J. Crew is a machine eating up the market right now. Leaving most of their own production overseas, they bring home the “Made in the U.S.A.” gleam through local U.S.A. based partners. Tactical move and one that has been working for them. The Made in the U.S.A. New Balance 1400’s are another example of this work. “The New Balance for J. Crew collection features two unique colorways of the 1400 sneaker in premium suede, which were designed in tandem by J. Crew’s Head of Men’s Design, Frank Muytjens, and New Balance. The New Balance for J. Crew collection features domestically tanned leathers from premium Made-in-USA partners in an on-going effort to support local American manufacturers.” They’ll retail for $130 a pair through their normal channels.

More looks a the New Balance 1400 Sneakers for J.Crew after the click.

I’m still up in the air on this one. While it well could be a cardigan for women, the multi textile use has our Berlin bosses intrigued. “This is Cardigan Angora Wool, Rabbit Hair, Sheep Wool and, Silk Ribbon consists of various materials, such as Mix Knit.” Not sure where to find it but your gramps probably has one in the old closet.

More looks at the Harapos Reales Knit Cardigan after the click.

Groundbreaking in its analysis of contemporary Western European design, European Design Since 1985 focuses on the everyday. Objects surround us, they help us do most everything. And, designers help make them more functional. While not the central thesis of the exhibition, functionality is at its essence. Political tension, post modern ideals, and more also play a role in the narrative.

The final leg of the exhibition opens on October 9, 2010, at the Milwaukee Art Museum. It runs to January 9, 2011.

I saw European Design Since 1985 in its initial installation at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It is fantastic.

After the jump, you can watch a video – featuring my friend and graduate school classmate Melissa Buchanan – about the installation. (Some terrific images follow as well).

So, that other Monitaly jacket everyone’s raving about? Not up our alley. No offense to multicoloured stripe lovers out there, but it’s far too close to Joseph and the technicoloured dreamcoat for even our out-there tastes. We much prefer this Raglan jacket – although the zippers look like they’ll be fairly awkward to use on a day to day basis. But hey, who needs functionality when it looks good? #sarcasmalert

If there was a complaint we had about Outlier’s trouser offerings it would be this: they have few color options.

That has all changed, and the OG 4season pant now comes in army green, burgondy, and marine. They still function the same – repelling dirt, grime, water, and all other city scum. However, with color, they don’t have you blending in with the bad weather. Instead you standout. Which, when you are biking on dark winter days certainly isn’t a bad thing.

Patrik Ervell relaunched his e-commerce site the other day and here’s our pick of the bunch. It shouldn’t be a surprise to SL reader that it’s the most expensive piece on the site (what can we say? we’ve got champagne tastes) but it was the stand out piece from the catwalk show. If you’ve got the coins – and can deal with up to 3 weeks of waiting for it to be made for you – then it’s worth a go. (Patrik Ervell)

01. Turns out, America likes its chip bags to be seen and not heard

“Frito-Lay will be retiring the compostable Sun Chips bag, which became famous less for its Earth-friendliness than for the 95-decibel crunching sounds it made whenever it was touched. Created from a polymer material based on corn starch, the bags were cursed with a high glass transition temperature. Basically, all polymers have a rubbery state and a stiff state, and each type of polymer switches from floppy to crunchy at a different temperature. For the Sun Chips bags, that was, unfortunately, around normal room temp—so what was supposed to be flexible was constantly turning brittle. And loud. The weird thing: This flaw isn’t inherent to compostable chip bags. Boulder Canyon potato chips makes their version from a wood pulp polymer, which seems to avoid the problem.” (boing)

02. The Nine Best Sesame Street Guest Appearances

“Last week’s controversy about Katy Perry’s Sesame Street guest appearance reminded us that the show has a long history of working with celebrities. And while cleavage isn’t exactly what they’re looking for, Sesame Street’s producers have always embraced clever adult humor. We dug through the archives to find some of the smartest, funniest, and strangest celebrity appearances in Sesame Street history, from Richard Pryor to Ricky Gervais.” (good)

03. I would like to retain ‘fart in your general direction’ (above)

“In August of 1974, eight months prior to its cinema release, a preview screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail was attended by a member of the British Board of Film Classification: Tony Kerpel. A subsequent, post-screening chat between Kerpel and one of the film’s producers, Mark Forstater, resulted in Forstater sending the following painfully funny letter – essentially a short written summary of Kerpel’s advice – to fellow producer Michael White a few days later. It’s a joy to behold, and immediately brings to mind this far cruder effort from Matt Stone” (Lettersofnote)

04. A Trip To Grozny, Chechnya #recommended

“We thought it might be interesting to visit Grozny city of today and look how it has changed after the war. It turned out that the city was totally restored and it doesn’t remind much of the hard time it had to go through.” (englishrussia)

Burberry delivers some new colors of their chrono for the Autumn months. “Stainless steel case with a dark nickel plating and a dial featuring the Burberry Sport logo and chronograph, date and day function. The rubber buckle strap features the Burberry Sport logo.” Expect to drop $495 on this. Again, not for everyone, but if color is your thing this season, jump right on in.

More looks at the Burberry Round Burberry Sport Chronograph Watch after the click.

Don’t call them sweatpants but damn they’re roomy.  Check these Burkman Brothers pants. “The Hiker pant from the Burkman Brothers Fall 10 collection. A pair of mid-weight, fully lined cotton casual trousers with an elasticated waist and zip up hems, seen here in forest brown. These trousers are finished with a zip fly and drawstring as well as two hip and rear pockets.” Oki-ni has them.

More looks at the Burkman Brothers Hiker Pants after the click.