Review | Oakley Eric Koston Frogskins and Jawbone

Oakley continues to set the standards when it comes to innovative and creative design. Blending science and art they continue to redefine fashion forward and performance eyewear.

"Decades of Oakley innovation have led to a full array of market-leading products including performance apparel and accessories, prescription eyewear, footwear, watches and electronics. The company continues to build on its heritage of authenticity by reinventing products from scratch to achieve superior quality and genuine innovation that delivers the unexpected. Awarded more than 575 patents and 1100 trademarks, Oakley today is a global icon offering products to consumers in more than 100 countries."

The brand was started in 1975 with a $300 investment by James Jannard. Jannard originally focused his attention towards the Motocross and BMX market producing what he called the 'The Oakley Grip'. In the 70's motorcycle handgrips were just basic pieces of rounded rubber. James developed a unique tread and design that fit securely in the riders grasp out of a material called Unobtainium. Unobtainium was a material that would get tacky when it became wet giving riders superior control and obvious grip over their fellow competitors. Unobtainium is still used in the sunglasses in many nose piece and earsocks.

The first eyewear that James designed were a pair of goggles called the O-Frame. The O-Frame, which featured the iconic "O" logo on the side strap, was the first big step in creating brand recognition. The frame was extremely popular because of its low profile and optimized fit which allowed for better peripheral and downward vision. From there the Oakley empire began to grow and flourish with the first pair of sunglasses coming in 1984 in the form of the Eyeshade. James and Oakley continued to reinvented sunglasses giving attention to every detail whether in the form of lightweight design (Sub Zeros which came in at 0.69 oz) or inventing the Oakley Thump, the first pair of sunglasses with a built in MP3.

_______________________________________

A few weeks ago I received a pair of Koston Frogskins as well as a pair of Jawbones. These two frames optimized what the Oakley brand has come to signify. On one side of the spectrum you have a classic in the form of the Frogskins, a mix of tradition and style. Whereas on the other hand you have the Jawbones, a glowing example of innovation and performance.

The Frogskins have secured their spot within pop culture. Coming to the market in the 1980's during a period where Ronald Reagan occupied the White House, people were rushing to theatres to see Arnold as "The Terminator" and Run D.M.C. was certified gold. The frames had been on hiatus for over a decade before they were reintroduced as the canvas for new limited edition pieces. The limited runs have ranged from an all chrome and gold frame courtesy of Supreme to a Purple on Purple combination thanks impart to Paul Rodriguez and his Encino-based retail spot Primitive. The most recent example of the retro classic is the exclusive Eric Koston rendition. The Girl Skate Pro and newly crowned member of Nike SB worked along side Oakley to come up with a nice twist to the iconic frame. The frame is done up in a sleek woodgrain print with a subtle set of iridium lens.

The Frogskin, as expected, fit like a gem while simultaneously going above and beyond to ensure that they not only served as a great addition to any outfit but also as a functioning sunglass. For me personally sunglasses are often used while driving so I decided to take them for a test drive to the cabin. At the end of the two hour drive I had not been faced with an issues. The frames alleviated my eyes from all glare with no stress being put on my vision.

The Jawbones are a recent addition to the Oakley line up. The frame was constructed with the World Class Athlete in mind. So much so that Oakley solicited the help of Lance Armstrong, George Hicapie, Thor Hushovd and Brian Lopes for the development and testing. The Jawbone utilizes SwitchLock® technology which alters the frames mechanics while maintaining the integrity of the frame. With SwitchLock the lower portion of the frame surrounding the lens opens allowing an athlete to make a quick lens change to adapt to any conditions. The frame also features a unique suspension system so-to-speak which holds the lenses in place so stresses on the frame do not affect the optics. The design allows for an unmatched clarity and rider protection. Prior to trying on I questioned the frames comfort. Considering the nose piece was designed to pivot I had concerns but when I put them on the really fit quite well and were very comfortable. The sunglasses not only feature High Definition Optics® (HDO) lenses which makes for unbeatable clarity but Oakley's Hydrophobic® permanenet lens coating that prevents water from leaving streaks and sheens whether in the form of rain or sweat. You''ll have to hurry if you still want to get your hands on the Koston Frogskins. Not only were they produced in very limited numbers but they are bound to sell out extremely fast which seems to be a common theme with these frames. They retail for $130. If you can't get your hands on those you may be able to grab the recently released Anti-Freeze colured Frogskin frame with Black Iridium lenses which are in stock and retail for $110 USD (Here). The Jawbones on the other hand come in an array of colours and are fully customizable. They start off around $195 for the black on black coulorway with a fully customizable pair running between $220 and $320. Thanks Rhett and Oakley for the chance to review the sunglasses. (via. Oakley)

Maestro Knows - Season 3 - Episode 2

Maestro Knows - Season 3 - Episode 1

Tuesday Chill Track | "Treat Me Like Your Mother" The Dead Weather

I guess viewer discretion is advised.

The Hook Up | Process 'Bombera Street Scarf'

Crawled out of bed this morning to find a little gift tucked in the mail box courtesy of Larry Luk and the find folks at Process Clothing in East Point, Georgia. It's inspiring to see that they have been able to carve out a niche market that transcends the Atlanta based culture in which a lot of inspiration is drawn from. I am equally impressed at the mark they are making on the clothing industry considering they are a Creative and Design agency at heart.

When their Fall/Winter 'Love & War' collection came out in early November it really caught my eye. Being a graphic design graduate I was immediately drawn to the Herb Lubalin inspired text. I find myself being drawn to tonal patterns, strong typography and effective use of colour, likely the reason I was mesmerized by this scarf. The Bombera Street Scarf is 100% silk and measures 43" x 43". The scarf is a great investment or gift at $35. If you are in the Atlanta area you can head over to Standard ATL and get your hands on one.

There are some great deals to be had over at the We Are The Process online store. Thanks for the gift.

Predictions for Hawks/Bulls game at home on Wednesday...Hawks by 7 winning 99 - 92.

Diamond Supply Co | New York Pop Up At Prohibit

Nick and company have been fairly busy over the last few months renovating and preparing their new retail spot in Los Angeles. This past weekend they opened up their new location on North Fairfax, now calling the former Alife space home. Aside from relocation, Nick also announced a pop up shop for the holidays in New York. Diamond Supply Co will be setting up temporary shop beginning December 16th at Japanese denim shop Prohibit NYC. No word on the duration of the New York stay but Diamond Supply will appear on shelves at the 152 Allen St location in just over a weeks time. The Lower East side is quickly becoming a shopping destination. This block now houses not only Prohibit NYC and Teddy Boy but also backs on to Orchard where you can find Self Edge New York, Shut Skateboards and Reed Space. and just up the block from those spots you have First Among Equals. Anyways you can definitely kill a few hours on the block. And if you are hungry pop into Georgia East Side BBQ.

Chromeo | Night By Night

Enjoy the weekend.

(via. Highsnobiety)

DQM | Newsprint Lookbook

Dave's decided to put a little twist on their F/W 09 Lookbook by taking it to print. The result, a newsprint spread highlighting the collection as seen through the eyes of photograph Todd Jordan. The lookbook can be picked up at the DQM shop on 7th or if you are really into it you can send a buck and your address to: DQM / 7 East 3rd Street / NY, NY / 10003. (via. DQM)

NBA | Earl Boykins Inks Deal With Wizards

Sorry but was anyone going to inform me that my favourite NBA player was back in the league?

The Washington Wizards signed free-agent guard Earl Boykins on November 11 and the move is already paying dividends. Against his former team Wednesday night Boykins hit a pair of free throws with one second left in the fourth to beat his ex-Milwaukee Buck team by two, 104-102 at the Verizon Center. The Wiz are now 5-3 in their last 8 with Boykins in the line up, improving on their 2-7 start without the 5'5" guard. Over the course of 10 NBA seasons Boykins has averaged 9.4 points and 3.4 assists per game. I am sitting at my computer chatting "M-V-P".

E:60 | The Blindside Charlie Wilks

True inspiration.

Review | Mosley Tribe Dunn Sunglasses

Over the course of the next few weeks we will be reviewing a handful of sunglasses covering the spectrum from great price point entry level sunglasses to higher end options exploring all budgets. Among those being reviewed include the 9five Cult Classic Glens, EC Headwear Wayfarers, Oakley Jawone and Eric Koston Frogskins, and Mosley Tribe Dunns. _____________________________________________________

The first sunglass up for review is the Mosley Tribes Dunn. Mosley Tribes is a global lifestyle brand created in 2005 by Larry Leight, the Founder and Creative Director of LA based luxury eyewear brand Oliver Peoples. In 2006 Olivers People was purchased by Oakley which in turn was then purchased by Luxottica. Luxottica is the world's largest eyewear company whose in house and liscened brands include Oakley, Prada, Lens Crafters, Burberry, DKNY, Ray Ban, Tiffany & Co. and Arnette.

"Mosley is an expression of euphoric feeling and Tribes describe groups of individuals unified by a shared desire for performance without sacrificing style. Mosley Tribes designs are modern interpretations of timeless classics that combine fashion and function. The sleek, Mod-Equipped designs use titanium metals and injected plastic for a lightweight feel, ideal for active individuals. All Mosley Tribes frames feature VFX lenses (Visual Effects), the ultimate in lens technology and the most environmentally functional lenses available to fit specific customer needs based on light conditions and activities. Already recognized for its unique versions of double-bridge aviator styles, the core concepts of the brand include classic style, sport culture and street luxury." (Olivers People)

Since the brands inception in 2005 Mosley Tribes have carved out a niche celebrity market. The sunglass brand has become a popular choice for the Hollywood elite including Lance Armstrong, Jay-Z, Gwyneth Paltrow and John Mayer. With that in mind I thought it would be interesting to see what all the buzz was about.

For the review Mosley sent over two colorways of their unisex Dunn frame. The frame is comparable to Ray Ban Outdoorsman II and the Ray Ban Large Metal II which both come in around the $129 mark. The Dunn on the other hand retails at a slightly higher price point of $180 but still comes in lower than a pair of Maui Jim's or Paul Smith frame.

Now it has been a while since I have owned a pair of aviator styled shades but I did at one point own a pair of vintage Ray Bans that fit like they were tailored for my face. The fit was the first thing I noticed when trying on the Mosley Tribe Dunn's. The nose piece sat a little high on my bridge and as a result the fit was sacrificed and as a result a great deal of light was exposed to my eyes becoming no longer a practical accessory but more of a fashion only piece. Now I do like sunglasses that are visually appealing and maybe at times a little loud but I also expect them to serve their purpose. It is quite possible that the nose piece could be bent to accommodate a higher bridge. But I would hope that by forking out almost $200 I would be completely satisfied with the fit.

However there are two positions on this. On the flip spectrum I would imagine that (though a unisex frame) a majority of the Dunn consumer would be females who tend to have much smaller features than myself. As a result I would suspect that these frames are highly sought after in the female eyewear market.

Mosley Tribe took a very unique and modern approach to these retro-spec aviators that I would imagine serve their very function quite well on a smaller proportioned face. And if that is infact their target market, which I imagine it is, then these are a great entry level sunglass to compete with the Dolce and Gabbana's and the Prada's on the market. Overall I would give these a very high rating for you ladies out their on the hunt for some new frames and of course you guys with small-ass noses.

Next week we take a look at the Oakley Koston Frogskins and the Oakley Jawbone.

Maestro Knows - NYC Edition - Episode 4

SquareUp | Credit Card Payment System

Square or SquareUp is a new secure mobile payment application for iPhone. All you require to take credit card payment is a 3.5mm audio input socket and some sort of internet connection. By connecting a small card reader plug into the audio input anyone can accept immediate and secure credit or debit card payment. Once the card is swiped the customer signs the screen of the iPhone with their finger and enters an email address for the receipt to be sent to completing the almost effortless transaction.

The application has undergone vigorous testing at Self Edge in New York and Sightglass Coffee Co. and Flower Cart in San Francisco allowing the Square team to work out the kinks to make it market ready.

Square is the brainchild of Jim McKelvey who had the idea back in February of this year after he wasn't able to sell a piece of his glass are because he was unable to accept credit card as payment. The payment system will be releasing in early 2010.

(via. SquareUp)

Hypebeast | Bobby Hundreds Interview

Eugene Kan over at Hypebeast recently sat down with Bobby Kim, better known to his loyal clan of followers as Bobby Hundreds, to discuss the current collaboration with the DeLorean Motor Co. I find it quite astounding to see how far The Hundreds have come and how the continue to grow not only the collection but also the fan base. Check out the interview in its entirety here.

The Hundreds x DeLorean Motor Company | Graphics

A peek at The Hundreds x DeLorean Motor Company collaboration that hits THLA and THSF this coming Thursday, December 3. (via. TheHundreds)