Graz x Nike Air Max 1 'Home Turf' Paris

I've seen it said that the Nike 'Hume Turf' QS Pack's 'Paris' Air Max 1 was one of the hottest drops of 2013...and I would have to agree.  The pack saw the release of shoes celebrating key European cities (London, Milan and Paris), and the Hyperfuse'd take on chic Parisian style showcases a slick grey and yellow colourway that is simple but hugely effective.

The first thing that attracted Graz to them was their colourway as he loves the colour grey (hence the outfit, accentuated by the backdrop I chose), but they also represent a lot more than that about their wearer.

Graz is the founder of the slick sunglasses label Graz Studio, a brand that creates some amazing product all celebratiing Old World Craftmanshop mixed with present day twists.

Perhaps unsurprisingly his tastes in sneakers follow a similar trend as he's more interested in picking shoes on the basis of great design rather than what brand they are and he couldn't resist the (Hyper)fusion of simplicity and design in this specific shoe. 

Now based in Hong Kong he Graz feels like he's in the World Capital of kicks, which has seemingly influenced his tastes as he most commonly wears select Premium brands such as Lanvin and Common Projects, but he picked up these Nike's in Brisbane on a return to Australia, so these really are a nod to being on Home Turf in every possible way.

If you want to take a look at the world through Graz's eyes further - check out Graz Studio.

Matt; Sydney

You may remember my mate Matt from the site a while ago (nudge your memory here).  He is without doubt one of my fave people in Sydney, and whenever he's on the prowl for kicks I always sit up and take notice. 

To give you some backstory, we met through work and not only is he an amazing Editor who I have learnt a lot through, but he's also a very style conscious individual who is very selective when it comes to his fashion tastes.

Premium labels for a must for Matt as he goes for quality craftmanship over cheaper dispensable clothing every time, and for him Common Projects kicks are a go to.  The brand's flagship Achilles shoe is an icon of simple yet classic design fused with quality build and in this Tan colourway look fantastic.  

He's also rocking some great Japan Blue selvedge denim from Sydney clothing boutique Corlection, which like the shoes Matt will enjoy breaking down and wearing in.

Matt is in all a purist; someone who doesn't mind spending a bit more on what he rocks and see's the extra expense as an investment for pieces that will last, and grow to tell their own story, which is highly refreshing in an age where the majority of people buy lots of cheap gear that becomes dispensable.

2012 - The Men

Happy New Year everyone!  Following on from yesterday's retrospective on some of my fave female related shots of 2012, todays it the men's turn.  Enjoy!

My Mate Matt; Sydney

 

I only moved to Sydney about 4 and a half years ago (man, how time flies!) but in that time I've been lucky to make some great friends, which I'm very pleased to say includes the top bloke featured above; Matt.
Originally from Canada Matt moved here around the same time as me, and we met through my ongoing work in the TV industry.  He's an amazingly talented Editor, and a stylish chap to boot, with a love of top quality designers, brands, music and sneakers, and he was more than happy to pose to show off his beloved Common Projects Premium Achilles kicks.
While low price point kicks are killing it around the world at the moment (yes, I am talking about the global Vans domination) Matt keep his view locked on the other end of the spectrum and likes nothing more than premium brands with a respected design aesthetic and build quality that he feels surpasses some of the cheaper labels.
With this ethos in mind it's probably no surprise to hear that he is a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE Common Projects fan, and these are not his first Achilles, which he like many feels is the most universal and accessible silhouette in their range.
In his own words Matt says; 'Forgot how much I love just how minimal these shoes are. Which for me is what it's always been about.  Along with attention to detail, quality materials and craftsmanship.  Thinking about all this makes me wanna to online for another pair!'
As premium footwear brands go Common Projects product is right up there and I'll sit down with Matt to do something a bit more thorough on video sometime (about CP and other style musings), but for now enjoy this insight into his fresh approach to street style - cheers buddy!

Not So Common Projects; Sydney

I've mentioned the Sydney clothing store Incu on here before, and when I recently visited the company's Paddington store I found another staff member with a great look.

He told me that he goes to Tokyo once a year with an empty suitcase to stock up on clothes.  While he spends time ahead of each trip researching and planning what to buy, these great Common Projects shoes were an impulse buy.  

Common Projects is a New York brand and their anonymous looking footwear is designed to see each shoe being something of an experiment.  Placed at the high end of mens sneakers, the only detailing on each shoe is the article number, size and colour printed on the shoes heel (which you can just see if you look closely at the bottom picture).

With a clean, crisp style that offers a contemporary take on smart/casual footwear the shoes are a simple but effective component of the owner's look.