Jake Davis Blog

Top Picks: The Year That Was 2009

I am truly grateful for the year that was 2009. I lost a few but gained so much more. I hope you have all enjoyed the ride. Thanks for stopping by. 2010 is going to be a big one. You're going to see some exclusive product collabos, original film series, daily inspiration and so much more from me. Thank you for the best year of my life. 

Below are a few of my favorite things that stood out in 2009. I would love to hear what stood out in your lives in the comments section... And follow me on Twitter @JakeDavisFilms I promise to learn it in the new year...

The Must Have Boot: Red Wing Wabasha Chukka

I first saw a version of these over at ACL and fell in love. I was lucky enough to walk by David Z. the day they dropped and Ronnie Fieg hooked it up. I'm still looking for the 9146 in rough copper leather. Little help?

The Must Have Shoe: Mark McNairy Blutcher Moc

Mark McNairy is one of the most stylish guys in town and his creations are an extension of his unique and original vision. After seeing these at Capsule I knew I had to have them. I'm looking forward to their release in Spring. 

The Reinterpretation Of A Classic: Supreme Timberline Jacket

Yes, I'm biased to Supreme as those guys are some of my closest friends, I direct their videos, and the brand has been an institution in my life since its inception. But they always get it right. From the color to the cut this jacket was my Fall go to. 

The Buzz Shirt: RRL Red Chambray

On a whim I posted a few photos of this shirt back in the Spring. I still get asked about it on the streets of 

New York City even when I'm not wearing it. That was the moment I realized people were really paying 

attention.

The Newcomer: Inventory

 

I'm really happy for what Ryan, Owen and the rest of the crew have been able to accomplish in what seems 

like a very short amount of time that I've known them. Look for them to make even bigger moves in 2010. 

The Hardest Look: Engineered Garments SS09

  

I said what the fuck!?!... Daiki and Angelo deserve all the praise they get.

The Scene: The Pop Up Flea

I was back in town for a few days. Swung by. All Americana everything. Michael and Randy did their thing. 

The Moment: The Woods

Sometimes life throws you gut checks. It was a skeleton crew out in the middle of the woods... My DP Jim 

Larer, Executive Producer Kerri Kleiner, the band U.S. Royalty and mother nature. We shot with only the 

light from the fire, a limited amount of wood, and then the rain came. Filmmaking like life comes down to 

a few important decisions. We got the shots and those honest moments with the band, especially my good 

friend lead singer John Thornley, are some of my proudest moments as a director to date. Life lesson... 

You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them 

sometimes. Thanks guys.

 

The Kit: Baxter Of California

  

Owner JP Mastey has become a good friend and I really believe in his vision for men's grooming. He has 

some tricks up his sleeve in 2010. So be on the look out.

The Collabo: Supreme x Damien Hirst Decks

 

Oh shit you guys got Damien Hirst to do the decks this season. I was just proud to be a part of the video. 

Not so proud of what I had to do to get my hands on a deck. Thanks Angelo.

The Mixtape: So Far Gone

 

I was a fan before I got the call to direct the video for the hardest song on the album. Hanging with Drake, 

Oliver, 40, and Niko in Toronto was a highlight of my year. My phone call with Drizzy before I got on the 

plane to go up there was the most inspiring of the year. Upon final cut of the video was the kindest and

sincerest appreciation of the year. I'll never forget riding on that process trailer with O and my producers 

in the wee hours of the night through the streets of Toronto. "Successful" blasting with fans in tow. Thank 

you for that. Get ready for big things in 2010 from me and OVO. Thank us later...

The Sleeper Album: The First Days Of Spring

This one caught me off guard and moved me to tears. 

The Cover: The Big Pink "Sweet Dreams" By Beyonce

All great covers make you rediscover the song in a whole new light...

The Big Pink - Sweet Dreams

The Video: The Dead Weather "Treat Me Like Your Mother"

I've always looked up to Jonathan Glazer as a true visionary in the medium. I was psyched to see him behind the camera this year with one of the most original videos in a long time.

The Word: Lurker

LURKER

My friends and I have been using the word for years but I really feel it got some momentum in 2009. I love it. Whether it's online, on the streets, or at a bar. You know who you are and you know when you're doing it. I'll take a lurker over a douche any day of the week.

The Book: Open

I sadly rarely read a book from cover to cover these days. I learned more about myself from this book than any therapy session will ever teach me. 

Inspiration: All White Everything

 

             

 

                        

                   

                    

 

 

  

 

        

  

 

                    

 

                        
 
 

"I question myself every day. That's what I still find motivating about this. I don't have the answers, I don't pretend that I do. Just keep fighting and maybe something good happens." - Andre Agassi

 Procol Harum - Whiter Shade Of Pale

Crazy: Birkenstock Montana Collector

 
 
The Birkenstock Montana is one of my favorite pieces of footwear. They're one of those beautiful shoes they don't sell in the States. On a recent google search to see if Birkenstock had changed they're distribution, I discovered a collector's personal set of colorful photographs of the elusive shoe.

These quirky shots are incredible from the assortment of vibrant socks to the glimpse of man leg (pause). I was so blown away that I had to share them with you. I'm hoping by posting these that the Birkenstock Montana will be a little easier to find stateside. Clearly there are other people besides me that love them...

Ray LaMontagne - Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover)

Style: Do It Your Way

If you stay in a place like New York City long enough you see a lot of people, places, and things come and go. It's a city that's ever evolving, always moving, and never satisfied with what's happening. It wants what's next. If you've never been here it's hard to understand. But once you're here, you get it immediately. It's an energy. It's New York Fuckin' City.

When I first met J. Wes almost a decade ago he had one of the most unique looks I had ever seen. At the time no one in New York was dressing in traditional workwear and military surplus with a southern influence. He was the first. It's amazing to walk downtown and see his truly unique style has become a legitimate fashion trend... J. Wes is one of those characters that has come and gone but his influence remains. He moved back to the south to finish his novel more than five years ago. I dug deep into the style tear sheet archives to show you how an original does it. Most people come here and try to reidentify themselves by fitting into the latest trend, but the city respects those that do it the other way around...

Sid Vicious - My Way

Heavy Rotation: Noah And The Whale

There are very few artists these days that think about the journey of an entire album. Today the industry is driven by the almighty single, so for the most part that's what you get. But when an album actually takes you on the road and there is story development with an emotional narrative structure it's pretty amazing. That's exactly what Noah and the Whale deliver on their sophomore album "The First Days of Spring."

And even though today is the first day of Winter this album sounds right. Because everyday, no matter how cold it is outside or inside, is a chance to rekindle that old flame, tweet, text, email, call, meet an old friend you haven't seen a while, or rebuild whatever's broken in your life. Here's the soundtrack to simplifying the complexities and springing forward...

Noah And The Whale - Our Window

Noah And The Whale - My Door Is Always Open

Noah And The Whale myspace link

The Evolution Of Style: Prep Persona 1-5

It's birthday week in these parts with tomorrow the 19th being the actual date, which got me thinking about how our tastes mature and sophisticate over time, from food to clothing. I love the way The Official Preppy Handbook documents this evolution with a clever tongue and cheek style. I'm sure for some of you it's like staring at a cartoon drawing version of yourself. Maybe for others you'll find some inspiration in the style descriptions and looks.

But what I find the most interesting is how the youngest kid and the oldest man are dressed exactly the same. I don't know if this was done on purpose but it's incredibly insightful. We all start where we end and we all end where we start. In between... a roller coaster... So get on and let's enjoy the ride...

Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone

Style: Grandpa's Winter Kit

Before the blog days all of my tear sheets would go into different inspiration folders for my films. I dug into the archives today for a film project I'm developing and found this amazing photograph. My ideal stylish sage archetype. I have no idea what magazine it's from. What the actually clothing is. Who styled it. Who photographed it. I know it has to be at least a few years old. I love it even more now than I did back then. It's so good on so many different levels, I had to share it with you guys. The way his beard and trapper hat mesh in palette and highlights. The pipe and coat are the same color combination. The camouflage cargo pants feel natural and not contrived. The layering of technical fabrics. Even the goggles feel right, as off balance as they are. When clothing tells a story like this it's amazing.

And speaking of Senex inspiration, my man Mordechai aka Mr. Mort does a fantastic job of capturing grandpa style on the streets of New York City like no other, with an impeccable eye for detail and obscurity. Keep a lookout for what he's shooting this winter.

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

The Signature Look Giveaway: Secret Stash Collection

In November I let you guys in on Secret Stash's A Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue. They were very generous and sent their entire limited edition collection of colored vinyl over today including the recently released Mad Dog's Hustle, Porno Groove, and A Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue. Since this is the season of giving I thought we should do another signature look giveaway. 

When I discovered what Secret Stash were up to I thought this is so cool. And I know the word is really overused and means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. But to me these albums from concept to execution are really fuckin' cool. So I want to hear what cool is to you. It could be a quote, a story, an object, a photograph, a movie, maybe a few original words. Whatever is inspiring you lately. There is no right answer. But the coolest one gets the collection of vinyl. You have a week, use an active e-mail, inspire in the comments section below, and follow on Twitter @JakeDavisFilms for the cool...

Secret Stash link

The Infamous: Blown Out Crotch

A little over three years deep on these A.P.C. New Standards. I started really loving the way they felt and looked, then the infamous happened the other day... The blown out crotch! I know we've talked about it briefly here in the past but what do you guys do?... Repair? Throw away? Mourn?... I need your help. I'm a little shell shocked... Hit me in the comments section and follow on Twitter @JakeDavisFilms for some words of wisdom on this denim dilemma...

Yeasayer - I Remember

Classic: George Winston "December"

Very few things stay with us for our entire lives... I think about that a lot as an artist. But more as a person. Modern life has become so disposable. Friends, clothing, technology... Mostly it all comes and goes like the seasons. Is that the way life was intended? Nothing is forever but shouldn't some things be pretty damn close? Is it human nature to give up prematurely? Or do things prematurely give up on us? That chambray shirt you bought this season, are you really going to wear it two seasons from now or are you going to be bored of it? That record that made you feel so amazing this year, are you going to remember it in a few years? I know you're definitely going to have a new iPod next year. That person you can't stop thinking about, are you going to remember their name next year?

For me December has always been a month of reflection. And as the year's cycle ends... many things come to a close. I'm truly thankful for the things that stay. As a man of habit and routine I am truly grateful for the constants in my life, especially when I don't deserve them. Since I was a boy running around the wood stove, George Winston has been the soundtrack to my Decembers. A constant every year. I wouldn't be the same without it...

George Winston - Carol of the Bells

George Winston - Sleep Baby Mine

December amazon link

Style: Base Layer

It's cold as fuck outside today in New York City. Style is generally crippled the most in extreme weather conditions. When it's really cold outside we generally lose our silhouette and opt for something large and bulky. One way to avoid looking like the pillsbury doughboy and more like Jeremiah Johnson is to wear a base layer. Another way is to avoid the artichoke dip and mac & cheese at Freeman's. But that's a whole other story.

Long Johns, long underwear, thermals, man tights... I prefer the term base layer. Duofold and Patagonia are my top choices to keep you tailored up and staying warm this winter season. 

I don't think these will help you skin grizz, Pilgrim but at least you can dress the part...

Duofold link

Patagonia link

The Archives: A Love Supreme

So I'm getting acclimated to New York after being in Los Angeles for a while. There are so many subtle differences between the two coasts. One aspect that particularly stands out is the architecture. Seeing the Californication of a New York institution like Supreme was really interesting. I had never made the Fairfax run because I'm usually on such a tight schedule shooting when I'm out there. But with a little bit of downtime West was nice enough to give me the tour.

The beauty and nuance of having a bowl in a retail store is something you can't quite grasp till you actually see it. We have mini ramps in New York but this is something else entirely. On the scorecard that is New York vs. Los Angeles. One for L.A.... These beautiful shots of the Supreme Bowl from a vintage issue of Arkitip don't show it justice. This is something you have to see in person, especially if you're obsessed with retail stores like I am...

John Coltrane - Acknowledgement