TIME TO GET AWAY
Every time I travel I'm reminded of how important it is to regularly get out of the office. The world we document in Anthem, as well as the people in it, are constantly evolving. New ideas, opposing viewpoints and innovative perspectives are what keep our lives exciting and our ability to share this with our readers is at the very core of our mission. Culture doesn't exist in a vacuum and as the world seemingly becomes more homogenized in the Information Age it's not until when we hit the open road that we're truly reminded of how diverse our truly world is. "Out with the old, in with the new" has become less of a maxim and more of a mantra as our insatiable wanderlust consistently inspires the content on this site and in the magazine.
This week we were excited to preview some of the 2008 F/W sportswear collections at the Project and Magic shows in Las Vegas. Seeing as this trade show is in our own backyard, this gave us a perfect opportunity to burn some pavement in the new 2009 Toyota Matrix, an economical automobile whose compact size, nimble handling and efficient 4-cylinder engine was a pleasure to drive on the road to perdition. Once in Sin City, we beat feet to the Diesel booth to rifle through what seemed like an endless collection of new-and-improved accessories. Along with a newly revamped intimates line, I was impressed with their massive footwear collection, a truly welcomed-departure from the redundancy we've seen in years past. The key? They brought the design in-house. Forward-thinking footwear seems to be a pervasive theme for brands like Royal Elastics and Schmoove, who describe themselves as the "Cheap Monday of footwear." With a fresh take on an old classic, Rubber Duck was by far one of the most notable footwear lines at this season's show.
Classic and clean is the easiest way to describe some of the strongest collections I previewed. J Lindeberg has always maintained a steady trajectory in my eyes for delivering a strong collection for the less-daring, yet sophisticated buyer. They did however get a little brave for Fall by offering a few pieces in burgundy and forest green. Both men and women will most certainly appreciate where the Mike and Chris line is at this year along with Converse by John Varvatos which just after a few seasons can triumphantly sound "We've arrived!" Refreshingly, Stussy is launching a men's premium line that, at a relatively modest price point, is certain to open consumer's eyes again to a brand that hasn't done much to reinvent themselves in recent years. They're certain to gain momentum this year, as they're not only back on the map with this collection, but four new stores are scheduled to open in 2008: DC, Philly, Toronto and Las Vegas.
New on the scene, but certainly not late to the party, Copy pulled off some interesting colorways along with 55 DSL whose vintage ski color pallet complements some unique materials. WESC ran the gamut for Fall with a range of key items that signify a less street, more fashion direction.
Like with any fashion week or trade show, there are inevitably a few brands whose refreshing take on men's or women's fashion deserve more than the standard kudos and nod of approval. Lova, for the second season, left me with firm conviction that the indie designer is more than clothes minded—social and environmental awareness are also a mainstay of this brand completing a bigger picture and complementing their already stellar design. Last but not least, Matt Wignall and partners' debut into fashion, Matte Black deserves a resounding ovation for a label that combines a strong t-shirt collection series and an arsenal of tailored pieces that seem to be consistent with the trend of "modern classic" for Fall. Hats off to the photographer and Anthem contributor for marrying a strong aesthetic vision to a line that can stand strong on its own.
As I wrap this up, my plane is starting its descent into the Monterrey, Mexico. Like hitting refresh, my focus is now shifting from finding fashion's diamonds in the rough to spending a few days with DFA record's Justin Miller, Ashtar Command's Chris Holmes, The Hives and the rest of the crew with Music Without Borders—a group who certainly share the sentiment that if there's no place like home we know where our heart is, on the road. Until next time...
