Topman Yorkdale, are the masses ready?

A friend of mine called me yesterday to tell me that Topman has come to Toronto! More specifically, Yorkdale Mall. I haven't been there yet but I'm planning to go in a couple of hours and I can't wait. The cold season is just around the corner so we all need to prepare.
I discovered Topman last year during a visit to Manhattan and I was blown away by the styles they had. It reminded me a lot of the clothing that comes out of Korea. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, a bit bolder and daring, I recommend you check it out. Hopefully they haven't watered down their product for us Canadians though. Either way, I guarantee you that you wont be disappointed.

I love my busted ass Chucks.

I really do.
My chucks are worn. My chucks are beat up. My chucks have seen better days. But these are my chucks. My chucks have character, my chucks have soul, and my chucks have stories to tell.
They have been to top of the Eiffel Tower. They have walked the streets of La Ramblas without missing a beat.  They have skipped along the ancient ball court of Chichen Itza. They have trekked 1.1 mile across the Brooklyn Bridge. They have danced for 3 days and 3 nights straight at the Coachella Valley music festival in Indio, California. They have stood in line for 20 mins, waiting to get the best smoked meat sandwich in the world at Schwartz in Montreal. They have spent countless hours wandering and getting lost in the streets of Toronto. And that, is just the tip of the iceberg.
The time to let them go is coming near and I'm having a hard time dealing with that.

GORGEOUS

I'm a terrible person. I know. Commitment has always been one of my crux's. Whether it be with women, working, or blogging, I can never commit. I am human. I am a machine. I might have A.D.D. I might just not care enough. I don't know.
I'm not sure how long this will last, but I will be making a conscience effort to start posting again because something wonderful happened to me. I can't quite explain it just yet. However, I will say that I have been inspired to create. Pure inspiration. My friend and I refer to it as "the creative mode". The creative mode is a state that must be tapped into before it passes. Like a tide, creativity ebbs and flows. Therefore I will be writing as much as possible until the feeling passes. I want to create things. Wonderful things.

"If you can't live, you dying."

-Raekwon

How many of us are alive? What does it mean to feel life?

I was standing at the edge of an escarpment. As I peered down from the precipice, I could see it all. The country side, the rural roads, the coniferous trees. I felt something creep over my body. A tingling sensation. Like a million little ants crawling over me or the aftermath of a meth binge. Looking up into the sky, vultures circled. That feeling, I can only describe as being alive. To me, that is life.

The Big Wreck/Thornley and A Note On Hipsters

If I wasn't so drunk  I'd probably attempt to take a better picture...

I saw The Big Wreck @ The Sound Academy on the weekend. The opening act (Toronto's own Ko Kapches) really set the bar in my opinion. It was my first time hearing him and I became an instant fan. Loved his music, very passionate and real. I'd like to thank dimples for telling me who he is. And I'd also like to thank her for keeping me company for most of the night ;) His set put me in that head bobbin' mood! The night started off early thanks to his music, I'm sure everyone else at the venue felt the same way too. Definitely co-signing him (no pun intended). Check after the jump for a link to his music. Once Ko finished up, it was time for the main attraction...The Big Wreck! Let me tell you, the music was deafening, the songs were on point and the solo's left me in a stupor. It was everything a great rock concert should be! They played all the hits (and my favourite, "The Oaf") as well as an insane encore which included a cover of Pink Floyd's "The Wall".
I woke up the next morning without a voice and thankfully, without a hangover (shout outs to Pho Do Thi for saving my life on weekly basis).

Now, I was going to rant about all the sheeple *cough*hipsters*cough at the concert on the weekend...but, I'm feeling good right now, sipping on some hot cocoa and listening to some Ko. I don't want to ruin a perfect winter morning with a venomous tirade. All I'm going to say is, at one point in time, plaid was my favourite colour (yes, thats how much I loved it - I considered it a colour and not a pattern). My love for plaid developed after hearing Biggie mention it in Juicy, "The red and black lumberjack, with the hat to match". I remember thinking to myself, "Wow, my favourite rapper and I have something in common, we both have the red and black lumberjacks!" As juvenile as it sounds, it's true. I must of been like 10 years old but it stuck with me for quite some time. But god damn....you hipsters killed it for me. You killed a part of my childhood.
I will admit though, for every 10 plaid wearing skinny jean hipster there's at least 1 with style. That is all. End of rant.

Eye Candy: Girls with Side Braids ♥

This is kind of an odd post though. I know it says Eye Candy...but there's no cleavage or booties, sorry! I saw a girl the other day and she had her hair in a side braid.  There was something quietly confident and sexy about her. It was also refreshing to see something a bit different. With all these new trends and styles bombarding the masses we sometimes forget how beautiful the simpler things are. Enjoy :)

Freshest Fade in Mississauga: GQ Hair Studio

You can't beat a fresh haircut. It speaks volumes. Essentially, having a fresh cut translates into being a well groomed person. A vibe you should definitely look to give off. My personal haircut of choice is the fade. Number 3 on the top and 0 at the bottom. I've had several different hairstyles in the past but I always gravitate back to this time-tested classic. It suits my head shape, it's very easy to maintain, it's a staple of  hip hop culture and most importantly, women love it! :)
Now, I've been to a few different barber shops and salons in my time and hands down, the best haircut in Mississauga can be found at GQ Hair Studio. I've been to the Trinabago's, Nappy's, Donato's and even *gasps* First Choice's but nothing quite compares. I'm not saying those places are horrible, but if you're looking for a new barber or you're looking to get your first fade, GQ is a great place to start. Here's why...

1. They know how to cut hair! Everyone there is skilled at what they do and have a passion for cutting hair. On top of that, they're cool dudes.
2. They speak ENGLISH! No offense to any Jamaican/Caribbean barber shops out there but I have no clue what you're saying. I can try and front like I understand patois but I can't. I wish I could speak it though...so damn cool! Conversation and communication are key anywhere you go. Whether it's giving directions on how you want your haircut or complaining about your girlfriend's ridiculous demands, conversation in the barbershop is conducive to a great haircut experience.
3. Atmosphere: As mentioned above, there's always some sort of conversation going around. They also play some crazy tunes (house, hip hop, top 40 mashups). And you can wait around in comfort - leather couches and a flat screen (playing jersey shore or xbox 360).

Definitely check it out! You will not regret it. And I know I'll get asked but no, they did not put me up to this. The reason I dedicated a post to GQ Hair Studio is because it's a great barber shop in Mississauga. I've recommended it to a lot of friends and they're regulars too now.

Everybody Loves Vintage Pt. 2

Here are a few pieces (gems :)) I've found during my thrift store excursions.I'll post some of the accessories I've found as well....eventually.

Found this at the Art of Re-Use sale in Feb

Not too shabby for $19

One of my favourite purchases. I cant wait for Fall to come around again so I can rock my denim jacket!

Great way to add an extra layer, and look hella cool in the process. Definitely going to swap out the blue shirt for a blue denim shirt when I get one. Denim galore! 

Think I picked this up for $9 or $10

My treasure :)

Bought it because I liked the buttons. I mentioned in another post, girls pay attention to detail. They  love my buttons haha

Keep it slick and clean, buy yourself a pea coat. I don't think I can ever go back to those bulky ski jackets. Unless I'm going skiing of course. Wonder if people ski in pea coats though...hmmm