Patent leather deck shoes is something we’ve been wanting to get down with for a while now but for whatever reason haven’t passed over straight leather options. One major concern being the friction on the Achilles heal. The look of patent leather, especially on a boater, works well for us, especially spotting some of the Band of Outsiders x Sperry Top Sider collaborations a few a seasons back.  The color combination above though from Sebago is pretty tough to beat. Available here.

Griffin has been killing it for almost 20 years in the business of mixing fashion and sportswear. The upcoming Spring/Summer 2010 collection is on point with cycling-focused pieces featuring Dry Wax Canvas Cottons, lightweight corduroys, and classic Italian camouflage linens. What’s piqued our interest even more than the upcoming collection is Griffin’s first ever bike collaboration. Teaming together with popular UK urban cycling brand Charge, the fixed gear in cyan blue and white features Charge’s signature minimalist Plug frame with Griffin’s distinctive design detailing, complete with new Griffin camouflage on the seat.

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Kris Van Assche can really split opinions with his extraordinary sneaker designs.  Of course, such is the dilemma for any creative who works outside of the proverbial box.  The Dior Homme creative director’s tendency to go over-the-top with velcro straps seems to be the real dividing line.  While his newest high top look is devoid of velcro, it does bring an exaggerated laces look.  It also features his somewhat signature tie detail at the back of the ankle.  For us, what really sets this design off is the tonal contrast created by the laces in combination with the goat suede tongue and side gussets versus the smooth leather of the upper and toe box.  Available here.

Made the move from the Arctic-like temperatures of a snow-laden Winnipeg to Sydney, Australia where the blistering heat can sometimes be more than what I bargained for, but the dynamics of the city perpetuate a relaxed yet vibrant lifestyle – the kind of environment that sees many local streetwear businesses thrive and prosper. In my spare time I’ve been trying to unearth all the cool spots to shop. Yesterday I came across Feit (pronounced fight). Situated on a corner that includes shops like Supply, I was quick to learn that these guys definitely don’t cut any. This little gem – the brainchild of former Royal Elastics employees Tull Price and Rodney Adler – are a relatively small operation, but the experience the two bring to the table make this one every bit worthwhile. With the knowledge they inherited from having worked for the likes of Nike and Adidas, Price and Adler demand nothing but the best out of their products. Take the Moc Hi’s, for example. They’re constructed out of Ox Blood leather which gives the boot a nice, smooth sheen and a dotted vibram sole for max comfort, traction and durability. While this silhouette is the first in their line to take on a more formal look, let’s hope it’s not their last because it stacks up against the best of them. Available here.

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Obviously, Ralph Lauren needs no introduction.  He’s built an empire in his brand that is almost beyond compare with over $5 billion in estimated revenues for 2009 and a personal fortune estimated near $2.8 billion.  In its over 40-year existence, he’s seen his brand, and all of its various offshoots, woven through a myriad of cultures, in and out of vogue, enough to fill far, far more space than we have here.  He created his Black Label brand (positioned just below the Purple Label) in 2005 to cater to the modern man with slimmer silhouettes, higher armholes, and fresh materials.  Born directly from these ideals, his Escape nylon M65-style jacket caught our eye.  It’s “Gehry Grey” (read: silver) weather-resistant main is perfectly offset by the medium brown leather tab details at the collar and sleeves.  It also has a two-way front zip with leather tab leading to a point collar that actually folds into a standing collar using the snap closure.  It’s the perfect marriage of construction and detail, which is what Ralph Lauren, at his best, is really all about.  Available here.

Spinner scooped us on the brand new Vampire Weekend video for ‘Giving up the Gun’ last week. To say that it’s truly bizarre and silly spectacle is an understatement, but the video is beautifully shot, and with such a star-studded cast that includes the RZA, Lil’ Jon, Jake Gyllenhaal and, yes, Joe Jonas, the director(s) deserved some attention. Enter Emmett and Brendan Malloy, aka The Malloys. Working out of HSI Productions, the mega multimedia studio that houses the likes of David LaChapelle and Hype Williams, the brothers have been doing their thing for the better part of a decade now and boast an impressive portfolio of music videos for a veritable who’s who in the music biz. Noteworthy videos include N*E*R*D’s ‘Sooner or Later’ and Blink 182′s ‘First Date’ and both The White Stripes‘ ‘My Doorbell’ and ‘Icky Thump’. If heavy, brooding music videos aren’t your cup of tea, then The Malloys are your breath of fresh air; you can expect a good story, a few laughs, and maybe even a little language lesson from Lil’ Jon.

You may remember us showing Tim Selby some love when his work for Nike 6.0 caught our eye back in the fall. We’ve been following his work ever since, particularly the ongoing project – which inspired the Nike campaign – on his site, The Selby, documenting ‘the spaces of creative people.’ His catalog is immense, and it’s only fitting that the photographer is putting out a book, aptly titled The Selby, on April 1st. If you happen to be in Paris at the beginning of March, however, colette will have a few advanced copies on hand, as well as limited edition prints and stickers. And to make things interesting, the boutique’s storefront will transform into The Selby’s Window Apartment, an installation that will turn the camera around and serve up some glimpses into the photographer’s own creative space. Running March 1-6, the event promises to be a good laugh, with creative workshops, a pet portrait evening and even karaoke on the schedule. I already shotgunned Don’t Stop Believin’ so don’t even think about it. All the details here.

From a durability standpoint, you could do a lot worse than choosing a weekend-sized duffle made from raw denim. Brooklyn Circus, one of our favorite stops in San Francisco and creators of one of the better art directed lookbooks, also happen to make some fine accessories. That’s not to say their cardigans aren’t also worth a look. For those among us who can’t pull off the denim jacket look, although, it has been seen a lot around town buried underneath a few other layers, perhaps a denim bag is more (ahem) your bag. Available here.

Mt. Rainier has seemed to have slipped through undetected so far in 2010 but that’s not to say the Japanese brand has been slacking. We all remember Mt. Rainier’s collaborations with (waste)twice on a couple of 60/40 parkas, and a few packs with Manhattan Portage in 2009 and while there’s no word on collaborations from 2010, their Spring/Summer 2010 line is looking pretty solid. Parkas, packs, tees, shirts, and vests make up the collection with the usual outdoor inspiration. Naturally, there’s never been a shortage of outdoor-inspired Japanese drops and Mt. Rainier doesn’t plan on making it any easier in 2010. See the entire collection here.

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A collaborative project between Saskia and Stefan Diez, the “Papier” series is an experiment in revising the classical typology. Both designers started with the basic requirements of a travel bag – durability, protection and light weight – and sought for an appropriate material other than the traditional choices of leather and reinforced textiles. The “Papier” bags are made of Tyvek®, a synthetic paper that is extremely lightweight – 135g for the bigger and 115g for the smaller bag – but at the same time exceptionally robust, both water- and tear-proof. Best of all, the material is completely recyclable. Apart from that, one will appreciate the high-end finishes applied to such seemingly banal material as paper. Silkscreen printing techniques gives it a particularly attractive look. Available here.

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If you’re the type who keeps an eye on The Sartorialist or Tommy Ton’s Jak and Jil blog, then you no doubt noticed the resurgence of the denim shirt in highly-fashionable circles in Milan and Paris.  Some of us might argue the look never went away, at least not in the real world.  On that tip, no one does the washed-out denim shirt like Stockholm’s Our Legacy.  It’s certainly a staple for the label, and here they offer a basic, slim-fit, oxford-style shirt in a vintage wash with mother of pearl buttons.  We’re talking fit, comfort, and quality here, and it’s always on time.  Available at Tres Bien.

Brandon Scott’s grandfather, having been trained at the Bauhaus in the 1930′s, became a prominent designer and contractor with projects to his name throughout the U.S. Naturally, Brandon Scott’s newly launched label B:SCOTT draws on architecture for inspiration while emobodying the fusion of Japanese and German aesthetics. Although we’re admirer’s of the entire collection, the light fleece Double Mock Hoody pictured above is the most stand out piece with quilted elbow patches and hood and a neat hood/collar combination. Available here.