Highsnob points us at an excellent straw hat from Japan’s Wacko Maria. “Wacko Maria has produced an exclusive snake-skin embellished Panama hat for Tokyo retailer Blackflag. The hat comes in black straw with a dyed snake band in red or pink. Available starting Saturday, June 26, 2010″

Does your shirting need a summer sprucing?

Alexander West, New York’s maestro of custom shirts, has taken stock of an array of Thomas Mason gingham fabrics this summer. Bright colors, crisp and lightweight to book. Of course, Mason has some skill in producing ginghams, having produced high quality Italian shirting since 1796.

If that isn’t enough to sway, check out some samples from Alexander West’s summer offerings after the leap.

Two decent stories making their way out from the A.P.C. camp at the moment. The GQ Eye which is getting some excellent coverage from Paris via their mobile phone cam, has picked up a first look at the forthcoming A.P.C and Carhartt (EU) collaboration which should hit stores we assume sometime for Spring 2011.As well, the A.P.C. Journal site has launched. This is A.P.C’s official blog of sorts and you’ll get the expected dosing of the brand through that channel nicely. Feed it into an RSS reader while you’re at it.

Another look or two at the A.P.C. Carhartt Collection after the click.

Should you wish to learn more, my brother, Christopher, has written a full review of Sixpoint’s Dr. Klankenstein over at Timeout.

Here’s an exclusive look at the Mystery Jet’s new video for ‘Melt’. Taken from the album ‘Serotonin’, the album will be out July 13th on Rough Trade records.

In the words of Bubba Sparxxx – we’re really testing your random rap quote knowledge today – sales, sales, sales, sales, rocking everywhere. C Store are the latest to get in on it, with this super casual blazer being available at 79 euros. If we had to be picky we’d say the sleeves are a little long. But having said that, at 79 euros, a trip to the tailors shouldn’t be that much of a hassle. (C Store)

Take a leap to see detailed shots.

Context have taken stock of some new Gitman Vintage shirts for Fall/Winter 2010 (or Autumn/Winter if you’re a stubborn Brit) and, as you’d expect, they’re rather handsome. We’ve got a couple of patterned oxfords and a solid olive to show you and, while the patterns  are not for everyone, we’re quite the fans of them. Olive coloured shirts are surprisingly hard to find, so it’s good to see Context making one with the guys from Gitman. All shirts available on Context’s site.

Take a leap the other colourway.

Beau Colburn does Thursdays…

01. Isner beats Mahut in epic 11-hour match

“The first-round marathon took 11 hours, 5 minutes over three days, lasting so long it was suspended because of darkness — two nights in a row. Play resumed Thursday at 59-all before an overflow crowd on cozy Court 18 and continued for 20 games and 65 minutes before Isner won.”(espn)

02. Collective Nouns Illustrated (Above)

“Back in March we teamed up with the Owl and Lion gallery and the West Port Book Festival, challenging you to illustrate your choice of collective noun from the All-Sorts.org index. We were thrilled with the response. Artists and illustrators from all round the world expressed their interest.” (allsorts)

03. Wow: Original Pac-Man sketches shown by creator

“This is a true artifact of gaming history. The notebook of Toru Iwatani, creator of Pac-Man, complete with sketched-out pixel art, prototype mazes, and ghost movements. My god! Remember when you could sketch out an entire game on a page of graph paper?” (crunchgear)

04. Argentina’s Weird, Awesome “National Sport”

“El futbol might be Argentina’s national obsession, highest-profile export business, and, with Maradona in charge of the national team, most frequent cause of mass outrage. However, officially the country’s national sport is something else entirely: pato, a bizarre amalgam of polo, basketball, and soccer played on horseback. Soccer may rule the nation’s sporting passions, but pato enjoys honorary official-sport status.”
(good http://www.good.is/post/argentina-s-weird-awesome-national-sport/ )

WWD is on point with their take of the Dries Van Noten Spring 2011 collection. “The collection he showed on Thursday night was surprising. It intriguingly channeled skinhead style without resorting to too many punk clichés—only heavily bleach stained denim, and army boots with baggy shorts. His signature cardigans had intentional snags, and were fastened with leather straps. Van Noten interspersed these among more characteristic fare including elegantly tailored jackets, coats and fine shirts, sometimes in bland Seventies fabrics or with contrasting sleeves, both of which he’s been known to experiment with.”

More looks at the Dries Van Noten Spring 2011 collection after the click.

This collection was lighting up Twitter this afternoon. Adam Kimmel’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection comes out blazing with a collection of SoCal inspired looks. We have also confirmed what everyone expected. Kimmel’s people tell us the collection is indeed directly inspired by Snoop Dog. Hell yeah it is.

Some words of wisdom from Kimmel on the collection. “American heroes are abundant these days, but one of the most original artists of the last 30 years is Snoop Dogg. He has single handedly reshaped the English language and created a personal style that is its own animal. For my 2011 Spring Summer collection, I decided to go Doggy style. It’s Compton via Italy”

Many more looks from the Adam Kimmel Spring 2011 collection after the click.