Things Are Looking Up; Brisbane

As many of you will know, Brisbane, and indeed large sections of the state of Queensland were hit hard by catastrophic floods at the start of 2011.

Less than a year later the city has a vibrancy and energy that will change it's landscape drastically as the city is looking to forge a new era and a new style.

Building work is going on everywhere,  and while 'Brissie' retains some of it's heritage a vibrant new wave of redevelopment is taking place that is as indicative of Brisbane's style status as the stories and looks of individuals.

Can You Handle The Truth; Brisbane

Jess is a Brisbane paralegal who at first appearance may offer the kind of conservative look you would expect from an office worker, however, on closer inspection you soon realise that her appearance is far more colourful than first glances suggest.

With some serious inking (including her eyebrows) and piercings she has to work overtime to conceal her true identity from her staid working environment and colleagues.

Vibrant, dynamic and full of surprises, her look typifies what Brisbane is all about.

Brisbane Calling

Over the coming weeks and months I will be spending some time in Brisbane, a city that I last visited about 12 years ago when backpacking around Australia.
Since then the city has boomed - and is now seen as a vibrant and dynamic representation of modern Australia.
Stick around for some shots of my favourite finds relating to the people of 'Bris-vagas' and the city itself.

Corlection; Sydney

Part of my mission on IDYSM is to look at not only how individuals express themselves through urban style, but also how cities identities are expressed as a collective mass.  

I have a (long) wish list of countries that I want/plan to investigate, and right up at the top of that list is Japan, where urban style has a look and feel that is quite unique, and this week I was able to get a 101 Class when I visited the fantastic Sydney store Corlection.

The owners are passionate about not only stocking a number of premium Japanese labels (with a few from the US and UK too), but also educating buyers on how to wear them properly.  

It starts with some amazing high quality selvage denim labels that offer some of the rawest denim I have ever seen.  Pick a pair up and you will be told how to wear the products properly and how to treat them to enhance the fit, look and lifespan of the product.

From the wide range of high quality denim brands (Strike Gold, Pure Blue Japan and Levis to name but a few) their is great footwear from Red Wing and Throrogood and apparel from Comme, Ad Lib and more.

The store offers a great experience, and I recommend it!

The Cook; Sydney

This Bondi chef had apparently only just got out of bed when we met, but he'd had enough time to get himself together and dig out his trusty Cons before he hit the street.
We only stopped briefly but I looked his aloof demeanour and style, and he did mention that he's something of a sneaker head with a number of pairs.
A lot of people ask what I think of the Sydney style/sneaker scene and I think this look typifies a popular look for Bondi as the dressed down skate chic is hard to miss.

Skate Art; Sydney

With footwear being so key to their action and lifestyle, the skating community has been great in embracing my work.  My local skate park always has plenty of action to enjoy, and here are some recent shots of action, shoes, people and more...

Standing Tall; Sydney

Sarah is a sneaker lover due to a number of reasons.  They go with her style, they are comfortable, but perhaps most tellingly, she is very tall.  As heels make her stand head and shoulders above all around her sneakers are a cool and practical choice.
She has a particular fondness for skating shoes, and specifically DC shoes which she was wearing when I spotted her in this great outfit that combines colour, with style and practicality.

The Standard Store; Sydney

Sydney is currently in the midst of a style overhaul.  New bars are popping up everywhere, it's leading restaurants are among the world's best, and with the fashion scene bursting it's the perfect time to welcome a store that hopes to inject some vibrancy into what Sydney-siders wear.
The Standard Store is the brainchild of Orlando and Nicola Reindorf.  Their distribution company Flying Standard has been at the forefront of introducing premium labels from around the world to Australia, and now they've opened the doors to their new Surry Hills boutique store giving everyday people the chance to walk in and enjoy their fantastic array of labels.
With mens and womenswear both comprehensively covered with contemporary labels that cater for all tastes and price brackets the store is set to have huge appeal,
In the coming weeks we'll hear from Orlando in his own words about Sydney style in my latest video, but for now enjoy these shots of the store, and if you can, get down there in person to check it out.

Making His Mark; Sydney

Mark is a skater who makes his 'mark' on every skate park in Sydney, and also lets every skate park make a 'mark' on him too.
From sliding, grinding, flipping and (occasionally) falling he gets a permanent reminder of each skate ramp imbedded into the front of his shoes, and as you can see, these well worn Adidas Skateboard shoes have seen plenty of action.
The adage of I Dig Your Sole Man is that people's footwear always reveals a story about their owner. However, in Mark's case they don't reveal just a story but also a catalogue of every skate park he's visits (the Blue paint is from Bondi, White from Clovelly, and brown from Homebush)

Broken In; Sydney

Spotted in Sydney's leafy Darlinghurst, this shop owner is on the look out for some new shoes after wearing out these trusty Spring Courts.
If you're an avid follower of the site you will know that they're a brand I love - but what plimsoll brand is rocking your world at the moment - comments please...

This Time It's Personal

To many of you, I will merely have been known to you as Sole Digger my blogging pseudonym used for roaming the streets snapping sneaker stylings.  However, while my love for sneaker style is as strong as ever, my passion for snapping extends to more than mere footwear as the following innovation will show you.
For those of you who follow my work as photography enthusiasts, I have set up a sister site to I Dig Your Sole Man which focuses on my personal work.  You can find it here, and also by clicking on the Personal button on the right hand side.
The work includes my reportage, advertorial, portrait, location work and more, so I hope there's something for everyone.
Enjoy!

Impulse Buy; Sydney

Jodie runs a market stall in Sydney, and on Sundays can be found at the highly popular Bondi markets selling a great array of affordable womenswear.
She spends her time between New York and Sydney, and has found sneakers to be the perfect shoe for work as they offer the comfort, support and style required when spending all day on your feet.
She picked up these red Supergas as an impulse buy from a neighbouring store one day when she was caught short at a market and needed some sneakers.  These were the nearest shoes she could find, and Superga have gone on to become her favourite brand due to their combination of style, quality and affordable pricepoint.
If you're ever in Bondi over the weekends check out Jodie's store as I'm sure she would appreciate an impulse buy from you as much as the seller of the Superga's appreciated hers.

It's A Jungle Out There; Sydney

I spotted this guy early one Saturday morning in Sydney on the back of a massive night, which in his own words was a bit of a bender.
When things get wild though, this man is well equipped in his Nike Dunk Low Premiums from the Animal/Safari pack.  A 2007 release, the shoes offer an interesting blend of patterns and textures that stand out from the pack (pun intended).
I will be honest with you, he was still drunk so I wasn't really able to get much info from him other than he has about 30 pairs of shoes.  You may think my job is easy, but trust me, it's a jungle out there!

Mixed Messages; Sydney

 

Signs should always be clear, memorable and inspiring..shouldn't they?

I have spotted a few recently that caught my eye through the mixed message they give out - an electrical repair shop that can't run a neon sign, a sign proclaiming the virtues of eternity which is peeling away and the Sweeny Todd-esque sight of a dentists sign with an accompanying rusty hook.

Man Flu; Sydney

Man Flu is nothing short of a chronic, near tragic condition that strikes down men around the world.  While us fellow men can only empathise with sufferers, many women dismiss the condition as 'a mere cold', flippantly casting aspersions on our ailments, mimicking our suffering, and belittling our ability to battle sickness.

This stoic warrior was brave enough to face the world when struck down by the illness, and we crossed paths as he headed to work.

He defiantly faced the public (including those judgemental women) with his red Vans glowing like a beacon of hope for men around the world suffering from the same condition. 

Sydney's Sun Shines On Everything

After a chilly winter it's nice to see the sun shining on everything!