Billykirk sent over some looks at their “Made in the U.S.A.” felt hats for Autumn 2010. Three styles make up the collection: “The No. 241 Diamond Crown made with Charcoal Heather Felt/Black Grosgrain Ribbon, the No. 242 Boater made with Grey Heather Felt/Charcoal Grosgrain Ribbon, and the No. 243 English Walker made with Russet Heather Felt/Black Leather Hatband.” Wonderful looks from Billykirk.

More looks at the Billykirk Felt Hats for Autumn 2010 after the click.

Our friends at Cool Hunting highlight a great new read from Assouline on designer interiors. “While most of the interiors-obsessed turn to The Selby these days to sneak glimpses of the intriguing abodes of creative types, Assouline’s new book American Fashion Designers at Home proves that nothing quite beats the appeal of thumbing through pages of full-bleed photos to see their sources of inspiration and an unbuttoned look at how they live. Presenting the residences of over 100 of the most revered fashion designers (all members of the book’s collaborator Council of Fashion Designers), it includes Ralph Lauren’s Colorado ranch, Betsy Johnson’s NYC apartment, Oscar de la Renta’s Connecticut estate and more.”

Available now from Amazon.

Launching today (in about an hour), Sixpoint Crisp Lagers offers a new dimension to the output of Brooklyn’s best brewery. Sixpoint will kick-off the new line of beers with the “Sehr Crisp” Pilsner-style beer. “The formal, stated intention of the Crisp Lagers division is to create delicious, unique, bold and crisp lager beers by harnessing the natural qualities of the four classic beer ingredients – malt, hops, water and yeast. The name “Sixpoint” is already synonymous with well-crafted beers. The Crisp Lager line, in tandem with the Craft Ales portfolio, creates a wider and more dynamic range of Sixpoint beers to better serve the discerning palate and myriad of social situations.”

This will hopefully help uplift the lowly lager over time and begin to rid our nation of things like Pabst Blue Ribbon.

A solid grey always works – as does white and black. This duffle from the Chronicles of Never Autumn 2010’s “Black Noise White Rain” collection falls within these margins. “Single compartment bag with one zip line that details a ball toggle on zip. Made from cotton, this piece should be hand washed cool.” Oki-ni has them.

More looks at the Chronicles of Never “Impressionist” Duffle Bag in grey after the click.

I love these and I hope to see them outside of Japan. Highsnob reports in with news of some very special Moleskine notebooks for Peanut’s 60th anniversary. “Strictly black and white, the Peanuts limited edition series will come in two sizes, both plain and ruled page layout. Charlie Brown and Snoopy are given top billing on the silkscreen printed covers, whilst the anniversary logo is debossed on every notebook. The interior features illustrations of the characters with inspiring quotes, a set of stickers, and a family tree tracking all possible connections among the whole Peanuts gang, their love crushes, their likes and dislikes.”

More looks at the Moleskine for Peanuts 60th Anniversary Notebooks at Highsnob.

Another update from our friends on the “A Coastal Caravan” Tour of the beautiful West Coast passage.

We woke at the crack of dawn near Cape Meares Oregon to a foggy beach and a sea foam bath. Headed south en route to our favorite moccasin maker but not before we tried to find the Octopus Tree at end of the Crab Harbor Peninsula. Driving down the desolate dirt road flanked by water on both sides Nate (Bressler) asked  ²You guys sure about this?². Moments later we met face to face with an Army issue dump truck and no option but to back up our two-part 44 foot long rig the half mile to the gate that said “DO NOT ENTER.” We offered the MO a case of PBR to lighten the mood but he declined. ”You guys in a band?” Not quite We eventually backed up and found the Octopus Tree a few miles in the other direction.

Later down the drive we stopped at Dune City and took a minute to walk around and watch the dune buggies howling in the distance.

Finally in the late afternoon we reached our destination and picked up the 14 pairs moccasins our friend has been making for us. Got these here now next to me in the Airstream.

Not quite sure where we are right now, some where by Bullards Beach State Park I think, but we can hear the ocean, ready for sleep, and ready for a new day in California, in full of color.

More views from the One Trip Pass + Ace Hotel “A Coastal Caravan” after the click.

NPR worked a sad story on the closing of a U.S.A institution. “After selling cotton to textile factories for almost 150 years, the S.M. Whitney Co., run by descendants of cotton gin inventor Eli Whitney, is set to close… Whitney has just 190 bales of cotton left. At its peak, the company brokered deals for 80,000 bales annually. Whitney says he got a lot of business by talking with farmers…”

U.S.A. cotton just got much smaller. Audio available online as well.

The Selby (no surprise) has shot the Autumn 2010 campaign for Cole Haan – in wonderful style of course. There is no doubt he places the “mood” properly with every photo. Brooklyn and Portland (seemingly almost twins these days) are featured in the campaign. Take a look…

More photos from the Cole Haan Autumn 2010 campaign after the click.

Abita’s SOS aims to save Lousiana’s shores by supporting a good cause and delivering a delicious and charitable pilsner  -

Working with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board (LSPMB), Abita Beer announced that it has established ‘SOS – A Charitable Fund’ that will assist with the rescue and restoration of the environment, industry and individuals fighting to survive this disastrous oil spill.

The fund has pledged that 100% of all money raised will go to charity. In addition, the Louisiana Seafood Marketing Board will play an important role in advising where the money can do the most good. An advisory committee is being established as the donation process and grant procedures are finalized.

The centerpiece of the fundraising effort is a new charitable beer created by Abita. The brew, called SOS – A Charitable Pilsner, will generate 75¢ for every bottle sold. This Abita Beer is a message in a bottle…a distress signal for the troubled waters of our Gulf Coast. For every bottle sold Abita will donate 75¢ to the rescue and restoration of the environment, industry and individuals fighting to survive this disastrous oil spill. This unfiltered Weizen Pils is made with Pilsner and Wheat malts. It is hopped and dry hopped with Sterling and German Perle hops. It has a brilliant gold color, a sweet malt flavor, and a pleasant bitterness and aroma.

The brewery has launched a dedicated site, which is quite fun.

Esquire gives some love to a “meta” collaboration between the Florsheim by Duckie Brown collection and Brooks Brothers. It looks as though Brooks Brothers will be stocking some exclusive leather variants in wingtip form. “Built on the same last as the regular Florsheim by Duckies, the one on the left is shell cordovan in a handsome caramel and the one on the right are a light deerskin.” Nicely done for Spring 2011.