touch of a button—so you can keep your dignity and your briefcase in hand when you come in from the storm.

"Going green" is the only way to go these days when it comes to cars, as a stroll through the New York Auto Show—opening to the public today—will reaffirm. And just to make damn sure everyone knows that your big, honking, fossil-fuel-swilling SUV is not as badass as it looks, Cadillac has given its new hybrid Escalade a big, honking badge of honor to wear on its shoulders. Unofficial measurements (yeah, I eyeballed it) put this sucker at close to a foot across—how's that for well-hung?

Nxt Skincare for Men isn't just too cool for vowels—the brand's bottles light up when they sense a vibration. It's awesome, as you can see in our video below. And be sure to stick around for the big finish.

Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, the brains behind HBO's legendary absurdist sketch series Mr. Show, are returning to the cable network after a ten-year hiatus with a new situation comedy called—wait for it—David's Situation. It starts shooting in May, and the setup has Cross, starring as himself, moving from Hollywood to a suburban neighborhood, where he bunks up with a right-wing conservative roommate and a liberal hippie one. If the concept sounds a bit weak, just remember what these guys did last time around with what are typically the five lamest words in TV: "late-night comedy sketch show."

You know that all-is-right-with-the-world glow you get when you stumble across a sharp-looking blazer that just so happens to fit perfectly and fall within your budget? Must be nice. While most guys are able to waltz into a men's shop—whether it's Jil Sander or J.Crew—throw on a cool new jacket, throw down some plastic, and go back to their daily grind of not hitting their head on shit, I'm stuck shopping at those few places that sell extra-long sizes. (What, you're surprised that waif-loving Raf Simons doesn't design with the 6'5" man in mind?) Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about being tall—I was complaining. What's changed is a quasi-new line of suits and blazers from Brooks Brothers. No, not Black Fleece. I'm talking about Brooks' Regent 1818 collection. Traditional in detailing and rigorous in tailoring, Regent pieces (like the navy blazer I picked up last fall, left) are a welcome sign that Thom Browne's mini collection isn't the brand's only attempt to appeal to guys who can still see their toes in the shower. Besides fitting well, Regent suits and sportcoats are made of exceptionally nice materials; my blazer's wool/cashmere "Saxxon" blend is extraordinarily supple, especially its retail price of $648. Even better, for all you non-freakishly-tall guys, the clothes come in normal sizes, too.

Today and tomorrow afternoon, Barneys New York customers in Manhattan can get their Band of Outsiders suits made to measure by legendary tailor Martin Greenfield, who has been supplying hand-tailored garments to elite retailers and personages (several former presidents are customers) for more than six decades. "Scott [Sternberg] works harder than any designer I've ever met," says Greenfield. (He should know—he's also been piecing together all of Band of Outsiders' off-the-rack suiting—with Sternberg's signature shirt lining and vintage wools—since the former CAA agent broke into tailored wear. "He's a very talented guy, he's very quality-conscious, and quality is the key to everything you do." Can't make it? Greenfield will be hitting the store's L.A. outpost next month.
Band of Outsiders Made-to-Measure with Martin Greenfield, today and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., Barneys New York, 660 Madison Ave., 3rd floor, (212) 450-2107, and April 17, 1 to 5 p.m. at Barneys Beverly Hills, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., 4th floor, (310) 276-5535. Suits, $2,400 to $3,000; schoolboy blazers, $1,900 to $2,300; regular blazers, $1,900 to $2,300; trousers, $600 to $1,000; prices may vary with fabric selection

As you may have noticed, there's a virtually unlimited supply of limited-edition sneakers on the market these days. So what makes these Fall '08 Adicolor models so special? The uppers are made from Japanese selvage denim. What a concept: a collectible sneaker that actually looks better broken-in.

To find inspiration for their clothing label's second season, Daniel Jackson and Sean Shuter turned to outdoorsmen like explorer Roald Amundsen—the first to reach the South Pole. And while the outdoorsy results aren't quite appropriate for a trip to the Antarctic, they are just as daring in spirit. Highlights include a rocker-style jean jacket with quilted lining, shirting in plaid herringbone, and coats and jackets in boiled wool. "We aim for subtle subversions of traditional looks," Jackson says. "Like dress shirting with asymmetric placket details, or an extended placket on a French Navy sweater." Something tells us Roald would approve.
Bblessing's Fall/Winter 2008, $175 to $220 for denim and shirting and $450 to $800 for outerwear, available this summer at Barneys New York, Isetan, Fred Segal, and Bblessing, 181 Orchard St., NYC, (212) 378-8005, bblessing.com

The brand's latest commercial is astonishingly simple: Basically, it's a montage of water balloons exploding at a superslow 10,000 frames per second, all set to the wistful music of British group The Cinematic Orchestra. Beautiful stuff, though we can't say it makes us particularly thirsty.

[Very Short List]

Sure, it looks like the latest piece of hardware from Kiki De Montparnasse, but this sleek test tube is actually YSL's new starchitect-designed fragrance bottle. Torre Agbar architect Jean Nouvel is the culprit, and from the looks of, it the Frenchman hasn't strayed too far from his tower-erecting formula. The limited-edition flacon is for the brand's popular Chinese-ginger-meets-citron-zest scent, L'Homme. "It's phallic, but then you turn it upside down and it's not," Nouvel said at last night's NYC launch. "I wanted it to be very ergonomic, so you can put it in your coat pocket." The longtime fisherman also included a "sparkle of light" bobber (with an iridescent YSL logo) inside, and judging from the amount of female attention it attracted, we'd call it a good catch.
L'Homme Yves Saint Laurent available this May, $79.50, at yslbeautyus.com

She might have gotten 50 mil, but the former Mrs. McCartney couldn't escape the discerning eye of The Guardian's Hadley Freeman, who offers up a nice bit of post-split style analysis today. She gets most of the style writer's rancor, but Macca gets his fair share of criticism, too, thanks in part to these clownishly oversize shoes. Whatever happened to wearing Beatle boots, Paul?

[Guardian]

For most Westerners, five-gallon "jerrycans" and old sports paraphernalia typically occupy an unused expanse of garage. But for Canadian artist Brian Jungen, they're the perfect materials for his latest art project: a new series of petroleum can sculptures, including one of a male tortoise shell (read: Mother Earth), and some Native American-style trade blankets woven from NFL and NBA jerseys (pictured). The latter will match perfectly with his earlier project: Re-creating aboriginal masks with Air Jordans.
Brian Jungen, tonight through May 3, Casey Kaplan Gallery, 525 W. 21st St., New York,  caseykaplangallery.com

Just relaunched stateside: Rhum Clément, a fresh, springy spirit from the French West Indies. Unlike most "industrial" rums, which are made from molasses (a by-product of sugar manufacturing), it's an "agricultural rum" distilled directly from pure, fresh-cut sugarcane juice. They've been making rhum agricole over in Martinique since 1887, and Creole connoisseurs are already aware of the drink's pure and somewhat earthy, peppery spirit. Rhum Clément is made in a variety of vintages, which top out at a very pricey (but very tasty) 135 bucks.
Rhum Clément V.S.O.P. - X.O., about $30-$135, rhumclement.net

New York Times resident tech geek David Pogue makes a compelling case for simplicity in today's paper, where he parses the success of the ultraminimalist Flip video recorder. Other than a camera, a battery, and some memory (one or two gigs), the thing's got no bells or whistles to speak of, yet it's Amazon's top-selling camcorder. Not that anyone should be surprised: People have been whining for years about feature creep in gadgets, and here's a company that finally went and did something about it. My friend Blake Mycoskie took his everywhere when we were in Africa last fall, and while the Flip's video quality wasn't exactly stellar, its size and quick-draw ease of use meant that he could capture moments that were gone by the time those of us with more tricked-out gear were ready to shoot.

Unless you count Tuesday night's play-in—which we don't—the NCAA basketball tournament begins today. It's a perfect excuse to revisit GQ Style Guy Glenn O'Brien going one-on-one with Dick Vitale over his list of best-dressed coaches. Included: Rick Pitino, pictured, whose third-seeded Louisville squares off against Boise State tomorrow night, and whose pants could probably use some tailoring. Click here for the full story.

Need to make a pair of great handmade shoes? Try Maine—home of Taavo Somer-faves Quoddy and where Jeffrey Kalinsky had his Bass Weejun collab produced. The latest brand to tap into the Pine Tree State's shoemaking community is Cole Haan, for its 80th anniversary handmade penny loafer (pictured). Out this August, only 2,000 are being made—seems like a low number, but beardo cobblers need to rest and fish sometime.

Not all this week's car action is happening at the New York Auto Show: Unconfirmed reports have Aston Martin putting the V-12 Vantage RS concept into production next year. Originally announced last December, the car will go from 0 to 60 in under four seconds thanks to a freaking 600-hp engine. (Supposedly a Bond-worthy 512-hp DBS Roadster is coming soon, too.) The one drawback: It'll only be available in mako blue.

[Goldarths]

Rio's new Lounge 69 in Ipanema owes its interior (but happily, not its name) to Brazilian graphic and industrial designer Muti Randolph, who has also built catwalks for Colcci, created event spaces for Diesel and Audi, and gave Galeria Melissa's Säo Paulo flagship its insane futurist aesthetic. His latest creation sports a similar look, with its morphing shape coming from strategically placed fabric flaps and mirrors, which reflect the projected lights that shift color and pattern in time to the music—all using software Randolph wrote himself. (It's like a screensaver come to life.) Dries Van Noten jacket optional, but encouraged.
Lounge 69, Rua Prudente de Moraes, 416, 69lounge.com.br, +21-3813-5751

This is one of four prefab homes (dubbed a Passive House) by Swedish house Kjellen Kaminsky Architecture. It's meant to be mostly self-heating (hence the name) thanks to its especially thick insulation. Not sure we'd want to live in one—or in Sweden, though we hear good things—but the renderings are cool and worth a gander.

[Dezeen]

For the first time, the retailer's Design Editions collection—in which it collaborates with fashion's up-and-comers—has clothes for dudes. And their choice of debut menswear designer was a smart one: Michael Bastian, pictured, who created two variations on the classic white shirt, available April 15 for 78 bucks each. And should you need a gift for your special lady, take note: Bastian also makes his first entry into womenswear with a variation on the same.

Masters of Car Design is that rare thing: a collection of car porn worth reading. Credit former AutoWeek editor Larry Edsall, who has filled the book with great bits of trivia, from the first car in MoMA's permanent collection (the 1947 Pininfarina Cisitalia) to the fact that the classically Italian 2003 Ferrari Enzo was conceived by a Japanese designer, Ken Okuyama. Still, the photos sell it, and the highlights include Alfa-Romeo's batty B.A.T. concept cars from the fifties and the 1966 Lamborghini Miura, designed by Marcello Gandini for Bertone. And best of all, the images are safe for work.

Ordinarily, wearing sunglasses at night would put you into instant d-bag territory—unless, of course, you're burning laps in an overnight endurance race or Bono (actually, that's pretty inexcusable in his case too, "medical condition" or no). That, at least, is the justification for Tag Heuer's just-announced "Night Vision" driver's glasses, originally developed for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and now available to the commuting public. Their pale-yellow lenses are engineered to brighten up nighttime views by enhancing your perception of contrasts and reducing glare. As for the aesthetically challenged design? Blame it on the function-over-form approach: They're made to fit comfortably under a helmet. Good thing they're meant to be worn in the dark.

Like what Alexandre Plokhov's done for Versace? Good news: You can finally buy it. The spring '08 collection—the first with Plokhov as creative consultant—made its stateside debut last night at Barneys, and is Versace's first runway line sold on American retail shelves in several seasons. And while the clothes might combine the designer's sensibilities with his employer's, the party was all Versace—flashing cameras, booming pop songs (at one point, Phil Collins segued into M.I.A.), and appearances from both Busta Rhymes and Woody Allen, who sadly didn't cross paths. Despite all that, both Plokhov and his new boss, Donatella Versace, had time to explain their working relationship—kind of. "I gave him colors, he gave me tailoring," Versace said. "Alexandre likes to go through the archives, and then I say yes or no to what I think is good to develop." When asked about it later, Plokhov explained what he's finding in the old stuff. "In popular memory, Gianni Versace is associated with prints," he said. "But there was so much more before that—a very serious experiment in the seventies with pleating, and different leather applications." So, was he sporting his latest work? Nope. "Vintage Cloak," he said with a laugh.

Adriana Lima (pictured, obviously) is in the new issue of GQ. Spoiler alert: She looks just as good without lingerie as with.

So sites like Wear Palettes could exist. Basically, the anonymous author, a design student, makes color bars out of the clothes worn by subjects of the Sartorialist. (Including Wes Anderson, pictured.) A little crazy, but in a good way.

Take the video below, from his new blog about his debut codirectorial effort, This Side of the Truth. All he does is read the local paper's coverage of his movie's location scouting, and yet it's pretty damn hilarious. Hell, given his disappointing first crack at long-form comedy—the 80-minute Extras finale—we wouldn't be surprised if it's funnier than the film itself. (If things don't work out, he can always return to painting.)

[Rickygervais.com via Gawker]

To promote its new fortwo model (headed stateside this year!), European car maker Smart is putting out a coffee-table book featuring the work of more than 100 well-regarded artists. (Using scantily clad models was already taken.) To create Sideways: A Smart Art Project, the company enlisted 11 tastemaker magazines like Tokion and Dazed & Confused to co-curate the collection, which includes contributions from Terence Koh, designer Bernard Willhelm, and photographer Steven Klein—whose postapocalyptic vision of humans wearing gas masks is unsettling enough to make you want to plant a tree. Not coincidentally, the book is printed on sustainably harvested paper.
$50, available April 1

What's good for the iPhone is good for the Lumix—that, at least, seems to be the logic behind the brand's just-announced DMC-FX500, the first Panny to have a touchscreen.

So what's it actually do? Well, on the shooting side, you can manually adjust autofocus or change aperture and shutter speeds, and while browsing you'll be able to flip through photos with the flick of a finger. The camera's other specs (25-mm Leica lens, 5x optical zoom, HD video capabilities) remain among the category's best, but there is some bad news: Some typing is involved, as there's a virtual keyboard for naming your pics.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500, $400, available in May, panasonic.com/dsc

(PLUS: Check out our compact digicam Hotlist.)

The hipsters at Vice just posted the final installment of their groundbreaking series, The Vice Guide to North Korea. Sadly, it's not a Kim Jong-Il-focused edition of Dos and Don'ts—instead, it's a rare peek inside the repressive country. The first episode is below, and you can find the rest at the magazine's VBS.tv.

GM just announced the (let's be generous) humbly styled new rear-wheel-drive Pontiac G8 GXP, debuting later this week at the New York Auto Show. Underneath its everyman disguise? A thumping 400-horsepower V-8 borrowed from the Corvette, along with an adjustable suspension, big Brembo brakes, and a six-speed Tremec transmission. Given the current cost of the '08 GT (about 30 grand), think of the new edition as a big German sports sedan in recession clothing.

Scottish culture has long been fueled by whisky, but now that phrase is a bit more literal: Six of the country's leading distillers are teaming up on a $48-million power plant, the first in the world to generate electricity from the by-products of malt whisky. (It's not entirely without precedent: Bowmore has long powered a neighboring community pool with excess heat generated during production.) Somewhere, Ron Burgundy is smiling.

[The Financial Times]

First the fire sale at Bear Stearns, now this: At a recent auction, the semifamous Space House in Chattanooga, Tennessee, went for a piddling $135,000. Fewer rich dorks paying top dollar for pointless novelty architecture? Maybe this economic downturn has an upside after all.

[AP via BoingBoing]

Out now: Glamour From the Ground Up, a collection of foot-fetish photography by Ed Fox, who (we're told) is a leader in his chosen field. By definition, of course, a fetish isn't for everybody, but even ass men should check out Fox discussing his work over at Taschen.com. The video's worth watching for an odd juxtaposition: He describes his lifelong dream of shooting naked ladies' feet with the everyday earnestness of a man saying he wants to repair mufflers. (And no, it's not safe for work.)

First, a Newsweek tech writer (or his wife?) throws his Macbook Air out with the trash after confusing it for a magazine. Then Charlie Rose trips on a pothole and as he's falling, decides to protect the laptop instead of his face. All of which leads us to wonder: Is the world's thinnest notebook^TM cursed?

If Tom Ford's namesake cologne is the hard stuff, now there's a (relatively) cheaper gateway drug: the designer's five-product grooming line, dubbed the Ancillary Collection and out now. So, how's it work? Like the cologne, the soaps have a subtle scent—in fact, the liquid aftershave is essentially the fragrance diffused with water. The other aftershave (yes, there are two) is creamy and delicate, thanks to its aloe base, while the moisturizer, though oil-based, happily don't leave much in the way of residue. The shower gel is, well, a shower gel—mild and serviceable. But the sleeper hit should be the soap—the caramel-colored bar is made with shea butter and activated charcoal (which helps skin keep its natural moisture) for a soft, exfoliating feel. More importantly: At 18 bucks, it's the cheapest Tom Ford item money can buy.
Tom Ford for Men Ancillary Collection, cleansing bar, $18; aftershave splash, $52; aftershave balm, $40; shower gel, $30; and hydrating emulsion, $34; Tom Ford, 845 Madison Ave., NYC, (212) 359-0300, tomford.com

John DeLorean's life always seemed like the stuff of legend—he was accused of coke trafficking, dated Ursula Andress, and, of course, designed the DMC-12, the sports car best known for traveling through time in Back to the Future. But today his iconic status is sealed with Stainless Steel, a concept album about his life by British duo Neon Neon. (Singer Gruff Rhys is also the frontman for Super Furry Animals.) Given the group's sound (synth-pop), subject, and name, it's only a matter of time before they're on tour with Kanye.

Another twosome making their debut: She and Him, better known as singer-songwriter M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel. The sweet, folky record is that rarest of things: a listenable album from a Hollywood star. (Sorry, Don Johnson.)

In his turn-of-the-century heyday, Antonio Gaudí designed some of the most ambitious, curvaceous buildings in the world—mostly in his native Spain—but for design fans too hurried or cash-strapped to take a quick transatlantic jaunt, the new Criterion DVD of Antonio Gaudí is a worthy alternative. Hiroshi Teshigahara's 1984 doc provides a sensuous take on Gaudí's work, which made him something like the Frank Gehry of his time: Equally praised and reviled, he was later hailed as a modernist pioneer. As for Gehry, the verdict's still out.

Created by a Portuguese student named Andre Costa, the Peugeot Moovie concept car features an electric motor and independently mobile side wheels that supposedly allow it to rotate on its own axis. Driving the thing would appear to be about as safe as jogging on the freeway. Kind of cool-looking, though.

[The Contaminated via Goldarths]

Ubiquitous model Agyness Deyn famously got her start as a server in a fish 'n' chip shop in Lancashire, England, and the hard-hitting Daily Mirror is taking the inevitable next step: A nationwide search for "England's sexiest chip girl."

[Daily Mirror via WWD]

Prices of HD televisions may be plummeting, but the cost of a solid HD camcorder is holding steady at around $1,000—though you do get a good bit more for your grand than you did last year. Canon's new Vixia HV30—an upgrade from 2007's HV20—shoots in speedy 30p progressive mode. It also has a full-HD CMOS that produces sharp contrasts and vivid color, a svelte black body, and a curb weight of about a pound and a half. And what's held over from last year's model—10x zoom, image stabilization, instant auto-focus, and a 2.7-inch wide-screen display—remains top-notch. In other words, highly deserving of a buy rating. (Remember those?)
Canon Vixia HV30, $999, usa.canon.com

You don't have to be Hibernian to appreciate the charms of Jameson Irish Whiskey's Rarest Vintage Reserve. The historic Dublin distillery's first new offering in more than four years, it's made from a blend of their oldest and rarest whiskeys, triple-distilled and specially aged in port casks. It took four master distillers who've been making Jameson for a combined total of 130 years to come up with a drink this rich, smooth, and ambrosial. At 92 proof, it also packs quite a celebratory punch—and hey, it even comes in a green bottle.