In and around tuition times, I can be pretty cheap.  OK, anytime I can be, I am pretty cheap.  That doesn’t, however, stop me from indulging in a plethora of clothes.  The reason I bring up my frugality is because it led me straight to a pair of mint-condition Earnest Sewn jeans in my size.  I was taking a stroll through Gastown, waiting for a friend to get off work and I happened into a vintage store.  Vintage stores, it should be noted, are my favourite place to look for coats.  They don’t sit diectly on your skin, for starters (so if wearing someone else’s clothes gives you the creeps, they don’t touch you directly!) and the retro styling makes for an interesting browse.  But I digress.  I was finished with the coats and pretty much ready to leave, when a pair of jeans caught my eye.  Yes, they were Earnest Sewns!  There was also a Paper Denim pair, but I was feeling cheap so I just bought the Earnest Sewns.  $51.00.  I was pretty stoked.

For the record, they’re very comfortable.  They are a slim-fitting style, which isn’t my preferred cut.  However, they are the comfiest slim-straight-legged denim I have ever tried on.  This alone earns them considerable respect as a true high-end denim.  Every detail is given ample attention.  From the stitching to the buttons, everything is executed with utmost care and quality.  I highly commend the makers of Earnest Sewn.

-FH.

A few years back, custom jeans were a pipe dream. Accessible only to the rich, the uber-fashionable or the sewingly-inclined, custom denim was an uneccesary luxury. After all, between Levis and the GAP, people had all the denim they needed. However, in today’s world, custom denim is the only thing that will let you stand out in the blue jeans crowd. In a nworld filled to the brim with Rock n’ Republics, True Religions, Citizens, and Earnest Sewns, you really need to spend a fortune on jeans to look different. Jennifer Lopez’s J.Lo collection, for example, purveys jeans with a 2kt. diamond front button – for a mere $2 million.

There is, however, another option. That option is custom denim. And, if you get your custom jeans at Indi Denim, you can even do it without breaking the bank. You get to choose everything from the stitching on the back pockets to the type of denim to the detailing (you can even get your jeans monogrammed – wow).  Men’s jeans, women’s jeans, they’ve got em both.  As for the fit, well… With inseam and waistline increments to the half-inch, it’s guaranteed that you’ll be able to find your fit. For the first time ever, I’ll be able to proudly stand up and claim “YES, my jeans are THIRTY TWO AND A HALF waist, by THIRTY THREE AND A HALF inseam!”… and I won’t even be lying.

You can tell that Indi Denim isn’t just out to be the Next Big Thing. Rather, they are people who truly understand the world’s frustration with a lack of clothing that fits just right. Based on my experience in retail I can objectively say that people are becoming more selective about how a garment fits. With more stores offering a wider variety of sizes, the clothing retail industry is doing its best to appease customers… But it’s not enough. Really, how could a store ever hold the veritable matrix of denim sizes, shapes, contours and colours? The answer: it couldn’t. Enter IndiDenim.com

Another great thing is that the jeans are not overpriced. The basic jeans start at $135 USD, with some finishes and features costing extra. Now, would you rather pay over $200 for high-end designer jeans that claim to be ‘back-to-basics, traditional denim’… Or would you shell out substantially less for a pair of perfectly fitted, back-to-basics denim? I can’t believe you even had to think that one through.

Now. That being said, it’s not like you get entirely free reign over how your blue jeans turn out. There are about 8 different denims to choose from, and (for mens jeans, anyway) there is only one ‘style’… Though you can choose the width of the leg at the top, the bottom, boot cut, straight leg, even how the seat fits! I think the point is more “get yourself a pair of jeans that fit PERFECTLY!” rather than “get yourself a pair of jeans with not just *any* buddhe stitched on the back pocket, but YOUR OWN custom Buddha!” (for the record, they do not come with Buddhas on the back pockets. True Religion fans, you will know what I’m referring to). I’m just happy that someone finally gets it: selection and style be damned; if it doesn’t fit us properly, it doesn’t fit us properly! And now we have somewhere to turn when we can’t find the right pair of jeans in a store.

And, that’s my cool discovery of the week. Over and out!

-FH.

Suffice it to say that Pierre Cardin was the most prominent pioneer of Space Age fashion. He helped popularize a modern, minimalist look that rocked the world and is now making something of a comeback.

These cool boots are so retro that they’d actually be the leading edge of mod fashion on the streets today. Check out the flat heels and androgynous look. Even for a guy, it would not be unthinkable to wear the black ones in the middle – though I wouldn’t wear them unless they had some sort of buckle or other masculine detailing on them.

Check out this weird dress. I’m not a huge fan of it, but it does scream ‘sixties’ – and the androgynous Twiggy-inspired look is all over this model. I like the low-heeled shoes – worked into an outfit properly, they can be very classy. I have to admit, I think the experimentation with pattern and see-through materials is very very cool. It would be cool to see a whole gown done in the mesh, with something beneath. Preferably with long gloves.

I believe that shopping for fashion can be reasonably affordable – just because your high-roller friend gets her shoes from Lanvin doesn’t mean you have to, to look [nearly] as good as she does. Nine West carries a wide variety of trendy shoes that look great, an they cost about 1/4 of what you’d otherwise pay to look so stylin’.

Check out this red pump … grrrr … smokin. Bright red shoes always attract attention and can spice up an otherwise drab outfit. I am a big fan of patent leather shoes for ladies, because they look so classy and well-put-together .. even if you just threw on a random outfit because you were late for work or something.

Next up is a trendy block-heel pump. These have been big for the past season or so but they’re still going strong. These give a bit of extra power to your power suit -wear with slim straight-legged dress pants. I think these ones in particular would go well with a light grey suit. I love the detail at the bottom of the heel; it gives it a real retro feel without looking too campy.

This last shoe is a nice tan/ivory colour. At risk of being politically incorrect, I call it ‘nude’ – though you’d have to be damn pale to look this colour when nude.

I love ivory shoes! They’re classy but again, very retro. This blockier shoe will look good with a pair of straight, fitted jeans or trouser pants. You could also pair it with a matching ivory dress in a lighter material to contrast. Throw on a chocolate-brown coat and you’re set for the rest of winter.

I hope I have convinced you all of the utility and beauty of shoes that *don’t* cost more than $200 – think of the money you’ll save! You could buy whole new outfits! …That’s just me projecting a cheap-sales-shopper mentality on the masses. Over and out!

FH.

Lately, I’ve come to appreciate a side of fashion I’ve never really had anything to do with – Retro vintagestyle. Whether that is its name or not is up for debate, but let me try to explain what I mean by this. To start, take a classic look from several decades past. Replicate it in vintage-looking prints, complete with a bit of wear and tear.. add in a pair of funky shoes.. stick it on some young headstrong artistic soul.. and voila, the retro/vintage look is complete.

I’m not (and hopefully never will be) a fan of worn-out fabrics. If you’re going to get a pair of worn-out jeans, wear them out yourself. It’s just pretentious to buy them ‘used’ when clearly they’re not. However, I am quite the advocate of buying clothing in vintage fabrics, just because it gives the clothing a different look.

The particular vintage look I’m describing (yes, there’s more than one) comes in a muted, neutral palette. Tans, beiges, dusty rose, maroon, and various dark bottle greens and blues are all staples. I’ve never really liked all those faded colours… but seeing some of the outfits executed in said colours, I am gathering appreciation for the look as a whole.

For ladies, layer a ruffly skirt or blouse (NOT both at once.. jeeze) under a heavier coat, and add boots for a romantic fall look. Another great retro / vintage cut is the straight-legged trouser… You can even hold these up with suspenders for a more distinctive flair. Add jewelry (like long strings of pearls) and wear blocky-heeled pumps as you please. Ultimately, it all comes down to balance .. ground the ruffles with something heavier, spike the bland with an accessory, pull in the baggy with the fitted. Big sunglasses can hide your face on a winter’s day (not autumn, it just looks stupid) and if you’re going to get a new hairdo, bobbed hair always sets this look off well. Providing you haven’t already accessorised your way to hell, you might consider a beret, pillbox hat or some small hairpiece to set your look off.

Here’s a really retro vintage gone wild example, by Comme Des Garcons. Comme is a very good example of the look this entry is all about.. Their clothing (literally “like boys”) for ladies is very tomboyish with a bygone flair.

Mens retro vintage can also be pretty sexy, if done properly. Men, you need (really need) a pea coat or dark three-quarter leather jacket to put over your clothing. If not, you’d better have a blazer handy to throw on in the autumn. Guys clothing (as usual) is a bit less complicated. Use vintage prints like argyle or houndstooth, and old-school leather belts. Straight-legged jeans are your friend, as are straight-legged wool slacks (Speaking of… stay tuned for a rant about jeans in the next few days). Wear sweater vests and cardigans (fitted, so you’re not instantly 75) and carry a funky bag. For shoes, vintage-style with thin laces are really cool.. And if you want to be stereotypical, pop on a pair of Converse. Paperboy caps really go well with this look, but don’t overdo it on the accessories.

…So, I think this was supposed to be a continuation on six-sided intersections, but I never did sketch out my ideas and I’m not sure if the idea interests me any longer. However, more space-age modernism, retro, large sunglasses, and crazy shoes are in short order. That, and a rant about jeans. Keep an eye out!

Fashion Hobo.

Back again.. I’ve been busy lately. What a procrastinator am I. Anyway, I’m overdue for a new post – I was aiming for one every second day but clearly, that didn’t happen. So here I am.

For lack of any other thought, I want to share with you my interest in shoes. OK, maybe it’s not due to lack of any other thought.. Shoes are one of my favourite components of fashion. Shoes (paired with the right attitude) can make a person strut, swagger, or slouch – completely changing the way a person’s look is interpreted without changing much else.

More to the point, shoes are just fascinating. We took something that started as leather foot-sheathes, and turned it into a whole industry. From the start, they just had to catch on – something so simple with such a distinct design to it was guaranteed a receptive audience – and honestly, some of them are quite the engineering feat. heuheu. feat.

I don’t know when I started drawing them, but I could fill pages and pages with nothing but shoes. They’re so easy to draw, and the possibilities are endless.

Oh, and before I forget.. I’m sure everyone has seen this by now, but for the sake of completion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMF2Eb0Wa_I

enjoy. betch. over and out!

Fashion Hobo.