By now you should all know the rules – don’t wear leather soles in the rain. We’re surprised more folks don’t talk about this; especially given the hype level of brands like Alden nowadays. We think the fact that wearing leather soled shoes can leave you slipping and sliding in rain is a tad more important than another factory tour.

The rubber soles on these Herring brogues are perfect for folks who’d like to avoid involuntarily doing the MJ shuffle when the levees break. They may not be as attractive as leather soles, but falling over isn’t attractive however you spin it. (Herring Shoes)

01. How a ‘Band of No-Hopers’ Forged U.S. Soccer’s Finest Day

“Walter Bahr taught junior high in Philadelphia when he made the United States soccer team for the 1950 World Cup, playing a vital role in one of the sport’s greatest upsets. Team duty paid $100 a week.” (nyt)

02. NYC Allows Bicycle Parking in Buildings While Cutting Bike Lanes

“Since the beginning of December, riding your bike to work in New York City got a little easier, but riding through Brooklyn just got a little harder. On Monday, the NYC Department of Transportation and Department of Building announced that together, they would work to implement the Bicycle Access to Office Building Law, which will help cyclists secure parking at their office buildings and thereby encourage more people to bike to work.” (inhabitant)

03. The Making of Fantastic Mr. Fox

Designed by Pentagram featuring storyboards, notes, sketches, in-depth explorations of puppet construction and beautiful photographs of the sets. (arkitip)

04. In The Window: Santa’s Got 99 Problems, But Moschino Ain’t One (above)

“The creative brilliance of the big, extra window at Moschino’s West 14th Street boutique continues with a tongue-in-cheek ode to the stress of the holidays. Santa’s got issues, and naturally he’s going to lay on the couch of the mannequin dressed in Moschino.” (racked)

Brigade Shop works with Cleveland locals, Wrath Arcane on a limited run double fleece blanket sold exclusively via their store. Note the RN stamping on the blanket. It’s a unique gift from the Wrath Arcane brand.

More looks at the Wrath Arcane for Brigade Blanket after the click.

God exists – if your into sitting in the cold drinking and eating before your favorite sports event this winter. Hammacher Schlemmer drops serious business with their Heated Portable Chair. According to Hammacher Schlemmer, “This is the only portable folding chair with a heated seat.” It costs $120 and undetectable carbon fiber heating elements woven into the chair heat from 120º F to 140º F to warm your legs and posterior.” This is where we’re at fellas. Think on that for a moment. (crunchg)

An often overused term in describing furniture, playful works a charm when discussing the work of Studio Oooms. Their Stamp Table is pierced along the center, inviting desire to split it with a swift karate chop. For them, the holes are reference to less aggressive means of detachment – the perforated edges of stamps. Regardless, the table stands as one of the more subdued designs from the Eindhoven-based studio. Other products include a Vermeer quoting ceramic dildo, a carpet splattered with road kill, and a rebellious cabinet that refuses to close.

It’s Nice That featured the Studio Oooms rockers earlier in the week. While in keeping with the firms output, those mentioned here are more indicative of their playful spirit.

Dildo and more after the jump.

In 1966, Arne Jacobson used turquoise as the chosen color palate for his Room 606 at the SAS House in Copenhagen. As Carolyn Kelly notes, his isn’t the only example of the serene and invigorating color in decorative arts history. Her brief rundown, published today by The Magazine Antiques, is worth a gander. Expect to see more turquoise in the coming year, Pantone has named it color of the year.

Above is an image of room 606.

TAG Heuer pulls out some heritage of their own with the re-issue of the Silverstone chronograph series. “The original Silverstone was launched in 1974. TAG Heuer will re-issue it in February 2010 featuring the automatic caliber 11 Chronomatic with micro-rotor by Dubois-Depraz.” 1860 units of each chronograph will be produced. Something your father would wear and so can you. (timezone)

More looks at the TAG Heuer Silverstone Chronograph after the click.

Notcot points us at the Hickoree’s Hard Goods Store where we discover this identifiable “#006 ‘Whiskey’ Eau de Toilette” fragrance for men. As they put it,  ”It is not a scent for every man – this is a powerfully masculine scent. Elegance, strength, and charisma describe this fragrance . . . a deep woodsy and amber fragrance with a surprising hint of spice that reveals itself over the hours . . . notes include vetiver, labdanum, vanilla, woods and fruit.” We love the packaging as well.

Made from mahogany burnished calf leather, the savoy shoes from England’s Loake offer another option in the best dressed shoe game. They’re finished with Goodyear welted leather soles. Loake has been in business making shoes since the 1880’s and clearly work with everything from proper trousers to denim. (cstore)

More looks at the Loake Savoy Mahogany Shoes after the click.

Wolf vs. Goat’s Mauro Farinelli  drops a new take on the duck pant for real work. “Of his new Dandy Work Pant—an alternative to your everyday chino—he says, “it’s sort of stylish, but still able to get down and dirty.” The durable 10 oz. duck canvas was sourced from North Carolina’s Cone Denim, and while the hard-wearing pants are a bit stiff at first, they’re nowhere near as tough to break in as raw jeans.” (valet)