En Garde! Frou Frou! De la merde! Cognac de la merde!!

Anything sounds really cool in Ze frenchy-french.
Merde!
A tout alors!
Ah, Regarde Mama! Une Bijouterie!
Mon petit couchon, c'est un Boulangeri!

Need some sleep, obviously.

GAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

Real men aren't fit

http://backyardbill.blogspot.com/

Check it or die.
Don't you just wanna drink beer all night long with this dude? I do.
(I wish I had a couple of Porkslaps at home dammit)

Voice / Moves

Repeat for ever

L'Alcool / Vive La France / Yes Please

The Drunkards Wet Dream.

Booze me up Scotty, again.

Note to self

When the poison control center recommends that you induce vomiting, a
mental image of me will work.
(Note to self, loose 10 lbs)

November Windows at Bergdorf & Goodman. (Is too!)

Sweet Disposition / I'll say!

Booze me up Scotty!

Bought on Ebay last week.

Just kidding.

Linen & Metal Flychaser.

I have no clue how it worked, but I want one.

Repeat for ever

Only in America / Italians do it better (?)

Guy Aroch / Roch Solid

Photos by Guy Aroch / Me.

Boy / Band of Outsiders

I wish..

Abercrombie & Fitch, pre White Trash era.

Arctic Monkeys are out, ARCTIC FOXES are in!

Today Swedish outdoor pioneer Fjallraven (Arctic Fox) opens up their first ever store in the US.
Classic stuff, don't miss it!
I met Andrea & Co the other day in NYC, have high hopes to get some Gant Rugger shirts in there as well!
Mott street is now officially as hot as the enchiladas at Café Habana around the corner.

I used to carry my books to school in their classic "Kånken" rucksack 1979-82.
1982 I did what everybody else did where I grew up in Stockholm, changed to a (fucking ugly) Salomon backpack.
Kånken was all of a sudden concidered to be the "commie" backpack and all of a sudden we started picking on anyone with a "kånken".

Conclusion?
Kids are mean little bastards, and, they have no clue what so ever about aesthetics, that's for sure.

Go Fjällräven, and good luck!!

Billy Kirk offices..I think I want to live there.
Picture (not very surprisingly) from www.acontinuouslean.com.

"Big Document" by Saul Steinberg. Just a lot of fake signs, seals and mumbo jumbo wording. Genious.

Looks like a draft of the Declaration of Indepence.
Perhaps Jefferson & Co where downing a quart of whisky and went:
"Seriously, dudes, shouldn't we like write somethin' that looks really profound? I mean we totally sidestepped those teasippin fairies and nicked the entire country. You know, just so it looks like we've put some effort behind it?
What was it you said after you got your divorce Thomas? Somthing like "Finally Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happyness",
That's fuckin genious man, write it down"

Buthcer of Blue / Cool store in Holland

Whopee, it's Monday.

Steve & Chad McQueen

Shot in the Mohave desert for Sports Illustrated, 1971.

Just Another NYC Window...

Compartmentalized

Pulp Friction

Balmain SS2010

Pondering killing myself, cash in on the life insurance & then re-
incarnate.
Probably the only way I'll be able to afford to dress in Balmain come
spring.
Might actually be worth trying.

www.bikeexif.com

Jensen Interceptor

1974, MK III, J-series.
Shiver me timbers and call me Nancy.
(It's like a Pacer X on steroids)

Crusoe to the Rescue?

Boro Boro!

Japanese indigo boro (patchwork).
Meji era, I think?
So natural you could probably smoke it.

Didn't win / Holubar

Vintage ca 1950's (?) Holubar ski anorak.
Haven't seen one of these in a long time.
Went for 200 buckaroos last week at the bay.
Was pondered going up to 250, still a good price. But I've been on a
rampage on Ebay lately, need to buy
food for the kids as well. Why can't they feed on vintage apparel? I do.

Gant Rugger Trunkshow / Yes Please

Again, from the Gant Rugger trunk show in Stockholm.
Refresh my browser and call me Nancy!

Louis Lunch

Louis Lunch is basically where the burger as we know it was invented. So it comes as no surprise I was like a kid in a kandi-store when we went there this september. They whip it up old skool stylee. Toast, patty, onion, tomato and cheese.

Historical landmark? Check.
Cool place & cool cook? Double-Check.
Vertically grilled patties in cast iron gas fueled Monsters from 1890's? Check
Wierd Birch Soda only locals truly understand the greatness of? Oh Yes.
Best Burger I've ever had? Not even close.

Oh, and if you go there, do ask for ketchup, I double dare you.

Didn't win

Google Wave. If it's only half as good as the commercial we got a winner

Prepidemic

The dudes at Prepidemic did a really nice piece on some vintage "Gant Attitude" ads.
Great stuff!!

Check it at:

http://prepidemic.com/2009/10/15/gant-fall-of-1981-princeton/

This. Is. It.

Sick!

Season Finale / Closin up

Perfect colors

Latest findings on Ebay.

Change shirt, or get naked.

Vampire Weekend, next time give us a call and we'll hook you up with
some nice rags. Aight?

The middle one please / Ebay treasures

Fo Sho!

From the live installation in stockholm. Again, the creative team behind Fashion Tale Magazine show that they're a force to be reconned with. Carl-Axel Wahlström is the new black.
I know I'm bias as hell, but this is beatiful.

I've mentioned Fashion Tale Magazine several times on this blog.
So when the team behind FTM got the green light to make the documentary videos of 60th birthday party happenings in Stockholm I kind of knew it would be good. But this is fucking awesome.
We, as always, take a bow.

Fois Gras Burger. That meat patty ain't exactly stuck between a rock and a hard place.

We had the joy to have a wonderful (and beautiful) skipper during the regatta in Newport. I wanna look like that when I'm 50. Check out that jawline, that's the kinda skipper you can hang on to when the shit hits the fan.

Muji's first sublabel. Labo
I love Labo.

Gant Rugger in the streets.

Check it, love it, buy it.

Amazing, simply amazing.

The weekend in Newport easily ranks among top 10 weekends so far.
Sailing vintage Americas Cup yachts was a truly amazing experience.
Surrounded by mahoggany beauties such as "Northern Light" & "Intrepid" dating from 1928 to 1967 , I found myself on Ted Turners old champion "American Eagle". Ended up winning the Regatta, I expected nothing less.
Also had dinner at Cornelius Vanderbilt's old "summer house"..
Decent crib.

Good stuff from Paul Barbera.

Stopped by Yale University last weekend.
Amazing vibe, amazing kids, amazing teachers, amazing everything.
I want a time-machine. I want to be 19 and attend yale.

Another Hard Day's work.

Slap me with pork, twice.

Ordering a brewski at The Standard Grill just got a lot easier.
Best beer, evva.

First look at the Gant Rugger bike.
men.style.com took a pic at Project in Vegas.
At the same show, Jim Moore, creative editor at GQ magazine called Gant Rugger "Best collection at the show".
That's hot.

(It's actually fucking awesome)


http://men.style.com/news/blog/2009/09/one-more-thing-1.html?mbid=rss_upgrdr

Velour A/W 2009 by Fashion Tale Factory from Carl-Axel Wahlström on Vimeo.

Meanwhile, outside the office..

Ship ahoy!
This just sailed by our office..it's a sign.
I'm tellin ya, naval stuff is the shit.
Ask Alex Carleton if you don't believe me.

Home embroidery kit from Swedish design collective "Fuldesign" (Uglydesign)
Fun is the new black.

This song kicks fucking ass!!
You like it too, you're just too anxious to admit it.
Try it after a few beers at a party with dudes born in the early 70's and you'll see what I mean.
(If they don't like it, change friends)

For those of you who might have missed it.

Stuck on a "plaaan"

Travelling is great, especially when you're stuck on the plane in
Amsterdam and you get "As you notice it's the thunderstorm of the
century outside. All take-offs are cancelled. We don't know for how
long. Meanwhile, enjoy the non-existing refreshments"

Add the fact that I took the red-eye down here and got up 4.15 am this
morning after sleeping about 2 hrs, and you get the level of love I'm
feeling for KLM airlines right now.

Photoshoot.

Cult poster "Are You a Preppie"
Retrieved from our companys overnight apartment where it has hung (rather unappreciated) for the better part of the last 5 years.
Utter blasphemy, I didn't even knew this gem existed until yesterday.

Designed by actor Tom Shadyac while attending UVA apparently.

Now, to the shady business...

This one's printed 1979 by Greenpoint Posters, but there are facts pointing to that this poster (and similar ones covering other "themes")
was first issued as early as 1975/76, no matter what, it pre-dates the Official Preppy Handbook!

It changes the whole perspective of OPH, it's originality and the attention it got!
Dudes, this is my Watergate!
(I'll be looking over my shoulders for OCBD/TNSIL spooks performing wet jobs for Lisa Birnbach from now on...)

Anyway, here's a much sought after high res picture of the sucker, enjoy!


Very hush hush on the QT.
Woodward & Bernstein

Todays ebay findings..

The breakfast marlboro will taste so much sweeter, lighting it up old
skool.
Since the shipping cost to sweden alone was the equivalent of 10 packs
of smokes, they better taste like sweet jesus on a popcicle.

To concernded readers (yeah right..) I want to point out that I
religiously stick to one cigarette per day.
Except when travelling (always), enjoying a good meal (breakfast,
lunch, dinner), an "espresso doppo pranzo" (2 times per day) or just a
cold brewski after work (once every two months)
I gotta get my priorities straight.

We take a bow: Guy Aroch

Our Legacy

Well, at least we have one.

Sweden vs Maine

There's this old ship yard turned restaurant close to our country
house where we go as often as we can.
Food's great, wine's cold and time has stood still for the past 40
years, and the ship yard is still in operation.
The whole place is full of old junk and treasures.
I was this close to buying the old Audi they have for sale, it's a
1959 in perfect running condition, and was for sale at 2000 USD.
I've bought vintage jeans that cost more...I'm a schmuck.

Last weekend

Ouch!
My wife's brother brought his renovated 1978 Chris Craft Lancer to the
countryhouse...
He spent 3 years and a silly ammount of dolares to get it in such
pristine shape. It was basically a pile of shit when he got it.
Him being an ültra-picky industrial designer with a huge number of
awards on his resume, it ain't a sloppy job, let me tell you.

I thought about those "perfect weekends" a while ago.

The one that surfaces from your subconcious every now and then. A
memory so fond you don't want to think of it too often.
Afraid you might wear it out, that it will loose it's precioussness.
At the same time you need to think of it often enough to remember the
details, the nuances, the smells.
That perfect weekend.
The one when everybody was there. Nothing clouded either sky or mind.
You ate, drank, danced and fell in love. (with the right girl for once).
You awake by the sunbeams warming your body, underneath a flannel
blanket that smells like "countryhouse".
You yawn, curl up under the blanket and just smile, in spite of the
hangover.
It's a smile bigger than life itself and it suddenly hits you:
It doesn't get any better than this. This very moment, this very
place, this is as good as it gets.

Almost had one of those moments during middle of the week going
through Spring 2010 pictures with MD70 in NYC last week.
Good stuff dudes, good stuff.

AMOSKEAG XX...

Somebody sure did their homework, hats off.

Damn fine homepage as well.

http://amoskeagxx.com/

We're doing a collaboration with Michael Bastian for AW2010, as you probably already heard by now.

Michael is like the nicest dude ever, and it's so cool that we're finally able to tell the world about this collaboration. (It's actually been very hard not to tell anyone)

He's got such a fantastic take on American Sportswear, his stuff is right there on top of the wishlist for anyone with taste for perfectly made sportswear.

This is gonna eat every other collaboration next year for breakfast.

There is only one existing collaboration that is more interesting to me right now, and that's thecollaboration between "Mayo" and "Automatic Dispenser" they sport at "The Fryingpan", pier 66, at W 26th st.
If Michael Jackson resurrects and does something with Jil Sander, that would probably get some kick-ass press too. But it's not very likely, Acne would probably get to him first.

Go Gant.

Woodstock

Tricked out Piaggio's

Italians are stylish, well mannered and can swing together the best
fucking meal you've ever had based on a pack of Di Cecco pasta a can
of tomatoes, some garlic and olive oil. There's also responsible for
Ferrari Dino, Riva and the Fiat "Cincque Cento"
That's why I was totally horrified when I saw this little "APE"-truck
with two tricked out Ciao Piaggio Vespas onboard in Alassio on the way
to the capucco e brioche-breakfast.
These vespas had something very german about them..could this really
be the work of italians??
At a closer look, sure enough, it was a german couple who where posing
as Italians, phe-ew!!
Mi dispiaggio, but Italians would never put fake-wook adornments on a
national treasure, only "ze germans" are capable of such monstrosity.

Seven

Courses at acqua pazza in alassio, 4 weeks in this place will do
wonders for my abs.

Check it:
(We take a bow, as always.)

http://acontinuouslean.com/2009/06/22/first-look-gant-rugger-ss10/



Oh yeah, we made a bike as well. Here's a another sneak pre-view of our darling(s)
"It's pretty fast" according to heart-throb Jacques Naude who rode it like a maniac down the streets of bushwick during the shoot.By the way, this fellow is so hot he makes you wanna switch sides. It's basically Jacques, and Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall.(That part when he's crying is ass off at the grave, get's me every time)There was enough bromance on the set to start a fire, love it!

Sun kissed feet + Sperry for J Crew.

I made a promise never to post pics of myself, (since I kind of lack
an interesting style and the body to accompany it)
But I got this pic from Jenny at MD70 and...Man, my Sperry's for J
Crew kicks a little bit of ass.

By the way, teleporting a huge hug to everyone at MD70 for their
outstanding performance during the shoot.
And to Guy Aroch, the photographer...We simply love you man, hands
down one of the coolest men on the planet.

Holy crap, I go to NYC and Stockholm goes all Newport as the Volvo Ocean Race invades the docks just outside our office.
What a regatta folks!
Would have been kinda cool to see it..
On the other hand, check out ACL on monday, you do NOT want to miss this.

I heart Michael Williams.

Somtimes I forget stuff, important stuff.
Like the fact that last time at Melet Mercantile, I bought one of the (very few) vintage tees handpainted by artist Todd DiCiurcio.
Just found it in my drawer when packing for NYC. I know in my heart, this is one of the best buys I've ever made.
Read about the DiCiurcio showcase and Melet here:
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/style/2009/03/the-anatomy-of-a-fashion-trend.html

NYC Vs Stockholm

There are a couple of places in NYC where you get a really bad ass
burger. PJ Clark's par example.
But I've yet to find a place that can swing a "Dubbel 90 Grammare med
Räka" the way I do.
Nuff said.

You can't handle me.

A small preview of things to come.

Gattaca, anyone?

Thanks to kid of tommorow, http://jblyth.com/blog.html and really
expensive Vino Verde, for making life a little bit brighter!

Hello!

I'm too busy to post!

That's right, I'm too damn busy to post right now.
Be back soon, with a vengance!
Meanwhile, think about the nicest club blazer you've ever seen. Ready?
Now double that, and you're still not even close to the one that'll be
hitting the our stores come spring 2010.
That's how nice it is.

Humble as ever.

Lima, city of villains?

My colleagues went to Peru couple of weeks ago. At the airport one of
them took a closer peek at the box of confiscated items..
Normally you'd have your average pile of lighters, perfume, nail
files, scissors, and in some rare cases a forgotten pocket knife, but
this was insane.
Did Rambo just pass by with Tony Montana, Ted Bundy and The Tool
Murderer?
- Sorry Sir, but I'm afraid you have to leave your Desert Eagle,
hammer (!!??) and HUGE knife here.
- Ah, si, perdon.
- Not at all "hombre", here's your boarding pass, have a nice flight
with Coca Airlines.
- Gracias amigo!
- De Nada!

On the other hand, at Newark International, you even look security in
the eyes and they'll book you.
Every time I come to Newark bordercontrol, I have these compulsive
thoughts: "OK, this time, I'm gonna tell the "homeland security" dude
to go fuck himself if he's rude, for real"
And every time it ends up the same way..

- 'You eyeballin me?
- No Sir, I'm not.
- What are you doing here?
- Ehrm, visiting maybe? Like the rest of the 400 people waiting in
line? In scorching heat I might add.
- Why are you visiting the US?
- But for christ sake!! It's like this every single time I come here!
I just spent a gazillion dollars on a ticket to your country.
The only thing I want to do is spend money and then go back home and
tell everybody how fantastic NYC is.
I fuckin had it with this Homeland Security bullshit, either close the
fucking border or start treating people civilized.
- That's it, you're going to Guantanamo fucker!
- No No No!! Wait, I was just thinking out loud!!

Until the US border control policy changes, (and the utterly rude
staff is sent to kindergarten) I will concider Obama no more than a
puppet on a string in the hands of the Right Wing Christians.

Um lavanderia muito bom!

One of the laundry facilities we work with is situated just outside
Porto. For those of you who haven't been to one, a laundry facility is
a magical place.
Stuff goes in, stiff, full of residues and starch, rather un-charming
and kind of lifeless most times. An hour or so later, after
sandwashing, stonewashing, different versions of golf-ball looking
thrown into large industrial size tumblers, enzymes and secret
concoctions the same product comes out, full of life, vivid and with
that perfect handfeel.
I never get tired of it, it's almost unreal how much a fabric can
change by finding the right combination of techniques.
This particular "Lavanderia" has the added charm of still being rather
old-school in the sence that "The Lab" isn't fully computorized.
There's still the sense of "Frankenstein stuff" going on. Potstills
are bubbling and theres people in white coats leaning over huge (and
very beatiful) filing cabinets checking what recipe they used last
time to get that perfect broken in feeling to a certain oxford
construction. And that's where the true magic is.
How much of softener? How long stonewash? Should we go for 60 minutes,
or will that break the edges on the collar? Should it be dried with
golfballs, dry or wet tumbling?
And that two ply italian poplin, should we just give it a rinse or do
we dare to give a couple of minutes in the tumbler with that new
square-shaped rubber thingy the technician asked us to try out, hmmmm..

Vroom fuckin' VROOM!

I seriously need to buy a motorcykel. Without a bike like this, my
life will never be complete.
Wife & Kids, you just became Numero Due on daddys "most loved" list,
sorry.
www.wrenchmonkees.com , the biker in me is alive, ALIVE!

The colors of the south

Jumped on a 50 minute flight to Ängelholm, in south of sweden, for a 3 day wedding.
Fantastic place, got kind of a Hampton feel to it.
(without the 400-million-dollar-for-a-tiny-house-stiff-upper-lips)
We're staying at a B&B at an artists house right on the beach. The dunes right outside the window and best of all, generations of gathering all sorts of small findings and knickknacks, most of them local and maritime. Old sea charts, flasks, various optic instruments, smashing.
If you're ever in this part of the country, I recommend you stay here for a couple of days.
www.gallerihyttstigen.se
(The website doesn't do the place justice, at all..)

Jackson Pollock

The Catalogue from 1963.
Printed on really heavy paper, very cool.
(10 out of 10 as a show off in the bookshelf)

Fashion Tale Magazine does it again!

I wrote about this fantastic magazine when they released their first
issue.
I then said it's very rare a new magazine blows you away. At the sneak
preview held today at Hotel Lydmar for their 3:rd issue, they did it
again.
There's one particular story (again shot by Kalle Gustafsson, styled
by Mona Norremo) that is, pardon my french, fucking beautiful.
It's a take on iconic pictures of Brando, Dean, McQueen &Co. Sound
like a rehash? Well, when done with such love (and understanding) for
the originals it don't matter, it's still right up my alley and I
swollow it, hook, sink and line. No Corona chaser needed.
I take a bow. (Continue like this and I will get a hernia)

Jackson Pollock

I haven't been very good at posting lately. (Sorry Claes..)
I just found the Jackson Pollock catalogue from his 1963 exhibition at
The Museeum of Modern Art in Stockholm
among the many books that my grandmother left me..that's kind of nice,
innit?
Pictures to come, stay tuned.

Japanese brand "The Superior Labor". Very nice indeed.
It's like the bastard child of an L.L Bean Tote and a vintage US Navy
equip bag, on steroids.
Japanese do it better.

The Adler Buckshot Brogues are finally mine.
Give me 2 months and they'll be just as nicely worn in as in the
second pic.
Now, all I need is a made to measure navy light weight wool suit.
Oh, wait, that's on it's way as well.
Life is good.

What I'd like to buy.

The new Margiela wallet in white calfskin.
Yes Please.

Best buy last week.
A vintage, ca 1910, Swedish hole punch, made by "Tengwall AB".
It's heavy as hell and makes a really nice, expensive sound. (best
described as "katchunk")
We're still using the same (crappy) 4-hole standard as back then so it
will actually come in handy at the office, and give a certain je ne
sais quoi to the hole-punching.
Maybe I could go all rabid and start shouting out loud random orders,
while making some holes to emphasize what I just said.
- NEED THOSE PICTURES OF OLD FISHERMEN, LIKE TEN MINUTES AGO!
KATCHUNK!!
Will be very appreciated.

I have Tourettes.

My wife tells me I have Tourettes.
She's confusing ADHD with Tourettes.
(She does that a lot, confuse things and words, one of the many
reasons why I love her)

She says I'm overly ambitious, addicted to Acetone and always put way
too much effort into things.
(She's right, I need to cool it a bit, I've been like the fucking
energizer bunny lately)
Whenever I get the chance I do Acetone printing.
It's a neat little trick I learned from Richard Hutchinson like 10
years ago when we worked at Acne together.
We threw a surprise dinner for a friend at Teatergrillen in Stockholm
the other day.
Made a note and a label for the birthday boy. Printed on the backside
of an antique french label and a sheet of paper (from 1905) pulled it
out from one of the old textile books I have laying around everywhere
these days.

Troy This

Click your way to:
http://www.myspace.com/troythis
Turn the volume to 11. (If you got Spinal Tap speakers, otherwise 10
will work) and listen to "Happy" ft. Robyn.
Don't say I didn't warn you, this shit is addictive!
As Claes Juhlin would say. Ja Jävlar!

Lacrosse

From the LIFE archives.
When browsing through these pictures I found myself returning to the
ones showing the scenes surrounding the game rather than the actual
game itself. Especially love the one with the cheerleader walking with
the guys after the game, and the one where one of the players is
chatting up one of the chicks on the side of the field.
It's memory lane.

Gamla Stans Cykel

In a house dating back to 1639, stockholms oldest Bicycle store is
located.
First thing we see when step inside in is a 1901 crescent (US made)
that is the exact bike we had in mind when designing our bike!
(We where initially even going for the shaft drive but later decided
to stick with chain as it's much more easy to maintaine and service)
The store, Gamla Stans Cykel, (Old Town Bikes) has been in business
since 1917 and is a gold mine for anyone interested in beautiful things!

Hopefully, we will have a bike on display in their window come next
january when we launch the first ever Gant Bike!

www.gamlastanscykel.se

Chaque révolution a son style!

On my way to work I saw this banner protesting against the IPRED-law,
illegalizing file-sharing, that recently passed in Sweden. (The owners
of Pirate Bay was sentenced to one year in jail and a gazillion crowns
in fines)

The banner looks like a five year old with Tourettes made it. It's
utter rubbish.

A few years ago I bought a book called "Mai 68" at Dover Street
Market. It's by far the most expensive book I've ever bought, but
worth every penny. It was published the same year as the french
student revolution in May 1968 and is a "best of" of the posters that
where created by artists and students during the turmoil in support of
the students, opposing the Government.
The first sentence of the book reads "Every revolution has it's style".

Hot tip to the anti-IPRED dudes:
If you are going to protest, please do so with some style, or do not
protest at all, thank you.

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

The writing on the wall

One of last weeks best buys in NYC.
"Applied Lettering and Design"
A short study on different Fonts and the way to properly block and
kern etc.
Also holds some fantastic examples from sketches to ready artwork.
Beautiful, too bad I can't draw a straight line with a ruler.
(you'll find several copies on www.abebooks.com, at very decent prices)

Showtime

Last week in NYC I went to check the live version of SöndagsParty,
it's being aired from the same studio as Martha Stewart. (A slightly
bizarre combo by the way)
I like this shot, it's got that 60's "golden age of talkshows" over
it, blurred and all.
It does the hosts justice, as they actually have re-invented swedish
television in many ways.
This is a few minutes before the show starts, there's a lot of tension
on the set, the guys are getting their shit together and the crowd is
kind of nervous in a good way.
Also hat's off to the set decorator, a very nice job indeed.
Set decorators get way to little credit!

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

Band Of Outsiders at Barneys NYC

I couldn't resist taking this shot inside Barneys last week, it was
just too good.

As much as I love NYC

it's still great to be home. Headed straight to the country house from
the airport.
Calm, fishing, strawberries and a nice surpise visit of a friend who
stopped by with his 1969 Chris Craft lancer.
(It's the 25 footer, only 80 where made in this version, hello
dreamboat!!)

The Marc Jacobs store, and the park 2 blocks away from it...

Early morning report Bleecker St NYC.
As always, the window dislpays at our good friends at Ralph Lauren is flawless.
And RRL has outdone themselves this spring with a vintage nautical story that oozes of denim, rope-trimmings and jersey fabrics that I actually could see myself making love to, that's how good it is.
The natural, non-artificial look on the finishing and washings is unparallelled to any other I've seen this season.
If you do not know the process of actually manufacturing garments like these, you cannot even begin to understand the huge ammount of detail and work that goes into each garment, it's mindboggling.
I humbly fall to my knees in awe of this company, over and over again.

Breaking News (?)

While having breakfast at Bus Stop Café on hudson this morning a car crashed and caught fire. I ran out with my beloved camera and got some nice shots. NYC, the city where the shit goes down.
(By the way, Bus Stop Café is kind of nice, they have a great oatmeal with apple, walnuts & cinnamon)

We will be offering a very limited ammount of vintage NIKE sneakers in our project store at PUB.
They're produced 1979-80 all in original sunbleahced boxes, orange swoosh and everything.
These are pristine, never even been laced up..yummy stuff for the sneaker nerds, I tells you!

Womens sizes only, hook your babe up or die!

There will also be a fresh load of vintage gant shirts (shortsleeved, really nice checks) coming in next week!

Dinner last night.
Linguine with olive oil, crushed garlic and anchovy.

Boil the linguini appx 8-9 minutes (De Cecco if you can find it)
(Should only be nearly al dente, it will become perfect in the pan later on)

Heat 4 tbl spoons of olive oil in a pan, crush 2 cloves of garlic and drop into the oil.
Let simmer for 2 minutes and then remove.

Mash 4-5 anchovy in the pan with a fork together with a pinch of pepperoncini and let simmer for a while.

Drain the pasta (get all the water and vapor out or the sauce won't stick the way you want it to)

Now, throw the pasta into the anchovy oil and fry for 3 minutes on high heat.

Devour with a light Red. (why not a slightly chilled Beaujoulais Noveau?)

And, as always there's a little something for the nerds.
Notice the vintage Sabatier knife.
1960's, carbon steele, and sharp like a motherfucker.

Buon appetito tutti!

Todays shopping.

Nuff said!

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I'm I the only one who have noticed the similarity between TOD's latest campaign and Edward Munch's classic angst painting "Skriet"?
Total weird-o-rama.
Evil I tells you!

Meat = Love.

The week in spain has come to an end.
Somewhat tanned, rested and with aching thighs from the daily 8 km
morning run the memory that stays is when we bought the 15 lbs Pata
Negra at the local food market.
This is how food should be presented and bought.

These morning walks are transforming my hometown into some kind of Ivy League campus..or maybe it's just wishful thinking.
You see what you want to see.

I'll be hangin out in our house in spain for the next week.
No internet, no cell, no work.
I'll be cooking, drinking cold beer, exercising (maybe), sleeping (definately), gaining weight (mos def!) and reading.
Wearing worn out espadrilles and equally worn oxford shirts.
Very Hemingway-ish, but without the angst.

Unless I'm able to crack the password to the neighbors wifi, then I'll probably be working.

Meanwhile, you might want to listen to US Royalty, they're kind of great.
http://www.myspace.com/usroyalty

Something is happening!

I would swap the kids for this one, hands down.
(Sorry kids, but daddy really wants a Dodge Charger)

San Jose Hotel has a sister hotel, also in Austin Texas. Also a kick ass place judging by the website.
The same little short movies to show the place, love it, check it!
http://www.hotelsaintcecilia.com

Got some good coverage from the opening, these pics are by far my favourite ones!
We take a bow.
All pics from http://www.modette.se/eleonore/blogg
(Thanks Eleonore for the tip about www.poladroid.net!)

Bike-o-rama.

It's time to dust of the old bike.
I think my favourite is the "James". It's from 1931, believe it or not.
The "Gloria" (with the awesome water flasks) ain't half ass either..

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Take a walk in my shoes

Talking a long walk through a Stockholm not yet really awake, it
doesn't get much better.
It is, hands down, the most beatiful place in the world.

Finally, the project store!

The new GANT project store opened in Stockholm yesterday.

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Just ran into Claes Juhlin & Co at the airport (!?)
He was on his way to Nice to do something glamorous.
I'm on my way to Porto, to do something evil. Shirts, and some wicked blazers.
Among them, a remake of a vintage Gant club blazer I found at ebay last year.
Will be shrunken and tweaked into perfection with some nice detailing.
Much like this..

Always reliable ACL lead me to checking out Hotel San Jose in Austin Texas..
First of all, the webpage is pure magic.
Second, they call their suites "sweet".
Third, the little movies they shot to show the different rooms...that polaroid filter post production effects, yes please!
Four, their hotel shuttle car is....an International Harvester Scout II..
Nuff said.
http://www.sanjosehotel.com/

Once again, not living in NYC makes me post about stuff that to any hip scenster in the big apple is sooo last season.
Can't help it. I met with a new business comrade, an extremely talented artdirector, the other day and he told me about Norwood.
Been open for two years now, and I never heard of it. (there you go, I'm uncool)
Have to check it out come end april when I'm back in town.
They have a little garden that blow me away. Why didn't anyone tell me about this place before?
By the way, I found some pictures from what the place looked like before they re-built it.
(If it's even half as nice as back then, it's my kind of place, no doubt)

Windows at Barneys NYC last week.
And, of all the weird signs I see in Bangalore, this is "The mother of all weird signs".

"Dial Infant"?
I don't get it, at all.

This blogs favourite Player (?) Claes Juhlin did a story on "The top 10 linen shirts" on www.kingmagazine.se

Allow me to retort:
A fine count linen (60 Lea x 60 Lea), softened by a 75 minutes enzyme / stone wash.
All executed in a color range so vibrant yet so refined it will make angels weep and fall from the sky.
If I may say so myself.
Any avid fan fabric design will note the fine border of white between the colored stripe and the blue that ever so slightly soften brightness and enhances the "je ne sais quoi" of the shirt.

"Italians do it better"?
Pah!

t's that time of the year (at least in sweden) when you can finally wear chucks without dying from hypothermia.
Not that I wear anything else, even when there's three feet of snow, but at least people stop making remarks.
Speaking of hypothermia, flood-pant-god Mr Thom Browne seem to be in a bit of a predicament himself, apparently having a hard time paying his bills.
I could have told you 6 months ago (but didn't) when I visited this place, who used to make TB's oxford shirts but had to stop as he didn't keep his end of the deal. (Paying in time that is)
He seem to be doing OK moneywise with work from Brooks and others, and I do hope he finds a way to continue his own line, would be a great loss to menswear.

Gambert Shirts in Newark have been doing the real stuff since 1933.
Suzanne Gambert is third generation and they have a nice little set up, and some mad skills.
I still nurture the idea of one day doing a small run of shirts with them, he who waits..

For gods sake!

If you haven't listened to "Walking on a dream" by Empire of the Sun,
you are a complete moron.

The question "What music do I choose for the catwalk without revealing
how totally fucking clueless I really am?" got answered today.

It's perfection, I even found a way of remixing it with the intro from
"Geraldine" (!)

Clueless or not, once again, I rule.

The album cover on the other hand is.....an airbrushed fantasy
nightmare, like Siegfried & Roy on extasy.

It's old news, yada yada yada..
I can't help it. The way Band of Outsiders just turned those Sperry
Top Siders inside out is one of the most ingenious things in shoe
history. Still pisses me off, that's how clever it is.
One day I will be that clever too.
I just need to be real nice in this life, gather up some of that
creative karma, and be reborn as Scott Sternberg.

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National Motorcycle race, some time in the 50's.
Dude.

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
(I really do hate that phraze that is automatically encluded when I post from via e-mail. I'd rather have global warming)

Phys Ed

Photographer Gjon Mili took these 1943 to show the U.S Navy exercise
program.
Physical Education never looked so artful.
(Seems to me that Leni Riefenstahl ûbermensch-vibe was kind of hot in
the U.S as well)

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California ca 1970

- Dude?
- Dude!

"The new bust"

Vintage bust forms for the project store at PUB in stockholm.
Nice!

Awww....

Surfer Girl

I'll just shut up for a while..

That dude, number 62!
Shiver me timbers and call me Nancy, but isn't it illegal to look that
stunning while running your ass off?
For the detail freaks, notice the absence of buttons on the rugger
worn by the ball-keeper.
I think the rubber buttons where added late 60's / beg 1970's?
(Not sure about that one though, anyone with more info on this, feel
free to jump in!)

Yesterday was sunday.
A perfect day to throw a combined dinner for my daughters who turned 6
& 8 during the week.
The older one got to pick whatever she wanted for dinner
Her choice?
Beef carpaccio for starters and then home made bouillabaisse..
I've schooled that girl right.

Now, there's a million ways to swing a Bouillabaisse, this is the no
brainer version.

You'll need:

A pound of fresh or frozen shrimp. (in the shell)
400 grams of fresh salmon. Cut in 1/2 inch size cubes.
400 grams of Cod, cut as above.
A bag of mussels / clams / almejas, whatever.
Fennel, thinly sliced.
Saffron (2 grams)
Cream

For the Fish stock. (Make your own, or die)
Bone & Head from any white fish, (for the stock only)
Tomato paste.
One apple
Garlic. (5-6 smashed cloves)
2 Shallots
White wine.
Any dry white will do for the stock.

I reccommend a Chardonnay to go with it, it's da bomb with saffron for
some reason.

First, make the stock.
Throw all the shrimpshell & fish bone/head into a hot pan with olive
oil and 3 hole garlic cloves.
Stir and add 2 tbl spoons of tomato paste / purée, and 2 finely
chopped shallots.
Let it get some colour and then add half a bottle of white wine.
(Make sure you scrape the bottom of the pan to get all them nice
flavours out)
By now your kitchen should smell like heaven or something is wrong.

Add 1 litre of boiling water and some of the sliced fennel and half an
apple.
Let it simmer for 25 minutes on low heat.

Sift, throw away the shells etc.
Add the saffron, and then the cream.
Add the rest of the sliced fennel and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Bring to a boil and add the mussels & fish, put a lid on it and boil
for 4 minutes.
Before serving you add some shrimp tails to each soup bowl and pour
the soup on top.
(Do not throw them into the pot and boil, they'll just go all chewy on
you)

Croutons
White bread cut into cubes, fried in olive oil AND butter with some
garlic, herbes de provence & sea salt.

Aioli
Whip together Mayo, some fresh lemon juice and a crushed garlic clove.

Once again, I rule.
(Pic stolen from the web)

P

Once again, the excellent work of my wife.
This time it was the opening for Lyle & Scott's shop at NK,
Stockholm's finest department store.
By the way, she also designed the store, which looks equally nice.

Go Hanna!
(Soon you'll by me a 1978 Porshe Targa, right?)

P

Today's purchase.
Vintage boyscout rucksack.
Check that insignia..
Inspiration doesn't come any better than this.
One has to wonder, was the NYC Council a tougher bunch than say, the Skokie Illinois one? Was this rucksack a symbol of true power (and equally girl-scout magnet) at the national meetings in the 50's?
And, did the NYC crowd look down on their fellow fly-by-state scouts?
I think not, Scouts ain't down with that sort of behaviour.

Hello watch of my dreams.
Lemania.
Once upon a time this was the official chronograph of the Royal Swedish Airforce.
And all Swedish fighter pilots looked like Tom Cruise in Top Gun. But blond, and taller.

Have to buy.

The Smile, the new store/restaurant by the guy behind Earnest Sewn, recently opened on Bond Street in NYC.
Looks like my kind of place.

My new best friends, the Jonas Brothers.
This time they played in front of 72 000 people, leadsinger sporting a smashing shirt and jacket.
72 000 people.
"That's Hot" as Paris would have said.

By the way (love the expression "by the way", by the way) there's this thing tormenting me. I'm trying to find the perfect song for the fashion show for spring 2010.
My heart says "play Go Square Go" with glasvegas. starting the song at 1.54 minutes when the beat builds and they start shouting "here we, here we, here we fucking go!".
(Because it kind of symbolises the way I feel about the "re-birth" of the concept.
Here we fucking go.
But then I think "that's very pretentious innit?" and I dwell on "Paris" by Friendly Fires for a while.. but that song is kind of impossible to walk to..
Back to square one. We can't really play "Sound and vision" by bowie, even though it's the best catwalk song ever.
WTF, I'm stuck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSdeDJUxF-0

Apropos cool places. The other week when in Hong Kong we went to feather boa. Haven't been in years and the place is still the queen of bars in Hong Kong. The only place where you get your strawberry daquiri in a HUGE coupe, soaked in chocolate.
It's gay (in the merry way, not the "gay" gay way), packed, and insanely hard to find.
Even the small brass sign that says members only is elusive.
Anyway, stop by and have a drink. The pictures in the mens room alone is worth the wait.
By the way, if there was a place like this in NYC or stockholm (and NO, there isn't), there would be 4 convicted murderers outside refusing anyone but sodding moviestars and the über-chic to enter..

Our Legacy lookbook spring 09.
One can only take a bow, this is pure genious.
I'm guessing the guys have taken a peak at the book "Take Ivy", the resemblance is certainly there anyway.
I got a first edition of aforementioned book.
Bought it three years ago for 280 USD in NYC.
Last time it surfaced on ebay last year it was 1900 USD.
Once agin, my fingerspitzgefûhle for the old and worn proved impeccable.
Too bad it ain't as impeccable for more contemporary things, like helping my kids with the homework. But where's the fun in listening to an 8 year old reading about a vegan boy with rashes? Or whatever kids books today are about.
Sorry kids, I'll buy you something expensive from Bergdorf instead, you'll thank me when you're older.

Intellectual aspirations.
Back in the good old days, when our brand was the pinnacle of shirts among the Ivy Leaguers, being sold at places like Yale, Harvard, Brown etc, it was only a matter of time before a shirt called "The Keats" would appear.
Very pretentious and very cool.
Keats did rock a few cool shirts himself.

The contrasts of Bangalore.
One is a small kiosk where they sell....snacks, I guess?
The other is the hotel lobby at Leela Palace where I'm staying.
Can you spot the difference?
(Clue, you can't park your bike at the entrance of Leela Palace)

When my friend Claes Juhlin isn't writing on his (profusely) well written blog he's messing up my world by posting a link to this piece of shit of a blog.
So...I guess I have to start updating this thing more often, or I will be scorn by "everyone who's anyone" in the sad, archaic little pond of anxious fashion people where I reside.

I'm screwed either way. (Thanks Claes)

Did anyone but me realize that the latest DVF ad is a total hommage to Peter Beard?

(http://kingmagazine.se/Manniskorna/claes/)

Hardcourt Polo.
The modern backalley version feels rougher, and a bit more hightech.
The older version, as always, much more stylish.
Embarking on a new mission, I am..
It will probably hurt as hell to learn the game.
But rather bruised and updated, than in one piece and an old fart.
I'll probably end up a bruised old fart.

International Harvester Scout.
Hello dream car!

Thom Browne Fall 09.
How about that jumpsuit-suit!
In general a fantastic collection, as with the Gamme Bleu the outerwear looks exeptional.
And it seems Mr Brown is still re-inventing shapes and cuts.
A bit more boxy and square shaped than before, and there's a clear nod to eastern european/Russian military uniforms.
(I miss his trademark narrow slacks, would have been smashing to these boxy double brested blazers)

Band of Outsiders Fall 09.
Perfection.
(Much love goes to ACL)

My brother & his wife are thinking of putting together a cookbook called "Normal fucking food that even a moron could make".
(The title is roughly translated from swedish, but knowing my brother, it's not far from what the english title would be)

It should be pointed out that my brother ain't exactly at a Anthony Bourdain level in the kitchen, but the concept is great, and god knows he likes to cook when given the chance to chop something up with a sharp knife.
Besides, he's got a shotgun, lives on an island and is somewhat of a mogul in swedish media industry, so I guess he get's away with it. My contributions to this scrap-book bastard of a cookbook starts with poached eggs over smoked salmon, sauce hollandaise, sprinkled with chopped shallots, chives and a splash of tabasco.

Most of the times, meeting with the suppliers who are producing the designs we do, means dull offices and very little creative atmosphere.
Sometimes, you meet suppliers who are even crazier than yourself when it comes to obsessing over detail and collecting.
Union Apparel's head honcho Mr Philip Law is my new hero.
His office is a wet dream.
Beatles photo Ep's (which we played on an old italian machine) a Ducati, a superb collection of robots and dolls, vintage denim everywhere. I honestly didn't get much work done. But we did talk about natural dyed indigo, 45rpm and the three ply 120's shirting fabrics they developed two seasons ago and which set me back 450 bucks for a shirt.
He showed me the Damien Hirst collection for Levis, which he produced. Among them where the spin printed 1947 501's....7 pairs where made and sold for 15 000 euros..

It's not nice to lash out on strangers (or take their picture unknowingly)
But hey, Crocs? 2009? In public? With a "Fuji Rock" jacket?
Did he smile and go:
"Rock out with your Crocs out!" looking into the mirror that morning?
I can't think of a better reason to commit Hara Kiri.
Be a man, gut yourself.

Muji store.
Wall decorated by thousands of the plexi penholders they sell.
Neat.

Besides from offering the best shopping in the world, Tokyo also offer the coolest bikes..
everything in this city is so well thought through it almost makes you sick.
(almost)

Burkman Brothers.
Hello next big thing.