The Reference Council

The Artists Behind The Beastie Boys Album Covers

Calum — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:29:24 +0000

Continuing with the Beastie Boys theme (it’s not even a theme, just a coincidence that they’re getting mentioned in two posts today) is this feature on those behind the artwork for much of the group’s acclaimed output. Juxtapoz Magazine caught up with each dude responsible and got their thoughts on the work and such like. Watch the video at the link, I guess?

Linkage.

Dickies EU Spring Summer 13 Lookbook

Calum — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:22:38 +0000

Shouts to Dickies for releasing their lookbook at an appropriate time. I swear brands are so eager to undercut each other and get some shine that I’ll probably be receiving some Autumn Winter ’17 stuff in my inbox next week. What Dickies have done makes total sense, because I just looked outside and it is summer and it’s definitely only 2013. This lookbook comes from the European streetwear collection; a more targeted line which still maintains the same levels of hard-wearing sturdiness and workwear informed aesthetics as all other Dickies lines. Unsurprisingly, it is a lookbook completely free of pseudo avant-garde pretence and sticks to doing basic, good looking stuff with a genuinely believable backdrop. It’s no nonsense and looks all the more cool for it.

Shop the lookbook here.

X-Large OG Gorilla T-shirt

Calum — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:19:10 +0000

There’s a whole host of brands I missed out on because I was born too late, or spent too much of my formative clothing obsession addled years pretending I was Glasgow’s answer to Danny Dyer. X-Large falls into the former category. It sits alongside the likes of PERVERT and Pegleg NYC that I only came to appreciate long after they were no more or near impossible to attain. So, I guess the re-emergence of X-Large is an opportunity for those over on these shores who missed out first time round to get in on one of the most influential streetwear brands of the early 90s and for the older-heads to relive those halcyon days. Originally started in 1991 Beastie Boys member Mike D operating at a partner, the brand carved its niche through tees such as this. Before a Bathing Ape in Lukewarm Water had even been formed, never mind shortening their name, X-Large were the main proponents of ape imagery on t-shirts. While the UK re-launch of this brand will resonate with many who owner their gear, the quality of the design will garner fans from far beyond that caveat of consumers. Simply put, this is a dope tee.

Buy it here.

The Juvet Landscape Hotel

Calum — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:30:28 +0000

“Architectural firm Jensen & Skodvin have completed what could be the world’s very first ‘landscape hotel,’ designed to focus on the outside environment instead of the inside. Located in Norway, The Juvet Landscape Hotel is based on the idea that a structure should blend into its surrounding environment, offering amenities that are oriented outwards towards the surrounding nature.” This is some cool shit. I want to stay here, possibly forever, because the views look pretty damn nice. For such a simple idea, I was actually surprised that it hadn’t been done before.

Check out more pictures here.

Converse Auckland Racer Size? Worldwide Exclusive

Calum — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:17:32 +0000

These look thoroughly un-Converse, but great nonetheless. The Converse Auckland Racer was first released in the 1970s in commemoration of Arthur Lydiard who first kicked of the jogging craze in Auckland, Australia some ten years earlier. Jogging was actually invented in order to stop middle aged businessmen from becoming fat. There’s an interesting titbit for you, running-nerds. I didn’t actually know about the origins of jogging either until I read the Size? press release, but they’re paid to come up with cool stuff like that. A world exclusive release, Size have taken this understated runner and applied two vintage running inspired colourways. Utilising a mix of premium nappy suede and breathable mesh throughout, the shoe’s simple profile is accented perfectly with a vintage coloured midsole and stitched Star Chevron branding that stands out from the upper.

The size? worldwide exclusive Converse Auckland Racer will be available in runner yellow/gold/white and bijou blue/white/neon yellow from all size? stores and online in sizes 6-11 (UK) on Friday 24th May, priced at £60/75€.

Foodology

Calum — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:10:17 +0000

We’ve posted waaaaaay too many shoes recently. So here’s a post to compensate for our shallow ways. It’s pretty arty and stuff, I guess, so you might like it. Then again, you might think we’re trying to hard to seem cultured (we kind of are, we prefer footwear) and should revert to talking about free run soles and mesh uppers. If so, fuck you! Here’s some ying to our yang so that we still get invited to cool art parties where we can blag free booze.

Oh, this is food mixed with graphic design, by the way. It looks cool, in my opinion.

Check it out at itsnicethat.

Collective Noun AW13 Lookbook

Calum — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:54:46 +0000

We get inundated with a lot of new brands wanting us to push their product. It can, at times, feel like an endless myriad of bland button downs and terrible graphic tees. Every once in a while, however, a relatively small brand will catch our eye. That’s not to say we are tastemakers, influencers or even qualified to judge someone’s endeavours, we just know what we like. Collective Noun, a brand still in its formative years, is one that we like. The London based outfit is one of the few brands who have came correct both in terms of producing a lookbook which creates genuine intrigue and a collection which has avoided the pitfall of being a bland, high end M&S. Despite these requirements seeming somewhat obvious, many brands just don’t “get it.” Collective Noun genuinely feels like it is cultivating a really authentic aesthetic with each collection. Amongst the staples, there are design nuances which feel fresh. Anyway, enough gushing about the brand, because it’s getting sickly, just check out the lookbook this short behind the scenes video, because both are pretty damn cool.

View it here.

And here.

Clarks Wallabees, again

Calum — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:36:28 +0000

YES! These are so good. Hold them for me Size? because these are my summer beaters. Bet that question mark in the last sentence really threw you off, but who gives a fuck about punctuation, these are pale blue, suede Wallabees. Do you know how happy these make me? A lot, that’s how much. On a scale of one to stoked, I’m pretty stoked right now. Have I conveyed my excitement adequately? I hope so. Buy these (but not in a 7, because I’ll find you, kill you, etc) and you’ll look as cool as me (a faceless blogger on the Internet who lies about owning loads of cool Japanese brands). *In the process of writing this I realised these were a woman’s shoe; still buying them. Shout out to all my fellow small feeted peoples, we’re going to look great this summer.

Buy them here, RIGHT NOW!

6876 Petrel Jacket

Calum — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:30:41 +0000

In a somewhat bizarre choice, my recent fixation for my borderline addictive personality has been shoulder construction on jackets. No, seriously. It was an idea, or a realisation rather, that beyond raglan and inset sleeves, there isn’t much else. After mulling it over with one of Britain’s brightest young designers (I’m a name-drop away from sounding like a dick here), I concluded that he was right, standardised patterns are not only boring, they’re also ill equipped to fit shoulders properly. Basically, we clothe our three dimensional bodies with two dimensional garments. There are, as always, exceptions to the rule; 6876 has over the years prided itself upon constructing garments in a manner which few can compete with. So, after eyeing up this jacket, deciding that I was really digging the overall aesthetic, my inner geek was drawn to checking out the shoulders. This may sound like a completely weird post, but those subtle differences are what I use to differentiate between wants and needs in the world of outerwear. The shoulder construction on this number is different, well thought out and, for me, strangely exciting. For the fabric geeks, there are equally intiguing features such as 100% Italian Cotton Resin 189 gram fabric. It also includes custom made London buttons for any, err.. button fetishist? It is quite simply, jacket porn for clothing nerds.

Check it out here.

Pot Shots Photo Book

Calum — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:23:09 +0000

Hickorees brought this to my attention. Who knew that after a long day of chopping wood and other such beard and sawdust related activities, that workwear fans enjoyed a big fat blunt. I suppose it’s because they’re in touch with nature and all that stuff. All those days spent kicking trees in their Yuketens to make them look authentic or whatever has obviously taken its toll. Pot Shots is a photobook about marijuana (I always feel daft using that word, it makes me feel like I’m 40) dispensaries in LA. The photography, for want of a less cringey pun, is dope.

Buy it here.

Arc’teryx Viva La Vie

Calum — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:14:23 +0000

I like Arc’teryx. With the exception of what looks like a complete futile apostrophe in their name, they’re a cool brand. What’s more, they do cool PR stuff which doesn’t try too hard to sell you stuff. I like that because I have no problem being a huge consumer cog in a capitalist machine as long as I’m not treated like an oblivious cash cow. Sell it to me subliminally baby, seduce me or some shit, because really I don’t give two fucks about how your brand’s jacket performs if you’re not cool. I’m a brand snob, deal with it.

Here’s a cool promo video from them.

Abandoned Star Wars Film Sets In Tunisian Desert

Calum — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:28:43 +0000

Maybe it’s a generational thing, but you older streetwear heads seem to absolutely love your Star Wars stuff. I’ve noticed several people who’s obsessive hoarding tendencies aren’t simply limited to rare trainers and collab tees. So, with that in mind, here’s me extending a generational olive branch from us young cats. Also, I’m posting this because it’s fucking cool. New York based photographer, Rä di Martino, has revisited the crumbling remains of Star Wars film sets in the salt-lake deserts of Tunisia after stumbling across the location on Google Earth.

View them here.

Red Nails

Steven — Sun, 19 May 2013 06:00:15 +0000

Smoke

Steven — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:00:11 +0000

Wu-Tang Clan – Execution in Autumn

Calum — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:23:53 +0000

It’s Friday. The sun is shining. New Wu has been released. Life is good, right? Since we were just on the subject of New York Hip Hop, I’m posting this. This weekend tune is brought to you by cold beers and fucks not being given. Fire it on at give it a listen. (I’ve not listened to it yet so it may be shit. Some things are often better left in the past *cough* Daft Punk *cough*)

Download linkage here.