[ URBAN + TAKE(ØUT) ]

Remember how I said that Spring was the time for white sneakers? Well remember how I also said that Spring was the time for colorful accessories? Your answer should be a resounding yes. Here’s an urban grad glance at my favorite sneakers for the Spring…HANDS DOWN. Almost every designer, streetwear brand and celebrity has presented their take on the hi-top sneaker. I appreciate the Calvin Klein Collection Spring/Summer ‘09 sneakers for deciding to show us the other away.

Urban Takeøut knows that its been about hi-top sneakers and dress pants for a while now. It hasn’t been an extremely popular look, or pulled off very often, but thanks to recent Dior Homme shows, it may become more prevalent. So before that look blows up, we wanted to take it back to basics for a second…the man’s oxford shoe.

Man Urban Takeøout is so into Spring this year. It’s because the colors Duke, the colors [I think that was a Bush's Baked Bean's commercial reference]! As we have always said here at u|T|ø, its all about accessories. Great accessories make a normal outfit pop, get you more attention, and the envy/hate of others. According to the latest edition of VMAN magazine [Grads if your not on it please check it out] this season’s best accessories are “all about playfulness and color.”

Check out these accessories:

Like the swimsuits, these are another Lenny Leleu original. These plexiglass and steel shades are…DIG THIS…from her graduation collection at the Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium. Now I have three favorite Belgians; Ms. Leleu, Kris Van Assche and the elusive Raf Simons. Urban graduettes, these are definitely a good look for the Spring. These shades come in a white and orange colorway, but they are pricey as hell. Last time I checked, I found a pair for $498…yeeEAH. Maybe eBay can help you out on this one.

OK, ok urban grads and graduettes, if you have not been taking note of how u|T|ø has been endorsing Spring time, I’ve compiled a linked list of jpics to all the relevant posts. If you don’t wanna take our suggestions to the application stage, it’s cool…but remember we’re just doing this for yall. So just click and you shall receive…

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Let’s face it, Luxury brands aren’t for everyone — by design. Whether it’s the cost, the availability, or the product construct, luxury labels present a huge barrier-to-entry. However, Comme des Garcons has been slowly transforming into what we call, the Luxe-Hybrid — an entity that straddles the fence between fashion elitism and common trend.

Rei Kawakubo has been known for her avant garde style, infusing deconstruction concepts, asymmetry, and monochromatic colour treatments into garments for years. And up until recently — these looks were merely…looks: ensembles so impractical or unattainable that “fiscally-challenged” trendsetters could only use the pictures for inspiration. Between 1969 and 2009 — Rei & Co. had a change of heart…or something like it (Let’s just name that the Junya Watanabe Effect – we’ll come back to this).

Somewhere along the line, Comme embraced “the collaboration”. They have brought the labels’ high-end style concepts to several of the industry’s reputable yet more “practical” brands – strategically placing Comme des Garcons within the grasp of  cult followers. And in my humble smartorialistic opinion, therein marks the definitive luxe-hybrid turning point. In this 4 part smARTORIALIST series , we will discuss Kindom Comme: the key choices that Comme des Garcons has made to sustain it’s luxury-edge while gently floating down to Earth (or somewhere near it’s atmosphere). Stay tuned.