//Acrimony

I’m sure you’ve all read through the reviews and critiques of men’s fashion week in Paris. So instead of reiterating an “expert” opinion and re-posting crappy versions of style.com photos, here are some photos to peruse for a more intimate perspective on Paris fashion week.

Like most Americans to arrive in Paris, I want an immediate taste of Parisian culture. So I head straight for a cafe where I order a Fanta and a baguette (yea, painfully American). A stroll down St. Honore, a squat on the steps, window shopping at Collete and Goyard, and watching hot french girls smoke ciggies. This is Paris.

Headed to the Walter Van Beirendonck show with J.P. Pleased to see lots of plaid and lots of red lipstick on the burly burly burly men. P.S. it’s incredibly difficult to take a good photo at a fashion show. There are so many lights, if you’re not in this press pile, I don’t think it’s possible…

Super stoked for new brands and new digz for the shop.

An exhibition at Tranoi featuring some amazing designers, showcasing special product in super limited quantities, suspended from the ceiling in a dark room. Each item had its own iPad with a description of the piece and the quantity available. To name a few, the Odyn Vovk shark skin jacket we mentioned ($4000), and a Sruli Recht carbon dater ($1200), a black-diamond tipped carbon pen for writing or illustrating on glass. HOLY SHIT.

The Spring 2011 Odyn Vovk collection is by far the best he’s ever done. Showcased in a beautiful Paris apartment, Austin and Christina were totally slammed when I walked in. Blackbird, Bonnie & Clyde, Daad Dantoni, Acrimony and 2 other Japanese clients were all there at once. Good for business, eh?

Then off to The Viridi-anne presentation in an old Parisian castle. I think. It had a winding staircase and smelled of old royalty and servants’ sweat, so I can only assume it was a castle. The presentation was amazing, but we did catch the models checking their phones AND drinking the free wine. Pwah!

Then for an adventure in trying to eat dinner. During fashion week, there’s never time to eat. It’s always one place to the next with very little time in between. It was 10pm before we finally could grab a bite. They stuck us Americans in the back, but we had a good dinner anyway.

No, I didn’t eat with the models from The Viridi-anne, although they could pass. That’s Kaya from Six Scents, Austin from Odyn Vovk, Brett from Unholy Matrimony, Jona and “Jersey” from In Aisce.

Side note: Kaya had a preview of the 3rd edition of the Six Scents collaboration. Juun J and Rad Hourani are amongst the collaborators. I won’t say what the Rad scent resembles. I really hope they make some changes to it, I’m not sure who would want to smell like “that” purposefully…

Side note #2: While on my way to the Damir Doma showroom, I run into Jona on the street. His show space is on the same block, so I pop in. GUESS WHO’S THERE? The boys from Julius. And guess who’s wearing her Julius bag? YES! They are adorable and so friendly, and they run with a crew of long haired Japanese guys. They and Jona seem to be tight.

And THAT, was all in 1 day.

Guess who made it into the second edition of eat.shop’s brand new and super selective list of things that you must visit in San Francisco? Acrimony has been recognized by Kaie Wellman and her team of verbally-inclined eaters, drinkers, and shoppers as a fashion destination in the Bay Area! We’ll be receiving a store copy soon for you guys to flip through, but don’t forget that it’s a great gift for friends who are visiting. Don’t forget to check out their other guides, too!

The first day of summer has officially arrived!  As the days lengthen, so does the time spent planning travel. We love hearing about where you’re going while you peruse the racks for something Acrimony-esque to take with you. 

Grab your passport as Acrimony goes worldwide (from our computer, that is).

The MAKR Farm Bag is the perfect carry-all for the airport, to the beach, or walking through the bazaars of India.

Seneca Rising’s Kensie deep V-neck tee will keep you cool with its mesh detailing as you hike through the rain forests of Costa Rica.

Italian Super’s popular Flat Top in Safari will keep you stylish.  When in Rome, do as the Romans.

Grab a baguette, some cheese, wine and have a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower in Laeken’s sexy Tunis top.  Made with cupro, it wears like cotton but feels like silk to the touch.

Funktional’s double zip shorts are comfortable and perfect for that tuk tuk drive around Phuket.

VPL’s Stripe Bra is perfect for backpacking in Spain.  Wear underneath a tee during the day, and over a dress at night…

Sail across the Netherlands in Gitman Brother’s short-sleeve Purple Plaid button down.  The colors scream summer, and definitely make you the most well dressed man on the boat.

And cruise around Tokyo with Hyden Yoo’s Derby shorts.  Cuff them high for super short shorts (that’s how they wear them in Japan). Paired with some plimsoles, you’re ready to shop Omotesando.

Whatever your summer travel plans are, don’t forget to pack appropriately!  You don’t want to be stuck wearing your wool jacket in Tanzania, come on now. Really.

We’re glad to hear that dad has stopped wearing baggy jeans on the weekends. We’re even happier to know that dad has donated all his logo-encrusted sweatshirts they hand out at the company retreat to charity. But those ill-fitting chinos that button somewhere near his belly button and with two enormous pleats at the waist have just got to go. Introduce him to Wings + Horns West Point chinos and he’ll never look back, we promise.

With a darted waistband for a comfortable fit, a wooden button-fly front, two front pockets, two back pockets, and a flattering taper to the leg, we wouldn’t be surprised if you’ll have to start telling dad that he has to start wearing something else. Luckily for him (and you) these are also available in navy and olive. Give it a week and he’ll ask you what a khaki-colored parachute is doing in the laundry hamper.

The Acrimony family recently made an outing to Los Angeles for some buying, some eating, and some overall ridiculousness. We took lots of photos (tourist-status amounts of photos) so prepare for the onslaught.

Our story begins in the San Francisco Airport. Jenny, in her infinite wisdom, decided to wear her brand new Ann Demeulemeester sandals with a total of 16 (count ‘em!) buckles on each foot that she had to undo and redo to get through airport security.

As we walked to pick up our rental, Jenny jinxed us by hoping that we didn’t get some lame blue or red car. Behold! Our azure blue convertible Mustang. And no, two girls and a guy riding around in this thing most definitely does not constitute a subtle entrance.

Our first stop of the day was lunch at Bar-B Kosher, where the pita is thick and the baba ghanoush is endless. Marcus was far too busy paying attention to his sandwich to notice Jenny snapping a photo.

Sharon was much more on guard.

The object of our affections. Flaky baguette bread, Israeli salad, delicious meats, and tahini for some tang.

Did we mention their completely insane jalapeño/garlic/everything tasty sauce? You could slather this on a burnt tire and we’d probably eat it.

Finally, getting some work done…or something. We checked out new styles of SUPER sunglasses but Sharon was particularly drawn to these over-sized Ksubis that were also on display.

It was great to see a lot of designers, craftsmen, and even candlemakers embracing the spirit of recycling. These bad boys are made from antique tin cans using soy wax and have no metal wicks (which are bad for you). Marcus got a little nostalgic for some Necco wafers when he saw these.

Perennial Acrimony favorite Bliss Lau is — hold your breath — designing bags. Chains, straps, and hardware as far as the eye can see. And you can bet that we’re going to be doing a more thorough preview of these for you guys later.

Los Angeles Boulevard is the place for suits. Buy one suit get two more, two shirts, and two ties for free? Also, it’s the place to have old men invite you into their suit stores in a slightly creepy manner.

You can’t tell so well from this picture but this poodle was dyed green and purple. He was also totally enjoying his car ride.

As much as we love the galleries in SF, LA has a certain attitude to their art scene.

Making our way down the very quiet walkway to hidden LA fashion oasis Sartorialoft. If you’re a dude as addicted to drape and leather and super soft fabrics as Marcus is, make sure you stop by if you’re in LA.

And just a few blocks away, friend-of-the-store Austin was hard at work on Odyn Vovk spring 2011 collection. Also, Austin was one of ten designers selected to show at this year’s Tranoi tradeshow in Paris. Jenny gives the sharkskin (as in skin from a shark!) that Austin’s going to use in his presentation a good feel.

Jackets, tanks, and jeans as far as the eye could see fill up Austin’s showroom. Marcus checks out the detailing on a leather jacket and we’re super excited to see the full collection in New York later. Austin’s showroom isn’t always open, so call ahead if you want a chance to check out his wares and the awesome taxidermy that fills up his workspace.

After a hard day of work touching and squealing over cute new clothes and accessories, we took a much deserved break at LA’s patisserie extraordinaire, Bottega Louie. Sharon got a super tasty pain au chocolat, Jenny scarfed down a Bavarian pretzel as big as her head, but Marcus opted for a fruit “tart” with caramel, which was just a really poor excuse to eat a lot of caramel.

Grapefruit soda? Bananas. I mean, grapefruit.

This was pretty much how all of our windblown hair looked throughout the day. It was like Farrah Fawcett meets Bruce Lee.

And, of course, our flight back was delayed. Our solution? Time travel. Wait, no, we mean beer. Lots of beer. And a 20-point lead by the Lakers in the first quarter? A fitting end for an LA misadventure.

There’s only so far a wallet and some pant pockets will get you. The MAKR Button Tote is ideal for the dad who has found himself running out of cargo real estate but realizes that messenger bags are meant for messengers and that he hasn’t owned a backpack since he finished college. Sturdy black canvas makes this tote tough and durable while the super plush cowhide adds a sophisticated touch. Need to drag around a heavy load? Button the carry straps down and sling it over your shoulder. Need to just carry a few things? Button the tote straps down and comfortably carry it. And he can stop fishing around his pocket for his keys; MAKR has him covered with an internal snap hook. Remember: dads need bags, not purses.

A little sneak peek of the amazing editorial shoot we did last night. Between an amazing location, a great photographer, make-up and hair genius and the stars being perfectly aligned, we were having trouble taking a BAD photo. Get ready to see a lot more photos in a pretty package.

Photography: Cody R. (Ras Image)
Hair/Make-Up: Alpha B. (Sweet Fuss)
Models: Brianna O. & Sebastian R.
Awesomeness: Jenny C. & Marcus L.

If your dad isn’t the most conscientious person when it comes to clothing care (does he actually know where the care tag is?), there’s no reason why he can’t enjoy some great jeans. And with Nom de Guerre’s Classic Jean in a beautiful naturally-dyed indigo, he’ll be joining the ranks of men like Marlon Brando and James Dean who knew that all you ever really need to look good is a great pair of jeans.

For dads who aren’t in the know, Nom de Guerre only uses Japanese selvedge denim: a form of denim that has to be woven by hand on shuttle looms, that has no weak unfinished edge, and is nicer, tougher, and all around more interesting than the generic fabric that other methods produce. Dyed with real indigo (instead of synthetic dyes), these jeans can handle just about any abuse you can dish out and will fade beautifully over time. This means that about the time that dad finishes restoring that muscle car, his jeans will be just as good-looking.

For all the hubbub that we’ve been making about our dads, let’s not forget that our dads have dads of their own. We’d bet even money that grandpa was the one who fixed your dad’s tie and taught him exactly how to fold his pocket square just so. And while you’re gifting for dad, you might want to pick up one of Gentry’s beautifully crafted sets of gentleman’s accoutrement. (Isn’t that just the most fun word ever?)

Each set comes in a hardwood box and contains one tie, a tie bar for day, a tie pin for night, a pocket square, and a collar clip. And in case you aren’t very well-versed in traditional men’s accessories (though we’re sure grandpa knows his way around a Windsor knot or two), Gentry has even included a fantastic guide including how to tie different knots, how to fold your pocket square, and the proper etiquette involving tie accessories. These boxed sets are available in limited quantities, so if you want to snag one come in, give us a call, or shoot us an e-mail.

The Cantwell in Tan Check. Cotton/wool blend tie, silver plated brass jewelry with spherical chrome details. $265

The Cantwell in Navy Plaid. Cotton/wool blend tie, silver plated brass jewelry with spherical chrome details. $265

The Jordan in Metal Linen. Linen blend tie, silver plated brass jewelry with pyramidal stud detailing. $265

The Jordan in Broad Stripe. Cotton blend tie, silver plated brass jewelry with pyramidal stud detailing. $265

The Santiago in Slate Linen. Linen tie, antique brass and antique silver finished jewelry with pyramidal serpentine detailing. $265

The Santiago in Natural Linen. Linen tie, antique brass and antique silver finished jewelry with pyramidal serpentine detailing. $265

Remember when “Top Gun” came out? Remember how everyone fell over themselves to buy a pair of Ray-Ban aviators. Chances are your dad has considered aviators at some point, but we’ve got something better. Instead of letting dad look like every other person on the street with their flimsy metal frames, upgrade him to the Veronique Branquinho leather wrapped aviators produced by famed eyewear company Linda Farrow. Like all Linda Farrow sunglasses, these feature excellent Japanese production, lenses that meet the highest UV protection standards, and a look that’s equal parts classic and modern. Brown leather covers the front of the frame and the arms for a luxe look that will make sure dad looks like a “Maverick” who follows his own rules. Or maybe just that he has really great taste in sunglasses.

For today’s gift idea, we wanted to make a heart-felt plea to every dad stuck in a white poplin shirt and tie: you know we love you and appreciate how hard you work, but you just have to cut loose every now and then. That’s why this plaid shirt from Gitman Bros. Vintage is the perfect way to help your ultra-buttoned-up father learn how to kick back a bit. Made with the same single-needle tailoring and flattering slim fit that he expects out of his dress shirts, this casual button down is anything but stuffy. A rich navy, red, and gray plaid makes it a shirt that dad will love, but we warn you — the kids may try to steal this one out of his closet. And if you think he won’t like this color, check out our other Gitman shirts.

Dad may love his ancient sweat pants — the ones he wears around the house and even outside every now and then — but mom and the kids are probably mortified whenever he struts his stuff in them. No worries, we’ll help wean your father off of his bad habits with Hyden Yoo’s Bristol shorts. With a smartly casual cut to them, they’ll be the most stylish sweats he’ll ever lay his eyes on, but they’re made out of super soft cotton terry, so dad won’t be able to complain that they aren’t as comfortable as his old sweats. And if you need to convince your father to with his beloved old pants, might we suggest recycling them into some threads for Fido or even a small little gift for mom.

Father’s Day is one of our favorite holidays (but don’t tell Mother’s Day we said that), because we get to find cool presents and give our dad’s a big hug. So to make sure that every father gets what he wants and that you get a happy father, we’re counting down some of our favorite gift ideas in store right now. Everything is available instore and online, so you can either come by and have us box it up for you or click and have it mailed to dad all wrapped up already!

For today, we have to ask: is your Dad prone to losing his coins? His cards? His cash? His keys? We’ve got him covered with MAKR’s zip wallet. Made out of cow hide that’s been tanned to resemble a supple deerskin, it has two outside pockets for quick access to IDs or tickets and a roomy zippered pocket for cash, coins, and anything else that’s been falling out of his old cardholder. You know…before it’s too late.

If today is any indication of how the summer is going to be, you Acrimony shoppers are going to be in big trouble. Sunshine and hot weather make us laaaaazzzzzy and force us to drink pear cider on the job. We’ve turned the lights down to keep you cool, but the cider seems to be keeping it pretty freakin warm in here.

Remind everyone about all the awesome things coming up soon:

• Updating the webstore with VPL tops, Lady Grey pieces, and Made Her Think jewels
• Previews for fall (yes, it’s that time of year already!)
• A week’s worth of awesome posts dedicated to one of our favorite people in the world
• A magazine-slash-mailer-slash-editorial-customer-only perk full of gorgeous pictures and cool things

The last pieces from Made Her Think’s spring 2010 collection have finally arrived at the store and they have definitely been worth the wait. Rich, lustrous metals and devilish curves put a cap to a great season from Meredith Kahn. Items to be posted soon to the webstore.

Double Chain Ring in oxidized silver ($138)

What would otherwise be a pair of cutesy rings gets a smart update in deep, oxidized silver and are linked together with a similarly treated pair of chain links. Let the chains dangle from your hand or twist the rings for a simple, but graphic look.

Serpent rings in silver ($138) and black rhodium ($173)

A triple looped ring wraps around your finger for a faux-stacked look. Grab the silver version for a brilliant shine or indulge in your dark side with the deep black rhodium. These rings are sized, but the loop construction gives them a bit of wiggle room.

Claw tusk studs in rose gold with smoky quartz ($391) and in oxidized silver with white topaz ($382)

Meredith’s penchant for combining the luxe, the romantic, and the wild comes together beautifully in these studs.  The backwards-curving tusks form the backing for a stark contrast against the delicate stone setting. We only have one of each, so if you’re as madly in love with these as we are, you better call or e-mail us right away.

Vancouver has been commonly compared to San Francisco. The fresh air, the landscape, the overall feeling, the culture. My most recent trip didn’t feel much like SF, but I’m biased and will never think any city is as wonderful as the city by the Bay. However, it’s definitely worth visiting and spending some time. I wish I had read a mini guide, or had a local show me around (eh hem thanks, Rob). So hopefully this short list will help you spend your time wisely. Keep in mind, this is just a mini guide, more so, it’s just a list of what I did while in Vancouver (I like to call that a guide). A guide for 2 days in the city, filled with eating, shopping, drinking and walking. Indulge and enjoy.

You can do a lot in the main areas: Yaletown, Gastown, Chinatown and Robson, which we very quickly found out are all within walking distance. So getting into a cab to go 2 blocks is really stupid.

Blood Alley, supposedly called so because they used to murder/strangulate people here, is a short alley in Gastown where you’ll find a really cool restaurant called SALT. The wait is long, but the wine and cheese selection is great. You also might partake in the luxury of sitting by the window where crazy street people bang on the glass while you’re trying to eat. It’s all part of the experience.

Also in Blood Alley, behind a huge stack of garbage bags, was a store called Haven. What a cool, secret find. Head Porter, CP Company, Acronym, Bedwin, Maiden Noir, and a bunch of other Japan exclusive brands. They had the $1100 Acronym jacket that I’ve never actually seen in person.

Down the street was Inventory, the magazine turned retail shop. Didn’t get a chance to peep that but you should.

Not but a block away is another restaurant with AMAZING drinks and small plates, called The Diamond. It’s totally hidden, so don’t miss it. Eat and drink here before you go out. The pork belly sub sandwich, the gyoza, the beet salad and the cucumber drink were my favorites.

Still in Gastown is Roden Grey. A great men’s store with W+H, Gitman, CdG, etc. Across the street was a new store that just opened called Union (*something something). OMG. We need this shop in SF. Woodsy housewares and curious finds, all nicely packed together in a big open space with a resident bulldog. Bulldog? I don’t know, some sort of cute dog. We bought candles and tree bark. I want to desperately go back, and since I can’t remember the name of the shop, I can’t find the website and I also can’t find the address. Hmph.

More drinks? Stop at Pourhouse on Water St. This place has live music (unassuming Asians that sing and play keyboard) and a nice, easy way about it. Booths and bottles of wine, my kinda place. Then off to Keefer Bar in Chinatown. Strange Asian-inspired drinks in a cool dark space. Chinatown was like many other Chinatowns in big cities, a place for up and coming lounges. We also saw Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson there. They live above this bar, for you Owen/Woody stalkers…

Late morning breakfast is a MUST at Medina Cafe in Yaletown. The wait was super long but the food was worth it. Small Belgium waffles with caramel raspberry sauce. Order lots of mimosas because the food takes forever. But everyone seems to wait patiently, including us.

Go see a show at the Malkin Bowl, an outdoor concert venue in Stanley Park. The park is beautiful, the venue is OK, but there’s no booze allowed by the stage area. Watching a concert while eating popcorn and drinking a Chai latte is somehow not the same. But still good. You should do it.

And finally, go to GUU afterhours for terrible sake and really good Japanese small plates.

Vancouver is awesome, eh.

Sorry to keep you guys holding our breath for so long, but we’ve very happy to announce that Lady Grey has arrived at Acrimony. We haven’t gotten a chance to add these to the webstore yet, so if you have a hankering for some pyrite and silver, just call or e-mail us directly.

Pyrite Dash Ring, $138

An open loop gunmetal ring branches out into a bar with a crushed pyrite inlay: a ring full of fool’s gold is way better than a fistful of dollars.

Grid Ring, $138

Decadently decayed, this cast ring made from oxidized silver feels delicate but can toughen up any look.

Pyrite Pendulum Necklace, $253

Four brass arms form a makeshift cage for a single, large piece of pyrite. Chain is unevenly treated for a one-of-a-kind patina.

Mink bone rings, $81 each

Cast from actual bones in silver, oxidized silver, and bronze, these rings are perfect for single wear if you want something wickedly dainty, spread across your hands in a glittering display, or irregularly stacked on one finger.

Triple Hexagon Ring, $161

One of our personal favorites from this collection (don’t be surprised if you see the Acrimony staff sporting these!), this silver ring utilizes smart geometry for a shape somewhere between medieval armor and an anatomic knuckle.

Facet Point Ring, $196

Oxidized silver meets rough-hewn geometry for a shape that’s distinctly Lady Grey. Wear it by itself for a real statement or couple it with the rings you already own to add texture, depth, and color.

The Acrimony x MAKR exclusive cordovan wallet is back in stock (but just barely). We received two but one of these guys already got snatched up, so if you want to be one of three lucky owners in the world, call us or e-mail us right away before it disappears!