Azalea Boutique

Mike Gonzalez of Mike+Chris fame has found a way to bring all of his influential forces together to create a line that everyone wants to get their hands on.  Working with Mike Diamond of the Beastie Boys to integrate a fresh take on street wear whilst fueling creativity with his love for his wife, Christine, Mike has been able to take classic styles to the high fashion stage.

His climb from hoodie to leather jacket to new wave elegance symbolizes the struggle of every artist.  It all begins with a drawing, moves to a canvas, and up onto a wall.  It’s just a matter of whether the artist (designer in this case) can remain true to himself and his aesthetic through the process of “making it big.”  I think Mike Gonzalez has done just that through incorporating LA skate culture with classical form and function.  See it for yourself:

XOX

The new year is a perfect time to review our shopping treasures (and casualties…tight neon pink graffiti leggings, anyone? yeeks!) from 2009. Needless to say, the ONE thing that certainly had earned its mileage was the leather jacket from S.W.O.R.D. It was worn at least 3 times a week since the day I bought it, and I still can’t get enough of it. I wore it to work, to coffee shops (hence the milk stain that is still there. ha!), to parties, to dinners, and trotting the world. Yes, the leather jacket has even been to the Comme des Garcons store in Tokyo, the snowy mountain of Akakura, and the Uniqlo store in Beijing! The one leather jacket has definitely gone where no other clothing item has gone before.

The perfect leather jacket goes with literally everything. It won’t go out of style and is an instant classic. It will continue to be the must-have item for 2010 (and probably years following…), so I am urging everyone to get one for the new year. From the same factory that produces D&G leather jackets, I recommend S.W.O.R.D as the first brand to try on. Check out a couple of bomber styles below! Shop in-store or ONLINE.