With the decade coming to a close, a new crop of top lists of the first decade of the millenium are springing up. One of my favorites comes from The Book Cover Archive and it deals with book covers! “To summarize a decade’s worth of brilliant design with 20 covers is little more than an exercise in futility. We can all agree, however, that the best part of passing into a new digit bracket is the lists that come with it. This collection is little more than a representation of my own tastes, but I tried to choose works which were representative of their respective years.” I love seeing Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth on this list…

LimiteHype posted a nice feature giving a behind the scenes look at the Mismo Bags production process as well as an interview with Mismo founder Adam Alexander Bach about design, working on collaborations, and more.  Some history on the brand… “We chose to specialize in bags because back in ‘03 when the idea first came to mind there were nowhere you could find a well designed bag in a nice material to hold your laptop. From there we’ve sought of expanded the line into every possible bag we could see ourselves use on different occasions.”

More looks at Mismo Bag production line after the click.

Ssense takes stock in this asymmetrical overcoat from Mackage. Here’s the details…”Single breasted grey wool overcoat with asymmetrical button placket. Spread collar with hook closure. buttoned back flap. Tonal leather trim and grommets at underarms. Leather trimmed zip pockets with flap detail at waist. Belted button tab sleeve cuffs. Single back vent. Fully lined. shell” 680$US.

More looks at the Mackage Aston Overcoat after the click.

(via cqc)

Valet comes through with news some Barneys’ exclusives coming from the Schott camp. They’re available in store today and online next week. “The company collaborated with Barneys New York to make the iconic coat even better. ‘It’s a heritage collection,’ says Jason Schott, the fourth-generation company head. ‘Inspired by those classic jackets that have been passed down like an heirloom.’ Meaning these slimmed-down, washed leather beauties will feel and wear as though you’ve had them for decades.” I remember being yelled at by a Schott sales rep in Vegas for photoing this jacket after being told it was OK to do. Ah, Vegas tradeshows….

Jeff Castelaz career in the music industry started back in the 90’s around the time the grunge movement started stretching itself across the United States – musically and in design. He was a manager, a booking agent, and even had a gig writing for graphic designer David Carson’s Ray Gun Magazine. In 2004, he co-founded Dangerbird Records helping to push acts coming through Los Angeles’s thriving Silver Lake scene. Today Dangerbird’s roster includes Silversun Pickups and the Eagles of Death Metal to name a couple.

But Castelaz’s most important and personal work began while his son, Pablo, fought a difficult battle with pediatric cancer, specifically bilateral Wilm’s Tumor. During the struggle, Castelaz updated the PaBLog, which kept friends, family, and supporters of Pablo’s fight up to date with photos, and news of his treatment. Unfortunately, on June 27th, Pablo’s individual battle with cancer ended, just days after his sixth birthday.

Read the full interview after the click.

While Gloverall have generally avoided the collaboration hype, only working with long term stockists Oi Polloi and ASOS, it’d be foolish for them to not realise the fashion potential in their garments. That’s why they’ve created this royal blue duffle for their SS10 collection. The main difference between this and the winter edition is the weight; this is far lighter. And aside from that, it’s also in a flashy colourway. Available from January at selected stockists.

We’ve been overloading on parkas this season but what can we say? They’re the best for adverse weather. While we love a duffel, they just don’t deal with wet weather as well as a good ol’ parka does. We haven’t seen many ‘designer’ parkas out, but this one looks just as good as many ‘blokeswear’ parka we can think of. We’re as shocked as you are that it’s by Marc Jacobs – it could easily slot into Albam’s outerwear collection. At £385, it falls into that ‘relatively affordable but not exactly cheap’ bracket that most diffusion lines are priced at. (Matches)

We’re all about the beige jacket this season. The type of coat doesn’t really matter – overcoat, parka, whatever – as long as it’s a nice shade of beige. We’ve always favoured pieces like this when we’re looking to chill out; overcoats are great, but they carry a distinct air of work about them. The hidden knitted cuffs are a nice detail and the buttons are nicely contrasting. The ‘rain dogs’ writing on the shoulder is a detail we could do without, but it’s not a dealbreaker.(Garbstore)

Detailed images are (where else?) after the leap.

Specializing in bespoke footwear (and also offering a quality range of ready to wear), the Foster & Son firm rounds out its wears with small leather goods and bags. We see a fair few leather trimmed canvas pieces in our daily lives, and this stands out (for me) in incorporating a steel farm on the lines of a Gladstone bag. The function of this addition is a wider opening “for ease of stowage.” Of course, there’s nothing new or groundbreaking about the design, after all Foster & Son have been in business since 1840 and the traditional is simply the way things are done at the Jermyn Street outpost.