Rose & Born S/S 2011

Rose & Born is always one of, if not the most, intriguing stores I talk about on Sart Inc because unless you are going to Stockholm anytime soon it's merely inspiration in its purest form.  But if we can't use the internet for inspiration then what the hell are we doing here? Besides the copious amounts of free pornography, of course.  So yeah, for those unaware, Rose & Born is a Stockholm based menswear destination that popped up on my radar thanks to some of the highest praise I have ever encountered for private label goods.  For a primer, peep this post from last summer.  That pretty much brings us up to speed.  Anyhow, the S/S 2011 collection is now available to view online and, as should be expected, it kills.  Like, murder in the first degree, put 'em on death row and let Snoop Dogg perform at the VMA's in a wheelchair.  Consider this another Sart Inc sponsored lesson in dressed up sportswear with all my favorite elements - soft shoulders, big boy lapels, double four-in-hands, washed denims, no socks, etc.  Buttery ass Mondays are in full effect despite the fact that this was obviously shot with an iPhone.

-L.A.S

[Editor's Note: As always, AKC had it first.]

A Fashionable Life: Brunello Cucinelli

Damn, Brunello has been getting some really great press lately.  I'm really into features that give you a little insight into the actual people behind the clothes, not just the clothes themselves.  Harper's Bazaar recently hooked up The Cucinelli family with one of their "A Fashionable Life" features and it's pretty solid.  My takeaway, his daughters, Carolina and Camilla, are straight babes.  Well done.

-L.A.S

Dream Team Follow Up

It's been a minute since we last checked in with the "Miami Heat of this menswear shit".  StyleCaster has us covered.  Read and see more here.



-L.A.S

Havaianas Presents: Michael Bastian

They first showed up in Michael's S/S 2011 show and now they are officially available for purchase.  Can I level with you for a second?  I don't wear flip flop.  But that's not to say they don't serve a distinct purpose.  If you are hanging out by a large body of water they are sure to come in handy.  So, if you are looking for some cool flip flops because you anticipate being near a large body of water sometime in the future, you could do a lot worse than the Havaianas and Michael Bastian collaborative joints.  Even better than the actual flip flops themselves, is the below video Havaianas put together with Michael.  When the man speaks, I listen.  You should too.



-L.A.S

Barena S/S 2011

Remember Barena?  Well, refresh yourself before you wreck yourself.  While not as strong as S/S 2010, in my humble opinion, S/S 2011 is more of that relaxed, easy Barena vibe that is quickly gaining fans across the wide world of menswear (see: Tres Bien jumping on the bandwagon).  Barena kinda gives me this Italian Engineered Garments vibe - great fabrics, loose tailoring, a focus on layering and a distinctive period or "costume" look (I do not mean that as an insult whatsoever).  Anyhow, I really dig how these looks meet somewhere in between the supremely dressed down nature of S/S and an overall gentlemanly put together-ness.  In fact, I think the "Barena look" is more accessible to the everyman than the much more dressed up "Pitti Uomo look" that looks to be somewhat of the next trend in internet driven menswear.

-L.A.S

"Five Ways Of The Summer Jacket"

Here is probably my favorite spread from The Big Black Book S/S 2011 because of how in line it is with my own soapbox sartorial nonsense.  I love me nothing more than an unconstructed, soft shoulder sportcoat for S/S and if you read Sart Inc you already know this.  Here, Esquire directs us to their five favorites, which, while expensive, are all worth their weight in gold and from brands I personally love.  At the end of the day, you are better off saving your money for that one perfect S/S sportcoat then spreading around your funds for a bunch of mediocre joints.  Shout out to Pesko!

-L.A.S

"Three Days In Solomeo"

Island life is overrated (just kidding) so it's back to the blogosphere (not kidding).  Did you grab Esquire's The Big Black Book for S/S 2011?  They absolutely killed it with one of their best editions yet.  In fact, a lot of the stuff and ideas featured this season are similar to what I've been pushing/preaching on Sart Inc.  It's for sure worth 1,000 of your finest pennies.  Anyhow, I am going to be featuring some of the best stories and spreads in case beer monies are tight around your parts.  Up first is 2011's front runner for outstanding menswear photojournalism.  "Three Days in Solomeo" follows the adventures of one Brunello Cucinelli, but is really more about the spirit of Solomeo, Italy.  For those unaware, Solomeo is Cucinelli HQ and his business is pretty much the town's entire economy.  Check out the scans below and take in all the beauty, both sartorial and otherwise.

-L.A.S