The Leningrad Cowboys

Inspektøren points out that The Leningrad Cowboys have been doing the long pointy boots for a long time now. Here they are performing Stairway to Heaven with the Red Army Alexandrov Ensemble (goofy, but I genuinely like this version):

Mexican pointy cowboy boots

Vice:

In this episode of Behind the Seams we head to the dusty city of Matehuala, Mexico in search of the pointiest long-toed cowboy boots ever made. Over the past year, the botas vaqueras exóticas phenomenon has overrun the rodeo dance floors and clubs of this area and even spreading North into Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and any place where big groups of immigrant Mexicans have taken root. We made our way to Desierto Light, one of the clubs in this area where party promoters host dance-offs to music known as Tribal Guarachero. For the finals competition, the 17-year-old prodigy DJ Erick Rincón of the 3ballMTY crew performed for a crowd of adoring pointy-boot wearing raver cowboys.

Just a guy thing, apparently. Via these sites.

Nike's year of the dragon line

Nike:

Dragon, the totem worshiped in China for its command of natural forces, the claimed forefather of Chinese people, will have its likeness on a new Nike collection. By launching the specially designed shoes to celebrate the coming Year of the Dragon, Nike reveals a new dimension of creative expression.

In what has become an annual tradition, Nike draws inspiration from the Chinese zodiac for the 11th year in a row. The impeccable attention for detail portrayed in this collection is the best yet. Four models – AIR FORCE 1 LOW SUPREME, AIR JORDAN 2012, NIKE KOBE VII SYSTEM SUPREME and NIKE ZOOM KD IV, were reworked to capture their association with the mythical creature. The collection of shoes represent the pinnacle of performance footwear, celebrating the past and present, with elite franchise styles. Nike designers aligned Chinese culture to cosmopolitan aesthetics and added a touch of novelty to the nobility and greatness of the dragon. The number of four echoes a Chinese idiom that dragons rise out of FOUR seas, conveying best wishes for the Chinese new year.

AIR FORCE 1 is irreplaceable for Nike and the fans. Inspired by dragon robe, the design team renewed its glory with AIR FORCE 1 LOW SUPREME. The cloud-and-dragon pattern on the tongue, plus dragon design on the black silk texture of the sides and upper, evokes memories of royalty in China. The cloud-and-bat pattern on the sole is another derivative from dragon robe, which in Chinese culture implies good fortune. The appeal consummates with the Chinese character ‘Long’ (dragon) on the counter, the suede panel on the midsole, and the wax-finished shoelaces.

Chinese believe that dragon is a holy being, way above the mundane world. In the arena of basketball, Michael Jordan may be the only equivalent to that transcendence. As the largest single-digit number, 9 is appreciated as a sign of utmost power and achievements. Only emperors can wear robes with 9 dragons. A 9-dragon wall was exclusive for the royal family. 9 is also the lucky number for Michael Jordan. In his 9th season between 1992 and 93, Michael set personal and association record. Inspired by this mystical connection, the Jordan Brand design team, retouched AIR JORDAN 2012 for the new collection. The theme color of blue, in contrast with the yellow inner lining, underpins the message of supremacy, accentuated by the dragon pattern around JORDAN Logo on the tongue. The effect reaches its apex in the limited edition packaging, where red background is decorated with golden dragon and JORDAN Logo, bursting with Chinese features. Two cushions and three midsoles are available, offering functional and aesthetic benefits.

Kobe Bryant appreciates Chinese culture, in particular Chinese Kung Fu. The quest for agility and speed has been integrated into his own athletic art. Drawing inspiration from Kobe’s Italian root and Kung Fu movies filmed in that country, the design team rendered NIKE KOBE VII SYSTEM SUPREME with the signature tri-color of Italy. NIKE KOBE VII SYSTEM SUPREME comes with a cushion printed with Kobe’s exclusive golden Logo, a statement of invincibility. The matrix design on the upper is a special code, spelling the message for Kobe. With his signature and an animated dragon pattern on the counter, this design is impeccable for the Chinese new year.

Kevin Durant was born in a year of the dragon, and he does demonstrate dragon-like power in the court. As 2012 is the year of water dragon, the Nike Basketball design team incorporates an array of watery elements into NIKE ZOOM KD IV. The signature strap, in combination with the wave pattern on the tongue and the laser-etched blue shadows, creates a rippling effect. The water dragon surrounding the KD logo on the counter highlights oriental association. The whole piece is dominated by light blue and light mango, symbolic of Thunder. NIKE ZOOM KD IV adopts new Adaptive Fit system to deliver the perfect fit.

In addition to the four footwear styles, the Nike DESTROYER JACKET will hit the street at the same time. Also inspired by dragon robe, it features woolen texture with black suede sleeves. The dragon theme is illustrated through the lining, plus dragon claws embroidered both in the lining and the back, set alive by the cloud-and-bat design. The DESTROYER JACKET will be available alone or along with the Nike AIR FORCE 1 LOW SUPREME, both in the limited edition packaging.

Why your clothes just don't look as good as in magazines

Here's a longer, related explanation. Via.

Link roundup

1. Why do we call them "tuxedos"?

The evening dress for men now popularly known as a tuxedo (sometimes formally termed black tie attire), takes its name from Tuxedo Park, where it was said to have been worn for the first time in the United States, by Griswald Lorillard at the annual Autumn Ball of the Tuxedo Club founded by Pierre Lorillard IV, and thereafter became popular for formal dress in America. It became known as the tuxedo when a fellow asked another at the Autumn Ball, "Why does that man's jacket not have coattails on it?" The other answered, "He is from Tuxedo."

The town was named "tuxedo" supposedly from the Algonquin phrase ptauk seet tough ("place of the bear").

2. Apparently this is the fashion world's current "it" girl.

3. Another terrible review of Games Workshop's new Finecast miniatures (and customer service).

Link roundup

(I'm not entirely clear on whether the upcoming changes to Google Reader are going to wipe out my starred items, so I'll be clearing them out over the next few days.)


The Hans Solderer. Via.



Dramatic noirish photo shoot (might be a little too racy for work).



Underwater treadmills and other tools used for physical therapy for pets.



"House in Horinouchi" by Mizuishi Architect Atelier in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan. Via.



Gallery of stained glass featuring x-rays. Via these sites.

Can Adidas make those foot-hugging shoes look cool?

Here's Adidas's "barefoot training shoe" the adipure Trainer (not yet on sale as far as I could tell). Via.

Link roundup

1. Neca posted a few WIP photos of the upcoming Team Fortress 2 and Half-Life figures.

2. "Why Do So Many Left-Handed Kids Grow Into Superstars?" (I'm just bookmarking this for my son.)

3. Megan McArdle on kids graduating with useless college degrees and endless debt:

No matter how inflated your expectations may have been, it is no joke to have your confidence that you can support yourself ripped away, and replaced with the horrifying realization that you don't really understand what the rules are.

More here.

4. Gallery of vintage high school photos.

*Buy Neca toys at eBay.

Link roundup

1. Several answers to the question, What’s the Most Important Lesson You Learned from a Teacher?

2. How Ireland's rugby team developed new tackling styles to take advantage of loopholes in the rules. Via.

3. "$39,000 Olsen Twins Backpack Sells Out."

4. And since those last two links are from Gawker media sites, "Nick Denton Loses Bet That The Gawker Redesign Wouldn't Hurt Traffic."

Hourglass figure

Optical illusion clothing.

Link roundup

1. Kickstarter to support Brandon Boyer's new video game blog Venus Patrol. Rewards include some cool-sounding video games.

2. I didn't realize that Maryland's uniforms were so obnoxious because they're a marketing ploy by Under Armour. (It's really a fine art to create a uniform that gets noticed, but that's also tasteful. After the BCS nightmare, Nike nailed it with this season's Oregon uniform.)

3. How to transfer music from an iPod/iPhone to a computer.

4. Reuters: "Loyalists of ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi crossed into Niger late on Monday in a convoy of vehicles, carrying gold and cash, officials from Libya's interim ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) said on Tuesday."

Link roundup

1. "Bank-Robbing Stripper and Brothers Caught After Car Chase, Gun Battle."



2. Tents that fold up really small. Via.



3. "Gap’s Death-Camp Chic mannequins."

Death Star dress

Death Star cosplay.

*Buy Star Wars sketch cards at eBay.

Fighting Pigeon

Bellator Columbidae ("Fighting Pigeon" in latin) by Staple Design x adFunture. "This is limited to 100 pieces and will be sold at Reed Space and select retailers. Suggested retail is US$180. It’ll be available August 15th!"

Reed Space also has a selection of NY Cosmos tees and track jackets:



Via.

Random photos

A few gems from this enormous (NSFW) gallery