The Most Stylish Cars of the Past 50 Years

GQ Mag features a nifty little slideshow of the Most Stylish Cars of the past 50 years.  The slideshow is convenienly organized by decade (60s-2000s), just in case you had a favorite period.  For example, if badass muscle cars is your thing, you may be interested in the 60s and 70s. The 80s featured the introduction of some iconic cars that have become instant classics: the BMW 3 series, Range Rover, & Audi Quatro are just some examples. The 90s seemed to be about finally getting the aesthetics right on our cars, as eye-pleasing rides such as the Nissan 300ZX, Acura NSX, and Audi TT helped redefine style for the automotive industry.  The 2000s were about creating new categories of cars, as manufacturers jostled to win over market share, creating demand for new types of vehicles: Crossover Utility Vehicles (CUVs), Sport Sedans (4 doors in a sports car?!?), Family Coupes (4 people in a sports car?!?!)  Difficult to pick a favorite in all of this but if you had to pick one, you'd HAVE to go with the 1981-1982 Delorean DMC-12 of Back To The Future Fame, no?

Ronnie Fieg for Asics GT-II Rise Gold

Ronnie Fieg is a sneaker pimp. The Queens, NY designer has been tearing up the shoe scene since his inaugural collaboration with Asics on the Gel Lyte III, a line that sold out (252 pairs) in 1 day.  Since then, Ronnie embarked on a series of projects with the likes of Adidas, Sebago, Red Wings, Clarks, New Balance and Saucony, among others. His latest work, an Asics reprise called the GT-II Rise Gold, features a retro vibe with faded tones of salmon pink and blue. The GT II Rise Gold is allegedly available at Brooklyn's KITH (233 Flatbush Avenue) for $130, though you probably have a better shot of scoring these bad boys on eBay since it's highly unlikely they are still on the shelves.

BustedTees Graphic T-Shirts

I've decided I would very much like to be a hipster. It's just what I need right now to break away from that whole "domesticated suburbanite lame Dad with a desk job" look I've been rocking for the last couple of years.  Now, apart from the skinny jeans and the thick framed glasses, I imagine I'd need some pretty cool t-shirts to complete the look.  The kind that say, "look at me with my cheeky t-shirt graphic, don't you want to party with me?" Lucky for me, BustedTees has a plethora of designs for me to chose from.  Their selections range from current pop culture (yes, they already have Linsanity t-shirts) to the clever play on words ("South Korea's Got Seoul") to the downright bizzare (the "SILF", or Sandwiches I'd like to, er, nevermind).  Either way you look at it, these t-shirts are going to give me instant street cred at work, especially among the creative types that hover around the ping pong table on the 18th floor.  The only question is, I wonder if I should wash these t-shirts on the gentle cycle in my washing machine or just handwash them?  Would be such a pity if I ruined them after the first wear, you know?

The $14,000 Bianchi by Gucci Urban Bike

I once worked with someone who came from a privileged background & he had no problem flaunting it, or talking about it openly. "Mike," I would ask him (name changed to protect identity). "What's with the expensive threads? Why wear a $1,000 blazer to work?" His answer: "Because I can." Which is precisely the answer I would expect an affluent to give if you were to ask them what possessed them to purchase a $14,000 bicycle. The Bianchi by Gucci features a black carbon fiber frame with the green/red/green color scheme that is quintessential Gucci.  Oh and in case you were actually interested in riding this thing, here are some more specs that may be of interest to you: it weighs a mere 22 pounds, includes 11 speeds, hydraulic disk breaks, water bottle headlights and wheel reflectors.

Must be nice, Mike.  Must be nice....

New Balance 581 Limited Edition Collection

I had an itch to post about another sneaker company that just re-released a classic, but I simply couldn't condone the madness that particular shoe has created so I give you another very cool development in the exciting world of stylish kicks.  Boston-based New Balance has created a limited edition collection of shoes, dubbed the 581.  NB has collaborated with a variety of boutiques the world over, including Boston's Bodega, Barcelona's Kilates, Seoul's Kasina and of course, Tokyo's Mita.  Each boutique has created its own interpretation of the 581 by adding designs and materials that's representative of that region.  For example, the Kasina (Seoul) version features a tweed trainer inspired by popular menswear and Bodega (Boston) takes its inspiration for the 581 from a boldly colored 90s ski jacket. Very cool.


Apparently, Barney's is taking pre-orders for the $140 shoes, although I couldn't find the 581 anywhere in their online sneaker store.


via GQ

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Collection

I'm thinking about rewarding myself sometime in the next few years by buying myself a Rolex as a toast to reaching my 40s without screwing things up too much. What more does a guy like me need, save for that bit of bling that will give me some serious street, er, office cred among my peer set?  Despite being a global status symbol, I've always thought of the classic "gold" Rolex as a bit too stuffy and outdated; something an old geezer in a pin-striped power suit would be wearing en route to the court house, clutching a hand-stitched leather briefcase.  I prefer something a bit more casual and down to earth. Rolex has three watch lines: Oyster Perpetual, Professional and Cellini.  The Oyster Perpetual is Rolex's less-dressy and more rugged line of watches.  Over the years, print ads for the Oyster Perpetual featured tough guys deep sea diving, climbing mountains and performing other activities that require a decent amount of brute strength and a pair of large onions, if you know what I mean.  Outside of the outwardly marketing of the Oyster, international badasses such as Paul Newman, Lloyd Bridges, Diego Maradona & Che Geuvara (pictured here) have been spotted sporting the Oyster.  Forget the Porsche gentlemen, this is how you announced you've arrived.

Jonathan Adler Design

I always find it interesting to hear how people describe their home design style: modern, contemporary, vintage and shabby-chic come to mind. And we all seem to pigeon-hole ourselves into any one of these categories.  It takes a true visionary to introduce a whole new category of style into the mix.  Which is exactly what New Jersey native and designer Jonathan Adler has been doing since bursting onto the scene in 1993. Adler's approach to home furnishings and interior design features clean, simple design elements with completely unexpected splashes of vibrant colors and groovy graphics.  The result is what he'd tell you is "Happy Chic."  The first time I stumbled into Adler's Newbury Street store in Boston, I couldn't help but feel so darn happy about my surroundings. Everything in there is fun, lively, aesthetically pleasing and sometimes cheeky. Yet, none of it is overwhelming or inappropriate for people who may fall into any of the other design categories.  I had to force myself to leave the store since Wifey and I were in danger of cleaning out the whole place.  I mean, who doesn't want to feel happy when stepping into their homes?

Jonathan Adler Store Locations

Obaibi Clothing

Some of us have to work harder at being cool than others. This is a fact of life. It is something that one must acquire early in life. You see as a young boy, my mom would dress me up in dorky clothes and part my hair with the help of a bucket of oil. So I basically started off with negative cool points and had to work extra hard at simply breaking even on the cool meter. Which is why-as soon as Wifey pops-our little dude will have to sport slick threads from day 1. And I'm pretty damn sure he'll be rockin' gear from Obaïbi, a boutique-ish chain of baby clothes from France. The French-and the Europeans in general-have been helping us look cool for years and Obaibi is no exception. It's like they took that machine from "Honey I Shrunk The Kids" to make stylish adult clothes smaller so that little babies can look cool from the very beginning.

[music] mercedes benz mixed tape vol. 28

Every eight weeks, I get giddy like a fat kid in a candy store. That's because every eight weeks, Mercedes Benz releases a new volume of Mixed Tape, a series of [free] downloadable albums featuring artists you've probably never heard of (I said it was free!). But seriously, the Mixed Tapes always promise to deliver head bopping, fresh underground tracks that give this dusty "my-old-uncle-Frank drives one" brand a bit more street cred. Take THAT BMW!

[style + web] fashionably geek

Proving once again that Geek is the new Chic, Fashionably Geek is a site "devoted to bringing you the funniest, weirdest, and geekiest products that the world of fashion has to offer." Yes, I realize that the Darth Monroe tee pictured here may seem cool to only 5% of all people, but isn't that what fashion is all about: seemingly stupid sh*t that becomes popular over time?

[autos] bmw's sports car of the future

Listening to the German dudes talk on an on about this car. One flag. Watching this ultra-cool car of the future in action. Six Flags! More Flags! More Fun!

via HybridCars.com

[web + shoes] sneakerset.com

Sneakerset was "created to bring up to date information on luxury limited edition sneakers from around the globe." As someone who is a sucker for the lunch special at any restaurant, I am fascinated by, and can understand the fanaticism behind the limited edition shoe. The idea that you are one among a few that get to experience something that is being offered at limited quantities...well, that's just pretty damn cool.

[home + web] trendir modern house designs

Trendir is a cool home design site/blog that caught my eye, since we are in full-fledged move mode (we move into the new digs next Saturday). The houses featured here are somewhat on the ultra-modern side of things, whereas our personal style is a bit more, well, "eclectic" maybe? Whatever you call it when you have a glass hookah pipe from Jordan sitting right next to the vintage ceramic cats that Wifey keeps buying from eBay. Still, the houses on Trendir are fun to look at. My favorite is the rustic mountain cabin (above) that is a bit of an optical illusion. Looks like a tiny little shed from the outside, but the interior of the house is quite another story.

Thomas Sabo Collection

I realize I'm a bit out of my comfort zone here since the only piece of jewlery I own is my $95 titanium wedding ring. But Thomas Sabo's collection is so bad ass that I had to share. Wifey and I came across Sabo's work whilst browsing the Takashimaya department store on Singapore's famed Orchard Road. A quick history of Thomas Sabo - back in 1984, the jewellery enthusiast set up his own jewellery company in the town of Lauf an der Pegnitz in Bavaria. Then in the early 90s, Sabo was able to secure the services of designer Susanne Kölbli as the company’s Creative Director. It was through this collaboration that the Thomas Sabo company and brand was formally established; now with retail outlets throughout Europe, Asia and America. The Thomas Sabo line features sterling silver pieces that can be best described as "rebel at heart" (which is actually the name of one of Sabo's collections). It's a throwback to the days of rock 'n roll and rebellion against the Man. Kinda makes you wanna punch someone in the face with your sterling silver skull ring.

[travel] virgin america

I'm off to Memphis today, but I kinda wish I was going to San Fransisco or LA instead. Why? Because Virgin America flies there. San Fran-based Virgin America introduced BOS-LAX and BOS-SFO routes back in February, which has frequent flyers out of Boston Logan very "pee-in-our-pants" excited. With airline service in the crapper these days, VA's entry into the US domestic market is a refreshing change. And you know what? It's the small things that make the big difference. VA offers in-cabin mood lighting, power outlets, ability to order fresh food from the screen at your seat, and a generally cool atmosphere. I mean, people seem genuinely happy about being stuck 30,000 feet in the air inside a pressurized fuselage.

[home] iannone eco-friendly design

Wifey and I stumbled onto this designer's work at the Boston Design Center over the weekend. Michael Iannone (of Iannone Design) is a Philadelphia based designer dedicated to the creation of eco-friendly modern furniture. His collection features eco-friendly properties, including locally sourced lumber from managed forests and sustainable materials such as bamboo and sorghum borard. The work itself is highlighted by clean lines and eye-popping yet not-so-in-your-face graphics such as the Graphic Dandelion console (top right). Iannone Design also offers custom furniture and build services, in case the flowery graphics don't happen to be your cup of tea.