01. Jaime Hayón talks to Emma Elizabeth (Above)

“Emma Elizabeth arrives in Paris and visits her favorite haunts in Paris, before heading to the halls of Maison & Objet 2010. First stop is the NOW precinct to speak with Designer of the Year, Jaime Hayón!” (Yatzer).

02. Water Tower Transformed Into Minimalist Modern Home

“Chateau d’eau is a remarkable home made from a reclaimed water tower in the small town of Steenokkerzeel in Belgium. Interior design firm Bham Design Studio’s reinvention of the historic structure took a modernist turn by preserving the industrial construction of the original structure and playfully inserting sparse living elements inside. The tower contains six floors, each of which contains a fascinating live/work space. The renovation is intriguing, challenging and unexpected — a true stroke of design artistry.” (Inhabitant).

03. Sweatpants In Paradise: The Exciting World of Immersive Retail

“It is sometimes possible to define the depth of an experience by means of how radically it slows or hastens your sense of time. Swimming, fighting, nightmaring, enduring a migraine, having sex: these are all activities that move at exceptional rates. Shopping, too, and if you don’t believe me, just enter a mall before sundown and see how you feel a few hours later when you reemerge into darkness. Depending on your mien and mood, this reemergence will feel sharply good or bad. The shopping wormhole affects everyone differently.” (Believer Mag).

04. Equipment: The New Shape of Paring Knives

“People have been asking me to do a knife guide for quite some time. Don’t worry, I’ll get to the chef’s knives eventually. For now, let’s start with the second most important knife in the average chef’s arsenal: the paring knife.” (Serious Eats).

Nicola Formichetti drops photos from the forthcoming issue of Vogue Hommes Japan. Vol.5 features a plethora of male bodies and look for the boys and men. We share his looks from the “With Night Comes the Darkness” photo essay for your viewing pleasure. Vol. 5 hits stores on September 10th.

More looks from inside Vogue Hommes Japan Vol. 5 after the click.

This simple wrap shrug may be a good option for those looking to carry a garment that will both warm them and deserve some attention. “A soft cotton drape back, wrap around shrug in dark grey jersey with a soft cotton fleece lining. This piece is finished with raw edge details, two deep hip pockets and a leather drawstring tie at the neck.” US football fan: do you not see Belichick in this? Oki-ni has them.

More looks at the Rodger-NY Drape Back Wrap Shrug after the click.

Michael Williams gives an overview of a new (another) book on the subject of prep: True Prep. “When I first learned of the new book I instinctively cringed. Not to be pessimistic, but I just couldn’t see how anything could be as good as the original. Sort of like Wall Street II; the original is a classic and cannot be recreated. So why even try? Then one day this past spring I got invited to a press luncheon at Michael’s (a fancy N.Y. restaurant favored by media bigwigs) for the upcoming release of True Prep and needless to say I was intrigued…

Read Mr. William’s review on ACL.

Available now from Amazon.

We get incoming feedback from all ends here. Our staff in Berlin and London open our eyes (at times) to the simplicity in singular pieces. This bowtie from Dunhill found on the GQ UK site is one of them. “Dunhill’s silk knit rendering of the classic is the perfect finishing touch to any tux. So what prompted this sudden move to a more formal dress code? No, not the more outré looks of years past (yes Mickey Rourke, we’re talking to you) but rather a decision we should man up and make our annual awards as stylish as the magazine that makes them.” Dunhill’s white tux shirt works well as well.

Mensmentore collects the best images showcasing the Japan’s Kolor Autumn 2010 collection. In their words, it is a “collection that reflects an ‘light,’ where the head seems designed according to the fabric or material which will then be made. Simple shapes and deconstructed with knowledge and wisdom.” Well put. The Corner has most of the collection in stock now.

More looks at the Kolor Autumn/Winter 2010 collection after the click.

Staying New York centric this morning, as this exhibition announcement is too good to ignore.

For the first time in 80 years, Alfred Stieglitz’s photographs of New York City will be brought together in a single installation at the Seaport Museum. Alfred Stieglitz New York is organized in three galleries, each representing a stage of the photographers artistic life. The Bee has a full review, which I recommend for the history lesson.

The above image shows both “Two Towers – New York” and “City of Ambition.”

“This exceptional book showcases the most beautiful creations of the House through more than eight hundred photographs. Many incredible pieces are featured here, along with the equally incredible stories of their creation. Available from October 2010.”

Pre-order Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks at Amazon.