Moon Rise Kingdom Trailer

So long overdue, but if you haven't seen yet watch.

Allah-las

Image via Allah-las.com

My new fav up-and-coming band!  I first came across their retro California sound as their song "Long Journey" was featured in the most recent Rugby Ralph Lauren Spring '12 video.





The first pressing of their debut 45 single "Long Journey" b/w "Catamaran" from Pres Records is already sold out (and yes that's an actual 45 vinyl record, not an MP3).  As far as I'm concerned the Allah-lahs are doing everything right, from their catchy harmonies and lo-fi guitar-driven beats, to their collaboration with 60's R&B aficionado Nick Waterhouse, the songs is so wonderfully nostalgic.  The Pres Records website describes them perfectly, "The group sounds like bungalows in canyons; hidden deco stairsteps peeking from leafy hillsides; kustom kars and dovetails and chicks in OP shorts with long, long hair, like a Dennis Hopper photo come to life."

So until they release an EP on Itunes, dust off that old turntable and order the repress from Innovative Leisure Recordings.  Listen to the sigles at Bandcamp.

Wardrobe File: The Duffle Coat

The name of the duffle coat originated from the heavy wool fabric manufactured in Antwerp, Belgium in the town of Duffel.  During World War I, the British Royal Navy issued a tan colored duffel coat for it's warmth and durability at sea.  The toggle fasteners were designed to be easily fastened and unfastened while wearing gloves, and the oversized hood helped accomodate a sailor's naval cap.

British Navy sailors sporting early Duffle coats, 1919
via Brian Wollaston, maritimequest.com

The British Army Officer Bernard Montgomery sported the coat during World War II, were it garnered the nickname "Monty Coat."  

Due to surplus coats after the war, the coat became a popular preppy item in the 50's and 60's and became popular in the sporting world, among Hollywood celebrities, and on college campuses across the country.  They were distributed mainly by the British company Gloverall, who still produce the original duffel coat today.

All images via Gloverall.com

No matter whether you call it a duffle, Monty, or toggle, the coat is an essential addition to any man (or woman's) wardrobe.  It's simple, practical, and can be dressed up or down, making it a great, versatile coat with nearly one hundred years of tradition.


Duffle bags share the same origin, as they were first made from the same woolen material.

Safe and Sound

Every so often I come across a band that I can just tell is going to be big.  Capital Cities is one of them.  I put their first single "Safe and Sound" on my January Playlist and have been listening to it on repeat all month.  Check out the music video for the song, synced with vintage footage of people dancing through the decades and juxtaposed with war footage and explosions.  The music oddly really goes well with the video, and it's pretty cool to watch the progression of dance through the decades.  Check it... 

Beauty and the Sword

This week the CBS Sunday Morning show remembers the lives of two very interesting contributors to the creative world - master swordsman and fencer Bob Anderson, 89, and photographer Eve Arnold, 99.  Anderson choreographed many memorable sword fights in Hollywood films, while Arnold is best remembered for her work photographing Marilyn Monroe.

On the Coffee Table: Hollywood and the Ivy Look

"Hollywood and the Ivy Look" is the definitive reference book of preppy American style as popularized by young Hollywood actors from 1955 to 1965.  It features many previously unreleased, full-page photographs of Hollywood style icons, and also includes behind-the-scenes shots from the films that helped cement the "ivy look" into the young American style consciousness at the time.  With minimal, yet amusing and interesting text, it's clearly all about the gorgeous pictures and the appreciation of classic men's fashion.  The relaxed and effortless approach to fashion as demonstrated by these Hollywood men is what inspires my own personal style and attitude.

Published by Reel Art Press and written by Tony Nourmand, a specialist in entertainment imagery, and Graham Marsh, who also authored "The Ivy Look: Classic American Clothing-A Pocket Guide," this book is a worthy addition to any preppy enthusiast's library.

Above images via Reel Art Press

Papa Knows Best