Silhouette

I Love Shoes!

No doubt about that. And while I may not have a crazy collection (I have somewhere around 30 different pairs, nothing compared to most sneakerheads) I still appreciate a great sneaker, or boot, or dress shoe. (Don't even get me started on my shoe fetish...I love a woman in spiked heels or boots.......)

What is it that makes a shoe stand out to me? What is it that gives it that "got to cop that" mystique?

The silhouette.

It's pretty much a tenet of design. ( I can only assume...)

At the end of the day, that's all that really matters. That's why Bapestas and Air Force 1s exist on a level field. It's the shape of the shoe. If a shoe looks good, it doesn't matter how much it costs. If the shape stands out to you, then it's a good looking shoe. Anything else, like luxe materials, limited runs or top tier branding is just gravy. The basics of a shoe are the important thing. That's why the Chuck Taylor Converse have had such an impact on popular culture, and so many shoes are made in their image. That's why wing tips are found in office's, at weddings, in casino's and courtrooms.

Here is my favourite original and similar (or blatant) silhouette.

Nike Air Jordan 3

JB Classic Scarface

Some more favourite "Silhouettes"

Red Wing RW1

Nike Sportswear Air Yeezy

Supra Skytop

Air Max 90

Air Max 95

Adidas Superstar (Shelltoes)

Nike SB P-Rod 2

-------

When I see you...

Style Inspiration Series 4

Shout out to HUF S.F!

It's funny how somethings that are at one time part of a counter culture movement can come to the very front of the culture it was turning away from. When skateboarding started in the 70s (as we know it now) it was viewed as an activity by burnt out stoner surfers to do when the waves weren't hitting. Fast forward more than 30 years and it is a culture that drives commerce and dominates mainstream fashion (too many brands to link too, just trust me) and media (ditto).

I remember back in High School, when I was heavy into "extreme sports", like in-line and skateboarding, some of my more melanin proficient friends told me I was acting "white". They didn't know I first tried skateboarding when I was 7, and my black cousin was the one who taught me how. It's funny how little they actually knew about me or skateboarding. Thanks to Paul "P-Rod" Rodriguez, Terry Kennedy, Pharrell Williams, Lupe Fiasco and countless others ( I see you Eric Koston, Daewon Song, Stevie Williams, Kareem Campbell, Ray Barbee, Christian Hosoi, Steve Cabalero & Chris Pastras et.al) skateboarding has always been accepted (mostly) by "non-whites". More so than the excitement of the sport, it's the style and fashion attributed to the sport that has been picked up upon in recent years. And there's no doubt that those guys I mentioned above have style . Shit, Chris Pastras is a spokeman for WeSC, Pharrell owns Ice Cream/BBC, P-Rod is the Michael Jordan of Skateboarding both in ability and exposure and Steve Cabalero has one of the most successful (read:popular) Signature Skate Shoes of all time. I hope this doesn't seem like too much of a digression, but I felt it could add some depth to the post, y'know, before I get to posting related photos that I found on the interwebs. Even though I could probably write an essay on the impact skateboard culture has on our mainstream pop culture...hmmm...nah, who has the time? (Maybe I should find the time...)

Stolen from the interwebs!!!!

Nike SBs are amongst some of the most coveted limited edition sneakers

---

Supra has smashed the market with their Skytops and NS (Non Skate) Collaborations, and mainstream clothing lines sponsor professional skateboarders.

---

Thank God I never listened to anyone in High School to tell me how I should be acting or dressing, or doing...or else I wouldn't have know who this guy was (it's Stevie Williams...) when I saw him at Supreme L.A. DGK All Day!!!

---

I never really let my affinity towards skateboard culture go. Instead I grew up, and found ways to keep it with me. Shout out to The Hundreds! Shit, I may even buy a board this summer and see if I can still kick-flip. (disclaimer: that is NOT me busting out the kickflip -heelflip?- on The Hundreds deck)...go visit www.theberrics.com if you need a daily skateboarding fix. Bangin'!!!

When I see you...

Style Inspiration Series 3

Just drove through La Belle Province and part of New Brunswick and back into Quebec...so, now I got my feet up and my laptop open. I need a distraction from some bullshit, (not work related) so, I'm down to blog about .......

James .muthafuckin'. Bond

I'm a Sean Connery fan, but Daniel Craig is a close second ( And since he is the modern Bond, he is the new style inspiration). George Lazenby did a great job in his only appearance, Pierce Brosnan was fantastic (save for "Die Another Day"), Roger Moore had a great run, and as for Timothy Dalton, well at least "Licence To Kill" was pretty bad ass....

So, why James Bond in a Style Inspiration post? Aside from Gadgets, Bad Ass Weapons and Dope Whips, Bond is outfitted by MI6 to look like a British Business Man (Universal Exports anyone?), of high standing. The character of James Bond had swagger before Soulja Boy learned how to turn his on... James Bond has OG Style status.

Bond (or Bonds, if you wanna get technical) have always been styled as men who know about the finer things in life, but can still keep their priorities straight. For example, if they were chasing some bad guy on a roof top and took a bullet to the arm, the fact that their Brioni Tux just got a gaping hole ripped in it with blood stains to boot, would not deter them from their mission. Instead, they would focus on the fact that their Walther PP7 has only two bullets left and they need to make their next shot count. Also, he would never dream of leaving his cuff links behind in the hotel suite of some bird he just cut it up with. He's carefree, but not reckless. Polished, but not spoiled. Well dressed, but not overly styled. The perfect blend of confidence, style and attitude.

For me, the most important thing about James Bond's style is that he is always dressed for the occasion, and no occasion is ever deemed "casual". This is probably what I try and take from Mr.Bond the most. Because I never know when I'll be out at a casino, playing black jack against an international arms dealer, of whom I trying to get more information about after sleeping with his disgruntled mistress in an attempt to gain access to his private chalet/evil lair, so that I can download his client list in order to make an arrest in the name of Her majesty's Secret Service. Let me have my dreams...

Read this article if you want a complete breakdown of Bond Style in terms of clothing. (in a way more organized way than this post)

I'll just leave you with some inspiring images...

Style Inspiration Series 2

Two posts in a day? Yea, well...there ain't much to do yet.

Today I visited the venue for 30 mins had lunch and then drove out to Schenectady, New York (I had to pick up some people).

So, I'm back in the room, (Half) watching Cash Cab so I figured, "why not put up a next post?".

My last post (i.e first ) on the subject of style inspiration I dealt with the Rat Pack / Clooney Crew Ocean's 11 look.

This one, I'll focus on a celebrity who I've been taking subtle (or maybe not so subtle) cues from for

almost 10 years.

Ladies & Gentlemen!

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell is my everyday style inspiration, pretty much.

I can't front. I don't model myself after him, literally, but I'd be lying if I said I dress nothing like him. The Pharrell outfit posted above, is pretty much my preferred day to day

look if I'm not working. Like a day off, going to see a movie, going out for drinks or a casual lunch.

Now, this is not hard for anyone to achieve, as most guys I know own New-Eras, Jeans, Sneakers and t-shirts. I've seen

so many trends for men come and go since I hit puberty, that it is easy to look like a tool by following them all blindly.

(Why are guys still wearing Puma racing Boots, Flared Denim & Ed Hardy?...no, seriously, why?)

Pharrell never followed the trends, instead, he heavily influenced many of them.

Trucker hats in the early 2000s

Bapes

Skateboard culture in Hip-Hop

Rapper x European Fashion label collaborations.

Pharrell has always been at the forefront by just being himself.

No oversized Tees.

No Throwbacks.

No Ed Hardy.

Just comfortable, understated confident style.

So, by modelling myself off of this guy, I guess I'm just a big poseur, right?

Well, in my own defence, I grew up in a West Indian house hold, had a group of friends whose racial diversity could rival the

United Nations, and had personal interests ranging from d.j to contemporary dance and basketball to skateboarding (& in-line skating...

yes, I was a fruit-booter. However, I learnt how to ollie & kick-flip, before I ever took up in-line.)

So, as I was maturing and building my own personal style, I felt like I could not decide on whether I was supposed to

dress like a rapper, a choreographer (read: Artist) or a skater.

Seeing Pharrell bring his diverse background into his public persona, gave me the confidence to do so as well.

He is always dressed for the occasion, understands fashion and style and has great taste. Not a bad person to take fashion

cues from at all.

Plus, I know I wasn't the only one paying attention.

However, more often than not, I try not to copy Home Boy.

Some things are best left up to celebrities.

Yesssuurrr!

I'll leave you with some more Pharrell...

*pause*

When I see you...