Posts by author "Ben Tobar" 488 result(s)
Father's Day Thoughts
Our view of ourselves is a complicated thing, and a complex issue with far reaching repercussions on our lives. For as much as we hope to see ourselves clearly, no man alive sees the truth in himself. Or of himself, for that matter.
Every relationship we have is a mirror that reflects an opinion we take as truth. With every smile from a pretty girl, or rebuttal, we continue to paint this picture of who we are. A complex bit of art, we paint it, paint over it, making an image in our heads of our strengths and weaknesses, our skills, our talents, our flaws.
We wake up each day, and see an image in the mirror, and we dress that image according to who we hope to be, and often times who we rue being. We compensate, and overcompensate, adding solemnity to our wardrobes to balance the immaturity we fear to expose, or adding youth to disguise our creeping age. It is a complex thing that I fear I will never see through, and will be repainting my entire life.
I like to imagine that once we would have been guided in our presentation by our fathers and grandfathers, from the clothing we were bought as children to the first suit we’d have made at our fathers tailor. But that is a world far removed from my own, and an age I only read about.
The truth is that modern dressing isn’t directed by our fathers, giving texture and colour according to their understanding of what the world sees as appropriate, giving flair and personality for the character traits someone that proud of us sees above all else. Rather we are taught how we should appear by the airbrushed perfection of marketing, taught how we should dress by idolizing a far distant and removed designer...
...Men who are trying to see themselves accurately are left with no clue as to how they should dress themselves, and the guidelines on dressing for the world and its occasions are a daunting mystery. These men give up chasing the moving target of fashion, and believe that it is correct for them to hate dressing, shopping and exploring this image of themselves.
So it is such an empowering thing to have the power shifted back in to our own hands. To have a tailor, or a haberdasher, or a shoe maker that can give us the rules back, demystify dressing by taking out the designer and giving each man an understanding of how to dress for his body, life, personality, career.
A great tailor makes a man look at his best, builds him a uniform to play with as his moods see fit, and a framework of understanding to make, hopefully, very few mistakes. The man who thinks himself too short or stout or frail or plain can see clothing take shape that emphasizes his strengths, and his only. His colouring dictates the colours he wears, the cut of his clothing hides the parts of him he dislikes. Hopefully he looks in his mirror each day and sees a myriad of options to be the man he hopes to be, and in his wardrobe he sees the means to paint an amazing picture of himself. If only for himself, and it really should be for ourselves that we dress, to have a positive self image and the tools to make it better is a very liberating position.
-Ethan Desu
New Product!
Feeling some nostalgia over here. Growing up in a household where my father was a printer/graphic designer, Terrapin hits close to home. When we saw them displayed at the last Capsule show in NY we had to bring them on. The pieces that they have worked on over the years are not just paper but works of art in a craft that has slowly disappeared. Want to say "thank you" to someone in a special way? Stop by and check out these cards!
If you could have just one piece...What would it be?
We play this game quite a bit at A.K.RIKK'S. Speaking for myself, this is usually an Isaia shirt, or a Rag & Bone pair of Espadrilles, or a Cucinelli scarf. Not this month though. From now until the 10th Herman Miller is offering 15% OFF its entire collection! This industry sale only happens two times a year so...this month's piece is an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, or one of the new Medici outdoor pieces! Where would you put your new pieces?
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea..."
-Antoine de Saint Exupery
A look inside Rick Owens Paris Home
Not only are we huge fans of Rick Owens "dark shadow" line for women, but we are also big-time coveters of the world's best interiors! Could not resist posting this one about the designers Paris live/work space! Skulls, gold bullets, and monkeys oh my!
Best Dressed (Male) at the Annual Met Costume Gala
All my kudos goes out to Virgil Abloh....yup the guy in the sleek black tux and velvet slippers chilling in the background behind Bill Cunningham and that Swiffer, Snuff, Swift girl. Goes to show you it's not necessarily all about what you wear, part of it is how things fit and feeling the confidence that this man has!
Don't cover it up!
Made another cover this month! RD JR in Belstaff gracing the April cover of GQ! If you are interested in the piece, shoot us an email!
A.K.RIKK'S expands its library
If you haven't been in the new store in the last month you would not have seen our big Spring roll-out of books from Assouline and Rizzoli. We are always conscious of our clients needs, and their lifestyle, which leads to our new small home goods and furniture sections of the store. We agree with Hollister Hovey's perspective on creating a lifestyle in your home that is a true reflection of who you are and where you come from. "Truly modern thinking takes past into consideration". To learn more you need to check out this book!
Peg & Awl
As we are ever-expanding our home collection we want to keep all of you followers out there updated on new goods always arriving. One of our newest home accessories line is P & A by a husband and wife team from Pennsylvania, whose all natural lifestyle really captivated our home buyers at the gift show this past January. Not only do we love this amazing Trencher Plate, but also Charcuterie Boards, Ipad stands, and small chalkboards! I'm thinking about getting my shopping done for wedding season this summer!