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May 7, 2013

T by Alexander Wang: Way Beyond Basic

The Alexander Wang five-step plan for fashion-world domination:
1. Move from San Fran to NYC at age 18 to attend the esteemed Parsons school of design.
2. Drop out.
3. Create a killer debut women’s collection that makes boutique buyers salivate and converts the world’s hippest models, actresses and it-girls into steadfast devotees.
4. Win GQ Designer of the Year 2011, promptly upon your first foray into menswear.
5. Get named creative director of illustrious, 99-year-old fashion house Balenciaga.

That last point is a whole other story, so let’s focus on #4. Wang won over GQ with his T by Alexander Wang line of so-called “basics”—T-shirts, tanks and hoodies that, thanks to their meticulously slouchy “anti-fit” and superior fabrication, are in fact anything but basic.

These days, Wang is punctuating those high-end essentials with streamlined statement items, like the black-on-black cotton/leather shirt-jacket hybrid seen in the photos here. (You could call it a basic in the sense that you’ll wear it every day for years to come. As far as street-cred style points, though—it’s pretty exceptional.)


A few more favorites from the T by Alexander Wang collection (click images to shop each piece):


And, for your viewing pleasure, a sampling of the A-list it-girls and -guys Alexander Wang attracts—featuring A$AP Rocky, Azealia Banks and more:


 
SHOP: T BY ALEXANDER WANG FOR MEN

 
 

[Photography: Robin Stein. Styling: Ashley Helvey. Model: Gus Drake.
See more images from this series in our recent Rick Owens post, and on Nordstrom's Tumblr page.]

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April 5, 2013

Fade to Black: Rick Owens Spring ’13

Spring is here—and as much as we can appreciate bold color, we know it’s not for everyone. No one understands this better than Rick Owens, the reigning king of avant-garde, neo-ninja streetwear.

We took a trunk-full of his Spring 2013 collection for a test drive through our favorite Seattle neighborhoods, and found out that—despite their somber palette—these pieces are fully warm-weather-compatible. (Think butter-soft lambskin bombers, a feather-weight windbreaker and sweaters in airy Italian wool.)

When the rest of the world is in full bloom, what better way to differentiate yourself than donning all black? (Short of taking Owens’ own advice and shaving off your eyebrows—see rule #1.)


Rick Owens ‘Mollino’ Lambskin Leather Jacket
and ‘Island’ Hooded Merino Wool Sweater


Left: Rick Owens ‘Island’ Crewneck Merino Wool Sweater


Rick Owens ‘Mollino’ Bomber Jacket and Elastic-Waist Drop-Crotch Pants


Rick Owens ‘Sternberg’ Lambskin Leather Bomber Jacket
and ‘Perfecto’ Lambskin Leather Biker Jacket



Rick Owens ‘Perfecto’ Lambskin Leather Biker Jacket,
‘Island’ Merino Wool Cardigan and Elastic-Waist Drop-Crotch Pants

 

SHOP ALL: RICK OWENS | DESIGNER COLLECTIONS

 
 
 

[Photography: Robin Stein. Styling: Ashley Helvey. Model: Gus Drake.]

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January 4, 2013

Seahawks: Hometown Heroes (and Style Icons)

Citizens of our native Washington are infamously avid fans of the home team. (Many UW alums roam the floors here at Nordstrom HQ—there’s even a photo floating around our archives of young Nordstrom brothers suited up for the UW hoops team, circa the mid-1980s.)

Hence Seattleites are going crazy lately for the suddenly dominant Seahawks. After several blowout games late in the season, they’re poised to make noise in the playoffs (starting with a wild-card game against the Redskins, this Sunday at 1:30pm PST on Fox).

This comes as a great finish to a season that began with fans (at home and across the country) oddly polarized by stylistic minutiae. After taking over the reigns as official uniform designers for the 2012-13 season, Oregon-based Nike (also responsible for the previously noted swagger of our sister state’s college football program) threatened to radicalize the look of every team in the league—or so imaginative fans conjectured. Ultimately, the only team that received a noticeable change visually was Nike’s closest neighbors to the north, the Seattle Seahawks. It came in the form of subtle but striking pops of chartreuse to symbolize the Great Northwest’s greenery, and small wing-like emblems inspired by Native American art:

 


Nike designers must keep up on their street-style reports, as controlled doses of neon continue to pop up in all walks of menswear (especially shoes—check out additional, bright-soled examples by Walk-Over, 1901, and Cole Haan LunarGrand).

Above: The North Face Hoodie | Merrell Boots | Kenzo Sweater

 

This last photo shows Seattle running back Marshawn ‘Beast Mode’ Lynch introducing the new uni designs a few months ago. As impressive as cool-headed QB (and strong Rookie of the Year candidate) Russell Wilson is—and as fun as it is to watch over-excitable coach Pete Carroll wig out in slo-mo after a killer completion—nothing really tops this self-reflective breakdown of Lynch’s legendary run a few years back against New Orleans. Enjoy:


For this weekend’s full NFL TV schedule, click here.

SHOP: SEAHAWKS GEAR | ALL NFL GEAR

 

 

[Photos courtesy of Seahawks.com. Video courtesy of ESPN.]

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January 3, 2013

Shine On: 40 Years (and Counting) of Spotless Shoes

Morgan Perkins pitched his plan for a high-class shoeshine stand to the Nordstrom family in 1974, “when my wife was pregnant and I was trying to buy Pampers.”* They took a chance on him, and what began with a handshake has turned into a four-decade legacy. Over the years, Perkins has watched the fourth generation of Nordstrom leaders grow up (he remembers our present-day president, Blake Nordstrom, working hard even at age 10—stumbling around at 6:30am, arms piled high with shoe boxes); he’s helped open new shoeshine stands at Nordstrom stores in Washington, California and Minneapolis; he’s even ushered his extended family into the business; all while offering the best—and most affordable—shine in town.

This week, after nearly 40 years personifying the stellar service and humble demeanor Nordstrom has always stood for, Perkins and wife Patsy (whom he’s affectionately dubbed the brains of the operation) celebrated their well-deserved retirement. While you may have missed your chance to get your shoes serviced by the master himself, Perkins’ son Brent and daughter-in-law Sunny will carry on the family business at our Downtown Seattle Flagship—and today, thanks to the overwhelming success of Perkins’ idea all those years ago, over 3/4 of our stores have shine stands of their own. Call or visit a store near you to find out if you’re among the lucky majority.

For more: Visit our Downtown Seattle store’s Facebook Page (and scroll down to December 28, 2012) to read heartfelt memories and well-wishes from Mr. Perkins’ friends and colleagues.

 
 

[Photo courtesy of Seattle Magazine, via our Nordstrom Men's Shop Instagram. *Information source: Seattle Post Intelligencer.]

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December 21, 2012

The Anti-Fruitcake by Chefs McCracken & Tough

Two of our favorite Seattle chefs—Brian McCracken (right) and Dana Tough of Spur Gastropub, Tavern Law, and The Coterie Room—were kind enough to share a recipe that will serve you well at holiday meals during the festive week ahead.

These culinary artisans are perpetually devising new ways to update classic food and drink with a modernist twist (last time we collaborated with them, one of their signature cocktails called for DIY Earl Grey-infused gin)—so it’s no surprise that their signature holiday dessert comes complete with an element of the unexpected: You bake it in the microwave.

“Here’s a fun recipe that makes individual portions of chocolate cake using a whipped-cream siphon and the microwave. You artfully crumble the cake out of its paper cup, and it looks amazing on the plate.”

Read on, gather some ingredients (and N2O cartridges) this weekend, and prepare to wow your holiday guests come Christmas dinner.

 

CHEFS McCRACKEN AND TOUGH’S
MICROWAVED CHOCOLATE SPONGE CAKE

3 Egg Whites
1 Egg Yolk
1 oz. Milk Chocolate
2 0z. Dark Chocolate
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 cup Canola Oil
1/2 cup Cake or Pastry Flour
Pinch of Salt

1. Place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl. Melt chocolate in microwave for a 90 seconds, or until fully melted.

2. Meanwhile, place eggs, sugar, oil, and salt into a blender, and blend for 30 seconds. Add melted chocolate, and blend for another 30 seconds.

3. Pour into mixing bowl, and then whisk sifted flour into mixture.

4. Immediately pour into a 1-pint whipped-cream siphon. Screw on lid, add one N2O cartridge. Shake and let sit for 30 minutes at room temperature.

5. Fill an 8-ounce paper cup half-full with batter, and microwave on high for 40 seconds.

6. Let sit for one minute, crumble cake out of paper cup onto a plate, and serve immediately with vanilla or caramel ice cream and your favorite caramel sauce.

 
 

[Chefs Brian McCracken and Dana Tough have been recognized by Food & Wine Magazine, GQ, Gayot and more. Please visit their official website for more information.]

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December 13, 2012

When Campfire OK Rocked our Flagship Store

Local band Campfire OK walked into our Flagship Store in Downtown Seattle this past August, pulled up a chair at our beloved in-store piano, and belted out a radio-ready impromptu performance. Curious shoppers gathered ’round with camera phones and craned necks, but it was the pro filmmaker they brought along who captured the video above.

Fast-forward to late September. We loved the band’s guerilla minstrel maneuver so much, we asked them to come back—this time, plugged in and performing inside our corner window display for hundreds of sidewalk passersby to see and hear. This marked the kick-off to our month-long photography exhibit, the Seattle Music Project, which celebrated Northwest bands from the Sonics in the ’60s to Soundgarden and Pearl Jam in the ’90s to new-school balladeers like Campfire OK and Shabazz Palaces. Here’s a photo of COK’s window performance:

In the spirit of the holidays (and rock & roll), we asked Campfire OK frontman Mychal Cohen to choose some items from our site that he’d love to find under the tree. Consider these gift ideas for the rockstar brother, nephew or husband in your life—whether he’s actually on-stage or just always finds his way to the front of the crowd:


Mychal’s picks, from left:
1. Shipley & Halmos Shirt. “Having a nice-looking button-up is key—and short sleeves are priceless for stage attire.” (shop now)
2. Levi’s 511 Slim-Straight Jeans. “These things last for so long, and in my opinion are the best cut they have.” (shop now)
3. A.P.C. Henley. “A comfortable henley is important on- and 0ff-stage. It’s like a T-shirt, but a little more handsome.” (shop now)


Mychal’s picks, from left:
4. Nixon Nylon-Strap Watch. “The only thing I have to say about this watch is, YES.” (shop now)
5. Rag & Bone Cardigan. “Cardigans are the definition of classic, and you can wear them with any kind of shirt underneath.” (shop now)
6. Ben Sherman Chukka Boot. “Finding a nice-looking, flat-soled shoe that’s not a sneaker is a necessity for performing.” (shop now)

 
 


Resident rocker, piano crasher, and gift picker, Mychal Cohen.

Campfire OK performs TONIGHT (Thursday, 12/13/12) at Neumos in Seattle.
Find details here, and a cool Q&A with Mychal at the Neumos site here.

If you can’t catch the show, get up to speed at Campfire OK’s official website, where the band will be releasing a new video single off their forthcoming second album each month.

 
 

[Video by Christian Sorensen Hansen, performance photo by Jesse Codling, portrait photo by Brandon Milner.]

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December 4, 2012

A Winter Wonderland at our Flagship Store

Here at Nordstrom, we may prefer to celebrate one holiday at a time—but when it is time to celebrate, we go all out. So, with Thanksgiving officially behind us, we popped over to our flagship store in Downtown Seattle to see how they decked the halls (or aisles, as it were). A couple indications that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas:


Walls full of festive sketches by our perennial favorite illustrator, Ruben Toledo.


Trees all aglow.


Ornaments the size of a small child (or large elf).


Mannequins prepping for a black-tie holiday soirée.


An interactive snowflake-catching experience.


Santa posted up in the corner window display, awaiting your kid’s wish list. (Or yours.)

 

Despite the festive decorations, we couldn’t help getting distracted by all the sumptuous winter wares festooning the mannequins in the Men’s Shop. Here’s the best of what we saw at the store—and links to help you get these looks online.


Jack Spade Cardigan | Jack Spade Shirt | Solid Ties


Penfield Vest | Ben Sherman Sweater


Moncler Parka | Turtlenecks | Plaid Shirts


Jack Spade: Sweatshirt | Shirt | Pants



Diesel Vest | Life/After/Denim Sweater | Beanies | Cords | Danner Boots


Nudie Belt | Cardigans | Crewnecks | Chinos


Marc New York Leather Jacket | Fiesole Sweater


Billy Reid Coat | Billy Reid Thermal Henleys | Jeans | Wingtips
 

More gift ideas for dads, brothers,
sons, husbands—or yourself.
SHOP: SWEATERS | COATS & VESTS
BOOTS | CASUAL SHIRTS

OR, SHOP ALL GIFTS

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November 22, 2012

The Men Behind Our Gift Guide: Gabe Johnson

For our new Gifts with Personality gift guide, we invited The Selby to photograph some of our most inspiring fellow Seattleites. Our fourth and final male personality builds connections by defying convention—a true ‘Maverick.’

“We’ve created a community here. This is a place where people can take themselves a little less seriously, and inject some wonder and curiosity back into their lives.”
—Gabe Johnson, curator at Horses Cut Shop Event Space, Seattle, Washington.

We see Gabe as a cultural instigator who embodies the write-your-own-rules, frontier attitude that still exists in the west. He has a knack for bringing people together for offbeat exploration and unconventional fun. Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood (nicknamed ‘The Center of the Universe’ by its residents) makes a fittingly quirky home for Gabe’s gathering place, Horses Cut Shop.

[Update: Horses Cut Shop is on the move. Check back with their official website to find out what's next for the home of 'Genuine American Riffraff.']

All photographs by The Selby.

Watch more ‘Gifts with Personality’ video portraits.
 
 

 

Start Shopping:
Gifts for the Maverick in your life | All Gifts

…or Read More:
- The Innovator, artist Preston Singletary
- The Independent, chef Cormac Mahoney
- The Modernist, librarian Marcellus Turner 
- Head over to our women’s blog, The Thread,
to meet our female Gift Personalities.

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November 21, 2012

The Men Behind Our Gift Guide: Preston Singletary

For our new Gifts with Personality gift guide, we invited The Selby to photograph some of our most inspiring fellow Seattleites. Today, we get to know an artist who’s a true ‘Innovator.’

“I feel blessed to have a career as an artist. All of my work is based on my Alaskan Native ancestry. The art that I do today gives me a sense of purpose because it’s all part of a continuum.”
—Preston Singletary, Artist, Seattle, Washington

Preston is literally able to bend the elements to his will, forging delicately powerful art from glass and fire. Yet, as fascinating as his work is to look at, it’s the centuries-old stories the pieces tell that make them truly one-of-a-kind.

All photographs by The Selby.

Watch more ‘Gifts with Personality’ video portraits.
 
 

 

Start Shopping:
Gifts for the Innovator in your life | All Gifts

…or Read More:
- The Independent, chef Cormac Mahoney
- The Modernist, librarian Marcellus Turner 
- Head over to our women’s blog, The Thread,
to meet our female Gift Personalities.

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November 20, 2012

Cormac Mahoney’s Confit Duck Legs

Yesterday, we showed you three killer side dishes from our own in-house chefs. Today, we have an exclusive Thanksgiving tip from another of Seattle’s finest, Mr. Cormac Mahoney (whom you also met yesterday as part of our Gifts with Personality campaign, shot by The Selby).

Enough talk; without further ado, we’ll let Cormac take it away:

“Here’s a great, guy-friendly Thanksgiving recipe. This is really, really easy—just takes some steps. These legs will hold in the refrigerator all holiday season under their fat, and can be easily prepared in a flash.”
—Cormac Mahoney, Chef/Co-owner of Madison Park Conservatory, Seattle, Washington

CONFIT DUCK LEGS

4 duck legs, fresh
4 oz. kosher salt
4 oz. of your favorite spice mix (go McCormick ‘Herbes de Provence’ if you don’t have your own)

1. Combine salt and spices in a bowl; mix well.

2. Trim any excess fat from the legs to make them uniform, without exposing any more flesh. Save scraps.
Prick skin of legs all over with a sharp knife tip or skewer—this helps fat render.
Toss duck legs and excess fat in spice mix and coat well, shaking off excess.

3. Put in ziplock bag, suck out air, seal and refrigerate for a day.

4. Preheat oven to 250º.

5. Take legs out, rinse off mix and pat dry.
Heat a pan large enough to hold all four legs to about medium.
Add fat scraps and let melt for 5 minutes. DON’T BURN! Turn the heat down if you have to.

6. Add legs, skin side up. Carefully and tightly wrap pan in foil and place in oven.

7. Let cook for about 2.5 hours. Carefully check on legs—opening the tinfoil will release steam that will burn you. With a fork, pull a little meat off of a leg and taste: should be tender but not mushy.

8. When done, take out of oven and let cool to room temp. Remove legs and hold on a plate.
Save the fat! It’s great for roasting potatoes, frying eggs, etc.
If you aren’t going to use duck immediately, you can transfer legs to a sealable container, cover in the rendered fat and refrigerate. Will last under fat for a month or more.

To Serve Legs:
- Preheat oven to 325º.
- Heat pan to medium heat, add a little duck fat and place legs, skin side down, in pan.
- The idea is to crisp the skin without burning it—slow and low is good.
- Once the skin starts to crisp, put pan in oven for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove pan from oven and flip legs over so fat can drain off skin; pat with paper towel if necessary.

Serve with anything: salad, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce. Potato chips and hot sauce are great, too.

cheers-
Cormac



Outtakes from our shoot with The Selby.
Three steps to looking like a pro in your own kitchen? 
Black T-shirt, tasteful ink, big knife.

 

[Recipe by Cormac Mahoney, 2012 Food & Wine Best New Chef. Taste his food in-person at Madison Park Conservatory in Seattle, Washington: madisonparkconservatory.com | 206.324.9701 | 1927 43rd Avenue East, Seattle, WA. Photographs by The Selby.]

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