Daily Essentials: Quilted Flight Jacket

by soulbydapound

Rain or shine it’s winter time. Looking dapper and fashionable when the weather gets below 30 degrees is what separates the boys from the men. I personally have owned a flight jacket since 8th grade. These brisk times call for warm measures.

Some of best inventions are born out of necessity, other are simply by accident. In the case of the quilted flight jacket. improvements were made thank to  Eddie Bauer’s famed Skyliner—the world’s first quilted down jacket—you could say it was a little of both. An avid outdoorsmen, Bauer was trekking through western Washington’s Olympic Peninsula when his bulky, waterlogged wool coat became too heavy and he was forced to take it off. “I was climbing a very steep hill when I started to get sleepy,” he recalled to the New York Times in 1981. “I reached to touch my back and it was ice. I realized I was freezing to death.”

Bauer almost died on that mountain, but it was that brush with hypothermia that inspired him to create a jacket that was both warm and wearable. The goal was to make it as lightweight as possible. He’d heard about down clothing used by the Russian Army, so he bought a $25 bushel of goose down and started experimenting. It certainly insulated body heat but it was also lumpy and bulky. To tame the fluff, he added quilting. A ribbed collar and cuffs aided in keeping out chilly winds. A heavy-duty zipper finished it off and the Skyliner was officially debuted to the public in 1936. It revolutionized outerwear for the sporting set and soon became the first patented down jacket in the United States.

Late Night Flick: Idlewild

by soulbydapound

How often do you get the opportunity to see one of the greatest hip hop groups of all-time make a movie? (Watches the tumbleweed roll by) “Idlewild”relives 1930′s African American culture with a twist of funk. Musicals usually have this tendency to either put me to sleep or barely catches my interest.

The ATLiens captured a lifestyle which showcased in any other movies may have seemed depressing. Around the time of the Great Depression the nightlife prevails. Life lesson enjoy it by any means no matter what struggle you’re in. Swing dancing, gambling and money what more could you ask for. Idlewild brings you 80′s year back into time with no Delorean. Struggling households scraping by each day but music is always the healer.

Settings in the back roads of Georgia where few probably travel these days. Nightlife in any era can resolute in gun wars and drug usage. Through it all love leads to the lost and found at the same time. Losing love leads to showbiz success in the end. Follow your heart folks!

Daily Essentials: Floral Power

by soulbydapound

Le Floral Shirt is exquisite just testing out my french. I went shopping in my dad’s closet yea yea yea I know thats bananas but sometimes thats the best spot. I found this cool floral shirt thats perfect for the summer time.

The floral shirt originally obtained it’s pattern design from the “ahola shirt” of Hawaii.  The Aloha shirt commonly referred to as a Hawaiian shirt is a style of dress shirt originating in Hawaii. It is currently the premier textile export of the Hawaii manufacturing industry. The shirts are printed, mostly short-sleeved, and collared. They usually have buttons, sometimes as a complete button-down shirt, and sometimes just down to the chest (pullover). Aloha shirts usually have a left chest pocket sewn in, often with attention to ensure the printed pattern remains continuous. Aloha shirts may be worn by men or women; women’s aloha shirts usually have a lower-cut, v-neck style. The lower hem is straight, as the shirts are not meant to be tucked in.

Here are a few more examples

HEEL CONTRACEPTIVES

by soulofmischief

This new innovation in style is everything beyond interesting. Created by Sandrysabel Ortiz, a 23-year-old entrepreneur with a degree in finance felt the need to “dress up” the shoes that many women have overflowing from their closets.  The Heel Condom allows women to add some versatility to a pair of heels that they  already own and adding some flare to a look. Little instances like these always make the look more appealing and interesting. Check out some more looks after the jump.

Fresh Rags

by soulbydapound

I’ve noticed Heritage Research has launched all their new stock on their official site, a great collection with a  cool ethos behind it from a brand who have gone from strength to strength.

Late Night Flick: Rockers

by soulbydapound

 

Rockers is a 1978 yardie film shot in Jamaica by Theodoros Bafaloukos. Originally to be Rockers was a documentary but evolved into a full-length feature showing the culture of  reggae, characters and mannerisms are authentic.

Horsemouth, a drummer living in a ghetto of Kingston plans to make some extra money selling and distributing records. He buys a motorcycle to carry them to the sound systems around the island. The film starts as a loose interpretation of Vittorio de Sica’s The Bicycle Thief and turns into a reggae interpretation of the Robin Hood myth.

ALEXANDER WANG LANDS IN SOHO NYC

by soulofmischief

Alexander Wang featured a preview of his new flagship store. I really love the atmosphere, its seems really relaxing and natural, with some architectural flare. I know the ladies will be extremely estatic for this one, check out some of the pieces after the tab.

TRIBAL ENTITIES

by soulofmischief

I love Jenny Jacob’s style from “The Coveted”, she just makes everything seem so effortless. And her neck piece really spoke to me in a tribal essence. Check out her findings at the link below.

via The Coveted

LOOK WHOS COMING TO DINNER

by soulofmischief

Besides the fact that his new collection is nothing short of stellar, Thom Browne has been on my radar for quite sometime now. I remember being in high school and watching him stage his come up. In this case, I always admired his grind and his humility. Now after storming the blog world and crowding trade shows, he bring us his Winter 2011 presentation. I absolutely love this regal display of a formal dinner fused with an informal fashion show. I admire when designers take measures such as these to set themselves apart from the rest.  Via Selectism

Daily Essentials:Hand Knit Nordic Sweaters

by soulbydapound

I’ve been a member of Ebay for the last 4 years. And each year I learn more about fashion the better my ebay shopping become.  And it appears that unpound my recent findings that the hand-knit Nordic pullover’s need a spot in my closet. This season, the boldly colored sweaters featuring classic intarsia patterns along with embroidered animals and stitched snowflakes can be found almost everywhere.

Norway and knitting go hand in hand and has long been a tradition of the country. Norway’s special knitting techniques are found in today’s wool Norwegian sweaters. Since the 9th century, the wool from Norwegian sheep has been used for Norwegian sweaters, in order to make warm sweaters for long and cold winters. The Norwegian wool works great for high-quality Norwegian sweaters. The wool’s fibers are long and curly. When the fibers are made into yarn it makes strength, lightness and warmth.

Today, norwegian wool is not only popular for its practical advantages, but also for the fine patterns and exclusive garments that can be created from it. When you slip into a hand knitted woolen Norwegian sweater, you can feel the refined softness of the wool. Not surprisingly, it didn’t take too long before people all over the world found the benefits of traditional Norwegian sweaters.

Norwegian sweater designs are inspired by the magnificent nature that surrounds Norway and by Norwegian’s love for the mountains and the great outdoors. Norwegians have long traditions in wearing knitwear for both sport and leisure, and a woollen Norwegian sweater is for many the obvious choice while enjoying nature and mountain life.