Mens Style

“Overgrown” – James Blake

“Overgrown” reminds me, on my fourth listen now in as many hours, of the inevitable passing of time.

Yeah, I know, usually I open up these kinds of reviews with a yuk-yuk joke or a ha-ha, but “Overgrown” is a mature-ass album. This album is so mature it is knowledgeable about wine. This album is so mature it moved in with it’s significant other and they are getting a dog. This album is so mature that it recently took a cooking class and knows how to make a good chicken stock (I swear, people always forget the backbone). This album is quietly, sexily confident, and totally (in)secure with itself.

There’s a difference between this album and, say, 99.9999999% of all the other albums released this year: this album will be remembered twenty years from now. Much like a good, classic suit or Ray Bans Wayfarers, this is just minimal enough, with enough clean lines, to last for a long, long time. Like all good albums, it somehow sounds futuristic without ever leaving it’s time period. Somehow James keeps his spaceship sound grounded and we’re left all the better for it – ”Retrograde” alone is one of the catchiest songs of the year – ”Voyeur” attempts (and succeeds!) at a wild new kind of dance music that is closer to an Issac Hayes ballad than it cares to admit – the whole album is dripping with originality.

It’s a work of art. This album is as good as Joni Mitchell’s “Blue”, to which it shares at least some musical lineage. Whereas one might not think to make the lyrics any good while making such forward thinking music, James turns in some of the best, most honest and simple poetry this side of… well, anything.

“Overgrown” is hands down a fantastic album and sets electronic music forward light years. I’m floored by this whole thing. It’s staggeringly, dogfuckingly good, and highly, highly recommended.

via

James Blake- Retrograde

Machismo: How To Tie A Bow Tie

As men, we should know how to do a lot of things: to be the ultimate provider, business man, builder, dresser, creator, lover….the ultimate man. Thus we begin the How To’s segment. A guide for the ultimate man.

There are a lot of how to tie a bow tie tutorials out there in Youtube, I found that this one is the best as it eliminates the person’s hands.

Watch the video on youtube

Ardes or as he likes to be called Dez, fashions himself to be diverse in all aspects of life; friends, culture, sports, food, fashion, technology, art.

You name it, he’s most likely into it.

- “Variety is the spice of life.“

Follow me @Ardez

Machismo: The Search for Men’s Stylish Winter Boots

I was summoned to search for stylish winter boots that will keep his toes warm. I’m not a fashion expert or anything but it is truly hard to find men’s fashionable boots that really do the job as a winter boot. I did my best anyway and here is what I found.

If you are looking for style:

My favorite store, Kohl’s, has great stylish men’s boots for great deals even for the picky ones.
($40-100, http://kohls.com)

Apt9 style boots

Marc Anthony fashion boots

Sketchers Blaine Orsen boots

Timbaland Boot Company ($80- $495 , http://shop.timberland.com ) – I’ve always been a big fan of Timbs’. They are so classic and durable enough that I can always count on them to last for a very long time. These boots have been quite stylish lately.

Timbaland Roll-Top Boot

Timbaland Earthkeepers® City Premium Warm Lined 9-Inch Boot

Tackhead 8 inch rust

DNA Footwear ($80-$300 , http://www.dnafootwear.com) I would say this is probably my new favorite store that has very stylish boots for men. I walked into a brick and mortar DNA Footwear recently in Williamburg, New York and I must say, the hipsters are definitely staying hip if they have access to these kicks.

Palladium Baggy Leather S boot

Abram Alpine Ankle Boot

Jeffrey Campbell Mount Man Casual Flat Boot – Wine Distressed Suede

UGG ($160-$525 http://www.uggaustralia.com) In my opinion I thought UGG boots were the most obnoxious and lazy footwear known to mankind. Therefore, I never caught the fever to join that trend. But lately, I haven’t minded them and here’s why.

Ugg Vanni Leather boots

Ugg Ultra Rivington

Ugg Branton

It’s all about the performance:

Yes! Timbaland again! Such reliable piece of hardware. ( http://shop.timberland.com)

Timbaland Tackhead 8 Inch Rust

Timbaland Men’s Earthkeepers® Rugged 6-Inch WP Plain Toe Boot

Columbia Sportswear Whitefield XTM Winter Boots ( $90, http://www.sierratradingpost.com) These sneaker boots are also great for hiking and doing any winter activities for your snow bear.

Columbia Sportswear Whitefield XTM Winter Boots

Cabela’s Professional Outdoor™ Footwear Insulated Slip-On Moccasins ($45, http://www.cabelas.com) - These slip on mocassins have Thinsulate™ Ultra insulation for warmth. You bet those rubber soles will conquer those icy and snowy winters.

Cabela’s Professional Outdoor™ Footwear Insulated Slip-On Moccasins

Sorel Caribou Reserve LTD Winter Pac Boots ($325, http://www.sierratradingpost.com) – Just looking at these boots gets my toes all warm and tingly. This has all the ingredients to the perfect winter boot: bison leather to keep dry, layers of removable lining and shearling to keep the heat inside.

Sorel Caribou Reserve LTD Winter Pac Boots

No laces, no zipper, no hands!

SOREL Men’s Cheyanne Winter Boot ($100, http://www.dickssportinggoods.com) – A combination of suede and rubber keeps a man’s feet dry. And as you can see, no laces! This boot has Thinsulate™ insulation for warmth and comfort.

SOREL Men’s Cheyanne Winter Boot

Chaco Credence Baa Snow Boots ($160, http://www.sierratradingpost.com) – For those men who love that shearling lining. These slips are sure to keep you comfy and cozy all winter long.

chaco--baa-snow-boots-shearling-lined-slip-ons-chocolate-brown

Chaco Credence Baa Snow Boots

North Face Men’s Snowfuse Pull-On Winter Boot ($80, http://www.dickssportinggoods.com) – For all the North Face fans here is a nice slip-on, slip-off lightweight boot. And of course, that famous fleece lining that we all love about North Face products, you are sure to be warm and dry.

North Face Men’s Snowfuse Pull-On Winter Boot

BOGS Classic Short Boot ($80, http://www.campmor.com) – Stay fashionable with ankle boots that keep you dry and warm. This boot has you covered from the outside and inside: Antimicrobial odor protection insole and non-slip out-sole.

BOGS Classic Short Boot

You’re welcome! I just made your job easier for inspiration to find the perfect winter boots for the men in your life.

Don’t see your favorite brand here? Let us know! We’ll do the research for you! Comment on our facebook page or tweet us! http://www.facebook.com/SevenHalos http://www.twitter.com/Sevenhalos

Signed,

- K.Kol

MEI KAWA AW 2012 Men’s Collection

The MEI KAWA Pre-Fall 2012 Collection takes an edgy industrial approach for its lookbook. The Hungarian fashion brand MEI KAWA was created by the Budapest-based designer Emese Kasza, who named the brand after a play of words meaning “don’t cry for me any longer” in Singaporean Mandarin. Each piece of clothing is described on the MEI KAWA site as, “focusing on the man, who wants to live beyond the crowd claiming for being somewhat different, unique in his appearance, to dress from a well-distinguished and stylish selection of wardrobe instead of serving the garment trade.”

In the latest lookbook for the ‘Rumble’ collection, photographer Péter Hencz and creative director Angie Pálmai capture model Tamás Keresztes in a gritty industrial landscape. This environment illuminates how the structured yet comfortable clothing is perfect for everyday functioning.

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4am: Kirko Bangz- Drank in my Cup

Yeah, so it’s Friday and pretty much all of us with be singing this song by Kirko Bangz at some point this weekend so why don’t’ we just learn the lyrics now so we can lip-sync it in the club and impress all of our equally drunk friends.

Drank in my Cup

4am: Kirko Bangz- Drank in my Cup

Drank in my Cup

Is Adidas Setting "Us" B(l)ack?

picture via The Fashion Bomb

I’ve always admired Adidas‘ creativity. Especially the one it takes with its Originals Collection. Whether it is the shoe that “give you wings” with its Jeremy Scott collection or a recent collab with Opening Ceremony, I usually pick Adidas first in certain categories. That’s why I was very disheartened when I saw the new JS (Jeremy Scott) Roundhouse shoes featuring orange shackles. Though, I’m sure, Adidas and Jeremy Scott never imagined that their wild and spunky creativity would be taken out of context, indeed it has. The Facebook post garnered 2,823 comments to date with many mixed emotions.

So, what do you think? Are these shoes painful reminders of slavery/prison, or are they simply just pushing the boundaries of fashion and worth the $350 price tag come August?

Also, do you think that African Americans are too sensitive when it comes to issues that can be perceived remotely close to anything racist?

Signed, DeShara

supershardom.wordpress.com

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Update 6/19/12 3:18 pm: Adidas cancels ‘shackle’ shoes after outcry

CNN: German sports apparel maker Adidas has withdrawn its plans to sell a controversial sneaker featuring affixed rubber shackles after the company generated significant criticism when advertising the shoe on its Facebook page.The high-top sneakers, dubbed the JS Roundhouse Mids, were expected to be released in August, according to the Adidas Originals Facebook page. “Got a sneaker game so hot you lock your kicks to your ankles?” a caption below a photo of the sneakers read.The June 14 post prompted plenty of criticism from around the Web, with many of those commenting saying they felt the shackle invoked the painful image of slavery…. [more]

Is Adidas Setting “Us” B(l)ack?

picture via The Fashion Bomb

So, what do you think? Are these shoes painful reminders of slavery/prison, or are they simply just pushing the boundaries of fashion and worth the $350 price tag come August?

Also, do you think that African Americans are too sensitive when it comes to issues that can be perceived remotely close to anything racist?

Signed, DeShara

supershardom.wordpress.com

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Update 6/19/12 3:18 pm: Adidas cancels ‘shackle’ shoes after outcry

The June 14 post prompted plenty of criticism from around the Web, with many of those commenting saying they felt the shackle invoked the painful image of slavery…. [more]

Visiting Uncle Karl

As if the team at Seven Halos needed another reason to whip out their passports! (Yvonne just got back from a trip to Greece!) But our parents always encouraged us to visit our family members and no Fashionista should miss a possible visit with Uncle Karl (Lagerfeld that is) in Germany would they? Abet its a wax figure but nevertheless you’ll have a keepsake photo from your trip.