SALE: OBEDIENT SONS SPRING/SUMMER 2008

** all sale items are sold as is and are final sale.

Obedient Sons - 'Mutiny Club' jacket
in light grey
DETAILS: 100% linen, canvassed, double vented, removable award ribbon, worn in the above photo with Obedient Sons 'Island Tank' [see below]
sizes: 40, 42
was $780, now $468.99


Obedient Sons - Island Tank
in fire or gray
DETAILS: overdyed Italian cotton, single chest pocket, curved hem; pictured also above with the 'Mutiny' jacket
sizes/fire: 1
sizes/gray: 3
was $108, now $65.99


Sons by Obedient Sons - Skinny pant
in fire or white ** please note the "fire" color is shown most accurately in the bottom photo
DETAILS: Italian cotton twill, five pockets, back pocket rivets, slim fit
sizes/fire: 0(28), 1(30)
sizes/white: 0(28), 3(34)
was $144, now $86.99

SALE: FILIPPA K LEATHER SNEAKERS

** all sale items are sold as is and are final sale.

Filippa K - Leather sneakers
in navy
DETAILS: super low profile design, made from leather and nylon with rubber soles
sizes: 41, 43, 44
was $328, now $196.99

COMING SOON... JULIUS

One of our new brands for the coming fall/winter 2008 season will be the already popular Julius from Japan. This collection marked their first time presenting in Paris and just the other day in Paris was their first ever runway show, showcasing the spring/summer 2009 collection. The brand has been going for quite some time and they are finally getting some well-deserved recognition!

The brand's aesthetic seems darker than dark but a lot of the pieces are surprisingly versatile and can fit into a wide range of wardrobes, perfectly in unison with a lot of brands already in the store. For years now Julius's beautiful silhouette has combined elegance with a strong military and industrial influence to create a dramatic effect -- long draping cut & sew and knit pieces are layered under slim jackets for the upper half while the lower half includes usually a trouser or jean tucked into a boot with extra fabric delicately flowing all around. Based on styled looks, it may seem that only black exists in their world, but this season has some relief from the darkness including cut & sew pieces done in cement, raw (off white), and blood red.

The construction of the clothes, as well as the textiles used, blow me away season after season. Even the simple cotton used in their basic cut & sew pieces manages to be unlike anything else around.

Arrivals are set for August and September and will include knits, cut & sew, jackets (including a gorgeous leather one pictured below!), a heavy melton wool coat, and a slew of accessories. Check out the pictures below showing some styled looks, as well as individual items. Check back also for some more information as the summer progresses!

COOL DOWN AT BLACKBIRD ON SATURDAY NIGHT

Please join us this Saturday for our Cool Down Party. We're staying open late on Saturday night to give you an extra 40% off ALL sale items*. Bring your friends, get some relief from the heat, and come celebrate with us.

[photo from shorpy.com]

*40% off last-marked prices on all sale items, valid in-store only from 7-10pm on Saturday June 28th. All sales final.

POP CHINOS IN TOKION

Check out this short article on Acne Pop Chinos from the July issue of Tokion Magazine. Cool background about the inspiration for these colorful chinos and their design details are given in the quick write-up, below:

Click on image to see larger version.
[taken from Tokion Magazine]

SUPPORT LEO IN WHISKER CONTEST

Leo, whom many of you know from our shop and website, will be competing in next week's first ever North American Beard and Mustache Contest. His mustache is shaping up nicely (see below). We think he has a good chance in the competition, so come help us we support him. The competition is being hosted by the Whisker Club at Elks Lodge in Bremerton on July 5 (click here for details). If you have any tips to help Leo prepare for the competition, stop by the store or email him at leo@blackbirdballard.com.

Leo's Mustache, one week before the competition.

These guys are serious: Leo will face competition from the likes of these guys.

SALE: WINGS+HORNS COATED TERRY HALF ZIP

** all sale items are sold as is and are final sale.


wings+horns - Coated terry half zip pullover hoodie
in black or grey
sizes/black: XS (sold out!)
sizes/grey: S (sold out!)
was $204, now $122.99

SALE: PLEASURE PRINCIPLE SPRING/SUMMER 2008

** all sale items are sold as is and are final sale.


Pleasure Principle - Ghetto-style double tank
in light grey
DETAILS: attached top layer crosses diagonally across the body to reveal the "pow" print of the under layer
sizes: S, M
was $195, now $139.99


Pleasure Principle - Double Layer u-neck
in light grey
DETAILS: two separate and detachable layers of a soft cotton u-neck t-shirt, outer layer features a laser cut wolf face detail; please note the sizing runs a bit small
sizes: S, M
was $156, now $95.99

SURFACE TO AIR TWO FINGER RINGS

Surface to Air - Stacked flat two finger ring
in gun metal
sizes: one size
$132


Surface to Air - Stacked round two finger ring
in gun metal
sizes: one size
$132

YMC ZIP BOOTS ON H(Y)R COLLECTIVE

The folks at h(y)r collective have spotted our goods again, this time lauding our YMC Zip Boot, now on sale. Praising the colors and subtle zip detail, they describe the boots as "a subtle piece of nice fashion". Click here to see the write-up in full, and see our recent blog post for more info.

YMC - "Zip Boot"
orig. $190, now $114.99

N. HOOLYWOOD SPECIAL BOX FROM DAZED & CONFUSED

Coming to Blackbird for fall/winter 2008 will be the "Under Summit Wear" line from Japan's N. Hoolywood. To celebrate this, we were able to get in a handful of these special boxes from Dazed & Confused Japan completely dedicated to the brand. Included in the box is a newspaper, written in both English and Japanese, detailing the influences of each of the brand's collection as well as an extensive interview with designer Daisuke Obana and other background on the brand. Included with the very informative paper is also a free-size t-shirt and iron on decals to arrange as you wish -- as the t-shirt suggests, you are expected to make your own!

Dazed & Confused Japan - N. Hoolywood Special Box
INCLUDES: newspaper with extensive information on N. Hoolywood and free-size t-shirt with two iron on decals to cut and design as you please
$35

N. Hoolywood is the creation of Daisuke Obana, known to his friends as Mr. Hollywood. He developed a taste for vintage clothes early in his life and through repeated trips to Los Angeles as a buyer for vintage stores, quickly acquired the now famous nickname. His shop, located just behind the upscale shopping mall Omotesando Hills and off a very discreet side street, began first as a vintage shop but has since grown to become one of the most popular brands in the Japan fashion world. His collections are influenced heavily by Americana and his love for all things vintage. This special Dazed & Confused issue is an excellent peek inside Obana's always working mind. Check it out for great articles about the brand's wide range of influences including Apollo 11, Jello Biafra, Edward Gorey, American Splendor, Phil Spector, Obana's love for pho, and a lot more.

The "Under Summit Wear" line is N. Hoolywood's standards line, specializing in top quality basics. Each piece comes packaged in a gorgeous custom box and is made from the absolute best materials. Everything is made with the possibility of sizing up or down to suit your taste -- buy your normal size or up for a perfect looser fitting t-shirt or you can even go down a size for a snug fitting undershirt that will stay with you for many seasons to come. When the pieces arrive in early August, we know our customers are going to be just as excited for it as we were when we first experienced them at shops in Tokyo. Until then, you'll just have to settle for the Dazed & Confused N. Hoolywood special box!

The picture up at the top was taken during my trip to Tokyo in March 2007. It was actually my second trip to the store. The day before when I had attempted to check it out, I was stopped at the entrance by Obana who kindly informed me I could not enter as they were having a buyers exhibition that day. I returned promptly the next day and fell immediately in love with the store's atmosphere. Just about exactly a year later, it seemed almost surreal to be returning to the store this time as a buyer, passing through the block setup at the entrance as before.

SHORTS OF SUMMER

It finally feels like summer in Seattle, which usually means a mad scramble for some weather-appropriate attire. Take a moment, step away from the temptation to shred your favorite jeans into DIY cut-offs, and check out our selection of shorts below. More are available in our shop, so come grab a pair - did we mention that they're all under $100?

Insight - "Mid Miguel" shorts [left]
size 30
$60

Insight - "Pusherman" shorts [right]
size 28, 30, 36
$68



RVCA - "Self Colors" shorts [left]
size 28, 30, 31, 32, 34
$48

Obey - "Stone Fist" shorts [right]
size 28, 30
$73



Paul Frank - "Nova jorts" [left]
size 28, 30, 32, 34, 36
$72

Paul Frank - "Chevelle jorts" [right]
size 28, 30, 32, 34, 36
$72



Obey - "Black Flag" shorts [left]
size 28, 36
$77

Obey - "Field Work" shorts [right]
size 28, 30, 32
$66

MASTER NYC TAILOR, MARTIN GREENFIELD

Take a few minutes to check out this video about legendary tailor Martin Greenfield. It's been circulating on various websites [Racked, A Continuous Lean, and men.style.com] and is packed with interesting details on Greenfield and the intricacies of suit-making. He's been working out of the same suit making factory in Bushwick for over 30 years, tailoring for a slew of celebrities and politicians, as well as collections for Brooks Brothers, Freemans Sporting Club, and Band of Outsiders. Impressive, to say the least.

Martin the Tailor from Ed David on Vimeo.

WELCOME KRIS!

We're happy to welcome Blackbird's newest team member, Kris Hutchins! He's minty fresh to Seattle by way of Tacoma, so help make him feel at home and come say hello this weekend.

Kris Hutchins - kris@blackbirdballard.com
Kris lives with his girlfriend and enjoys guitars and drawing. He is also a Pisces.

ACNE JEANS - BOGUS BELTS

Whether you're a fan of Acne Jeans or not, you have admit that these belts are pretty fun. They paired unique rubber material with wearable colors and subtle silver hardware, so you can cinch your favorite jeans in style.

Acne Jeans - "Bogus" belt
available in [from top to bottom] burgundy, silver birch, or bungee cord
DETAILS: 1.25 inch thick rubber belt with silver square buckle
available in 85, 95, or 105 cm lengths
$125

BLACKBIRD IN SCOUTE MAGAZINE

Check out Blackbird merchandise in the new online magazine Scoute, which published its first issue in May and features stories on travel, shopping, music, art, and design. Their May article "Paper or Plastic" features our Surface to Air bags, and this month's shopping feature "Shorts" suggests pairs by Wrath Arcane and Harmon available at Blackbird (see below).

Harmon - Big Pleat Short
[see original post]
sizes 30, 32
$324

Wrath Arcane - Baggy Short Slant Pocket
100% cotton canvas in black
sizes 28, 30, 32, 34 or 36
$139

VUARNET ON H(Y)R COLLECTIVE

Our Vuarnet sunglasses made a splash on h(y)r collective dailys, where their blogger Ryan Willms seems to really dig our new (old) shades:

"These shades got popular on the ski hills back in the day but their vintage look and solid construction makes them pretty relevant today. With a tag of $156 US they are a pretty good choice for an alternate sunglass to pull out for those extra sunny days."

Agreed. Check out the full text, and see our original blog post for more info and photos.