reaLAspect

DOC MARTENS | REINVENTED

(Photos Originally Taken by: Jeff Carvalho/Selectism.com)

Over the last year, Doc Marten has been reinventing its self by pushing out an impressive line of new sartorial-inspired oxfords and boots. Their 2012 S/S Collection and their 2012 Winter Collection shoes have included various pop-aesthetics, such as: floral patterns; serrated soles; wingtips;white soles; f-you soles; white eyelets. They have clearly been doing their research.

My personal favorites are their upcoming Winter 2012 brogues (as seen above). Although Dr. Marten has done wingtips in the past, they've really stepped up their game this time around with their slimmed-down full brogue. They've trimmed down the sole but left their signature Doc Marten cuts on the Outsole. I love the added pop given to the shoe from the white soles, eyelets, and stitching. It is an oxford for the everyday, it can be worn whether you're going out or going to school.

Well that's all for now--remember--if you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to ask. Cheers!

***In case you are unfamiliar with the anatomy of a shoe (i.e. eyelet, welt, outsole, etc.) you can check out this handy website here.

Brad Sharp

WHAT IS IN A NAME | reaLAspect

Well before we go into the details, allow us to first discuss the pronunciation of the name. It is pronounced: (ree-la-spect). And now that we have that out of the way we can discuss what the name actually means.

The name "reaLAspect" is the culmination of several words: respect, reality, aspect, & LA. The idea for the name came to me during a 45-minute bus ride to Pasadena. I wanted to make a blog based around the concepts of LA, fashion, art, and perspective so I just started throwing words together until I came to the conclusion of reaLAspect.

It is a sad and apparent reality that we live in a society in which you need to sell yourself to others in order to succeed. Unless you are one of those few individuals that have such an outstanding personality that it outshines your outward appearance, the way you dress and present yourself can make a huge impact on peoples perception of you. This is not to say that the way you dress defines who you are, but rather, the way you dress determines how people will perceive you on those first impressions.

There are many ways in which an individual can dress and it is not to say that there is one right way to do so; however like any other discipline, there do exist fundamental rules to help and guide you. These rules are in part the reason reaLAspect was created. ReaLAspect was created to teach some of these basic rules as well as ways to bend/manipulate them to fit your stylistic needs.

Other reasons for the creation of this website is to outline the artistic renaissance/revival of Los Angeles--how areas, such as Silver Lake, have gone from run-down to hip and trendy. ReaLAspect will provide reviews of places to go and see in LA as well as provide insight on incoming artists, musicians, designers, and trends. Although the site is mainly dedicated to the Los Angeles area, the site will highlight global fashion trends.

Our hope at reaLAspect is to eventually branch out and become our own label as well as a go to become a portal for all of your fashion, music, and artistic needs. So please, follow and tell your friends so that our dreams may be realized. And remember, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to ASK at any time. Thank you and cheers for now!

Brad Sharp

GREY QUILTED JACKET | TOP MAN

Today's review will be on my grey quilted jacket courtesy of Top Man. The jacket's exterior is grey quilted cotton with gold and white stitching. My favorite part about the jacket is its padded elbows and gold-accented buttons--giving, what would be a basic jacket, an added pop. The pockets located on the left and right breast of the jacket 5x3.5 inches which give the jacket added style and function--I use them to hold my business cards, cigarettes, or gum. The jacket's interior is made of quilted tan fleece.

The jacket is relatively light which makes it perfect for layering on both cold and warmer days. I prefer to wear the jacket open with an oxford or button-down underneath, however, it also looks good worn fully buttoned-up.

This was a relatively short review but I will be uploading more content/reviews today so keep checking back for updates. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to ask. Cheers for now!

Brad Sharp

OROCHON RAMEN |★★★☆☆

After a long weekend of..."celebrating" my friends and I decided to recooperate with a nice big bowl of ramen from LA's very own, Orochon.

ABOUT | OROCHON: 

Type: Ramen/Japanese  

Seating: Indoor & Outdoor 

Wait Time: 15-20 min

Location: (Little Tokyo)   123 S Onizuka St, Los Angeles, CA 90012  

The Name: "Orochon" comes from Ainu, the indigenous Japanese language, and means bravery. Orochon is home to the Special #2 which is known to be the hottest ramen on the planet, which only the brave attempt--hence the name.  

The Menu (which can be seen here): Is a simple menu, based mainly around the ramen, consisting of three steps: Choose your broth; Choose your level of spice (9 levels in all ranging from Non-Spicy to Special #2); Choose your toppings & extras. Along with with ramen, Orochon offers an assortment of Japanese appetizers, drinks, and sides.

THE EXPERIENCE:

I ordered an Impact Soy Broth Ramen with Egg and an UCC Coffee (the original canned coffee). It was another 10-15 minutes before we got our food and it was all brought at different times. I don't know whether it is because of the large size of the bowels that they can only bring one at a time or it is because of the time it takes to make each bowel, but it was because of the wait that Orochon only received 3 stars.

Despite our long wait, the ramen was delicious--well seasoned with the perfect amount of kick. The noodles are hand rolled and prepared and it shows! The noodles were of perfect consistense, easy to pick up with chop sticks. The pork is melt-in-your-mouth tender but they do skimp on the meat. I suggest for those who like a good amount of meat in their ramen to get a double/triple order.

Although we only awarded Orochon 3 stars, I do recommend to check it out if you are in the area. The food is tasty and located in the same marketplace is and awesome manga/art store and Japanese Market to get your fix of Japanese: candy, pastries, soda  and energy drinks--when they say energy drinks they mean it, I had to run around the block a few times just to work some of it off and get my heart rate going at a normal pace.

If you've got any questions, comments, or concerns involving this article or anything else then feel free to ask. Cheers!

Brad Sharp

BASEBALL SAILORS JACKET | HAWKINGS MCGILL

Today I will be doing a review on my Hawkings McGill Baseball Sailors Jacket. The jacket is made of a thick yet lightweight cotton, weight of the jacket is similar to that of a windbreaker. The core of the jacket is a light navy-blue whilst the sleeves are an off-white color--the left sleeve has a Hawkings McGill patch on it (as seen in the lower left picture). The red buttons and combination of red/white stitching contrasts the blue which gives the jacket a nice pop.

This jacket is great for both cold and warm weather. When it is cold, the jacket can be buttoned/zipped all the way up to form a thick funnel neck to keep you warm. During warm weather, the collar of the jacket can be snapped in place by a button located on the back of the collar which allows for the jacket to worn comfortably while it's unzipped.

Personally, this is one of my favorite pieces of outerwear for sprucing up a simple outfit (e.g. Jeans and a t-shirt) by giving it a classic Americana flavor. Although the style of the jacket may be a classic by no means is the cut, it is a modern cut through-and-through with its fitted torso and tapered arms giving a perfect clash of classic and modern.

When I originally bought this jacket it was $60 at Urban Outfitters but I recently found it marked down as low as $25--mind you that was a few months ago so the likelihood of finding it in store is slim, but still possible.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns involving this jacket or fashion in general then please feel free to ask!

On a side note, this is the same jacket that can be seen with my kitten laying on it.

Brad Sharp

KITTEN | SHOOT INVASION

BROWN LEATHER CHUKKA BOOT | CLARK

My Clark Chukka Boots have been my go-to shoe for this season. They are comfortable, sturdy, and keep your feet nice and warm/dry during cold weather. I picked these up at Nordstroms Rack for $55 (normally $90), a steal for the quality. I wear them with practically everything and they can be worn with both formal and informal attire--there's that versatility I've been talking about.

BEAUTY OF LEATHER:

The sturdy leather upper makes great for protection and, because leather is a "living material", it will mold to your foot and--if worn long enough--will produce patterns/wears in the shoe specific to you. That is one of the beautiful characteristics of leather, it tells a story of the person wearing it. It shows how you walk and where you've walked by the various wears and grooves left in the shoe from the places you've traveled--no one else will/can have your exact pattern so the shoe becomes unique to the wearer.

That's all for now but remember if you have any questions, comments, or concerns about this post, the blog, or fashion in general then feel free to ask!

Cheers for now,

Brad Sharp

WHAT MAKES AN OXFORD? | BLUE&RED GINGHAM OXFORD | TOP MAN

New review! Today we'll also discuss the difference between an oxford and the conventional button-down shirt.

I received this wonderful addition to my wardrobe over the holidays, courtesy of my parents. I have found myself leaning more towards a sartorial style over these last couple months and I wanted a shirt that would add some punch to my suits (or whatever else I decide to wear this shirt with). Top Man makes an impressive oxford I must add: no tailoring required, fits like a glove, sharp color, and clean lines in the cut. Although the fabric is sturdy it is relatively thin, its been rather chilly the past few days so I have been wearing layers underneath it.

NOW down to the knitty-gritty of what makes an oxford an oxford. In order for an oxford to be considered a true oxford it requires these things:

1. Fabric: Oxford refers to the type of weave used to spin the fabric the shirt is made of. The spin makes for a coarser material and gives the fabric a "subtle basket weave look".

2. Yoke: The yoke of an oxford is a "split yoke". Yoke refers to the part of the shirt that stretches over the shoulders. A split yoke refers to the line that separates the yoke into two pieces (an example of which can be found here).

3. Collar: The collar of an oxford buttons down.

4. Sleeves: Long-sleeve.

5. Pocket: The pocket of an oxford is located on the left breast.

And that is pretty much. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about anything relating shirts or fashion in general, feel free to ASK. Cheers for now.

Brad Sharp

FOLLOW

NYLON QUILTED WINDBREAKER | STANDARD CLOTH

Today's review will be on my black quilted windbreaker by Standard Cloth. The jacket is a black quilted-nylon with worn gold-colored accents (zippers and buttons). The jacket zips past collar to form a funnel neck and can also be turned into a collared jacket if not fully zipped. The jacket is extremely light weight but well insulated--making it perfect for any type of weather. It can be worn with: a jumper/sweater during cold weather, an oxford and tie as a substitute for a blazer for those formal occasions, or it can be worn to spice up the standard t-shirt and jeans.

Versatality of a product is a key factor in terms of the items I purchase. To me it is important that I know I can wear it on multiple occasions and in various weather conditions. This ensures that my dollar is well spent. This is not to say that everything I buy is wearable in all conditions (i.e wool top coat, leather boots, etc.), but for the most part I do by best to make smart choices when buying.

The concept of Smart Buying is something I will be discussing in the next upcoming posts in the form of videos and articles. So that you can get idea of some of the things I take into consideration prior to purchase. also, so you too can make some smart decisions and buy clothing that fits your lifestyle.

Well that's all for now. If you have any questions, comments or concerns involving the blog--or fashion in general--please feel free to ask me at my personal blog, ochse, or simply press the "?" in the tool bar

Brad Sharp

THERAPY by 2CO:

Some clean hip hop created by my friend Ocean (also known as 2co). He runs an impressive and beautiful blog that offers a wide range of photography, music, art, and fashion you can check out here.

http://2thecolor.tumblr.com