While flipping through the bible of (ladies) fashion – September Vogue – we stumbled across this terrific photo from our recent past. A couple years ago, Justin Timberlake was shot for a special supplement to Vogue called Fashion Rocks. We made J.T. a bespoke tuxedo shirt from our Hamilton Shirts line, and we were lucky enough to have it appear. To illustrate the upcoming Fashion’s Night Out, another photo from the same shoot was used..and this one is even better!

Around here we like to think that even through our very small contribution, we are doing what we can to help bring Sexyback. We can provide the great fitting shirt, the rest is up to you…dance moves not included.

Brian Wilson is suddenly back again, and he’s arrived with a very surprising project. A new cd has been released (on 8/17) that matches up the unexpected and very strange pairing of Brian Wilson with George & Ira Gershwin – and the idea turns out to be entirely successful. The musical genius of Brian Wilson re-imagines the Gershwin songbook. ‘S Wonderful!

Check it out here: Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin – Brian Wilson

There really hasn’t been a full-fledged musical summer anthem for the summer of 2010…so I hereby nominate the Lee Fields tune “Ladies“.

Pick up a copy of Lee Fields “My World” here on iTunes:

My World – Lee Fields & The Expressions

This years lineup will include: MGMT, DEVO, Mastodon, Bad Religion, Slick Rick, RJD2, A-Trak, GWAR, The Hold Steady, The Dirty Projectors…WEIRD AL YANKOVIC and MORE…

The Fun Fun Fun Festival was created to include “what is bubbling from the underground, what sounds great, and what is making an impact, regardless of what Pollstar or the mainstream media said was cool.” I’ll say. What had once been a two day festival has now been enlarged to three – more days, more bands, more ultimate face-melting music awesomeness!

Tickets are on sale now HERE for November 5, 6, 7.

** also while in Austin – be sure and check out the mens store called Stag – tons of cools stuff for sale, including a GREAT selection of our 1883 shirts! **

Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the movie tells the story of a wealthy Milanese wife and mother whose life changes drastically after a chance introduction. Starring the unique beauty Tilda Swinton (a friend to the Cinema Arts Society Houston) her look and performance perfectly epitomizes the meticulous, understated elegance of an Italian women of a certain age and class. The locations and wardrobe used in the movie are absolutely perfect.

Over the years I’ve had many friends that have moved to Milan tell me about how difficult it is live there – the ancient Italian city has a very closed off society and the levels of the social classes are very pronounced, especially to outsiders or foreigners. The movie portrays the contrasts between these worlds perfectly; how very attractive material things can be, and how false beauty combined with lies doesn’t lead to personal happiness.

The movie is photographed using very interesting different styles, and the dramatic score was assembled from music created by the minimalist American composer, John Adams. Even if this kind of movie isn’t your thing..it’s a great looking film, and the settings and fashions, are totally worth the price of admission.

A little known fact was that the crazy singer named Amy had actually “borrowed” her sound…her backup band called the Dap Kings. The Dap Kings really seemed to be the magic ingredient that provided the Back in Black album with that raw, powerful, and perfectly rendered retro sound. The interesting thing about The Dap Kings was that they already had a singer, and a really great one at that…and her name is Sharon Jones.

Sharon’s the REAL deal and she’s UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME.

If you want to give your ears a treat…invite some friends over, fix up some cocktails, and throw on Sharon’s latest record called “I Learned the Hard Way“. It’s totally fantastic.

iTunes link: I Learned the Hard Way (Bonus Version) – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Here’s a tune from her last record, 100 Days, 100 Nights

From the new record, the title track – I Learned the Hard Way

To make this record Austin based Escovedo worked alongside the legendary rock producer Tony Visconti (Morrissey, Bowie, U2) and and called in friends such as Ian Hunter, and received a helping hand from little known musician named Bruce Springsteen. Alejandro Escovedo has created a classic record totally worth adding to your list of new summer music to check out.

PS- this Saturday will be our last…the store will be open on the 26th.

Just like fine wines, The Rolling Stones seem to do nothing but improve with age. Famous for being recorded loosely in the South of France and Los Angeles, Exile on Main St. is simply a rock classic that no music collection should be without. The mixture of raw rocks sounds with touches of gospel, blues, country, and American r&b make this Stones album one of the best ever. Composed during the years 1968-72 its easy to imagine the glamorous times of living in Villefranche-sur-Mer, near Nice, with the incredible visitors dropping by, all the decadent drug usage, and the beautiful Bianca Jagger and Anita Pallenberg floating in and out during its recording.

This new version comes with an additional 10 songs, many of which have only been available as bootlegs prior to this release. You’d be crazy not to pick this one up.