Coolest kids bike ever! "Early Rider"

If I learned to ride on a bicycle like this, I promise you I would never have gotten off again.

You can get it at the Chopperdome in Amsterdam. The Chopperdome was the first real chopper and cruiser bicycleshop completly dedicated to quality and fun in Europe.

My personal Japanese jean hunter!

I just had to share this jean with you. It has the craziest fade I've ever seen. I bought them off a guy in Japan. Yes I'll admit it; the fade is not my doing. Still I challenge everybody to send me pictures of jeans that can compete with this one.

The guy I bought them from hunts the Japanese vintage markets for cool jeans in my waist size, so you could say that I finally have what I've always wanted; my personal Japanese jean hunter!

You can expect more posts like this in the future...

Azuma Makoto

“I don’t make things, but works of art. Each one is different. I can’t make the same thing twice.”
~ Azuma Makoto

My new arrivals

Finally found my perfect varsity jacket. The reason why it took so long is because I didn't want one with leather sleeves, nor did I want one with multiple colours in it. So here it is; a nice cotton version in ton sur ton navy, which because it's cotton I can also wear in summer.

I also loved the Band of Outsiders varsity jacket, which you find further into the blog, but that one was just way too expensive.

[apologies for the crappy photo]

My new arrivals

My pair of Boldstar* arrived today from Oki-Ni (insanely quick shipping). In real life they're actually even nicer than on the photo. If you also would like to get a pair, they're exclusively sold at Oki-Ni.

Keeping myself warm...

The last week it has been snowing like crazy here in Amsterdam, which shifts your thought process regarding clothing. Not only do you want to look stylish, but now you need to take in consideration the practical side of your garments. The master of utility wear is of course the army, so that's where I went to keep my ears warm. I've had this army winter cap since last year and it has not let me down yet.

Bought it for €5,- at the army dump.

Yellow Treehouse Cafe - New Zealand

Trust in numbers...

Levi's jeans with a single stamped digit (2, 5, 6) on the back of the top button are older than jeans with a 3 digit stamping. Authentic vintage Big E non-reproduction jeans will have either no or a single stamped digit.

Common 3 digit stampings are 524, 558, 555,554. Reproductions like for example from the Levi's Vintage Clothing collection will normally be stamped 555. 555 stands for that the jeans were made on the original looms at the Valencia Street factory in San Francisco (that is now closed).

Banksy

Some say he is a sell out, some say he is just brilliant. I belong to the latter group. You can't blame him because he excels in what he does and therefore became well known. And even if he sometimes does take on commissioned jobs, the man has got to eat. A lot of people do graffiti, but Banksy is one of the few that can actually be named a graffiti artist.

Cigarette ad from 1930

This advertisement from 1930 asserts that 20,679 physicians say that Lucky Strike cigarettes are less irritating. Funny how ignorant we were back then. Of course I don't think that smoking is cool, but what I do think is cool are the old school graphics and colour.

Lanvin s/s 2010 campaign

[photo by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin]

Loving the oversized cardigan on Laura...

Zaha Hadid

The first woman to win the Pritzker Prize for Architecture in its 26 year history (architecture's equivalent of the Nobel Prize). Zaha Hadid has defined a radically new approach to architecture by creating buildings with multiple perspective points and fragmented geometry to evoke the chaos of modern life.

National Geographic Image Collection

National Geographic Image Collection: an unprecedented journey through one of the greatest photography collections on earth.

[photo by Robert Garret]

Holiday gifts "DL & Company"

Check out DL & Company for your holiday gifts. Above: Black Gold 4.5 oz. Candle.

George Nelson's "Pretzel" chair

When it was created in 1952, American designer George Nelson's plywood masterpiece was simply known as the "Laminated" chair. Its sweeping curves rapidly earned it the nickname "Pretzel", which has since stuck. If only I had more space and budget...

I really don't know why I have such a fascination with prescription eyewear "PRISM"

PRISM glasses are designed as an accessory – not simply a functional product. Though always deemed less important, for people who wear glasses they are as important an accessory as any other, but these are even more immediately visible than say a new pair of shoes or a bag.

WWII Paratrooper Folding Bicycle

Inventory Magazine

Inventory is my new favourite magazine. Twice yearly produced it is one of the most informed magazines I have come across. Issue one features interviews and in depth features with Nigel Cabourn, Mister Freedom, Engineered Garments, Yuketen, Duluth Pack, Chris Gibbs, Willo Perron and a date with offal. Amazing imagery backs up well thought out content. Well worth the investment.Only 5000 produced for the global market. Its also printed on some very nice quality paper too, a pleasure to hold and read. 140 pages deep.