1. Jeans, Levi’s 2. Top, Lanidor 3. Ténis, Topshop

Jacket from Levi’s / Jeans & T-shirt from H&M / Belt & Plimsolls from Burton

You can follow, fan and vote for my outfits through Lookbook and Chictopia.

Photography by Anna Finlayson

Images courtesy of Anna Finlayson

This season Levi’s Vintage Clothing revisits history once again, this time to the 1960′s Motown era. An era associated with the likes of the Jackson 5 , irresistible rhythms and fresh fashion. In place of denim, corduroy pants and fringed suede leather jackets were the showstoppers of that musical revolution. Other offerings from this collection include retro-fitted polo tees and shirts with vintage embroidery. Alongside this, another interesting re-introduction this Fall would be the Orange Tab denim line with classic wash offerings such as rigid, rinsed, stonewash, stone bleached and black overdyed. Previously targeted at price-conscious youth, it is highly unlikely that this re-issue has the same intention. Stay tuned for more updates in the weeks to come!

The first day off after 4 days of working non-stop is the best time to get some nice food and shopping. That was my day in a nutshell. Loving a casual day like this. Feeling checker-print for no reason and thrown on two checker-print pieces on me today.

X.O.X.O.

Kathryn

Outfit Credits to:

T-shirt: Burberry Brit

Jeans: Levi’s

Shoes: ZARA

Bag: Burberry

Belt: American Apparel

Sunglasses: Tom Ford

Quality Plus donated all their work to benefit the project and community and worked with the donated fabrics from Glen Raven in Burnsville, NC.

Here Wes of Quality Plus is showing us a finished product:

Its so great to have all these bags, and to be able to let each kid in the 2nd and 3rd grade have one for their plant, to transport it and to parade it around while they care for it. These are the tools, the artwork. These personal, mobile gardens, all come together to make a community.

And here it is on a 2nd or 3rd grader!

We have been eying the Levi’s Commuter jeans for a good bit. A mainstream company pursuing the not-so-mainstream market of bike commuters? Our curiosity had peaked, jeans are a major staple in any American’s wardrobe, but for people that bike everywhere, this icon is in rotation more often than not. I’ve blown through countless jeans and these may prove to be the better class of denim. Once purchased, I immediately put them on and went for a quick ride to get a feel for what they were all about; I first noticed they were a bit more stretchy than other jeans I owned, which is awesome for riding, they are more fluid in their movements while pedaling, unlike regular jeans that tend to be a little stiff.

The next day was a big test, Critical Mass (a large group ride through the city on last Friday of the month promoting bike advocacy), usually these rides aren’t terribly long but this one went on for 20 miles. So at the end of the trip from home>critical mass>taco feast>home it was a 30+ miler in these jeans and they did great.

Execution is just ok though, the Nano-sphere water/dirt resistant coating was an instant disappointment, I knew that by the time I washed these that the scotch guard would fade quickly, so before I did that I jumped on the bike for a quick 2 mile ride in a light, steady rain. By the time I reached 1 mile the jeans were considerably wet..by 1.5..drenched, so I wouldn’t count on them if I get caught in rain let alone a downpour. I sat in them for about two hours and they dried OK, but if you’re at a bar or party, not sure if you want to be mingling with some heavy pants. On the plus side the Sanitized odor-resistant coating seems to work pretty well for daily use for the time being.

Levi’s has built and tested the commuter line on the streets of San Fran, they have several added features that apply to the cyclist. The 3M reflective tape on the outer seams is a great safety touch and the reinforced crotch has held up quite well, so far. The lock loop on the waist band is a great feature when accompanied by an over-the-shoulder style messenger bag, but if you wear a belt (which usually serves the same purpose as the U-lock loop) the added fabric becomes a bit cumbersome. Also they have added a raised back, there’s nothing worse than supporting the crack epidemic in this country, flashing that butt crack while cruising through the city especially when it’s raining. Without fail there’s always a handful of drops that want to slide right between your cheeks, so that addition is an incredibly well-thought out feature along with deeper back pockets for any small tools you may carry, which definitely comes in handy when carrying your other daily ammenities.

Although in Hotlanta’s humid heat, the added fabric keeps your nether region quite swampy, cooler weather use would be more applicable. But they look damn good, fit very well and I know this because while I was writing I got a few winks and whistles from a few construction workers, “Settle down boys!” I say, yes.. settle down indeed. In the end, we here at The Spindle believe the Levi’s commuter jean is a great alternative to a biker’s everyday jean. We’ll be sure to let you know when the crotch blows out! We’ve heard 8 months so far, 3 down…..

To check out more of Levi’s Commuter line, click on the link below.

http://us.levi.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=11844101&cp=3146842.15376476&ab=commuterlookbook_page1_shopcollection_050313

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Have a great ride!

Jesenia (JGB Editor)

Date: May 9. Venue: Wythe Hotel

Light bites

Refreshments

Music

Levi’s X LOOKBOOK: Global Style Party

LOOKBOOK.nu teamed up with Levi’s for a night of DIY, light bites, refreshments and music.

Levi’s X LOOKBOOK: Global Style Party

Levi’s X LOOKBOOK: Global Style Party

From Hobo Chic to Hipsters, Williamsburg waterfront fashion types congregated under one roof, spellbound by the Levi’s brand.

Tailor Station

Tailor Station

DIY

DIY

Tailor station provided a customizable menu for guests to alter their 501 Jeans, along with other DIY platforms filled with colorful Spring-themed Sharpies, power tool and mallet for metal accessory studding.

Photo-Booth Center

Sharing newly converted jeans on Twitter and Instagram was a cinch, thanks to an on-site photo-booth center.

Levi’s X LOOKBOOK: Global Style Party

Levi’s X LOOKBOOK: Global Style Party

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Images From RTH X One Trip Pass Arcosanti Summit

The American Southwest has been, and always will be, the place where our best painters, makers, and other off-the-grid types congregate to do their freaky thing under the big blue American sky. And why shouldn’t they? The open space, the dry heat, the sculptural plant life, the spartan surroundings- all lend themselves well to the expansiveness of thought and and the solitude of being that always leads to the creation of  good things. 

These images are from the RTH website; taken at Arcosanti with the rest of the Levi’s creative concept development crew.
I don’t know what they where doing or did out here, but I am sure we’ll all find out a year from now when the newest campaign is released.

I first found out about Rene T Holguin’s RTH Shop from working on visuals at Levi’s. Inside our prop room and on the models we would have the most amazing little moccasins, crazy leather-feather pendants, and multi-colored  hand-beaded kilt pins that could be used as funny bolo ties or as chihauha boot swag. They had a high-style, humour, accessibility, and craft that caught my eye and never left.

Holguin’s father owned the Laramie Boot Company in El Paso, Texas. Here he cut his teeth learning the family business before a love for all things Americana led him to stints with Ralph Lauren, J.Crew and Club Monaco. Finally ending his corporate career as Senior VP of Global Creative Services for Levi’s.  That explained the bulk of beads and bolo ties I worked with and coveted..

RTH Shop

Now it has come full circle, with Holguin crafting and conceptualizing  his own ultra-sophisitcated outpost of minimal, unisex,and global goods in LA.

RTH is petite, with a leather workroom in the back, and is filled mostly with one-off unisex accessories and vintage Ralph Lauren from his own personal collection. The look is recognizable for a compiled style of hard-to-pigeonhole references. Part Americana cowboy culture (blue jeans and oxford shirts), Aztec design motifs, and sophisticated minimalism. The end result is visually bizarre at first,  but I promise – once you put on a rope belt, some mandals, and his jesus smock you’ll wonder why you ever thought the look nonsensical.

PhotoCredits:RTH Shop,  OneTripPass,  MeganSmallPhotography