Monsieur Lacenaire Hoodie

Tested and approved the 23 May 2013 by Tony the “Cement maker“

A childhood always come with many rites and event we all lived once. I would not use the word trauma, but the pocket-foldable thing leaved marks in our memories. Do you remember when you had to unfold the jacket from its self pocket and it was all crumpled, but most of all when you had to carry it around your waist, fastenend thanks to its tricolor elastic band… “In case of rain”, your parents were always telling you – huge lie to deck yourself out in a sticky nylon jacket. At least it did serve as goalpost in the playground, but wasn’t really ideal.

hoodie monsieur lacenaire front

The hoodie

Monsieur Lacenaire, young, yet famous Parisian brand shrungs off our chlildhood traumas deciding all that pocket thing was really practical. Along the same line of their summer collection, fresh, Monsieur Lacenaire presents a regressive though chic hoodie. Knitted in France with Egyptian cotton, this hoodie hides a secret: a back pocket in which it can be folded entirely.

Two colorways are available: “marin” (blue and white stripes) or “marine” with a madras lining. My choice goes for the first, stripes really render well and perfectly match raw jeans. More about the back, check at the shoulders finish with stripes finished with a central seam.

Once turned into a cushion, the hoodie multiple purposes: you can sleep on it, hit someone, play football or rugby, hide things into it…

monsieur lacenaire hoodie back

monsieur lacenaire hoodie pocket

monsieur lacenaire hoodie cushion

The test

This hoodie has a perfect fitting and it is extremely soft. Well of course, it is pricey, and for those who are used to buy their hoodies at American Apparel, checking out will be a weid moment. But I guess this hoodie does not target the same persons. It is the kind of rare pieces you like to own, symbol of a creative commitment from people who know how taking risks and revisit urban classics, like Garance Broca, Monsieur Lacenaire’s designer. Tested and approved!

retail price   €220

at Monsieur Lacenaire

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The ocean call

Looks the 21 May 2013 by Romano as "the garagerocker"

A small corner of paradise located only 5 minutes from home. A turquoise water flows between the rocks at the end of this path. On clear days, Groix Island can be seen on the horizon, looking so close as the crow flies. In these days of spring, in Brittany, the air is still cool, so it is nice to keep a jacket on the shoulders. But the sun forces to put a hat if you don’t want to get red and white like the many lighthouses rising alongshore to show their way to sailors.

path

rope

eagle

On this short stroll, I have put my bet on comfortable chinos which color suits the lichen present on some rocks. A orange color you can sometimge see at the sunset, when the sun is low and is about to dissapear behind the ocean. For the top, a light blue coton veil shirt, ideal for this beautiful season, and a thick navy cotton jacket to face the wind.

bracelet

equilibrium

jacket lining

Quirky piece of the day: this pair of grey suede derbies on a rubber sole. They look quite massive with their studded sole, though remain amazingly light and comfortable. Swith such and urban style, they turned to be a perfect pair to a perilous in the rocks. I could even walk on water…

lucknow debies

joe rocks

farah jacket

Hat: Topman
Glasses: Orgreen
Bracelet: M Cohen
Jaket: Farah
Shirt: Homecore
Chinos: Homecore
Derbies: Lucknow

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Renhsen Louis jeans

Tested and approved the 18 May 2013 by Romano as "the garagerocker"

Today I am honored to present you another French denim brand, with slightly slanted eyes. It is Renhsen, a French jeaner creater in 2005 by Mickaël Mouangué and his wife Judith. Simple initial observation, at that time it was practically impossible to find quality jeans coming from a French brand. Inspired by the 1960-70s, by their travels (USA, Japan), Mickaël who grew up surrounded by fashion, and passed his passion to his wife later, decided to launch their own denim brand. I’ve put the Louis cut on the test bench:

jean renhsen louis

The jeans

Since few weeks I’ve received my Louis, freshly “baked” in the Okayama workshop of the brand, in Japan – kind of a Mecca of denim. It’s a basic 5 pocket straight cut trousers made of a 14.5 oz raw selvedge denim, meaning it is really thick, heavy and rigid. By this way, know that manufacturing a pair of Renhsen jeans requires 2.50 meters of fabric, which is around two times more than any classic jeans. “Raw” means that the fabric wan’t treated, so yarns forming the fabric are still soaked with their natural indigo color, meaning that as you wear the jeans, or if you wash them, this color will fade leaving then white marks.

boutton jeans renhsen

jeans renhsen zip ykk

zip ykk jeans renhsen

The product is extremely well finished, sewing points are perfectly made and the jeans leaves an impression of sturdyness. Details are appreciable: the label inside, the rivets, this horizontal trimming on the back pockets in a slightly different blue and the selvedge finish (which still makes quite an impression). The Louis also has a firmly sewn YKK zip, rivets strenghtening the font pockets and a leather tab with the brand logo. Easy to see that we are talking about real quality jeans.

renhsen label

jeans renhsen pockets

jeans renhsen detail

patch jeans renhsen

renhsen selvedge detail

Test

When unpacking the plastic wraping the jeans, a first thought comes: the postman got me a wrong package, it is well too rigid! Well, there’s actually no mistake, my jeans are here, as rigid as a cardboard. The fabric will untighten wearing them, leaving some scars on the hips and at the knee pits. That’s fortunate, this is the only way we like them! First try, the Louis has a straight cut, like a good old 501. I confess I was expecting a slimmer cut, but in some way, things are better like that, it’ll make a bit of a change for once.

jeans renhsen fit

jeans renhsen worn

Like told before, they are really rigid and leave their marks on my body, a bit like a new pair of shoes you wear for the first time. But the fabric gets softer after few times wearing the jeans, and they quickly become really comfortable after around 5 days wearing them. I have picked my usual size (32/34 for 187cm, 6.15 ft) and the jeans fit perfectly now, after 3 months.

pockets renhsen jeans

I’m rolling up hems (3 times to really say) which gets the fit slimmer. For the moment, small fades start to appear from the knees, and I haven’t washed them yet (I’m planning at least 6 month wearing them 3/4 times in a week before any wash). Like one says: “each wash gets you new jeans”. That’s really good jeans, I happy with them even if I’m thinking about altering the legs by a retoucher (fyi : until then I was wearing a pair of Naked & Famous SkinnyGuy). Tested and approved then!

jeans renhsen selvedge detail

Where to find some?

Renhsen’s distribution remains restricted to few retailers. Today, the Louis RSB I have tested is out of stock on L’Exception store http://renhsen.lexception.com, but when you look for such quality jeans, better is to try them before. Renhsen showroom: 22 rue Beaurepaire, 75010, Paris.

Ps : the Louis exist in grey, black and blue, all three in selvedge. Sizes: from 27 to 36, legs=34.

retail price   €240

at L'Exception

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A nice camera bag

Fashion the 17 May 2013 by Romano as "the garagerocker"

Finding a good alternative to the traditional camera bag (Vaguard, Lowepro…) can quickly be a hard task. It is known, as you start to get more photo stuff : a performant camera body, various lenses and plenty accessories, acquiring a special bag to carry everything appears to be an essential thing. However, practical, quality and nice design are some features you can rarely find in only one bag. Until today, you may have been lazy going out of your convenient camera store, so we did the job for you:

1 herringbone photo bag

Brand: Herringbone
Price: from €229 to €399, depending on the model

Description:
With their vintage style, Herringbones camera bags are made of a very soft full grain leather. They all feature many pockets and customizeable details. The inside is padded and it has removeable compartments.

2 bilingham-camera-bag

Brand: Billingham
Price: From £137 (€170) to £466 (€578) for the biggest size

Description:
Billingham creates waxed cotton bag since 1973 from their factory located in central England, around Birmingham. Originally, the brand only proposed fishing bags, hence such a construction. When in 1978, Martin Billingham who was himself an amateur phototographer discovered some Newyorkese guys carrying their camera in fishing bags, then he decided to convert its brand activity into camera bags manufacturing.

3 garbstore-camera-bag

Brand: Garbstore
Price: €200

Description:
Since summer 2012 the English from garbstore propose a camera bag range with two available sizes. it’s all manufactured in the UK. Bags are made of thick cotton and feature nice leather details. The inside has removeable padded compartments you can change according to your lense(s) size. On the contrary to most bags, Garbstore played a colorful card, which is likeable.

4 hardgraft-camera-bag

Brand: Hard Graft
price: €440

Description:
Those who already know Hard graft may have difficulties keeping themselves from visiting their website on a regular basis, keeping on their head the idea to finally own one of their bag someday. For the others, know that it is an English high-end accessory brand with a distinctive minimalis design. Felt, nice leather and an awesome render for this accessory specialist who just released its first camera bag. It is made of vegetally tanned leather and features a removeable compartment. It is nice, expensive and we regret that it wasn’t released in a bigger size (dimentions: 19cm x 13cm x18cm).

5 domke-bag

Brand: Domke
Price: from €124,90 to €289,90

Description:
In general popular from advanced photographers, Domke bags were created to answer specific needs: carrying photo equipment. Jim Domke created the first bag, in search for praticity, sturdyness and reactivity. All made in the US, the range offers bags in many sizes.

6 kalahari-photo-sac

Brand: Kalahari
Price: from 29€

Description:
During a safari in Botswana, John and Elaine Dugmore felt the growing need of a tent repairs service. So they launched using one only sewing machine, which was really not enough to repair the huge pile of tents standing in front of them. So they decided to work upstream, creating better end products. Kalahari’s camera bag range is not the most beautiful of all, but above all one of the less expensive made of sturdy cotton and offering many sizes.

7 ona bags the-union-street-camera-bag

Brand: Ona bags
Price: from €200 to €320

Description:
Since 2010, Tracy Foster decided to launch his own bag brand for photographers who also care about their style. Premium materials: full grain cowhide leather, waxed canvas and reused copper, are used to make Ona Bags. With a very classic schoolbag, messenger bag style, they allow carrying up to 3 lenses (7 for the backpacks).

8 moore-gilles-camera-bag

Brand: Moore & Giles
Price: €483

Description:
Experts in leather since 1933, Moore & Giles started producing shoes upper, soldes and leather linings, all coming from local tanneries (then international). Only in 2007, the brand starts to focus on accessories. They propose two leather bag models, the Lew above is one of them. It really is beautiful and was created in partnership with a famous photographer: Rick Lew. The bag mixes waxed cotton and leather, the inside has customizeable compartments and a lot of space to carry up to 6 lenses. It is on of our favourites.

9 property-of-camera-bag

Brand: Property of…
Price : €219

Description:
The Singapore brand Property Of… launched their first camera bag this year with the Thomas style. made of waxed cotton, it is ideal to carry a reflex and two lenses with its 3 compartments. It also features an outside pocket, a resists to water. Cool thing, 5 colors are available: beige, black, grey, olive and orange.

10 tanner-goods-camera-bag

Brand: Tanner Goods
Price : €270

Description:
Since 2012 the American handmade leather expert Tanner Goods added a bag dédicated to photographers in their range. The outfits is made of a sturdy cotton with few leather details. The inside is in felt, ideal to cushion all shocks involved when carrying such a fragile item. The bag isn’t that large, it can have 2/3 lenses maximum.

CONCLUSION

A thing you’ve now understood, budget for a camera bag vary. Like usual one would say: the more you need a large bag, the higher budget you should have. But actually the “larger and more expensive” does not really work here as it will depend on the material quality your chosen bag will be made of (just like when you buy a regular bag :x). It you have nice camera bag ideas, please feel free to share ;).

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Monjuic à l’anglaise

Looks the 16 May 2013 by Max as "the driver"

Even on a trip, the “Driver” I am couldn’t imagine shooting his first series without a sizeable accessory, a car! Rather than jumping into the first random Seat, I had my heart set on this MG B GT. It is not that I have any complaint against the Spanish brand, but I could only succumb to the charms of this right-hand-drive pure English car! The inside exudes authenticity, just turn the ignition key and it’s quick off the mark. Once the bottom gear is engaged, here I am, leavin for a wild ride on Montjuic’s heights driving my coupé designed by Pinin Farina.
max keys car

max driving mg

max driving

mg arrival max

Willing to save the energy of my one-day beloved, I’m taking a break to gaze at the beautiful panorama in front of me. The Montjuic hill overlooks the port and the old city, the weather is clement and the outfit suits the circumstance. A light shirt, jeans matching my car and espadrilles enhancing the magical feel and the of this place. I just want this moment to last, I have my bag made of automotive recycled fabric with the necessary to hit the road few more days in my beloved English. Lost in my thoughts, I just hope my MG’s upholstery won’t be converted into a wallet.

max mg

max and his mg

mg max belt

max espadrilles

mg max bag

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, the time gets me back to reality, hour has come to go back home. The real owner is waiting for her, worried seeing his car leaving with a stranger, even with a “driver” like me. The trip back goes downhill, the sunroof leaves a soft wind going through my hair. I’m almost home, enjoying the few last minutes of this short English break on the Catalan lands.

max sunroof

mg-max-departure

Shirt: Melinda Gloss
Jeans: IKKS
Espadrilles: Cap Espardenya
Sunglasses: Persol
Belt: Wrangler
Bag: Entre 2 Rétros
Car: MG B GT

Big thanks to Basile for the car and Joe for shooting
Also fin Max on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/max.ditLeChauffeur

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