Yesterday, General Electric announced a new range of cameras with geotagging. This comes one day after Garmin announced a new phone with the same feature, which basically uses GPS to tag your photos with the exact location where they were taken—useful for taking full advantage of photoblog sites like Flickr and Picasa. (Sony and others make add-on devices that produce the same result, but we've found they don't work very well in cities.) We know three makes a trend, so here's hoping the next camera to incorporate this function isn't a crappy phone add-on or produced by a brand known for making dishwashers and The Biggest Loser. Any takers?

Sure, Brady's got the hair and the girl, but how about a little love for the guy who will be trying to sack the shit out of him Sunday: Michael Strahan. I once saw the giant Giants linebacker at a West Village fashion party sporting Tod's car shoes, a cashmere turtleneck, and a suede car coat—not easy to pull off for a big man, but he wore it well. The only thing he was missing: a ring.

There's nothing new worth seeing at the movie theater this weekend—blame that little football contest on Sunday—but something related caught our attention: This poster for The Eye is among the most compelling since those for V for Vendetta. (Which, we admit, wasn't very good.) It has an almost primal creepiness, reminiscent of Un Chien Andalou, the Salvador Dalí-Luis Buñuel short best known for the scene of (as Frank Black later sang) "slicing up eyeballs, oh-ho-ho-ho." Still, we wonder if good design comes at the expense of smart marketing: The movie stars Jessica Alba, who usually saves her best acting for the posters.

Three years ago, Duangrit Bunnag's mod boutique Costa Lanta helped turn Thai island Koh Lanta into an unexpected hot spot. Now he might do the same for Cha-Am, a former fishing village on the country's Gulf of Siam, just two hours outside Bangkok. His new Alila hotel has a nice mix of classic and modern touches—think marble staircases leading to a rooftop reflecting pool—among its 79 rooms, suites and villas. "It's a designer escape for people like me—into fashion, design, architecture, and individuality," Bunnag says. Not to mention Americans on a budget—rooms begin at just $180 a night.

Alila Cha-Am, rooms from $180, 011-66-32-709-555, alilahotels.com

Judging by a few recent examples, design for the yachting staple is hitting a high-water mark. (Maybe it's the rising oceans.) Band of Outsiders just showed a high-top one at last night's fall presentation, and you can pick up a handmade high-top (pictured) from Rogues Gallery now. Also out this month: a lace-free version from John Varvatos, and Band of Outsiders' Sperry collaboration, which takes the shoe an extra step (sorry) by turning it inside out.

Don't worry: It's not a belated viral stunt from the Cloverfield marketing team. Instead, it's a stunt from the Adidas marketing team. Okay, not entirely—it's home to a sponsored installation called Sometimes Comes Mother, Sometimes Comes Wolf, which includes art and found objects from D.L. & Company's Douglas Little, notorious dumpster diver (and actor-director) Justin Theroux, and East Village store Obscura Antiques. Basically, it's the kind of random crap that winds up in shoeboxes, only cooler and curated. And, of course, bigger.
Sometimes Comes Mother, Sometimes Comes Wolf, opens tonight at Broome Street between Ludlow and Essex streets in New York City

In the spring, Triumph is bringing back this T-shirt, based on one Steve McQueen wore while riding one of its motorbikes. (Sounds a little dubious to us, but the company has produced photographic evidence, and the line is licensed by the actor's estate.) It goes on sale March 24 for what would have been his 78th birthday—which has us wondering what they'll do for his 80th. No word on price, but it's sure to be cheaper than his watch or his ride.

[Autoblog]

Following his recent side projects with Eastpak and Fred Perry, Raf Simons is finally doing something for his day job: a new line of eyewear for Jil Sander (where he is creative director). The sunglasses won't be available until January 2009, with plain old glasses to follow three months later. Designs are still in the works, but expect them to be as flashy as his new namesake line—in other words, just a little.

(Plus: Need some shades to get you through the coming sunny months? Try some aviators.)

[DNR]

Remember that bullet-pocked Jean Prouvé prefab masterpiece that André Balazs snapped up for almost five million bucks at an NYC auction a few months back? Well, it's finally resurfaced—albeit a long way from Manhattan. Maison Tropicale goes on display next week at London's Tate Modern in conjunction with the nearby Design Museum's retrospective on the mid-century icon. (That's Prouvé, not Balazs.) This might not be the house's last voyage—rumor is the entire building's been earmarked for the hotelier's next hush-hush project somewhere in the South Pacific, likely Fiji.
Maison Tropicale for the Design Museum at Tate Modern, Feb. 5-April 13, designmuseum.org

Last night, GQ and the CFDA feted their Best New Menswear Designers in America project inside Rockefeller Center. Six finalists—Engineered Garments, Gilded Age, Obedient Sons, Rag & Bone, Spurr, and Steven Alan—each showed nine fall looks exclusive to the event. The winner, who'll be named at the end of February, will create a special capsule collection, to be available exclusively at Bloomingdale's and Levi.com for the first month, and from other retailers thereafter. Click for pics from the party.

No, Bobby D. didn't buy new loafers—his Tribeca Film Institute is pairing with the label on a new foundation that will provide finishing funds for documentary filmmakers. (Maybe Ridley Scott's planned Gucci biopic sparked an "If you can't beat 'em" philosophy.) Better get working on your reel: They'll begin accepting submissions Feb. 5.

Starting salaries of 160k, and junior associates at many top law firms still can't be bothered to throw on a decent suit. So reports Christina Binkley in today's Wall Street Journal. Buried among the tidbits—guys who "wear shoes like you might see Johnny Depp wearing to the Oscars," the firm that brought in a personal shopper for its slovenly staff—emerges a new hero: Tom Mills, a 60-year-old managing partner for D.C.'s Winston & Strawn, who says jeans are only for "moving day," and adds, "I share the lament and disgust about the general level of associates' attire. I think it's abysmal." Tom, you don't sound like much fun at a dinner party, but we can't say we disagree.

(Time to clean up your act? Get yourself a nice gray suit.)

Based on the invitation, we were expecting a cocktail party. But when we showed up to preview Benjamin Bixby, the promising debut clothing line from OutKast's Andre Benjamin, we got something a little more up close and personal. The rapper/designer has spent the last several years working on his 70-odd piece collection, and he was on hand to take us through it look by look. (Trust me, it's a little surreal talking fabric sourcing with the dude who gave us "Hey Ya!") Benjamin claimed to be inspired by football players of the thirties, which explained the collegiate theme and athletic detailing, not to mention the more generous proportions of that era. And every piece, from the preppy boiled-wool sweaters and double-vent corduroy blazers to high-waisted trousers and striped dress shirts, had been constructed to a T—or actually a stitched "X," which adorned elbow patches and dungarees' back pockets. More casual items, like polos or a thermal knit with a faux hand-painted "35" on the back, were festooned with an embroidered logo of a hot-air balloon—"because the customer doesn't know where he'll land," Benjamin said. The same's obviously true of the collection itself—he was showing to buyers for the first time as well as editors—though we expect to see it on more than a few style-conscious gents this fall.

The latest rumor is that the car collector (and once-funny comedian) might host NBC's forthcoming Americanized Top Gear. (Hey, if it worked for The Office…) His Tonight Show tenure finally ends next year, so he'll have some time on his hands. Jerry Seinfeld's also in the running, though we're not sure how he'd fare on a show about something.

[Edmunds via Autoblog]

According to the Pantone Color Institute, New York designers are trading traditional seasonal reds and oranges for colors like blue iris (pictured) and lilac in their upcoming fall 2008 collections. Related: Blue iris and lilac to be completely passé by fall 2009.

[WWD]

This year's ho-hum show could've used some news like this: GPS specialist Garmin is entering the cell phone market. Their first hand-set, the Nuviphone, has an obvious iPhone influence—not necessarily a bad thing—with Wi-Fi capability and a generous 3.5-inch touch screen. But it improves on Apple's model by using a faster 3G connection and (surprise) GPS navigation. (That's technically available on the iPhone, but not without a hack.) It also "geotags" photos with the shooter's exact location—in other words, no more wondering where you took last night's blurry party snaps. No price or carrier has been announced, but the phone ships this summer.

[Electronista]

The Fiat scion is branching out with a new line of denim called Care Label. The pants are made from 50-year-old selvage denim and come in the requisite slim fit. And with wholesale prices from $124 to $161, you don't have to be an auto company heir to afford them—but it sure helps.

[DNR]

Last fall, Stefan Sagmeister printed each of the words in "Everybody always thinks they are right" on six giant inflatable monkeys and then put them in each of Scotland's six major cities. Now that installation—and nine more like it—is pictured in Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far, opening today. The show also includes a new work made from 10,000 bananas, which will change meaning as the fruits ripen and then rot. So what does the artist have planned for an encore? "Well, it's slow going," he says of finding new inspiration. "As I get older, I seem to learn less and less."
Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far, today through Feb. 23, Deitch Projects, 76 Grand St., (212) 343-7300, deitch.com

Last year, Samsung released an MP3 player with slide-out speakers that might have wowed even iPod die-hards—well, if only the speakers worked a little better, and if it wasn't so bulky. The second time around, they've gotten it right: The new 4GB YP-S5 amps up speaker quality to 1,500 mW, is slimmer than its predecessor by half, and features FM radio, voice recording, and Bluetooth capabilities. Just do us a favor: If you're on the subway, skip the speakers.
Samsung YP-S5, $179.99, available on Amazon.com

Two recent cravat-related moments in the political realm—Obama's tie choice at Monday's State of the Union and McCain's during last night's victory speech—have reminded us of an immutable law of fashion: One's tie should never exceed one half the width of one's forehead. You probably know it better as the pithy equation T=W/2.

The trend of borrowing formalwear in exchange for publicizing a brand started with legitimate celebrities and then filtered down to New York's female socialites, and now it appears men-about-town are finally catching up. Just a few weeks after a run on white dinner jackets, partygoer Luigi Tadini is our first confirmed pre-fashion week borrower. Last night for the Vogue and Lanvin event at Barneys, he wore a jersey, silk, and gauze multilayer tuxedo and apron from Lanvin's spring collection. "It's not easy to get dressed in a rush in this bad boy," Tadini revealed. "It took some time, but it was worth it."

I'm still sorting out my opinion of There Will Be Blood. Is it it a masterpiece, or, to quote Brent Musburger, just a bunch of sound and fury signifying nothing? The movie's got no shortage of both, and fury-bringer Daniel Day-Lewis certainly seems to be lumbering toward an Oscar. Bully for him. But it's also nice to see Jonny Greenwood getting some well-deserved praise for supplying the sound part of the equation, the latest (and best) accolade taking the form of Alex Ross' well-rendered piece in the current New Yorker.

After rolling out select pieces the past two seasons, Naples stalwart Luigi Borrelli is expanding its Luxury Vintage line into a full collection for spring. As the name might suggest, LV is comprised of luxury garments (hand-tailored blazers, cashmere knits, linen oxfords) made to look vintage (every piece is made pre-washed and treated). "We wanted to give our guys something to wear on weekends or on a plane," says Borrelli's American buyer, David Anicich. "It's meant to look like it's been in your closet for years." As for matching custom footwear, you'll have to wait: The brand is introducing a range of bespoke tennis shoes this fall.
Luxury Vintage in Luigi Borrelli stores now, $430-$2,300, Luigi Borrelli, 16 E. 60th St., New York, borrelliboutiques.com

WWD reports that Karl Lagerfeld has agreed to let German company Steiff turn his likeness into a teddy bear. The cuddly little guy will come decked out in Lagerfeld's trademark dark glasses, suit, high collar, and logo belt buckle. One assumes its shape will be based on the designer's prediet proportions.

Proof that, even with sex toys, form can be as important as function: C-Shell (pictured), a Moss-worthy vibrator by award-winning product designer Scott Henderson. It goes on display tomorrow at the Museum of Sex's Sex in Design/Design in Sex, an exhibit divided into two parts: design-forward sex toys and suggestive design objects. (Yes, this show goes both ways.) But don't mistake this for a solo act: "There's a strong emphasis on 'partner,'" explains gadget guru Rhett Butler—name presumably not coincidental—whose concepts for British lingerie brand Kiki de Montparnasse will be featured. In other words, bring a date.
Sex in Design/Design in Sex, opens tomorrow at New York City's Museum of Sex, 233 Fifth Avenue, NYC, museumofsex.com

We're kidding—kind of. The director's adaptation of Russell Banks' The Sweet Hereafter was pretty solid, but frankly the author's sharp prose and multiple narrators didn't translate well to film. Despite that, his latest, The Reserve, seems like a prime candidate for the Hollywood treatment. It's a love story set in the Adirondacks during the years before World War II. And if Atonement can get a Best Picture nomination, frankly this can't be far behind.

We'll weigh in on the brand's Fall 2008 collection later, but there is one thing we'll be watching for at its Friday show (one of the week's first): the footwear. Many of the models will be sporting Katahdin Iron Works engineering boots, handmade by the 107-year-old El Paso company Chippewa. They were originally made for L.L. Bean—the guy, not the brand—and now his company has brought them back, complete with an oiled-leather exterior and Goodyear construction (meaning the last and top-leather are hand-stitched together for better durability and comfort). Better yet, unlike most of what you'll see on the runway in the days ahead, they're available now.
Katahdin Iron Works engineer boots by the Chippewa Factory for L.L. Bean, $149, llbean.com

Remember the video of Stefano Pilati's Fall 2008 Yves Saint Laurent collection we told you about? Well, it's embedded below. Depending on how your office feels about French remixes of LCD Soundsystem songs, you might want to adjust the volume.

The boxy East German-made car—perhaps best known in the West for its prominent placement above the stage in U2's Zoo TV tour 15 years ago—might be on the verge of a comeback. The motorheads at Autoblog report that German company Herpa has secured the rights to the name and plans to introduce a full-size concept at next year's Frankfurt Auto Show. Can't wait that long? This February, the brand is introducing a toy version, which is arguably even better than the real thing.

In more bizarre, music-related Euro-car news (now there's a phrase we never thought we'd write): Ford is using parts from an old five-door Focus (of the more design-forward UK variety) to create 31 musical instruments—including a hatchback-based kick drum and, yes, Fender bass—for a full orchestra, which will provide the soundtrack for an upcoming commercial.

[Autoblog]

The state of Barack Obama's tie game is strong: While his political peers last night mostly wore red or blue (or that post-partisan hue, purple), the senator sent a message with his choice of medium gray. Hey, if you're going to preach ebony-and-ivory racial unity, better that than a piano tie.

Bad news for those of you holding out for the Razr 3: An analyst with Japan's Nomura International recently said that Motorola might quit the handset business altogether. We're not sure how much stock (sorry) to give this guy, but even raising the possibility is kind of shocking: Just two years ago, the brand was on top of the cell phone market thanks to the Razr. (That was the iPhone of its time, youngsters.) Maybe Steve Jobs should take this as a warning?

[MarketWatch  via Engadget]

Sure, some fashion brands are employing hunky British footballers for their latest ads, but Converse by John Varvatos is turning to a skinny, bearded hipster. Granted, artist Ryan McGinley will stay behind the camera for its spring campaign—and as long as this doesn't mean Dash Snow will soon be building hamster's nests for Thom Browne, we're okay with it.

[WWD]

Paul Simon's world music opus seems to be replacing Bruce Springsteen's ode to cars and freedom as the hipster music reference du jour. To wit, Swedish crooner Jens Lekman has been covering "You Can Call Me Al" at recent shows, and today NYC quartet Vampire Weekend release their Simon-influenced debut. The self-titled album updates Graceland's Caribbean beats and ska-light guitars with lyrics about those classic rock 'n' roll fixations, punctuation ("Oxford Comma") and getting laid (the rest of the record). Plus: The guys have serious style.

Pop culture blog Bedazzled! has dug up an old Sanka ad that pretty much equates coffee consumption with child abuse. That was the nuttiest thing we'd heard all day, but then we saw the commenter who suggests "Starbucks culture" leads to warmongering. Easy, dude—maybe a double caramel Frappuccino will help take the edge off.

[Bedazzled! via BoingBoing]

This year's PMA show—where the year's coolest cameras are unveiled—doesn't start until Thursday, but some impressive shooters have already been announced. The most noteworthy so far: Olympus' prosumer SP-570 UZ, which has the longest optical zoom yet on a point-and-shoot camera—a whopping 20x. The other specs are all fairly standard (a wide-angle lens spanning from 26-250mm, a generous 2.7-inch screen, dual-image-stabilization, and face detection), so we'll need to test it further before deciding whether it's worth the $500 asking price.
Olympus SP-570 UZ, due this March, olympusamerica.com

That's the question on everyone's—okay, make that virtually no one's—lips these days. But at least two designers would probably change the schedule if they could: Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos, whose debut presentation is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday, a mere 17 minutes prior to game time. Worse, their collection may be one of the few to actually attract a few football fans. Still, they're optimistic: "We'll only miss the first half of the game," says Halmos, a Ft. Lauderdale native who'll be rooting for his adopted hometown team, the Giants. "Besides, as our friend Tom said, 'There's nothing like a fashion show to whet the appetite for some hard-hitting gridiron action.'"

Our congrats to Javier Bardem on recovering so nicely from that unfortunate bowl cut. Also for being one of the few guys alive who can dress down a tux without looking like a douchebag. (While we're at it, props for the SAG award, too.)

The rumors were true: Kim Jones has landed the newly minted position of creative director at Dunhill. You may be wondering what the trad Dunhill gent will make of Jones with his, well, unorthodox take on casualwear, but Jones thinks it's a perfect fit. "If you saw the archives, you'd understand why I want to do this," he says. "Alfred Dunhill was a modernist, always making things that would work around his own love of travel. They're so perfect, they need very little to make them relevant for now." The Africa native is a nonstop traveler himself—one recent trip saw him cover London, Tokyo, and Cape Town in 36 hours. But he has one very nearby influence in mind for his new gig: "I want this house to be the English Hermès."

Turns out the Republican candidates aren't the only ones jockeying to appear Reagan-esque this year: Hickey Freeman's pricey new Presidential line (expect to pay between $3,000 and $4,000) was inspired by the suits worn by the 40th president. (Something tells a line based on the sacks favored by 43 is still a ways off.)

[DNR]

This fall, the designer—already acclaimed for his Belgian-influenced women's collection—will debut his self-titled menswear line. (He'll also be opening an NYC flagship around that time, either on Madison Avenue or in the West Village.) This isn't his first experience making clothes for men: Chai previously was the design director for both Tse and Marc Jacobs, where he worked on both men's and women's and helped launch the Marc by Marc Jacobs diffusion line.

[DNR]

The sixth (and last?) season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, out tomorrow on DVD, started strong and then became, yes, transcendent when (spoiler alert?) Cheryl finally gave Larry the boot. Unlike a certain other HBO comedy, the characters actually changed. Your move, Grenier.

Also: Tonight the network launches In Treatment, a 45-episode (!) series about a therapist played by Gabriel Byrne. (Guess one therapy show wasn't enough.) It airs every weeknight, with Byrne seeing each patient once a week. (Every 25-minute episode takes place entirely within the confines of his office.) Think of it as 24 for Upper East Siders.