Have to give it to Givenchy for making materials work. This leather sleeved check shirt, part of their Autumn 2011 collection, looks pretty strong on this model in the Ssense shop. While I am not usually a fan of leather mashed with browns, the  pebbled nature of the leather sleeves seems to work incredibly well in this application. Made in Portugal for those that like to know that stuff.

More looks after the click.

NOWNESS visits the studio of acclaimed calligraphist, Nicolas Ouchenir, who has done work for the likes of Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Dior to name a few. The 33 years old Parisian has hand lettered invites for the top fashion houses for more than a decade. Many are sure to recognize the art and labor involved in doing calligraphy. Amazing work.

View the video on NOWNESS.

Squeezing this one in as it features two things I love: women and bicycles. Godbless.

Hell’s Belles is the first European Ladies Bike Polo tournament taking place in London, Oct. 15th and 16th 2011 at Newington Gardens, Harper Road SE1.

More at: http://www.lhbpa.org/hells-belles.

A big one for WSJ. Magazine. Their just released October issue focuses on the “state of man.” While Beckhan might be the best first choice for pulling in those eyeballs, the content inside looks to be more interesting with content that brings a more academic look into topics such as “Death of a Playboy” with its look at the death of the international playboy and one of the weirdest plays in the world of content-wrapped shopping pitting Leonardo Girombelli, fashion director of thecorner.com against Jeremy Langmead, editor in chief of mrporter.com in a battle to decide who actually knows best as to what men want. I hope someone has a serious answer, goddammit.

Read more from the October issue of WSJ. Magazine online.

The second in a run of  short films from the Pierre Balmain line previews their Spring Summer 2012 collection follows model Abbey Lee and , Our Mountain’s Matthew Hutchinson, throughout New York City. Inez and Vinoodh direct the fim shot through Manhattan. This one gives more focus to the menswear.

01. Flaming Lips release 24 hour song inside a human skull

“Speaking to O Music Awards about the project, Lips leader Wayne Coyne emphasised that ‘nothing that we’re doing is bizarre [debatable - Ed] or illegal, in parts of the world and even on eBay you can actually buy real human skulls. There’s a place in town [Oklahoma] that’s called Skulls Unlimited that’s been here for almost as long as The Flaming Lips have been here, and it sells human skulls.’ ” (fact)

02. Hairdresser tools from 1928 (above)

“These images come to us from our not-so-dim Seussian/Medusian hair-care past, even though they seem to be instruments for hard-line delivery of intelligence. The hairdresser’s tools were simple: pore openers, hair straighteners, hair curlers, heat setting heat setters, and the like. [The source is actually The Illustrated London News, 20 October 1928, page 720.]” (coudal>ptak)

03. Please ask Ike to bring Elvis back

“The following pleading letter is just one of thousands sent by desperate fans of Elvis Presley to the White House in the late-1950s, in an effort to have the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll returned to the United States from Germany, where he was posted with the U.S. Army. This particular missive was sent by a couple from Sacramento and was addressed to President Eisenhower’s wife, Mamie. Another example of such a request, written by some of Elvis’ younger fans, can be found here. ” (lettersofnote)