Phelps by Vuitton

Michael Phelps for Louis Vuitton
from Selectism

True to the business of show (well sort of), Olympians ought to take the "next move" as Selectism best describes and what other way to celebrate and start on that next move than to have a campaign that's as timeless as the ones shot by Annie Leibovitz for Louis Vuitton?

Shaking up the campaign trail and the start on to the next move is our most decorated Olympian, swimmer Michael Phelps. Shot by Leibovitz, Louis Vuitton puts Phelps in a tub in his usual suit with a slouchy, coolly styled Louis Vuitton duffle by his side, giving you that effortless, yet well thought-out look and feel. Pretty interesting how the entire photo leaves that impression on you. It's probably the relevance of today's sports and historic Olympic games and the long-lasting power of Vuitton that makes this an instant "iconic" coming-together of influencers. I like it a lot. Check out the other campaign featuring Phelps and another well-decorated Olympian, looking wonderful in her 70s.

I won't be surprised if Louis Vuitton launches a series of Olympians for their campaigns. Oscar Pistorius and Louis Vuitton would be just as important and beautiful too.

-Gerard

Nike LunarGlide+

The Nike LunarGlide+ reminded me of all the reasons why I love shoes, running and also a frustration as a kid. One of the many things I've wanted to become when I was younger was a designer. Not necessarily for shoes, but back then I felt like there were things I wanted and could visualize in my head that I either couldn't afford or couldn't find. Just like a famous quote about writers, I think part of the rationale of design is creating something only you could think of.

Now, I am considering a return to the times I've poured on drawing. I would want to someday be able to design something, a bag, a shoe, a suitof my own, whatever it is. I was actually thinking of designing a stadium or complex if in the future they could hold the Olympics here, but I think among my closest of friends, Bob the Engineer is the only one capable of making it happen.

Anyway, I love my LunarGlide+. Love its fit, the stability and support you feel when running through good and bad streets (Makati, I'm sorry but you have bad streets for running), how it looks and sometimes when I pass by it, I want to hug it cause I love it so much. But mine's old and the new one has a pretty neat look and design that past LunarGlides don't have. The flywire though is a little too much for me, but when it's subtly done like the black and blue one they have, I might just say yes whole-heartedly. Plus I think the Lunarlon for the new one is thicker compared to what mine has. If I could draw like him, I'd have two day jobs: agent and illustrator. So for everyday runners and shoe, design and style fans alike, enjoy the science behind the newest stud from Nike.

It'd be Christmas in my life if I could keep what I have now and buy myself a new LunarGlide....
Oh Nike.


- Gerard

Olympian Style

Kult Paper's Olympic style story
From @malemodelscene

The Isles of Wonder brought me to tears today. True. You know me, I'm a huge bowl of Soft Batch, pretty easy to make me cry. Well, not really, but when there's some heart-warming story in anything that gets my mind running on a trail such as "imagine having trained all your life and to set foot on the Olympics with the world's best..." And the story goes on to be ended with a tear. So to Danny Boyle and the team that made the Olympics happen, congratulations.

This is probably the first time I watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and it was amazing. First parts were a little so-so for me, but the rest were just amazing. Especially the lighting of the cauldron. Just beautiful. I started getting teary-eyed when they were introducing the junior Olympians and the ones who nominated them passed on the torch---in all sense of the phrase. Lovely. The bit with the Arctic Monkeys too was great, loved that with the fireworks and all. To people who live in London and are there right now to witness it, I know it's the best time to be there...I'm so jealous. Please send my regards to the three world superstar athletes I want to see if ever I was there, Federer, world's fastest man Hussein Bolt and, my all time favorite swimmer, Ryan Lochte.

Athletes are actually quite the mesmerizing subject for other things aside from sports. They make interesting public figures, celebrities, endorsers (in my opinion, athletes present the most credible and eligible endorsers of products out there), stories and, most of all, fashion inspirations. I wasn't surprise to hear Ryan Lochte planning to have his own clothing line in the future (though not really a fan of his green stoned sneakers), because I've always had this feeling that athletes too are as into fashion and style as other people are.

And to prove that, I present you Kult Paper's story with the Olympics as its inspiration. For me this is how you should do a fashion story on sports and the Olympics. The photos may lack the overall spectacle and the magnitude a world wide audience provides in real life, but this one makes up for it by giving you a true fashion story that manages to braid the spirit of athleticism with the flawless, beautiful world of fashion. What you have is something cool, vintage in feel and inspiring you to be good-looking, sporty and stylish (if it's ever humanly possible). Shot by Ben Lamberty with models from Kult Modeling Agency.