Defining style: John Primer via Apartment Number 9

A blues legend reveals what inspires him and how his music is shaped by the people and places he loves.

A man's style encompasses more than just the clothes he wears and the car he drives. For our first video in a series on the topic, we sat down with John Primer, a musician who grew up in a Mississippi sharecropping family and then at 18, moved to Chicago to play the blues. In the '80s, Primer played in Muddy Waters band, and since 1991, the 68-year-old has released 13 albums and was nominated for a Blues Music Award this year. Watch the video above to hear Primer's soulful style.

- See more at Apartment Number 9

Filmed by Marc Moran

Edited by Michael Alexander

ILLESTEVA Spring/Summer 2013 ‘Capri’ Clip-On Collection

Eyewear and sunglasses maker Illesteva updates its lineup of summer offerings with two new clip-on designs: Felix and Capri. Designed to fill both vision correction and protection needs, the glasses both come with clip-ons that fit snugly over top the frames without obscuring them. Fulfilling more than just function, the silver frames of the clip-on portion actually help to accent the contrasting dark tortoise-patterned frames by appearing tightly nestled within the frames. Both the classic squared-off Felix and the refined P3-shaped Capri are available for $290 USD over at Eye Goodies.

On & Beyond visits Triple Aught Design

 On & Beyond had the opportunity to to visit the TAD HQ in the Dogpatch of SF. Some beautiful imagery  of the workspace hidden behind the retail front. Lots of character and impressively equipped for building a garment from conception phase to final product. Triple Aught Design was founded in 1997 by Patrick Ma. His goal was to inspire people to explore their world by offering the best performing gear available. Challenging marches through rough terrain as a young man in the United States Army gave Patrick a strong appreciation for durable and reliable equipment. He founded Triple Aught Design with a signature focus on combining rigorous functionality with sophisticated design. 

Stone Island Autumn/Winter 2013-14 Collection Lookbook

Stone Island reveals its AW13-14 collection with a no-fuss seasonal lookbook. Playing with staple pieces from line, the Italian technical masters have not made any huge departure from previous seasons although the latest offering will be sure to appeal to fans of the brand, nonetheless.

Compelling Characters | Four Barrel’s Jeremy Tooker

Thanks to A Continuous Lean for this great article. Check out the entire article here. 

The guys at Tellason worked with the very talented folks at SF based Vertical Online to profile the compelling characters that wear Tellason jeans, including this video and the previous release that focused on motorcycle builder Todd Blugaugh. These short films are beautiful pieces strictly from a visual standpoint, but it’s nice to know that these connections are real and the guys actually wear the jeans. Much respect to Four Barrel, Vertical Online and Tellason for keeping it real.

PAC-MAN x ten_do_ten x Fred Perry 2013 Spring/Summer Collection

Following today’s nostalgic trend of recalling video game staples of the 1980s, Fred Perry teamed up with Japanese artist ten_do_ten to deliver a series of PAC-MAN-inspired designs for Spring/Summer 2013. Playing on the artist’s minimalist style, which heavily riffs on dots and pixels to convey complex design, the shirts feature embroidered depictions of Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde, as well as the ‘Pac Dots’ that fuel the main man himself. Combining patchwork styles and pattern blocking within a red, black and yellow color palette, these colorful polo shirts lend a new canvas to classic characters. After enjoying the video accompaniment below, find the shirts on Fred Perry Japan’s web shop, available now.

MR. PORTER - The Journal: One to Watch: Mr. Aaron Tveit

He may cut a pensive figure, but don't be fooled - a dark and troubled soul Mr Aaron Tveit is not. "I don't walk around scowling at people," he laughs, defending the moody, monochrome results of last month's shoot with photographer Mr Billy Kidd. "I think I'm a nice guy!

Read more at http://www.mrporter.com/journal/journal_issue118/3#HuwF7gF6UHuEDlSB.99

 

Trousers by Slowear | Sneakers by Common Projects | Jacket by AMI | Shirt by Jil Sander |

 

Sneakers by Common Projects | Watch by Uniform Wares | Suit by Raf Simons | T-Shirt by Our Legacy |

 

Sweatshirt by Acne | Shirt by Jil Sander | Jacket by Aspesi | Sunglasses by Garrett Leight California Optical |

 

 T-Shirt by Alexander Wang | Sweater by Maison Martin Margiela |

 

Heuer Autavia 11063 ‘Alpha Orange Skunkworks’ Custom

In a bid to revamp his original Heuer 11630 orange/black chronos, watch blogger and ‘Heuerista’ (given name to avid Heuer fans) Heuerville customizes the Autavia by fitting it into a sought out 11063 case. In doing so, the ‘Frankenstein’ result married ’70s clockwork design with an ’80s casing that was put together through the help of fellow watch aficionados and professional watch craftsmen — a “celebration of some good Heuer friends” in construction. Head over to the source to read more about the details and custom process of the dubbed Heuer Autavia 11063 ‘Alpha Orange Skunkworks’ Custom watch.

Poler Camping Stuff x RAEN Sunglasses Collection

Summer 2013 sees eyewear manufacturer RAEN teaming up with Poler Camping Stuff for a seasonal range of collaborative eyewear. Featuring the likes of RAEN’s Breslin, Dayton, and Deakin, the designs include premium Carl Zeiss optics and pair polished black and grey crystal acetate with unique metal logo appliqué detailing. Look for the trio of designs to be available soon from select Poler and RAEN stockists.

Weiss Watch Company - Field Watch

Most men have at least one watch they would call their grail watch. While the names and styles will vary considerably from man to man, most will have one thing in common–they’re mechanical. The movement is obviously what sets it apart from the battery operated variety, but there’s just something else about the feel of a mechanical watch on your wrist that sets it apart from its horological brethren. The Weiss Watch Co. Field Watch is built around a manually wound Caliber 6497 movement comprised of over 60 Swiss parts that are hand-finished and assembled in LA, and then encased in a 41.5mm water resistant, 316 stainless case with sapphire front and back crystals. Once all that’s out of the way, it’s attached to a custom olive water resistant canvas strap. The watch is limited to 500 pieces, and it’s a bargain at less than a grand.

Kawasaki GT550 by Auto Fabrica

The humble Kawasaki GT550 very rarely sees the custom treatment of more popular vintage transverse fours, the bike was never made in the same numbers as bikes like the CB750 and it can actually be quite difficult to nail down solid information on it (one website went so far as to claim that it had a wet weight of 2,210kgs).

The Kawasaki GT550 was fitted with a DOHC transverse, 4-cylinder, air-cooled engine with a total capacity of 553cc, it could produce 58hp at 9,000rpm and some claim it could top out above 140mph. Power was fed to the rear wheel via a shaft drive and a 6-speed transmission, making it a slightly unusual bike for the early 1980s.

This particular Kawasaki GT550 was picked up by brothers Bujar and Gaz Muharremi of Auto Fabrica, it’s their first foray into the world of custom motorcycles and it has to be said, they’ve done a remarkable job. Bujar is an automotive designer and Gaz is a product designer, so they have some fantastic training under their belts when it comes to putting together motor vehicles (whether they have two wheels or four).

The bike was pulled apart as soon as it arrived in the Auto Fabrica workshop, the frame was cut and re-trimmed, the fuel tank was modified to alter it’s angle, the seat and cowl were made from hand-beaten 2mm aluminium, the rear springs were replaced with Hagon units and the front forks were lowered by an inch. That hand worked aluminium was then aqua blasted to give it that clean, factory fresh look that suits motorcycles like this down to a tee.

For the final touches, the seat and grips were hand-sewn from leather and a beautiful 4-into-4 exhaust was made in-house before being painted matte black and fitted to the now complete bike.

The next projects from Auto Fabrica are to be a Yamaha SR250 and an SR400, we’ll be keeping a close eye on this London-based garage and will bring you more of their work just as soon as it’s ready for prime time.

PORT Magazine Issue 10 Editorial – 'Land Of My Brothers’

Our friends at PORT magazine send over this exclusive editorial, ‘Land of my Brothers,’ a preview from the shiny new Summer Issue. Shot by Stefan Heinrichs, PORT fashion director David St John-James (on styling duties) fills us in on a little background to this beautiful story.

Photographer Stefan Heinrichs and I have been working closely since the earliest issues of PORT magazine. I wanted to work together again but for this issue I wanted a story that felt fresh, intimate and personal. I wanted it to feel warm and almost sentimental. Plus, I wanted us to shoot outdoors. Port’s Casting Consultant, Eddy Martin, searched across the country and the Atlantic for brothers that we could shoot. And found three that fit the bill perfectly. We travelled to the heartland of Wales and spent one weekend with a family that was not only hospitable but kind and generous. The story will be one which will stick with me for the years to come.”

Featuring the likes of Stone Island, Stone Island, Hermes, Dunhill, Dior Homme, Albam and Ralph Lauren this quietly brilliant story is a must-see.

Back to Issue 10. Cover story ‘A New Golden Age,’ brings together some of the biggest names in print, leading editors including Graydon Carter (Vanity Fair), Hugo Lindgren (The New York Times Magazine) and Jim Nelson (GQ). A more than convincing argument for the growing strength of good ol’ fashioned paper publications. Additionally, look out for words and images from Carrie Fisher, Sir Kenneth Grange, Double RL, Joyce Carol Oates on Marlon Brando and War journalist Ben Anderson tackling the issue of heroin and the Afghanistan police. Check out the cover in our gallery and grab a copy from tomorrow in stores and online.

Inventory Magazine 2013 Spring/Summer Editorial

Inventory Magazine brings us a fresh, crisp look for their 2013 spring/summer editorial. With subtle usage of monochromatic colors in conjunction with a variety of brands and takes on closet staples, the imagery displays the perfect dressed-down summertime look. Highlights include a range of Inventory-stocked labels like Engineered Garments, Margaret Howell, The Real McCoy’s, Post Overalls, and Clarks – each paired with descriptive, helpful cues on fit. Browse through the editorial in its entirety here and be sure to visit Inventory‘s web store for inquiries as to the availability of each of the designs.

THROUGH THE LENS: Evan Tetreault

The modern photographer must rely on digital formats in order stay relevant. Film has become overshadowed by digital in recent years, but by no means does this signify that film is becoming obsolete; especially with enthusiasts like Evan Tetreault investing in the medium. Evan typically chooses to shoot film in preference to digital if given a choice. “I really think film is about making an image, and not taking an image… it’s more hands on. Digital’s kind of a cop out, so I think.” One platform with which he has no complaints is the internet, more specifically Tumblr. His page on the popular blog has garnered him a significant following, which helped propel his career into the world of fashion and onward to work with the likes of Alysha Nett, Nickelson Wooster, and A$AP Rocky among others.

“My main inspiration comes from…holding onto memories and kind of, creating this photo diary.” This notion ignited the fire in this self-starter. Hailing from Boston, MA by way of Hartford, CT, Evan began shooting early with landscapes, friends, and anything else he found aesthetically pleasing in his mind’s eye. He refined his talents over the years and found his niche. Evan developed his style through using cool white tones in contrast with warm skin tones and blacks, and shooting candid shots as opposed to staged settings. Upon arriving in Boston for school at Emerson College, he found an unnerving perspective within his field, which is why he soon after changed his major to marketing. “Going to school with a sole concentration in photography can be a waste of time. To truly progress as an artist, you should break out of your comfort zone and study fields entirely unrelated to the actual production of the work you’re passionate about pursuing. Then you’ll begin to see the world with a whole new lens of knowledge and inspiration.”

For this body of work, Evan used a Mamiya 7II medium format 6x7cm camera. You can view the rest of his work in his portfolio here, and keep up with his blog here.

A picture is worth a thousand words — at least that’s how the old saying goes. Our latest feature THROUGH THE LENS aims to see the world through the lens of various creatives. Be it a professional photographer, a blogger, a creative director, or just a fashion designer who happens to have an affinity for taking pictures, each photo set offers a glimpse into the frame of those individuals who have captured a unique moment in time. In place of textual interviews or written pieces, THROUGH THE LENS is a visual interpretation and platform for those who have a story to tell. A picture’s worth a thousand words? Enjoy the read.

FELTRAIGER x Stock MFG Co. American Flag Shorts

FELTRAIGER and Stock MFG Co. have teamed up to produce these special edition American Flag shorts. Produced in the USA by Stock MFG Co., these shorts are crafted from navy cotton with an all-over American Flag print. Available exclusively through Stock MFG Co.’s online store, these shorts will be only be offered for a few days and are guaranteed to arrive in time for July 4.