NEW ARRIVAL - ALDEN FOR BLACKBIRD CHRISTOPHERSON'S CREAMERY BOOT IN 8 CORDOVAN

Designed by Blackbird in collaboration with Alden of New England, makers of custom boots since 1884. The Christopherson's Creamery Milkman Boot was inspired by the shiny simple uniform boots that so many delivery drivers wore back in day when milk and groceries were delivered. Christopherson's Creamery was a local Ballard dairy shop on Market Street, just around the corner from where Blackbird is today. We're expecting to see this become your favorite boot - the one that you'll wear with everything, doing anything for the next 20 to 50 years.

ABOUT ALDEN'S SHELL CORDOVAN LEATHER:

Using the centuries-old method of pure vegetable tannage and hand finishing, the single tannery still producing genuine shell cordovan today is indeed practicing a rare art. The tanning process takes a full six months to complete and produces leather that is soft and supple, yet very durable. Alden's classic patterns take on a unique character when made from genuine shell cordovan.

By virtue of their long experience, Alden stands as the acknowledged master in working and finishing this special leather into extraordinary footwear. The crafting of shoes from shell cordovan recalls, indeed depends on, shoemaking of the old school. The special qualities of the leather are elusive, unresponsive to high volume production methods. Cordovan demands the measured pace of hand shoemaking and patient finishing, responding to such careful work with unmatched luster.

ALDEN - CHRISTOPHERSON'S CREAMERY BOOT

in 8 Cordovan

STYLE: Navy Blucher High Boot - plain toe - perforated quarter detailing at the ankle, LAST: Barrie, UPPER: Alden's #8 brown shell cordovan (for details, scroll to the bottom), OUTSOLE: rubber Commando outsole for grip and durability, INSOLE: leather with the "Made expressly for Blackbird" heel pod, MID-SOLE: cork midsole with steel shank for long-lasting strength and support, LACING: flat waxed lacing through black agatine and hook eyelets, WELT: high quality Goodyear leather storm welt construction. LINING: fully leather lined. Note: these shoes run large. We recommend sizing down half a size.

$679

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Over time, the patina in Alden's genuine shell cordovan shoes will only improve, deepening with each polishing and showing to full advantage the especially rich character of the leather. As durable and comfortable to wear as they are beautiful to look at, genuine shell cordovan shoes truly are Alden's masterworks.

Handmade shoes from Alden take a long time to produce so there is not always inventory readily available. If the size, width or style you are interested in is currently out of stock, or you have questions about fit, please contact us at info@blackbirdballard.com where the Blackbird crew will quickly answer your questions and do everything in their power to get them for you.

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BACK IN BLACK - CIRE TRUDON L'ADMIRABLE

Empress Eugenie and her Ladies by Winterhalter

Cire Trudon's L'Admirable gives off the scent of Eternal Colgne, fair and virginal, left behind by Eugenie and Winterhalter's flower girls. An imperial bee breaks into a dance around the gusty vapors of ruffled citurs fruits and bitter orange.

CIRE TRUDON

L'ADMIRABLE

$79

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LÄNGE LEVE SKANDINAVIEN!

We here at Blackbird Ballard are generally sweet on the Nordic Nations year-round, but this week our crush just grew and grew...

...First, our office filled up with fantastic new pieces for the Autumn by Swedish lines HOPE and Our Legacy. You can shop the Our Legacy here, and watch this short video by HOPE, previewing their 2011 Autumn/Winter collection:

This season is inspired by "Sea Captains finding their way from the Arctic Ocean into the land of Lapland looking for inspiration from the Sami culture." We have been oohing and aahing over the stuff since it came in, and we hope to have it up on the web by the weekend. Until then, you can always call Sky or Arleigh for the inside scoop: 866.500.2524.

Second, we got some really exciting news about the Nordic Fashion Biennale, to be held this Fall at Ballard's own Nordic Heritage Museum. Check out the schedule of events here, and stay tuned to the blog for more updates as the Biennale draws near.

Last but not least, we got our Robyn tickets! We haven't stopped dancing since!

Länge leve Skandinavien!

BACK IN BLACK: OBEY STANDARD DENIM

Obey's excellent "Standard" line of denim is now back in stock. These styles are available in store at the moment and should be online soon. In addition to what is shown below, we now have available the "Regular" straight leg fit in raw or two different washes.

Obey - Standard Issue Classic Slim Jeans
in raw indigo
DETAILS: Slim straight jean with regular rise, button fly, metal rivets, and leather label. Perfect choice for someone looking for a classic "slim but not skinny" jean cut.
$78


Obey - Standard Issue Slim Jeans
in worn
DETAILS: Slim straight jean with regular rise, button fly, metal rivets, leather label, and dark blue back pocket stitching. Perfect choice for someone looking for a classic "slim but not skinny" jean cut.
$86


Obey - Standard Issue Slim Jeans
in worker wash
DETAILS: Slim straight jean with regular rise, button fly, metal rivets, and leather label. Perfect choice for someone looking for a classic "slim but not skinny" jean cut.
$92

NEW ARRIVALS - OUR LEGACY NOW ON THE WEB

Our Legacy is a swoon-worthy Swedish menswear line; rich in texture, delightful in fiber, and cut for the contemporary gentleman who respects his elders. When we jump into a pair of these classic trousers in heavy, grey wool we immediately begin to dream of long drives in open-top cars, a shaggy dog by our side, and the cool, sweet, smoky scent of Autumn hanging in the air.

OUR LEGACY - CLASSIC TROUSER
in grey weed
DETAILS: 100% wool trousers with YKK zipper, one button closure and eight belt loops. Flat front slant pockets and two welt pockets on the back, each with one button closure and the left with a loop closure. Natural crease down the front and back for a tailored look. The fabric is a light grey with woven in specks of yellow, red, and blue.
$282
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Pair the trousers with this blue denim button-down and you will be welcomed in every roadside tavern, then add the Great Sweat pullover when that Autumn air begins to whisper winter.

OUR LEGACY - CHEST PANEL SHIRT
in blue denim
DETAILS: 100% cotton shirt with seven marbled four hole buttons. Two horizontal inset stripes measuring 1 1/4 inch and 3 inches. The left chest pocket is inset along the stripe seam. Double-stitched side seams, scooped hem, standard sleeves with 2 1/2 inch cuffs with single button closure, and horizontal rear yoke.
$188
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OUR LEGACY - 1950's GREAT SWEAT
in charcoal towl
DETAILS: 5% cashmere, 55% wool and 40% polyester sweatshirt. Cotton towel texture with raglan sleeves and a 3 1/2 inch cuff and hem. Seam binding style crew neck collar. Arms fit a bit narrow which is great for wearing under blazers and jackets.
$138
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RETURN OF THE WOLF - FALL ODYN VOVK NOW ONLINE

"He went on two legs, wore clothes and was a human being, but nevertheless he was in reality a wolf of the Steppes." Herman Hesse, Steppenwolf.

ODYN VOVK - THE GAUNTLET
in freedom black
DETAILS: 100% cotton black sleeveless jacket with 100% quilted ripstop nylon. Four asymmetrical panels make up this jacket. Large collar with wide angular lapels and a snap closure on right chest. Two flat front over sized hip pockets with black topstitching and raw edges. A built in belt/sash brings this jacket together with ease.
$576
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ODYN VOVK - TRACK LONG SLIM BUTTON DOWN
 in oxblood

DETAILS: 99% cotton 1% lycra fitted button down in deep maroon. Six black metal Odyn Vovk button down center front with two flat front inset pockets at the waist. Two piece back with an asymmetrical seam from the back neck down and across to the back left shoulder. Two piece sleeves with a 2 3/4 inch cuff. This shirt would be great on its own or worn over another shirt buttoned or unbuttoned, styled like a suit jacket.
$288
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ODYN VOVK - CREAPER HOODED JACKET
in black
DETAILS: 65% wool, 30% poliamide, 5% O.F black jacket. The front of this jacket consists of six panels. There are two chest pockets set in along the front yoke and two hip pockets set in along the diagonal seam running from the yoke to the side-seam and a separating zipper. Center back seam consists of an underlay pleat. One piece sleeve with an eight inch pin tuck coming from the shoulder as well as from the cuff creating a natural arch to the sleeve.
$648
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BACK IN BLACK - TELLASON DENIM...AND A LITTLE SECRET

Back in Black are three styles from our friends at Tellason. Real men's denim with a hidden secret. Seen above are a pair of well worn Tellason jeans with 2 rinses, one tiny detail that you may notice is a weird wear mark right next to the seaming on the back pocket. Hidden inside the back pocket of each pair of Tellason jeans is a small red tag, there must be a story there, but you'll have to find out yourself. 

TELLASON - ANKARA STRAIGHT LEG

in blue

DETAILS: 100% cotton blue line selvedge White Oak Cone denim true straight-leg five pocket jeans with a higher rise than Tellason's Strummer jeans. Antiqued button fly and hardware, double-thick back pocket lining for durability, and two-tone stitching. Denim produced by Cone Mills out of Greensboro, NC. Leather label made by Tanner Goods from Portland, OR. Final product is constructed in San Francisco, CA.

$198

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TUESDAY, GRUNGY TUESDAY - CHARLES PETERSON PHOTOS AT THE CROCODILE

If the recent emergence of Frances Bean Cobain on Hedi Slimane's photo diary made you nostalgic for fuzzed-up riffs, hair in the eyes, and the smell of Teen Spirit wafting through the Moore Theater, make sure you get down to The Crocodile and check out Charles Peterson's photographs documenting the heyday of Seattle's Grunge scene. Peterson was on hand with his camera at a time when the star of grunge was ascending, and his show is a collection of large-scale prints that are a bittersweet reminder of the chaos and energy of that era, as well as its sometimes softer side.

photos by Charles Peterson

The Crocodile is located at 2nd Ave and Blanchard in Downtown Seattle, and we hear they serve pretty decent wood-fire pizza. Now here is a little something to get you in the mood:

BACK IN BLACK: HONEY, HONEY

We have just received a fresh shipment of our delicious, Ballard Bee Company honey! Perfect to stir into your tea or spread on a slice of bread fresh from the oven. Ballard Bee honey is unfiltered and raw so you can taste and appreciate all of the hard work our Ballard Bees have done throughout the season.

Ballard Bee Company - 12 oz. Honey Bottle
$12
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A COUPLE FAVORITES FROM OUR LEGACY FALL/WINTER 2011

As mentioned previously, Our Legacy FW2011 arrived at the store yesterday and should be online shortly. We wanted to give everyone a little preview, though, with a couple of our favorite items. Shown here is the Men's Dinner Coat in "tilted rain"; a heavyweight three-button tailored coat made from super tough virgin wool/acrylic/nylon blend. Sharply tailored to present a great clean silhouette. Under the coat is the polka dot First Shirt; dark printed polka dot pattern on a soft 100% cotton flannel buttondown.

The fabrics this season are truly ideal for the wintertime. Perfect weights and weaves that will keep you nice and warm while still looking your best.

NEW ARRIVALS - OUR LEGACY

Our Legacy's Fall/Winter 2011 Collection has just arrived to Blackbird today. This heavily textured collection features outstanding workmanship and attention to detail. For you online shoppers. look for it to be up on the web by the weekend and for the rest of you, it will be in the store in an hour or so. Enjoy.

ANOTHER UPDATE FROM THE FIELD HOUSE

The new The Field House is coming along fast now and we are getting more and more excited about sharing the new space with you. Just a little bit longer till we open...stay tuned.

INTO THE DEEP BLUE SEA WITH A.P.C.

photos by Hiroshi Sugimoto 

Deep Blue Sea performed by Grizzly Bear

A.P.C. - DERBY VEAU LISSE
in navy
DETAILS: All leather derby shoe in a perfect dark Navy. These beautiful shoes have a rounded toe with four eyelets and crisp, dark matching woven laces. The upper is composed of three main sections. One wrapping from the heel around the outside to the toe and around again to the inside. The second panel runs along the inside from the heel to the middle to meet the first panel. The third is the tongue of the shoe. A 1 inch dark brown sole is the perfect compliment to the Navy leather upper.

A.P.C. is a French ready-to-wear brand, founded in 1988 by the Tunisian born Designer Jean Touitou. A.P.C. stands for 'Atelier de Production et de Creation' and is known for its clean-cut and minimalist nature, as well as simple, chic, and modern design, with military over-tones. The brand makes great use of denim and high quality fabrics. The quality of Touitou's fabric are matched by a similar dedication to ensuring his designs fit appropriately.

$398
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