Haute Concept

High-end men’s grooming brand ‘The Art of Shaving’ has teamed up for the first time with industry behemoth Gillette. DNR reports that the duo have partnered to create the, “Fusion Chrome Collection, a premium assortment of razors and shaving instruments that will combine Gillette’s blade expertise with The Art of Shaving’s high-end craftsmanship.”

The collaboration marks first dual-branded collection for both companies. Gillette brings their industry expertise and combines it with ‘The Art of Shavings’ chic upscale name.

“The collection consists of two razors—a manual and powered version featuring a built-in spotlight—a coordinating shaving brush and matching shaving stands, all in polished chrome. The luxury assortment will hit The Art of Shaving boutiques and its retail partners on Oct. 1. Retail price points are $125 for the manual razor, $150 for the power razor, $75 for the brush and $100 for a shaving stand.

“We think this is going to ignite the whole premium razor category,” said The Art of Shaving president and CEO, Eric Malka, who has been fitting luxury razor handles to Gillette’s blades at the firm’s retail locations since its inception in 1996. “We expect this to expand sales and increase our razor business six to seven times where it is today.”

We think the collection should do well and will be embraced by men easily. It is on our wish-list already and the Oct. 1 release makes it a prime target for the holiday shopping season.

Gillette’s Blades of Glory [DNR]

Why anyone would copy Crocs is beyond us, but it has been done.

Crocs have now reached a level of success that we never thought possible.

“You’re no one til someone copies you.”

Yeah, whatever. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery and ugly-try, in this case.

We came across these ‘Frocs’ while walking in El Barrio on 116th Street this weekend.

These bootleg joints are made in China (where else?) and can be yours for the price of 2 for 5 (of course!).

(More photos after the jump.)

Berlin/Paris cult label Bless brings us these t-shirts.

Designers Ines Kaag and Desiree Heiss have re-produced their Stitched Starcut unisex T-shirts, made of premium cotton these salmon colored tees are top-stitched on the front and back with images of the designers. The tees are ultra-premium with hand-cut collars by the designers.

These limited-edition tee’s have black, white or pink stitching. Each shirt has a small “Bless” stud at the bottom and comes in clear plastic Bless packaging.

Available for $160 exclusively at Hint Shop.

More photos after the jump.

Hint Fashion Mag brings us these ties from Brooklyn based ‘This Old Thing’.

Designers Tommy Cole and Roy Cairnes have had huge success with their ties selling out on their site.

The menswear label has produced these limited edition 4-tie collection exclusively for Hint Shop.

Available in light grey, light blue black and burgundy they can be had for $48.

Hint Shop [last item]

The current trend of slim silhouettes in menswear is translating over the accessories level as well.

A new breed of wallet embraces a slimmed down, thin designs with convenient necessities like flip windows. The shrunken down wallets feature ample space for cash and cards.

Unlike the standard bi-fold, these thinner, slimmer wallets are perfect for avoiding pocket bulge. They are also mandatory for the current crazes of skinny jeans, slim trousers and slim-fitted suits.

1. Tommy Hilfiger Oxford Slim front-pocket wallet. 2. Cellini leather card case available at Bloomingdale’s. 3. Slim business card case in wheat by Ghurka. 4. Small wallet with elastic from Il.

Small Change [DNR]

A new line of Mackdaddy product is now available.

High Snobiety tips us off the August 2007 line-up of product from the Japanese label which celebrates their tenth anniversary. The collection includes yatch parkas made of cotton sweat-shirt material, mechanic shirts, colored denim, caps, and lifestyle accessories including USB stick bracelets and breeze pillows.

More photos after the jump.

DNR has put up their review of the newest, freshest product shown during the Capsule Trade Show.

Capsule, organized by BPMW, received rave reviews from the industry trade magazine for is organization and brands shown.

A showing of 50 niche brands included:

• Public School
• Gilded Age
• Umbro by Kim Jones
• Super Sunglasses
• No Mas
• Barking Irons
• Apolis Activism
• Fremont
• Pa:Nuu
• Wood Wood

Look out for these brands and expect to hear more about them in the coming seasons. The Capsule show is THE place to find up and coming and established brands together. The brands offer an edgy and directional take on the market.

(Earlier)

Capsule Lives on the Edge [DNR]

“Fashion is a social agreement.  The result of a consensus of a large group of people.“

–Stella Blum

If someone chooses to go against the consensus are they fashionable or just crazy and eccentric. In a sense, it seems that even those who try to shun fashion still stick to the social consensus of what is accepted or not accepted according to the society they live in. They still adhere to certain social rules. If we don’t agree as a group that something is fashion, is it in style?