Hasta La Ideas

Renowned Seattle and NYC brands team up for a classic waxed parka just in time for fall

It’s hard to know which of the deluge of fall collaborations are worth your time and attention, but when DQM is involved we tend to take notice. Coming just two weeks after the collaborative Vans DQM General store opened, New York City’s heralded streetwear purveyor has teamed up for the second time with Crescent Down Works to release a waxed parka just in time for colder temperatures.

Made in Pacific Northwest, the waxed cotton jacket is built to withstand the rain no matter where it’s falling. Leather reinforced buttons and custom DQM labeling accent the classically subdued design. Available in a black with an orange liner and in tan with navy, the parka runs $430. It sells exclusively at Vans DQM General in NYC and, starting this Monday 3 October 2011, online in limited numbers as well.

Two action sport leaders thank you for being you with a new collaborative snowboard boot and skate shoe

The latest project from two of action sports’ most influential companies, the Holden and Vans collaboration snowboard boot and sk8-hi shoe are sure to pique the interest of any style-conscious boarder. Unlike most collaborations, the two pieces take a subdued design approach with an all-black upper and minimal branding. But their values are there, in both Holden’s allegiance to contemporary style and progressive materialization, along with Vans’ timeless look.

Known for leading the snowboard industry in fashion and fit, Holden has inspired countless trends—from Scotty Wittlake’s pioneering tight-pants-and-hoodie combo to the clean and fitted outerwear stylings of Northwest pretty boy Darrell Mathes. Their new-school approach fits well with the classic surf and skate style of Vans, which remains relatively unchanged and just as relevant since ’66.

The Sk8-Hi is essentially an upgraded version of its usual self. A combination of premium leather and waxed canvas make for a much sturdier shoe than the average Vans. The sleek blacked-out look is subtly accented with stitching just above the standard vulcanized sole in a cream color that matches the leather interior.

Sharing low-profile appeal with the Sk8-Hi, the Holden snowboard boot sports a slim sole for more board feel and a skate-style silhouette. The boot features premium leather and the same 59% recycled nylon found in Holden’s outerwear line. Inside the Quadfit x Thermal liner, you’ll find a gel toe box—branded with iconic Vans checkers—for heavy impacts and additional pressure cuff ankle padding to help prevent foot fatigue. All of this along with a soft, traditional lace-up boot and an old-school look make the boot perfect for lapping the park and all-mountain cruising.

Head to Vans or watch Holden’s video explanation for more information on the collaborative snowboard boot and Sk8-Hi shoe, which are available online now for $230 and $80 respectively.

Japanese apparel giant blankets NYC with retail installations in advance of its largest store opening yet

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Savvy readers may have noticed that we were featured in the Voices of New York campaign last month, the first of many initiatives that Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo undertook to celebrate the imminent arrival of their two latest NYC flagship stores. Since then, the brand has been literally putting itself on the map by dropping pop-up shops inside of tidy cubes (designed by our friends at HWKN) all over NYC to showcase signature products, like their colorful cashmere sweaters. As if setting up nearly 20 Uniqlo Cubes all across New York wasn’t enough, the brand also launched a preview of an upcoming addition to their activewear offering as styled by Nicola Formichetti.

It’s easy to forget that Nicola Formichetti is Uniqlo’s Fashion Director, considering his ongoing work with Lady Gaga and designer role at Thierry Mugler. At his low-key TriBeCa storefront, Nicola’s, the Uniqlo Innovation Project, presented a step forward for Uniqlo’s sportier side that bears Formichetti’s touch. The sleek, sparse designs are injected with thoughtful design details that manage to balance style and necessity, with many pieces cut from Uniqlo’s well-known heat retention and water repellent high-tech fabrics. The full range presents a take on “how the future dresses” according to the collection’s site, and will be sure to please fans of versatile and stylish pieces that can transition from play to work and back again.

This weekend, Uniqlo Cubes will be present at the DUMBO Arts Festival helping to celebrate Brooklyn’s place in the art world. Featuring local, national, and international participants, the festival features over 500 participants. Visitors can experience everything from studio visits to musical performances. We particularly recommend paying a visit to experience the Leo Kuelbs Collection’s Immersive Surfaces presentation, which features artists’ works projected onto the stone anchorage that supports the Manhattan Bridge, turning DUMBO itself into a canvas.

We’ll soon be launching a special edition of CH Local highlighting other upcoming events in NYC that Uniqlo Cubes will be present at, along with our favorite spots nearby, so stay tuned!

Triple Aught Design’s messenger bag for the office mercenary

Blending modern technology with functional design, Triple Aught Design makes high-performance gear durable enough for the mountains and sophisticated enough for the city. Their latest addition, the Multicam Dispatch Bag is suited for everyday carry in either environment. Built with 1000 Denier Invista Cordura nylon—which is nearly impossible to rip or tear—and Military-Spec ITW Nexus fasteners and YKK nylon coil zippers, you can guarantee the dispatch can make it through hell and back.

Whether you’re heading to the office or traveling farther from home, it’s essential to have your valuables close at hand. With the Dispatches’ thirteen pockets and plentiful accessory slots your phone, keys, pen/pad or passport are all kept just under the main closer flap and just a few clasps away. Inside the 800 cubic inches of storage you’ll find also find a separate, detachable laptop compartment that’ll fit most 15″ laptops. The flap is tailored to cover the corners of the bag keeping dirt, rain and sticky fingers out. There are also a couple hidden pockets for super safekeeping.

At 17″ wide x 12″ high x 4″ deep, the bag is slightly on the larger size, definitely hefty enough to lug some extra gear, but small enough to not feel empty with just a computer and spare jacket. I’ve been testing the bag for the last week and have been really impressed with its versatility. Available in a limited run dropping today, look to Triple Aught Design online where the Multicam Dispatch sells for $250.

Luxurious iPad cases made by coveted fashion designers

Whether reading a book, taking notes at a meeting or using the camera to snap a quick photo of friends, the number of reasons to pull out an iPad in public left us searching for a case with a little more class than the oft-utilitarian styles typically reserved for the digital device (such as the functional cases found in our last round-up). Below are four premium cases that you could easily covet even if you don’t have an iPad, and are sure to take the already sleek device to new levels of sophistication.

The fashion-forward duo Proenza Schouler abandoned the pedestrian colorways typically used in protective cases in favor of a more vibrant assortment. Bold black, brilliant red and neon “sulphur” green genuine leather cases are accented by a front pocket that looks like the staps and snap closure system used on their signature PS1 bags, but the case actually zips shut for maximum security on the go. The iPad cases are available directly through the Proenza Schouler website where they sell for $685.

Rachel Comey‘s Laptop Clutch blurs the line between a classic downtown accessory and corporate office attaché. Noted for her attention to fabric and texture, Comey’s take on the case combines a roomy canvas and leather pouch with fine rope detailing at the edges. The subtle black and brown case can be picked up online at Creatures of Comfort for $288.

Resplendent in a plush rabbit fur exterior with a black leather lining, 3.1 Phillip Lim‘s Lynus Rabbit iPad case puts a soft spin on the harder edges of technology. A magnetic flap and hidden zipper closure complete the case’s sophisticated aesthetic. The case is available at Colette for $752.

Soft structured leather, a shearling-lined interior and detachable shoulder strap comprise Maison Martin Margiela‘s minimalist purse-like iPad case. Also included are a designer-embossed notebook and pencil for those times when technology fails. The opulent case can be purchased online from Net-a-Porter for $1,250.