Blurb time!

Definitive menswear brand CX.CITY present their latest offering for Spring 2012, ‘Lost In You Like Saturday Nights’. Tapping international model Bradley Soileau as the focal point of their lookbook, the collection makes use of heavy imagery while conveying a very distinct mood. Balancing bold graphics with Spring colors, this release continues within the simple, vintage aesthetic that the brand has become known for. The collection is now available direct through their online shop, as well as in some select Los Angeles area retailers.

I’m probably being swayed somewhat by the lovely lookbook photos, but there’s nothing in this collection from CX.CITY that I wouldn’t wear, and that’s always a good sign.

I am really digging this, nice work by Joby, hopefully Sanrio won’t come knocking on Blure’s door with a C&D. I wish it was available as a t-shirt and not just a tank top, but that’s just me, Summer is coming and people want to get their arms out.

Costiness=$27 Buy it at Blure Collective

Denada (designs by Andreas Krapf, obviously one of my favorites) is now offering their new Lumberjack design on tees, tanks, and batwing style tops – great stuff!

Keep up with Denada: Facebook, Shop

Instead of lamenting Camiseteria‘s lack of an international ordering system (who wants to e-mail an order in now that it’s 2012?), I’m going to lament the lack of attention that they get in the tee blog world since they put out such lovely t-shirts.

Let’s be honest, if you think of polo shirts, you tend to think about guys wearing polos with a little embroidered horse on them, or if you’re in the UK/Europe it might be a crocodile (is Lacoste popular in the US? I can’t remember). That’s fine, but it’s normal, and if you’re visiting HYA chances are you don’t want to wear something normal, so these fun polo shirts from Japanese brand Publik are very welcome for those times when a t-shirt is too casual, but a shirt is too formal. With Publik being a fairly premium brand and Genevieve Gauckler and Sho Watanabe doing the design work it’s fair to say that we aren’t in bargain basement territory with these polos, but if you like them to the degree of $78ish then have at it.

Beligum’s finest continue to set high standards for themselves. Really impressive release, they seem to manage to have a certain style but still manage to appeal to different niches with their looks, which I assume is no mean feat. I’ve already got too many pictures in this post but it’s worth mentioning that some of the designs are available on different colour blanks and also as tank tops.

Death, Shred

I am really digging these latest designs from bsclly, I’d be happy wearing just about any of them and that is a pretty good benchmark if you ask me.

Last Issue from bwaz#ill, The Luchapparel. I know Andy that You don’t like brand names on tee but I’m proud of my “Luchapparel”!

Andy: It’s not necessarily that I don’t like brand names on shirts, I just feel that they have limited appeal when a brand is still getting started and doesn’t have a fan base to fall back on that supports you and would be proud to wear your logo. The illustrated designs have a lot more appeal to a wider range of people, which in turn helps to generate interest in your brand, eventually meaning that logo-based apparel would make sense.

This post was submitted by Bwazill.

I wish that we could see these new items in the flesh at Super7, but since they aren’t even released yet (don’t worry, you’ll just have to wait a couple of hours) I guess we can’t blame them. I like the polo shirts more than the hoodie because it subverts the norm, everyone is used to seeing a little horse on a polo shirt, and this grim reaper version is just subtle enough that people won’t notice it for a while, which I think it’s pretty neat.

While I was waiting for my 8-Bit Zombie (8BZ) package, I felt like one of Pavlov’s Dogs. The door bell would ring and my mouth would salivate over the thought of the fresh, sweet joy of a new top. To my dismay however on most of the occasions it was just a door-to-door sales person or something equally uninspiring. Alas.

Success occurred finally and I was blessed with the presence of a delightful looking package neatly stuck together with an 8BZ logo sticker. The package didn’t stay neat for long. Upon opening the pack I found the top, a hat and a slew of goodies which greatly surprised me. The goodies contained a few badges, trading cards based on 80′s films and games and a vintage Muscle Man toy. I digress.

This is the first vest top that I’ve actually ever worn so for me it was an unusual feeling. It certainly felt snug and nice against my skin but I don’t think the top flattered my physique in any way shape or form, however this may be the gentle kick I need to get in to shape. The design is based upon Bub’s from George A Romero’s film Day Of The Dead. Having watched the film I struggled to remember the character but a few quick google searches and I could see the inspiration clearly. 

The print quality is fantastic and certainly feels like it will last a long time and even if it were to crack it certainly wouldn’t ruin the design of the shirt unlike other designs out there. I’ve yet to actually wash the top because frankly I don’t want to take it off, but I have faith that it will wash and iron well. 

The top is both printed on the front and the back and the design is something I absolutely love and reflects my punk rock taste, it will certainly become one of my most worn tops. For the amount of work that has clearly gone into this I think $20 is brilliant value for the top. I’ve already received positive comments and general jealousy toward this top from my friends, this coupled with the fact the design is almost sold out entirely on the website shows just how popular the top really is. Here is to hoping he gets more reprints in so more people can enjoy the shirts!

The top really goes well with the black and white snap-back hat that Ross kindly sent me too. The hat has Gizmo from Gremlins on it with a multicolour screen print on the peak too. Again the print quality is great and I’m very curious to see the process behind screen printing the peak of the hat, because it certainly looks like it could be fiddly. It’s nice to see some really unique hats being made as well because I like my all of my clothes to reflect my tastes, not just my tops. I don’t generally wear hats because I find hats that are readily available in the UK to either be flat peaks which I don’t think I can pull off, or boring designs. This is neither and is likely to become my main hat of choice in my wardrobe.

(Because I was so un photogenic I decided to use my lovely nephew for a hat pose! He photos far better than I. Proud uncle here!)

It really must seem that I’ve been paid* to write fantastic words about 8BZ but in all honesty I love the shirts and it’s the main reason I started getting in contact with them because I was so drawn in by the designs. I’m not sure why I’m defending myself to you the readers, but I’m sure if you check out or purchase any of the stuff from 8BZ you are likely to agree with me. If you are interested in 8-Bit Zombie then definitely check out their website for more interesting retro shirts (and hats)

*8BZ Where is my cheque?