When I was in New York before Christmas, I was nudged into noticing some Mast Brothers chocolate (for sale in our favourite coffee shop Stumptown, in The Ace hotel) by our mate Whitney, who mentioned it was delicious and made in Brooklyn by some cool dudes.
Well those cool dudes have turned up on The Selby with lots of photos of how they make said chocolate in their industrial-chic Brooklyn factory. Looking at the photos of the Mast Brothers you notice they have significant beards, I mentioned this to New York based Whitney, who mailed back saying that there's a whole crop of bearded men in food related businesses in Brooklyn and that the rustic/earthy/retro beard look was currently a VERY big trend. Since we've been upping our menswear cover (thank you Mr Mort) we thought it worth mentioning.
And for those keen on that New Antiquarian retro look, there's a very nice blog by Hollister Hovey who Whitney and I also met in New York and who is lovely. She is passionate about all things retro, in particular flea market finds (such as we've been talking about recently) and writes about the Brooklyn Flea Market and other things old and junky with great enthusiasm, so give her a read.
ps, Last year everyone (in fashion) secretly wanted to be photographed by The Sartorialist to feature on his blog, now everyone wants to be in The Selby.... .clothes are so very last year.
This is a very interesting trend that I've noticed for a while; appearing in interior and graphic design. It's more a pared down retro mood in Britain typied I think by the work of Ilse Crawford at the Bell Hotel. Graphically I noticed a chane in packaging design, Marks and Spencers sweetie packaging being a good example. It's goodbye chrome at home.
Amanda
Posted by: Amanda | January 25, 2010 at 11:38 AM
Blimey, anyone else see those photos I've just removed from the comments box on this post? Sorry if you did, they were a bit of porn, posted it would appear, from Japan.....perhaps they have been reading our 'big-knicker' tweets do you think?
Normal service resumed forthwith...back to the blokes with beards, much safer.
Posted by: amanda | January 25, 2010 at 09:50 PM