Last night, I got to see a screening of Speed Racer - and my eyes were popping out of my head because of all the comic-like CG visuals on the screen. There was so much going on in each scene that I had to take a dramamine to calm down.
Okay, not really. But the Wachowski Brothers sure know how to stimulate the senses with mind boggling effects.
Personally, I enjoyed the surreal, popping bold colors in each scene. I loved how they were playful and super-saturated, dripping off of the screen.
Check out the frenetic trailer to get an idea…
The amplified technicolor palette itself gets me excited - and I love the whole Japanimation-brought-to-life vibe of the film.
That said, I was constantly looking at Emile Hirsch’s outfits throughout the movie and was wondering how I could dress more like his character, Speed.
For more info on the pieces in this look, click here
I loved that signature blue polo he wore, so I equated that with a royal blue American Apparel shirt. And while Speed is racing he is always in all white - which would be hell to keep clean - but it looks SO good. The finely structured Mas Bomber Jacket matched with a pair of the Hilfiger Slim Jeans accomplishes an aerodynamic look perfect for racing in your Mach 5. For a little dandy flair, I threw in a Red Silk Ascot by Forzieri. The plain white slip on Van’s completes the white palette, while the “rough around the edges” red belt with a checkered buckle maintains that racecar spirit. As for the red Thomas Pink socks? Well, you have to watch the movie to find out why Speed always has to wear them. For me, I have become addicted to boldly printed socks.
The other day I was in Berkeley waiting for my friend to have lunch at La Note (which has delectable French fare). Anyways, I decided to pop into the American Apparel store to browse - not SHOP - just browse.
Their selection of lightweight cardigans was enjoyable, but it’s the double-breasted one that caught my eye. It’s interesting, modern and has this whimsical flair to it that can be dressed up and down. I immediately took three of them on impulse, in an attempt to break my promise not to spend any money.
From there, I just went out of control. I started gathering stuff from the racks like it was an end-of-days sale.
Just when I was about to go to the register to add weight to my credit card, my friend called. She was waiting for me outside of the restaurant.
Since I am a gentleman and did not want to leave her waiting, I put all the stuff back and didn’t buy a thing.
Nonetheless, that double breasted cardigan is still haunting me. I am going to go back and get it. Plus - it’s UNISEX! U-N-I, SEX. And it comes in so many fun colors!
I don’t think my infatuation with cardigans is ever going to end.
Shoes: Gola. Fun fact: Gola is the oldest sneaker company in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!
I look like I am in pain in this picture…and homeless. I was really tired today so I honestly didn’t care how I looked like to run more errands today. Aren’t my weekends VERY exciting? It doesn’t help that I am broke like a joke.
I guess that you can consider this my “lazy Sunday” outfit. And once again, I look kind of to’ up in this pic.
Today I went for the sporty-preppy look (hence the sporty pose.) I feel so All-American in this even though I am wearing pants from a company based in Spain.
I have had an affection for hoodies lately (I love the bold green on this one). But I try to dress them up rather than make them look overly casual.
Nonetheless, I got the Mondrian-esque tie from the Vintage Fashion Expo in San Francisco last year. It’s something that adds a splash of eccentricity to my wardrobe. The shirt is vintage because I got it from my dad’s collection of old clothes. And you can’t see them, but I am wearing some really cool yellow, tan and white socks from V.K. Nagrani.
Every man, woman or child loves a good scarf. If you give them as a gift, try to match the scarf color and print to the giftee’s personality. If they are eccentric choose a wild and crazy print; scholarly: an argyle in subtle earth tones; playful: vibrant colors; feminine: a lightweight cashmere in a pastel. If you don’t know your giftee that well, go with the basic stripe and primary or neutral colors. No matter who you are, everyone loves a good scarf. If you don’t, then you are not human.
Cotton webbing belts are the greatest. I use them mostly for casual day wear, but if you can pull it off, you can use them for more professional attire. Of course, the best place to get this “item of the moment” is American Apparel.
I know when I need something timeless and sweatshop free, I can always rely on American Apparel to have it there for me. Their stock of basic foundation goods are great - especially with these webbing belts - they come in this funky little barrel of 3 and in a variety of colors!
The next stop on my San Diego romp was in the quaint trendy neighborhood of Hillcrest…
This is where the hardcore shopping started to blossom. Filled with boutiques and cafes, the neighborhood had this warm sheen as the beautiful weather made it easy to navigate through tree-lined streets.
Along with my friends Jaimee and Arnold (our resident tour guide), we warmed up our exploratory muscles by popping in and out of stores casually - and for some odd reason, our shopping interest started to ignite when we spent an unnecessary hour in American Apparel. I love this store, but they are in great abundance in the Bay Area, so there wasn’t a need to browse the color-coded racks of basics for 60 minutes.
Nonetheless, it was our wallet warm-up and we were on our way to explore the local shops - but first we stopped for a quick bite at a local Thai restaurant with a very ornate ceiling:
After being recharged with Thai iced teas and very spicy cuisine, we popped into Fresh:
The shop only had womenswear, so I really didn’t have anything to look for. The clothing was affordable for being a boutique and it was nicely organized by color. The green exterior matched the personality of the store which had some funky jewelry of skulls and clunky plastics. It made me feel like I was in Forever 21 but it was much, much, much more chic. I absolutely adored the Americana-chic looks on display in the window. You can’t see them in the pic, but they were very fun!
Right across the street from Fresh was Flashbacks, a vintage store stocked with leisure suits, polyesther disco shirts and kitschy jewelry. At first, I was blinded by the selection of costumey stuff they had, but then I started looking through the actual clothes. I found a pair of Roberto Cavalli slacks for $38! They weren’t exactly my style (they were too dirtied and deconstructed for me), so I decided to pass. Knowing my affinity for scarves and pocket squares, Jaimee found a blue Burberry scarf for $16 which opened a gateway for me to sort through their selection - I walked out with two new pocket squares to add to my ever-growing collection. One was black with white polka dots, the other an orange gingham - I passed on the Burberry because it was too large for my taste.
Mint was the final stop in Hillcrest. The sneaker head boutique was the first of many that we visited in our San Diego journey. The store had a fine selection of Gola, Converse, Puma and many others plastering the walls of the “mint” colored space.
The rainy weather may be upon us in the Bay Area, but Mr. Sun is still peeking through the clouds and that means spring is upon us - not to mention the rest of the country. That said, here are 9 essentials (because 10 would be one too many) to add to your closet for the upcoming season.
Now if your wallet is a little empty, use these items as a guide to cater to your personal style and budget. Nonetheless, these are some great items to make you look dapper while enjoying the temperate sun.
As simple as their products are, there is just something about American Apparel that makes them so appealing and chic. Maybe it’s because they are sweatshop free - or maybe it’s because I tend to enjoy the basics - or maybe its because I like their voyeuristic type ads (this is the second time I mentioned this, I need to calm down before someone thinks I am a pervert.) Nonetheless, their products are timeless and they make excellent gifts for men of all ages:
Since they do have so many good things, pick this assortment of AA goodies as a gift. It includes a Nylon Pack Cloth Gym Bag, Poplin Wallet, Calf-High Tube Socks and
T-Shirt Sampler - and oh my, let me just tell you how comfortable their shirts are! It’s like wearing a little piece of heaven on your back…maybe that description is a little extreme, but you get the idea.
If you do choose to buy this - don’t try to go into one of their stores and ask for it because it is an online exclusive! and it’s just in time for the holidays! Is this fate? I think not!!!
The other day I was in Berkeley waiting for my friend to have lunch at La Note (which has delectable French fare). Anyways, I decided to pop into the American Apparel store to browse - not SHOP - just browse.
Cotton webbing belts are the greatest. I use them mostly for casual day wear, but if you can pull it off, you can use them for more professional attire. Of course, the best place to get this “item of the moment” is American Apparel. 
