Kerchiefs

Love the colors and mix of fabrics in this pic. For guys, the red bandana is pretty classic if you can work it in. I think they could work pretty well on a guitar strap.

Image by JAK & JIL

Pomp

Wow, can't believe I haven't posted in 3 months. But, life is busy in a lot of good ways. Meanwhile, this pompadour is amazing, and I love the whole look. Inspired!

Image by The Sartorialist

More Ties

Love these ties from the groom lounge by rue magazine at Hitched. Such amazing color combos. Definitely inspiring for men's guitar straps.

Images from D E S I G N L O V E F E S T (and Bri Emery's facebook album)

Plaids

I really like these plaid ties, they're inspiring for a bit more color in my plaid guitar straps!

Image from GQ

Paul Smith's Rockabilly Menswear for Women

I love Paul Smith's Sp'11 runway looks for women. Pompadors & menswear-inspired pieces are two of my favorite things. And the mix of patterns going on is pretty cool too, and inspiring for some of my guitar straps!

*Also, new guitar straps (FINALLY) coming soon!

Images from Style.com

The Morning Benders- Stitches

Fell in love with this band, The Morning Benders, sometime in early spring. And this song, especially. Now they've gone and made a great video for it, which is inspiring in more ways than one (colors, stripes, guitars, feeling, concept...etc).

Lucky for me I'll be seeing them again soon at Lollapalooza!

Video images from Vimeo

Dusty Gray

Very cool gray color on these two shoes. I'd love to find some dusty gray leather remnants to cut up and use on some new straps! And I really really like the gold number stamp on the top shoe.

Images from GQ.com, shoes by Common Projects and Calvin Klein respectively

Beck

This week, in search of summery tunes, I came across some old Beck- specifically Que Onda Guero, which is a really fun song that I've since had on repeat (lyric about a melting popsicle= the best). Anyway, it made me remember that Beck is one stylish guy, quite ahead of his time. Definitely a good source of inspiration for creative guitar straps.

First image- no source (looks like Vogue to me)

Second image from Style.com

Men's Scarves

This collection of men's street style pics is the most inspiring one I've seen in a very long time. Wow. And I am loving the scarves on these three guys- definitely a good way to introduce some pattern to an outfit, or a guitar strap!

Images by Tommy Ton for GQ

Backyard Bill

I just found this new blog, Backyard Bill, which is clearly in that untouchable upper echelon of amazing artist/designer/photographer/personality blogs. It's like The Selby, but for people's own outfits. Definitely inspiring, I love the vintage and authentic look to all the people photographed.

Images from Backyard Bill

Classic Coats, Bags, and a little Plaid

Image from Easy Fashion

Image from The Sartorialist

I love the colors and layers that these two guys are putting together. They definitely have a vintage feel, but are also very crisp and classic. And they are inspiring me to make some more straps for my gold plate series.

Paul Banks- Julian Plenti

Paul Banks has a well-defined sense of style I admire. Stoic, sharp, dark, and a bit awkward. And one that not many people could pull off as easily. I like this new twist he's got going for his solo record as Julian Plenti- its definitely more casual and vintage-y than the Interpol look.

Images found on Last.fm

Adam Brody Style

I think Adam Brody has a pretty cool i'm-not-trying sense of style. His clothes seem basic, but he has a great sense of proportion (fitted, not tight, not baggy) and color. I like what he wears, and I think he's a good inspiration for the guy-oriented straps in my shop.

Blazer, Scarf and Acoustic

The combination of this shrunken tailored jacket, the nautical stripe scarf, and a black acoustic guitar looks  really cool. Definitely some elements to consider for a new strap idea.

Image from  Man About Town, Issue 4, Jamie Hince (The Kills)

Casual Suiting

I really like this photo in a basement record store, with all the posters, and the guy wearing a grey (check? gingham?) suit with a plaid shirt. Very appropriate for therine inspiration.

Image from Details via Men's Style.com

Shoe Shank

As far soles go, this one is simply beautiful. The subtle colors in the leather, next to the cream colored shank with letterpress-looking type, plus the tiny nail heads on the heel and finally the geometrically shaped black inset- it all looks a bit black tie affair, no? These pieces could definitely be used on one of my straps.

Casablancas

I guess there isn't much point in denying that fall has snuck up on me. I despise cold weather, but at least this pre-winter season brings some new inspirations, and a likely return to therine, which has been mostly neglected during these past few months of warm weather in Seattle.

So, with fall in mind, today I found this image while looking up info on Julian Casablancas' new solo project. I believe this is the cover for the new album. Its a great picture, both clever and beautiful, and the saturated colors are really amazing. For being a crusty rocker, he looks pretty dandy in his maroon velvet blazer. Definitely an inspiration to get back to work on some new straps!

Image from juliancasablancas.com

Tuxedo and Suit

Image from Qvest (midtown crisis- July 2009)

Image from Man About Town (issue 3)

Minimal black and white looks, inspiring for some formal straps this fall.

Plaids and Leather

Cool image of menswear muted plaids and leather jackets on display at a new Uniqlo Ion store. Falls in line with my Plaid Rock strap, and is good inspiration for looking towards the fall.

Image from BAGAHOLICBOY

Plaid Brogues

I love how menswear shoes are being made for women. I've tried to wear these kind of shoes myself and just can't quite pull it off. But I really like the way these look on this model. And I think the use of the brown vintage-y plaid plus the perforated leather is inspiring for a strap or two.

Image found on BAGAHOLICBOY, shoes by Church