IDYSM x Hong Kong

Yes, it's time to head to a new world next week as IDYSM will be coming from Hong Kong!
I'll be bringing you my take on this amazing city with sneaker finds, interviews with brands, exclusive shots from stores and parties, as well as some great video content too.
Have a great weekend, and the first article to start the HK season will drop on Monday.
See you then.
Lester

Kane; Sydney

As regular followers of IDYSM will know, I have a bit of a soft spot for the brand Spring Court, and that's partly down to the dapper chap above, Kane.
As the man responsible for repping the brand in Sydney, he not only talks the talk, but literally walks the walk too as a fan, and wearer of Spring Courts, and he was kind enough to pose in his beloved and well worn B2 Mid Cuts in Dim Taupe.
While many brands struggle to nail the balance between comfort and style, Spring Court seem to offer this effortlessly, and also have the ability to turn out product that works with any style.  Sure, these shoes fit perfectly with Kane's 50's inspired look, but they would work just as well with an array of styles.  If you don't believe me, then check out the brand either here to pick up some shoes like Kane's, or if in Sydney head to the brand's Potts POints store on Macleay St to ask the man himself in person.

PS - There's a special annoncement coming later about an upcoming special season on IDYSM so watch this space!

Dylan x Clarks; Sydney

You may recognise Dylan - he's my 3 year old son who has popped up a few times on IDYSM as he seem's to have become something of a shoe model for kids shoes.

He was lucky enough to receive these great Clarks shoes a while ago, but has only now grown enough to fit into them which he is very, very happy about!
The brand have been rocking classic Originals for as long as I can remember with their iconic Desert Boots and Wallabies among the timeless silhouettes that still look as good now as they did back in the day, and they are keen to show that they're also turning out contemporary styles too, and Dylan for one is very happy about it!

To check out the International Clarks range click here.

Thomas; Sydney

Thomas is a Sydney musician who has recently developed a fascination with the accordion, and whenever possible he takes to the Sydney streets to perfect his craft.
When on the streets he's very specific about what footwear he chooses, and although not a sneakerhead his choice of shoes is interesting.  Dr Martens have been ever present on the streets in 2012, and the brand's iconic style is something that Thomas loves, but with a limited budget (maybe accordion busking doesnt pay too well) he couldn't afford a genuine pair so instead picked up these Raben imitations.
Raben are a low-cost brand that offer low price point replicas of famous brands, and Thomas has been impressed to see these shoes survive busking, festivals, walks through lakes and in his own words 'a walk across a field of skulls'.  Apparently this last one was made up so I do hope his accordion playing is better than his jokes!

Colour; Sydney

 

Pastel colouring seems to be in trend around Sydney at the moment - not just in nature, but also in women's shoes...

Edward; Sydney

Say hi to Ed and his beloved NB 1300 Ronnie Fieg Salmon Soles.  He's a man with a keen eye for kicks, and he's someone who's doing all he can to give something back to the Sydney sneaker scene.

He's studying to be an engineer and right now he's tackling an epic project in the Sydney Swap Meet.

Swap meets offer a great chance for sneakerheads of all levels to come together on a day where shoes take centre stage allowing bargains, and friends to be made, all over a shared love of kicks.

Ed is doing all he can to get great brands, and great sponsors on board for what is shaping up to be a great day so check out the event's FB page here and I hope to see you in Sydney on Dec 16th between 11am - 5pm at District 1 in Surry Hills!

Incu Preview; Sydney

 

I was very excited to see one of my favourite Sydney clothing stores Incu recently drop their 2nd shoe collab of the season, when their design team worked with the Italian brand Volta.
The Limited Edition shoe is a rework of Volta's Strada shoe, and showcases all the values of what Incu is about; quality product presented in an understated but wearable aesthetic.
I was able to shoot the above shots showcasing the fantastic shoe in action with some great Incu product, and I urge you all to check out the store, the shoe and all their great product now!

Photography: Lester Jones

Model: Christopher Vaughan 

Product Courtesy of Incu;
Shoes: Strada Incu Edition, 
Shirt: Weathered Poplin Shirt,
Mustard Chinos: Weathered Rosling Chinos, 
PS Slant Pocket Pant Forest Green $229, 
PS Multi Dot Knit Navy $279

Lovers; Sydney

In love with sneakers, but too in love with each other to talk.  Pictures speak a thousand words.

Chris; Sydney

Meet Chris, an amazing guy who I met a few years ago when working together in Sydney in the TV game.  We lost touch ... in fact the last time I remember seeing Chris was when we were at a party talking kicks a few years ago, but we recently reconnected, and it's been great to get back in contact with one of the nicest peeps you can imagine.
He's got a great sense of style, that combined with his great personality comes alive on camera, and he was happy to pose for these shots and also show off his beloved Gourmet Cinque kicks.
Chris has been a devout adidas fan for years, but was inspired to try something new when he saw these shoes from the LA brand that is popping up more and more.  I don't think this will be Chris' last pair of Gourmet's as he loves the style and comfort of the shoe, so like many Gourmet-first timers he'll be coming back for seconds.
These shots were taken after some shots for a little something you'll see on Friday so stick around for Chris #2 when he models a great new shoe collab I think you'll love!

Crumpler Preview

I never know where my next shooting opportunity will come from, so I need to be armed and ready to go at any time and thankfully the good folks at Crumpler help me make sure I'm ready for whatever the streets throw my way.
They very kindly sent some fantastic product my way, all of which are items I carry around on a daily basis.  The Considerable Embarrassment messenger bag is an amazing bag to carry my life around in - laptop, tablet, cameras and more are safe from harm and ready to go in this bad boy.
Squid may start out looking inconspicuous enough, but this little bundle transforms into a stowable backpack with ease for extra storage.
The Convenient Disgrace camera strap makes sure my trusty camera is within easy reach at all times, and Carrot is entrusted to look after all my little bits and pieces.
A big thanks to Crumpler for the gear, which like everything from the brand I cannot recommend highly enough - check it out now!

Arthur aka Hommestyler; Sydney

As the editor of Hommestyler Arthur is getting a name in Sydney as a man with a discerning sense of style and taste.

He's a reputation for finding and sharing what's hot in contemporary style and his own looks showcases a collection of carefully sourced items that each have their own significant story

The t-shirt is a souvenir from a trip to Berlin.  His jeans are a trusty pair of Cheap Mondays that have been in his collection for some years and the jacket is from a tiny store in a nameless mall in Hong Kong.

However, it's ironic that the centrepiece of this outfit is in fact borrowed from someone else!

These Huarache shoes from Standard Jean Co have been staples for Arthur since the start of summer, but they're his brothers.  He told me that he, like many other people has been looking for the perfect summer sandals and was very happy to see that his brother had done all the hard work for him in finding these as they work equally well with jeans and shorts.
Like any great sourcer he may travel far and wide to find items, but is also aware of any gems that might be right under your nose!

Arthur blogs at HommeStyler. You can also follow HommeStyler on Facebook and Twitter.

Mara; Sydney

OK, as style stories go, this is maybe one of the most epic I've come across so strap yourselves in.

The first thing I found out about Mara is that her Grandfather was called Lester (my name) too.  Already, I knew she was going to be cool!

She then went on to tell me about her outfit.  She's into the punk hardcore scene and loves band tshirts. This one for 'Cruel Hand Man' was left behind by an old housemate, at the time she'd never heard of the band but liked the tee so much she started wearing it.

Ok, now you're warmed up lets get into the shoes.  She's a big Vans fan, and these shoes have been around the world with her - literally.  When she went on holiday to Africa last year she only packed one pair of shoes, and these Vans suffered - big time!  They were trod on by a horse which caused the big tear you can see, but Mara still doesn't feel the need to throw them out.  Nope, her PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) is clear to see both through her outlook on keeping her footwear alive and kicking, and her colourful tatts too.

Feit Store; Sydney

Feit launched in the mid-2000's and literally came out of their corner 'Feit'ing' to show the sneaker and footwear scene that the art of shoe making is alive, kicking and as relevant to the urban scene as ever.
Based around the traditions of hand-crafted product made from premium materials, the brand have found a niche in the footwear game, fusing their fantastic array of lovingly designed and made product, with a unique sales model that see's samples posted online, with customers able to pre-order straight off the web.  Feitdirect.com gives members the chance to see what the companies working on, and the amount of pre-orders determines how many get made, and in what sizes.  Clean, simple and cuts out the middle man of profit guzzling stores!
That said, you can also get up close and personal with the brand in their Sydney boutique.  Small, intimate and regimentally designed, whilst allowing you to get up close and personal with the product that fuses top quality materials, stunning attention to detail, and fantastic design.
They're a brand well worth checking out, and I'm very much looking forward to road-testing some amazing Dsrt Kudu Suede Cloud which I'll report back about soon!

Wendy Dresses Stanley; Sydney

When Sydney students Stanley and Wendy step out it gives street style loving Wendy the chance to not only style herself but her man too.

As you can see she takes great pride in not only her own look, but also in making sure that it works with her man's look too, with their outfits worked around their his and hers Boy London tees, a brand which is having something of a resurgence after Rhianna has been spotted wearing its product.

Wendy is rocking on-trend Dr Martens on her feet, a brand she has been into for about a year, while Stanley...ok, let's be honest here Wendy has gone to a lot of effort on the rest of the outfit, but he's letting the side down in these battered Pumas. 

All power to Stanley as while Wendy's styling reins supreme he has one strict rule; Wendy has no say over his kicks!

Rockport AW 2013 Preview

I'm always interested to see brand's pushing what customers may expect from them, and the shoe brand Rockport may surprise a few people with their eye-catching AW 2013 collection.

For many, the buzzword for Rockport has for many years been comfort, and that is still a key factor in this collection, but now, the brand is embracing a new direction and are proudly fusing some eye-catching contemporary styling with the comfort and build quality they are renowned for.

After being invited to an exclusive preview of this upcoming collection there will product to appeal to both sexes with an array of silhouettes and finishes that all look great.