BLEND’s S/S 2012 Lookbook: An Ode To Springtime In Paris

For their spring/summer collection, BLEND isn’t going the sunny, sherbet-tinged route that we all know and expect (but still love!). Instead of designing for a day at the beach, the European brand is channeling Parisian springtime. Imagine traipsing through verdant lawns and sunny skies in their slightly boyish outfits, topped off with a precisely applied pop of red lipstick. Sounds great, right? The line focuses on pared down looks, from a dark-rinse A-line dress to gamine-approved cuffed skinnies and striped shirts. The menswear selection is equally cool, drawing inspiration from New England dockyard workers, but looks no less polished. You can tell they’d go great together!

 

Images via BKRW-Denim

—Brie Hiramine

Tags: blend spring summer 2012, dark wash denim, denim workwear, parisian style

The West is Dead: Raw Denim & Chambray Shirts

The West is Dead—is alive and well.  Featuring raw denim (with interior seams tape-sewn in the “precious” locations for comfort!), fitted chambray shirts, fitted denim jackets cut like peacoats, cotton duck pants cut like jeans and reversible cotton sweaters, we think your manly man won’t be able to resist The West is Dead’s collection of functional clothes made with minimal design and premium material. If you like your denim raw, then you won’t be disappointed.

Founded by two northern Montana buddies with a love for denim—Kaelen McCrane and Will Cheng—The West is Dead “focuses on the conservation of the American West,” which includes respecting the land and the people through charitable endeavors. Kaelen and Will imbue their collection with the spirit of the American West in almost every aspect of their collection, and it shows. Their jeans are cut and sewn in Los Angeles, and their sweaters are made in South Carolina.

 

Jeans retail from $185 to $265; denim jackets are $245, and chambray shirts are $130 to $135.  The West is Dead is available at specialty boutiques like Steven Alan Brooklyn, Atrium NYC, Fred Segal Man and What Goes Around Comes Around (L.A. & NYC).  Go to The West is Dead online to shop their entire collection.

—Kathy Ng Hassan

Tags: chambray shirts, denim jacket, denim workwear, double denim, Made in USA, raw denim, raw jeans, selvedge jeans, slim jeans, The West is Dead