Marimekko is releasing a clothing line, in the spirit of Jackie O, through H&M. New York Magazine has the story, and here is an image that I grabbed from that article (which you can read here)

I’m not sure I am a total fan. I love the stuff on bedsheets, shower curtains, even plates - but on clothes…. I think you would have to be in extremely good shape and have your fashion sense really tuned to pull this off. The reason being that these patterns which are so big and bright will otherwise call out whatever you think is unflattering about yourself. I mean, I stand pretty firmly that any sized person can wear whatever they want to… in theory. In practice, it will make you feel uncomfortable to be having these crazy patterns making your butt look huger than it is, or calling out your lack of curve.

But, keep on making those sheets, Ms. Mekko.

 Pete Wentz, Bassist and Lyricist for the band Fall Out Boy, and all around reneaisannce man, has agreed to partner his clothing company with Nordstrom. According to an article in the Portland Business Journal, Wentz’s company, Clandestine Industries, will make and design the clothes, which will be sold in the juniors department at Nordstrom’s. When asked what he thought about the partnership, Wentz replied, “I am stoked to collaborate with Nordstrom.”

After reading this article, I did a little more research (i.e. went to wikipedia) and read up on Pete Wentz. In addition to being a bassist, lyricist, backup singer, clothing designer, clothing company owner, he is also a children’s book author, an owner of a record company, and the owner of a film company.

Pete Wentz Looking Fly (photo by GBDAM)

Some might critisize Wentz for “selling out,” as he is clearly not just about The Music. But I don’t feel that way. The only way to do that would be to associate any use of business savvy with selling out, which I don’t do. But then maybe I just don’t believe in the concept of “selling out” any more. I think that a person has a right to try to make something of him or herself, and a right to try to make money. Especially here in America.

Furthermore, I’d like make a general point about small businesses by talking about the world of journalism. On one hand, the media is completely built up and systemized to the point where news companies are owned by weapons manufacturers and the word of main stream journalists is almost impossible to take without a grain of salt. On the other hand, the voice of the individual is louder than ever through blogs, message boards and podcasts. But a blogger must take responsibility for his or her own income, thus benefitting from the financial structures in existance: sole prop, LLC, C Corp. This is the way that a individual can protect him or herself from being sucked into the other side.

Drawing this back to Pete Wentz, man of the world, I think that he is doing the right thing - recognizing that music, fashion, media is all connected on a financial level in a very smooth and flowing way, and that anyone who wants to position him or herself to take advantage of this connection, can do so. Pete, I’m stoked for you.

diesel store window, soho nyc, originally uploaded by ernest.borg9.

Paul Pope, an artist known his “slopily brilliant” style in comics and graphic novels, is emerging in the fashion design world. Last year, he did the store art for the SoHo (NY) Diesel store. (Pictured). Recently, he was hired by DKNY to design a line of jeans.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Mr. Pope and the charming urban stalwart of a label met to discuss the possibility of working together, and within 6 weeks, the project was underway.

Mr. Nipon was impressed by Mr. Pope’s wide-ranging creative interests and his pointed technical questions about the line.

Some tasks Mr. Pope worked on are tee shirt designs and patterns for hoodies.

This weekend I bought a new looking pair of Seven’s for $45. I am so happy about this, as I was feeling a little down about my jeans selection recently. I do have a pair of Lucky’s that are just starting to feel like they are truly mine (in the way only jeans can). But Seven’s are pretty cool.

They are a little long, and I was thinking of getting them hemmed, but then somebody suggested I keep them long and wear them with heels. This is a good idea, since all my other jeans are short for my short legs.

So, questions:

1. What color wedges to get?

2. Since 96% of the time I don’t wear heels (currently), should I just get them hemmed?

Thanks, all.

P.S. I got them at the Junior League on Filmore

I was about to write about how everyone who reads Looking Fly regularly should know that I love Crossroads. But I checked - I havn’t written a post about it yet! OMG.

But what better time than now, when they are sponsoring an important charity event - a Prom Dress Donation. The idea is that if you have a Prom Dress in good or better yet great condition from the last 6 years, you can bring it to Crossroads and they will in turn get your dress (or accessories) to the Princess Project. The Princess Project takes these dresses and gives them to young women who are part of families that cannot afford the expense of a Prom Dress. Crossroads insists that the dresses be in new or nearly new condition - after all, who wants a ratty old torn prom dress?!?!?!?

Crossroads is a used and new clothing store in the San Francisco Bay area - I think there are about 7 of them sprinkled here and there. They have THE BEST used clothes around, because they only take clothes that are currently in season and in style. They also carry various new items - for example, I got My WESC hat there. The new items they have hold to the same “very cool” standard that their used stuff is held to. I might even say that it is my favorite store in San Francisco, simply because it is my way of finding really stylish clothing that is actually affordable. I got my Lucky’s there for $30!

And then the Princess Project is a great idea because it is both discrete and discreet, local, and quickly effective. Here are the reactions of some of the participants, if you want to know what they think of it.

In short: Go to Crossroads. Donate your Prom Dresses. Be Fabulous.

The purple from the 80’s is one of the shining stars of that decade. Rising highly above other trends such as two-way bangs, crack, and cuffing your jeans, that lovely shade of purple, so bright and hopeful, but at the same time so edgy and bold, is happily welcomed back. When I was in high school, during the 90’s, the hot color was boring forest green. I truely feel that I lost out.

The website 80’s Purple (http://80spurple.com) is a clothing site where you can find very cool brands such as freshjive, freepeople, and paper, denim and cloth. Their brands, in fact, can be seen on a graphic on their front page. Seriously, though, the best thing about their site is their design. I can’t even explain it but just go there right now and mouse around. It is so cool.

Interestingly, I just noticed a link for eyewear. Men’s clothes, women’s clothes, and eyewear. I love it. And in fact, my sunglasses just broke. Sweet!

Moosejaw is an outdoor apparel website - a really good one - you can always find good deals and their site is quite well designed. It is the little details that matter - easy to sort items, cute extra content that gives the site a personal feel - like your buddy is running it.  They also have a little outlet site called The Lowdown. Everything there is on sale, and a lot of it is very cool. Besides checking out their sales all at once, you can sign up for a daily email so that each day you can see an item which has been marked down at least 60%. Today’s item was a pretty cool pair of men’s pants:

Analog Men’s Boundary Pant (Fall 2007)

My grandmother, no longer with me on this earth, wore her cap to bed every night. She also could read your cards and tell your fortune, and wrote songs where creating the rhyme took precedent over making sense of the verse. I have often worn wool hats inside the house which makes my mother sigh that I remind her of her mother and thus, I infer, she isn’t sure of what to think of my hat. She wouldn’t wear it in the house, I also get out of this. This weekend I went skiing (and did not fall once thank you), and so last Friday, tramping through the rain, I stopped at Crossroads and found myself a new hat.

Crossroads, as you may know, is one of the greatest stores in San Francisco. I haven’t written about it yet, so perhaps I will do so tomorrow - I am trying to keep focused from post to post. Basically, it is a mix of used and new clothing, always in style and always reasonably priced.

At Crossroads (The one in the Filmore District) I got this hat by WeSC. WeSC stands for “We Are The Superlative Conspiracy” and they are one of these new types of clothing brands/art/activist groups. They feature on their website a pretty cool image of a bunch of cool looking people hanging out in the park, combined with collage-ish cutouts. Their top level links get you to their Spring Summer Collection (Its January!) and a list of activists - actually a portfolio of skaters, artist, musicians, and other folks who I guess endorse WeSC.

You might be trying to figure out if I am on the side or against WeSC - well, that is kind of what their name makes you ask as well so I will leave you guessing. I will say that the hat wasn’t expensive, and besides Crossroads there are plenty of places to get a good deal on their stuff. But here are the pictures of my new favorite piece of clothing: my wool WeSC cap. Love you Grandma Katie.

My brother lives in San Diego, and he is a LOT cooler than me. It didn’t start out that way, but as it sometimes goes, the younger sibling takes the good traits of the older one, and expands.

My brother has expanded to San Diego, where he is in touch with all the galleries, community events and new boutiques. He keyed me in to one, Kate Ross, a boutique for men and women carrying brands such as Hobo, Brown Sound, Dita, and Friend or Foe. He says this about Kate Ross:

This is a store in my neighborhood. She just opened another - a shoe store and home store with my friend who is an artist - Amy Paul - beautiful stuff. They had their grand opening last night - very cool. DJ, bar, lots of people.

I had been helping all week to get the store ready. We put in this awesome stair case

Did I mention my brother can build things like staircases?

Anyway, if you like clothes and you live in San Diego, Kate Ross is a boutique worth looking into. It isn’t too late to be the first of your friends to go there!

Have you ever been to Jeremy’s? There is one in Berkeley, I believe, and one in the South Park neighborhood of San Francisco - right by the ballpark. That is the one I go to.

It is so great - it has all kinds of fabulous deals on designer and trendy clothes, shoes, etc. The only thing is that you have to be prepared to spend much time in this place. Especially if they are having a sale. I once found a sweater marked down from $400 to $2. That’s 200 pennies, folks. You probably have that in a jar in your apartment somewhere.

Guys, no need to be jealous - the store is two levels and you have half of each level all for yourself (I think - at least the first floor for sure). And, the guys’ side is always PRISTINE - no one is ever there - and yet I have seen Lucky Jeans for $45 there sometimes. Gay or straight, $45 Lucky Jeans is something you want.

An excerpt from their Search-Engine-Unfriendly, un-selectable text in their faq, they answer the question “Why is everything so inexpensive?” they answer, “We get our discounted merchandise from a variety of sources….” I believe that says it all.