photos Ariel Park // all clothing Ale Et Ange // shoes Keds
I discovered the boutique Ale et Ange while out window shopping one day, as we penniless young gays are wont to do in the city. Their unassuming storefront is easily missed, save for the name hand-painted on the window, hovering amidst flowers. I popped in and was happy to discover that the shop houses a menswear and accessories line named for its co-creators, Eloise Ange Simonet and Osoré Ale Oyagha. From caps to culottes (no, not really culottes - I just like the alliteration - but pants!) the Ale et Ange label has all bases covered, often in bold prints. And did I mention it's all produced locally, here in NY's garment district? I pulled one of my favorite pieces, their porno print toile t-shirt, to shoot with these camo pants - maybe you saw my tweet, "thinking about camo for Fall"? Because I am, and here it is. The brand's caps are developing into its signature as they're incredibly stylish and versatile, plus they've been in Vogue - I'm seen here wearing the one model Kendra Spears wore in July's issue. Who wore it better? Debatable. (The brand was also recently featured in The New York Times.)
For more information about the line and its creators, you can check out a super comprehensive interview with Eloise and Osoré over at Vice. I'm here to provide you with lots and lots of pictures of their well-designed store, where God is definitely in the details. The art ranges from record covers to a cohesive mishmash of posters, maps and photographs, some charmingly stuck to the walls with multicolored push pins. All of the elements work wonderfully together and complement the clothes while hinting at not only the inspirations behind the brand, but the kind of cultured, intellectual man Ale et Ange customers aspire to be. It's sort of like the closet of a black Holden Caulfield, if you will, and you want to be friends with him because he's bookish, yet sexy and you're pretty sure hanging out with him will make life more like a Wes Anderson movie, but without having to look at Jason Schwartzman.
