London’s latest retail space for the well-dressed male by Barnaby Slater Flawlessly merging a unique interior aesthetic with an eclectic menswear collection, Hostem is what the red-blooded gentlemen of East London have been waiting for. Owner James Brown cut the ribbon three months ago, yearning for “a space in which I could support the brands I really believed in.” Once inside this emporium of reclaimed antiquity, James’ ethos shapes your entire retail experience, bringing together an inventive mix of luxe streetwear and exclusive handmade tailoring from unfathomably talented designers such as Casely Hayford , Visvim , Dr Romanelli , Ann Demeulemeester and Damir Doma . Hostem houses two main rooms realized by celebrated interior design duo Jamesplumb , who engineered each space to appeal to the different requirements of a modern man’s wardrobe. The first attends to casual desires with snazzy sneakers tempting from their concrete plinths, while classic cottons and comfy cashmeres hang from bespoke, hand-bent metal rails. Room two concentrates on the niche, with hand-painted hessian wall panels and a more visionary array of clothing, allowing shoppers to lose themselves in the luxury of every tiny detail— from the cut of a Geoffrey B. Small trouser to the feel of the re-claimed church pew you perch on to decide whether you can justify an acquisition from the impressive jewelry and fragrance selections too. More than just another East London menswear boutique, Hostem is a visceral experience where exceptional, unrivaled collections meet wondrous hand-crafted design, leaving you feeling like you’ve discovered something that no-one else knows about. Best of all—you can wear that feeling home.
A brilliant ’72 video from the Eames Office begs you to slow down and learn about an iconic instant camera A precursor to today’s digital era, Polaroid’s iconic 1972 SX-70 Land Camera is notable not only for its achievements as the first folding and first SLR instant camera but also for its perfection in form, function, and beauty. The revolutionary camera ignited and defined the instant era, allowing a photographer to focus solely on capturing the the moment at hand. One of our favorite sources of inspiration, a pristine example along with its brass-riveted leather case sits on the book shelves at CH HQ. Though we see it every day we were reminded of its importance when our friend Doug Jaeger posted a 1972 video celebrating the camera and its made-in-America pride (a theme that brands like Jeep , Corvette , and Levi’s are currently emphasizing in their campaigns). Partially because the camera’s technology was so radical at the time and partially because it came about during an era where people allowed themselves the luxury to understand how things function, the Office of Charles and Ray Eames produced a 10-minute-long video advertisement (more of a documentary, really) about the SX-70, which beautifully captures the camera in all of its glory. What’s most surprising (and rewarding) is the pacing and storytelling—something that lacks in today’s 30 second sound-bite, ADD, multitasking culture. Though parts of the video may feel slow, you will be completely rewarded for your patience. As the brilliantly executed video demonstrates, the sleek leather and aluminum SX-70 “helps meet the universal need to do things well.” Designed so that the face perfectly fits into the device when looking through the viewfinder, the camera’s intelligible exterior conceals a complex internal structure—a system that perfectly illustrates Edwin Land ‘s philosophy to only undertake a project that is manifestly important and “nearly impossible.” The camera’s unique optical path (fully explained at 4:13 in the video) is a result of its folding capability. A four element lens collects and then bounces light off a permanent mirror onto a Fresnel surface. The light is bundled, bounced back again and then passed through two astigmatism-correcting slits before hitting an aspheric plastic mirror, creating an image which is then captured through the Fresnel and an elevated taking mirror. Flash bulbs and close up lenses were some of the additional equipment availale for this flexible camera. The SX-70 film was the first instant film that was self-contained and didn’t require timing or peeling. The film developed in a few minutes but continued to set for a few days, allowing photographers of all skill levels to achieve previously unattainable effects by cooling or heating the film during that time. While the SX-70 (along with all Polaroid cameras) is no longer produced today eBay often has several to choose from, and thanks to the Impossible Project you can still order film for it.
Bugatti’s lighter, more agile take on their carbon-fiber Veyron by Ariel Adams Debuting last weekend at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance , the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport sees luxury French automaker Bugatti improve upon their original version, the Veyron Super Sport . With enhanced aerodynamics and aesthetics, the 16.4 is an extravagant ride that will deceive you with its power and grace. I got to ride in one and can say that the Veyron 16.4 arguably offers the most extravagant riding experience available—deceiving you with grace and beauty inside the world’s fastest, and most powerful street legal car. The 16.4 Super Sport’s performance advancements include 1.4 lateral Gs (the gravitational force of a free fall) and its 1,200 horsepower will have you accelerating from zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds. Additionally, driver Pierre Henri Raphanel utilized the 16-cylinder engine in breaking the Guinness World Record for fastest speed by a production car with a mind-blowing 267.8mph. Lighter than ever, the entire body and frame are made from high-tech carbon fiber, lifting roughly 110 pounds off the original model. Additionally, Bugatti has stiffened the super car’s suspension, giving the 16.4 an even sportier ride. Exterior color choices include blue with gray accents or a black with orange, (a color scheme found on Bugatti’s collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Parmigiani), while interior details include milled metal parts, carbon fiber, layers of leather, and more. With a sleek sportiness that arguably only a European design can offer, the only major drawback to the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is its steep price tag ($2,000,000) and high maintenance cost (tires alone will set you back $25,000). So far, Bugatti has sold all five of the World Record Editions and plan on producing more models Fall 2010 with an electronically limited speed of 257.9 mph for tire protection.
Italian sports car design meets luxury horology in this new collaborative watch by Meehna Goldsmith With echoes of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4′s sexy curves, the Parmigiani Bugatti Super Sport watch is the latest high performance collaboration from the opulent French watchmaker and Italian sports car manufacturer. Working together since 2001, Parmigiani and Bugatti have created several successful timepieces, including the 2004 Bugatti Type 370 —a revolutionary watch that rests on a diagonal axis so drivers can read the time without having to turn their wrist. Designed for Bugatti’s 100-year anniversary, the sleek Super Sport borrows the 370′s well-fitted design while adding even greater aerodynamic styling by mocking the Bugatti Veyron’s streamlined wing. Like all of their watches, the Super Sport draws on Fibonacci’s Golden Ratio, using the mathematical formula’s spiral lines to create a perfectly-proportioned watch. Another design feat, flipping the mechanical components of the watch onto a vertical axis allows drivers to keep focus on the dial. Though the concept seems simple, the difficulty of configuring the dial’s direction against the watch’s movement makes it a triumph of engineering. By developing a 90-degree time setting system and integrating a system of double pinions with bevel gearing, Parmigiani again dramatically transformed the possibilities for watch design. While the watch has subtle Bugatti branding, the details speak more to the renowned design of the company, beginning with the shade of orange used on the watch hands, indexes and power reserve. Other signals include train wheels cut to resemble car wheels—visible through the piece’s six sapphire crystals—as well as balance and escape wheel bridges formed to mirror the Bugatti oval. All 337 individual parts of the watch are produced in-house at Parmigiani, with the exception of the Hermes crystals and band. Produced in a limited edition of 30 pieces in 18kt white gold, the Parmigiani Bugatti Super Sport retails for $259,000 at selected authorized dealers around the world.
Exquisite craftsmanship honors the Industrial Revolution in this luxury timepiece by Meehna Goldsmith Designed by complications maestro Christophe Claret , the Palace is the latest addition to the luxuriously retro watch line Jean Dunand . The timepiece, inspired by the dynamic Art Deco age (the company’s name references a famed artisan of the time period), embodies the spirit and style of the glamorously functional arts movement. Even the name is a shout-out to London’s Crystal Palace, which was built for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and set the stage for the era. Sourced from a range of classically Jean Dunand geometric shapes, consistent with the Art Deco ideals of function, craftsmanship and the highest grade of materials, the watch also references imagery from two iconic films of the era—Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” and Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times”—each giving life to the machine and its tools. The Palace’s movement takes aesthetic cues from the architecture of the Eiffel Tower, with plates supported by tiny pillars to suggest the reinforcement of a massive, cast-iron structure. From the profile, the watch even resembles the great tower’s base. But the Industrial Revolution and its fascination with mechanized function anchor the thematics of this timepiece. The eye wanders over a landscape of tracks, wheels and a chain, evocative of those used on the chain drives of vintage Indian and Vincent motorcycles. Exhibiting his trademark mechanical virtuosity, Claret powers the Palace with a manually wound, one-minute flying tourbillon with a 72-hour power reserve. True to the company’s motto, no two watches share the same materials or design, making each one a truly unique piece in the collection and helping to justify the $417,000 price tag. It’s available through select retailers around the world.
