ART SAKE : PICASSO BABY

JayZ becomes art in a new york art gallery, as he performs

‘Picasso Baby.’ The six hour performance

was shot then edited to this exciting 10 minute video.

Being an art school graduate, I’ve attended my fair

share of totally confusing performance art

shows where everyone watching would pretend they

knew what they had just experienced. This is

is the smartest use of an art form that can

sometimes go over anyone's head.

JayZ is bringing the art worlds back together.

That's the coolest thing ever!

See more COOL here.

FASHION FILES: Class Is In Session

By: Tymeco Pyles

CFDA nominated brand, Public School NYC has turned it up a notch with their unique designs and ever so classic identity. Public School designers Dao-Yi Chow andMaxwell Osbourne founded the label in 2008 and they live by one mission, to find perfection in imperfection. Public School is one of the up and coming conspirators in the new wave of young irreverent American menswear designers. They take inspiration and energy from their surroundings and inject that attitude into their garments. They understand that fashion should help change or augment the way you feel. They want men to feel tough again.

In a constant reaction against the expected, Public School holds a pen in one hand and a sword in the other. They are both teachers and students who continue to critique the culture we help create, resulting in a new vision of constructed garments that focus on fabrication, fit and attitude. The COOLest thing about Public School NYC is the operation. All items are manufactured out of New York, in factories based in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. This is just another principal that sets them aside from the rest.

www.publicschoolnyc.com

Twitter/Instagram: @PublicSchoolNYC

Facebook: Public School

See more cool here.

COOL SPOTS : HOTEL HOPPING IN THAILAND

Our Adventures in Thailand feature continues with a look at our cool hotel experiences. Over the years, we've really developed a love for staying at boldly stylish hotels which Thailand has no shortage of. We only chose to stay at hotels that offered impeccable service, convenience, and remarkable design. Each of our hotel stays in Thailand offered those things in their own way.

St. Regis Bangkok

There really is "no address like the St. Regis." From the large, open and airy feeling you get when you walk through the front door, to the grand arrangement of floral artistry you encounter on your way to the check in bureau... the St. Regis Bangkok really serves up a mega dose of modern elegance. It is not too overstated, but unmistakably luxurious. The service, as you can imagine, is perfect with someone always on hand to anticipate your every need.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Elemis Spa complete with a thoughtfully designed boudoir for guests to get prepped for a day of pampering. The hot-cold muscle toning treatment involved us getting into the jacuzzi and then plunging into the cold pool that was connected to it. After getting over the initial shock, it was actually unbelievably rejuvenating. We later lounged in the floating pods of the wet area which St. Regis describes as a "fine balance of tradition and innovation."

Our most memorable dining experience would have to be the breakfast (when booking, make sure your breakfast is included here). And even more impressive was Sunday Brunch hosted by Dom Pérignon... need I say more? The food, ambiance and service really came together to create an unforgettable welcome to our stay in Thailand.

  
Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

After spending a few days in the bustling city, it was nice to get out to the mountains and check into the lush sanctuary that is known as the Four Seasons in Chiang Mai. As we arrived to the outdoor check in area, we were greeted with beautiful jasmine garlands and freshly made juices.

Our upgraded room was spacious and it had a cool private balcony situated in a jungle-like oasis that featured a narrow creek which served as a natural soundtrack. We immediately suited up to enjoy the main pool which is an infinity-edge swimming pool that offering breathtaking views of the Mae Rim Valley across picturesque rice terraces.

Perhaps two of the most unique of the many details that made the resort so special were the floating flower designs found all over the property (reminded me of the temple patterns we saw a few days earlier) and the famous pink water buffalo (which we got to ride on).

Hotel Muse
 
"Inspired by the social and artistic milieu of fin de siècle Europe and King Rama V-era Thailand, Hotel Muse combines cosmopolitan chic with playful elegance amid a new golden age of Asia."

After spending several days luxuriating in the mountains, we returned to Bangkok for one more night before heading back to the states. This time we stayed at the boutique property, Hotel Muse. Located in a trendy, upscale soho-like neighborhood, this hotel offers a totally different experience than the others.

The design is a masterful combination of European opulence and Asian tradition punctuated with modern technology. Think Bond... James Bond. As we were being transported to our suite, we could not help but notice the illuminated button in the elevator labeled The Speakeasy. "There's a Speakeasy!?" "Yes there's a Speakeasy," the host replied. We both then replied, "Now That's COOL!"

Just when we thought things couldn't get cooler, we realized that the room was the kind that turns on and greets you as you enter. The bathroom is luxurious with a glorious venetian mirror and a claw-foot, roll-top bathtub on a black marble floor that leads into a separate rain shower. The extravagant bath tub is situated right next to a floor-to-ceiling window with a built in sound system so you can soak and peacefully watch television simultaneously. The wall baroque-inspired wall pattern compliments the dark wood floors and masculine furniture in the main room.

As we relaxed in the intimate infinity edge pool that overlooked the cityscape, we had the pleasure of meeting Alex, the super cool general manager. He was fun, full of energy and eager to make sure that our stay was everything we expected and more. The worst thing about the hotel is that eventually, we had to check out. Just when we thought we were alone in this sentiment, we met a local medical doctor who decided to stay there for 3 months just because she thought it was so cool! 


From the decor and design to the sipping and spa-ing (needed an 's' word)... The legendary Thai hospitality really lived up to the hype.

Hotel links here:
http://www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai
http://www.hotelmusebangkok.com
www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis/bangkok

Stay tuned for more cool from our Thailand adventure.

FASHION FILES : FALL SHOE CANDY FOR MEN

 

Its not often that men get much to choose from when it comes to fashion designs and trends. Because of the general shopping behaviors of men— there is not as much variety for them as there are for women. That's why we're excited to see such a shift in the industry especially in the shoe department. Men's footwear has gotten a mega dose of cool with bold use of fabrics and colors, luxurious leathers & accessories, re-interpreted soles, hybrids, and so much more.

Fall 2012 is serving up some of the most blazing designs ever!

Must have for Fall 2012 - cool classic, hard bottom or a hybrid shoes like some of our cool picks shown above:

• Prada 'Levitate' Wingtips
• Louboutin Metal Henri Flat
• Louis Vuitton Metal Lace up
• United Nude dessert boot silver tumbled leather
• Louboutin John John flat
• Louboutin Spooky velvet spiked loafers
• Alba part neon old school
• Jimmy Choo camo loafers (stay tuned for our camo trend feature)

Designer kicks with luxurious designer patterns, leather or a mix of materials and the sneaker-hybrid:

• Yogi Yamamoto
• United Nude
• Feit hand sewn shoes
• Clae Hamilton Classic
• Clae McQueen
• Burberry Check high top
• Clarks Denim Dessert Boot
• JImmy Choo Belgravia 
• Louis Vuitton Heroes Sneaker Boot Damier canvas

There's so much to suit your cool this fall!

See more COOL features on our blog THAT'S COOL. Just click and scroll down. 

TREND TALK : THE NEW BOW TIE

Let's face it, men don't have the variety of clothing & accessory options as women do. Men really have to be creative to pull off a look that that is fresh, unique, and fun. The bow tie has always been a symbol of confidence and have become such a great way for any guy to express his sense of style. Over the past several years, bow ties have really made a splash in fashion. Designers are having fun and experimenting with different fabrics and materials to create some truly eye-popping pieces. Of course, women are wearing men's bow ties too. Celebrity fashion trend-setters (like Janelle Monáe & Rihanna) have been seen rocking them on the red carpet and on stage.

We've chosen some of our faves for this post, but for the record, we do prefer a classic, large silk bow tie that you have to actually tie because classic is always cool. This post is about how designers have been reinterpreting the classic bow tie with unconventional materials. Now these are not for everyone. Only a man with crazy confidence that wants to have a little fun with his style could rock these.

Get a COOL bow tie here:
WUYORK Bow tie Collection http://www.wuyork.com/flash/wuyork.html
Federico Batelli Denim Bow tie collection "Untitled" (order inquiries here: mail@federicobatelli.it
Lanvin Velvet Bow tie - Navy is hard to come by, but you can get a red one here: http://www.mrporter.com/product/166458
CHRISTOPHER CHAUN amazing selection here: http://robotandbrucling.bigcartel.com/
JILL PINEDA faux leather bow ties http://www.jillpineda.com/bow-ties/
Mckenzie Liautaud http://www.mckenzieliautaud.com
 @mckenziebowties

See more COOL features on our blog THAT'S COOL. Just click and scroll down.  

WATCH THIS : THE SHOPS AT TARGET

Continuing its heritage of great design at affordable prices, Target is introducing its "SHOPS" concept. The retailer has teamed up with 5 small shops from around the country: The Webster (Miami), The Candy Shop (San Francisco), Privet House (Connecticut), Cos Bar (Apsen), & Polka Dog Bakery (Boston). Each brand will be featured at Target starting May 6th.

We're excited to see that one the hottest shops in town, The Webster Miami, got chosen to be part of this amazing project. If you haven't been to the shop at The Webster you MUST go ASAP to 1220 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139. You can also do some damage in their online shop here.
For more about THE SHOPS at TARGET see: http://www.target.com/c/The-Shops-at-Target/-/N-56f52 

 

 See more COOL features on our blog THAT'S COOL. Just click and scroll down.  

FASHION FILES : BRAND SPOTLIGHT

UK fashion label, Sons of Heroes, describes itself as a brand "born from a desire to bring a positive, confident attitude to contemporary menswear. Sons of Heroes represents the bold new face of the modern man; resolute in the pursuit of style."

Such a clear and definitive statement from a brand with a distinctive design point of view. The interesting use of buttons and closures, asymmetrical lines and simplicity in color and fabric all make these pieces so unique and exciting. Perhaps the most attractive thing about these pieces is how masculine they feel. Menswear can sometimes go too feminine when designers try to get too crafty. 

A little history about the brand:  Sons of Heroes. The Uniform of Future Icons.
Paying respect to the future icons of the 21st Century, Sons of Heroes has a blueprint that honours our country’s heroic past and the formidable people who played a part in it. With a collaborative history of over 10 years, the Sons of Heroes duo have collectively pooled their expertise, having worked side by side at the creative helm of some of the UK’s most successful and iconic fashion labels and brands.

Sons of Heros is serving up major cool. 

Shop Sons of Heroes on ASOS.
There are a few pieces on sale now at Fab.com.
Stocklists available at http://www.sonsofheroes.com.

See more COOL features on our blog THAT'S COOL. Just click and scroll down to see all the features.