by Hadrian Miguel, Life & Style Director
Modern technology has brought us edgier gadgets and electronics in rainbow brights, big white rooms and white tiles, even plush five star hotel-style towels and designer bar soaps, all kinds of luxe goodies sleeked out in white and bold, pop up colors.
As summer ends, I find myself inspired by a much more moody vibe as I go Back in Black, head to toe and from the outside in.
DARTH VADER ONESIE
Come over to the dark side and let the force be with you as you let your little bambino step out into world and the Galactic Empire in the Darth Vader Onesie.
For the baby and toddler, nothing says fun or FAN-tastic as this lil’ outfit that’s ready for everyday play, show, and Halloween too.
The Star Wars-themed onesie comes with cape, pants, headpiece and booties to complete the look of the Sith Lord.
It’s comfy and cool, and made with 95% cotton and 5% spandex.
Available at NeatoShop.com
FAB MAB TEE
Feeling nostalgic but looking to sport something just as cool as a CBGB tee, then the gotta get, must-have item for Fall is a retro, rock t-shirt that celebrates the Fab Mab in San Francisco.
The Mabuhay Gardens (The Mab or Fab Mab) was a punk rock institution of the late 70′s and 80′s, it was like the CBGB of the West where you could see great shows of established & up-n-coming live bands.
This popular destination for music was originally a Filipino restaurant and bar located at 443 Broadway Street, smack dab in the heart of North Beach right along with the neon lights of the strip clubs, popular dance clubs, and the nights of cruising in lowriders & hotrods.
It didn’t cost much to get in and on many nights it was the home to The Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, The Avengers, Leila & The Snakes, and other acts like Blondie, The Ramones, Devo, Iggy Pop, The Runaways/Joan Jett have all played there.
So, revive the spirit of live music and the glory days of the Mabuhay Gardens because nothing says punk rock & classic San Francisco more than a black and white, vintage-inspired tee.
SEUNG YONG SONG – DAMI
In the world of home living and design, the furniture and lighting of Korean designer Seung Yong Song‘s Dami series livens up design with the popular grille style of Asia which will give your home, a fresh modern look.
His collection consists of basket forms and covers that are available for different and various usage depending on form and size.
The Dami collection portrays the structure of Korean traditional grille with clean lines, and light and sturdy durability.
The combination of new eco-friendly materials like Valchromat (made from forest waste and recycled pine, and organic dyes with a specially-made binding resin and a CNC processing technique make it possible to marry modern objects with traditional beauty.
RENOVA TP
If you really tired of the same ol’ same ol’, then super cool Renova is helping to transform bathrooms around the world with a 3-ply, recyclable & biodegradable toilet paper that comes in black…yes, black toilet paper!
Pamper your bum with their plush & quality paper products that are non-bleached and 100% chlorine free, unlike many white toilet papers.
A little more expensive than the standard white, plain jane variety, I like to dress up my bathroom with black TP any time when guests are expected for a visit or a party because it screams unique, style, and always takes my invitees by surprise.
It just looks and feels good too.
BINCHOTAN
Best known for its benefits in grilling food and in water and air purification, Binchotan charcoal can be found in a variety of everyday uses. Binchotan charcoal from the Kishu region of Japan is activated & refined from oak through a simple process using extremely high burning temperature and a very rapid cooling process.
Whether to absorb chemicals in tap water and the negative ions in the air, stimulate healthy soil in the garden, or to enhance blood circulation in a body treatment or hot bath, Binchotan is a good, natural way to boost overall health and wellness.
The chic, sleek or functional use of Binchotan is the rather stylish and practical toothbrush. It gets the job done well and then some because the bristles of the toothbrush are blended with high-quality Binchotan charcoal powder.
Binchotan charcoal helps to deflect negative ions, has a powerful deodorizing effect, removes plaque and attacks the causes of bad breath. It also helps to prevent harmful bacteria and viruses from growing in the brush bristles.
You can even save the planet by not consuming water sold in plastic bottles and also save energy by tossing out your electric air filters, and just using Binchotan charcoal to purify your water and air .
Since Binchotan has countless micro cavity walls in many directions with one gram of charcoal that has nearly the surface area of an entire tennis court, it absorbs chlorine and other chemicals from tap water while releasing natural minerals. Use a 1/4 lb of Binchotan in a pitcher of tap water. Binchotan helps release alkali ions to increase the pH in water – around pH 8-8.5 – to create naturally made mineral water, it softens and improves the overall taste of water.
In your home, the charged ions in our environment due to unhealthy noise, smoke, odors, and harmful electromagnetic waves result in unclean air. Binchotan introduces negative ions to the environment, to purify and deodorize the air, and to help naturally eliminate unpleasant smells from the air. It also regulates the humidity, absorbs chemicals, dissipates the electromagnetic field from household appliances and by generating negative ions, it is believed to put you in a better frame of mind.
CHOGAN HARNESS
The Chogan harness by Black Sheep & Prodigal Sons is a bold, statement neckpiece. It is part of a collection that draws its inspiration from Navajo Shamanic traditions and the Tisimshian legend accounting for the origins of daylight. The collection introduces large and bold customizable looks using re-purposed traditions and up-cycled salvaged materials.
The harness is a very limited edition item that uses salvaged vintage piano ebony circa 1920 – 1945 with black garment leather cording structure that is customizable and removable via integrated snaps.
Black Sheep & Prodigal Sons call themselves The Purveyors of Dark & Uncommon Goods. Their jewelry and collection has been an inspiration for my own creative wares. Their products are unique, one-of-a-kind, special edition, and handcrafted to order in New York.
ACNE DUKE
Time to get shady with the latest and greatest in sunglasses from Acne Studios.
The Acne Duke in black is definitely not for someone who wants to blend in, keep their heads down, nor to get in & get out without making a scene. A minimalist frame with unisex appeal, these contemporary & wicked sunglasses are for those who want be seen and possibly heard.
Handmade in France, with a 8 mm thick acetate frame, matte finish, and dark UV protected and polarized lenses. Measures approximately 5.31 inches across and 1.6 inches in height
THE LITTLE BLACK WATCH
In the age of mobile phones and portable tablets & computers as the end all be all, telling time has taken a back seat to these objects as the ultimate pocket watch.
Finish off your look and make an impression with the best accessory, the wristwatch. A black watch should be a staple in our wardrobes and is the man’s answer to a girl’s little black dress.
With an homage to the elegance and timelessness of classic watches, GUESS is serving less is more with a series of black watches that updates traditional styles with a modern, bold, minimalistic, forward-thinking aesthetic at a really good price. Ideal for men who prefer to keep a high style profile and standout with a distinctive timepiece.
ASH FOOTWEAR
The hunt to find those bold and cool kicks is over because with these winning designs, it’s high time to express freedom of your feet.
Ash Footwear does a fresh take on the classic high top with all kinds of cool bells and whistles like adjustable buckles, strap, zip side, and a denim or leather upper.
They have tons of styles in black for both men and women, but we especially like the Vincent Bis Sneaker for the guy, and the Bowie Ter Wedge Sneaker for the gal.
Created by Leonello Calvani and Patrick Ithier, Ash shoes come in an assortment of fabrics from leather, denim, suede, waxed nappa, and velvet. Fun, glamour and originality of the styles are always at the base of the philosophy of the brand.
MORRISSEY THE CANDLE
“I wear black on the outside because black is how I feel on the inside,” sang the lead singer of the Smiths on their b-side smash, Unloveable. And, nothing says moody, brooding, and fab than to be backlit and aglow by a Morrissey candle!
The iconic frontman of the Smiths and solo crooner is immortalized (albeit only temporarily) in black wax to light up your life.
The art of the candle is called Half a Person: A Morrissey Effigy. The original sculpture by Sean Burford from which candle molds were made. Morrissey the Candle is a heroic idealization for all of us who braved adolescence and teen angst with his anthemic songs that coddled, empowered, and mirrored our sometimes blue thoughts.
The Morrissey candle has a chest exposed, coy grin and coiffed to perfection, its only vulnerabilities are a band-aid covered nipple and a cotton wick. Bust him out at a dinner party and show all your friends you’ve still got the cool, indie, goth, emo spirit.
Now, only if they could make him last forever as a metal candle sconce so that there is a light that never goes out with this charming man.
