Step up your next in house poker game with this gorgeous macassar ebony poker set from Ghisò. ”This refined, limited-edition Macassar ebony poker box, lined in orange velvet calfskin, contains chips crafted of yellow European boxwood, walnut, brown palissandre, and black and Macassar ebony.” Get it now from Vivre for a mere 5210$US. (via momist)

Our friends a Valet Mag offer a nice guide to the ins and outs of laundering your wears. Unexpectedly, we did learn a thing or two about how many wears we go without on socks and dress shirts. “How long can your clothes go between washing? In these eco-friendly (and economically tough) times, you don’t want to use all that water and electricity on something that’s still relatively clean. Besides, doing laundry is such a bitch.” (image via flickr)

Read the full write up at Valet Mag.

The guys over at Wrapper UK have take what looks to be vintage Mulberry wools – more than likely reclaimed from Mulberry jackets – and turned them into some simple and effect iPhone and iPod Touch sleeves.  Wrappers adds in a fine navy cotton canvas lining to make it close to waterpoof. Five colorways are available now online.

More views of the Wrappers Mulberry Wool iPhone Sleeves after the jump.

Blazers have been creeping back into menswear for a while now and spring looks like the season when blazers move from an extravagant choice to a staple one. This Kris Van Assche blazer is a prime example of the next level of blazers, which look to step away slightly from the college tutor look of old. It’s made with soft cotton, allowing the blazer to be worn in warmer weather – which is a vital aspect some designers overlook for a SS09 collection. Get it from Colette.

If you’re the type who likes to pay homage through clothing, you’ll love this Yves Saint Laurent T-shirt. The main print is of the glasses Yves Saint Laurent was known for wearing and, like most YSL pieces, is simple yet stylish. There’s also a small broken drawing pin graphic at the bottom of the tee – presumably to differentiate it from the inevitable copycat shirts that will emerge. Get it from Matches.

SocialCreatures have given this iconic cultural object the status it deserves. In the 1960’s it was nicknamed the ‘afro’ and became a symbol of cultural identity and the struggle for freedom and equality. It is now regaining it’s status as an accessory as the afro comes back into vogue.

These combs are designed and finished by hand. The process to complete a comb and box takes approximately 12-16hrs. Each comb is made from 3mm aluminum and weighs just 46 grams; both strong and light. All the surfaces are shaped and finished by hand to a high polish ensuring a smooth and tangle free experience. The combs are etched with a design on the handle. Finally each comb is plated to cutlery grade with either silver or 18 carat gold.

Further details of SocialCreatures handmade combs after the jump.

German magazine distributor Motto recently opened their first store in Berlin. To celebrate this event, they held an event every day for a week celebrating a different magazine – This has ended now, although they do hold monthly presentations and screenings celebrating new launches and other happenings in the magazine world. The store has a library-like feel to it, making it far more suited to browsing than some packed Borders store. While it does have new issues, the shop focuses on being an archiving service – so you’ll never have to go without an issue of a magazine you missed. It’s well worth a visit if you love magazines and good design.

MOTTO BERLIN
Skalitzer str. 68
10997 Berlin
U1 Schlesiches Tor
mottodistribution@gmail.com
Cell phone: +49 15773943476

Lodger Footwear has unveiled their Shoes of the Month for January. On the English side is a beautifully conceived and researched Desert Boot. Interviews with a military historian helped uncover the origins of this popular style, which like all Shoes of the Month is made to order for each buyer. A Slip On in a reddish brown leather comes from the Italian side of the tree. Finished with a raw edged, hand stitched saddle strap, the shoe is again made to order. For more on Lodger, check out our recent interview with founder Nathan Brown.

Details of the Lodger Footwear Desert Boot and a peak at January’s Italian Slip On after the jump.

There’s never a better time to buy an item you were iffy about than in the sales. Brown’s have started their online sale recently and, as always, there are some great bargains to be had. Take this Raf by Raf Simons T-shirt for example. While the original price was never a wallet breaker, the new price does make it that much more enticing. Get it from Browns.

Rare photographic prints of musicians like Siouxsie Sioux and Paul Weller are hard to come by these days, so it’s nice to see that Paul Smith has started to offer prints by photographer Kevin Cummins. Cummins rose to fame during the late seventies, being NME’s chief photographer for ten years. In addition to the artists mentioned above, there are also pictures of Mick Jagger, The Sex Pistols and Marc Bolan. Check out the full collection here.