Thou Shalt Covet: The A.P.C. navy week-end bag

Photo courtesy of A.P.C.

With the midst of winter upon us, we're looking for one of two weekend getaways: the beach or the mountains. And what every good weekend warrior needs, whether playing in sand or snow, is a good weekend bag.

A.P.C.'s option -- though called a sac, of course -- is perfect in its simplicity and functionality. It's not covered in pockets and zippers, but chicly classic, the perfect size and duffle shape to open up, toss in a few choice pieces and throw over your shoulder for a jaunt off to some place that will allow you to escape whatever it is you need to get away from. 

The A.P.C. navy week-end bag retails for $230 and is available by mail order (212.966.0069), at www.apc.fr, or in stores in New York (131 Mercer Street, 212.966.9685) or Los Angeles (619 N. Croft Avenue, West Hollywood, 323.297.0414

-- SETH PLATTNER

Previously > David Hart & Co. bowties > Kontextür shower curtain rings

Quickies: Robert Pattison too butch to model, Karl Lagerfeld naked (sort of) and more

Photo: Getty Images

Twilight hottie Robert Pattison used to be a model -- then he got too manly. He says he booked jobs when he looked more feminine because androgyny was in, and then he "became too much of a guy," and he never got any more jobs. Clearly it worked out in the long run. [Daily Express]

We've always wanted to see Karl Lagerfeld naked. OK -- not really. But Henry Holland has created sketches of the famed designer along with a few other notables (Agyness, Galliano, Donatella) that are appearing on t-shirts in London. [Grazia]

NY Times style section round-up: Eric Wilson notes how while the economy is in the red, everyone else is in black; Some Manhattanite men try shaving with a straight razor and quickly regret it; and we all may be poor, but you won't see retail discounts like this for a long, long time.

APC and Nike are working on a capsule collection. The line will features canvas sneakers with a red, white or blue swoosh and will reference the Nike All Court models from the seventies. [British Vogue]

Burberry's spring ad campaign shows off a green thumb. It features male model Richard Wyndham, actor Alex Pettyfer, and musicians George Craig and Sam Beeton. [WWD]

New Yorkers, get ready for the Holiday Soho Stroll. Starting tonight at 6 p.m., more than 70 designers and stores including Bloomingdales, Theory and M Missoni stay open late (11 p.m.) and offer deep discounts to raise money and awareness for New York City's homeless. Visit http://ace4homeless.org to get your $20 attendance bracelet or call 212-274-0550 for more information. Click here to see a list of participants and their offerings.

-- SETH PLATTNER

Quickies: A Rod ties the wrong knot, A Zoolander sequel? and more

Photo: Getty Images

A Rod is catching flack for wearing his scarf in a slip knot. Spotted at Madonna's concert, many are calling it a styling faux pas because the slip knot is generally seen on women. Leave it to heteros to get all up in arms about a knot. The gays support you, sweetie. Slip knot on wich ya bad self!  [The Glamour Bee]

Ben Stiller claims a Zoolander sequel is in he works. Good because we still haven't perfect our Magnum. [The Cut]

Coming for Spring: A capsule collection from A.P.C. and K-Way. Though it only includes three jackets and won't be available until January, the pieces are sleek and sexy. Hopefully it's merely a taste of what's to come. [Material Interest]

Jack Spade is opening a double store in NYC. One side will have all the Jack Spade bags you need, and the other? A Hobby Shop of course! Featuring a rotating collection of non-fashion cool things, first up will be bicycles. [Fashionista]

Open for business: NYC's biggest Zara ever on 42nd street.

-- SETH PLATTNER

A.P.C Hand Me Downs; No Jail Time for Naomi (we're not surprised); NYC Still on Top; Indonesians Embrace "Trashion;" Acne Trends from Sweden Fashion Week

Photo: Getty Images

Sometimes brand new jeans are just too stiff, and those "vintage" type jeans are just too, well, vintage.  Leave it to denim superstars A.P.C. to develop a middle man.  Newly introduced are their Butler Worn Out series of denim, which are pairs of jeans worn exactly one time before being sold to consumers. [Material Interest] 

Naomi Campbell will not be going to prison for her violent outburst on a British Airways flight.  Instead she just lands a spread in Vogue Italia.  [WWD] and [Fashionista]

New York City was named, for the fourth year in a row, the best fashion city in the world according to a survey by a U.S.-based language use group.  Like, duh. [tmtbox]

Those ever resourceful Indonesians are using leftover, discarded and found materials to make trendy and affordable garments in a new movement called "trashion."  The bag lady on my corner who drinks bleach told me "homeless-chic" would be all the rage this season.  [MSNBC]

I noted last week that Stockholm was embarking on their annual fashion week as well; and, though noticeably overshadowed by the big boys in Milan and Paris, Acne  S/S 09 showed some muscle in Sweden.  Maybe next year they'll move to the majors? [Material Interest]

-- SETH PLATTNER

The Crave: A.P.C. New Standard Jeans

Photo: Courtesy of A.P.C.

Jeans have been dyed, sanded, blasted, stoned, washed, rubbed and embellished to death, so it's time to wipe the palette clean with a pair of unadulterated jeans that instantly add polish to any casual look. Famed French brand A.P.C. knows how to make a pair of jeans look right without resorting to tacky details. For the company's New Standard jean, A.P.C. uses rigid unwashed selvedge denim, a narrower (but forgiving cut) and a rise that's not high nor low (so you can go commando without offending innocent passersby). If your jeans look more overworked than you do, give them a rest.

New Standard Jeans, A.P.C., $155, visit apc.fr for stores.