Jeans of the Old West: A History
This book is seriously amazing.
It’s like getting access to the best denim museum in the world.
You should also visit the discussion thread on the Superfuture – Superdenim forum. I think that Michael Allen Harris has been posting numerous updates and additional pictures to the discussion thread.
Free & Easy Denim Issue
Jobsey got me the latest issue of Free & Easy which has a focus on denim.
I love these illustrations in this issue.
And I want this Duckdigger 1873 Riveted Vest.
Take Ivy
The Take Ivy book has become pretty famous. It’s a 1965 Japanese photobook of the fashion/lifestyle at Ivy League Universities. In recent years it became rare and quite collectable. Now it has been re-released and translated into English.
I think there might be a bit too much hype around the book. Probably hype around its previous rarity, rather than what it contains. It does seem to have captured some of the feeling of what it would have been like to live in the original preppy ivy league.
How a Watch Works (video)
This video has one of the best descriptions of how a mechanical watch works.
The first five minutes are crap, but once they start messing around with the enlarged watch parts things get awesome.
(via BoingBoing)
Put this on
You’ve probably seen these videos which have been passed around tweets/blogs recently.
I didn’t learn much from the videos except for the one tip in the shoes video on how to tie your shoelaces correctly. If you tie the first twist one way, and then tie the loop twist the opposite way… then you can essentially create a REEF KNOT. The laces will lie flatter and neatly on your shoes. They’re more likely to stay tied – no need for an extra double loop. And when you pull the laces undone, they don’t jam up. I can’t believe that I’ve been tying my laces in granny knots my whole life.
Shoes
Put This On, Episode 2: Shoes from Put This On on Vimeo.
Denim
Denim Trends
The LA Times has a couple of articles about new trends in denim.
Wearing Denim-on-denim (aka doubledenim) is now allowed.
http://www.latimes.com/features/image/la-ig-wash-20100822,0,4372356.story
The video gives insights on fashion photography.
Expect to see denim in other colours.
http://www.latimes.com/features/image/la-ig-magic-20100822,0,7113387.story
When I saw that headline I thought it might mean that we might start seeing things like the persimmon dyed, mud dyed and tea dyed denim that the Japanese have been using, but it seems like it’s just fashion designers trying to break the mould and BE DIFFERENT which is their constant mission.
There is a nice denim mini-primer:
Denim, as it’s usually understood, is a durable, cotton twill fabric with an indigo-dyed warp or top yarn and a white weft or bottom yarn (which is why, if you turn up the cuff on a pair of jeans, the inside has a noticeably lighter cast). The relatively coarse traditional 3×1 weave (which means the thread crosses over three perpendicular strands before going under one) gives denim its durability and familiar ribbed texture.
Old Japan Loom
Not enough pedals for denim twill.
James May flies to the edge of space
This is the type of experience that Virgin Galactic are hoping to offer to their customers. At $200k for a trip, I’ll be booking my ticket after I win the lottery this year.
Zoom images
Microsoft Zoom.it images. Silverlight and JavaScript, so it works on the iPhone too.