Partners & Spade on Acting Small

Partners & Spade on Acting Small

On April 9,  PSFK held a Conference in New York that hosted 20 speakers who shared their ideas and thoughts on how to make tomorrow better in the world of art and advertising.  With topics such as Storytelling, Creative Refocus, Changemaking, and Disrupture, the conference appeared to have been a dream come true for those of us with marketing aspirations but with a ticket price of $350, it squarely put attendance out of reach for the masses. Fortunately, PSFK has made Andy Spade & Anthony Speduti of Partner & Spade presentation available for viewing and it is truly inspiring.

Partners & Spade created a compelling story around J. Crew’s men’s line by thinking small: they bought up the space formerly owned by the classic Liquor Store Bar in Tribeca and transformed it into a one-of-a-kind J. Crew Men’s Store, stocked with fine apparel, accoutrements, and even some carefully curate d artwork by NY artists. The store looks, feels, and acts like a true men’s boutique – a genuinely distinct experience created by presenting J. Crew not as a behemoth global brand, but as a company in touch with the local culture of the city, its tastes and its heritage. -PSFK

Red Jacket Clothing

Cubs

I'm really feeling these retro baseball jerseys from Red Jacket Clothing. Too bad they don't sell a retro Red Sox jersey or I would be all over it. 

Designing Minds: Andy Spade

Designing Minds interview Andy Spade

Watch. Learn. Repeat.

Date Night w/ N'East Style: Love Jones

Love Jones

Swing on over to N'East Style to see this week's Date Night pick, "Love Jones." Good movie. Great soundtrack.

Darius Lovehall: Part 1
Nina Mosley: Part 2

Dressing Avery: Let's Be Preppy

Let's Be Preppy

This week's Dressing Avery comes from Katie, a sophomore prep from the University of South Carolina, who is doing a wonderful job at Let's Be Preppy.  I especially love her Outfit of the Day series. I'm definitely taking notes for Avery in the future. Enjoy!

This outfit is all about an introduction to summer! The madras material is lightweight and comfy for kids of all sizes. The ruffle on the top is darling for little girls and will keep them cool at the same time. I love how the outfit also not one piece. That allows for other mixing and matching while all still going together very easily. I also love the baby sized Jack Rogers. They are adorable on adults, and even sweeter on little ones. Adding a touch of madras in a headband will keep the summery hair out of every little girls' eyes as well as polishing off a very cute little look!

CDW Kids

Penfield Campbell Shirt

Penfield Campbell

Penfield rolled out a few more shirts for their Spring/Summer 2010 Collection, but the one that caught my eye this time around is the Campbell. Made out of 100% cotton chambray with a zip up hood, the Campbell looks like it could be the perfect companion to the selvage denim you've been working on.

 Black

Super Powers Sold Separately

Superhero Secret Identity Kit

 Coming soon to Matt Singer's shop. And don't worry, your secret is safe with me.

Nautical Inspired Shirts

Saint James: Mister Freedom

As the weather becomes nice again, my thoughts quickly turn to the sea. For me, the sea is not only a vacation destination, but rather, it represents the timeless current of possibilities in one's life. And these possibilities are all marked with buoys to not only tell us where to go, but, to show us where we've been. So take time today to embrace your possibilities and be inspired by the Saint James nautical collection at J.Crew.

Saint James has been spinning some of the world's finest knits out of their Normandy, France-based factory since 1850, but they're most famous for their authentic Breton tee (originally part of the official French naval uniform, it is now to the French what chinos are to us—and it's been worn by style greats ranging from Andy Warhol and Picasso to the iconic Karl Lagerfeld). With its simple lines and classic design, it's a perennial spring favorite that's perfect layered or alone. Cotton. Crewneck. Long sleeves. Made in France.

J.Crew Saint James Hoodie

Date Night w/ N'East Style: The Thomas Crown Affair

 The Thomas Crown Affair

Check out our third installment of the Date Night series with Steve McQueen's classic, "The Thomas Crown Affair" at N'East Style.

Steve McQueen:  Part 1
Fay Dunaway:  Part 2

N'East Style Couple

MV 2007

Thanks N'East Style for picking the wife and I for your series on stylish couples. Tisha is 4 months pregnant with Alex in this picture on Vineyard Haven. Read the post here.

And the Winner of the LL Tote is...

the yuppie dilemma

After typing in the number of entries (35) at Random.org, the winner of the LL Bean Tote is #4. Congratulations the yuppie dilemma! Send me an email at Skipbrooks9@gmail.com with your address and your LL Bean Tote will on its way.

Thanks for entering and be on the look out for another Dressing Avery giveaway in the future.

Dressing Avery: N'East Style

N'East Style

This week's Dressing Avery comes from my partner in the Date Night series, "N'East Style." I knew we had a connection when I found out that she's from New England but what really compelled me to reach out to Christine was her post on Jaws. Jaws is probably one of my all-time favorite movies for both style and substance. I can watch it a million times and it never gets old.  So after seeing that post and getting to know her through email and twitter, the idea for a Date Night series began to take shape and I am well pleased by how it's turning out.  Here is Christine's New England inspiried outfit for Avery.

Land's End

Putting It All Together II - Head to Toe

Head to Toe

Martin + Osa Popover

Black J.Crew Tee

Levi's 501

Timex Classic Camper
Dark Pumpkin Watch Strap
LL Bean Bluchers (not seen)

Date Night w/ N'East Style: Sixteen Candles

Sixteen Candles

For our second film in the Date Night Series, we took James at Secret Forts suggestion and pulled together an outfit inspired by the classic 80s movie "Sixteen Candles." Head on over to N'East Style to check our our selections.

Jake Ryan: Part 1
Samantha Baker: Part 2

Dressing Avery: Laurie from LL Bean (Giveaway)

L.L. Bean

If you regularly read this blog, then you already know that I'm a huge L.L. Bean fan. From boots and totes to sweaters and sleds, we probably have more stuff from LL Bean in our house than any other company point blank. So you can only imagine the excitement that I felt when I saw Alex Grant on their Facebook page "Blogs We Love," for the first time. Fast forward to today, and I am happy to say that my love for LL Bean has only deepened since getting to know Senior PR Representative Laurie Brooks and other members on the team. Here is Laurie's outfit for Dressing Avery all courtesy of LL Bean.

Ping Pong

 Partners & Spade x K-Swiss

Although these sneakers are old news, my trip to Allentown, Pa. this weekend stirred up some memories of Partners & Spade's venture into world of ping pong. My wife's grandparents have a great ping pong table that they pull out for family outings but since its hasn't been used in a while, I offered to take it off their hands. I'm looking forward to years of great ping pong action at the Brooks household.

 Ping Pong Tournament at Partners & Spade

Dressing Avery: Chandra Hollier

Dwight and Clarke Hollier

A few weeks ago, I received an email from a reader, Chandra Hollier, that was like a breath of fresh air. I usually do not see many African Americans embracing preppy style so I was excited to read about her experience growing up prep in the south. Thank you Chandra for submitting your daughter Clarke Maren Hollier for the Dressing Avery series. Be sure to notice the Patchwork Madras on both siblings.

Q&A w/ Lumina Clothing Co.

Lumina Clothing Co.

Already getting some press on Sartorially Inclined and Off the Cuff, a brand that is surely making the rounds and leaving a good impression in the style blogoshere is Lumina Clothing Company. Selling hand-sewn ties made right in North Carolina, Lumina seeks to bring a touch of southern charm and class to an over-saturated market of tie makers. So when Lumina graciously reached out to me last month to check out a few of their ties, I decided to reach back with a few questions of my own to find out more about the company.

Packaging

Date Night w/ N'East Style: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Come read my new series with N'East Style, titled "Date Night," where we create styles inspired by great date movies. The first movie in our series is the classic Breakfast at Tiffany's. This is going to be fun.

George Peppard:  Part I

Audrey Hepburn:  Part II

Dressing Avery: Summer is a Verb

Summer is a Verb

As one of the first persons who placed me on her blogroll, I will always be in debt to Alice of Summer is a Verb, It felt as though I've been initiated into a special club when I saw Alex Grant on her Créme de la Créme list for the first time. So when I came up with the idea for Dressing Avery, Alice was the first person I thought of for a guest post.  As her interview in the New York Times suggest, she is an authority on all things prep so I know my daughter is in good hands. Enjoy!

Daddy again Skip Brooks at Alex Grant is running a series asking some of us female bloggers to pick an outfit for his so scrumptious you could eat her with a spoon daughter Avery. Well, hold on to your wallet Daddy and welcome to Babe's world...

I suggest Lilly right outta the gate, natch...

Soap Box Derby

Soap Box Derby

I always wanted to be in a Soap Box Derby. You don't see them around anymore but I think it's a classic American tradition that should be placed in the forefront. I'm not that handy with a hammer but I would love to put one together for my kids someday.

Much Ado About Moccing

Gucci Driving Mocs

I purchased a pair of Gucci Driving Mocs over 8 years ago for $100 in Boston and as you can see, they still look brand new. Why you may ask? Because I never wear them.

Dressing Avery: 2PreppyGirls

2PreppyGirls

When I initially asked for submissions for Dressing Avery, 2PreppyGirls was one of the first to respond to my request. This mother of two preppy girls, knows what it takes to run a blog and a business, all while keeping the little ladies in her life looking classic and preppy. And since Mother's Day is approaching, her Preppy Car Monogram Decals would make a wonderful gift so act fast!

,

Lilly Pultizer

Signature's Day Sailor Sweater

LL Bean Signature Day Sailor Sweater

L.L. Bean Signature has rolled out a few more items for the summer and one of the new arrivals that caught my eye is the Day Sailor Sweater. I think it's the navy trim on this nautical red sweater that draws me to this ultimate layering piece. And although the weather is heating up, this sweater will keep you warm when the temperature drops as it often does in the vineyard after sunset.

Instant Water Slide

Instant Water Slide

As the weather warmed up this weekend, I decided to finally put an idea into action that I had for some time now. If you read my previous post on Alex's 2nd Birthday (when I filled his swimming pool with plastic balls and placed it at the end of the sliding board), then you already know that I love the concept of sliding into a pool of something. Maybe it's a reminent from my favorite childhood game show Double Dare, but either way, Alex had a blast when I filled the pool with water and let him slide down into the fun.