Hasta La Ideas

Romain Lagrange’s beautifully crafted set for indoor croquet

Nearly 300 years after King Louis XIV of France banned the game of croquet because it couldn’t be played during winter, French-born designer Romain Lagrange brings the royal pass-time inside from the fields with Gates. This simplified interior adaptation neatly bundles two mallets, six gates and two stakes in one clean, portable package. And although it’s been around the web as of recent we love the beautiful combination of wood, cork and leather and wanted to share in case you missed it.

All materials used were specifically chosen to realize the project in its ideal form, as Lagrange told CH, “the cork absorbs the blows and will not damage the floor of the house, while the resistance of the leather elevates all parts of the game.” When asked about their aesthetic properties he explained that the uniquely beautiful grain of Maple made it a perfect fit for all pieces in the game. Adding that the wood’s sturdy weight was key in designing the gate’s unique shape as well—as to keep it upright even after being hit with the ball.

For those outdoor devotes that fear the physical experience may be lost by playing indoors Lagrange swears the sound produced when the ball hits the gates is something unique to the materials that cannot be imitated elsewhere. This, combined with the expert combination of essential materials is sure to bring croquet inside from the depths of dark garages everywhere.

Although not if full production yet, Lagrange is currently in negotiations to bring this gem to the masses soon. For now head over to his personal site to learn more about Gates and other projects.

New American classics from the Brooklyn-based menswear brand’s “Pompous Circumstance” collection

Going strong in its third year of production, Brooklyn-based fashion label Feltraiger makes what they call “New American Classic” menswear with a healthy sense of irreverence. With each collection the label takes on a different subculture—for Spring/Summer 2012 founder and creative director Daniel Feldman was inspired by the way high society spends their leisure time. The “Pompous Circumstance” collection offers a clean, well-trimmed look reminiscent of days spent quail hunting at the country home.

After a quick look at the line we were most intrigued by the label’s outerwear, which includes key pieces—a trim-fit, anorak-style pullover; a slim camouflage bomber and a lightweight classic hunting vest—blending classic and contemporary design. The vest in particular goes easily from the country to the city, with an urban-appropriate aesthetic and all the essential technical features a hunter may need, down to a detachable rear game pouch.

Run by Feldman, along with his brother Jon, Feltraiger—named for the family’s original Russian surname prior to emigration—is made entirely in America to ensure control of the highest standard of material and craftsmanship. For the time being Feltraiger is sold exclusively through their online shop; come Spring 2012 the duo will expand by opening a brick-and-mortar flagship in New York City.

Photography by Gregory Stefano

Seven waterproof solutions for keeping drier without the bulk

For general inclement weather, we rely on a sharp rain shell, layering it for colder months and tucking it into carry-ons, to see us through a wet day. While it’s a less bulky way to stay dry than expedition-grade wear, those that hit at the waist leave your behind unprotected from soaked bike seats or sitting on wet concrete steps—generally making for an overall soggier experience. The solution comes in the form of the parka-length shell. From those designed specifically for biking to a pink number that looks swiped from a stylish kindergardener, these seven picks will wick away the moisture without sacrificing style.

Outlier

Constantly outdoing themselves, Outlier’s Storm King Parka, a functional garment with a great cut, uses the most technically-advanced fabric available. Supermarine Cotton, along with full sleeve ventilation and invisible pit zips helps keep you dry without the clamminess caused by “breathable” synthetics. Further intuitive design details include a wraparound storm flap on the zipper to protect chins and necks, as well as extra fabric on the front envelope pockets that help keep water out and assist with buttoning. For $650, you get top-of-the-line technology and the same trim fit, clean lines and timeless style found in all Outlier gear.

Salvor Projects

Salvor constructs the Snow Feather Parka with eight-ounce organic cotton twill, finished with a mix of water-resistant base and white pigment. The mixture, applied by hand with a pallet knife, gets into the weave of fabric that’s actually nailed down during the intensive process. Resembling white feathers on the black twill weave-based fabric, the resulting finish is unique to each piece. Each jacket comes made-to-order for $750 from the Salvor Projects Soho store and will also be available soon via the web store.

Athletics Far East Hooded Parka

Produced as part of Nike’s exclusive Athletics Far East collection, the three-layer Hooded Parka has essentially everything you could want in a jacket like this—unsurprisingly, it’s virtually impossible to find. The Gore-Tex shell’s fully-taped seams and laser-cut ventilation holes keep you comfortable while sheltering from the elements. In keeping with the design-minded AFE aesthetic, the details are the real focal points, here including leather accents and hidden zipper grips. We heard a selection of the limited-run parka was last seen at 21 Mercer in NYC, but Hano has it online for £330.

Nau

Waterproof, breathable and lightweight, the street-conscious Rebound Jacket features fully-taped seams and zero flair. Made of 100%-recycled polyester fabric with just enough stretch to keep you comfortable—whether it’s on a brisk walk to work or jogging through a sudden downpour. Get it from Nau online for $340.

Patagonia

The Torrentshell Parka does the trick as an everyday rain jacket. Completely waterproof with a clean, streamlined fit that’ll work with any wardrobe, it packs into its own pocket for ultra-lightweight portability. It’s not hard to see why the Torrentshell has become Patagonia’s best-selling rain jacket. Get it online from the Patagonia online store for a relatively reasonable $150.

Folk

Bold, daring colors don’t often show up in men’s outerwear. The Rainmac, a salmon-pink bright exception, has a removable hood and taped seams; drawstrings lend an adjustable fit. The back vents, a nice touch as well, help out on those unexpectedly warm days. Find the Rainmac for $330, alongside some more subdued designs from Folk clothing, online.

Grundens

The Grundens Parka wins for all-around best design. Heavyweight cotton twill, coated with a specially-formulated PVC coating designed to resist dirt and grime, remains flexible, even in extreme weather conditions. We like the combination of the jacket’s perfectly-toned orange hue and minimalistic silhouette too—often seen sported by stylish seniors in NYC. Available from Erik Schedin, this traditional fisherman parka sells for $215.

Contributions by Graham Hiemstra, Evan Orensten, Josh Rubin and Tim Yu

Seven everyday options that double as halloween costumes

For those who prefer comfort over the whole-nine-yards costumes—or if you’re just looking to save some cash and effort this holiday—we looked to our favorite jackets and other everyday clothing to double as your get-up. Intended as inspiration, why not turn the below frog costume into a pea-in-a-pod? The black down poncho-slash-coat could just as easily be a black cat too.

Baseball Player

Everyone needs a great transitional jacket, and Nike’s Hybrid Destroyer is just about as versatile as it gets. Pair it with a few pieces of baseball paraphernalia for a major league costume this Halloween. The jacket sells from 6pm for $96, Starter’s Wiffle ball Snap back for No Mas goes for $30, Homage‘s fitted ball cap and tribute to the legendary Woody Hayes sells for $40. Round it out with the Japanese Nokona Buckaroo Series for $200 from Ball Glove Warehouse.

Detective

Clothe your crime-fighting alter ego with Zara’s new hooded trench. A great fall investment for inclement days, it also doubles as a Halloween costume to channel any favorite detective. (Inspector Gadget is our gumshoe of choice.) Complete the look with a wool fedora, magnifying glass and pipe. The double-breasted trench sells for $190 at Zara, the Borsalino hat goes for $350 at J. J. Hat Center and the vintage magnifying glass sells for $250 from Gilai Collectibles. For a touch of humor, slap on a classic fake mustache.

Bunny

As if you needed a holiday to wrap the wee one in this adorable bunny sweatshirt— Talc’s critter hoodie adds both warmth and charm this Halloween—all it needs is a carrot for the full effect. The zip-front sweatshirt sells for $78 at Sweet William, with the toy carrot for $7 at Toy Boxes.

Frog

There’s no chance of trick-or-treating chills with a down onesie from Patagonia. Pair it with a foam frog mask for the cutest amphibian in town. The Patagonia Infant Down Sweater Bunting sells online for $130 and the foam mask can be picked up for $8.

Rainbow

For a Halloween costume that combines retro Rainbow Brite with supreme functionality—not to mention relatively high performance potential for a pair of flamboyant footwear—the North Face Gotham boots do the trick when worn with any candy-colored coat or clothing on top—bonus points for a hat and scarf. The boots sell for $120 from The North Face and the ultra-light down jacket can be found for $80 at Uniqlo stores. Check MoMA for the scarf ($48) and hat ($35).

Witch

The Nau Down Stole works not only for a fall-to-winter shift, but across costumes as well. When paired with a vintage broom and a custom satin peak hat, the jacket morphs itself into a nice, warm witch’s cloak. It’s $230 at Nau. Add a vintage broom ($48) or one from your kitchen and throw on a customizable satin witch’s hat, for $24.

Bat

There’s also something bat-like about the Stole, making it the prime top layer for a slightly creepy costume. Accessorize with a bat masquerade mask or, our favorite, the Batstache.

Contributions by Karen Day, Ami Kealoha, Kelly O’Reilly, Greg Stefano and James Thorne

A lifelong mountaineer takes up the relationship between man and mountain in a gorgeous new book

Sandy Hill’s book Mountain is a meditation on what many consider the last real frontier. A lifelong mountaineer, Hill’s experience—she was among the first to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents—makes for an insightful look at the colossal entities and how humans coexist within their foreboding landscapes.

With 350 images by more than 160 photographers, Mountain starts out like any other coffee-table book, full of stunning landscape images by such renowned photographers as Ansel Adams and Eadweard Muybridge. This expansive section of awe-inspiring imagery transitions, without skipping a beat, to documents of humans in the mountainous environment. Ant-like mountain dwellers as the focal point brings the enormity of the natural surroundings into perspective.

The final portion of the book shifts again to study man-made creations in contrast to the mountains nearby where they’re built. A testament to human ingenuity, these intricate architectural and agricultural feats still seem out of place nestled on lowland flats or perched atop craggy peaks.

Peppered among the vivid imagery, numerous brief autobiographical tales detail the familiar love-hate struggle between man and mountain. These short stories demand a deeper look, as each brings the reader closer to comprehending the tempestuous relationship that most climbers share.

All of the proceeds from the book’s sales will be donated to the American Alpine Club Library. With a suggested price of $85, Mountain will be available 11 October 2011. You can pre-order now through Amazon.