Cameo Craze

There's nothing like the sheer excitement of a celebrity spotting...especially when it's situated within your favorite song.  Recently more and more celebrities have been teaming up with indie musicians and offering their talents for music videos.  It's a cool way to see actors in a different context and the surprise of finding them makes me like the songs even more.


Here is a list I put together of my top five favorite music video cameos...


5. Michael Cera - "No You Don't" Islands


4. Kristen Bell - "Madder Red" Yeasayer


3. Bruce Willis - "Stylo" Gorillaz


2. Christina Hendricks "The Ghost Inside" Broken Bells


1. Joe Jonas, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lil' Jon, and RZA - "Giving Up the Gun" Vampire Weekend

Intellectual Eyewear

Oliver Peoples continues to impress me with their attention to detail and appreciation for classic design.  It's times like these that I seriously envy those with less than perfect eye sight!  

Oliverpeoplesvintage.com

If I were in the market for frames, I would pick up the O'Malleys in light tortoise.  Frames like these will never go out of style, so picking up a pair of these limited editions and using them as sunglasses until you need the real thing isn't a bad idea or investment.  The OP Vintage Collection is perfect, timeless, preppy, style. 




I'm dying to spend an afternoon at Dragon Books and pick up this $4,450 first edition "The Catcher in the Rye" from 1951.  One can dream...

Oliverpeoplesvintage.com

Wm. J. Mills & Co. Classic Duffel

For over 60 years, Wm. J. Mills & Co. has made the quintessential duffel perfect for days at the beach, at the gym, or for an overnight trip.  With a long history of use by boaters and sailers, Mills canvas has a reputation for quality and durability even in the harshest conditions.

Wm. J. Mills & Co. Classic Duffel

With more wear, the better it gets, and it's machine washable - score!  With five different sizes and a plethora of color combinations, there's one for everyone's taste.  


Personally, I'm partial to the Napthol Red with white trim for its authentic nautical appeal.

The Royal Tenenbaums' House

Ever wonder where the townhouse from The Royal Tenenbaums is located?  Look no further, the Pop Pilgrims over at the A.V. Club take us on a sneak peek of the process behind finding the perfect locations for the 2001 film and filming on location in New York City.  I will definitely be checking this locale out!





As always, check out other cool pop culture videos and much more at theavclub.com!

New Haven Revisited

Despite its Scandinavian influence and recent Swiss buyout, I'm glad to see that Gant still holds strong to its New Haven roots.  After all, it was there that Bernard Gant established the Gant shirt company in 1948, and where it reopened in 2010.


Prized by male Yalies in the 1960s, the shirts were an instant success with their tailored details and locker loop - the loop on the back of the shirt invented by the company.  Although designed to hang in a gym locker, my mom remembers a more common practice of girls pulling the loop off of an unsuspecting perspective suitor.

This pre-fall '11 Gant Rugger video called "The New Haven Math Club" tips a hat to New Haven and incorporates some humor to boot.  Modeled after a retro educational video, its a little corny, especially the way the guy says "but-tons," but I was entertained nonetheless... and I liked the closing line - "if you dress smart, your mind will surely follow."

Great in Britain

Check out this awesome photography archive of Brits at work called Great in Britain, sponsored by Barbour.  Through submissions from across the nation the project hopes to create "a visual time capsule," which celebrates the diversity of people who make up the British countryside.   


Each month a winner is chosen, who receives a new Barbour Bedale jacket - fancy that!  Here are a few of my favs from the archive.

Photo by Elizabeth Evans

Photo by Elizabeth Evans

Photo by Jay Thompson

Photo by Edward Perry

And there are many more to see in the full archive!

July Playlist: Beachcomber

A B & the Sea

A B and the Sea is the result of two transplants from Wisconsin now living in San Fran.  Since its start back in 2008 the band now encompasses five members, with a distinct Beach Boys-esque take on surf pop.  "In the Sunshine" is pure summer.





The acoustic version is great as well!

His & Hers: Tennis Whites

After returning from a relaxing week of sun and sand, I am revitalized and anxious to update the SS.  


First, is this article that I came across in the WSJ coming off of last weeks Wimbledon tennis finals.  I really like these vintage inspired tennis whites - especially the men's Gant Rugger cricket sweater and Nylite Tretorn tennis shoes (however, I sport the classic white-on-whites).  Read the article if you haven't already, it's a neat retrospective in tennis wear history.

I will certainly continue to update more vigorously, now that I am on home-turf.  Keep an eye out for my July playlist coming shortly!

Famous Films in Famous Places

If you happen to be around northern Texas tonight, you should stop by the Royal Theater in Archer City to see a screening of The Last Picture Show (1971) at 9:15pm.  This evening wraps up an awesome month long project by the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema called the Texas Monthly Rolling Roadshow.  All month the project has paid homage to the 10 greatest Texas films ever by screening them in the locations where they were filmed.  And the best part, is that admission is free!  


Shown in 35mm and preceded by a reel of vintage trailers, you can rediscover these classic films on the big screen and journey back in time.  Check out their website for future dates as the Rolling Roadshow screens "famous movies in famous places."





All of the trailers for the selected movies are on the Apple website and each films' poster was  re-imagined by artist Jason Munn.  Simple and to the point, but really visually striking - they're super cool.  

Munn has designed many other posters, which you can see on his website.