“John Dillinger on Weekends”

Johnny Depp as John Dillinger.

Has anyone noticed how cool Johnny Depp looks as John Dillinger?  Not that it is all that hard for him to look cool. Clothing from this era actually reminds me a lot of what you see from the brands I am feeling most these days.   And I have noticed he wears some  amazing vintage sunglasses throughout the film – and I have only seen the trailer!   In the trailer, you see him wearing 3-piece suits as he robs banks, and you see a few shots of him more casual.  The casual look is total perfection.   So I am on a mission… aspiring to achieve a new look I am calling “John Dillinger on Weekends”.

My Big List of Things to Do

As another birthday approaches, I got to thinking… I need more stuff to do. Here is the list I plan to slowly, or perhaps quickly mark off. If you see something you can help with, let me know. Especially the part about the Hollywood starlet

• Ride a vintage motorcycle on a winding road through a forest
• Land 360 kickflips (respect your elders) on a semi-regular basis
• Hang on a sailboat in the Mediterranean
• Start a marketing agency using solely the creativity and brain power of aspiring rappers
• Build a bicycle
• Style a photoshoot
• Mentor a young kid
• Mentor an older kid
• Take a day trip with a vintage Porsche
• Live in 400 square feet
• Spend 6 months out of a year in Europe
• Work at a Starbucks
• Open a retail store
• Work as a bartender for a night (or longer)
• Wear a suit and tie everyday for a month to see if I am treated differently
• Take a vacation by myself
• Very seriously launch my own line of footwear
• Read the autobiography of Malcolm X
• Visit Paris
• Own a simple McIntosh home audio set-up
• Dig into my Dad’s extensive vinyl collection
• Take painting and drawing more seriously
• Lose weight and keep it off
• Meet Richard Branson
• Meet Desmond Tutu
• See Duran Duran in concert
• Work at my Mom’s shoe store on a busy Saturday
• Be a motivational speaker
• Appear in the credits of a movie
• Appear in the Thank You section of a CD jacket
• Own an art gallery in Dallas
• Visit Marfa, Texas
• Storm out of a meeting
• Meet Mike Tyson
• Meet Johnny Depp
• Take a long road trip with Jon Ball
• Invest in a tattoo parlor and hair salon (but not have a tattoo or hair)
• Design a home
• Serve as an apprentice to a cobbler
• Own or spend time in a vintage wooden motorboat
• Take a trip with my Mom
• Tell a deserving Hollywood Agent to F*ck Off
• Be quoted for something non-marketing related
• Guest- or regularly contribute to a magazine
• Get a real estate license
• Determine the monetary value of my upbringing and do whatever possible to repay that to my Mom
• Manage a musician
• Own a really nice camera
• Direct a music video
• Travel, travel, travel
• Do my best to ensure that the Wells family does not benefit from generational wealth of the pocket, but only of the mind
• Makeout with a Hollywood starlet (or just flirt)
• Raise wonderful children
• Adjust my work to where it can all be done on a hand-held device
• Inspire/Motivate young people
• Employ an assistant, then give them the keys to the castle
• Get an attitude
• Find more time to relax
• Sit in on the recording of a rock album
• Buy and sell vintage cars
• Chase down a tornado, then get out of the way
• Inspire as much happiness in others as humanly possible
• Complete this list

Ramp House Done Nice

See more, including the floorplan here.

Possibly Perfect: Vans x Taka Hayashi

The second I saw these… I thought: Who is this brilliant Taka Hayashi dude that was so kind as to combine my two favorite shoe brands into one super shoe? He is like Arnold in Terminator II – sent here from the future to somehow change my life for the better and while he is at it, show sneaker kids what their world should look like. These may as well be called Vans x Visvim = The Best Shoe Ever.

Louis Vuitton x Kanye West: Pretty, Hot, and Tempting

Not sure if this particular version will ever see the light of day, but I say… job well done. I love the sharp edge of the sole, the raised brand marks on the heel/sole, and of course the laces. And yes, I love the fact that they are white, in case there were any doubts.

Brand I Love and Hate: McIntosh

Round of applause for the bastards over at McIntosh (no, not Apple) for further solidifying the fact that I am a stereotypical male. I have long been proud of the fact that I can get by without video games, traditional sports, big screen televisions, and expensive home audio equipment. Then twice in one day, I experience this damn brand and I am instantly turned into the younger version of me – that 18-year old, punk kid with no business reading the Robb Report, obsessing over luxury items I had no business obsessing over.

In line with most of my favorite brands, McIntosh has heritage. It is 59 years old!

Look at the beauty of these components:

$8,000 Turntable:

If a near-extinct turntable sets you back $8 Gs, imagine what this will set you back:

In typical, money doesn’t buy taste fashion… what’s up with the lame red wood cabinets?

Kanye West – Grammy Nikes

Close up:

Although the details are still a little unclear at press time, Kanye’s Grammy appearance in a pair of slick black Nikes did exactly what was intended: stir up some serious internet buzz. Even Hypebeast was asking readers for help. After reading a number of blog posts with totally unconfirmed insights, the ladies over at Nike Talk apparently believe they are a pair of Nikes that Kanye collaborated on. According to the gay pillow talk going down at Nike Talk, the Nikes are loosely (or not so loosely) based on these Ato Matsumoto boots that Kanye has been spotted wearing before:

Of course, I would require these:

Inspired by these? I doubt it. But then again, Nike Talkers spend massive amounts of time debating this shit, so maybe they are on to something. I think they are high-tops with crazy straps. What’s the real connection other than the fact that Kanye has worn both? Oh well, if you have small feet and want a pair of the Ato sneakers – try ebay. They are there.

National Geographic – Galapagos

TiVo ‘Galapagos’ on National Geographic – or as they are now calling the channel: Nat Geo. I could not find a trailer to embed, but go watch the beautiful trailer that Nat Geo has placed on their site. I caught the show last night and was blown away. The visuals are gorgeous and you’ll shake your head at the beauty and signficance of the Galapagos Islands. My mentor recently went – I am very jealous. Apparently the powers that be tightly control the amount and frequency of visits to the Islands.

While searching for a trailer online to post here, but instead found this old video from Tortoise for their song called Galapagos. The song was an old playlist favorite, but I had never seen the video.

Visvim – Folk

I come from a long line of shoe people. My grandfather was in the shoe business for 50 years, my parents have both been in the shoe business for their entire lives. They live it, breathe it, and understand it incredibly well. I totally blame them for my obsession. Apparently I was rockin a collection that was 20 deep by age 2. Aunts and uncles still make fun of me for it. Long story short, of all of the footwear brands that I obsess over, Visvim is the brand that my parents would respect the most. Quality, attention to detail, retail strategy, and the brand’s overall aesthetic is something they would totally get. I could also easily see my dad sporting a pair as well. I don’t see them getting too excited about much else, but in some way, this what is so impressive about Visvim. The Visvim brand equities are relevant for all ages and definitely transcend trends.

Visvim just about sealed the deal as my favorite footwear brand with the announcement of their new line called Folk. Honeyee interviewed Hiroki Nakamura about the new products and his use of ‘vegetable-tanned’ leather. Apparently it breathes so well that you can wear them without socks. If I start saving now, I may be able to pick up a pair by summer Even though the involve less material than a typical pair of Visvims, I am sure the manufacturing process will make these even more expensive – $400-$500 or so.

Our Next Camera

It’s a total toss up between the Ricoh GR Digital II and the Leica D-LUX 3.   I recently saw some photos of Nigo lounging with this camera in his hand (probably how Hypebeast spotted it as well).  I was immediately attracted to the simplicity.  Apparently, it gets rave reviews from real photogs that may actually know what they are talking about. I just love the total simplicity of the Ricoh and the Leica’s exteriors, contrasted with the fact they are loaded down with features as far as P&S’s go.

via http://www.hypebeast.com