"Artistic w/ Retail Aspect"- RSVP Gallery

The RSVP Gallery located in Chicago, Illinois opened its highly anticipated gallery to an excited crowd of consumers and art connoisseurs. The gallery is composed of a luxury boutique and art gallery that carries some of the most exclusive brands and artists’ work from around the world. The actual term RSVP means Résponde si vous plez (or please respond) which is a great metaphor for the store considering it gives the opportunity for customers to technically attend the place and be introduced to the world of art and fashion intermingled into one.

The design of the boutique/gallery features highlights of green neon lights against a black painted ceiling with limited pieces of art from the private collections of some of today’s biggest names that line the walls of the space. The concept of RSVP was to pair pop art with luxury. 

"We want the store to elicit a response of emotion and ideas - in both the artistic and retail aspect," says two of the three partners of RSVP, Marc Moran and Virgil Abloh.

Artwork from Mark Newson, Stephen Sprouse, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, KAWS, NoPattern, etc is shown throughout the gallery. In addition, RSVP Gallery is carrying some of the top apparel and footwear brands from around the world including KaiKai KiKi, Ambush, Dee & Ricky, Super, Rizzoli, OriginalFake, Casio G-Shock, Incase, Kdia, Head Porter, MEDICOM TOY CO., CLOT, Lupe Fiasco’s Trilly & Truly, Vane NYC, and Boxed Water. Catch the Comme des Garçons PLAY collection this winter.

The full interview with two of the three partners of RSVP, Marc Moran and Virgil Abloh can be found via freshnessmag. You can view the website as a whole at rsvpgallery.com.

RSVP Gallery
1753 North Damen | Map
Chicago, IL

Alert! Nike and Cole Haan To Eliminate Use of Exotic Skins

I ran upon this article on Sneakerobsession and the subject definitely caught my attention. First and foremost, both brands are widely known for everything that their shoes provide such as its use for function providing comfort and the look of the shoe itself, providing the fashion. Just recently Nike and their affiliate, Cole Haan, whom they bought in 1988, decided to stop selling products made from exotic skins after PETA presented Nike with video footage from an undercover sting in Asia exposing the horrific suffering caused by the exotic-skins industry. Upon reviewing the footage, the company decided to never use exotic skins again, starting with their Fall/Winter 2010 collection....and rightfully so. Nike’s revised company policy says, “Animal Skins must not be any species considered to be exotic. Examples include, but are not limited to alligator, crocodile, lizard, snake, ostrich, fish, marine mammals, etc.”

There is a partial video as to what was actually seen by Nike that you can view. After seeing the video, myself, I could not fathom what happened to those animals. The treatment is unbearable cruelty and there is no wonder as to why Nike chose to stop selling their shoes with exotic skin. I will say watch at your own risk. The footage is pretty graphic, but this is the true reality of how people can manage to have the luxury through certain animal skins.

Puma Mixes It Up w/ Sagem To Create the Puma Phone

Puma is making its way into competition with major brands such as the iPhone and Blackberry. Didn't think I was referring to the brand as a phone? Well, Puma has produced a phone created by Sagem all about fun and entertainment. Info on the phone launched a couple of days ago drawing large crowds to the phone. The phone contains specialized apps and silly graphics such as a puma pet named Dylan who shows up on the screen after a while of the phone not being tended to and a turntable that you can actually scratch on...unheard of huh? The phone is also set with sports related applications such as an analogue stopwatch, GPS run tracker, GPS bike speedo, a pedometer and even a yachting compass while still maintaining the social apps we all know and love such as facebook and twitter.

The Puma Phone has a full touch screen with an exceptional 3.2 megapixel camera LED flash, considerably better than most Blackberry phone cameras. What I think is the best part about this phone is the solar panel around the back. This solar back panel enables the phone to charge without the use/need of a charger providing an eco-friendly approach. For every hour in the sun, 15 additional minutes are added on the phone and 2 hours of music playback. Amazing right? You can get more info and pics on the Puma Phone at pumaphone. Now even though the info and pics are out on the phone, it will be released in exactly 39 days (sometime in April) in Europe. If the phone does well, then a release in the US will be attainable. Lets keep our fingers crossed....I like this one. Hopefully you do too!

 

photos via engadget

Yonehara Cartridge Watch

Flud Watches collaborated with Japanese photographer Yasumasa Yonehara aka Yone to create the Yonehara Cartridge Watch. The fascinating part of the watch is the plastic wristband covered in an artwork of legs that Yone, himself, photographed to create a pattern consistent on the watch. The watches differentiate in colored faces consisting of red and white while the FLUD logo is underneath the reversed time in black and Yone's logo is on the side. The watch is packaged with a fold out of photos taken by Yone coming in a metal and plastic display case. Catch the watch via eproze.

 

  

  

  

 

Photos courtesy of freshnessmag

Supreme S/S 2010

Supreme has now released its upcoming Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Even though the collection is not yet available, we have a sneak peak. Being a skateboard lifestyle brand Supreme stayed with its usual and rather simple approach to its fashion, accessories, and footwear. The line up consists of t-shirts, shirts, an array of colored denim, jackets, sneakers, shorts, and different types of headwear including nice fitted caps, 5-panel hats, and camp hats. Other handy accessories in the collection consist of keychains, notebooks, wallets, belts plus many more. This collection will be available in New York and LA Thursday, March 4th and Saturday, March 6th in Japan. Not in those in areas? Shop online at Supreme starting March 11th. Check out the full collection via hypebeast.

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

  

  

Photos courtesy of highsnob; hypebeast; illcredible

Casio G-Shock-Sky Cockpit

Casio G-Shock will be introducing a brand new watch model titled Sky Cockpit aka the GW-3000 series. Funny enough, the watch is actually prepared for...well, pilots and/or people who frequently travel adjusting to the elements around them. This watch can withstand over 15Gs with a face design inspired by the gauges in the cockpit.The watch is protected with a urethane bezel for protection with wrist bands ranging from plastic to stainless steel provided in various models.

Photos courtesy of freshnessmag

Hupbox v1 Clear Shoe Box

Ever imagined a shoebox that allows an array of hues to pop out at you just from looking at the box? Well, Eugene Kan, hypebeast editor, and others decided to give you the option with the new HUPBOX v1 Clear Shoebox. The Hupbox v1 Clear Shoe Box is constructed with high-quality acrylic, and offers an unhindered 360 degree view from all angles of your fav kicks with measurements in at 13 1/8 in x 9 1/4 in x 4 13/16 in (approximately 33.3 cm x 23.5 cm x 12.2 cm) fitting up to a US size of 12. The boxes are now available at HUPBOX.com with a retail price of $40 USD.

 

  

  

Photos courtesy of hypebeast.com

Hermes Mens Store Opens w/ "Special Buys"

Hermes Men's Store opened earlier this week on Madison Ave at 62nd Street in Manhattan, New York. Amongst all other events happening throughout Fashion Week, this was definitely one to be associated with. A-Listers such as Kyra Sedgwick, Katie Holmes, Kevin Bacon, and Antonio "L.A" Reid were in attendance as well as top Hermes execs. The interior stole the show as well as the unique exterior. 

Also, an interesting yet, classic purchase for the guys would be a stamped baseball glove and baseball at the Hermes Men's Store. Give a touch of Parisian chic and classic style to your dresser, mantle, or wherever you may choose! Plenty to be seen at the new store....Check it out! via Freshness Mag

 

  

  

V Magazine's....Curves Ahead

Curves are definitely in and V Magazine is all about exposing them. The pictorial shot by Solve Sundsbo and styled by Nicola Formichetti featured plus size supermodels Candice Huffine, Marquita Pring, Michelle Olsen, Tara Lynn, and Kasia showing everything that revealed their voluptuous physiques in body con fits, nicely fitted denim, and some even nude. "I loved the opportunity to show that you can be beautiful and sexy outside the narrow interpretations that normally define us", says Sundsbo. It is hard to perceive how this trending "plus size" idea is going to go. Is it just a trend? Will the public really choose to grasp the idea and continue to expose it? Only time will tell. I say job well done!

 

 

 

V Magazine Celebrates You For Who You Are!

“Tall, Short, Curvy, Punk, Prep, Dom, Deb. Whoever you are, and whoever you want to be, we’re with you all the way” declared in V Magazine’s “V LOVES U JUST THE WAY U R” editorial. This obviously showed In V Magazine’s “The Size Issue” reaching out to everything but the “norm” in today’s society. Photographed by Terry Tsiolis and styled by Jay Massacret, many exquisite photos were taken to show no discrimination on body type, race, ethnicity, or creed. Be you and celebrate you!

 

  

  

  

  

  

Photos courtesy of bespokeordie.com

Karl Lagerfeld's "Coco A Go-Go"

     “Why can’t designers make fashions that mimics the architecture of hips and busts and then choose models that wear it perfectly?”, asks burlesque star, Miss Dirty Martini, whom world renowned Karl Lagerfeld chose to shoot for V Magazines’ Issue 63 “The Size Issue”. We all question the same thing as we often see waif like models in the spring/fall fashion runway shows. V Magazine, known for “pushing the envelope”, chose to instead release an issue for plus size only. This article and photo shoot merely helps to entice and motivate the idea.

     Only three months ago, did we hear Karl Lagerfeld defending skinny models declaring, “No one wants to see round women.” So it was only fair to seemingly be shocked if not surprised that he willingly invited Miss Dirty Martini to be apart of the photo shoot off of 31 rue Cambon in Paris in Chanel’s atelier. “Posing on the Double C’s, modeling like my life depended on it, I thought, why not?” explained Martini on being shot by Lagerfeld.

     For the lingerie-themed shoot, Miss Martini wore no more than a chain belt, jewelry, purse, Chanel’s temporary fashion tattoos, sheer tights, and ruffly nipple covers better known as brooches refashioned as pasties….only a few items from Chanel’s collection. Pieces also worn by Miss Martini from notable designers include Chantal Thomas. Rigby and Peller, Commes des Garcons, and Dolce and Gabbana. She furthermore wears her own actual clothing such as her black bra and panties with flapper fringe. The editorial is entitled Coco A Go-Go”.

 

  

 
 

Photos courtesy of vmagazine