CALIFORNIA SON

Why go for "sexy" when you can go for "sk8er boi golf attire"?

ALE ET ANGE ET MOI

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.)

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[shorts story] fresh to death

photos Fareine Benz // shirt Thomas Dean (previously seen on my tote bag here!) // shorts China // cuff 3.3 mall Sanlitun // shoes Ash Italia // jacket Ike's Underground (seen here)

This week I wanted to do something a bit unexpected, so I got to thinking about b-boy style and hip-hop influences. I found I had the perfect combination of items to do an outfit post for the final installment in my shorts storiez, in which I finally showcase that gigundo cross I blogged about here. I wouldn't wear this look everywhere, everyday, but I did wear it to Barnes & Noble. Sneakers/trainers what have you are rather de rigeur and pants seem to be getting looser and baggier (a lá Aaliyah?), so expect to see some new silhouettes on the blog (i.e., today, right now.) While Pharrell and André 3000 are two of my top fashion icons, the inspiration for this look is rooted in the outsized personalities of K-Pop. Korean rappers/singers G-Dragon and TOP embody a new kind of urban aesthetic that fuses American b-boy style with Japanese street style. Well, I don't know how "new" it is, per se, but I've been getting more familiar with it recently and am intrigued by their personas and, let's be real, wanna bang them (or should I say smang them?) like any good groupie. Some style examples, including GD and TOP, below...

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LITTLE RASCAL

My new thing this summer has been the backwardz baseball cap (kids write that with a "z" now, right?)

People seem to think it's "cute," which I take as code for, "how sweet that your favorite movie is Transformers, twelve-year-old boy." But, whatever! It's fash...ion? I wear them mostly because I just can't stand to wash my hair as often as is necessary - when I don't wash it I almost always have a tuft that sticks straight up in the back, while the rest of it glues itself to my head at odd angles. So, until fall rolls around and my more polished toppers come back into play, backwardz baseball capz it iz!