Adventures in The City: Views n Shoes

Honestly I'm still struggling with the name for this segment, but for now it shall remain to be called "Adventures" and will basically be the photographic documenting of my day to day with a D90 strapped to my shoulder. I'll try to keep it interesting and fresh and thus will probably keep it weekly or bi-weekly. This post is all from yesterday...

The view from my bus stop in NJ ain't bad when the weather ain't bad

Epi

Hit up Barney's to check out all the amazing things I can't yet comfortably afford.. and saw that charming sign by the escalator

The detail on these Bottega sneakers was pretty ill

Had to hit up my old stomping grounds to see all my favorite people over at Niketown

Then it was out to conveyor belt sushi with my homie Jane at Sushi East (go there for salmon Tuesdays!)

Jane put me on to this awesomely detailed speakeasy called The Blind Barber... great ambiance



Then finally back to Jersey were I just can't get enough of this view at night. The low fog and long exposure makes it look a little extra epic too.


If you have any ideas for the title of these Adventures posts, please leave it in the comments section... and also if you have any feelings about me posting personal pics rather than just straight fashion and news all the time. I'd love the feedback, good or bad.


-john-

The Selby Visits Pharrell's Home in Miami

The Selby recently made its way down to Miami to get a look into Pharrell's spacious home. Filled with amazing Kaws work, some of Pharrell's own designs and plenty of breath-taking visuals, take a look...













"You can do it too..."

Absolutely insane on all counts. I feel like my whole life just got shitted on, but then inspired to reach for more.


If you arent familiar with The Selby already, it is photographer Todd Selby's project that visits both the creative and living spaces of some of the world's best from the creative world. You'll be hooked on the site, and they also just published their very first book.


Previously: The Selby Visits Ryu at the Medicom Toys Office


-john-

Pic of the Day - Au Revior

-john-

Making of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Case by Louis Vuitton

I you happen to have a good eye durring the FIFA World Cup trophy celebration, you may have caught that the coveted trophy was brought out on the field in a custom Louis Vuitton carrying case. Well LV jut released this quick video showing how the hand made case was constructed, so take a look (and try to either mute, substitute, or ignore the unfortunate and corny PBS montage music)...

Wonder is Spain gets to keep the case along with the trophy? Hmm...


-john-

via ILVOELV

Pic of the Day - I'm So Hood!

-john-

Pic of the Day - Shades of John

-john-

Fashion's Night Out, Sept. 10th 2009

In a dragging world economy it's becoming increasingly difficult to get people to spend money on fashion goods, no matter how amazing the products are. Well to give a boost to the industry and get people excited about fashion again, there will be a World wide effort on September 10th called Fashion's Night Out.



The brainchild of Vogue, on Fashion's Night Out, over 700 retailers worldwide will be opened until 11pm and each will have a very special and unique event that could be as simple as champagne toasts and t-shirt giveaways or as extravagant as celebrity meet n greets and live music. Participating cities and countries are New York City, Japan, China, Taiwan, London, Greece, Milan, Paris, Brazil, India, Madrid, Berlin.

Since NYC is the one I'll be attending, and also the easiest to get information on for me, here are just a few things to look forward too on that night in the city...

A Bathing Ape
KID CUDI WILL BE HOSTING A LISTENING PARTY FEATURING HIS NEW SOUNDS AT THE BAPE STORE. SPECIAL ITEMS WILL ALSO BE RELEASED.

Adidas Originals
HOUSE PARTY IN SOHO! A DEEJAY WILL SET THE BEATS AS YOU SHOP OUR COLLECTION, ENJOY COMPLIMENTARY REFRESHMENTS AND COLOR OUR SHOE MURAL. ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOUR SHOES CUSTOMIZED BY A LOCAL ARTIST.

BBC/ Ice Cream
PHARRELL WILLIAMS WILL BE RINGING UP SALES AT HIS BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB & ICE CREAM FLAGSHIP STORE AS WELL AS INTRODUCING A FEW EXCLUSIVE RELEASES.

Louis Vuitton
EXTENDED SHOPPING HOURS AND BOOK LAUNCH OF THE SPECIAL EDITION LOUIS VUITTON: ART, FASHION AND ARCHITECTURE.

Y-3
CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION WHILE VIEWING OUR NEWLY ARRIVED FALL/WINTER EXCLUSIVES FROM 7:00 TO 9:00 P.M.

Those a just a handful of the participants (check the whole list), a few other notables are Band of Outsiders, Opening Ceremony, Gucci, YSL, and Miu Miu. And the most talked about place so far is Macy's in Queens Square where Anna Wintour, Michael Kors, and a bunch of celebrities will be hanging out all night.

This should be something pretty special, especially for the fashion/ retail industry , so lets help make it big and get out! Also Fashion's Night Out t-shirt proceeds will be going towards various charities around the world. In NYC it is the 9/11 fund.


-john-

Louis Vuitton - "Art, Fashion, and Architecture" Book

To highlight their many many awe inspiring accomplishments in the worlds of art, fashion and architecture, Louis Vuitton is releasing a book that captures it all.
Take a look at the preview video...

I know I sound like an LV fanboy sometimes but they really do some remarkably creative things again and again. And as a sucker for store design (inside and out) their stores in every city around the world always put others to shame (Paris, Hong Kong, 5th Ave NY, and about 3 in Tokyo are some of my favorite stores in the world). Great how they can keep a certain consistency through their store while each can still be completely unique.


The book (available in English, French and Italian) will come as a regular hardcover as well as with a limited edition cover and sleeve designed by Takashi Murakami. The limited edition version will be exclusively available through Louis Vuitton stores and www.LouisVuitton.com on September 1st, while the regular hardcover will be available in bookstores on Sept 22nd.

Specs:
Price: US$130, 125€, £90, ¥17,000
Format: 24 x 31cm
3 leaflets 91/2" x 121/4"
404 pages, 400 illustrations


-john-

via hypebeast via ILOVELV

Takashi Murakami x Louis Vuitton Plushes

Here are some new plush toys from Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami that are damn cute but holy wow they will break your bank!






Most of the time I completely understand the way brands jack up prices to create an image of something unattainable or luxurious, and to be honest they have to in order to keep their brand equity. Louis Vuitton is one of the very best at doing this successfully and unwaiveringly, but this time it's just a little bit out of control. I'm not sure what the retail is on these, but the reselling prices are over $5,000 for the larger plush and over $1,000 for the phone strap plush! Only 150 of each were made but I'm not sure if that warrants a G for a phone strap.

If you are ever so privileged, you can cop them off of Cliffedge.


-john-

via Cliffedge

Louis Vuitton x Kanye West Sneaker Photoshoot by La MJC

The good people over at La MJC have gotten their hands on the Kanye West for Louis Vuitton sneaker collection and taken some really nice pictures on the streets of Paris. Honestly not much more to say so I'll let the pictures do the talking...









The colors, materials, and construction of these are all really beautiful. Nice pictures also in bringing that out.

The sneakers start to release on July 1st but you should already be on a wait list at one of the select LV stores to be having even a chance at spending wads of cash on these. So good luck! Can't wait to see these all over SoHo next week.


La MJC is an entirely French publication but to see more pictures and get your translate game on, go here.



-john-

The Speedy Concept Store - Louis Vuitton in Selfridges London

To celebrate their 100 year anniversary in the UK, major high end department store Selfridges has teamed up with Louis Vuitton to create an awesome Speedy Concept Store at the Selfridges flagship in London.

These are the 2 window displays that turn their famous bags into artwork.







If you aren't familiar, the Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag is by far their most famous model of handbag coming in a few sizes and styles as well as in almost every print and leather that they have make. You can see this on the inside of the store as the bags are displayed all over the place with many different patterns (even discontinued ones), especially the traditional LV monogram print.

The point of the store is to educate people on the history of the Speedy bag as well as to celebrate Selfridges 100 years in business. Super late with this info, the shop was only open for a month and will be closing tomorrow, the 26th of June.


-john-


pics via selfridges flickr and hs

Superflat First Love by Takashi Murakami (for Louis Vuitton)

Takashi Murakami has done another awesome animated short for Louis Vuitton that once again takes trip though the amazing "Superflat" world filled with Murakami characters and designs.

If you remember a while back there was this original Superflat animation by Murakami titled Monogram. I still think that this original one is 10X better so if you haven't seen it you can catch up here. (the girl in the video above is the same as this one just 6 years grown up)




Murakami needs to come out with a full length movie already through his Kaikai Kiki production company that has so many great artist. He spoke on it when I saw him but still nada.



-john-


via toysrevil

Louis Vuitton Underground Store Tokyo

With yet another conceptual store in Tokyo, Louis Vuitton is opening their new Louis Vuitton /underground/ shop in the basement of a Ikebukuro Seibu Department Store.






Apparently the new retail space for Louis Vuitton in the Seibu Store is currently under construction and won't be ready for them until 2010. So, with this in mind LV decided to accept the construction and run with the theme. Taking the basement as their new home, the space is perfectly designed as a working warehouse with crates and forklifts used as product displays. The store should be running until late Fall.
(from what I can translate, apologize if any info is off)

1-28-1 Minamiikebukuro Tokyo
B1F North Zone



-john-


via fashionsnap

Louis Vuitton "A Passion for Creation" in Hong Kong

Louis Vuitton has just opened a new art exhibit in Hong Kong to display some of the inspirational works (both direct and indirect) behind their line. The show is entitled "A Passion for Creation" and the Hypebeast team was on hand to get some exclusive pics...

Some oversized vintage movie posters with a light monogram print over them were plastered all over the Museum for the event.


Obviously there was plenty of Takashi Murakami, as he brings some of his print designs to life.





Stephen Sprouse works were also on display. I love that Sid Vicious piece.


Inspirational artists from all over the world were featured in the event, and many more pics of the show can be seen here.

Open until August 9th at the Hong Kong Museum of Art.


-john-


via HypeBeast