this is fyf

A product highlighting our increasingly lustful relationship to...well, products.

Just the other night a friend was saying how big a moment phone sex had been for him in his life (He started calling at 14.). A reminder how quickly technology changes on the one hand (my friend is not old, by any means.) and the perfect segue to the topic of this post, iPhone protection, on the other.

See, Phonesex is a new line of iPhone protective covers with the lofty goal of exposing and commenting on "the fetishization of product in today's society" (sounds like something I could have written!?), while also producing a quality product that's as cool-looking as it is functional.

Models include "Hard-on" (above), "Chastity Belt" and "Stud-ley" and serve to drive home the point that we're engaged emotionally with these products as much as we are physically.

Not completely sold on the products themselves, but LOVE the concept!

Via Thrillist

Yohji Yamamoto Y-3 is in sample sale mode.

Running today through Sunday, get you Y-3 Adidas gear at 80 per cent off.  610 Broadway (Entrance is on Houston), Third Floor.

Via The Choosy Beggar

Where's the best place to hide something?

In plain sight!

This post is in no way related to the last post about exorbitant prices that have little relationship to a thing's actual value as a chess set where the pieces are all sex toys is worth every penny it might cost! (Or in this instance, $10,000.)

Love the careful copy: "This set was designed and crafted for the purpose of playing chess." Yes. Knight takes the Queen indeed!

Bushwick has a sample sale: Jonathan Adler!

The Jonathan Adler sample sale is going on this weekend.  (Confession:  My bathroom is a very Adler zone.)  Furniture, rugs, lighting and tons of tschtkes will be up to 70 per cent off Friday (10-7), Saturday (10-5), and Sunday (10-2) deep in the heart of Bushwick:  513 Irving Avenue, between Halsey and Eldert Street.

Steven Alan.  Sample Sale.  Now.

Speaking of focus...where's yours while watching this video?

We're getting a reputation with all these Undergear posts, but there's something simultaneously titillating (er...dicknotizing?) and repugnant about the brand's presentation that creates a whole (not hole) that's fascinating for a wide variety of reasons.

Some thoughts while watching this video:

• There are clear pros (both at walking and stealing/holding the spotlight) and amateurs in this line up.

• It's as fun (maybe more so?) watching the audience as it is the models.

• Expert(?) lighting, again, both spotlights and obscures the object of everyone's my focus when we get down to briefs and smaller.

• I've never noticed that much...er, movement in a show before, but I must have seen other shows with models wearing jocks, briefs and thongs or similar. Maybe it's the "construction" of the garment that gives the model's "walk" such "life"...

• My favorite - Ben - looks like he just adjusted before taking his final turn. He has been appealingly bashful every time he's appeared.

• Last thought: Mr. Guardino (Shaved head. Next to last in the final walk.) is having his moment, damn it!

Photo of Undergear model Christopher Fawcett that gives quite a bit more..."information", via (I am not - in any way - a fan, but just happened to run across this picture yesterday. [demur, demur])

Margiela and Commes de Garçons are in your sample sale weekend!

This weekend there is shopping to be done.  

• Maybe the Martin Margiela sale (which also has DSquared and Viktor and Rolf) at 220 West Nineteenth Street, Eleventh Floor today from ten to seven and tomorrow from noon to five will be your ticket.  
• Or say a prayer at the Croatian Church (504 West 41st Steet (between Tenth and Eleventh)) for some Comme des Garçons today through Monday.

What you missed a few Fridays ago at the Undergear event at District 36...

...can be summed up thusly:

My favorite - there on the far left - does not appear in any of the underwear runway shots.

There's some others who do (below), but who cares if it's not him? 

Are you a men's size zero?  Then make your way to the Oak sample sale this weekend (208 North Eigth Street in Williamsburg).  (Just kidding about the sizes, but sort of not as Oak usually features rather waifish fellows.)

CB: I Hate Perfume is having a sale this weekend!  25 per cent off of the ready to wear scents at the studio in Williamsburg.  Detail here.

R.I.P. Old School Record Stores

This coming Saturday is "Record Store Day" so a collection of photos of closed music shops from across the country was posted at Buzzfeed, including some local shops.  The collection includes several of the old big box music shops like Virgin and Tower (where the mezzanine was so cruisey back in the day).  The next wave may very well be video shops.  My local Blockbuster is closing long after the majority of the nearby independents shut down.  Maybe pay a visit today to Other Music or even Kim's (where I used to get porn tapes when it was on Avenue A).

Chain stores win.

By being everpresent on the streets, the names of chain stores are constantly top of mind, not only in New York, but in Paris.  In a recent interview at a book fair a French politician was asked of his favorite book.  Instead of replying with Voltaire's novel, "Zadig", the politician instead answered "Zadig et Voltaire" the name of a fashion chain there (and here too, actually).  In ribbing the politician, others have now cited books like "The World According to Gap" and authors like "Victor Hugo Boss" as possible other favorites.

Borders new children's books are sure to improve their business!

Odin.

Sample Sale.

Now.

There have been a few stories lately about the huge effort Walmart is making to secure locations in New York.  If such a thing bothers you, perhaps you could go to Walmart Free NYC.

Speaking of "bad" fashion...

When being honest with ourselves, we fully acknowledge we are snobs at times here at FYF. We also know, however, that if you can't laugh at yourself, you'll end up a miserable sod. In that spirit then, we are "reporting" there is a contest, sponsored by Undergear (that kitschy mail order men's underwear purveyor that was such a part of my Alabaman youth), in which you can win $500 towards a "Spring" "wardrobe".

Enter here and you may get the opportunity to select your choice of the company's briefs, bikinis, thongs, shape enhancers and other intimates including the "Male Power Sheer Camo Sock" (not for your foot), the "Good Devil Preview Jockstrap" and the "Priapewear GBGB Ballzy Jockstrap". Reading between the pixels, the Undergear site can also provide a fascinating look at the typical arc of a male model's career, as well as a partial history of go-go dancers here in New York.

Final word on the contest: We do not - in any way - receive a "promotional consideration" fee for this post. The only payment we request is a promise from you, should you win, that you'll share your purchases with us via photos of you modeling them. [NOTE: We also accept submissions from non-contest winners!]

Good luck!

More FYF (bad) Fashion.

J. Press warehouse sale begins today.

J. Press isn't for everyone.  Their cuts follow the British/Ivy traditions which...aren't for everyone.  A few pieces though can go a long way to diversify your wardrobe.  Perhaps a sport coat or just a great bow tie is a good place to start.  Take a moment to check out the J. Press sale running today and tomorrow at Onward Kashiyama, 530 Seventh Avenue, Twenty-ninth Floor from 11 to 6.

Hermés sample sale starts today.

Yay!  You'll find dress clothing and accessories marked extremely low (for Hermés).  Lines will be insane, but maybe worth it?  Go to Soiffer Haskin, 317 West Thirty-third Street (between Eighth and Ninth) from 9 to 6 today until Saturday, and then on Sunday in the afternoon.

Do you still go to the Barney's Warehouse Sale?

If you're going to go, tomorrow is the day.  The stock from the Los Angeles sale has come to New York, and final markdowns happen tomorrow.  But is it still worth it?  From a shopping perspective, most of the goods remaining are very handled.  Anything casual has been tried on by thirteen fellows already, one of whom probably had bedbugs.  The suits and coats can be a draw, but they have been increasingly paternal over the years.  That leaves shoes, dress shirts, ties, and home accessories.  All of which can be hit or miss.  (Oh, and from a cruising perspective, this former pickup joint isn't the fun place it was once upon a time.)  

Late-breaking sample sale news: Ralph Lauren Home

Need more plaid in your furniture, lighting, bedding, bath, tabletop, gifts, and candles?  Ralph Lauren has overstock, backstock, discontinued, floor samples, props, and more Saturday through Monday evening at 110 West Nineteenth Street (Soffer-Haskin).  And just kidding about the plaid, some of it is paisley and even solid.  Happy shopping!