Random Observations #009
Techno marching band, Birkenstock sizing, kitchen knife, and two fall/winter collections.
There are so many things I wish I could write about one day. In the Random Observations series, I attempt to put together my random thoughts and observations on clothing and related subjects in a shorter, more approachable format. This is one way for me to capture thoughts before they sink into oblivion. If you find any of the subjects helpful or questionable, do not hesitate to share your feedback in the comments below the article — I’d be happy to expand.
In the ninth episode of Random Observations, I recommend a live performance of a techno marching band, share a tip regarding the Birkenstock sizing, suggest a kitchen knife, and reflect on the latest collections from two New York-based brands.
Let’s get it!
Meute
This past Friday, I went to the Meute live show. Still under the influence, I urge you to check whether they are playing in your area because the band’s live performance is out of this world. Honestly, I already want to go see them again.
A techno marching band, as Meute describes themselves, is eleven drummers and horn players from Hamburg who fulfill the job of a DJ with their acoustic instruments. Their songs might begin like brass orchestra tracks but quickly shift into what sounds like electronic dance music. The transition happens so smoothly that you have to pinch yourself to believe there are no electronic tools involved.
I discovered Meute by accident back in 2019. I was in Paris and I went to see a friend of a friend to grab something quickly. I didn’t know her so I thought I’d just pop in real quick. I can’t be sure five years later but I think it was close to Espace Niemeyer. Anyway, she invited me into what happened to be a tiny studio with stacks of dirty dishes all over the place and two French men straight out of La Haine. I speak very little French but I managed to tell them I went to Les Arcades du Lac, a utopian suburban housing project, on that day which bought me just enough recognition to be invited for a beer on a tiny couch in front of a TV. I didn’t feel like I had much choice so I stayed for a while as we drank beer and watched music videos on YouTube. It was those folks who introduced me to the two live performances that have been my favorites ever since. One of the two was by Meute, a remix of Flume’s You & Me played live in the streets of Berlin. The video has received over 69M views on YouTube:
Six years Meute still performs in their signature redcoats, a dubious style move that proves that it’s not clothes that make the man but vice versa. I am not on that level of confidence yet so I dressed for the occasion, which in this case was an outdoor summer festival:
Birkenstock Sizing Tip
I’ve already confessed to indulging in the idea of luxury clogs. Fortunately, I have resisted it so far only sticking to the OG Birkenstock Boston, of which I have three pairs, including the one in the photo above. Technically, it’s called Tokyo but the only difference from Boston is the back strap. Even though I purchased them in-store the fit felt a bit off. Trying different sizes didn’t help. Plus, by that time, I already had a pair of Bostons that fit like a glove. So I bought the pair anyway.
It wasn’t until later that I learned that Birkenstock may come in two widths: regular and narrow. In my case, they feel radically different. The narrow width sits like it was custom-built for my feet accommodating their anatomical shape. The regular one fits just like any other shoe, lacking Birkenstock’s hallmark orthopedic comfort.
Web stores often don’t mention that Birkenstocks come in two widths. So, next time you shop for Birks, pay attention to the foot printed on the insole: the filled foot indicates the narrow fit, while the outlined foot goes for the regular one.
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Tomato Knife
I hate to say this but the summer has almost come to an end. Fortunately, we will still have a fresh harvest to enjoy in the coming months. Including heirloom tomatoes, the unlikely style trend of the summer. Yep, apparently it’s 2k24 and vegetables can go viral too.
Anyway, if you enjoy eating tomatoes you would probably appreciate this €5.90 tomato knife by Victorinox. Seriously, I’ve been cutting my tomatoes with this bad boy for three years now, and it utterly outrivals the competition. Gosh, even the Japanese-made Kasumi knives can’t compete when it comes to tomatoes. So please, I encourage you to pay respect to those heirlooms and get them the proper knife.
Noah Fall/Winter 2024
Noah is an elevated streetwear brand founded by the former creative director of Supreme and the acting creative director of J.Crew Brendon Babenzien. I once wrote about Noah’s thorny path to accept its connection to skateboarding. This time I would like to take a moment to appreciate the brand’s return to the Ivy style.
Noah has never been an Ivy brand. Yet, in their attempt to appeal to grown-up former skaters, at some point, they naturally arrived at the style. My favorite Ivy-themed Noah collection is from fall/winter 2018. Although led by counter-culture quotes from Kurt Cobain and George Orwell, the lookbook was full of preppy essentials, including rugby shirts, corduroy suits, mismatched tweeds, canvas tote bags, etc. Noah had playfully executed the style for a few years before switching to British subcultures. Although undeniably rich, their aesthetics felt alien when exercised by the New York brand. Fortunately, with its latest collection, Noah is back to what it does best — laid-back East Coast prep (somewhat similar in vibe to what Gant Rugger did 15 years ago).
I am particularly excited to see the return of collaboration with Barbour. Two years ago, Noah announced that they would be closing the partnership with the release of colorful 60/40 cloth Bedale jackets. I can’t explain how the quintessential British jacket executed in the quintessential American fabric makes complete sense but it’s one of my favorite Barbour collaborations ever. So I was really disappointed when Noah parted ways with Barbour (probably in favor of another traditional British coat brand Lavenham).
But with the latest collection, we can clearly see that Noah and Barbour are back at it again, potentially stronger than ever before. I noticed jackets done in at least four different fabrics: orange Casentino wool, black Casentino wool, speckled tweed, and moss-green boiled wool. Although none of the brands have officially revealed the new collaboration yet, I already have my eyes on the latter.
Small ask: If you find this article exciting or helpful, please share it with your friends, leave a comment on the blog, or simply hit a ❤️ — means a lot to me. Thank you!
Aimé Leon Dore Fall/Winter 2024
Last year, I made a proper commenting on another New York brand’s collection. Honestly, by now, I don’t think I can tell much difference from one Aimé Leon Dore lookbook to another. They all are decently styled, yet all over the place. It’s too early to claim but I can’t get rid of the thought that Aimé Leon Dore is the new Ralph Lauren: both are undeniably cool but I’d rather look elsewhere. The sold-out paneled leather jacket though.
Mystery Links
That’s a wrap for the ninth issue of Random Observations, which feels like the most random to date! Let me know how you feel about the format in the comments section on the blog and what you would like me to cover next time. Seriously, any feedback helps!