What's Inside that Counts

-john-

Marc Jacobs x Starks Laces

Stepping outside the walls of streetwear, the good people at Starks are teaming up with Marc Jacobs for a couple pairs of very clean and simple laces...





With the ridiculous amount of collaborations these days, I've always loved the parody of "Jacobs by Marc Jacobs for Marc by Marc Jacobs in collaboration with Jacobs for Marc Jacobs...." which is common place on MJ totes. So seeing the same on the laces is pretty great. Already out, and only $4 at MJ stores or online, these are totally worth the cop just to throw in a collab pair of sneakers.


-john-

via sneakernews

Clippings - MIA in Marc by Marc Jacobs Ad

This weeks Clipping is a Marc Jacobs ad from an old GQ UK from a few years back that features MIA...



At first I thought it was just cool that MIA was in this ad in the first place, until i noticed that she was rocking a Dee & Ricky belt buckle also! As you may or may not know, Marc fell in love with their Lego accessories a few years back and used them in one of his NYC fashion week shows, however I didn't know they ever made it onto his ads that season also. Pretty good look there.


Previously: Clippings: KiD CuDi and Vashtie in Mass Appeal #50


-john-

Faces in the Crowd: Joshua in NoLita

On our way from Little Italy to SoHo the other day, we crossed paths with Joshua, who was desperately trying to hail a cab. Luckily he couldn't get one for a few minutes so we got the chance to snap a quick picture of him for Faces in the Crowd. I was instantly drawn by the trench jacket, intrigued by his anti-fur pin and in love with the awesome vintage shades, while Meezy was oogling over his Palladium boots. Everything is put together very well in my opinion, but you can decide for yourself...



Name: Joshua

Age: 29

Occupation: Filmmaker / Lifestyle expert / TheDiscerningBrute.com

Favorite Brand(s): Loomstate, Kuyichi, NOVACAS, Matt & Nat, April 77, Edun, G-Star Raw

Wearing: Levi's Recycled Denim, Canvas Palladium Boots, Thrift Marc Jabocs Cotton-Molseskin Trench, Loomstate Organic Cotton Tee, Vintage Sunglasses from Fabulous Fanny's, Organic Cotton-Knit Sweater, Thrift acrylic scarf.

Next Fashion Purchase?: I need a new travel bag. My ancient Adidas sports-bag finally ripped after hundreds of trips and I need to upgrade considering it was over 15 years old! I have my eye (and some drool) on some Matt & Nat bags....

I went on an interview today, so what is your LEAST favorite question you get asked?
As a vegan, my LEAST favorite question is "where do you get your protein". What is this, 1973? I've been vegan for over 12 years and I'm in the best shape of my life! When guys like Mac Danzig of the UFC, Ricky Williams & Tony Gonzalez, the running Back of the Miami Dolphins and tight end for the Atlanta Falcons, and tons of other competitive athletes from all sports can be awesome veg athletes, it's ridiculous that people still think that it's difficult to get protein.



Thanks to Joshua for being part of Faces in the Crowd, and be sure to check out his blog, The Descerning Brute, where he discusses "Fashion, Food, and Etiquette for the Ethically Handsome Man"... I can almost guarantee that you are already intrigued!

---
PREVIOUSLY - Faces in the Crowd: Frantz in Japan



-john-

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

More Pics: Kanye x Louis Vuitton

Here's just a few more pics of The Louis Vuitton Don kicks for LV from the launch party in Paris this week.


Looks like this 1st model will come in 4 colors: Black, White, Red, and Beige (which looks to be the only 2 tone pair)

Ye and the man Marc Jacobs




The sneakers are set to release by June of this year and should be in the $600 range. They're more or less the 1st true sneaker to be released by LV (not including the Chuck style Damier printed ones) so I'll bet people are going to be rushing to grab these.

Start saving.


-john-

via nahright

Faces in the Crowd: DC

The entire Inauguration day it was just way too crowded, cold, and busy to even think about asking someone to do a Faces in the Crowd, but fortunately on our subway ride out we ran into Michael, who agreed to help us out.

(it was hard to get a full body shot in the train)

Name: Michael
Age: 18
From: New Jersey
Occupation: GW Student
Favorite Brand: Ralph Lauren Rugby
Wearing: Marc Jacobs shades, Rugby scarf, Helley Hansen jacket, James Peirce hoody, J. Crew corduroy pants, Nike SB Ferris Bueller Dunks, and his roomates waterpolo backpack
What do you want to see Obama change?: "Legalize marijuana and don't socialize medicine"



-john-

Louis Vuitton s/s '09 Campaign Featuring Madonna

For the upcoming spring-summer collection from Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs was able to grab über celeb Madonna to do the ad campaign photo shoot.

Here are a few images (that will soon be in every fashion mag out) and a cool behind the scenes video of how it all came together.



Ladies, you might drool at certain parts of the video where Madonna is picking bags, I apologize.

Thought this was a pretty cool project and really nuts how Marc Jacobs can just hit up Madonna outta nowhere n make this happen no problem. Power players right there.


-john-

Louis Vuitton - Stephen Sprouse Collection & Celebration

You don't know that you already know Stephen Sprouse. He made huge impacts in the 80's and 90's in the fashion scene, bringing punk to the forefront with his neon and graffiti inspired self titled line. More recently Marc Jacobs teamed up with Sprouse in the early 00's to create the über popular graffiti over monogram print bags for Louis Vuitton. Well now Marc Jacobs & LV will be celebrating the late Sprouse with an entire collection including some very limited and unique items.

This is the coveted piece in the collection as only three, thats right 3, of these graffiti skateboards complete with the LV trunk will be available. SoHo store only and going for $8,250 this thursday the 8th.
I would possibly kill a man for this.



The rest of the collection will go beyond just leather goods and feature a pretty full line of neon, graffiti, and rose covered items.
Yes, Marc Jacobs is a crazy motherfucker, which makes him the man.
Crazy crazy heels.
Lastly, clown all you want on these but they are definitely paying full homage to Sprouse with the loud as can be neon and graffiti absolutely everywhere.

The collection will launch in its entirety at the SoHo boutique on Thursday where the company is wrapping the store in vinyl and spray painting neon graffiti all over the facade. The window display will feature a 6-foot neon light installation in Sprouse’s Rose motif. The store’s interior, enhanced with black brick wall facing, will also be sprayed with the neon graffiti.
The complete worldwide launch will follow on Feb. 2, though the Rose pieces will be available at Louis Vuitton stores worldwide starting Friday.

Vuitton will also honor the late artist with three events this Thursday. The night will kick off with cocktails at the Vuitton boutique on Greene Street, with a simultaneous event at nearby Deitch Projects’ Wooster Street Gallery for the opening of the “Rock on Mars” Sprouse retrospective. Afterwards, Vuitton and Jacobs will host a bash at the Bowery Ballroom, featuring a performance by Sprouse’s friend Debbie Harry, followed by DJ Jus Ske. The venue is expected to have a Sprouse feel, with a special graffiti-and-neon decor.

Really cool stuff going on at LV, and such a great way to start 2009 for them. So if you can get downtown on Thursday I suggest you try and check this out. Also peep the site that LV has created in Sprouse's memory (www.welovesprouse.com) and a full article on the collections and events here and here.


-john-

via WWD

Faces in the Crowd: Air Crazy Force One Release

Just like with the CLOT x OF drop we stopped a few people at the Michael Lau x Nike Crazy Force One drop to see what they were wearing, what they like, and what drives them crazy!

Name: Elaine
Age: Not telling
Occupation: Energy marketing for Nike
Favorite Brand: Um, NIKE
Wearing: Lab coat and Nike AF1 Mid
What makes you go CRAZY? : Interesting sneakers

Name: Raymond
Age: 26
Favorite Brand: Neighborhood, Visvim
Wearing: Supreme crew neck, NBHD grid denim, Visvim Christos, Marc Jacobs bag
What makes you go CRAZY? : Going out for limited edition sneakers


I'll be back in a week with a bunch more of these from Japan, hold tight.

-john-

Marc Jacobs x Kaws

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Marc Jacobs line, they have teamed up with Kaws to release some very nice and extremely exclusive pair of ladies flats.





I can already see these being pulled off amazingly.

Uber limited to 150 pairs to be released at Colette Paris, Original Fake Tokyo, and Marc Jacobs SoHo and London flagships.
They come out tomorrow so ladies start lining up.


-john-

via highsnobiety

Runway to Change

So I've realized that we post a decent amount Obama content on this blog. We aren't trying to push political views or anything here, so don't take it wrong. It's just that this man is inspiring a lot of people to do a lot of really cool and creative stuff that no one has ever seen before from a political figure.

The new project from the Obama camp is Runway to Change, which brought together some of the top designers and artists in the world to make some tees and totes supporting Mr. Obama's cause.

Change by Jay-z


Obama Stands Out by Pharrell Williams


Vote Hope by Tory Burch


America Deserves Better by Russel Simmons


Obama Button Tote by Marc Jacobs


There is much more in the online store from the likes of Vera Wang, Juicy Couture, Beyonce, Rag and Bone, Isaac Mizrahi, and many more. Everything made in the US.

Oh and there's also a Yes We Can CD with Kanye, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Maroon 5 and many more.

Well that's enough politics on SwaggerDap for the time being.

Stay up America.


-john-

Kanye & Pharrell @ Marc Jacobs Show Paris

Do I blog way too much about Kanye and Pharrell related matters? most likely. But they seem to be everywhere, and what can I say, they are some fly dudes.

Here they are at the Marc Jacobs show in Paris with Marc's right hand.





Don't know why but I really want one of those Dee and Ricky Lego pins. Seen a one or two around SoHo and it looks awkwardly tough. Better get one before that becomes a trend now that Kanye is rocking one.


oh and Meez, welcome back!
readers, I tried to keep him away but dude won't give up. sorry.


-john-