Author: JD
Ledbury, the Better-Tailored Men’s Shirt
I LOVE A NICE SHIRT A couple of Oxford MBAs recently founded Ledbury, a new men’s shirt brand dedicated to better tailoring at the intersection of Savile Row and Ivy Style. Paul Trible and Paul Watson (above) graduated with Oxford MBAs at the height of the economic crisis, literally the day before the Lehman Bros. collapse, and decided to turn their careers from finance to fine fabric. Taking advantage of their proximity to Jermyn Street, London‘s traditional home of fine haberdashery, the pair learned the art of English shirt-making from one of the street’s top craftsman and then fused in their hometown Southern U.S. style to create a brand based in Virginia focusing on fit, quality and style.“When I was living in London, I would come back to the States and have difficulty finding high quality shirts that provided a tailored look,” the Virginia-born Trible explains. “The big name menswearretailers made formless, boxy clothes, while luxury brands charged exorbitant prices. It seemed like there was a real need for an American shirtmaker that offered European quality, English fit and American style, all at an attainable price. We want Ledbury shirts to fit better, feel better and last longer than anything else in your closet.” The Classicist recently featured a natty Ledbury chambray creation in a column on seasonal style starring the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Vans Era Laceless
MY SUMMER FLOW Vans presents a new laceless version of their Era, combining the ease of the Slip On with the good looks and clean lines of the original Era sneaker. Summer can’t come quick enough. Check your local Vans retailer to purchase.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Our thoughts create our reality — where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go.” -Peter McWilliams
Conversations with Scorsese
I GOTTA GET THIS Half autobiography, half master film class,Conversations with Scorsese ($20) is the result of a series of late-night discussions between Marty and his friend Richard Schickel. Topics range from Scorsese’s sickly childhood on the streets of New York’s Little Italy to his experiences at NYU, with plenty of time for discussion about his films, career, and Hollywood in general along the way. At 440+ pages, it’s not a casual read, but it is a must read for any true film fan.
MOVIES: BATTLE:LA
I JUST SAW THIS AND OFF TOP LET ME SAY ITS FULL OF ACTION,I DIDN’T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE STORY BUT ITS ACTION PACK,I FEEL IT WAS A GREAT LOOK FOR NEYO AND WORTH GOING TO SEE
G14 SEXY PHOTO OF THE WEEK
SEXY PICTURE OF THE WEEK
THE ULTIMATE LIGHT OF THE OCEAN’S 7
STYLE IN COLOR,THIS A MEAN ASS CREW, I HOPE YALL ULTIMATELY SEE OCEANS 7 IN THIS LIGHT Johnny Hodges 1906-1970 Alto saxophonist, Duke Ellington Orchestra “You can tell he was in Duke Ellington’s band—meaning that he was an extremely well-dressed gentleman. But at the same time, Johnny was something of a rogue, and much more of a dandy than Duke himself. Check out the hat, and the bold, super-luxe suit… I think you could say Johnny was a counterpoint to Duke’s more subdued brand of elegance. Richard Roundtree b. 1942 Actor (best known for the Shaft movie series) “It’s the all-leather look—leather jacket, leather pants, leather driving gloves—and it says, I’m stylish, and don’t mess with me. That Black Panther vibe, a little bit. Some people take issue with blaxploitation stereotypes, but it was what it was—and many were proud to have an African-American playing an action hero who kicked butt and at the same time looked great. Marvin Gaye 1939-1984 Singer and songwriter “Everyone’s wearing denim shirts these days, and I like to think Marvin has something to do with that. This is a true workwear look he’s pulling off here—vintage Americana, the stuff everyone’s wild for now. He made denim-on-denim cool for us… and I love the way he contrasts it with the red knit hat.” Harry Belafonte b. 1927 Singer, actor, civil rights activist “He was a calypso singer, and his style really incorporated the Caribbean vibe. He’d do things like leave two or three buttons undone on his dress shirts—laid-back, warm-weather stuff. Here he is in London, wearing a turtleneck under a suede overcoat, with houndstooth pants—amazing. He always put his own unique spin on everything.” Jean-Michel Basquiat 1960-1988 Artist “A plaid shirt with a striped coat; that may contradict some people’s ideas of what ‘correct’ pattern mixing is, but he’s pulling it off. He expressed himself in his personal style as strongly as he did in his paintings. And as a graffiti artist, he was influenced by the streets: not too tailored, but always showing people that he knew how to dress. Sidney Poitier b. 1927 Actor, director, writer “Seeing A Raisin in the Sun, with Sidney as Walter Lee Younger, was a pivotal style moment for us—he was just such a sharp individual. The way he’d tuck his polo shirts into his trousers…sharp. His style was about simplicity, and keeping things clean-cut. And he could pull off an amazing slim suit. I think he was the first black actor who made people think, Wow, this guy is no joke.“ Sammy Davis Jr. 1925-1990 Singer, dancer, TV and movie star “A sharp-dressed Rat Pack member, and an all-around stand-up guy. The first African-American to grace GQ‘s cover. He wore the kind of stuff we’d wear today: slim ties, tailored suit jackets, tapered pants. I love how unguarded and irreverent he is here, tap dancing on his hotel-room table, in a high-cropped one-button gray flannel suit and Beatle boots. He was never afraid to step outside of the box and do things his own way.
Things to Do On A Ski Trip Without the Skis in Park City, Utah
I LOVE PARK CITY You don’t have to ski or snowboard to have a good time in Park City, Utah. Besides the Sundance Film Festival and all things Robert Redford, there are a slew of other fabulous ways to spend your days and nights in the resort town. Park City proves itself well in the luxury category. Apres Skiresort hopping the apres ski scene is Park City’s other great sporting event. The French term specifically refers to the drinking and revelry that ensues after a long day of skiing or snowboarding. The art of the cocktail is nothing to scoff at in snow country and up in these mountains the Mormon influence shunning drinking and nightlife is forgotten. Alta Resort’s Sitzmark Bar is a classic. Off-resort, check out High West Distillery and Saloon. They make their own whiskey and vodka and have a killer, innovative cocktail list with drinks like the High West Silver Julep using High West’s Silver Oat Whiskey and Rendezvous Rye. Park City’s Main Street features a collection of classic, mountain and Western motif bars and nightclubs like No Name Saloon, The Sidecar, and The Spur. There’s also Downstairs, owned by Danny Masterson of “That 70s Show” fame, a hip rocker lounge that celebrities typically flock to when they’re in town.ShopSki bunny fashion is no joke in Park City. Locals and pros sport some of the slickest and brightest colored gear and pseudo-gear from brands like The North Face, Patagonia, and Lululemon, or, hanging in resort shopping areas in Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and The Canyons. It’s hard to resist not purchasing a brilliant blue fleece when witness to everyone else looking fashionably ski hip. There’s shopping too for the fashion-forward who prefer to wear something that’s also stylish away from the resorts. Along Main Street are adorable boutiques like Bunya Bunya andMary Jane’s with clothing and accessories handmade by local artists and independent designers. Park City also has the largest collection of factory outlet stores in northern Utah. SpaWith all this energy exerted to perfect powdered slopes, it’s no wonder the resorts then clued in to create equally magical, post-snow healing spas. Go to the Remede Spa in the St. Regis Deer Crest Resort for an apres-ski dip in the bi-level heated Infinity pool. Then follow with the Laboratoire Remede anti-aging facials and body treatments to treat those sun and wind burned cheeks. There’s also the uber-luxe, high-end Stein Eriksen Lodge (named for the Olympic skier who is known to drop by), a newly redone 20,000 square foot space, The Nordic-inspired haven is replete with cozy fireplaces and salt stone therapies. Book the Apres-ski Muscle Strain Therapy and Soak that promises to get the body ready in time for the next day’s activities. The recently opened Montage Deer Valley takes a holistic approach to their 35,000 square foot hideaway. Try a combo like their alpine-inspired treatment and a toxin-cleansing Vichy shower. The signature treatment Surrender is always a guest pleaser. Guests get to customize their relaxation experience by choosing an array of treatments a la carte