De Bon Air: Winter '13

Playlist: Autumn Youth

To be young in New York City during autumn... 

Autumn Youth from thesignetseal on 8tracks Radio.

Dear Lana...I Heart you

Lana del Rey how you continue to fascinate me with everything you do!  If you've walked by any H&M store recently, you've seen Ms. del Rey on the big screen modeling the new Fall '12 collection, complete with her signature bouffant and sultry pout.  Here is the commercial that H&M recently released, and might I say Lana looks better than ever!  I can't stop watching this video, directed by Johan Renck.

Speaking of Lana, also check out this teaser video for the new Jaguar F-Type, featuring her new song Burning Desire.  Lana has signed with the company as the new face of the luxury car brand.

August Playlist: Boardwalk

Boardwalk 8/12 from thesignetseal on 8tracks Radio.

June Music Recap: Vineyard Sound

Vineyard Sound 6/12 from thesignetseal on 8tracks.

Seersucker Punch

To kick-off the warmer days ahead, I thought I'd celebrate the quintessential fabric of summer - seersucker.  

The modern name of the lightweight, cotton fabric is a variation of the Hindi sirsakar, which comes from the Persian "shir o shekar" meaning "milk and sugar."  The specific tension weaving process of the warp threads (as opposed to the weft) creates the unique smooth and bumpy texture somewhat resembling milk and sugar.  The wrinkled texture is functional as well, as it keeps the fabric away from the skin, aiding in air circulation and making it the ideal fabric for warm weather.

Trend-setter Anthony Drexel Biddle in a seersucker sport coat with wife and friend
via Dressing the Man by Allen Flusser, p. 105

Interestingly, when the fabric made it's way to America by the early 20th century, it was considered a cheap working man's fabric - a cotton replacement for the original silk material relished by British colonials in India.  Style forward American undergraduates in the 1920's in an act of "reverse snobbery" began sporting the pinstriped fabric, thus securing it as a preppy wardrobe staple.  


In an article from the New York Times, writer David Colman investigates the rise of seersucker in American men's fashion.  He recounts a seersucker clad student in 1945, Damon Runyon, describing his new fashion sense, "causing much confusion among my friends...they cannot decide whether I am broke or just setting a new vogue".  Clearly the young Mr. Runyon was a visionary, as seersucker can be found in preppy retailers across the country.  So this summer, whether heading to the beach, a gathering of friends, uptown, or downtown sport your seersucker with pride knowing that you're keeping a rich history and tradition alive.


Sources: 
David Colman (2006-04-20). "Summer Cool of a Different Stripe". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
Flusser, Alan. Dressing the Man. New York: HarperCollins World, 2003. Print.

Three Artists One Song

Image via Converse.com

Converse's Three Artists One Song series delivers yet again with the new single "Warrior" featuring Mark Foster + Kimbra + A-Trak. Talk about a killer collab, the newest single to promote a new line of Converse sneaks is the perfect kick-off to summer.  Mark Foster, of Foster the People, delivers with an incredibly catchy chorus that really grooves with A-Trak's collosal beats and Kimbra's vocal talents, showing that she means business.  The quirky lucha libre inspired video, complete with stylized color explosions, is also really cool - get ready to hit repeat. 

And the best part - you can download "Warrior" for FREE right here!


You may recognize Kimbra as the female counterpart in Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" - the Kiwi singer with her newfound US fame just released her debut album "Vows" which is def worth a listen.


Check out some of the past Three Artists One Song singles from also available to download including "All Summer" by Kid Kudi + Vampire Weekend + Best Coast and a personal fave "My Drive Thru" by N.E.R.D. + Santogold + Julian Casablancas.