How did we miss these guys? I Tried, from Baltimore’s Lands & People’s starts out with more feeling than most songs can hit by the halfway mark. Timely percussions and perfectly layered background sounds create a song that you really need to hear more than once. The band’s defining element though is the soaring and dynamic pipes of Beauregard Cole and Caleb Moore—two Oxford, Mississippi transplants and best friends since the 11th grade.

It’s no secret that we’re devoted admirers of Scandinavian fashion, and we love to bring in lines from the Nordic such as SNS Herning, Soulland, Mismo, and Kokoon- and even more are arriving soon. At this year’s Dansk Fashion Awards, held in Copenhagen at Grenaabuchard, designer Silas Adler of Soulland wins the coveted Designer of the Year award.

If you’ve ever been to Richmond, Virginia, you quickly realize that Virginia Commonwealth University is the heart and soul of downtown. Its size and population allow life, creativity, and energy to circulate into the city. Even though the university is home to a nationally renowned art school, there still lacks a common space to express this. Besides the VMFA, located roughly a mile and a half way from the campus, there is no real home for art on campus.

In today’s mass manufacturing market, there are few brands that uphold tradition and quality quite like Yuketen. Designer Yuki Matsuda learned shoe-making traditions from leather artisans and respected predecessors, and is still bringing his own improvements and flourishes to the craft today. 

Tanner Goods is a throwback to a time when things were produced with simple tools by hand. They utilize age-old techniques that have been around for generations, and put great energy into each and every item. The result is a product that is handcrafted domestically from some of our oldest renewable resources, and will last for years to come. We think you’ll enjoy this nice little film by Ryan Bush and Aaron Rayburn.

We’re huge fans of Australian Fashion. We get giddy when a new delivery comes in from Shakuhachi, Miss Unkon, or The Horse (coming soon), so of course we kept an eye on Australian Fashion Week. MBFWA (or known as RAFW pre-2012) was held last week in Sydney and features both established and emerging designers from Australia as well as neighboring countries. Click through to see some of our favorite looks from Miss Unkon, Ellery, We Are Handsome, Bless’ed Are The Meek, Suboo, Bec & Bridge, Kahlo, Talulah, and more. And get the whole scoop on Aussie Fashion week here.

While we were at our friends lake house a couple of weekends ago celebrating a birthday, our old faithful iPod speakers were playing Yo La Tengo’s “Leaving Home” from They Shoot, We Score. When one friend inquired as to what movie soundtrack this song was from, we really had no clue. Fortunately, one of our house guests did. Charlottesville’s Yo La Tengo did the entire score for Kelly Reichardt’s Old Joy, a 2006 film that follows two good buddies as they explore Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. If you’ve ever wondered what the Oregon wilderness looks like, this movie is a good start.

As part of our Meet the Maker series, the charming Samantha Pleet visited us in store from Brooklyn. She brought along with her an exclusive peek at her Fall 2012 line and a collaborative collection with Wolverine bootmakers. Check out the video of the event, meet Samantha and hear about her inspirations, and see the goods for yourself.

Confirmed Stock, a pop-up menswear market with a focus on American-made goods, was held last weekend in Baltimore, Maryland, and we made the few-hour drive up from Richmond to check it out. Our buddies from Cause and Effect and Ruell and Ray were in attendance, along with a slew of other brands and retailers from all along the East Coast. Click for a few photos from the event, and see more from Confirmed Stock here.

Getting a text message that says, “Be sure to listen to some Father John Misty today, you’ll be hooked.” is a hint that you should listen to some Father John Misty. Besides having a name like Father John Misty, the music and lyrics that come out of this man’s mouth back his title up entirely. Father John Misty just so happens to be Josh Tillman, the former drummer of Fleet Foxes, who is about to release his first album “Fear Fun” on Sub Pop Records.

Yesterday was the opening day of Ryan McGinley’s latest exhibit, “The Animals.” Instead of police shutting down the entire event due to crowds in the street, this time they were on his side and shut down the block. Hosted at Team Gallery, the show will last until June 2nd and showcase some of the best that Mother Nature has to offer.

On a Friday in late March, four designers packed up and drove from New York City to Richmond, Virginia. Collina Strada, CourtShop, Dusen Dusen, and In God We Trust brought us exclusive collaborative pieces and joined us in store for Meet The Maker(s). See the video of the journey and the destination.

Eliza Spell is less jewelry maker and more black magic conjurer. Working with adornments of various cultures, Eliza creates pieces that are versatile and transcendental. A Richmond, Virginia-based artist, she is easily one of the most interesting and creative people we know. I caught up with her in her captivating studio space over the weekend and chatted about travel, metalworking and Jay-Z. 

Teen Mom is made up of Chris Kelly, Sean Dalby, and Tom MacWright, and they’re all from Washington D.C., about an hour and a half north of us. We’re currently in love with them. What do we know about them? Not much really, besides that they play some really great fuzz-pop love ballads, and we’d love to meet them one day. Hey Chris, Sean and Tom, you all should come down to Richmond and see us. Seriously, they’re good.

It’s safe to say that our friend Lindsay Phillips is one of the coolest people we know. She spends the majority of her time traveling and touring with her band, The Diamond Center, and scouring the country for amazing vintage finds for Bones That Roam. On the occasion that she finds herself at home here in Richmond, Virginia, we’re lucky enough to get her in front our lens to model for us. We recently got Lindsay to open up to us about music, style, and how to look cool even after a long day in the van. Click through to see Lindsay’s essentials for Summer travel style, and a few breezy looks for your next road trip.

How can you pass up a video titled ” THE DDC 50 POINT PLAN TO RUIN YOUR CAREER”?! Well, if you don’t know, Aaron Draplin, the one man design force behind Draplin Design Company (DDC) and the beloved Field Notes Brand, you’re in for a real treat. Draplin gave a hilarious and inspiring talk at Creative Mornings/Portland, that had us rolling and really thinking at the same time.

If you were in NYC last weekend and were lucky enough to stop by the Life In The Cell photo show/zine release, then props to ya. For some time now, a group of semi-normal people, just like you and I, have been collecting thousands of semi-well crafted cell phone pictures and hosting them on Life In The Cell. After nearly three years, the best of the best were gathered and shown from the pixelated lenses of Chino Amobi, Othelo Gervacio, MOCH, Beth Noe, Kai Regan, Joseph Talman, Mauricio Vargas, and many more.

The first time I saw the artwork of R Nicholas Kuszyk was when I first moved to Richmond in 2004; Robots painted on small pieces of wood sporadically scattered around the city. It was around that time he was re-locating from Richmond, VA to Brooklyn, NY. A year or so later, on a visit back to Richmond for an art show, I was able to actually meet him. The small gallery showcased an array of colorful tiny robot illustrations covering the walls from floor to ceiling. A few years after that, I was able to visit his Brooklyn studio and see what he was working on. Since then, he has been up to quite a bit of work, including a number of murals across the country, a children’s book, and most recently a book for adults, titled Jammer Slammer. It’s needless to say that I’m very impressed.

Mismo represents simplicity, functionality and durability, and is firmly rooted in Danish design principles. Specializing in simply detailed and expertly constructed bags and wallets made from the finest materials, it’s no wonder Mismo was named ‘Best Accessory Designer’ at the 2009 Danish Fashion Awards. Click to see just why we’re so taken by these Scandinavian beauties.

We recently mailed out our Spring Catalog to our list of friends, family and customers. If you didn’t get one, sign up for an account to make sure you get our next mailing. Or, come by the store and pick one up- but hurry, there are only a handful left! We’re super proud of all the hard work that went into this one, and hope you like the result. Huge thanks to our photographer, our models and friends, and the dedicated crew that helped to make it a success.

Not only is Ruell and Ray based in Virginia, but it is also one of the finest and most exclusive denim lines we carry. We couldn’t have been more impressed with the details and craftmanship that came with the Spence Slim. Moreso, the Spence Slim is made of deadstock 15 oz. Japanese selvedge denim.
Deadstock fabric is a fabric that is residual leftover fabric, and usually selvage, which is scrapped after production of a certain product. This “deadstock” often ends up never getting used, hence the name. But by using this fabric, Ruell and Ray guarantees you will be getting a product that is not only unique and of extremely high quality, but also green.

It’s been 10 years? Apparently it has. Founded in 2002, Opening Ceremony has been one of our favorites since day one. We appreciate the simplicity, function, design, beauty, and everything that goes into their work. To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Opening Ceremony is releasing a book in collaboration with Rizzoli that will be available on September 4th. The book will include original photography by Terry Richardson, zine inserts by Chloë Sevigny and Spike Jonze, and memories and artwork by Ryan McGinley, Alexander Want, Sally Singer and more.

We’re big believers in a good read, whether it be a book, magazine, instruction manual, or even the back of the cereal box. We’ve stocked up on some of our favorites, covering everything from fashion, art, food, and beyond. Believe us, there’s nothing worse than someone that’s well dressed and poorly read. Get smart- check out our selection of good reads here and here.

With it being music festival season, we decided to take a look back at some of the original artists that were the forerunners during the early festival period. During the 60′s and 70′s, most artists, both mainstream and not, were seen as both artists and activists. Songs relating to our government, the war and our environment were far more common than they are now. At the gut of the activist/song writer movement was a young, Canandian-Cree named Buffy Sainte-Marie. The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with over 200,000 members living in Canada.

We gave you a heaping dose of Thom Dolan’s Spring collection in our 2012 Spring lookbook, and we’re not quite done yet. We’re pretty smitten with her vintage prep inspirations and boyish styling, and have stocked the shelves with Thom Dolan. Click to see a sneak peek into her showroom and hear about the collection from the lovely lady herself.

Of the countless and amazing demos I’ve seen by some amazing painters and illustrators today, none have compared to seeing George Pratt paint. Richmond, Virginia is lucky enough to have him showing his work at the Ghostprint Gallery this April, and if you are in town, it’s a show you won’t want to miss.

When it comes to denim, there’s a big difference between summer and winter. Humans’s move, especially in the summer. And when human’s move, humans tend to perspire (go figure). One of our go to pairs of jeans for the warmer months of the year is the 10.5 ounce Wilson Trouser from Raleigh Denim. This particular model is made from a tropical weight selvedge, ring spun indigo canvas with white and red selvage woven at the legendary Cone Mills While Oak plant in Greensboro, NC. The perfect choice in our eyes.

This is a true gem right here. Do you wish you were more creative? Hilarious and enlightening, Mr. Cleese has the answer for you. It’s quite encouraging to know that creativity is not something that comes inherently, it’s not “a talent” nor has to do with your IQ, but something anyone can foster. Watch, learn, enjoy and get some pep back in your step!

No one looks better in boys’ clothes than us girls (and that includes you, boys). Saturdays Surf NYC proves that theory once and for all when they take a moment with Philippine de Richemont. And what a sweet moment it is. Click here for this and other great lookbooks from Saturdays- they make the boys look pretty good, too.

Hyoni Kang is a lucky girl, getting to try on all the wonderful pieces of Opening Ceremony‘s fall/winter collection. Their next collection is “influenced by the glory of Patagonia, native Argentinean fauna, and the outdoor pursuits of gauchos in the grasslands.” All of their new prints are inspired by the landscape of Argentina and it’s culture, including a watercolor-inspired camo and a brand new fileteado (a type of artistic illustration from Buenos Aires that often depicts stylized flowers and vines).

The umbrella of “pop” music will never close. It would literally be impossible. No matter what the sound of “pop” is tomorrow or 20 years from now, it’s still going to win the ears of fans. This is certainly no exception once Danger Mouse puts his touch to an upcoming artist or group. In this case, it’s Electric Guest. The duo has created their version of “modernized funk” (aka pop) and within the first 15 seconds of hearing This Head I Hold, you’ll immediately want to add it to your latest playlist. It would be impossible not to. This track has everything you could want from a song, especially a hook.

Warrior of Radness was created by Rick Klotz, who also established the label Freshjive. Klotz takes inspiration for the line from where beach culture meets city culture lifestyle in Los Angeles. Specifically, from the beach and surf style of the ’80s, when this type of fashion coming out of California was unique onto its own. Now that it’s warming up outside, we’re ready to hit the beach ourselves, so we got some insider tips on the surf scene from Rick himself! Click through for the interview.

Yesterday, Lucky Magazine featured our women’s buyer Krystle’s picks of the best new stuff we’ve got. Her favorites include the Poet’s Dress in Silk, the Alps Sandal, and the Crosby Bracelet. To finish off the look, Krystle added the Alea Trio bag in Desert by Collina Strada, a buttery soft mini leather pouch with a long shoulder strap and fun leather pleats. If you act now, Lucky Breaks is giving you a 50% off discount with code ‘LUCKYBREAKS6′. To make the deal even sweeter, for every bag purchased with the discount, we will donate the same amount to the charity Donors Choose, which donates supplies to classrooms in need. Get your bag here, and check out Krystle’s feature here.

TIME Magazine, a trusted name in just about every sense of news, culture, and visual stimulation, just rounded up their top 100 fashion icons. From models, designers, and photographers, the list hits them all. Even better, TIME gives you an amazing photograph and history of each of the brands, bringing you in a little further to the names and faces that have created our world of fashion since 1923, when TIME Magazine began.

Last year, MSNBC rated Richmond, Virginia as the third most tattooed city in America. Besides cobblestones and cigarette butts, our streets average about 14.5 tattoo shops per 100,000 people. This city also has incredible weather, tons of friends, sturdy front porches, and a lively river that runs through the heart of it. These are just a few of the reasons that 25-year old Marina Inoue moved here from New York City.

A few weekends ago, we started off our Meet The Maker series with Billy Moore of Cause and Effect and Ashley James of Ruell and Ray. Billy and Ashley made an in-store appearance and demonstrated their craft and knowledge to anyone who cared to see. Over the course of the weekend, we took Billy down to the James River, where he beat out leather to produce a set of unique belts for the shop. Check out our video recap of the event, and get Billy’s take on Richmond.

Solipsist left me in awe the first, second and third time I watched it. It will leave you speechless, uncomfortable, and in wonder as director Andrew Huang takes you through another one of his beautiful films.

Peek at Solopist-Making Of and have your mind blown yet again at the simplicity of the special effects that were used to achieve the other-worldly feel of Solopist

The 5th in our Meet the Maker series, this Friday Brooklyn-based designer Samantha Pleet gives us a sneak preview of her Fall 2012 line and Wolverine boot collaboration, shown for the first time in the US outside of the showroom! In 2006, Samantha Pleet debuted her namesake collection, intertwining elements of the mysterious and fantastical with a sense of modernity. Each season, new and ancient ideas from music, art, history, and literature are transformed into Pleet’s silhouettes. Join us on Friday, April 6 from 6-8pm for Samantha Pleet Spring/Summer 2012 available for purchase and pre-orders for her Wolverine collaboration and Fall/Winter 2012. And as always, there will be free food and live music!

Sidian, Ersatz & Vanes is comprised of three friends with distinct tastes, that set out to create a collection of shirts based on each founder’s respective shirting preferences. Born out of a love of basic principles and shared obsessions, signature colors, block patterns and geometric shapes make these shirts unique from anything else. We were lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with Mr. Sidian, so click through to learn more about the line, and what makes it so unique.

If you’re looking for a nice little audio/visual for this beautiful Friday, try Gotye on for size. The recent video for Somebody That I Used to Know features New Zealand’s Kimbra and an amazing job of stop animation. It took us a minute to really appreciate the song and the video, but we’re certain that you’ll enjoy it. Click for the video.

Emerald Grippa is an illustrator and artist that lives and works here in Richmond, Va. We recently stocked up on her new line of silk scarves, featuring hand-drawn designs and hand-sewn hems. Emerald’s work is freakishly beautiful, and her first fabric pieces are no exception. We were lucky enough to get to spend time with Emerald in her sunlit Richmond studio and take a look at the process behind her designs.

Nothing to write home about, just some nice photographs from Peter Granser through a project called “Sun City.” The project takes us to a retirement colony in the American southwest, where attendees must be 55 years or older to attend and life seems anything but dull. It kind of reminds us of the 1996 movie Attack from Mars, and the seas of mobile homes, cacti, trailers, and plastic flamingos. Not a bad life of leisure if you ask us. More photographs after the jump.

If you haven’t yet, make sure you take a look at the Style Bible in GQ Magazine’s April 2012 issue for “everything a man needs to look his best in 2012″. Covering everything from clothing & accessories to people & places, The GQ 100 tells you exactly what you need to know, and nothing you don’t. In fact, the #1 thing GQ thinks you should know is that there’s never been a better time to be a man who cares about style, and we couldn’t agree more. Click through for some of our favorites from the issue.

Randy Noborikawa is really good at killing two birds with one stone. He’s also really good with neon, graphic design, mixed media, and painting. And it just so happens that he had no formal art training until his early 20′s at The Academy of Arts in San Francisco. What we’re currently really fond of are Randy’s lenticular paintings of Mexican inspiration. The California painter/designer really gives you two for the price of one with these pieces. Check out some more of his work after the jump.

If you can catch this film somewhere, it will be well worth your time. Inspiring, transparent and tragic, This Is My Dream is a true and rare gem.

“Notoriously private Japanese fashion design icon Yohji Yamamoto lets his guard down in an exclusive, intimate short documentary film about life and the creative process, from Tokyo to New York.

New York City-based The Hill-Side was just a three month old company when they did their very first lookbook in the hallway of their apartment building. With a little help from their friends, the lookbook rolled out and helped create the foundation of a really great thing. To this day, the small company still relies on their friends along the way. This time, The Hill-Side threw a weekend-long party at Hickoree’s HQ, and asked anyone and everyone they knew (and their dogs) to come by. With the assistance of their friend Mikael Kennedy, guests dressed other guests and shot with matching fabric backdrops to create this seasons “school portrait” style lookbook. Enjoy.

Looking for a new little playlist to bring you into the warm spring weather ? We’ve got you covered. In the follow up to his 2011 mixtape Return of 4eva, the Mississippi rapper/producer Big K.R.I.T. just released the much anticipated 4everNaDay mixtape. Every single one of the 17 tracks is produced by Big K.R.I.T. himself, showing no sign of slowing down. If you’re curious what the current state of real Southern rap sounds like, here’s the response. You can download the mixtape for free after the jump.

Today marks the first day of Spring, and we’re more than ready to ditch our Winter coats and head for the beaches. And just in time, Giejo swimsuits have arrived in store and online! Gabby Sabharwal developed the line of mix-matched swim separates just last year, and has already received high marks from the likes of Refinery29, Teen Vogue, Lucky, Style.com, and Foam Magazine, just to name a few. Each piece from the line can be worn together or separately, with or without straps, to create endless possibilities and ensure that you won’t see a repeat suit at your neighborhood pool. Shop new arrivals from Giejo here, and get ready to soak up the sun in style.

After Kentucky’s Sleeper Agent released their debut album Celabrasion, Rolling Stone Magazine quickly called them a definite “band to watch.” Hearing “That’s My Baby,” certainly confirms this, as well as the perfect opening song for the first day of spring. Just picture windows down, warm breeze, buds on the tress, and no destination in sight. Who’s ready to experience a care-free spring?

If you’re a fan of quality products made in the United States, whether it be jeans or baseball gloves, then it’s about time you meet Max Wastler and Joe Gannon. Together, the two are traveling across the country, hitting every hard working town and city in search of goods and products made under the North American sky. Made Right Here is their video series touring the factories and workshops that churn out jeans, textiles, furniture, and daily items that you probably use everyday. Check out the trailer after the jump.