Make Him Cool, Ted Baker & John Varvatos

I feel like Ted & John create special items for men that are modern classics. Keep in mind that neither are inexpensive. Neither are for ultra conservative folk. And I wouldn't recommend anyone wear full Ted or John garb on a regular basis (overkill!). But if you are in need of something special or cool and have some money burning a hole in your old, boring pocket, I suggest checking these two stores out. Here's my p.o.v.:

Ted Baker 107 Grand Street - As I meandered the fashionable downtown streets on my day off, I visited Ted Baker for the first time in years. Not only have they expanded their square footage with a full section for women, but they have also held their own for the men. This UK-based outfit is fun and always incorporates a bit of colorful surprise into each piece. I really like their suits (see photo, left) although some of the flowery print shirts may be a bit too over the top for the American boys. But remember, these chaps hail from the motherland, so try to go with the flow. And if you shop online now, you can get 30% off some items for men and women - although I can't tell if that applies to deliveries to the U.S. The Web site does not do the brand or the stores justice - so try to ignore the discount retailer look and feel. This brand is anything but.

John Varvatos 315 Bowery (ye olde CBGBs) - I visited this shop the day it opened, loved it, and thought I'd make another pilgrimage last week. It's really cool. Yes, totally overpriced, but I am a sucker for marketing in this case. If you have a rocker's look and/or attitude, you can pull this stuff off at any age. If you don't, then you can still buy a jacket or a shirt and start to transform yourself into the rock star you've always wanted to be. The current campaign with Perry Farrell does it for me. As does all of JV's advertising. Yes, yes, I get that it's flying in the face of what rock and roll is supposed to be about, but let's get serious -- everyone from Janis to Diamond Dave have been paying out the waaz for their cutting edge outfits for decades, so be honest with yourself (unless you subscribe to the Grateful Dead's approach to tie-dyed T-shirt fashion, bleh).

John Varvatos Sample Sale

From today's Urban Eye, a sale you boys can't afford to miss:

If You Can’t Take It, Fake It
So you can’t afford to shop in the new John Varvatos boutique in the old CBGB. Don’t get your leather in bunch: neither can Mike Albo — though he wants to, because everything fits so well. If, like him, you’re not “punk rock enough to shoplift,” head to the Varvatos showroom’s sample sale (207 West 38th Street; 212-239-7272) where suits, blazers, knits, T-shirts from spring, summer and fall are marked down by as much as 70 percent through Friday. Rawk.

“Backstage All-Access Passwear,” by Mike Albo

John Varvatos at CBGBs

(Photo by Chris Harris/MTV News)

OK, I am only going to say this once and MUCH to my chagrin: the new John Varvatos store in the old CBGBs space is like the ultimate goth rock bachelor pad. It kicks so much ass. It truly does. I really wanted to hate it and spit in its general direction, but whomever they hired to design and architect it should win an award.

I need to get back down there and shoot some covert photos, but it appears that they have kept the old walls and some of the old details. It is painted entirely black and features an alter of burning candles in red glass holders as well as a giant black chandelier that is actually a bunch of regular-sized chandeliers that are grouped together on the ceiling to take on the vibe of a giant alien-like lighting phenomenon. There is a section of old school high-end stereo equipment and on the other wall a bunch of old rock vinyl. There are giant stained glass windows hanging high on the wall where the middle of the bar used to dwell. There are pictures and posters of all the regular suspect rockers on the walls. Basically, if some guy lived here, I would definitely make out with him (this time much to my mother's chagrin).

I haven't even made mention of the men's clothes and shoes, which are exceptional as well. However they are so insanely expensive (a $900 cotton sport coat?), that I'm not sure who will actually shop here. Young up and comers can't afford it. Real rock stars will get it for free. So I guess they will be worn by an unfortunate set of rich lawyers and financiers who fancy themselves...well, who just fancy themselves.

Former CBGB's Club To Be Men's Clothing Store

While I love good fashion, this kind of thing ills me (and in the meantime, keep your fingers crossed for all of the big NYC Banks to continue to fall to pieces):

Billboard.biz

Former CBGB's Club To Be Men's Clothing Store

November 05, 2007

Rock and Pop
By Chris M. Walsh, N.Y.

The space of New York City's former seminal music club CBGB will be reopened as a men's clothing boutique from John Varvatos."This store is going to be totally unique, different from our other boutiques," Varvatos said. "We're going to make it a great way to look back at this remarkable history but also forward to what's happening in music today." A stage permanently integrated into the store design, along with an in-store performance series are among the unique plans intended to honor the space's history. CBGB closed in October 2006 after 33 years. The Bowery club served as the launching pad for the Ramones, Television, Blondie, Talking Heads, the Patti Smith Group and dozens of others that would become synonymous with punk rock and its many offshoots. The club's founder Hilly Kristal died in August at 75, following a battle with lung cancer.

CBGBs - Final Nail in the ...

I suppose most of you have heard that Hilly Kristal, founder and owner of CBGBs passed away this week, finally and sadly succumbing to lung cancer at the age of 75. There had been discussions that the venue would be moving to Las Vegas, and perhaps that could still happen, but without the originator's involvement, it will merely become another Hard Rock Cafe. The fact that not only CBGBs closed, but also a CBGBs store now exists on St. Mark's is the first indication that this will certainly be its destiny. And St. Mark's is becoming Haight-Ashbury anyway, just a capitalist shrine to something that once was. People clamoring to buy a fake artifact in a futile attempt to gain an identity, which actually becomes a group identity among a group that has none.

Watch this clip of Johnny Rotten from his short-lived Rotten Television show for further similar insight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksRndlWvUUI

CBGBs - Depressing Photo

So here's the depressing reality of CBGBs' current state -- I took this photo a few days ago. I wonder why tenants get evicted, basically, when landlords jack-up rents, but the landlord has no new tenant, as this photo reveals. Wouldn't it make more sense to have let CBs stay in this location until the area was actually rented to a new tenant? I guess I'm just not that smart. Well, we can all hope this space sits here empty for months on end as some sort of mild retaliation.