Off The Shoulder

You may have guessed winter is not really a thing here. Nevertheless layers are always appropriate, no matter the climate.
With all that in-mind, on a recent walk through San Francisco's Mission (and with King Henry the Shiba Inu in-tow) I got a-layering. Everyone's been doing it, only now there's been a development. Namely the whole coat-off-the-shoulders thing (preferably camel - Celine or MaxMara) has become the ideal laissez-faire addition to any layered situation (which in my case also included a henley by emerging talent Handvaerk). 

Aside from the fact that Kimye are complete addicts (and might in-fact be partially responsible for a MaxMara revival), the off-the-shoulder look is legitimately great provided you actually manage to keep said coat on your shoulders (it can be a bit of a balancing act). Perhaps it's all about hating the concept of arms / sleeves in general? Thankfully any shoulder slippage can be negated, or better still remedied entirely by a good pair of reflective shades. But then again isn't everything? 

- Alexander Atkins, wearing Acne, Handvaerk, and L.G.R, photographed by Cara-Beth Rodgers in San Francisco.

Tommy Lei, Menswear Blogger

On a recent trip to Los Angeles I headed over to Melrose to catch-up with Tommy Lei, one of the city's leading bloggers.

My Belonging showcases Tommy's style - a blend California ease meets East Coast cool. His choices are consistently thoughtful, with a slight androgynous edge. While shooting we chatted about living in Los Angeles, blogging, coffee shops and his fascination with very expensive shoes.

"My Belonging initially began as a diary for me to document and instill meaning into my material possessions. I am all about worthwhile material investments - the blog was a visual tribute of sorts to my addiction. Since then it’s morphed into so much more! I love experiencing and wearing brands - both established and emerging. The blog has also opened up so many doors in terms of brand collaborations and befriending likeminded individuals. 

I'm attracted to a mixture of high and low. It all comes down to the overall aesthetic and quality. In terms of high I love classic and rare pieces by Balenciaga, Givenchy, Comme des Garçons, Alexander Wang, Phillip Lim and Yohji Yamamoto. On the flip side Zara, ASOS, Topman and H&M are my go-to, especially for trendy designer replicas and exclusive collaborations. My Balenciaga cutout buckle boots are literally my favorite 'hooves'! I call them that because of the galloping sound they make [laughs]! Initially I had my doubts about the fit and comfort but I’ve been enamored by them for so long. During NYFW I caved after seeing them at a brunch with Simon Doonan and called Barney’s to see if they were still in stock. They were.

One of my favorite pastimes is to explore every nook and cranny of this beautiful, expansive city. I'm always hanging at coffee shops like Coffee Tomo, Balconi Coffee, Lamill, Demitasse and Intelligentsia. I also love getting meditative by going on hikes and absorbing the breathtaking views of Runyon Canyon, Will Rogers State Park and Solstice Canyon in Malibu. [Laughs] I definitely don't wear Balenciaga on my hikes." 

- Tommy Lei, wearing Acne, ASOS, Armani Exchange, Tom Ford, Zara, Ted Baker and Balenciaga, photographed by Alexander Atkins in Los Angeles.

The Essentials: Fall Layering

It's mid-September (I know, how did that happen?) which means layering has now become everything. And thank god.
Perhaps we'd all do well by embracing some solid layering choices in our lives? (And on that note I hope by now it's blatantly obvious I dig a good casual layer moment.) There's something to be said for interchangeable pieces you can just grab and throw on whenever, wherever - with ease (which is always the point, or my point anyway). So with all that in-mind what better place to grab-and-go than the beach?

With the California coastline as a backdrop, Ai-Li Chiong-Martinson chatted with me about what she wears and how layering plays a huge part in any and every choice she makes. And how can it not? In-fact it seems layering is rarely far from the Seattle native's mind (which I'm guessing has a lot to do with those unexpected Northern-Pacific gusts and showers, you know?). "I generally prefer to keep things pretty comfortable and muted, but that might mostly be an innate nod to the crispy Seattle weather rather than aesthetic preference. Layering is my go-to. I take any number of simple items and transform their texture and shape to suit my needs." 
When chatting designers and influences Ai-Li is partial to anything Japanese, partly owed to her heritage. "I might be biased, but I love anything Rae Kawakubo, Kenzo Takada, Yohji Yamamoto and Junya Watanabe." In terms of inspiration Ai-Li pinpoints a few key people. "My mother, Yayoi Kusama, Alexa Chung, Pierre Bonnard and of course Audrey Hepburn (trite as that might be)."

When talking Seattle, Chiong-Martinson has a running list of awesome recommendations. "If you're looking for the best one-stop shopping experience (realistically for those without a budget, but also for wishful thinkers like myself) then you MUST stop by Totokaelo on Capitol Hill. The variety of designers and clothing that you'll find here can at times verge on tortuous, but it's 100% worth it. Just next door to Totokaelo is Elliot Bay Book Company, which is arguably the best bookstore in town. Seattle also has a few awesome and reasonably priced vintage haunts. I would say that Cairo on Capitol Hill is one of my favorites, but ultimately nothing compares to Georgetown's weekend Vintage Trailer Park Mall."  

- Ai-Li Chiong-Martinson, wearing an Acne leather jacket, Ann Demeulemeester top and Cutler & Gross shades, photographed by Alexander Atkins in Half Moon Bay, California.

Summer Layering: Forever 21 Edition

It's right around now that layering becomes a topic. I get it, we all love the sun - but there's nothing like that cool breeze.

You know; it's that slightly chilly (perhaps even goose bump-inducing) spell. A respite of sorts that will make you go: "it's definitely time to grab something and throw it on". I'm a huge proponent of the cold spell. BRING ON said spell - please. Not only do I do better in cooler weather (i.e. I can actually think again), it invariably means options - something everyone loves. You see, I believe that summer menswear must involve more than just shorts and tees. But I get it. It's easy to adopt an entirely myopic approach to summer shopping. And as the mercury continues to rise there really is nothing worse than sticking (quite literally) to your shirt - or even the awkward sensation of that lonely bead of sweat dribbling down your back (don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, because you do). But the point is, as with most things, think ahead. 

In the spirit of keeping things simple (life's short etc), I'm all for throwing a loose shirt over a graphic tee. It's about creating dimension. The graphic tee alone is fine, but the additional layer adds perspective and of-course interest (in a peek-a-boo kind of way). Thankfully Forever 21 has a plethora of graphic tees and shirts to choose from, which basically makes the whole light-layering concept super easy. So no excuses, get layering. 

Alexander Atkins, in Forever 21 (including this James Dean Tee), photographed by Camille Labat in San Francisco.    

*Click the arrows above to browse and shop a few of my favorite Forever 21 tees.

Dayne Arron Watai: The Vintage Tee

Let's be honest: a ripped-tee-and-Prada-shades weekend look is worth talking about. Really, what else are you doing?
So ok, you're probably going, "I'm beyond annoyed you're even suggesting ANYTHING weekend-related on a Tuesday". I get it (I do, really). It's like those people that open emails with 'Happy Monday'. (Seriously you guys, stop. 'Hi' is absolutely fine and Monday's are rarely 'happy'.) But despite all that (or in spite of it, your choice), there's no time like the present to be inspired. Besides, over here it's always about carpe-ing that diem. 

By now I'd like to think I've made my feelings known regarding Ziggy and Pink Hair. If not, well hello. I'm Alexander and I'm drawn to the whole rocker thing (on some level at least - who isn't?). I definitely have an appreciation, even if I'm not scouring eBay for vintage tees on my lunch break. There's something über-fascinating about being with a 'devotee' (aka addict) when they finally discover that one super beat-up (read held together by numerous safety pins) long-lost tee in a store and subsequently have zero qualms about its $500.00 price tag.

But back to the real point, which is: I'm into documenting how other people dress. Their subtle stylistic nuances, how they choose and put pieces together - it's everything. So when Dayne visited and decided to rock a seriously ripped Joy Division tee I most definitely was game. I like the high-low element. It's grunge meet glamour. For starters the tee obviously reminds me of my all-time favorite Joy Division song. As for the Prada sunglasses, well they're just exceptional (what else do you expect?). Together the whole thing conveys serious ease, becoming the perfect get-up to rock-out in.

Dayne Arron Watai, wearing a vintage Joy Division tee, Prada Sunglasses, T by Alexander Wang leather pants, Classic Doc Martens and a Degs and Sel skull bracelet. Photographed by Alexander Atkins in San Francisco.

While we were shooting I chatted with Dayne about style rules and influences to live by. Here's what he's thinking:

1. On what to where, when: "It's easy to decide what to wear here. The weather definitely plays a huge factor in my decisions. Then whatever color I feel like wearing."
2. On style influences: "Hedi Slimane and Willy Cartier. I also love Diane Boulenger and definitely am inspired by Fabien Baron. And of-course Cara."
3. On San Francisco: "I love the city. The food, the neighborhoods and the diversity. The bars. I love the shops in Hayes and on Haight Street - oh and obviously the coffee."
4. On Music, right now: "I've gotten into Walk the Moon - but specifically the song 'Ana Sun'. Also there's this YouTube channel. It's called 'MajecticCasual' with a ton of awesome tracks." 

RVCA Mapreader: His & Hers

I wouldn't describe myself as a 'hat person' per se. But somehow this past weekend rapdily became all about the hat.

Having made a fashion-YOLO pact a while back means I'm continually forcing myself to try new things (kind of like those annoying people who are on a bizarre mission to eat exclusively raw, vegan food 'just because' - no offense, but ugh). I've done the beanie thing (perhaps that's an understatement - here's the proof), and I'll usually wear a cap of some variety to the gym. But a full on H-A-T? No. That was until my friend Nicole showed up in her RVCA Mapreader last Friday. 

The thing is, she looks good. That's undeniable. There's a whole free-spirited lovechild vibe happening - and it's incredibly lovely, but not exactly me. Nevertheless (and with that YOLO spirit kicking-in) I grabbed, I crowned and conquered. Besides, the best part about trying other people's things (aside from zero commitment) is you might actually learn something about yourself. I suppose I learnt I no longer hate hats. In fact, I might begin to maybe consider buying a wide-brimmed Stetson at some point (if I'm going there, I'm going there). And there's a lot to be said for that.   

Alexander Atkins and Nicole Umatum, both wearing RVCA's Mapreader, in San Francisco.

*Click the arrows above to browse and shop this story.

Megan Mouren is The Cloudhunter

By now I'd say I've made my feelings clear regarding fantastically vibrant hair. Hairspiration is hairspiration - I'm all in.

Perhaps I'm compelled because I actually enjoy bright colours and tones - tis the season etc. But aside from that there's something refreshingly rare about seeing someone dye their hair several shades of highlighter (all at once) and still manage to look completely put-together. I mean, does a vintage blue plaid uniform circa Winona Ryder in 'Heathers' really pair with neon green tresses? Well, yes actually. It does. Here's how.

Megan Mouren (designer of Cloudhunter - who's Cali Roots reggae-inspired hair I covered here) is all about colour. Lot's of colour (Lucy, her pomeranian, wears a pink dress - just FYI). Now I know we've breached the whole DIY-dye job topic, but this time around the focus was on what to wear with neon hair. After all, hair is a big deal. It's a game-changer. I mean redheads are all about emerald green for a reason, right? With various Echo Park locations as backdrops, I shot and chatted with Megan about her love of the area. "I just love menu-exploring. You know? Discovering new restaurants is like an adventure. I'm all about the ones that use local produce. The quiet coffee shops - it's easy to feel like you're away from the city."  

In terms of inspiration it's clear there's a lot going on. "My spirit fashion animal is Gwen in the 90ies. Bianca Jagger is my favorite historical icon. Also, I loved Fran Drescher's outfits in 'The Nanny'. Right now Anna Della Russo is amazing. I'm into how she wears anything she wants, especially on her head. The watermelon, china dolls, eggs and disco balls were all pretty insane. Her stuffed lamb thing at Ungaro was super fun - I guess I'm just into her as a fashion individualist and all around super woman! Oh, and Sailor Moon obviously. Huge inspiration there."

With regards to menswear, Mouren is all about keeping things neat and tidy. "Having a polished gentleman around is a nice balance to my colourful, print-friendly style. You can tell a lot by a man's casual and loungewear - so great vintage tees and stylish sweats (think Alexander Wang) are a must."

  

Megan Mouren, wearing pieces from her vintage collection and jewelry by Camille K, photographed by 

Alexander Atkins in Los Angeles.

Play Time: Commes des Garçons x Converse

While news of a Commes des Garçons Play x Converse collaboration may be dated, isn't news still newsworthy if relevant?

For me nothing is more pertinent than easy day-in-day-out shoes. And while living in New York inherently means being on-the-go, these kicks, dear reader, are the ultimate go-to on-the-go shoes. I know you might really be feeling your Nike high-tops or current Lanvin suede sneakers, but recently I'm all about wearing my heart on my feet. Besides, these hearts have eyes (which means they're actually things) - how could I possibly resist?

Of course everyone did the regular Chucks thing throughout high school (I did the Miu Miu variation, they sadly died in grade twelve). But it was my St. Andrews landlord who really upped the ante wearing white converse paired with a classic steel Rolex (in a I'm-severely-aristocratic kind of way). Basically I dug it, and still do. 

So the point is; if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And if you really must do something, collaborate, and add some Japanese designer hearts. 

*Commes des Garçons Play x Converse are machine-washable (yay!) and available at Barneys. Click here  for details.