Vintage Jai Alai

And While We're on the Subject...

As everyone battles through the scrums of American menswear, I recently had the opportunity to get my hands on The Hill-Side's Black Watch Plaid-Coated Tie, which brings new meaning to process and unprecedented utilitarianism with a dash of - you guessed it - waxed and oil-treated canvas. What truly separates this tie is not just the material and feel but the importance of process, fabrication and individualism. Additional touches, like the understated hand-stamped packaging, provide a better understanding of your product and its history. The Black Watch tie (the one I purchased and pictured) is stamped as follows: N55-005. N = non-selvedge; 55 = 55 inches long; and 005 = the fifth non-selvedge tie they've made since inception. While you're not contractually obligated to explain the process of your neckwear, I highly recommend brushing up on your "It's made in New York" delivery.

[Thank you All Plaid Out for images]

Wax Poetic

After spending the last five days in New York, I must admit it's hard to get past the trends that are relentlessly littering the city: neo-Americana, filiment bulbs, taxidermy, mustaches, tight rolls, speakeasies, and the reclamation of just about everything. While I could spill my guts on all these for hours, there's one element that has my attention more than any other...wax. From the limited-edition Le Labo candles at the Ace Hotel to wax-coated Fjallraven packs at Opening Ceremony to the timeless Belstaff jackets that have now seemingly replaced the tattered leather biker jackets of the downtown set, wax has snuck back onto the radar with a functional sensibility perfect for a time when pure form alone has been pushed into the closet. Truthfully, this all could've resulted from my walking around jacket-less in the rain and thinking how nice it would've been to have something to repel all the misery. However, all precipitation aside, here are a few images of some favorites that - rain or shine - would make any day better.

Back in the New York Groove

I recently stumbled across this amazing image of Mick looking strangely collected (if not jealous of the party in back), and thought how appropriate such an image was for my upcoming trip back to New York. Ah, the days when flying meant class, taste, splashes of well-suited style and the occasional cigarette while sipping whiskey in the back of the cabin. Nonetheless, if anyone should have recommendations on new places to check out while I'm in the city, please feel free to advise. Until then, I'll let Ace take us home...

Shut me off...

"Splitting the Atom"

Being that it's a Sunday, might I recommend you take 5 minutes and watch this breathtaking video for Massive Attack's latest single. I promise you will not regret it so long as you promise to watch it on the biggest screen possible. Kind of cancels out their making us wait seven years for another magnificent album.

Apartmento

Rumor has it the latest issue of Apartmento (#5) will premier in Milan at this week's Salone - and yes, I'm excited. With this in mind, I thought I'd drop a little wax on why this magazine is so damn cool. If you have yet to read this burgoening design magazine, well, you're truly missing out. While visits to homes like that of Thurston Moore and Kim Gorden make for exceptional entertainment and visuals (see issue #4 pictured below), it's the complete lack of pomp and polish that makes Apartmento a worthy read - and addition to your coffee table. Launched in 2008, the magazine itself is published out of both Barcelona and Spain, with the three young founders - Nacho Alegre, Omar Sosa and Marco Velardi - all creating and tweaking the content (mostly) via Skype and e-mail. Combine all this with an approachable compact format that perfectly balances everyday interior aesthestics with youthful punches of amusement, inspiration and mischief and you get one bad-ass interiors magazine. If you still don't get it, just have a look at the photos below and think about what they once asked an Argentine photographer: "You're 40 years old. Does it bother you living with your mum?". Get it here.

www.apartmentomagazine.com