ThingsAmongMany

Tee shirt companies are cropping up right and left these days and sifting through is getting increasingly more difficult. Especially when you can’t try them on first (or if you’re extremely picky about how your clothes fit like I am). But when I stumbled onto Topo Ranch recently, I was pretty excited.

Their unique line of tees is made up a of variety of quirky, fun images. Some make a more political statement while others are just…out there (I’ve got the Disarm tee sitting on deck). And don’t for the fixie/hipster crew, don’t forget to check out their cycling tees. All of their tees are organic cotton and available in a variety of colors. Of course, they do more than tees as well, with a solid selection of hoodies, button-downs, etc. all in laid back colors and patterns.

And, while we’re on the subject of cycling, these guys outfit the Garmin/Chipotle professional cycling team with all their casual-wear. They also put out special, limited-edition prints for major cycling events. Check out this year’s Tour De France tee or Giro d’Italia tee.

Pics of my new Disarm tee coming soon!

Urban-cum-outdoor clothier Nau, who you may remember closed up shop for a little while, has officially reopened its doors! With an entire new line of clothing, a new business partner (Horny Toad), and a sexy new website, Nau is back with a vengeance and ready to remake their brand (having learned from a few mistakes along the way). They’ve got a list of stores that will be carrying their new line as of Nov. 1 - hopefully Paragon Sports here in NYC will get a better selection from Nau than they did from Horny Toad.

Nau seems to be often compared to outdoor clothing manufacturer-extraordinaire Patagonia, and with good reason. Their clothing exhibits the same understated, comfortable sense as Patagonia, though with a distinctly more urban flair. Beyond just the fashions, the two also seem to have similar sensibilities in their business approaches - both make an effort to give back to the community and share their thoughts on responsible business practices.

I’m particularly taken by a couple of their jackets. Take a look at the whole line at the new Nau.com site and be sure to stop by their blog, The Thought Kitchen, as well!

We all know there’s nothing short of a metric TON of fashion sites out there. With new ones cropping up every day, it gets more and more difficult to separate out the ones that are worth looking at from the ones that should never have been born. I did manage to stumble onto a newcomer the other day, though, that looks like it might have some promise.

Based in France, but open to the world, ModePass is part social network, part style-spotter, and part inspiration. Combined with their new online fashion rag, Flair, the site looks like a pretty promising stop for anyone looking to bone up on the current styles. And given it’s European home base, it appears to be doing an excellent job of attracting an international crowd.

There’s also a section of the site devoted to revealing the newest hot spots around the world. While there aren’t too many entries in there yet, the one for NYC offers another answer to yesterday’s query about thrift stores worth checking out. A ModePass reader has recommended Sweet Tater on Mulberry, deeming it a “vintage paradise“.

Have a look and let us know what you think. Is ModePass here to stay, or is it just another passing fancy?

You may have noticed my afinity toward fashion discussions lately. I admit it, I’ve had clothes on the brain. Between the seasons changing - Fall is finally knocking on the door! - and the fact that nothing in my closet fits anymore, I’m faced with a dilemma. While the need for a bunch of new clothes may seem like the perfect opportunity to reinvent my fashion statements, it does pose a minor problem in the cash-flow department (it’s all flowing the wrong way).

After asking a number of fashionably minded friends where I should look for my new choices (many of those recommendations have been represented over the last few posts), I’ve been continually directed toward thrift stores. Never having been much of a “used clothes” person, I’ve finally begun to open my mind to the possibility and agreed to start digging through the racks a bit.

But that begs a question, and it’s one I’m putting to the readers:

What are your favorite thrift/vintage stores in NYC?

I’m familiar with, though haven’t shopped much in, the usual suspects: Beacon’s Closet, Buffalo Exchange, Salvation Army on Bedford, Housing Works (do they sell clothes?). And a quick search reveals a few reviews of other “bests” for thrift stores.

[image cred: cafemama]

I’ve extolled the goodness of Billykirk a couple of times now (here and here), but these guys just continue to impress! First off, I want to apologize and correct a mistake. I knew that Chris and William were brothers, but I still had some confusion around their names that caused me to list them incorrectly. Chris and William are indeed brothers, and their last name is Bray (not Kirkland, as I previously listed). William’s middle name is Kirkland – which led to his knickname “Billykirk” and eventually to the moniker of the business – though he goes by Kirk (as you can see on the flier below.

I think, by now, you can tell that I’m a fan of most anything that’s made with care and by hand – Billykirk’s goods being no exception, of course. On top of making incredible pieces, these two have continually gone out of their way to accomodate my need as a customer as well. You might remember the belt that I received as a gift (along with the cuff that Chris so graciously sent with it). Well, in my pickiness, I opted to send it back for a different color and size. When I received the new one, which I LOVE, I was surprised to find a flier offering custom leather guitars!

Now, I’m musically inept, so I know little about instruments. But this thing is pretty impressive. And Chris’ note on the back read simply…

Let us know if you may have any friends who would like a custom leather covered guitar.

So, friends, anyone interested in a custom, leather covered guitar? I guarantee it’ll be made with love, and you sure as heck won’t find one of these guys at your local music store! Check out the guitar, my new belt, and everything else I’ve laid my hands on from these guys here.

Just stumbled across this one. The NY Times is reporting that Style.com, the online address of Vogue, is launching an iPhone app this week that will allow fashion week fans to watch the runway shows directly on their iPhone. It doesn’t appear that the feed will be live streaming, but will be available in an edited format shortly after the end of each show. For all the fashion fanatics who don’t have tickets to see their favorite designers (I’m assuming that covers most of them), this might just be the next best thing…

The article also digs into some of the shopping solutions that are currently available for mobile users. Ralph Lauren recently announced that they were planning to launch a mobile, commerce ready mobile site, and Chanel has also launched an app that provides video content as well as a direct-dial option to any store that carries the brand.

It’s pretty easy to go off the deep end when it comes to fashion. You know, the Devil Wears Prada or Vogue side of things that’s just a little over the top for my taste. I prefer my fashion with a little bit of self-deprecating humor.

Or, in the case of these shoe collections, a LOT of self-deprecating humor. The crew at ShoeMi, a blog dedicated to…you guessed it, shoes, has put together two collections of the craziest shoes from around the world. And some are truly a sight to behold. Unfortunately, they haven’t posted since June, so I’m wondering if they’re still running the place. Anyone know?

Regardless, part I and part II of The Craziest Shoes from around the world are both still available, so check them out while ya can!

Well, maybe not lunch unless you like to munch on couture, but I can’t imagine too many people will complain about free fashion either. In celebration of their new Fall line, Brooklyn-based Hayden-Harnett is holding a contest for a $500 gift certificate good at both their Greenpoint Design Shop as well as on their website. Contest ends September 15th, and all they need is your name and email for entry.

For our NY readers, here’s a quick heads-up that seems to fit with the theme of the week. The legendary(?) Barney’s Warehouse Sale is going on right now, here. It runs through Monday, Labor Day (day off anyone?).

If anyone has had the opportunity to swing by (in NY or LA) and is willing to share your experience, please let us know! Was it a mad-house? Were the deals amazing? Was it in some creepy loft space? What’s the scoop??

Yup, that’s right. The question that’s ever-present for every woman has invaded the world of men.

I’ve been on the lookout for a bit more “grown-up” bag for quite a while now. My Timbuk is great for beach days and the like, but it’s been feeling a little…young…for the NY streets lately. Not to mention cavernous (it was purchased to tote my now long-defunct 15″ powerbook).

Of course, if I’m gonna drop the money on a killer bag, I definitely want something that’ll stand out and stand up. The Carga bag caught my eye on a recent perusal of Refinery29, one of my favorite fashion stops on the web. Made by LA-based All Purpose, the Carga is an interesting mix of felt and leather with some substantial metal detailing to boot. Maybe its because the design world is on a bit of a felt kick lately, but there’s something about the slight awkwardness of this bag that I find appealing.

Another favorite that’s been on my list for a while now is the Satchel Bag (in landscape, please) from Tanner. I love the simplicity and the detailing on this one; they’ve clearly put a lot of thought into the design. Just check out the removable interior pockets. I also have a belt from Tanner that I love, so supporting these guys feels better to me than heading to the dept. store for something similar.

How bout the readers? Can anyone point me toward something else I should consider?