© bnv

bnv is an ambitious shoe brand based in jakarta. founded only three years ago, bnv set out to of create high-quality contemporary men's shoes made from traditional quality materials and using the latest technology. the company uses vegetable chrome waxy based leather which is the result of a natural tanning through-dying process. contributing to the great quality a goodyear welt construction is applied that allows for smoother airflow within the shoes layers, offering increased comfort and durability. part of bnv's s/s 2013 collection is the 4-eye summit moccasin, a shoe that bears all the hallmarks of good design. this style comes in five appealing shades and is available for just usd 189. fancy a pair? then click [here] to order yours [international delivery available].

© bnv

© le café français / photography: matthieu salvaing

dare we say that the good life in paris is actually very, very good? there's no shortage of cool places, and the options where to indulge your senses only seem to increase. one of the latest stylish openings in town is that of le café français, the new flagship venture of gilbert and thierry costes. the fraternal duo opened the legendary, philippe starck-designed café costes in 1984, and have since then churned a slew of cool hospitality venues across town. previously the site of two separate cafés, the combined space that is now le café français, is very much a modern and glamourous take on the traditional grand café phenomenon.

partially located on the former premises of the historic bastille, the fortress and prison which played a pivotal role in the french revolution, the art déco-inspired interior by designer india mahdavi and the m/m (paris) agency subtly hints this turbulent past. the two parties created a design that's defined by a bold graphic approach. sure, this is most evident by the black + white inlaid marble flooring, but it's also further extrapolated by the symmetrical lay-out of the two adjacent rooms, and it's in fact also very visible in le café français' overall branding.

balancing the graphic austerity is an overhead ceiling of friendly blue skies. the walls have been boldly lined with copper foil, alternated by strips of mirrors, and the custom-made furniture comes in red and blue - and combined with the white marble on the floor - reference le tricolore, the national flag of france. a glass-encased terrace runs along one side of the façade, followed by an outdoor terrace with daintily striped rattan furniture. while the bar is a stylish meeting spot for just drinks, the restaurant - supervised by chef jean-françois piège - features a menu of classic dishes mixed and matched with french culinary heritage food. location: 3 place de la bastille [bastille].

© le café français / photography: matthieu salvaing

© premium rockshot / photography: bengt h. malmqvist [1975] - the good old days

pretty much considered a national treasure, pop band abba has got itself a museum. well, not quite. but its significance to swedish pop history - given the massive global success and the sheer longevity of it, something even the haters of the band's catchy tunes and lyrics must admit - is so enormous that a special showcase within the new premises of the swedish music hall of fame in stockholm is easily justified. called abba the museum, a well-chosen name that'll surely pull many more visitors, its an extension of sorts of the abbaworld traveling exhibition that toured the planet between 2009 and 2011. what's on display? there's an abundance of the band’s 1970s stage outfits, lots of artifacts, screenings of concert footage and interviews, all featured in modern and interactive setting. if you really, really must you as die-hard fan can sing and dance with holograms of abba, wearing a garish digital costume that's projected on to you in a special booth, record it and share it on social media. so, if you had planned on finally letting out your inner abba fan, this is the place to do so. location: swedish music hall of fame, djurgårdsvägen 68 [djurgården].

© abba the museum / photography: åke eriksson lindman - museum showcase

© strasburgo - the new store at tokyo midtown mall

founded in 1990, strasburgo is a multibrand chain with ten stores across japan. catering to a fashion-savvy clientele, the store carries a tightly edited range of high-end men's and women's collections from across the planet and selected by store owner junji tajima. strasburgo recently added a new branch at tokyo midtown, an upscale mall in tokyo's roppongi area, designed by london-based architect john heah. the interior is contemporary with a rustic edge, featuring suspended and built-in wooden shelving, matched with swathes of white walls and ceramic tile flooring. the new strasburgo store has been conceptualized the store with the urban traveler in mind, so pretty much the savvy kind who's connected in more ways than one and who knows his fashion from a-z. the shop accordingly offers merchandise of heightened sophistication. next to its own collections it features a wide range of fashion apparel, shoes and accessories of top brands such as kitsuné, proenza schouler, church's, haider ackermann and kenji ikeda, in addition to carefully selected interior design objects, lifestyle items and even food products. to top it all off the store opening coincided with the revealing of a new strasburgo logo, designed by style guru tyler brûlé. location: tokyo midtown, 9-7-4 akasaka, ground floor [roppongi].

© strasburgo - contemporary with a rustic edge

© david kretschmer - yeah, we know the feeling...

in a previous post we introduced four, a new men's concept store that has raised the bar for men's retail in amsterdam with its sleek interior and rich offerings. understanding well that the hipster merchandise on offer is very often a reflection of contemporary culture, the store also cleverly engages with artists and designers. in collab with amstel gallery the store presents mirrors, a sale exhibition of an acclaimed series of photographs by german photographer david kretschmer that'll open on fri - may 17 [6pm-9pm]. the work on display is inspired by glances in the mirror as part of our daily morning routine, and emphasizing the difference in time and rituals  of men and women. the photographs are meticulously orchestrated and incorporate well-sourced props to create an intimate atmosphere anyone can relate to. the series is complemented by confessions, a body of work that focuses on taboos and sexual taboos in particular. once again, kretschmer makes use of mirrors to portray several intimate domestic scenes. location: p.c. hooftstraat 127 [amsterdam zuid].

© david kretschmer - morning scrutiny

© jimmy choo - a gentleman's boudoir

ever since jimmy choo launched a men's collection we had been wondering whether they'd ever launch a dedicated men's flagship. after opening a smaller men's unit around the corner and a mixed men's and women's boutique in hong kong,  the very first standalone men's store has just bowed on london's dover street. set in a historic georgian building, the store measures 1,200 sq.ft. [111 sqm.] spread over two floors and resembles a lavish gentleman's boudoir. a masculine colour scheme of black, charcoal and silver is punctuated with highlights of red while slick finishes of black marble and leather are complemented with textures of felt, velvet and tweed. select vintage furnishings provide a 1960s retro glam to the eclectic interior. mind you, the basement section even features a cocktail bar. the new jimmy choo men's store carries the brand's entire men's collection of shoes, bags, small leather goods and scarves, and replaces the existing men’s store in burlington arcade. location: 35a dover street [mayfair].

© jimmy choo - retail chic

© sotheby's / jean-michel basquiat - punch bag [1983] - acrylic and oilstick on linen

the late jean-michel basquiat's talent has a magnitude that transcends time and still resonates with art aficionados and art collectors today. currently on at the s|2 gallery at the sotheby's office in new york is man made, a selling exhibition of the artist's works from 1979 to 1987. on display are more than 30 gems, from simple works on paper in marker and crayon to monumental and highly-finished canvases. these works also explore key themes that basquiat dealt with during his career and the variety of media he used to express them. one of the show's highlights is punch bag, a canvas which depicts a black boxer, one of the most iconic images associated with the artist’s work. it was painted in 1983 in st. moritz, switzerland at art dealer bruno bischofberger’s home in the first year they began working together.

the painting has been in a european collector’s home since it was purchased in the late 1990s. another one is love dub for a, a painting that was completed in 1987, basquiat's last year of painting and the year before he died. it's a fully developed, bright and fresh painting, also monumental in scale and has never been at auction before. the show is held at a key moment of appreciation for both the artist’s career and market with major museum exhibitions and gallery shows presented and record prices achieved in recent years [on through jun 9]. location: 1334 york avenue [upper east north].

© sotheby's / jean-michel basquiat - love dub for a [1987] - acrylic and oilstick on canvas

© woolrich - the first shop-in-shop stateside

heritage brand woolrich have opened their first u.s. shop-in-shop at brooklyn's smith + butler, a store with a very compatible range of goods. the new retail unit measures 250 sq.ft. [23 sqm.] and carries the woolrich collection exclusively in a curated environment, featuring a range of vintage home furnishings and antiques that have been specially built and sourced . currently on the shelves is the brand's s/s 2013 men’s collection which includes tailored pieces and sportswear inspired by the origins of the modern outdoors, classic american style and innovations in aesthetic fabric design. location: 225 smith street [cobble hill].

© woolrich - contemporary heritage trophies

© rpmwest

rpmwest is a new denim line from san francisco and run by a passionate group of designers, technologists and friends. they make premium jeans from the highest quality japanese selvedge and american sourced trimmings, and delivered and sold to you wholesale. rpmwest believes that the essence of denim is simplicity. after all, jeans used to be a democratic garment, one you could count on to be affordable and reliable. unfortunately this is rarely the case these days given the many exploited workers that make cheap jeans with cheap materials, while on the other hand artisan, selvedge denim often costs more than usd 200. and neither retail nor online stores offer an ideal purchasing experience. online stores have a leg up in convenience, but only if you order the right size the first time. that's why today [8am - pst] rpmwest launch a project on kickstarter to make things happen. rpmwest are selling american made selvedge denim for usd 95, and if they reach their stretch goal they'll offer an option for three pairs of jeans with every order at no extra charge. now how about that? view the video below or click [here] for more info.

© adrien dirand - restaurant by day and club by night

in a previous post we talked about palais de tokyo's drastic renovation and expansion. the leading contemporary arts venue didn't stop just there and has recently opened the stylish new monsieur bleu restaurant in the new west wing that'll make your visit even more worthwhile. paris-based architect joseph dirand designed a timeless and chic interior that lightly hints art déco, and although it looks a lot more formal than palais de tokyo's initial dining spot tokyo eat, it actually isn't. the lofty decorum features slabs of marble, mirrors and tiled flooring. adding a subtle splash of colour to the predominantly black and white colour scheme are the velvety chairs and sofas in various shades of green. voluminous, boxy chandeliers add a theatrical modern edge to the establishment that's currently the talk of the town. 

monsieur bleu is conceptualized as a place where to unwind and meet up at any time of the day, and that's very much reflected by the range of classic, simple dishes on the menu. chef benjamin masson heads the restaurant kitchen while another food expert, alixe lacloche, supervises the cocktail list. from now through coming september [thu-sat / from 11pm] the restaurant morphs into a proper night haunt, thanks to the savvy deejay programming by benjamin cassan and franck maillot, two veterans of the local nightlife scene. adding up to the fun - and paris' stature as the undisputed capital of hedonism - an expansive 650 sqm. [6,997 sq.ft.] terrace with sweeping views of the seine and the iconic eiffel tower is readily available for outdoor fun on balmy nights. location: 13 avenue du président wilson [champs-élysées].

© adrien dirand - we'll take that table in the corner, merci.