Men's Huarache Sandals

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Ethno American is a major theme in my wardrobe, so major that I will discuss it in an upcoming post. This one, however, puts the spotlight on a related shoe style that I’ve been fascinated by: huarache sandals.

The term “huarache” translates into “sandal” from the pre-Columbian language P’urhepecha, which is spoken in north-west Mexico. Thus, the term “men’s huarache sandals” is redundant (I’ve used it for SEO purposes, wink wink).

Huarache + Attitude = Huarachetude!

I first discovered these Mexican sandals while living in Los Angeles in 2006. Not surprisingly, they had become popular in North America in the 1950s and ‘60s via hippies, and, therefore, is a common find in today’s California flea markets.

Forget the hippies -- it was my hipster L.A. friends, Melanie and Kim (above), that popularized the style for me. (I really shouldn’t call them hipsters; hipsters hate it when you out them.)

Sachin Bhola’s pick :)

Where: eBay

Price: $6.55

I bought my first pair from the Rose Bowl Flea Market (Pasadena, California) for less than $10. And I recently bought a second pair of men’s huarache sandals off eBay for $6.55 (pictured here). Sweet deal.

Huarache sandals were originally consumed by peasants, which meant that they needed to be produced with inexpensive material. The use of rubber from recycled car tires for the soles became popular in the 1930s as this material was robust and inexpensive.

But buyer beware: As time went buy, this style inspired many variations of the original model. If you're looking for the real deal, here’s a checklist:

- Huaraches are traditionally made from hand-woven leather.

- Stitching and weaving is done by hand.

- The soles are made from old rubber tires.

- The hand-made quality, in theory, means that no two pairs are identical.

For Summer 2010, Asos.com has released various men's huarache sandals -- fashion versions, of course. 

Shown above:

Top Row: Woven Slip On ($47.35)

Bottom Row (left to right): Hirachi Sandal ($59.18); Step Down Basket Weave Sandals ($42.27)

Can't get enough huaraches? Check out this cool blog: HuaracheBlog.wordpress.com   

Men's Combat Boots Fall 2010

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In my New York Fashion Week Fall 2010: Men’s Trend Report, I talk about “carryover” trends. As the name suggests, these trends simply refer to those the industry has seen in a previous season – say, Fall 2009 – that has reappeared this season.

Without getting into why designers do this (no, it’s not because they hit a creative wall and fell back on last year’s sketches; something tells me sales, retail and forecasting has much to do with it), it’s important to point out the benefit to the consumer: saving your money.

Why spend money when you’ve already made the investment? And when it comes to men’s combat boots, we’re talking low-risk investment. The term “perennial” here doesn’t even do it justice. From the first boots worn by the foot soldiers of the Roman legions to modern-day subcultures, it’s safe to say this style is enduring. Now that’s some serious ROI.

With that in mind, here’s a roundup of men’s combat boots for Fall 2010 that you can buy now – and carryover for years to come.
xxxxxx

Sachin Bhola's Pick :)

Brand: Topman

Name: Black High Leg Boots
Price: $150

There's only one Topman store in North America (it's in Soho, New York). What's up with that? I bought these during Fashion Week. These are great if you have skinny legs because they don't leave any opening around the calf when laced up. 

Brand: Browning Arms Co.

Where: eBay

Condition: Vintage, 1960s

Price: $99

Fashion aside, men's combat boots were designed for soldiers during, well, combat. Because they're designed to withstand rugged environments, many "regular" guys make this their footwear of choice during the fall and winter because of the water-resistant, cold-weather-resistant properties.

And these guys don't turn to the Topmans of of the world; they often shop at army surplus stores or eBay. You can find vintage models that have stood the test of time, often for much, much cheaper prices.

During Montreal Fashion Week Fall 2010, I worked on the production of the Barila show. The stylist, Christina Louiso, borrowed men's combat boots from an army surplus store to create the looks. Though typically worn on men, this was an excellent choice for this women's collection. Well done, Christina!    

For the boot history nerds: Each soldier of the New Model Army was issued three pairs. The soldiers were required to rotate them after every march for even wear. We could learn from them.

Before lace-ups, combat boots were often designed with buckles. It's not my thing, but wearing a buckled version would make for an interesting twist on the models we see today.

Brand: H by Hudson
Name: Angus Brogue Boot
Price: $203

Speaking of a twist, who said men's combat boots for Fall 2010 had to be black? This color speaks for itself. The broguing also adds visual interest. Look at them: You can tell these are going to age nicely :)

Brand: Whyred

Name: Luc
Price: $270

I'm loving the canvas upper on these ones. Like everything in menswear, evolution comes through the details. Click on the brand link for more photos. This pair from Whyred is reminiscent of Hedi Slimane for Dior Homme. Nothing wrong with the withered-15-yeard-old-anticonformist-Euro look.
  

Here are some more men's combat boots for Fall 2010 that I like. Left to right: Common Projects, Expedition Boots ($558); Frye Boots, Rogan Tall Lace Up ($258); Aldo, Wile ($140).

New York Fashion Week Fall 2010: Men's Trend Report

Please note that my blog has moved. Check out the upgrade at: http://www.sachinbhola.com/blog - Sachin Bhola





Written for AskMen.com, click here for the full article (with images)
Written by Sachin Bhola

Remember when men ardently awaited New York Fashion Week -- a time when newsstands experienced the onslaught of guys fighting over the latest copy of a fashion magazine and who had spent the last week forecasting future trends rather than forecasting stock prices? Neither do we.

Men don't relate to fashion with the same zeal as they do the Super Bowl, so attempting to glorify fashion week would be as convincing as Tiger Woods' statement tomorrow morning.

So, why should you care that, say, tweed is a major fabric for Fall 2010? Well, for starters, it's moisture resistant and durable -- something we look for in clothing. Check. A tweed blazer can easily be worn with gray flat-front trousers for the conservative; it can be fused with resin leather sleeves as seen on the jackets at Yigal Azrouel for a cool streetwear look; and it will be available at your local mass retailer next fall. Versatile, accessible and affordable? Check. We think these are pretty good reasons to care.

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010 wraps up today and, after a week of countless shows, live tweeting, partying, and throw in a snow storm for good measure, AM is here to break down the trends you should look out for later this year.

Combat Boots: Fall 2010 Trend

Trend Report: Fall/Winter 2008

Key Color: Gray

December 21, 2008 – Fall/Winter’s extended forecast calls for shades of gray. Designers presented diverse collections proving that this color has much more range than we thought. The mood was tailored and polished across ready-to-wear from formal suiting to eveningwear, as an alternative to banal black.

Key colors include vapor, silver, gray mix, sky scraper, and iron. Key color schemes include monochromatic and analogous, while plain textiles were accented by jacquards. While most directional for the commercial market, watch for its growing importance in menswear.

Photos: Dolce & Gabbana; Calvin Klein