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June 18, 2013

Kanye West, Minimalism, and Leather Moto Jackets

Kanye West has been compared to Pink Floyd, Steve Jobs, and even Mozart. (That last article drew a lot of fire in its comments section, of course…as well as a few lucid arguments from music majors who backed their opinions up with historical facts and classical theory.)

Whatever you think about the man and his music, you have to admit that he’s been influential—in pop culture at large, as well as in the realm of menswear. GQ ran a retrospective on West’s style today, which points pretty clearly to the fact that (ethical qualms with floor-length fur aside) the rapper/producer’s present-day wardrobe choices are his wisest, and most relevant to the rest of us, to date.

See above. West’s tough, monochromatic minimalism seems right in step with the bluntly reduced electro thump of his new album, Yeezus, out today. In his recent NY Times interview, West says a lamp by minimalist architect/designer Le Corbusier changed his entire point of view. He also says it takes him a fraction of the time to get dressed these days—proving what we’ve known for a while now: Throw on a leather jacket with anything, from a T-shirt to a tie, and you’re good to go.

[We're not saying West did or would wear these particular jackets; but if you'd like to recreate his minimalist MOTO look, start here. Pierre Balmain | A.P.C. | Just Cavalli]

The image up top is from West’s performance on Saturday Night Live last month—one of the darkest, most jarring, and most fascinating things that’s happened on that show maybe ever. (Well, there was this.) We can’t exactly show the video here, but if you can handle some controversial political topics, click here.

Here’s a few more live music performances, some from Kanye, some from SNL, and some from 20+ years ago, whose style tips you can take to heart today:


West and Jay-Z performing their Watch the Throne single ‘Otis’ at the MTV Video Music Awards. Kanye reps DENIM ON DENIM, with a touch of AMERICANA in the form of a hanky in his back pocket. (Oh yeah, and the giant US flag-inspired backdrop, designed by Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci as part of the duo’s album art.)


At his previous SNL appearance, performing ‘Runaway’ off My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, West definitely got our memo on BOLD BLAZERS (or, maybe, it was the other way around).

 
Kanye West famously wore a women’s blouse by Céline at Coachella a couple years ago. Bold move—and we won’t fault him for it. For the rest of us though, vintage grunge heroes like Pearl Jam, promo’ing and dress-rehearsing for SNL in 1992, are probably better role models for summer FESTIVAL STYLE.


Meanwhile, for more BOLD COLOR (colour?), surf-inspired gear, tank tops, high tops and wildly printed pants, Living Colour in 1989 take the cake. (OK, fine, we just like this song.)

 
 

[Intro image via Gorilla Vs. Bear. Video clips © NBC and MTV. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]

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June 13, 2013

Stanley Kubrick on the Set of 2001: A Space Odyssey

The universe is a weird place. Just yesterday, we found ourselves debating the merits of Kubrick vs. Schwarzenegger here at Nordstrom HQ. That very night, listlessly cruising our Tumblr dashboard, we serendipitously stumbled upon two pieces of evidence that just might sway the debate.

The first is a collection of photos depicting director Stanley Kubrick on the set of his abstract, enigmatic 1968 sci-fi epic 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film itself is dense, difficult (if not impossible) to decipher, and moves at a snail’s pace. It’s also breathtakingly beautiful to look at, and unflinchingly original to the point that it could be considered on par with the works of Beethoven or Picasso. (Read an eloquent essay on LIFE.com, from whence these photos originate, in which the Editor of that site convincingly draws those very comparisons.)

Whether or not 2001 is your cup of tea (Tang?), we think you’ll agree it’s inspiring to see a man so intent on realizing a vision, no matter how grandiose or perplexing, that only he could.



  

 



(The intricate sets, the eye-catching costumes, the intense atmosphere…Even amidst all that, we’re drawn to Kubrick’s elegantly disheveled, overturned tie. It’s exactly how a well-dressed man, utterly immersed in a hands-on job, should look.)

—  —  —

The second piece of evidence in our abstract cinema vs. action movie dialogue is the video montage below, illustrating a favorite camera trick that Kubrick returned to again and again—in Space Odyssey, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and more. You’d think, given the sheer number of examples, that this could become redundant; but it’s the otherworldly visuals and impassioned performances that Kubrick places within that lens, that make his camerawork come to life. Touché, sir—consider yourself back at the top of our Netflix queue.

 
 

[Photos by Dmitri Kessel via Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images and LIFE.com. Video by Vimeo user, and apparent extreme film buff, Kogonada. We found these via two of our favorite sources of inspiration: Nickel Cobalt and The Only Magic Left is Art. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]

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June 8, 2013

SIFF Movie Picks: Dune

The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is the largest and most highly-attended event of its kind (and, in our opinion, the coolest—screening everything from alluring art flicks to twisted sci-fi). During the 39th-annual fest, now through June 9, we’ll be sharing favorite films hand-picked for us by the SIFF team. Today, cult classic sci-fi by the director of Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet. Think of it as Star Wars’s troubled cousin.

DUNE
Director: David Lynch
(Part of SIFF’s Tribute to Kyle MacLachlan) 

From SIFF.net: A Duke’s son leads desert warriors against a galactic emperor and an evil nemesis to avenge his father, free their world, and to control the spice. (More info)

hero

Screening in Seattle:
June 8 – 8:30pm SIFF Cinema Uptown

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June 6, 2013

Heat vs. Spurs: NBA Finals Tip Off Tonight

Well, all the underdogs we’d been pulling for (Grizzlies! Warriors! Pacers!) have officially fallen, and the perhaps-inevitable grudge match between the high-flying, reigning-champ Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs’ methodical phalanx of wily veterans is set to tip off tonight.

We have a general idea of whom Rihanna (above) will be rooting for. What about you?

For our part, after the cringe-worthy tantrum 2013 MVP LeBron James exhibited below—upon being called for an offensive foul during Miami’s failed comeback against Indiana in that series’ recent Game 6—we’re not sure we can feel good about having his back at the moment. (Pat Riley’s face at 0:15 says it all.)

Whichever bandwagon you’re ready to jump on, we have the appropriate gear to show your team spirit:


Strideline ‘Texas’ Socks | Banner 47 ‘Miami Heat’ T-shirt

 

Tune in to ABC tonight at 6:00pm Pacific
to see how Game 1 shakes out.

 
 

[Photo via Rihanna's official Instagram; video © TNT and the NBA. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]

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June 4, 2013

SIFF Movie Picks: 9 Full Moons

The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is the largest and most highly-attended event of its kind (and, in our opinion, the coolest—screening everything from alluring art flicks to twisted sci-fi). During the 39th-annual fest, now through June 9, we’ll be sharing favorite films hand-picked for us by the SIFF team. Today, a date movie you’ll both enjoy, where everything isn’t all roses and one-liners.

9 FULL MOONS
Director: Tomer Almagor

From SIFF.net: A powerful, brooding love story about the seemingly implausible relationship of two radically different personalities somehow always meant for each other. Set against the hipster music scene of Southern California with a remarkable performance from Amy Seimetz. (More info)


[9 Full Moons star Amy Seimetz, photographed by Williams + Hirakawa for Flaunt Magazine.]

From Carl Spence, SIFF’s Artistic Director: “A love letter to the City of Angels that centers on the relationship of two seemingly mismatched lovers who can’t seem to figure out that they’re perfect for each other. Starring the remarkable and rising talent Amy Seimetz—series regular on AMC’s The Killing and in motion pictures like The Off Hours, Upstream Color, Tiny Furniture and more.”

Screening in Seattle:
June 6 – 7:00pm SIFF Cinema Uptown – World Premiere
June 8 – 1:45pm Harvard Exit

 

SIFF is pleased to offer Nordstrom customers
COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS to the Seattle screening on June 6!
Available while supplies last. Register for free tickets here.

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May 30, 2013

SIFF Movie Picks: Prince Avalanche

The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is the largest and most highly-attended event of its kind (and, in our opinion, the coolest—screening everything from alluring art flicks to twisted sci-fi). During the 39th-annual fest, now through June 9, we’ll be sharing favorite films hand-picked for us by the SIFF team. Nab tickets if you’re in Seattle, or look for them on DVD and in theaters near you if you’re elsewhere.

PRINCE AVALANCHE
Director: David Gordon Green

From SIFF.net: Stern, meditative Alvin (Paul Rudd) and his girlfriend’s insecure brother, Lance (Emile Hirsch), spend the summer together repainting traffic lines on country highways in this exquisitely crafted existential odd-couple comedy, a true return for David Gordon Green [of Pineapple Express and HBO's Eastbound & Down] to the style of his early indie films George Washington andAll the Real Girls. (More info)

From Carl Spence, SIFF’s Artistic Director: “Quirky and hilarious, but also character-driven and intimate. Emile Hirsch and Paul Rudd are captivating as two lost souls stuck on an isolated and seemingly endless road to nowhere, with nothing to talk about but their relationships with women and each other. A film for men that women will also find thoroughly amusing.”

Screening in Seattle:
June 1 – 9:00pm SIFF Cinema Uptown – Director David Gordon Green scheduled to attend
June 4 – 4:30pm SIFF Cinema Uptown

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May 26, 2013

SIFF Movie Picks: Her Aim is True

The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is the largest and most highly-attended event of its kind (and, in our opinion, the coolest—screening everything from alluring art flicks to twisted sci-fi). During the 39th-annual fest, now through June 9, we’ll be sharing favorite films hand-picked for us by the SIFF team.

HER AIM IS TRUE
Director: Karen Whitehead

From SIFF.net: Starting in the 1960s, revered rock music photographer Jini Dellaccio created startling and artistic portraits for bands like The Sonics and The Wailers, rejecting the boring five-member line-up and producing iconic album covers. She’s now 96, living in Seattle, and as cool as ever. World Premiere. (More info)

From Beth Barrett, SIFF’s Director of Programming: “Her Aim is True is an extraordinary story of a groundbreaking local artist, Jini Dellaccio. From her early years as a saxophonist with the ‘girl groups’ of the Depression era to the stunning photographic portraits of 1960s musicians breaking the mold, Jini brings passion and sophistication to her iconic art. Karen Whitehead’s film connects us to a true Seattle treasure.”

Screening in Seattle:
May 26 – 4:00pm Harvard Exit – World Premiere
May 27 – 2:00pm Harvard Exit

 
 

Further Reading:
See more photos by Jini Dellaccio,
and watch more SIFF Picks movie trailers.

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May 24, 2013

SIFF Movie Picks: Flight of the Storks

The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is the largest and most highly-attended event of its kind (and, in our opinion, the coolest—screening everything from alluring art flicks to twisted sci-fi). During the 39th-annual fest, now through June 9, we’ll be sharing favorite films hand-picked for us by the SIFF team. Nab tickets if you’re in Seattle, or look for them on DVD and in theaters near you if you’re elsewhere.

FLIGHT OF THE STORKS
Director: Jan Kounen

From SIFF.net: This stylish, globetrotting psychological thriller plays like David Fincher’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo mixed with the amnesiac, wrong-man madness of Christopher Nolan’s Memento to create a tale of diamonds, dames, and killer storks. (More info)

From Carl Spence, SIFF’s Artistic Director: “A powerhouse in France, Kounen has never received the international recognition that he deserves. An art-school graduate who started working in animated short films, he has been a favorite director of mine since his first feature, the hyper-stylized gangster film Dobermann [1997, starring Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci]. His chameleonic directorial skills were further illustrated by chronicling the infamous love affair of Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky, his mystical reworking of the Western genre with Blueberry (aka Renegade), and a portrait of the modern advertising world with 99 Francs. His latest film, Flight of the Storks, is based on the hugely popular crime-thriller novel by the same name, published in fifteen languages, by the author whose work also provided the basis for Mathieu Kassovitz’s The Crimson Rivers.”

Screening in Seattle:
May 25 – 8:30pm AMC Pacific Place
May 27 – 10:00am Harvard Exit

 

SIFF is pleased to offer Nordstrom customers
COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS to the Seattle screening on May 25!
Available while supplies last. Register for free tickets here.

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May 22, 2013

Highlight Reel: Dapper Trash-Talker Reggie Miller

Preposterous comebacks. Dodging head-butts. Staring down Spike Lee. Those are just a few of the reasons hall-of-famer Reggie Miller earned the nickname “Knick Killer” during the knock-down, drag-out, no-holds-barred NBA Playoff grudge matches known as Knicks vs. Pacers throughout the 1990s. The clip above explains in more detail.

A trash-talker of epic proportions, Miller backed up his foul mouth, somewhat ironically, with a subtle but deadly-accurate shooting touch that was akin to poetry in motion. These days, his menswear game is just as legendary.

Check out Miller’s on-screen style highlights from last year’s postseason below—and tune in tonight at 8:30 Eastern to watch this year’s young and hungry Indiana Pacers (whose elimination of the star-powered NY Knicks last week must have made Miller smile) take on defending champs the Miami Heat in game 1 of the Eastern-Conference Finals.


Miller’s bold but tasteful color combos (and slim, perfectly tied four-in-hand tie knots)
put him in a league of his own amongst sportscasters.


Dark suit, pale-blue shirt, striped tie. When you nail the details, you can keep it simple
and still be the best-dressed guy in the room (even when the room seats 20,000).


When your dress shirt fits perfectly, you look just as sharp sans jacket.
(A smart pattern mix of stripes and dots doesn’t hurt, either.)


Instant visual proof: A khaki-colored suit helps you stand out from the crowd come summer.


Bold stripes bring a sport-inspired element to your suit.


In a sea of blue suits, the one with confident, shoulder-enhancing peak lapels is the clear winner.


You would almost think that Miller and Marv Albert planned this ahead of time—but Reggie’s subtler
suit stripes, sharper fit and nonchalantly puffed pocket square give him the advantage.

 

SHOP: SUITS | DRESS SHIRTS | TIES

And, if you’ve got an NBA-sized physique, shop Big & Tall.

 
 

[Video clip from 'Winning Time: Reggie Miller Vs. The New York Knicks,' directed by Dan Klores, part of ESPN Films' 30 For 30 series. TV captures via the NBA and TNT. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]

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May 21, 2013

Arrested Development’s Triumphant Return

Emmy-winning, cult-favorite comedy series Arrested Development returns to airwaves this weekend, after a seven-year hiatus. Fans of the deadpan, intricately scripted, often ad-libbed show—who have been salivating for a next chapter since the show’s untimely 2006 cancellation—are no doubt chomping at the bit to start streaming the 15 new episodes this Sunday, when they’ll become available simultaneously on Netflix.

We asked Laura Oxford, a men’s writer here at Nordstrom.com and our resident expert on high-brow sitcoms (i.e., the kind without a laugh track), to suggest a few classic Arrested clips from the first three seasons. Unfortunately, everything she suggested was wildly inappropriate for a family-friendly site like ours—so you’ll have to settle for the official Arrested Development season 4 trailer instead:

Arrested vets who had lost interest in Netflix’s usual mix of obscure nature shows and appalling horror films (Human Centipede, anyone?) now have an irrefutable reason to renew their subscription. Newbies who want to catch up still have plenty of time—we did the math, and you’ll only need to carve out about 26.5 hours between now and Sunday to stream the first three season’s worth of inside jokes and interwoven story lines.

In related news, Jason Bateman—the barely sane center of Arrested Development’s off-kilter universe—looked damn sharp in last month’s GQ:


Cast & Crew. Our new favorite sweater is a crewneck sweatshirt. It nails a high-low balance that goes as well with a blazer as it does with Vans (and sugar-free Red Bull).


Class Act. You might have noticed polo shirts are getting dressier—to the point that they’re right at home alongside a pocket square and monk-straps.


Knit Wit. Finding the right knit tie for summer is nothing to joke about. Neither is losing your left no-show sock.


How Refreshing. Compared to the comedic chops required to master the spit-take, pulling on a pair of crisp white jeans this summer is a walk in the park.

 
 

[Intro photo by Art Streiber for Entertainment Weekly. Bateman photos by Peggy Sirota for GQ. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]

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