Thrillist, the national newsletter that promises to get you the latest G2 before your coolest friends beat you to the punch, scooped our latest Stimulus Package: the Stallone-themed Spring Survival Kits, in their Chi-town edition.
Artificial Flavor announces Deal #3 - Spring Survival Kit, of the Great American Stimulus Package. Snap up a new wardrobe of Jackets, Hoodies, Pants, Shorts & more starting at $79.00.
You can shop it here: http://www.aflavor.com/deal-time
Check out a Preview Video Here:
The 2nd annual Styling the Modern Man fashion event is taking place on Friday, April 10th at the W Hotel in San Francisco. Artificial Flavor will be showing an assortment of looks on the runway from our Spring/Summer 09 line starting at 4PM Pacific. Local purveyor of fine men’s goods On the Fly will also be participating again, and to close out the show, Cleveland based Wrath Arcane will show its edgy 1900s workwear inspired collection. Should be an amazing show, put on by urban culturalist and PR magnate Shaun Saunders from Graffiti PR!
The W Hotel
181 Third St.
San Francisco, CA
Schedule:
11AM Kevin Josephson- Grooming the Modern Man
12:30PM David Mast- Good Design and the Modern Man
2PM On the Fly- From Retail to Runway
4PM Artificial Flavor- Contemporary Sportswear
5PM Wrath Arcane- Eclectic Modern Menswear
RSVP: rsvp@graffitipr.net
Do you hear that? Silence.
The economy is wretched. America is terrified. Taylor Swift, Michael Phelps, even Robert Downey Jr. haven’t seen anything this bad.
It’s bad. Real bad.
And Artificial Flavor is here to help.
Our gavel strikes. A deal is drafted. We announce Artificial Flavor’s Great American Stimulus Package.
All change is best performed in twelve easily managed steps. We all know this. And so it goes with our very own Stimulus Package.
Over the next couple of months Artificial Flavor’s team of passionate and shockingly well-dressed patriots will take on America’s weakening economy one elastic band at a time. Steals will be announced. Investments will be made. And edgy designer wear will once again hit the streets.
Our promise is that each step, each one of our industry-shattering deals, will stimulate that fashion urge of yours. And wisely. Always.
And now do you hear that? It’s the masses of the fashionably savvy heading our way, followed by brokers, by Wall Streeters, by Washington-ers. And they’re running.
But you were here first. With us.
And we’re glad you’re here.
Supplies are limited so good luck.
Hearts Open,
The Artificial Flavor Team
The new Spring 2009 issue of Antenna magazine has hit the newsstands, and our Storm Hoodie aka Ballistic is featured under the windbreaker section…. if you would like to order, here is the link to the product page:
http://www.aflavor.com/shop/mens-hoodies/mens-black-storm-hoody
Antenna Mag Spring 09 Cover
Windbreakers Section
Our $50 Price for Life campaign has generated a lot of buzz lately, first with Thrillist and now San Francisco Chronicle and UrbanDaddy have picked it up… special thanks to Sylvia Rubin and Lance Broumand for scooping us!
The March 09 issue of Men’s Health has a “Color of Speed” themed style guide that has a page of items devoted to the racy, masculine colors of silver, black and red. Our Flak Jacket was featured on the “Power of Black” page. Here are the images:
Most of the time I devote this blog to relevant news and happenings directly related to Artificial Flavor, but sometimes I like to post a bit off topic, provided it ties into the brand in some shape or fashion. For all those ice cream lovers out there that are looking for a bit more sophistication in their choice of flavors (when Baskin Robbins 31 flavors just won’t do) there is Humphry Slocombe, an amazing little ice cream shop that opened recently in San Francisco’s Mission neighborhood.
They let you sample with nice little metal spoons (instead of throwing away plastic ones) unique concoctions that blur the lines between sweet and savory. I started safe, with a taste of Malt Dulce de Leche, which was very nice, but I quickly moved on to more adventurous varieties such as the McEvoy Olive Oil (!) and a Balsamic Caramel, which were so smooth and well balanced that I ordered a single scoop of each. After a sample of salt and pepper (somehow it actually works!) my girlfriend ordered a single kid’s size of Carrot Mango, and we shared a soft homemade chocolate chip cookie to provide some crunch with our cream.
Next time, I’m going to try their “Special Breakfast”, which is cornflakes + Bourbon… and supposedly it’s to die for. After that, maybe I can brave the waters and opt for Foie gras- yes they have this flavor as well!
We’re living in different times now, let’s not pretend we’re not. That’s why we just introduced an amazing offer: if you buy one of our jackets, specially priced at only $50 (normal retail is $100-$200) you will get locked into this $50 price for as long as we are doing business! So, every season, you can be guaranteed a jacket for $50. Not a bad deal right? What a commitment… if only other companies were so willing to partner up with their consumers. But act fast, this is a limited offer and the orders are rolling in thanks to some well placed PR: check out the drop from Thrillist here or go directly to our website for the deal!
OnTheFly, one of our local retailers, recently moved from their original digs in SOMA to a nice spot in Embarcadero Center, where they should be able to realize significantly more foot traffic. We hope this means more exposure for Artificial Flavor in the Financial District of San Francisco… and we’re confident that owner Ami Arad will be successful dressing the somewhat style-unconscious men that roam these grounds with more unique furnishings than the usual blue shirt and khakis that is so prevalent. Here’s a link to the 7×7 Glamwatch article: http://www.7×7.com/blogs/glamwatch/fly-guy-new-mens-wear-store-opens-embarcadero-center
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Nicolette Lara, the woman behind Stylebabble.com, recently devoted a page of her trendspotting blog to Artificial Flavor. She provided a nice history of the brand, as well as some looks from our upcoming Spring/Summer 09 collection. Be sure to check out her blog on a regular basis to get the latest on not only fashion trends, but hospitality, architecture, and technology!
Last Sunday, we shot our Fall/Winter 2009 Collection at The Presidio, a large park in the northwest corner of San Francisco that used to be a major military installation, but now serves as one of the city’s main outdoor destinations. Using the evergreen canopy as a backdrop, we shot some key editorial pieces including our new orange and grey Puffer Jacket, navy Funnel Neck Jacket, and bright orange Storm Hoodie. As you can see, orange is our pop color for this season, as it works so well with neutrals such as silver, charcoal, and navy blue. We’ll be debuting the line at Project Las Vegas in February, and the line will ship in July in time for fall. I’m extremely excited about this line, it’s by far the best collection we’ve ever done… big props go to our designer Violet Watson, holla!
Kristen shoots Ryder wearing grey/orange Puffer Jacket
Law on the videocam as John looks on
Another angle of Kristen shooting Ryder
Catchy barricade, captures the essence of San Francisco
Kristen shoots Chris in the orange/silver staggered stripe sweater
Ryder sports the orange Storm Hoodie over silver logo T shirt
Kristen shoots Chris in navy Funnel Neck jacket against stained glass
Yes, this event took place 2 months ago, and I’m guilty as charged with not updating this blog regularly, but things have been so… crazy lately. But now I’m back and the posts shall continue. This “Trade In Your Old Underwear” party took place at Taverna Aventine, a new haunt in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, and the Yelp staffers helped us distribute free Artificial Flavor underwear to those Yelp Elite participants (dressed up for a pirate theme to go with the maritime feel of the venue) who brought in a pair of their old skivvies as a trade. We think that the attendees made out pretty well, while we got to take home a box filled with 50+ pairs of used drawers. Here are some pics for you to enjoy, stay tuned for a Spring fashion show with Yelp to launch the new Spring/Summer 09 collection.
A Yelper shows off the Flak Jacket
A Yelper holds up a pair of Sapphie Blue Vintage Wash Trunks
What size and color would you like good sir?
Connie C. from Yelp and Marcel showing off a pair of Red trunks
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Taking Back Sunday (TBS) is an American band from Amityville, Long Island, New York. The current members are vocalist Adam Lazzara, guitarist and back-up vocalist Matthew Fazzi, guitarist Eddie Reyes, drummer Mark O’Connell, and bassist Matt Rubano. They have released three studio albums, with their most successful being 2006’s Louder Now which has sold over 600,000 copies and peaked at #2 on the United States’ Billboard 200, closely followed by Where You Want to Be which peaked at #3 in 2004. TBS have also had twelve singles, one extended play, one live album and a compilation album. “MakeDamnSure” is their highest charting single to date, peaking at #8 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2006.(source wikipedia)
Recently Artificial Flavor styled had the chance to style TBS….see the pictures below:
Our friends at 944 Magazine did a nice little piece on the origins of Artificial Flavor. No, we were not created next to the perfumes and food additives in some hidden lab in Newark, New Jersey. But you might be surprised to hear about the idea that hatched this 4 year old brand.
The September 2008 issue of San Francisco’s 7×7 Magazine has haunting 6 page spread shot on location at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (aka SLAC), a 2 mile long particle accelerator created in 1967 to answer the question: “Where did we come from and why the hell are we here?”. The overall mood feels sci-fi, but not post modern in the sense of the new Battlestar Galactica, rather it’s more of a retro 50s vibe, think Mulder and Scully inserted into War of the Worlds (1953 version).
On the opening page, our Cavalry Jacket is featured prominently along with our barely visible white polo, paired with a pair “Slacs” from fellow SF label Distilled (what up Matty!)
The September 2008 issue of 944 Magazine has a recap of the Styling the Modern Man fashion show that took place at the W Hotel on July 30. The underwear model is wearing Green Trickster trunks from the Fall/Winter 2008 line, which are available for purchase on our website.
As we become more and more ensnared in the web’s silken data feeds that nourish us with up to the minute information on any subject under the sun, it becomes more and more difficult to actually find exactly what we are looking for (even with the power of Google) simply because of the sheer number of websites that exist today. This problem is especially true for sites that publish original content, such as blogs and email magazines. How do we find out the coolest “in the know” events that are happening in major US cities that we always wish we could be the source of? Aside from the mainstream magazines on the newsstands and their .com counterparts, where do we look on the web for the latest in men’s style and grooming? There is a lot of noise out there on the web, because anyone can start a blog (hell, the blog you are reading is a good example) but two sites in particular are quickly rising to the top of the heap: UrbanDaddy and Kempt. The former (www.urbandaddy.com) is a true daily invite only email magazine that strives to get its readers “in the know”. With editions for San Francisco, LA, Vegas, Chicago, Miami, New York, and even National, all the major city markets are covered for the US. The latter, Kempt (www.getkempt.com) is like a men’s version of Daily Candy; a blog that serves up new content pertaining to style, fashion, and grooming. We recently caught up with the man behind both UrbanDaddy and Kempt, to get his perspective on what brands are hot and why Sean Avery’s style quotient exceeds David Beckham’s.
Q: A search on LinkedIn shows that you received your JD from Berkeley in ‘01 and that you worked as an associate at firm for 4 years. Will you ever go back to practicing law?
A: Not in this lifetime.
Q: I didn’t realize that in addition to being the publisher of GetKempt.com, you are also the CEO of UrbanDaddy. How did you get involved with blogging?
A: We’re more of an email magazine than a blog. UrbanDaddy delivers a very short (but sweet) piece of breaking intel about the city, daily. At the time when we started there was only CitySearch and a few other sources like that. But what I wanted a highly filtered source with the most interesting and exceptional experiences of the city with information that went beyond the press release. The philosophy was to cover less but to focus on getting it right—the magic of the internet made this possible.
Q: What made you spin off GetKempt.com?
A: A lot of similar thoughts. Style has always been an important category for us and we had a lot more to say than we could on UrbanDaddy. We also felt there was a very big void in the space for the kind of information that Kempt provides. That, and Kempt, just looks so damn handsome.
Q: How much of GetKempt’s content is sourced from other blogs and sites?
A: We don’t re-blog. We’ll frequently pick up on things that are elsewhere and discussions which are happening in the media but they always have an original spin, opinion and viewpoint. You won’t find Kempt racing to put up every story in the men’s style genre for the sake of posting.
Q: There’s quite a bit of coverage on GetKempt of Sean Avery, the NHL’s answer to David Beckham. In your opinion, who has more style?
A: It’s hard to say, since Beckham has his own team of stylists. Avery isn’t an international brand. He’s just an athlete pursuing an interest in style, and he wears the things he likes, which makes him much more interesting to us.
Q: Do you think we’ll start to see an increase in male professional athletes that will be known more for their fashion and grooming sense rather than their skills and achievements?
A: Well, I don’t think anyone who sucks will all of a sudden be an icon because of their amazing style (although Dennis Rodman might be a counterpoint to that). But I do think that style is an important part of the packaging in sports these days and this will only get more significant. On this point, I think that Michael Phelps needs a lot of help right now. I’ve seen him a couple of times doing the 1980s psychedelic mood shirt thing and I’m more than mildly concerned. Somebody needs to get in there and do something about that right quick.
Q:Do you feel that men are losing their masculinity as they continue to adopt expensive grooming products and become more conscious of keeping their wardrobe up to date? What do women think about this so-called “feminization” of the American male?
A: I don’t think so—Its not like guys are running to the bathroom with their guy friends to apply more after-shave or exfoliating cream at different points during the night. I just think today’s guy wants to develop his own sense of “brand”—he wants to look sharp, smell good and carry himself with a little bit of style. I think there are a couple of things contributing to this trend: (1) A society and definition of masculinity that’s evolving; (2) A strong current of individualism; (3) Heavy marketing dollars; and (4) Mad Men. I think as long as guys don’t start wearing these: http://www.getkempt.com/bad-idea/halfshod.php, we should be okay.
Q: Style is very subjective, but you know it when you see it. What are the keys to great style that any guy can follow?
A: I actually don’t think style is that subjective. Its pretty objective—of course those objective standards are constantly changing. Its hard to give positive style tips. I think the best thing to do is to keep a firm “do not do” list. Some of things on that list would be excessive pleating, deep v neck shirts, clam diggers, ankle boots, shoulder tassels, medallions etc…
Q: What are some of your favorite brands?
A: I like the classic stuff and brands that are able to mix in personality without getting too wacky. Armani is always fantastic. I also really like Varvatos, Rag & Bone, Spurr and Marc Jacobs. I like what Tom Ford is doing when he doesn’t go off the reservation and I’m a big fan of a comer brand called Psycho Bunny which seems to navigate the boundaries classic with a good amount of rakish charm.
Q: When you are not editing the latest posts on GetKempt, what do you like to do with your spare time?
A: I can’t take credit for editing Kempt. Right now we’ve got probably two of the hottest up-and-coming style editors, Randy Goldberg and Russell Brandom. I think you’re going to see these names a lot in the coming years next to other great arbiters of style, like Glenn O’Brien, Simon Doonan, Diddy, etc…
It’s that time again: the biggest premium contemporary tradeshow is right around the corner. We’ll be at Project tradeshow at booth #10091 showing our Spring/Summer 2009 collection. It’s amazing how fast these shows come every year…
Our table at Ruby Skye VIP gifting lounge, where celebs never surfaced
Gifting table again
These girls love their new Artificial Flavor briefs
Everyone loves a free T-shirt!
This girl will look great in these Rasta Bandito Briefs
Jessica from 944 Magazine shows off a new pair of Tricksters for her man
This guy digs his Bandito briefs
The Arigo Recordings launch party at Ruby Skye unfortunately had a very tepid outcome. There weren’t that many people on the dance floor, and the A list celebs (Big Boi, Barry Bonds, Dave Chappelle) did not arrive at all. So, we decided to bring our remaining free giveaway stock from our VIP gift bags next door to Slide, which had a line out the door all night long for 944 Magazine’s issue launch party.
We ended up giving away over 200 pieces of underwear, and most of the takers were girls! (pretty soon we need to launch the women’s line of underwear, the demand is out there) We also gave out about 50 branded Tshirts. So despite a slow start, we managed to salvage the night by “sliding” over to a new venue. Thanks to Lotus Vodka for allowing us to promote with them.
Artificial Flavor is one of the sponsors for Arigo Recordings’ official launch party taking place Thursday, August 7th at Ruby Skye in San Francisco. The theme of the party is Sin City, replete with a sexy all female ballet/hip-hop dance troupe, as well as live characters from the movie. Detroit Diamond from the film “Belly” will also be there busting rhymes, along with DJ/VJ extraordinaire Jim Hopkins, and soul singer Simone Taylor. There will also be celebrities cruising the VIP section, where our booth will be. We’re providing product for the VIP gift bags and will be showing garments from the new Fall/Winter line, promoting the brand. Tickets are $20 for anyone that wants to dig the scene, should be a good time. Check back for pics later!
On Wednesday night we showed a few looks from our Fall/Winter 08 collection on the runway at the W San Francisco. It was an amazing show, and included John Varvatos, Andrew Christian, Youngblood Timepieces, and On the Fly. Thanks again to Steven and Shaun at Graffiti PR for providing this great opportunity.
Windbreaker and Mock Turtleneck
Green Trickster
Hoodie and Sweatpants
Ballistic Blazer and Polo Shirt
Navy Trickster
Our mesh Sport Polo made the July 28th issue of DNR as part of a Key Trends at Project NY sidebar to David Lipke’s Project NY debrief. Here is the scan:
The San Francisco Bay Guardian has been publishing its free weekly alternative newspaper since 1966. Located just a few steps away from home, I recently walked over to their Potrero Hill HQ to meet with Marke Bieschke, the Sr. Editor for Culture and Web, to see what he had to say about San Francisco’s culture, fashion scene, and why everyone around the world seems to love this city by the bay.
Q: How did you first get involved with SF Bay Guardian?
A: I’m a dyed-in-the-wool club freak — I’d been covering Bay Area nightlife for 10 years as an editor of CitySearch in the 90s and then as editor of Gay.com (although you can imagine the horrid kinds of things I had to cover there, heh). I’d always wanted to work for the Guardian, because it offers such an incredible amount of creative freedom in a noncorporate environment. So when a spot opened up as nightlife columnist, I leaped with limp wrists a-flyin’. I wrote the biweekly Super Ego clubs column for a year (still do) before coming on board full time as Senior Culture Editor.
Q: As a bone fide journalist and editor, how do you view the blogosphere?
A: I freakin’ love it! Well, maybe except for the constant misspellings and oddly placed apostrophes. And rabid homophobe commentors — childish! But I get exasperated with a capital E when people set up a false opposition between “traditional” media and “new” media — some of the best and most interesting blogging is in fact being done on “traditional” media Web sites, and some great reporting (and reaction) is taking place in someone with bunny slippers on’s bedroom.
I get to have it both ways. I run our Web site so I get to interact with the Internets all the time. AND I have the freedom to wear my bunny slippers since I work in such a relaxed atmosphere. The only real difference I’ve found between print media and the Internet is that with print you have an ABSOLUTE deadline. Man, that’s a killer. Especially to someone like me with a Web background and an ever-looming hangover.
Q: Whenever we meet people in the fashion industry and tell them we’re from SF, the reaction is almost always extremely positive. Why is San Francisco so universally loved and revered?
A: Definitely our town represents the kind of diversity and bohemian freedom that many people in the industry aspire to. Honestly, we have an incredible fashion scene here — without a lot of the more traditional and perhaps stultifying trappings of other metropolises. We’re less beholden to old money, we’re allowed to freely question overbearing trends, we value vision and craft over distribution and fame, and we aren’t ruled by dusty old magazine editors and celebrity ridden fashion “events.” The fashion scene here is still intense, and can still lead to international renown, but people feel supported to do their own thing. They almost have to — it’s SF, after all.
Q: You cover culture. What is the new emerging culture that is defining San Francisco today?
A: It’s a mindboggling combination of global energy and what I call the “New Unselfconsciousness” — I’m amazed at how energetic, social, and diverse everyone I come across is, and how much dedication they put into contributing to a worldwide dialogue of style and creativity.
Q: What does San Francisco have that New York and LA can never match?
A: We have an incredible history of freedom and relaxed energy of our own for sure, but I think the whole “us” vs. “them” category is breaking down — and I like that. There are defintely advantages to living here (I love the weather and all the access to nature combined with the density of diversity), but I like that different cultural centers are sharing more and more with each other. the only danger I see is that a certain panglobal blandness has begun to set in — but the exciting challenge is to give everything your own unique spin.
Q: When you hear ‘San Francisco’ and ‘fashion’, what comes to mind?
A: Groundbreaking collectives, independence, a shunning of multinational corporate mores. Tech style, street style, global vision.
Q: Do you have any favorite brands or labels that you like to splurge on?
A: Not really. I pride myself on rising above label whoredome, a sometimes lonely position for a big geigh like myself. Not that I don’t adore many major designers. I salivate over big tent shows, and as a kid in Detroit I (somewhat disatrously) made my own Gauthier and Sprouse knock-offs and wore them out to uncomprehending clubs. I detest Zac Posen, but I’d marry Alexander McQueen in a minute if I could fit into his women’s couture. In actuality I’m a Levi’s, Upper Playground tee, and flannel guy. With maybe a Nice Collective jacket for some flair.
Q: What are some of your favorite SF hangouts?
A: Any of DJ Bus Station John’s or Honey Soundsystem’s affairs. I love that the old-school gay clone and Hi-NRG scenes are being reinvigorated by gay youth questioning the Beyonce-Brittany-Rihanna homo dancefloor tyranny. You’ll often catch me downing a shot at the Transfer, dancing underground in the Temple catacombs, scoping the underage crowd at Rickshaw Stop, or losing my mind at minimal techno blowout Kontrol at EndUp or dubstep dreamland Surya Dub at Club Six.
Q: What do you like to do with your free time?
A: Honey, I am always working, and I love that. But my incredibly patient and compassionate BF makes sure I get some fabulous outdoor adventure travel time in, and I occasionally take a quiet moment to write a poem or two to center myself and keep my metaphor-making sharp.
Q: How do you like being the one that is getting interviewed for a change?
A: How do you know this isn’t one of my “people”?
Artificial Flavor will be showing its Fall/Winter 2008 line at the W Hotel in San Francisco, along with John Varvatos, On the Fly, and Andrew Christian. Free entrance for anyone, and I even heard that drinks are on the house, so it’s a great reason to come out to the W on a Wednesday night to watch some models strut down the runway. More pics to come.
Cool Hunting has been around now for over 5 years, and is still one of the best sites on the net when it comes to staying up on, well, the coolest things around. Though not necessarily a fashion oriented blog, they do cover new brands from time to time, but only if the editors who write the content actually like the product. Marketers, designers, and consumers all turn to CoolHunting.com’s intersection of design, culture, and technology to stay ahead of the curve. We recently had the opportunity to speak with Tim Yu, who is one of the 4 editors of the site, to get the low down on what constitutes that ever elusive cool factor.
Q: Tell me a little bit about your experience at Cool Hunting.
A: I’ve been at CH for almost 2 years now. I’m always learning about new things but I enjoy the people I work with most. They are young, opinionated, super smart, and we all have different personalities that mesh well together as a team. We work hard to create original and engaging content but have fun doing it.
Q: For those that have never heard of Cool Hunting, how would you explain it to them?
A: Cool Hunting is an online publication with daily updates at the intersection of art, design technology and culture. Our editorial standard is very simple, “stuff we like.”
Q: I’ve always liked the sound of Cool Hunting because the word “cool” manages to remain, well, cool, while all other slang terms tend to wax and wane throughout each passing generation’s lexicon. How do you explain the amazing staying power of the word “cool”?
A: I think it’s partially because of the history of the word. What comes to mind for me is Miles Davis’ Birth of Cool and the beginning of the Cool Jazz genre. I also think the word itself just sounds and looks good too. It’s got great elements–hard and soft sounds and you can do funny things with the two o’s. But to be honest, I don’t know.
Q: How does your degree in Biology-Psychology come into play while hunting and blogging on the latest cool creations that are popping up in the world every day?
A: I don’t think my specific degree plays a roll but I believe in the scientific method and think that type of thought process helps with my job. I rely on my daily observations when looking for content and a lot of science is all about focused observations. Also, I oftentimes condense a lot of information into short paragraphs and this is something you do constantly writing scientific papers and abstracts.
Q: Cool is obviously a very relative term, what’s cool to one person may be considered uncool to another. How does one know what is cool and what is not? Does it always need to involve social context?
A: I hate to be cliche but cool is ultimately up to one’s opinion. That said, not all opinions are accurate, whatever the social context may be.
Q: Many people think that when things are relatively undiscovered, they are almost automatically considered cool, and once things go mass, they are no longer cool (unless you are Apple Computer). How much does obscurity factor into what you consider cool?
A: I think there is something to say when someone feels “in the know” or ownership of something, and that might make that thing a bit more coveted or cool. I think we all experience this.
When it comes the site, obscurity helps but is not a definitive factor of what we cover. We are really just concerned with “stuff we like” whether it’s obscure or not.
Q: As China’s middle class continues to expand at an alarming rate and along with it their demand for cars, fashion, and other luxury items, do you think that modern society from the West to now the East is becoming too obsessed with materialism? Are there any dangers of taking cool stuff too seriously?
A: I love to be cliche–moderation is key.
Q: In your opinion, what designers or brands are doing cool things in the men’s fashion world today?
A: I like plain stuff, so I tend to prefer more subdued brands like APC, Obedient Sons, Head Porter Plus and the like. On the other end, I think Jun Takashi of Undercover is extremely creative and presenting fashion in new ways along with Thom Browne who has a reputation for some of the craziest fashion shows.
Q: Is there a connection between Cool Hunting the blog and Cool Hunting People the fashion label?
A: No connection.
Q: Name the top 3 coolest things that you own.
A: Right now? My new Pilot Frixion erasable pen, a B&O turntable and my time machine
Q: Your bio says you like comfort food, especially on Sundays. Any favorite places to eat out, or do you prefer to cook?
A: I pretty much just eat my way through Sundays and it’s usually BBQ, Jewish, Greek, Middle Eastern or Korean foods. I always prefer to cook, but I’m not that good at it.
We are all very food centric at CH. We appreciate a tasty meal and it’s an important aspect of our team. In the office we have a family style lunch everyday.
Thank you Tim! You can read more about Tim’s background at http://coolhunting.com/authors/timyu.php
It was a typical mid-July Saturday in San Francisco: 62 degrees and mostly cloudy, but that didn’t stop our Fashion is Inclusive by Design event from being a huge success! After hauling in 10 heavy boxes full of previous season stock and samples, we were ready to channel Richard Pryor in the 80s movie Brewster’s Millions. At 11AM, the guys from Fred Finch Youth Center and Wardrobe for Success came by and had an absolute field day. After they cherry picked their favorite hoodies, jackets, Tshirts, and underwear, we opened up all the boxes to the general population and everyone went apickin’ with great aplomb. Man, you can’t beat free, especially in Union Square surrounded by the antithesis of pro bono: the ivory towers of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Neiman Marcus provided a powerful juxtaposition to our all-inclusive event that asked nothing in return from the people who were lucky enough to stumble upon a free clothing giveaway. By 1PM, there was nothing but a few scraps of random fabric left, which one woman even took to wash her car with!
Overall, people were very excited, grateful, and even perplexed as to why we were giving away our product for free. I don’t know if and when Artificial Flavor will ever be able to do this again, but it was truly an amazing feeling to give away so much joy. Thanks to everyone from Fred Finch Youth Center and Wardrobe for Opportunity for coming out, we hope you will enjoy your new Artificial Flavor duds! Special thanks go out to Y’Anad from Fashion on the Square for allowing Artificial Flavor to hitch our wagon on at the last minute. And last but certainly not least, an extra special thank you goes out to my girl Vanae at Rock Your Awareness, who was directly responsible for getting Fred Finch and Wardrobe for Opportunity hooked up with the event. We hope to partner with Vanae and Rock Your Awareness on more events in the future. And thanks to everyone else who shared in the amazing experience as well; this is what San Francisco is all about. Enjoy the pics!
Leonard from Wardrobe for Opportunity scopes out some track pants
The fellas from Fred Finch Youth Center
We open it up to the general public. H&M hasn’t seen this type of frenzy!
“What size is this? I need a medium”
“Hmm, can I rock this color? Hells yeah”
Grab it while it’s hot!
These two are all set with their new green shirt-jackets
Who says Artificial Flavor shirt-jackets are only for men?!
For one day only, Artificial Flavor seeks to challenge the notion that fashion is exclusive by nature by allowing San Francisco’s disenfranchised and underprivileged to experience the joy of owning new fashion that was produced and sold right here in the great city we call home. We will be providing free Artificial Flavor apparel to the following groups from 11AM-1PM at Fashion on the Square (at Union Square in San Francisco) Arrive early as supply is limited!
Fred Finch
http://www.fredfinch.org/
Wardrobe for Opportunity
http://www.wardrobe.org/
Up From Darkness
http://upfromdarkness.org/
Street Soldiers
http://www.street-soldiers.org/
We look forward to seeing you soon! Thank you for your support.
Artificial Flavor
www.aflavor.com
www.fashiononthesquare.com
Founded in 1933, Esquire is one of the longest running men’s magazines still in print today. At one time, it featured contributions by Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and in the 60s, the magazine popularized New Journalism, which was an unconventional style embraced by Tom Wolfe, Truman Capote, and Hunter S. Thompson. Today, the magazine continues to thrive and is an excellent source of current men’s fashion news. We recently met with Jennifer Kim, who used to assist covering men’s fashion and grooming for Esquire but now assists covering jewelry at The New York Times Style Magazine. In addition to giving some background on her career, she also provides some valuable insight with regards to diamonds and pick up lines… read on!
Q:Tell us about how your career in journalism started.
A:My career in editorial started out with just a curiosity in magazines. I always loved flipping through the glossy pages and seeing all the various story montages. I applied for an internship at Esquire magazine my senior year of college at Parsons School of Art and Design. I was majoring in Fashion Design, and was interested in other areas of fashion that I might be able to pursue. I didn’t want to design under one aesthetic or style. I believed working for a magazine would be a great way to observe an array of aesthetics beyond clothing and accessories. I enjoy behind the scenes, deadlines, always thinking ahead, and the consistent problem solving on how to make the old, new and the new, acceptable or known.
Q: What did you like most about writing for Esquire?
A:I co-wrote the mens bi-monthly grooming column with a contributing stylist. This was a first for Esquire, and for myself.
I immensely enjoyed working on this column. It was always a challenge to address the reader in a neutral voice without sounding like a female was writing it. I must have smelled 10 different shaving creams on a weekly basis (exaggeration). I loved seeing what was new and how companies were coming up with solutions to solve the various problems.
Q: With the proliferation of both print magazines and of course the plethora of online ezines and blogs, how do longstanding magazines like Esquire acquire and retain readers?
A: The computer has now become one of the main household appliances. Readers have access to so much more information than ever. Despite the convenience, in my opinion there is something about the physical activity of holding, flipping through a magazine and the convenience of it, especially when you’re traveling. You can just pull out a magazine and read it and not have to worry about battery power. I think with older readers and readers with a long history of loyalty to a particular magazine probably still prefer a hardcopy verses reading it online.
Q: You used to cover men’s fashion, but now you are focused on women’s jewelry.
I have to ask, will diamonds ever stop being a girl’s best friend?
A: I assist on the jewelry market here at The New York Times. It is definitely a different animal compared to the mens market. After working on several shoots here, I have to say “ Diamonds will always be a girls best friend.” It’s a timeless element, be it simply adorned or ornately fashioned into something extravagant. Which every you go, it’s still the icing on the cake. Whether it’s fondant or butter-cream, deciding is the fun part.
Q: What did you like most about covering menswear?
A:When I worked at Esquire, I assisted with the mens market. I learned so much about menswear from just seeing all the collections, assisting on the shoots and writing the credits for them. I appreciate menswear because I feel its constraints create the challenges for designers and stylists to think outside of the box.
Q: What brands or designers do you think are doing the most for menswear today and why?
A: With people having so much access to information and resources, a lot of designers are doing great things. I don’t have a particular brand or designer in mind for menswear, but it’s always interesting to see the new comers and what they bring to the table.
Q: On Esquire’s blog, there is a section featuring 25 “Allegedly Clever Pick-Up Lines”. Do these ever work? In your opinion what is the best way for a guy to approach a woman at a bar?
A: I think if the pick up lines are really clever, then yes. It gives the woman something to think about and catches her off guard. I think those are usually the best. If that fails a nice smile would just fine.
Q: General question that is way outside the scope of this interview, but what do women really want? Do they even know?
A: Haha, good question! I think we’re all trying to figure it out (even men). If we knew, I think the world would be terribly boring. The battles are far more exciting as much as it drives us crazy.
Q: What are some of the traits or qualities that you find sexy in men?
A: Confidence, intellect and humor
Q: What are some of your favorite pastimes?
A: I love sitting outdoors with a great book, and intimate dinner with friends. I also enjoy painting, traveling, cooking, and I’m always making something, be it a gift for friends or personal projects. So it’s always either a book or art projects in hand.
I’m not sure how this always seems to happen, but out of sheer coincidence, Artificial Flavor is once again on trend with the runways for SS09. Witness this white mesh cardigan (top photo) by Kris Van Assche which was just shown on the Paris runways for his eponymous collection (thanks to DNR for this photo, from the July 7, 2008 issue). For those who don’t already know, Van Assche is the current creative director for Dior Homme, having succeeded Hedi Slimane a few months back. For SS09, Artificial Flavor also has a mesh cardigan, available in black, light grey, and charcoal as you can see in the accompanying picture. Now, we don’t kid ourselves… we’re not even close to being in the same league as this Belgian who is quickly becoming known as the next Tom Ford, but we do have to flatter ourselves when a design we conceived was also simultaneously created by one of the world’s top designers! Our “Sport Cardigan” will debut at Project NY taking place on July 21-23rd, along with the rest of Artificial Flavor’s SS09 collection.
Q: Tell us a little about your business, the region you cover, brands you carry, etc.
A: MOM agency started three and a half years ago with a showroom in central London on Piccadilly and two collections, Oliver Spencer and an Eco inspired Jeans line called Howies. The following season we began working with Margaret Howell and then began collaboration with Sunspel, a classic English underwear company who produce some of the finest cotton on the market. Two seasons ago MOM began selling the American line Nice Collective in the UK and we began to look for a new showroom. Having just moved Location in London to a bigger showroom we began to look for more brands to work with and after meeting with John in London last May we start our first season with Artificial Flavor.
Q: How did you get into fashion sales?
A: Fashion sales was never part of the plan to be honest. I studied clothing manufacture and textile technology at university in Nottingham in the middle of England. Nottingham also is the home city of the designer Paul Smith and the location of Paul Smith’s head office where I began my career in the Production department. A chance conversation whilst working there led to a move into wholesale. Nearly eight years later I left Paul Smith Ltd as the international Jeans division sales manager. I had a fantastic time there and got to visit some of the world’s best stores in key markets.
Q: What are you most excited about with the upcoming SS09 season?
A: SS09 whilst a little daunting due to the prevailing market conditions is exciting as we have new product to work with and a new showroom space which is a step closer to the overall vision for the agency and its presentation of collections.
Q: What trend are you tired of seeing?
A: When you asked about what I’m tired of seeing trend-wise the fist thing that springs to mind is the tyranny of the skinny jean. To most men over the age of 21 I say don’t do it! Trend it may be, but it’s not a good look for your average Joe.
Q: What is your favorite trade show and why?
A: A favorite trade show has to be Pitti Uomo in Florence Italy. There are two main reasons one is it’s the first of the season so great for trend spotting and secondly working in Florence is great! Having said that I have just visited the shows in Paris and Tranoi had a real buzz about it and a new show to Paris, from New York called Capsule was really interesting and very cool.
Q: Aside from writing orders, how else does a brand benefit from having a salesperson like yourself?
A: The benefits of having a salesperson like me would be (or so I’d like to think) are having a vision of where you can take a great casual wear collection to, in the UK market. Paul Smith gave me an invaluable insight into how to manage a brand that has great penetration in a mature market whilst along side that I got a feel for pioneering brands as I took Paul Smith Jeans into some new places where the brand history didn’t apply. The pioneering thing certainly holds a bigger challenge for me and in my opinion tests your salesmanship skills to a greater degree. I love to be instrumental in the success of breaking a new brand.
Q: What city represents ground zero for men’s premium contemporary today?
A: If I understand you right I’m about to piss a lot of people off so lets pick on somewhere foreign where diplomatic relations are bad already and say Moscow. In my experience all that is tasteless excess seems to emanate from there. To be truthful I have never visited but half of London’s population seems to be Muscovites right now and their questionable attire is on display daily.
Q: When not on the road or in the showroom pushing thenew collection, what do you do with your free time?
A: Free time is taken up with family stuff. I used to have a life as an individual; you know cultural stuff movies or bars and restaurants; generally adult pursuits. I have two kids and they dominate. I think we should return to Victorian Britain and get them working as soon as they can walk, chimney sweeping or mining? You know something to bring an income!! Kids have it too easy these days don’t you think?
Q: What’s your favorite vacation spot?
A: Cornwall in the South West corner of the UK is always a great vacation spot and not too far to travel. But Paris makes a
great City break and Italy has everything from great weather and beaches to the best food in the world so I think Italy has to be the favourite.
Q: Describe what you are wearing right now.
A: what I am wearing right now is a true reflection of my trade in that it is largely made up of samples for which I paid nothing!! The only purchased items are my adidas trainers (sneakers to you) I’m a big Adidas fan just old skool styles nothing too techno. Everything else is effectively stolen! I have some Oliver Spencer slim trousers in navy cotton. A white low V cotton T-shirt from Sunspel and a black fine gauge knit cardigan from a factory I recently visited in Prato Italy, whose collection I may start representing in the UK. In fact I was tempted to say I was wearing a backless scarlet sequined ball gown by John Galliano but I was afraid the joke might backfire.
On July 4th, Tony tied the knot with Karen up in beautiful Calistoga, CA at the Hahn Fahden Vineyard. The weather was sunny and 82 degress, a perfect summer day. Family and friends came from all over to celebrate their union. After the outdoor ceremony in the garden, cocktail hour commenced and then dinner was served in a wine cellar carved into the
mountain side! It was a great celebration and we wish Tony and Karen the best as husband and wife. Here are some pics:
The arbor/garden view
Tony and John waiting for Karen
Tony and Karen making their way from the ceremony as husband and wife
John making his dinner speech in the wine cellar
Artificial Flavor’s John, Lawrence, Marcus, Tony right before we lit up Cuban cigars
Recently John took a trip around the world to visit various distributors and retailers that are interested in representing Artificial Flavor. Lucky for us he documented his vagabond-ish business travels across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe with some fun snapshots. Here they are, enjoy!
Tokyo - the smallest self contained bathroom I have ever seen in my hotel room. The sink swings over the toilet when showering and then out when you need to use it. Oh yeah, Tokyo is a leg show!
Dubai - a winter wonderland in 105 degree desert of Dubai?
Greece - just another gorgeous Greek Island with the best baklava ever.
Dusseldorf Germany - a lot of Germans and great beer.
Copenhagen Denmark - very international city that puts a ton of butter on their steak.
Oslo, Norway-the King is in! I was told that the King is in court when their flag is up. I wanted to say hello but they screwed up my appointment. Very nice people living in a gem of a city. I’m 6′2″ and I am the average height there for the women - there are some tall people up there.
Barcelona, Spain - PIG-La Boqueria has some of the best food around. All the fruit and veggies are so fresh and good. I don’t have any pics of the fruits and veggies because I like meat more.
UK - Guinness here is way better than Guinness in the USA-what’s up with that?!
UK - The worlds tallest and steepest escalator underground in the UK train station.
We recently decided to clean out our messy sample room because it had reached a point of no return: stacks of samples, boxes of last season’s stock, and loads of junk that just needed to be taken to the dump. But in the back, we noticed that we had tons of new fabric just collecting dust that we would never end up using, so we figured that someone else could make better use of the countless bolts of cotton jersey and french terry we were stockpiling.
We were lucky enough to meet up with Nazarena Sadati, who is spearheading her own effort in the quest to eradicate breast cancer. She is organizing her own fundraiser in partnership with the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, with a goal of $5,000 that she is close to hitting. She is using our fabric to create scarves with inspirational quotes on them to promote the 39 mile walk, which is scheduled for July 12 and 13 here in San Francisco. She is also throwing a benefit party at Sugar Lounge Coffee Bar at 679 Sutter (between Mason and Taylor) on June 28th from 8PM-2AM… be sure to stop by for a good time while supporting a great cause.
In the meantime, please be sure to visit Nazarena’s site, and if you choose to make a small donation, even better!
http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2008/SanFrancisco?px=3862290&pg=personal&fr_id=1480&s_tafId=271866
Antenna magazine has only been around for one year, but they have already made a huge impact in the men’s premium street/contemporary fashion magazine segment with their product-centric approach to photographing the latest must-have consumer goods on pure white backgrounds. They publish only 4 issues per year (one for each season) but that’s the only downside to this book. The sheer number of brands they feature is their strength, and the layout is logical: a dedicated page to denim, sweaters, sneakers and myriad other categories allow for the reader to hone in on their next purchase with the greatest of ease. They even started mixing in non-fashion items, such as power tools, rolling papers, and even golf putters! But the magazine isn’t just all about the merch, as there are always a few editorials featuring a new up and coming designer, brand, or artist who is creating something unique.
Artificial Flavor recently spoke with JenniLee, Antenna’s Fashion Editor who among other duties, is responsible for pulling together all of the clothing and accessories that end up on the matte white pages of Antenna’s latest issue.
Q: Antenna has always had interesting covers, always devoid of any models or celebrities. Who’s decision was it to slap a shiny green $12,000 John Deer X728 Ultimate Tractor on the cover of the Summer ‘08 issue?
A: We knew we were going to shoot the John Deer Ultimate Tractor for a page on the inside. Tony Gervino, the Editor had a few different ideas for the cover that really said “summer” to us. Then we saw how strong the image was and how completely ridiculous it was to feature a tractor on fashion & lifestyle magazine it made sense in our collective Antenna brain. Seeing the tractor makes me think of fields of grass and that makes me think of the smell of mowed lawns and to me that’s a smell of summer.
Q: Antenna’s product mix seems to straddle premium streetwear, premium contemporary, and even designer categories, so it appears that you are trying to reach a relatively broad audience. How would you describe the people who read Antenna?
A: I think the Antenna reader is a guy (and girls too) that appreciate products and fashion from all over the market place. I think half of our readers are the ones who love and can afford luxury designer items. Another half are a bit younger, edgier and street savvy who thrill at being the first to own something. And the 3rd half (yeah, I said 3rd half!) are the guys in the middle, the ones that can’t always afford the most expensive item but knows what he likes when he sees it and we include items in his price range as well. We just want to showcase what we believe are the best options out there for what ever that product may be.
Q: Do you think Antenna will ever switch to a bi-monthly or even monthly format?
A: No. We really like being a capsule of each season’s best of the best. We want to be a coffee table magazine. Something you save and go back to all season.
Q: Tell me little bit about your background and what a typical day is like at Antenna.
A: I have been working as a Fashion Stylist for the past 10 years in NYC & LA. I started out in film school in Miami and moved to NY in 96 to work in film. I ended up interning in the wardrobe department on an indie film and wardrobe just stuck. I exclusively worked on movies for a couple years then I started assisting a stylist in LA. She sent me on a world tour as a shopper and dresser for Lauryn Hill & her band in ‘99. When I came back to NYC I focussed on styling rock bands and doing fashion shoots. Last year I had the pleasure to get a call from Evan the creative director here at Antenna and met with him & Tony to see about doing a magazine that is a product and fashion guide for men. First of all, there are no typical days at Antenna. My day consists of doing email requests for product, sorting through the mountains of boxes that we receive and editing out what we will use, and delegating to my assistants what needs to get returned asap. Then we have shoot days where I am in the studio helping plan how the product will be shot.
Q: As a fashion editor and a human being, what inspires you?
A: I am inspired by the city, the kids on the subways, the music I listen to, the art I see, the books I read, overall, not to sound too hokey but life and love are really inspiring.
Q: How do you personally define fashion?
A: Fashion is how an individual decides to bring out his personality and sense of self in the very utilitarian act of wearing clothes for function and modesty.
Q: What are some of the key qualities you are looking for when brands submit their designs to you?
A: We do such a wide array of products that it really depends on the item. I am looking for different things when I am asking for a cashmere blazer compared to a graphic tee. I always appreciate fine craftsmanship, luxury textiles and clever & functional design elements.
Q: With the ongoing 80s and 90s aesthetic still apparent in sneaker culture and premium street fashion, where do you think these trends are headed? Are there any trends that have reached the end of their life cycle?
A: I think all over print hoodies may be on it’s last gasp. I just saw a guy wearing a tie dye T shirt un-ironically so I would have to say that most trends have never ending life cycles… they just hibernate for a while like a polar bear. No matter how great or awful a trend is it will come back. Overalls, check! Neon colors, check! Long maxi dresses, check! Platform shoes, check!
Q: Who do you see as the real trendsetters today? Are there any specific groups of people or countries that are at the forefront, and why?
A: All over the globe, the trendsetters are the kids. By kids, I mean teens & early 20’s. They are the ones who are discovering themselves and their tastes and are fearless at expressing themselves through fashion. By the time they hit early 20’s the most creative are usually putting a lot of thought into how they dress and the image they want to put forward.
Q: What are some undersaturated or under served areas in men’s premium street/contemporary that are that you would like to see brands focus more attention on?
A: Original ideas. I am getting tired of graphics that are just inspired by a logo, product, or film or artist from the past but appropriated with the brands’ identity.
Q: When you’re not rustling together next season’s shoot, what do you like to do with your free time?
A: I like to hang out with my friends and go see bands or hit a museum or gallery and the movies. Ride my bike to the park. Go to Coney Island. And watch a lot of TV. The usual.
Thanks JenniLee! You can pick up the latest Summer 08 issue of Antenna at your local newsstand, or you can subscribe by going to the “Subscribe” tab on the upper right corner of their website http://www.antennamag.com
Artificial Flavor will be one of the brands featured at the Fashionista fashion show being held at ROE in San Francisco, Saturday May 31. Roe is located at 651 Howard St. and if you RSVP you get in free before 11PM. The show is being put on by Atlas in Walnut Creek, one of our favorite men’s stores when you find yourself on the opposite side of the bay. I heard from the owner that the models will eventually disrobe and will be in nothing but their Artificial Flavor skivvies… check back for pics!
Our good friends and partners from Masterpiece Apparel in Thailand were here in SF today visiting their customers. We chatted about production for a bit but quickly the subject of food took over the conversation. Although we acknowledged that good Thai can be had here in SF, the consensus is that you can’t beat the real deal back in Bangkok. From left to right: Supeena, Sunee, Mahin, John, Mahin, Marcus, Kylie, Pete. 
Anyone who hasn’t skimmed through Details magazine in awhile is denying themselves the pleasure and advice found within deputy editor Katherine Wheelock’s one page style column in the Dossier section. With titles such as “Enough with the Skinny Ties” and “Time to Lose the Dad Jeans”, it’s apparent that she knows when certain trends have overstayed their welcome in this fickle fashion universe or when average guys have just lost their way altogether when it comes to getting dressed in the morning. I’ve come to look forward to see which celebrity’s misguided fashion sense she has chosen to make a lesson out of with each new issue that arrives in my mailbox: Will it be Josh Hartnett? Maybe Justin Timberlake? Her poignant writing is sharp and is bound to make you laugh, but deep down she cares about her readers because she wants us to avoid the pitfalls that we sometimes don’t see ourselves falling into when we step into our latest duds. Artificial Flavor recently caught up with Katherine to get a personal perspective on how she goes about her trend-terminating business.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your background of how you came to become deputy editor of Details.
A: I was a Journalism and English major at Washington & Lee University. Working in magazines was something I’d always wanted to do. I moved to New York after graduation and worked briefly as a sales assistant at the New Yorker (it paid more than editorial assistant positions), and then went to a launch called One. It was a design magazine that was born during the shelter-book boom. It lived and died very quickly but it was a great experience. Pilar Guzman, now the editor in chief of the very successful launch Cookie, was a boss of mine there. As was Chris Mitchell, later the publisher of Details, currently the publisher of Wired. Both have been good friends of mine since. After One, I got a job at Time Out New York as the Check Out (style section) writer, and later became the editor of that section. After a few years, I moved to the Fairchild launch Vitals, as an associate editor. When that folded, in part a casualty of the merge between Fairchild Publications and Conde Nast, I was fortunate enough to fall into a spot at Details. I had long wanted to work at a men’s magazine.
Q: How long have you been writing for Details?
A: Two and a half years. My primary duties are as an editor. Writing the style column and the occasional cover stories is something I do when I can.
Q: In a time when magazines seem to come and go, what keeps people coming back to Details?
A: I think what keeps people coming back to Details is its most distinguishing characteristic—an irreverent tone and a willingness to take an unpopular position on an issue. It’s provocative, and writers are given great liberties in terms of expressing themselves, which means there’s always something interesting to read in Details. There are stories in every issue that get people talking. That, combined with really unique service that’s informative but doesn’t talk down to the reader, compelling design, and comprehensive fashion coverage make it a men’s magazine that stands out from the rest—and that appeals to a wide range of readers.
Q: How do you come up with the ideas for your column?
A: The ideas come from a lot of places. Sometimes they’re my own. Sometimes they come from the extremely observant and insightful fashion department. Sometimes they come from other editors at the magazine and even the art department. We’re open to ideas from anywhere, and we’re an opinionated staff. But often, they come from Dan, our editor in chief.
Q: You seem to quote some notable names in the fashion trade, such as Rogan Gregory. How do you get in touch with these guys?
A: Our fashion editors are very well-connected, and they’re usually the ones who put me in touch with the right designers and buyers and store owners for each piece. But after you’ve been writing about one subject for a while, you begin to make your own contacts and form your own relationships with sources as well. For example, I’ve talked to Tim Gunn so many times for some of these stories that I feel pretty much like I can call him up anytime and quickly get a quote or a comment from him.
Q: Have you ever met any celebrities after you’ve used them as an example of what not to emulate?
A: Ha. No, not yet. But it could very well happen.
Q: Who is someone that you think is never in need of style advice?
A: Oh, I guess the usual. George Clooney gets referenced a lot, and it’s true. But I think a lot of Hollywood guys dress pretty well these days. They know what they like.
Q: Are American men finally catching up to their European counterparts?
A: I always sort of thought that was a myth in the first place. I mean, certainly Europeans have always had an appreciation for tailoring, and American men are only now beginning to really get into custom suits and shirts, but I don’t think significantly more European men have always dressed better than American men. I think it’s pretty even. I’m sure people will argue with me about that.
Q: What are some current trends that desperately need to go the way of the dodo bird?
A: Skinny jeans, for men.
Q: What book is currently on your night stand?
A: Ooh. That’s hard. It’s usually a lot of started-and-unfinished books. Richard Russo’s Bridge of Sighs. An Anthony Bourdain book. I think the last thing I finished was The Brief and Wondrous Life or Oscar Wao, and that was an embarrassingly long time ago. And there are always lots of food magazines and men’s magazines.
You can find Details at your local newsstand or visit their website for additional content and subscription info: http://men.style.com/details/
It’s been over 10 years since The Verve have played a show together. Fortunately, their limited tour of the US had a stop at San Francisco’s classic Warfield Theater, which is located a stone’s throw from where we’ve done a lot of our manufacturing (6th St. corridor). They rocked it out… Richard Ashcroft still has that magical stage presence and charisma, even with short mod hair. If you missed them, you better make your way to Indio for Coachella this weekend!
Calling all Flavor-philes! We are in search of photographs of people wearing our clothing, so that we can get to know our fans and supporters better. You could be in your house, or posing in front of the Eiffel Tower, it doesn’t matter to us, just make sure that the Artificial Flavor garment is in full view.
All you have to do is take a picture, and email it to the address shown below. (JPG format preferred). If we decide to use your pics on the website/blog or for an upcoming email campaign, we will send you some free Artificial Flavor merchandise.
When sending the email, be sure to include your name, address, and phone number, and size you wear, in addition to short paragraph describing yourself (ie what do you, your interests, what Artificial Flavor means to you, etc). This will allow us to feature you on our blog if you are selected! For the subject line please type “AF Photo Submission”.
Email to:
marcus@aflavor.com
Thank-you and let’s see some submissions!
