United Style

Unnecessary Wants: L.L.Bean Signature Waxed Canvas Backpack

unitedstyle — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:33:24 +0000

L.L.Bean Signature just released a beautiful waxed canvas backpack that might make me rethink my policy of not wearing backpacks outside of school or a forest. Made in Maine out of the same canvas used in their famous boots. Maybe I can get it for my 9-year old son.

Yoshi’s Blend

unitedstyle — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:33:05 +0000

Beautiful short film by Mackenzie Sheppard on Prof. Yoshi Masuda and his efforts to help bring some joy back to the victims of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami through coffee and music.

The Sound: Tower of Power

unitedstyle — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:33:49 +0000

A classic. No real video available with good sound, so just hit play and crank up the sound.

Inspiration LA Vol. 3 – Go GloCal!

unitedstyle — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:33:41 +0000

Rin Tananka, Japanese journalist, photographer and publisher of the celebrated My Freedamn book series,is bringing his Inspiration LA show back to the Queen Mary in Long Beach on February 10 & 11. The vintage clothing & Americana culture show is in its third year and growing bigger every year. This year they are adding an auction on Saturday, February 11th from 1-4pm. The auction will have 40+ exclusive items up for sale, including a 1940s hand-painted U.S. Navy sailor jacket, a pair of 1940s Lee cowboy “Hair On Hide” jeans, and a 1957 embroidered reversible Japanese “Iwo Jima” tour jacket with Tokyo Speed zipper. Exhibitor space is already sold out, with 100 international vendors and exhibitors will offer unique and one-of-a-kind merchandise on exhibit and for sale—including American vintage apparel manufactured from the 1900s-1980s, vintage-inspired-to-contemporary fashions and accessories from boutique and corporate American and Japanese companies, surf and skate exhibitors. Entry fees are shown below, but advanced discount tickets are available on the Inspiration LA website. I went last year and will be there this year as well (with a better camera this time) with my fellow blogger Damien from Junctioned. I can’t wait.

Brigitte Bardot

unitedstyle — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:33:55 +0000

Believe it or not, up until this past weekend, I had never seen a Brigitte Bardot movie. I had seen images of her in the past, though I had grown up admiring her look-alike Claudia Schiffer back when she started modeling for Guess.

Like Marilyn, Jayne Mansfield, and other “sexpot” stars, the camera loved them despite a limited acting range. My wife and I love old movies so we’ll be checking out the Bardot collection on Hulu in the upcoming weeks.

images via Life collection at Google

In the 60s, Bardot teamed up with another French icon, Serge Gainsbourg, to record a bunch of songs. Here’s my favorite:

JouJou Toy Store

unitedstyle — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:33:56 +0000

Design firm Struck Axiom created this amazing toy store for The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The store, called JouJou, achieves a goal of delighting the senses and igniting the imagination, which are sadly missing in the aisles of your local big box retailer. They even designed original toys and packaging as well. Makes me want to make a special trip just so I can show my son the place.

early concept sketches

images via StruckAxiom

Lifetime Collective Fall/Winter 2012

unitedstyle — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:59:11 +0000

Lifetime Collective presents a short film showcasing their Fall/Winter 2012 collection shot on location in Iceland. Some of the pieces look nice, especially that blanket during the windy scene. Of their current stuff, the Collector jacket in oiled cotton canvas and wool looks particularly nice.

A Year of the Sun with Mr. Persol

unitedstyle — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:33:12 +0000

Kevin Dart, the artist that brought you Yuki 7 now brings you this little gem for Persol sunglasses. Good stuff.

Lands’ End Canvas Spring 2012 peek

unitedstyle — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:18:26 +0000

Lands’ End Canvas recently posted a bunch of pictures on their Facebook page of their Spring 2012 presentation. Here’s a selection:

Individually, yes. Together, no:

Last spring, they did some short-sleeve polos with a contrast-chambray collar. This spring it looks like they’re bringing it back as a long-sleeve:

I actually like the women’s stuff more. Some pieces I would like for my wife, except for floppy hats–ladies, wear them around each other but not men.

Yup, it’s a double-breasted sweater blazer:

Mr. Rogers x Converse Factory Tour

unitedstyle — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:33:04 +0000

Fred Rogers (that’s Mister Rogers to you) was wearing cardigans, endorsing public transportation, and doing Made-in-the-USA factory visits long before your lumberjack-bearded hipster-ass ever heard of Tumblr. Over 20 years ago, he visited a Converse factory to see some canvas deck shoes being made: