Premium Outlet Shopping

So today I will be headed to the Orlando Premium Outlets to do some serious Christmas shopping. I know it's still early but the last time I was down here I pretty much got the whole family done.

Yesterday was spent at the Polo grounds. We watched a match, sipped champaigne, and stomped divits. It was truly amazing.

Orlando Bound

I'm headed to the Sunshine State for a week of relaxing. Hopefully I will find some unique looks to post, especially at the polo grounds! Sit tight, it won't be long.

Brixton Holiday Chino Video

Brixton has released their Holiday 2014 lookbook online, and along with the lookbook came this video that highlights a night out with their chino pants.  Check out the full lookbook online at brixton.com

Brixton Holiday 2014 Chino Pants from BRIXTON on Vimeo.

Avengers: Age of Ultron Trailer

Montreal based "Raised by Wolves" Holiday Lookbook

Canadian label Raised by Wolves just released the lookbook for their Holiday 2014 line.  The lookbook utilizes female models wearing the lines hoodies, tees, and headwear, plus a collaboration with US based brand Golden Bear on a slick varsity jacket.  Check them out when they are released October 23rd.   (Photo's c/o Highsnobiety and Rupert LaMontagne)

Facehunter Shots - Paris and London Fashion Week

Images are from facehunter.org

Alexander Wang x H&M Lookbook

H&M have released the lookbook for their new collaboration with American designer Alexander Wang.  The lookbook isn't getting the type of fan fare that some would hope, but as Highsnobiety suggest, when you look at the pieces individually they make a much nicer statement.  Check out the individual pieces online at highsnobiety.com and you can pick them up at hm.com starting November 6, 2014.

RVCA Holiday 2014 Release

RVCA is one of my favourite street/skate brands.  They do an amazing job of fusing together the skate and surf lifestyle with real streetwear cred while at the same time promoting amazing artists with their Artist Network Program.  They just released their Holiday 2014 set of product, and I have pulled out a few pieces that caught my eye, as well as a few of their older ones too.  Check out the whole line, and the Artist Network Program at rvca.com

Learn to Sew?

Over the last few years I have given a lot of thought to starting my own company.  Originally I thought about strictly starting my own retail store, but eventually that had progressed into starting my own men's wear label.  Now I have begun to tinker with the idea of learning how to sew.  The fact that it may actually be possible for me to create something that could ultimately be sold under my banner is invigorating.... I am just not sure it is really feasible.  Let's see how this goes.

Fall Style: Prep Casual and Dress

Style Guide: Maison Kitsune

I was navigating my way through the Mr. Porter site looking for some inspiration for this Thanksgiving Weekend here in Canada, and I came across the Masion Kitsune section.  The french brand was established in 2002 as a record label, but made the move into fashion and now is a world player in all things style.  Here are a few items that caught my eye.  They can be purchased online at Mr. Proter here mrporter.com

Pigalle Basketball 2014

Kith Fall/Winter 2014 Academy Lookbook

Dodd Spring 2015 Athletic

Hydrogen Jeans Fw 14/15

I recently stumbled upon Hydrogen Jeans by accident.  I was watching a tennis tournament from Rome, and several of the Italian players were wearing athletic wear emblazoned with a fluorescent skull emblem.  I had to find out what brand this was.  After doing some digging online I found Hydrogen Jeans.

Founded by a former junior tennis star Alberto Bresci, this Italian sportswear and streetwear brand has a perfect mix of European style and design, with American street style and prep thrown in too.  They cater to men, women, and kids, so the whole family can look stylish.  For those of you that swing a racquet, their tennis designs are way cooler than anything on the market at the moment.  Minimal but with an edge, for the it's perfect for those of you that want to stand out at the club.

Check out all of Hydrogen's offerings online at hydrogenjeans.com

Ayrton Havana Brown Glasses

The Ayrton is a nod to the famed Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna.  With its bold and beautifully crafted design, this frame definitely makes the right statement, just as Senna did, consistently, on and off the racetrack.  Pick them up online from archibaldoptics.com

Ed Templeton's Brand New Online Home

Ed Templeton is one of the most prolific artists in the action sports world, and he has just launched a brand new site to get that work out there to the masses.  Know for his unique style, Templeton has done it all, from drawings, paintings, mixed-media and sculpture, to creating rad graphics for Toy Machine skateboards.  Templeton also spent time working as both a commercial photographer for various magazines in addition to doing his own stylistic photography.

His new site ed-templeton.com offers a career spanning look at his work, and allows the viewer to experience the inspiring, sometime disturbing, imagery that flows from this unique mind.  Check it out!

A Fresh Start

I started this blog as a first step in my plan to open up my own Men's Wear shop, as well as to develop my own brand in the retail and fashion world.  It's a big world after all, and with the Internet populated with thousands of others trying to do what I want to do, it is hard to stand out.

The start of 2014 brought with it some significant change in my life professionally.  I moved on from my former Retail Management job and into a new career in the Tennis industry.  While still performing retail duties, I moved into the technical side of the industry, working directly with players to help find the right equipment for them, and to maintain that equipment.  It is a rewarding job, and has given me a new perspective on customer service, high end retail, and working as part of a team in a sport based environment.

One drawback has been that my dream I set out towards had been put on the back burner for quite some time.  Those who have looked at my blog in the past would know that I would post frequently, but come March my focus had trailed off.  It was not intentional.  Having so much on my plate that I had to learn on the fly began to take precedence, and my thoughts moved away from my future plans to my current career.

I have made a conscious decision to go for my dream once again.  I feel like there is no better time than now to make a move back into blogging, and to truly start my business plan in order to see my dream move towards reality.  I hope you will come along for this journey, or at least stop by from time to time.  I don't pretend to know everything about the industry, or to be as hip as some of the other blogger's out there, but I will shine a light on the people, places, stores, brands, and icons I respect and love.  I hope you will walk in style with me.

-Mike