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Converse Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 Preview

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The Converse Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 preview was held at One King Street in the Vault. It was an interesting venue as it literally was a vault, heavy steel door and all. It was a little to dark for good photos.

Chuck Taylor Slouchy and Slims

The Chuck Taylor line is always coming up with new fabrications and colour schemes.  I saw corduroy, jersey, sequins and suede. I really like the Chuck Taylor Slims in leather.  For women they introduced a slouchy Chuck Taylor in patent leather and denim. They retail $80 – $90.  There where so many styles to look at, here are my highlights.

Chuck Taylor All Star 1969 Collection

The 1960’s were turbulent times. War lotteries and race riots gave way to protests and the love movement. The music of Woodstock carries with it the all the strength and desires of a new and prolific generation who were determined to break all the rules. Chuck Taylor All Star shoe’s capture the radical spirit of the Woodstock generation and pay homage to the artists that changed the world forever.

The collection pays homage to Jimmy Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, The Who and Janis Joplin. I’m in love with the Jimmy Hendrix marching band Chuck. I also really like the Janis Joplin shoe which is based on her style and uses embroidery. They are almost too nice to wear. They retail for $70 – 120 and are available mid august.

Chuck Taylor All Stars Dr. Seuss

How cool are these Dr. Seuss Converse!  They come in adult sizes too.

Bold colors, rhymes and the funny characters that Dr. Seuss made famous are boldly displayed on Chuck Taylor All Star shoes. With some styles looking as if they themselves are straight out of Dr. Seuss-ville, this collection is bound to inspire the dreams of children young and old. The collection includes lace-ups for both adults and children and an alternative closure oxford for the really small. This collection introduces inspirations from “The Cat In The Hat”, “If I Ran The Zoo” and “One fish two fish red fish blue fish” (for kids).

Dr. Suess Kids

They will available starting in mid-July.  Kids shoes retail for $35-$50 and Adults for $75 – $90.

Chuck Taylor All Star Woolrich

Distinctly original American brands, Converse and Woolrich combine to showcase originality combined with patterns and designs that have stood the test of time. This third partnership of the two brands features original Hunter plaid and woolen fabrics that made Woolrich the original outdoor clothing company.

I love the Woolrich collaboration which uses wool and leather.  They will retail between $100-$170 and will be available in mid August.

Converse by John Varvatos

Premium executions continue to be offered in hand-crafted treatments and unique waxed and burnished techniques – luxe executions mixed with sophisticated rocker edge result in the perfect 70s basketball meets rock n‟ roll vibe.

They will retail between $160-$250 and will be available in mid August.  I believe Holt Renfrew carries the line.

I’ll return to update this page with specific retailers once the information becomes available.

images: courtesy of Converse

Terrazza di Peroni, A Celebration of Peroni

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Terrazza di Peroni, A Celebration of Peroni

The Spoke Club has one of the best rooftops in the city so it was only natural to accept an invitation to Terrazza di Peroni, a celebration of Italy’s premium beer, Peroni. I associate Peroni with fashion as it’s usually the beer of choice at fashion parties. I quite enjoy it when I’m not drinking champers.

Terrazza di Peroni, A Celebration of Peroni

It only seemed fitting as I’m drinking this fashion associated beer that I begin to notice a trend among the men. It’s a see of gingham and plaid.  That is the go to pattern of summer for men with blue being the palette of choice.

Terrazza di Peroni, A Celebration of Peroni

I also had to stare at these Givenchy Velvet and Calfskin Studded Sneakers. They part of the Fall 2010 collection and are so hot. You can purchase them online at luisaviaroma.com

Givenchy Men's High Tops

Red Canoe Brands Showroom

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Red Canoe Brands Showroom

Red Canoe Brands now has a brick and mortar store in the West end of Toronto. I’ve been a fan of Red Canoe ever since I stumbled on their website many years ago. I really enjoy the aviation and outdoor influence in the line. It’s been great watching them grow from a purely online endeavor to products sold in The Drake General Store to a flagship store in Whistler and now their own showroom in Toronto.

Red Canoe Brands Showroom

Red Canoe draws on these ideals to create unique quality apparel. Tough, comfortable outdoor clothing built to be worn. Dedicated to the promotion of historic and cultural icons, it is classic clothing that, like the symbols it honours, will stand the test of time.

President and Founder Dax Wilkinson came by his adventurous spirit and love of the outdoors honestly. Growing up in Northern Ontario, his time was spent flying in the legendary DeHavilland Beaver into remote hunting and fishing camps. Aird Island, his family retreat on the North Channel of Georgian Bay, has been his source of inspiration since 1973(source).

Red Canoe Brands Showroom

I got to meet Dax Wilkinson briefly at the showroom launch party. We chatted about the business and I congratulated him on the opening. It’s really a beautiful showroom and the Red Canoe aesthetic permeates it. You can see photos of the attendees of the launch including me in the post called Party People! on Red Canoe Brands Blog. I also got a good look at the Canadian Summer Flying Jacket, which is a replica of the classic RCAF and Canadian Armed Forces version.  It’s a want of mine. They didn’t have a small kicking around so I could see the fit.

Public Showroom hours are Thursday / Friday 9 – 5 and weekend by appointment only

Red Canoe Brands Showroom
1356 Dundas Street West
Toronto
416-205-1271

Lanvin Opens First New York Store

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Lanvin Opens First New York Store

Lanvin has opened it’s first New York store at 815 Madison Avenue. I must stop by when I’m in New York again. It looks opulent.

And now it has one. Lanvin is poised to open at the end of the week its first location here at 815 Madison Avenue near 68th Street. The store will occupy 3,550 square feet and the first three floors of a 6,875-square-foot, five-story town house. The two upper floors will become the company’s corporate headquarters in September.

Lanvin Opens First New York Store

“My dream when I started at Lanvin was to create this kind of luxury supermarket,” Elbaz said. “It would have everything you needed — T-shirts, bridal dresses, jeans, handbags, jewelry and shoes. I really believe the whole concept of going to a store when you need something. Women have enough. What I have to do is make their life easy. The product is all about dreams. In the store, everything is very clear.”

Lanvin is planning to open a store in Beijing, Elbaz said, adding: “That will be the next project.” The company also has a store in the works in Los Angeles, but the timing is still not known. “We’re thinking of new stores,” said Elbaz, noting that Madison Avenue is the third U.S. store after Bal Harbour, Fla., and Las Vegas

images: wwd.com

i want: MAYFOURTEENTH Sunglasses

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I’m totally loving MAYFOURTEENTH sunglasses. All their eyewear is shaped and polished by hand in their Buenos Aries factory. The MAYFOURTEENTH blog has a great post about a recent visit. It really gives you a feel of how much works goes into them.

MAYFOURTEENTH Sunglasses

MAYFOURTEENTH is an independent eyewear brand, committed to creating quality, handcrafted products that blend vintage glamour and contemporary culture. all products are made with careful hands and designed with sophisticated style.

Prices range from $180 – $240 for this San Francisco based company and they can be purchased on the MAYFOURTEENTH website.

images: mayfourteenth.com

Chan Luu x Banana Republic

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Chan Luu x Banana Republic

There is a new collaboration coming, Chan Luu x Banana Republic. They have teamed up for the first Banana Republic jewellery collaboration featuring Luu’s famous wrap bracelets.

“We are thrilled to announce our first partnership with a world-class jewellery designer,” said Simon Kneen, Creative Director and EVP of Design. “I’m excited to offer Banana Republic customers Chan Luu’s signature interpretation of Banana Republic’s effortless style aesthetic. Our brand is a great destination for jewellery so this adds a little something special into our already-exciting fall jewellery collection.”

Chan Luu x Banana Republic

Chan Luu comments, “It is such a pleasure for me to collaborate with Banana Republic, a classic brand whose timeless collections provide the perfect canvas for my own. What makes our partnership even more extraordinary is our shared belief in celebrating the power of personal expression.”

The bracelets are made from custom-dyed thread or leather and combines semi-precious stones, gold or silver. The collection consists of four styles in different colours for a total of 17 pieces. The price range is $118 – $275. It’s a limited edition collection and will only be available at the Toronto Eaton Center and 80 Bloor Street West, Toronto and 777 Ste-Catherine Street West, Montreal in Canada.

Chan Luu x Banana Republic

I got a sneak preview of a few pieces from the collection one morning at Starbucks with Denise from Gap. They are beautiful and well made. The clasp is really well made, there is no way these are falling off. The colour palette is very neutral and was based on the Banana Republic aesthetic. The long ones can double as a necklace or be wrapped multiple times around the wrist. I’ve seen Chan Luu knockoffs before but it’s only through this collaboration that I discovered the original.

Look out for the Chan Luu x Banana Republic collaboration in stores August 10, 2010.

images: courtesy of Gap Inc

i want: Postcard Sunglasses by Prada

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Postcard Sunglasses by Prada

I love the fluorescent green Postcard Sunglasses by Prada. They really were made for me and they match my Blackberry case.

Postcard Sunglasses by Prada

They come in six colours that are dedicated travel destinations: Milan: green sunglasses dedicated to Forte dei Marmi; Los Angeles: light pink sunglasses dedicated to Santa Monica; Manhattan: transparent sunglasses with pink lenses dedicated to Montauk; Paris: transparent sunglasses with light grey lenses, dedicated to Biarritz; London: transparent grey sunglasses with orange lenses, dedicated to Cornwall; Lisbon: matte black sunglasses with black lenses dedicated to Setùbal.

I’ve seen these sunglasses at Holt Renfrew and Spectacle in the city. You can purchase them online at Prada.com or Sunglasses Hut

images: me, nitrolicious.com

geekiviews: Cromwell and Cruthers Shaving Oil 2010 Redux

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Cromwell and Cruthers Shaving Oil
This post is part old and part new. I had my friend The Grumpy Owl review Cromwell and Cruthers Shaving Oil back in 2009. It’s an awesome review which is reproduced in it’s entirety below. Cromwell and Cruthers have re-branded the product and I like the new slick look. I also like that Philip Sparks and Mackenzie James are involved in the advertising campaign. I have behind the scenes footage.

geekiviews: Cromwell and Cruthers Shaving Oil
Originally Published: 2009/01/02

This edition of geekiviews features a guest blogger, The Grumpy Owl. He’s a guy and the Cromwell and Cruthers Shaving Oil is for men. So it made sense that he review it instead of me.

I hate oiling up my body. It’s the sort of the thing that one should have a person for. Preferably young, buxom and foreign. So, when Geekigirl gave me a plastic vial of Cromwell and Cruthers Shaving Oil, I viewed the product with some trepidation.

Oil is bad enough but shaving is worse. The last time I combined the two, I spent an entire weekend cleaning hair, blood and assorted perfumes from my sheets. It was not an experience I was looking to repeat.

But geekigirl quickly explained that I was to use this product to shave myself. Specifically, my face. While alone.

I might not like oil or shaving but I do love my face. So I decided to give this shaving oil a whirl. Having used it for the past few weeks, I now feel competent to review the stuff.

It’s pretty good.

At four dollars and fifty cents a vial, it’s reasonably priced. Certainly much cheaper than hiring a barber to shave your face and not much more expensive than a can of foam. Although it lacks the proto-erotic thrill of having a man stroke your throat with a razor, it smells quite nice and provides a close shave. It also lasts quite a long time.

But I wouldn’t expect anyone to believe mere words. After all, I’ve been bribed with a five dollar vial of shaving oil. A lot of bloggers come cheaper than that. So I’m providing you with photo evidence.

Ryan Oakley Before Using Cromwell And Cruthers Shaving Oil

Ryan Oakley Before Using Cromwell And Cruthers Shaving Oil

Ryan Oakley After Using Cromwell And Cruthers Shaving Oil

Ryan Oakley After Using Cromwell And Cruthers Shaving Oil

I expect you can draw your own conclusions from that.

Cromwell and Cruthers Shaving Oil (a Canadian Company) can be purchased at Shopper’s Drug Mart and PharmaPlus