HAPPY NEW YEAR LEAKS

Hope your days were merry and blissful regardless of what ever you celebrate.

My holidays were really good. I took a road trip to Ohio to spend the holidays with the extended family. Lots of quality time with my new 2 year old adopted sister, Shyla. Cute as a button!!!

TODAY IS MY BIRTH DATE!!!!!
This may be my best birth date yet...
I am one of the many people whose birth date falls within the 30 day credit card billing cycle of the biggest gift giving holiday of the year. Usually family and friends arbitrate gift giving especially this year given the weak economy.
Though in my old age I have pretty much forgotten about recieving and focus more on giving, which I enjoy the most. Plus, I have the most adorable little cousins and nephews and now sister so it is great to see them enjoy such a special holiday. Plus I love to play with kids' toys...

With all this intact, I have developed a reckless ambition on my birth day. I do and buy every little thing my heart and mind desire. For the past 2 weeks, I have been secretly celebrating and prepping for today. Secretly because my birth day is a personal time of reflection and joy. I'm not into the big parties and stuff, I prefer to spend it alone with CASH. Cash Money.... good guy to know in these days..hint hint!!

I usually set new years resolutions but I do them on my birthday instead.

1) I will act/dress my age a bit more this year... i.e. possibly pointy shoes mmmm nah maybe not. I'll give that 2 more years. I tried a pair of Opening Ceremony leather shoes..So nice but OUCH!! I have flat feet, I couldn't get myself to spend $200+ on pain.
A couple things I will have to retire for sure. This year is the end of the NIKE SB age. Every year my taste in shoes becomes maybe bland or refined in my eyes.
I was really feeling these A.P.C. shoes from the Surplus store in Willaimsburg for 50% off. Say word...
The Visvim too ..(unfortunately not 50% off)..






The Visvim Fall/Winter 2008-2009 lookbook titled "Cubism"


Given this feeling, I felt like I need to share something that I had with everyone. I know you can see all this everywhere but if not charge this one to the house. NIKE SB SUMMER 2009....





















Nothing really exciting but maybe you see something I don't. Word is that all there was a lot of section switches through the company design teams of NIKE 6.0. and NIKE SB. That makes sense to me because I have seen some rather clean NIKE 6.0 and the SB section has been/became rather gimmicky...with all due respect of course..

2)I have to run to agnes b. I notice they just opened. I will be back though. Here something from me to you.


Pop something, roll something, kick back and relax on me...
Been a hard yet wonderful year. So happy to be breathing at this rate..

5%

A.P.C New Cure jeans

THE HOLY GRAIL

I LOVE A.P.C.
I feel about 30% happier each day since A.P.C.'s opened it's surplus store, 5 minutes (walking) from my store.
Recently that same surplus store has ended a search party. This quest took me to uncharted areas and unsolicited phone calls to third wold countries.
Yes, I'm speaking of the infamous A.P.C. NEW CURE in the stark black denim.


It sounds crazy but theses pants were like the Jimmy Hoffa of denim. Uncharacteristicly, A.P.C produced these in low quantities for a single season, sold thru then completely abandoned the style. Since Fall '06 I have been looking for these jeans. NO JOKE!! I almost put out a Amber alert.
I finally came across a random pair at the A.P.C. Surplus store for a whopping $65. WOW(say it like Joey Lawrence)

A.P.C's denim cut NEW CURE is my favorite and has been for the past 2-3 years, on & off. They represent 1/2 of my elite 2 denim programs basically the only denim companies I wear (the other being Ksubi). I like what Superfine and RRL are doing with denim too.
I'm rather particular about denim and it usually takes me about 1-2 years to purchase outside of my "elite 2" denim programs.
Unlike other fashion markets though, I feel like denim is currently at it's best or about to reach it's apex. At any other time has there been such a push for shapes, colors, and sizes in denim for every type of body shape and size? Unprecedented!! i.e Look at the skinny jean resurrection.
Unlike top portion garments, I feel that one should find denim brands that fit one's lifestyle, needs, and price range and then splurge often and plentiful. Nothing wrong with having 5 pair of the same jean or 15 pair from the same company.
We are in the denim golden years..

LUNCH BREAK COME UP

Strolled down to the A.P.C. Surplus(33 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY 11211) location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I missed the recent sale so I felt kinda out of the loop. I ran into this short sleeve patchwork button up shirt from A.P.C.'s Madras collection. All the materials are from India which I think gives it that nice soft feel. Very necessary in these New York summers.
I paid $42.50, regular price was $84.

Code name: Recession

Those fine people at A.P.C. are at it again but this time at there Soho location.
Check for previous collections prices reduced 30-50% off .
A.P.C. Flagship store
31 Mercer St # A
New York, NY 10012

I think I'm going to sit this one out umm maybe..not

Rainy Day x A.P.C. Overstock Sale!!!!

First and Foremost... MAJOR SHOUTS TO THE LOVELY RAMONA AND BRIAN FROM A.P.C. GREAT LOOKS ON THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY INVITE for today @ 10am!!!! I had a super long night last night(for that the last 3 nights, sorry for LAME blogging!!! Life has been a BIT hectic over here). I would consider myself a morning person, I wake up 8AM-ish everyday but today I almost did not make it to one of the grandest events on Grand Street.
Yes folks, the A.P.C. Surplus Overstock Sale.

It's going on until Sunday close and well worth it. Prices are crazy and the inventory is plentiful. No lie, when I first walked in I almost had an anxiety attack. Reminded me of this thrift store I used to frequent in the northside Chicago, Unique Thrift store. (N. Sheridan location, the one that looks like a BBQ restaurant x Supermarket) Due to the amounts of clothing they cram into there location, the first time I dug there I passed out. True Story!! I also heard another quick story about K-Unique(the Unique thrift location next door to K-mart on S. Kedzie) that a bum, yes a homeless gentlemen, walked out with nothing... Sorry thats a vicious and rude rumor(10-cent clothing everyday tho).

Back to A.P.C., the sale is great and they take credit cards for those plastics. Definitely worth checking for any A.P.C. fan..

Store Shouts!!

I thought it was impossible to love A.P.C. much more but now A.P.C. proved me wrong when they opened the surplus store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn last year. Now we all can grab any items from previous seasons for a reduced price(up to %50 off) Thank You!!! (New jeans and the french vintage military wear too at regular price)
A.P.C. is a very personal brand for me. I look at brands like I would look at prospective friend; I need there to be more than what meets the eye. A.P.C. was one of the brands that helped me get away from "billboarding" and understanding what quality clothing was about. Quality doesn't have to necessarily scream their logo all over one's body but precise cuts, thoughtful measurements, and tasteful branding. Danish creative designer Jean Touitou created french minimalist label APC or "Atelier de Production et de Creation" in 1988. A.P.C. has shrugged off early label "French Gap" while producing a consistently chic designer brand with a quasi-cult feeling.(Many forget that initially A.P.C. was only available at flagships locations like Paris, New York City, London, and Tokyo). Around 2001, A.P.C. began the process of opening distribution and selling to the bigger chains like Barney's and Bergdorf Goodman).
Personally am a huge fan of their jeans which have been the only jeans besides 501's and Ktsubi/Tsubi that had that instant great feel. I used to love levis 501 and vintage orange tabs(1970's era only) as a youngster. Understanding the first pair of new standards I tried on I knew it was a new era in denim for me. Honestly have no problem with buying 5 pair of the same jean and thats the beauty behind A.P.C. jeans. Depending on what you do and how you wear them, each pair will come out differently.


A.P.C. Surplus
33 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
tel. 1 347 381 3193

Store Shouts!!

I like Nom de Guerre. I always have. I feel like one's fashion sense is comparable to one's personality; life's experiences, environment, society, and family play a major role in development. Up until my latter years, I have moved from appreciation to advent member of Nom's movement. Personally at 25, I have a hard time wearing a lot of brands. Not to say, I don't appreciate their contribution (well some brands) but I have grown out of that stage. Especially as a buyer at a street-wear store.
For the longest, I was a desperate fashion vagrant searching for an outlet that considered my past fashion history. A store that remembered the Stussy days, loves the peerless world of thrifting, but understands the life of an adult. Nom de Guerre is that. They have developed an unmatched habit for staying ahead of the curve. Since the creation in 2003, owners and creative directors Holly Harnsongkram, Wil Whitney, Devon Turnbull, and Isa Saalabi have molded their conundrum of a location(former meeting facility/bunker for the Black Panther party) into a cornerstone in NYC fashion.

Nom de Guerre in-house brand's newest collection for spring/sumer '08 "Under The Open Sky" follows suit with another great all around collection and sits extremely well next to my favorite brands; Comme des Garçons "PLAY" and A.P.C.. Their focus on brand consistenty has allowed them to take Nom de Guerre and their brand to new heights.

Recently, I was conning around Barney's and notice Nom De Guerre had a full racket in CO-OP floor
Congratulations!!!

NOM DE GUERRE
640 Broadway(at Bleecker St.)
New York, NY 10012