A far cry from the stuffy, run-of-the-mill travel guides that line the shelves at large chain booksellers, Clerk & Teller’s new travel blog is shaping up to be an online guidebook of excellent taste and adventurous travels for cultured young individuals. While the British menswear brand’s main concentration is the refinement of classic attire for the “clued-up, stylish man,” they’ve recently teamed up with the UK’s award-winning Black Tomato travel company for this no-holds-barred excursion.

“Travel Advice For Modern Explorers” is currently chronicling the exploits of several experienced journalists and photographers who’ve been dispatched to various nations around the globe for your viewing and reading pleasure - ultimately inspiring you to do the same. Clerk & Teller’s world tour kicks off in the Ukraine’s 1500-year-old city of Kiev, where the journalists document their daily encounters - among them, trying the specialty vodka at Shato microbrewery, partying at a hedonistic nightclub and crashing the wedding parties at the Park of Eternal Glory. In addition to providing friendly recommendations for reading material, music and good food, they provide some incite into the city’s bitter history. Expect more updates to be posted from various to-be-announced cities during the upcoming winter months.

Banksy, the anonymous scheming British street artist (most infamous for sneaking one of his own framed pieces into the Tate Britain Art Gallery) is finally having an art exhibition of his very own in New York. In collaboration with London’s Bank Robber Gallery, the Vanina Holasek Gallery will be holding an opening reception this Sunday, December 2nd from 1 to 5 pm. The party should be packed, but don’t expect Banksy himself to show up! The exhibition runs until December 29th, so be sure to check out the thought-provoking works of this visionary urban artist.

Vanina Holasek Gallery
502 West 27th Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 367-9093

In an age of over-active media, people have become rather passive and immune to news that may have once registered as shocking. While we’ve been made to think that we can’t effect the well-being of the world, Social Atelier serves as a much-needed wake-up call. Social Atelier is a free-spirited and socially active fashion collective with a manifesto for change. Formed by chief activists Andrei Najjar and Yael Afriat in Los Angeles, every piece is designed with the greater good in mind, and made from 100% certified organic cotton. The label’s bold tees and tanks are printed with inspiring messages and staggering global statistics that draw attention to issues such as global warming, poverty, war and basic human rights.

This season the designers teamed up with Jewish World Watch in support of The Solar Cooker Project, which provides fuel to families within Darfur refugee camps, alleviating the need to venture into more dangerous territory. A significant portion of the proceeds from Social Atelier’s “Space Age Hippie” Spring/Summer ‘08 collection will be donated to this important cause, among others. Most recently, Social Atelier has also worked with the Rock The Vote Campaign to release a line of limited-edition tees under their new “Society” brand, available exclusively at L.A. boutique, Kitson. Social Atelier’s other pieces are currently available at American Rag, Fred Segal Man and Milk – and will be introduced soon at Henri Bendel, Concrete London, Intermix and Atrium.

Debuting this Thursday, November 15th, the meatpacking district’s Carrozzini von Buhler Gallery (otherwise known as CVB Space) will feature a group of exquisite Italian artists who’ve been making waves within Italy’s contemporary art scene. The gallery, in collaboration with Milan’s D’Ars Foundation and IEP International Exhibition Projects, is holding an opening night reception from 6:00 to 8:00 PM to celebrate the launch of “The Gift” exhibition - just in time for the holidays.

The contributing artists have explored various types of media - including painted sculpture, experimental photography, detailed etchings and other abstract works that all maintain the exhibition’s giving theme. “A gift is something that appears unexpectedly, without warning and not bound by anything,” explains Curator Stefania Carrozzini. “A central theme to the exhibition is the cyclical process generated from giving and receiving gifts, and translates directly to the energy and nature of these gifts in their purest forms.” “The Gift” Exhibition will include the works of Fiorenzo Barindelli, Rosaspina Buscarino Canosburi, Clara Scarampella and Andrea Schianchi, among others. So this Thursday, let the gift giving begin - head to CVB Space for inspiring artwork, delicious desserts courtesy of BiniUSA, and most importantly, a generous state-of-mind.

“The Gift” is on view until November 27th, 2007
Gallery Hours: Tues-Thurs-Sat 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
407 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10014
www.cvbspace.com

If you happen to be stuck in a style rut and need inspiration from something other than the constant barrage of fashion advertisements plastered on billboards and magazine pages, look no further than Streetpeeper.com. The website offers fresh and creative incite from savvy dressers in urban meccas around the globe. From Copenhagen to New York, Sydney, Paris, Berlin and beyond, photos are snapped and uploaded daily highlighting young individuals who standout on the street - most of them harboring that certain admirable “Je ne sais quoi” quality. Although I must admit, it wouldn’t be as fun without the outrageous faux-pas sprinkled among them: vivid green spandex pants on a long-haired male hipster, anyone?

Street Peeper may not be as scathing as Superfuture’s cut-throat “What are you wearing today” forum or Vice’s outspoken “Do’s and Don’ts”, but unlike Vice, SP takes that extra effort to uncover exactly “who” and “what” the kids are wearing - be it vintage one-of-a-kind pieces, upscale fashion labels or low-end yet chic threads offered at H&M. Always armed with their cameras, the globetrotting SP photographers also find time to hit up numerous events, including art gallery openings, posh parties, boutiques and fashion shows, most recently nutty Jeremy Scott’s “Men At Work” Spring ‘08 line in Paris.

Visit Street Peeper’s site to sift through the open-ended supply of photos, or sign up for their “Looks of the week” newsletter. If you’ve got bold personal style (and happen to be in the right place at the right time) maybe you’ll get lucky and find your own look featured on the blog’s front page.

Photo Credits: Rob Meyers. Keenan Motto.

Who wants to be a grownup when there’s a medley of kick-ass designer toys begging to be played with? On Saturday, November 10th, New York’s MF Gallery is throwing an out-of-this-world bash to commemorate the opening night of their 5th annual MF Toy Show. The celebration will spotlight individually designed works of art, entirely handmade by some über-crafty well-known artists and up-and-coming vanguards alike - including Jenny Harada, Ed Repka, Suckadelic, Jaz Harold, Monica Roache, Norma Jean Almodovar and many more.

Frank Russo and Martina Secondo Russo, a married couple of self-made artists and metal aficionados, opened MF in 2003 as a response to the city’s lack of underground pop and illusion-based art at that time. The Russo’s own work is heavily influenced by punk rock, heavy metal, comics and horror movies, so their gallery is always quick to feature the most enigmatic art toys, both disturbing yet captivating in their own right.

So go ahead: push your paperwork and adult-world woes aside in favor of this rock ‘n’ roll themed fête. It’s sure to be a meeting place for toy collectors, designers and art enthusiasts. Visit their website for more information.

Opening Party: Nov. 10th 7-10pm (free / all ages)
Show runs Nov. 10th - Dec. 23rd
Gallery Hours: Wed. - Sun. 2-7pm

Dark forests, the Swiss Alps, 1950’s Italian screen siren Anna Magnani and melting ice cream are just a few of the things that inspire Nina Egli while she dreams up new treasures for her whimsical jewelry line, Toujours Toi. The Swiss-born designer (and fledgling actress) is currently settled in Brooklyn, and has been crafting her fun, kitschy pieces since 2002. Her handful of collections for Toujours Toi feature brass, silver and 14k gold plated earrings and necklaces dripping with assorted trinkets and sparkly baubles. Egli’s necklaces, earrings, and pendants emit a charming vintage vibe – a must-have for stylish femmes with eclectic taste.

Egli has recently unveiled Helter Skelter, her latest mélange for Spring/Summer ‘08, which is a mix of her signature teardrop-shaped gemstones coupled with colorful feathers, faux bamboo beads and out-of-this-world planet charms – on your choice of black, silver, or gold chain. While Helter Skelter is not yet available in stores, the dark romantic undertones of her Giulietta Degli Spiriti Fall/Winter ’07 collection is more fitting as the days grow shorter and the weather (possibly) gets colder. The Fall line offers brass, silver, gold and gun metal pieces made with lace, plexiglass crystals and charms in the shape of bats, foxes and masquerade masks. Visit toujourstoi.com for more information on Egli’s quirky adornments.

This October 31st, come and dance ‘til your death at Studio B’s haunt-worthy Halloween Bash. In collaboration with New York’s DFA Records and Ghostly International, the blowout will feature a lineup of hot acts, including DJ Juan Maclean, Morgan Geist, T&T, Derek Plaslaiko, Invisible Conga People and Mathew Dear’s Big Hands – fresh from the Asa Breed Tour. In addition, a side room will be bumping the creepy beats of Ghostly DJ Jeffrey Sfire and Kevin Avery. If you’re looking for a night of frightful fun or a shot at the cash prize offering for the best costume, head over to Studio B on Halloween for a dance party that’s sure to be a graveyard smash.

Click here for more information.

Studio B: 259 Banker St. Brooklyn, NY

18+ | 10PM | advance tickets $12 | door $15

Tickets are available @ Ticketweb, Soundfix & Ghostly.

Brian Wood is a young, Pratt-educated menswear designer with a keen eye for color and shape. Wood has been steadily making a name for himself, as he seeks to create modern pieces for those who appreciate his firm attention to detail. Several years spent under the wing of some seasoned fashion industry labels – including Anna Sui, Andrew Marc and Vintage Red – gave Wood the clout to make his solo entrée into the game. Wood debuted a line of showy pop-art inspired tees in 2003, before venturing into deeper fashion waters with his cut-and-sew collection for Spring 2005.

Wood’s cutting-edge garments have previously leaped across the pages of TRACE, so we’d like to call attention to his most recent eye-catching collection, for Spring/Summer 2008. Wood’s Spring picks were precipitated by the global movement of awareness, focused on bringing relief to Africa. Drawing inspiration from the country’s past in addition to modern-day American and European pop culture, Wood’s “African Warlord” collection “creates an exciting integration between the traditional and historically significant styling of West Africa with the fresh, bold iconic imagery of the Western world.”

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Everything that you think is cool now, Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne learned in public school. This seems to be the mantra espoused by the young high-end menswear designers who recently unveiled their debut collection, Public School, on the catwalks at NYC’s September fashion week. Dao-Yi and Osborne both have legitimate histories within the fashion industry: Dao-Yi previously honed his design skills as Creative Director at Sean Jean, while Osborne ran Sean Jean’s wovens division. In addition, Dao-Yi currently co-owns Arrive, a hip street-wear boutique based in Miami.

Dao-Yi and Osborne’s sharp European-meets-Japanese Spring/Summer ‘08 line is inspired by many things – including music, world travels and the rebellious spirit of New York City’s youth. “We are both teachers and students who continue to critique the culture we help create, resulting in a new vision of constructed garments that focus on fabric, fit and energy,” Dao-Yi has commented of his line’s vision. “[It’s] the same energy that’s found at the start of every movement.” The theme of Public School’s SS08 line embraces this rebellious energy and fires it against the status quo.


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