If there is one thing that one should not doubt, than it is the expertise of Goyard with premium leathers. Their shoeshine kit dos not only look beautiful, it also does its job. As usual with Goyard product, the shoeshine kit is also exclusively available in their own flagship stores and shop-in-shops around the globe.

A more detailed view of the Goyard Shoeshine Kit follows after the jump.

After our post on the Audiowood vs. Technics direct drives turntables, we did some digging. We figure if you’re willing to go back to vinyl for the richness and warmth, you might be interested in taking it to the next level of antiquated tech with some custom reel-to-reel players and recorders. 

It’s a niche market for sure but with the rise and awareness of the benefit of analog music, reel-to-reels are gaining some ground, though slowly. The pricepoint is a roadblock to some. Take J-Corder’s Custom Technics  1700 Tape Deck. The standard options for this machine include the finished sides, front panel and VU meters. Included are standard red Technics reels and hubs.”

It is all about the warm and wide soundstage of the analog world.

More views of the J-Corder Custom Reel-to-Reels Players and Recorders after the jump.

Baxter of California is extending their mens grooming line with two new fragrances - Bravado 2 and Bravado 3 – which will be available exclusively through Barneys. “The company’s founder, Baxter Finley, first launched the original Bravado, a floral woodsy cologne in the early 1970’s, but the fragrance has since been retired for over 7 years.” The new fragrances are a re-introduction for the Baxter bran into this market. Look for them at Barneys come mid-April.

Our friends over at Interview sat down with Japanese deisgner, Junya Watanabe to discuss menswear and more. “For several seasons now, Japanese designer Junya Watanabe has been taking some of our most iconic Western brands, retooling them in his Tokyo workshop, and sending them back out into the world looking a lot less like the everyday apparel of a typical American dude and a lot more like the sophisticated, preternaturally bright and graphic garb of a globe-trotting gentleman.”

Read the full interview at, well, Interview, of course.

Earlier on we should images of the Marc Newson designed lounge for Qantas in Sydney. Transferring his aesthetic from the ground to the sky, Newson has also worked on airplane interiors for Qantas’ A380s. IconEye discussed the work with Newson. The chat hits on what bothers Newson in the air and bringing glamor back to the aircraft.

More images of the interiors after the jump.

Japan’s JULIUS house celebrates their 7th anniversary with a small collection of shirts, scarves, and hoodies. Available outside of Japan for a limited time, the goods are sized for the Japan market, so be aware when ordering. They are available now through RS1.

More views of the JULIUS 7th anniversary Shirts and Scarves after the jump.

There I said it. Gizmodo’s reporting on the Audiowood Turntables designed by Joel Scully, had an interesting headline that caught my attention. “Audiowood Turntables: Because Technics Are Too Cold and Modern“ 

They’re right. The Technics 1200 and 1210 models are “too cold and modern,” but that’s exactly what I love about them. For the money, they’re about the most indestructible tables on the market. They retain value fairly well (as long as your DJ girlfriend didn’t f up the tonearm). Are they audiophile quality? They may not be, but as one of the most respected hifi audio repairmen in Boston told me, put a proper cartridge on the Technics and you’ll be pretty damn good (with the proper amp and speakers of course) 

Back to the Audiowood Turntables for a moment. They are indeed audiophile grade turntables. Mr. Scully is building his wood inspired tables using some of the best mechincal, deadstock parts. I have to admit, I love “The Poster Boy” turntable shown above, but I’m not clear where “Big Red” would fit into my apartment.

Either way, Technics or Audiowood, you cannot go wrong as long as you’re enjoying music for all the right reasons.

Y-3 joins most of the Adidas line with a new build out inside the Paris Adidas Flagship Store with Jeremy Scott. “Adidas base camp have opened its doors to celebrate the launch of the Y-3 shop, which is located within the Flagship European store on the Champs Elysees and is home to the complete magnitude of Adidas off-shoots including Stella McCartney. Y-3’s 200 square metre chunk is deliberately minimal with an impervious monochrome finish and is on the first floor of the emporium.”

Read the rest of “Y-3 Joins the Rest of the Adidas Family in Paris” at Dazed Digital.

French born, Nicole Farhi, resides in the UK where his tailoring fits in perfectly. The collection has grown beyond traditional wears to include accessories, shoes, and more. For Spring/Summer 2009 the Nicole Farhi menswear looks are color proper for the season. (via fashionisto)

More views from the Nicole Farhi Spring/Summer 2009 collection after the jump.