Utility
The ‘Utility’ trend is updated for the new season. The military-inspired trophy jacket is reworked in the form of a blazer, while fabric contrasts such as chiffon and jersey on slouchy, unstructured silhouettes soften the look. Military green features heavily throughout mixed with neutral and earthy tones on faded and washed finishes. Functionality is integral to the trend; zip fastenings, buckles, toggles and multi pockets are key, while studding and embellishment add an injection of glamour.

Heritage
Undoubtedly one of the strongest looks from the catwalks, ‘Heritage’ takes its inspiration from the Lady of the Manor. Textured fabrics such as tweed, faux fur, wool and leather are layered to sumptuous effect on a bed of warm browns, greys and cream. Rustic blanket checks and tweeds convey a subtle, grown up interpretation of the trend, while tartans and plaids cater to the younger, more playful end of the spectrum. The camel coat, a wardrobe staple for autumn winter, is modernized in the form of a caped silhouette creating a chic retro vibe. The buttery soft, luxurious tan leather dress is one of the more versatile looks, taking you from a sophisticated day outfit through to evening cocktails.

Pantomime
With theatrical splendor, ‘Pantomime’ is a deliciously quirky trend that embraces its dark side. Dramatic trims are essential with chains and ruffles galore, seen on lingerie-inspired lace tops and dresses. Perfect for the party season there is an array of opulent dresses. Velvet is a key fabric direction for the season along with satin, jacquard and brocade in a Autumn / Winter 2010 Womenswear variety of rich jewel colors. The star of the show is a midnight blue velvet shift dress which oozes show stopping glamour.

Femme Fatale
A trend inspired by the film noir period of the 1940s and 1950s, ‘Femme Fatale’ celebrates a bygone era when screen sirens Rita Hayworth and Barbara Stanwyck were making a killing as vampy villainesses. Evoking thoughts of old Hollywood glamor, refined textures such as silk, satin and velvet appear across a dusty color palette of vintage shades and classic black. The silhouette is seductive with sophisticated tailoring and cinched waists. Highwaisted pencil skirts, faux fur coats and satin ruffle blouses are the statement pieces guaranteed to create the smoky, sexy allure of a modern ‘Femme Fatale’.

Wild Things
Shearling, sheepskin and faux fur are key fabric directions for outerwear this season. ‘Wild Things’ demonstrates an updated boho style with layer upon luxurious layer of chunky knitted texture and oversized, cocoon silhouettes. A neutral color palette of biscuit, beige and cream tones combine to create a very wearable, casual-cool collection.

Artisan
‘Artisan’ celebrates the fusion of old and new to create a look that is modern and fresh with a nod to the traditional. A confident trend with no restrictions; the look takes a dressing-up box approach to style where clashing prints meet an unlimited color palette and never-ending layers. With a mix and match attitude, there are unique art-style prints and explosive winter florals across satin shift dresses and printed brocade coats.

Twilight
Dark brooding romance and gothic overtones combine to create ‘Twilight’; a strong, dramatic story for younger looks with layers of black in contrasting fabrics and textures. Iridescent dark tones mixed with elegant decayed embellishments and Victoriana-inspired lace is a key direction for the trend. The crushed velvet evening jacket will add the ‘Twilight’ factor to almost any outfit, or for a more formal interpretation of the trend, the lace halter neck dress epitomizes the sultry, gothic look to perfection.

Vamp
Grown up, sexy and oh-so edgy, ‘Vamp’ is polished glamor at it’s finest. Dark, moody tones contrasted with blood red, lace and opulent lacquered textures create an alluring sense of mystery. Sculptured dresses are elegant and seductive and mark a return to stunning eveningwear for the woman who likes to make an entrance.

Customers can shop at House of Fraser from www.houseoffraser.co.uk

About House of Fraser:

House of Fraser is a department store group with 61 enviable locations across the UK and Ireland. As one of the best known names on the high street, House of Fraser has presented customers with an unrivalled nationwide department store for 160 years. The company was acquired by the Highland consortium in November 2006 marking the beginning an exciting new chapter in its history. The group has annual sales in excess of £1.25bn and employs 6,500 House of Fraser staff and 10,000 concession staff through 5 million sq ft of selling space.

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House of Fraser…Temptation on every level!

Think of Savile Row, a world of fabrics and needles, an age-old craftsmanship combined with today’s creativity. All this lavished with a modern, surrealistic touch. New for this season is the “false three-button” jacket: the jacket has 3 buttons but looks like a two-button jacket thanks to the rolling lapel that covers the top button.

I. The fabrics
Scabal’s summer is like the British sky, one moment blue and the next moment grey and cloudy. All shades of blue are on offer. They are brightened up with colorful splashes, from fresh mint-green to lavender. Checks are everywhere and take on all formats, from Vichy checks, via discreet checks, to striking, sharply outlined checks.

Summer Riviera

Riviera, Scabal’s new summer fabrics include 35 interpretations in pure linen, linen and wool and linen, cotton and silk. In addition to seersucker stripes, we also find checks. For men who love softness and luxury, there is Mercury, a mohair collection with 35% kid mohair, and Montego Bay, an ultrasoft fabric with 60% kid mohair that comes in a plain version as well as stripes with timeless designs.

Next summer Scabal will also bring out a new range of Super 140’s under the name Appeal. It comes in no less than 67 designs and in a wide range of shades, from light to dark. A cut above this is the Super 150’s line, Perception, in 240 and 250 grams consisting of 35 designs. It is a very contemporary, aesthetic line in the “Bowater” weave, which is characterized by its strong colour contrasts and sheen.

Nanotechnology Tradition and high tech go hand in hand at Scabal. A beautiful example of this is Monza Pole Position, a Super 100 with nanotechnology finishing, which is stain- and water-resistant and keeps the fabric impeccable, even in a humid environment. This finishing also results in the fabric being easier to tailor.

The comeback of silky gloss

The fabrics for blazers are taking off in three trends: classic designs with discreet checks, plain fabrics and more pronounced checks.

New to this area is the Mosaic line with the Nobility fabric, a classic combination of wool and silk with a new shine.

Glossy, silky fabrics had almost disappeared but are now making a comeback. The silky gloss gives the fabrics a luxurious, dressy radiance. Scabal offers these fabrics in strong checks, false plain and plain fabrics.

Royal: choose your classics

The most important collection this season is Royal, a Super 100’s with 95 different articles. Royal is a noble fabric offering an excellent price/quality ratio. As the name suggests, Zenith is the nec plus ultra this season. This exceptional line of Super 180’s cashmere comes in a spectrum of light colors and trendy designs.

II. The cut: British from top to bottom

The British look is going to be a hot item in men’s fashion next summer. British style stands for timeless, stylish and formal, both in terms of cut and design.

The trousers remain tight and the jackets as short as in 2009. Wide lapels and two-button jackets are the norm. An exception is the three-button jacket, which looks like a two-button model thanks to the rolling lapels covering up the top button. The shoulders take on two different styles: narrow and constructed on the one hand, and soft and de-constructed on the other. By offering several types of interlining, the customer has the choice between a suit that is tight- fitting or somewhat looser-fitting.

Trendy jackets with jeans

Beside suits we see combination’s with traditional trousers or with jeans. The jackets are colorful with accents of pink, mint, lavender, light orange, ochre, deep red and purple in combination with traditional shades such as navy blue, brown and grey. Blue tones are in next summer and range from turquoise blue and sky blue to sapphire blue and navy blue.

At NELSON WADE, we are proud to carry and provide custom made suits for men and women made with fabric from Scabal!

If you are interested in having a elegant made to measure suit, blazer or skirt made with fabric from Scabal, then please contact us NELSON WADE by phone, email or make an appointment at our store in Scottsdale, Arizona. We would be happy to show you fabric from Scabal.

Live Well! Dress Well!

NELSON WADE

Source Information and Photos courtesy of Scabal.

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Tailoring with a Twist

The collection will appeal to rock chicks who ‘hang with the band’ and love to mix things up, teaming denim and leather with customized music tees and treasured vintage finds. Balancing out the heavy metal vibe are girly lace scarves and dusty floral dresses which soften the collection for a more wearable summer look.

Layering is key, whether its lace layered jersey, a chiffon dress toughened up with a leather jacket for chilly festival nights, or an oversized mannish shirt for a ‘just threw something together’ moment. Easy-to-wear maxi dresses are a summer essential; the white one-shoulder ‘goddess’ dress can be dressed up or down, whilst the grungy charcoal dress is the perfect festival investment – wear with chunky boots and a splatter of mud!

Fabric detail, texture and metalwork are key to the spring/summer collection; with heavily embellished jersey tops, leather bound backless tunic dresses and sequined bomber jackets. Quirky printed tees and skinny jeans available in five different washes are collection staples, along with a selection of leggings in jersey, lace and sequins for the more daring fashionista.

Label Lab launches exclusively in House of Fraser stores and online at www.houseoffraser.co.uk at the end of April. Prices from £15 – £30 for vests and tees, £40 – £75 for dresses, £50 for skinny jeans and up to £150 for leather jackets.

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LABEL LAB–EXCITING NEW LAUNCH EXCLUSIVELY AT HOUSE OF FRASER

JUARA, leading natural skincare company, is proud to sponsor beauty products for an Indonesian-inspired New York fashion show with Kraton Auguste Soesastro’s Fashion House, which features Auguste Soetrisno’s haute couture line, on Thursday, Jan. 21 at Ana Tsarev Gallery, 24 W. 57th Street, New York, NY.

“People are just now starting to realize the variety and beauty of Indonesian culture – from refined Batik fabrics adorned with hand-painted designs to age-old, secret herbal recipes that ensure beauty and health; this is a culture that has much to contribute to the international marketplace,” Metta Murdaya, founder of JUARA Skincare said. “This fashion show is a great introduction on how beautiful and sophisticated this tradition can be in the world of beauty and fashion – and it’s just the beginning.”

The Kraton fashion show will celebrate the history and rich tradition of Indonesia’s ancient style and beauty while previewing its Spring/Summer 2010 Couture collection. JUARA Skincare, with its natural skincare products, is the company of choice for the makeup artists who will be preparing runway models for the show- giving the models a glamorous, radiant look for the cameras and audience. The show is expected to host an audience of 300 fashion and beauty enthusiasts, including Kraton’s elite clientele, top New York fashion editors and other industry VIPs.

“We’ve been the chosen skincare line by celebrity makeup artists for the Toronto Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival, but sponsoring products for Kraton’s fashion show is an ideal match for us at JUARA,” Murdaya said. “We both derive inspiration from age-old Indonesian tradition, but we implement a modern and sophisticated twist to create a clientele that is interested in looking beautiful from the inside out. The skincare products we’ll be featuring for the event are truly luxurious and ideal for the runway.”

JUARA’s Tamarind Hyrdating Toner, Sweet Black Tea & Rice Facial Moisturizer, Sweet Black Tea Eye Crème, and Sweet Black Tea Lip Treatment will be used to prepare all the models for makeup application. For more information about these products and JUARA Skincare, visit www.juaraskincare.com.

About JUARA Skincare
Recognizing that present skincare offerings did not have solutions that were rooted in history and simple to use, four young friends sought to bring back the traditions of the past by creating products that fuse the active botanicals of Indonesian herbal recipes with Western science to create products that represent the best of both, the east and west.

Metta Murdaya, Yoshiko Roth, Jill Sung and Tami Chuang, four creative, culturally- diverse young women with a follow-your-dream mentality shared a vision to build a brand that combined their Western upbringing with their Asian ancestry and turned it into a passion for results-driven skincare. Together, they founded JUARA, an east-meets-west Indonesian line of treatments, reminiscent of the ancient spa experience, relevant to the savvy, conscientious person of today.

Utilizing active botanicals such as rice, tamarind, turmeric, candlenut oil, healing teas and red sandalwood, JUARA combines time-honored recipes for skin health and well-being with the best in modern technology and innovation to deliver efficacious and elegant treatments of the highest quality. For more information, visit www.juaraskincare.com.

About Kraton Auguste Soesastro Fashion House
Kraton Auguste Soesastro is a New York based Fashion House established in 2008 by Auguste Soesastro. Kraton’s Spring/Summer 2010 Couture collection is influenced by royalty-inspired Indonesian tradition. Kraton specializes in high-end luxury garments, crafted to perfection, incorporating superb tailoring techniques, unique designs and the best available materials. Kraton collaborates with only the best artisans in each of their special fields to ensure the highest quality. Kraton’s collaborators are also those who participate in fair trade, legally obtained raw materials, ecologically responsible and cruelty free practices.

Designer Auguste Soesastro, was born in Jakarta, to Dutch Indonesian parents of Javanese, Chinese and Arabic heritage. This first collection is homage to the original meaning of the word ‘Kraton,’ the Javanese Royal Court, its artistry and long-standing integrity. For more information, visit http://kratonworld.com.

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Natural Skincare Company Sponsors Skincare Products for New York Fashion Show

Elizabeth Arden (Antonio Castillo), day ensemble, green plaid wool, black silk velvet, ivory silk chiffon, circa 1946, USA, gift of Doris Duke. Charles James, dinner suit, purple silk taffeta, black silk velvet, 1947, USA, gift of Beatrice Simpson.

Night & Day will open with two striking pairs of garments that represent evening and day attire from two different eras. Representing the 1920s will be an Art Deco-inspired sportswear ensemble juxtaposed with a heavily beaded evening dress. From the late 1940s, a jaunty Elizabeth Arden trouser ensemble for country weekends will be paired with a dramatic taffeta and velvet dinner suit by Charles James. The exhibition’s theme will be reinforced in the introductory gallery by a group of Christian Dior garments from the 1950s, a decade during which there were multiple categories of day and evening wear.

The chronologically organized exhibition will begin with the 18th century, when clothing was classified by its degree of formality and worn according to the occasion or activity. As the exhibition progresses from the 19th to 21st first centuries, day and evening clothes will be juxtaposed, illustrating what made each piece appropriate for a particular time of day.

Since the early 19th century, women’s clothing has primarily been divided into daywear and eveningwear, categories that are governed by specific dress codes. Early examples in Night & Day will include a white cotton day dress, circa 1815, paired with a silk evening gown, circa 1824. One of the distinguishing features of 1850s fashion was a full skirt. Dresses were divided into two pieces, a bodice and a skirt. It became common practice to have alternate day and evening bodices that could be paired with the same skirt, demonstrated by a chiné taffeta dress with two bodices, circa 1853.

The rules of dress reached their apex during the period from the turn of the 20th century until World War I when fashionable women were required to change their clothes up to six times per day, depending on their social obligations. After the war, fashion permitted a more relaxed set of guidelines. The buoyancy of 1920s nightlife will be represented by a champagne silk cocktail dress and a circa 1924 metallic lace evening dress by Jean Patou.

Christian Dior, evening dress, printed ivory silk satin, spring summer 1956, France, gift of Mrs. Michael Blankfort. Christian Dior New York, afternoon dress, sea green silk taffeta, circa 1952, France, gift of Mrs. Helen Ziegler

Some of fashion’s traditional dress codes temporarily collapsed during World War II, partially due to wartime restrictions, but also because women had fewer opportunities for social and leisure activities. However, the war affected fashion differently in France and the United States. This is most noticeable in the stark contrast between an unadorned linen day dress, circa 1945, by the French couturier Piguet, and a circa 1943 evening gown with dramatic beaded embellishment by the American designer Adrian.

Fashions of the 1950s again demanded a strict set of rules corresponding to a renewal of formal society.     These would all but disappear in the 1960s and 1970s. Day and evening clothes were well defined in the1980s, even while undercurrents of the avant-garde and post-modernism led to a multiplicity of styles. The draped knits of avant-garde Japanese fashion, however, looked forward to the deconstructed silhouette of the 1990s, when standard dress codes were not embraced, as demonstrated by a Helmut Lang dress from 1993. True day suits, cocktail dresses, and evening gowns still exist, but contemporary fashion adheres to very few traditional rules and promotes loose definitions of daywear and eveningwear.

Night & Day, presented in the Fashion and Textile History Gallery, is organized by Molly Sorkin, along with Colleen Hill, Harumi Hotta, Lynn Weidner, and Tiffany Webber. The Fashion and Textile History Gallery presents biannual exhibitions examining aspects of the past 250 years of fashion. Exhibitions are curated exclusively from The Museum at FIT’s extensive collection. Support for this exhibition has been provided by the Couture Council.

The Museum at FIT is the only museum in New York City dedicated solely to the art of fashion. Best known for its innovative and award-winning exhibitions, described by Roberta Smith in The New York Times as “ravishing,” the museum has a collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the eighteenth century to the present. Like other fashion museums, such as the Musée de la Mode, the Mode Museum and the Museo de la Moda, The Museum at FIT collects, conserves, documents, exhibits, and interprets fashion. The museum’s mission is to advance knowledge of fashion through exhibitions, publications, and public programs. Visit www.fitnyc.edu/museum.

The museum is part of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a college of art and design, business and technology educating more than 10,000 students annually. FIT, a college of the State University of New York (SUNY), offers 44 majors leading to the AAS, BFA, BS, MA, and MPS degrees. Visit www.fitnyc.edu.

The Couture Council is a membership group of fashion enthusiasts that helps support the exhibitions and programs of The Museum at FIT. For information on the Couture Council, call 212 217.4532 or e-mail couturecouncil (at) fitnyc (dot) edu.

MUSEUM HOURS

Tuesday – Friday – noon-8:00 pm
Saturday – 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Closed Sunday, Monday, and legal holidays

Admission is free.

Photos courtesy of MFIT .

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Night & Day: On View at The Museum at FIT in New York, December 3, 2009 – May 11, 2010

The iPEARL fashion collection will debut in Chicago at the Jane Miller Gallery in Evanston on October 31 and November 1, 2009. The collection is the creation of Ilene Pearl Bannwart, a Bucks County, PA fashion designer with a flair for creating sophisticated, luxurious investment jackets that are timeless and effortlessly wearable. Her iPEARL collection features couture quality and classic styles of limited edition jackets out of luscious European fabrics lined with spectacular silks that are “like a party inside”. The collection offers exclusive, meticulously tailored and detailed pieces that can be worn as eveningwear or casually with jeans.

“Women appreciate the quality of my workmanship and the flattering, feminine styles and gorgeous fabrications. They constantly tell me they’ve grown tired of basic black, but continue to wear it because it’s the safest way to go, ” said Pearl Bannwart. “If the design and colors come together to enhance their natural beauty, women no longer need to ‘play it safe’,” added Pearl Bannwart.

Ilene Pearl Bannwart will be showing the iPearl collection at the Jane Miller Gallery at 708 Church Street, Suite 234, in Evanston, IL on Saturday, October 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, November 1 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

In its first two years, the iPEARL collection has gained a strong following with fine specialty stores such as Takashimaya New York, select boutiques and a discerning clientele around the country. As an added quality feature, the iPearl collection is made in New York City.

ABOUT iPEARL
The iPearl collection, known as ‘Luxurious fashions for elegant women’ is the vision of Ilene Pearl Bannwart. Pearl Bannwart launched her concept for the iPEARL collection two years ago. Her firsthand, in depth knowledge of fine custom apparel, however, can be traced back to her family heritage, the love of fine clothing, and the arts. The Bucks County, Pennsylvania designer was borne into a family in the Midwest whose lineage was steeped in the art of crafting fine quality garments. Her ancestors immigrated to America from Russia and Poland, and were skilled artisans in the world of design and tailoring. As a child, she had the good fortune of being outfitted in a custom made wardrobe, which soon became the standard she expected in clothing, and continued over the years. She loved fabrics and textiles, and spent hours studying patterns.

Ever the student of fashion, Pearl Bannwart traveled extensively around the world. This global perspective enhanced her knowledge of the apparel industry and influenced her appreciation of fashion worldwide. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, her focus could have been fashion design, but she followed her avocation for music and voice studies. After a career in development for the nonprofit sector, Pearl Bannwart returned to her love of quality fashion and fine textiles. As the designer of iPEARL, she is living out her passion by creating styles for elegant, discerning women of all ages and sizes. The iPEARL collection retails from $500 to $2,500 depending on the design’s fabrication. For more information, visit www.ipearlfashions.com.

Contact: Donna Weaver, WeaverWorks, 215.428.0972

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iPEARL Fashion Collection to Debut in Chicago at Jane Miller Gallery in Evanston

Crazy Shirts’ ‘Eco’ Board Shorts collection is now available at all Hawaii retail locations and online at CrazyShirts.com.

Reduce, reuse and recycle! That’s what Hawaii-based Crazy Shirts is doing with its “Eco” Board Shorts collection. Made with recycled plastic bottles, the synthetic material is converted into 100 percent polyester polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) microfiber. The line is now available at all Hawaii retail locations and online at www.CrazyShirts.com.

“Crazy Shirts’ ‘Eco’ Board Shorts collection allows our fans to stay environmentally-friendly and in-style at the same time,” said Mark Hollander, president and chief executive officer of Crazy Shirts. “Crazy Shirts has always been committed to preserving our planet, from our use of water-soluble inks to our naturally cooled Hawaii manufacturing plant to our pioneering use of LED lighting in our retail locations. The Eco line was a natural, no pun intended, extension for Crazy Shirts.”

Each Eco Board Shorts is made from roughly seven 16-ounce bottles and the lightweight, quick-drying material features Crazy Shirts HydroPrint technology, which reveals a different pattern when it gets wet. The men’s short features a Velcro-less fly for comfort, hidden side mesh pocket with key fob, logo grommets and drawstring. The women’s Eco Board Short is reversible and includes a back pocket with logo grommets and an elastic key fob, as well as a split Velcro closure fly. The shorts are available in men’s ($45), women’s ($46) and kids sizes ($29).

Founded in 1964, Crazy Shirts is among the first companies in Hawaii to design, manufacture and sell the “T-shirt” as we know it today. Housing the largest printing facility in Hawaii, on the Island of Oahu, and employing more than 350 employees, the company operates retail stores on all major Hawaiian Islands, as well as stores in California, Nevada, South Carolina and Florida. For more information about Crazy Shirts, visit www.crazyshirts.com.

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Crazy Shirts Stays Eco Friendly with Recycled Plastic Bottle Board Shorts

Alongside the already popular model Scott 15 for portable computers with screens up to 15″, the new products Scott 17 and Scott N13 now offer utmost carrying comfort for 17″ and 13″ laptops or smaller notebooks. All the bags in the Scott family have a cushioned back, an adjustable shoulder strap and lots of additional inside compartments. The most practical thing about Scott bags is the padded inside Notebook sleeve that can be quickly and easily removed. This makes all Scott models the ideal companion, even on days when the computer has to stay at home.

Individual in every way
Scott 15, which has been on the market since the middle of last year, has already proven that. “The laptop bag is enjoying huge popularity. But more and more customers are looking for bags that are also suitable for larger or smaller Notebooks. With the three Scott models we now offer a product with the right dimensions for nearly every portable computer”, explains Martin Klüsener, designer and managing director of Feuerwear GmbH & Co. KG. And every bag and every accessory made by Feuerwear is a stylish one-of-a-kind piece, due to the unique material it is made of: used fire hose. Because over many years of tough fire-fighting duty a lot of soot, grease and mud, water and extreme heat leave behind unique traces on each individual hose. The carefully-selected fire hoses are thoroughly scrubbed, cut to size and then stitched and finished by hand. This way, a disused product is given a new purpose as eco-friendly bags, belts, wallets and organizers and without polluting the environment. The material, high-tensile polyester yarn outside with a long-lasting synthetic rubber lining, ensures that every Feuerwear product is tough and sturdy.

The route to success
Feuerwear founder Martin Klüsener began producing bags and accessories of used fire hose back in 2005. In the meantime the Feuerwear product range meets every need, from laptop bags to belts. And the list of members in the Feuerwear product team – Scott, Hank, Bill & Co – sounds a lot like the names of the firefighters manning an American fire engine. Feuerwear bags and accessories are available in select shops around the world and online at www.feuerwear.com.

Scott 17 with the dimensions 44 cm x 30.5 cm x 13 cm costs 179,- € EUR / Approx. $250.00 USD, Scott 15 with the dimensions 39.5 cm x 30.5 cm x 13 cm sells for 159,- € EUR /Approx. $223.00 USD and Scott N13 with the dimensions 35.5 cm x 25 cm x 13 cm can be bought for 129,- € EUR /Approx. $180.00 USD.

As a “Made in Cologne” label we produce a range of bags, belts and wallets made of recycled fire hose under the Feuerwear® brand.

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Laptop Bags Made Of Used Fire Hose

Choosing a pair of running shoes can be tricky business, especially with the constant influx of new technology and the latest trends.  Many websites, magazines and runners’ forums hesitate to make specific recommendations because purchasing a pair of running shoes is such a personal decision.  Different shoes may be better for different feet, or for different running styles and needs.  Choose your shoes based on your arch type (low, normal or high).  And be sure to take into account any injuries or deformities you may have (weak knees, bunions, hammertoes, etc.).  You should refer to recommendations for specific shoes only after considering your own feet and running needs.

National Geographic recently rated running shoes based on runner “types” (amateur, marathoner, etc.) and these are their picks:

Reebok Premier Bislett

For the experienced and competitive runner (The Racer), National Geographic picked the Pearl Izumi Streak.  This athletic shoe was chosen for its first-rate cushioning that supports the foot without decreasing the foot’s responsiveness.  This shoe is best for distances of 5k.  For those of us who only hit the trail a couple of times a week (the Amateur), National Geographic recommends the Reebok Premier Bislett.  This shoe is lightweight and provides cushioning and a smooth interior that should keep your feet comfortable.  For people who struggle with over pronation (generally people with flat feet), try New Balance 1001.  This shoe – like most shoes designed to limit pronation – provides your foot with motion control.  Motion control shoes tend to be heavy, but National Geographic claims that the New Balance 1001 comes in nearly an ounce below average.

Finally, for runners who like the latest in technological advances (the Innovator), National Geographic directs you towards the Newton Gravity.  This high-tech shoe is designed so that you spend less energy on each step you take.

Asic Gel-Kayano 15

Runner’s World also carried out its own study, testing over 30 shoes with the help of 350 runners who wore the shoes for a month and then provided feedback.

The Editor’s Choice was the Asic Gel-Kayano 15.  The gel-filled heel provides first-rate impact protection.  The shoe uses a new off-center lacing design, which, the Editor claims, provides for a “naturally snug” fit.  The Best Buy award goes to the Mizuno Wave Nexus 3 (available to you at the price of $80).  The Mizuno provides stability, a comfortable toe box with few frills or fuss.

For motion control, Runner’s World recommends the Etonic Minado 3 MC.  This shoe offers the support and control of most motion control shoes but with a slightly less rigid sole and slightly more padding.

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Running Shoes that Are Right For You

Steve McQueen’s wrist in Le Mans, the TAG Heuer Monaco

The Monaco: Avant-Garde Style and Performance, Squared Launched simultaneously in Geneva and New York on March 3rd, 1969, the Monaco caught the watchmaking world by storm. The provocative look of the timepiece, with its fire-red chronograph hand, metallic blue dial, domed crystal, and big, squared-off case represented a complete break with the conventional codes of watch design aesthetics. Equally radical was the engineering required to ensure the chronograph’s perfect water-resistance — a world first for a square-shaped timepiece. But what was ticking inside was even more revolutionary: the famous self-winding Chronomatic “Calibre 11”, the first self-winding automatic chronograph movement with microrotor, so precise it rivals to this day the exacting standards of professional chronometer instruments.

For Le Mans, Steve McQueen’s source of inspiration was his friend, Jo Siffert, the Swiss racecar legend who in 1969 became the first-ever driver sponsored by a watch brand, Heuer. The Heuer Monaco had just been launched and so impressed McQueen that he insisted on wearing it in the film. The Monaco became the preferred chronograph of the racing and fashion world — another world first. Its unique, uncompromising geometry started a trend toward “shaped” watches. Instantly recognizable, often copied, never equaled, the “McQueen Monaco” (Model 1133B) is one of the most highly prized pieces in the international vintage markets. Demand far exceeds supply — only a handful is known to still exist, all in the hands of well-informed collectors.

Ever since, the Monaco’s emblematic square-shaped dial has been synonymous with TAG Heuer’s innovative aesthetic. Reissued in 1998 in a limited edition of 5,000, it was entirely redesigned in 2003, refitted with a 7-row steel bracelet of square links echoing the daring aesthetics of the case. The watch became a must-have among racing purists and collectors, but it also surprised the industry by becoming the huge breakout fashion hit of the year, adored by haute couture and Hollywood.

The re-interpretations that followed were even more revolutionary.

THE MONACO SIXTY-NINE

The star of Baselworld 2003, the TAG Heuer Monaco Sixty Nine Concept Watch, was presented as the first Swiss wrist-worn mechanical watch combined with a 1/1000th of a second chronograph. The brand’s first reversible, mechanical/digital watch is a daring timepiece that brings together traditional and cutting-edge in a way never seen before. On one side, the iconic, uncompromising face of Steve McQueen’s favourite watch; on the other, the distinctive, high-tech digital face of the Microtimer, the first prestigious Swiss wrist -worn chronograph accurate to 1/1000th of a second. Two TAG Heuer watches-one for ultimate precision, the other for unmatchable Steve McQueen-vintage flair -in one extraordinary wristwatch.

THE MONACO V4

Presented during Baselworld 2004, the Monaco V4 represents a stunning technological breakthrough.  At its heart is an advanced integrated mechanical movement, encased upside down in a high-design evolution of the classic square-faced Monaco. The name V4 derives from the movement’s four barrels, which are mounted in a V shape, like cylinders in a supercharged motor-racing engine. The name also pays tribute to the movement’s inspiration: while the V4 draws from the newest concepts in industrial technology, its true muse, like the original Monaco’s, is the world of high-tech, high-performance racecar engines.

THE MONACO WATCH GRANDE DATE

The next addition to the must-have line, with a 37mm polished stainless steel case, TAG Heuer Grande Date movement, two dials in black and blue/silver, with a small second counter at 6 o’clock and diamond-shaped hands tipped in superluminova, all under curved sapphire crystal. Compellingly designed and crafted, with its elegant alligator strap and clean, architectural lines inspired by the Monaco V4 case, this watch is resolutely modern.

All the classic Monaco attributes are there but softened by the charm of white leather, or brown or black python. The case is set off by 26 diamonds accentuating the bezel’s right angles, and the dial with a further 13 diamonds. As energetic as the original but with exquisite harmonies of tone, material, and texture for further heighten the emotive force.

THE TAG HEUER MONACO 1969 ORIGINAL RE-EDITION

THE MONACO CLASSIC CHRONOGRAPH

To celebrate the MONACO’s 40th anniversary, TAG Heuer is proud to present a new collection of Classic Chronograph fitted with a TAG Heuer “Calibre 12” automatic movement, heritage of the original “Calibre 11”.

Directly inspired by the original design, these chronographs adorn a sapphire crystal glass and a case back allowed to see the beat of the “Caliber 12”.

Standout features include a dark blue alligator strap and stylish silver and blue dial with red hands. The new, fashion-forward animation on the chronograph dial is completely in line with the line’s iconic heritage.

THE TAG HEUER MONACO 1969 ORIGINAL RE-EDITION
1969-2009: To commemorate this historic anniversary, TAG Heuer has proudly republished this iconic blue-dial timepiece in a limited series of 1,000 pieces with an exclusive case back signed by Jack Heuer and engraved in honour of its mythical ambassador Steve McQueen. Outfitted with the Calibre 11 movement, its other classic features include pushbuttons at 2 and 4 o’clock, crown at 9, counters at 9 and 3, hand-applied date window at 6 o’clock, and diamond-tipped horizontal hours indexes.

Information Source and Photos courtesy of TAG HEUER.

Post from: NELSON WADE Magazine

TAG Heuer Monaco, 40 Years of Legend