Attention bearded gents of Brooklyn: the days of schlepping to Manhattan for a true barbershop experience are over. Last month, Sam Buffa, co-owner of Manhattan’s F.S.C. Barber, opened the Barber & Supply Flagship in Brooklyn to offer discerning dudes of Kings County a standard cut/shave (and then some…) that’s fuss-free, high on quality and low on pretension.
Truly a flagship, the 3,000-square-foot space—a former garage—was transformed to create a modern, airy take on the time-honored tradition of a communal barber experience. Drop ceilings were removed to expose original beams and a vaulted skylight was added to create a sky-high vibe with lots of natural light. The 1,300-square-foot barbershop area showcases ultra sleek Belmont barber chairs from the '60s. A massive 16-foot Grand Central’esque bench is anchored in the center so fellows can hang out, chat and chill like a crew. The walnut flooring warms the space just enough to curb that “I’m in a cold garage” feeling.
The front of the shop is used as an apothecary that boasts a well-curated collection of fancy grooming tools, as well as products. Hard Water Pomade by Baxter, Alder’s Dry Shampoo and Sage Styling Cream by Malin+Goetz are just a few items displayed on antique glass shelves. Don’t forget to grab a Kent Folding Pocket Comb for on-the-go grooming. Buffa plans to hold rotating pop-up shop collaborations with quality brands to keep it fresh. To check out a list of services or score products, visit Barber & Supply at fscbarber.com.
Barber & Supply, 101 North 8th Street, Brooklyn. Hours: Monday-Friday, 12 pm–8pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 10am–6 pm; (718-522-4959)
Confessionals are inherently uncomfortable spaces. The very purpose of their existence, to allow parishoners to privately unload their transgressions to a member of the clergy—and God—is a tense and awkward premise. While modern places of worship have brighter and more inviting spaces to confess, the confessionals photographer S. Billie Mandle shot for her "Reconciliation" series come from classic church design: dark and intimidating spaces with dramatic light pouring through privacy screens. [via Wired]
With warm weather approaching and beach getaways creeping up on the calendar, some of us are experiencing anxiety. The itty bitty string bikini isn’t for everyone or every occasion—and finding a flattering swimsuit with style isn’t as easy as it sounds. So when we came across Beth Richards recently, we found ourselves excited about swimwear in a whole new way.
The Beth Richards Spring/Summer 2013 collection puts a modern twist on classic and vintage silhouettes, where iconic patterns like florals or exaggerated crosses entertain monochromatic palettes. Versions of high wasted two-pieces are ideal for flattering curves, and come with easy post-water options in crop-topped cover-ups. Richards has a way of expressing a cohesive vision for the female form, allowing the contemporary woman a chance to frolic in the sun with a generous reserve of elegance. We can imagine a Bardot or a Hepburn rocking one of these in Antibes. Bonus: Her one-piece swimsuits, made-in-Canada, double as sleek bodysuits.
Visit Beth Richards online for a list of stockists.
For the first music video from his upcoming metal album, Chinese artist Ai Weiwei recreated scenes from his 81-day imprisonment in 2011 on a set modeled after his actual jail cell. The video depicts some humiliating moments from his imprisonment, such as a forced shower in front of guards accompanied by a head shaving, as well as a bizarre drag sequence. Australian cinematographer Chrisopher Doyle shot the nightmarish clip, which has already been banned in China, as has the search term "Ai Weiwei." [via BBC]
Only a French menswear label, er "collective," could get away with the name Brooklyn We Go Hard, if it is possible to get away with at all. Now, BWGH, which calls itself a collective of "members" on its blog, has a new Paris shop at Les Docks, Cité de la Mode et du Design, a minimal and sleek pop-up inspired by Yves Klein that will be selling BWGH through September.
Visit BWGH online to see its latest collection.
