May 24, 2013 world of men's style / fashion / grooming RSS
“slippers”
04/08/13
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Chambray’s Dirty Secret, Bastian Hangs with Trinidad James and Details Loves Sherry

Tuxedo slippers

Menswear, Science: Tweed in the City sets a few samples of chambray aflame in an attempt to get to the bottom of the poly-blend conspiracy. This could go all the way to the top.

Cats and Dogs: While felines might rule the Internet era, Slate reminds us that canines reign in print.

Straight Flexin’: In what has undoubtedly resulted in the photo that will break the #menswear Internet this week, Michael Bastian and Trinidad James profess their shared love for tuxedo slippers.

Oh, Sherry: Details makes the case for giving Sherry a second chance. (The drink.)

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02/25/13
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What's What

Eddie Redmayne’s Tuxedo Slippers and More Oscar Handsomeness

Eddie Redmayne

We spent the better part of last week ruminating on the state of black tie on the red carpet (it’s as strong as ever) in the lead-up to last night’s Oscars.

And we were hoping to see some of our handiwork out on the red carpet. We were not disappointed—and, aside from Daniel Day-Lewis’s pitch-perfect getup (right down to the tipped pocket square we suggested here) our proudest moment was when newcomer Eddie Redmayne traipsed in wearing velvet tuxedo slippers (another one of our suggestions).

We’ve been tracking Redmayne’s red-carpet ascension closely this awards season, and this move solidifies his bid as Red Carpet Rookie of the Year. (The rest of his kit was also impeccable, as you can see.) But it was an undeniably handsome night all around, so we couldn’t let the chance to point out a few more of our favorites go by.

Another look at the real winners of last night’s tuxedo games.»
 

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02/19/13
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What's What

Beyond the Tux: Evaluating the Tuxedo Slipper

Black Tie header

With the triumphant return of black tie to red carpets everywhere over the past few awards seasons, we’re especially looking forward to the upcoming Oscars. But with the parades of grosgrain on each red carpet ever-growing, it begs the question: what makes one tuxedo different from—or better than—another? So this week we’ll be dissecting the few subtle nuances to keep an eye out for on Sunday—and to consider incorporating into your own formalwear routine.

First up: the tuxedo slipper. It’s the traditional footwear of the black-tie trads, and if you’re adventurous enough to forgo the ubiquitous patent leather lace-ups, we’ve got a few ideas for you:

Evaluating the many forms of the tuxedo slipper.»
 

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12/12/12
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The Code

Kempt’s Guide to the Menswear Gift Guides

No doubt your inbox and just about every menswear site you frequent has made you aware: ’tis the season to be gifting. And, therefore, receiving. (This is geared toward the latter.)

In our ongoing campaign to help you win the holidays, we had our team of menswear research fellows cull every single gift guide on the Internet, pull out all of the best menswear and lay it all out in one handy be-all, end-all guide.

Put all of this on your holiday wish list, if it isn’t already. Or just conspicuously leave this guide open on as many browsers as possible.

Onward, to the bounty of handsomeness that awaits, in Kempt’s Guide to the Menswear Gift Guides.»
 

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11/19/12
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LinkOut

Candice Swanepoel Still Won’t Admit She’s Lost

Candice Swanepoelvia Fashion Gone Rogue

Lovebirds: Bellerose is back with more of the same awkward ornithological lookbooking. [Esquire]

Velvet Fever: GQ spends a moment with Justin Bieber to dissect his leather-tank-topped, drop-crotched and studded-slippered getup at the AMAs. [GQ]

Gangsta Chap: Leave it to Put This On to dig up this video of a rapping dandy. [PTO]

Stone Cold: The blokes at Esky across the pond have got a sneak peek at some never-been-seen Rolling Stones photos from when they bunked up at that French villa. [Esquire UK]

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08/28/12
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Object

The GTH House Slippers

Wrapping your feet in velvet can be, well, a slippery slope. (But it’s something your fall-to-winter scampering requires.)

Luckily, the clever trads over at Stubbs & Wootton have just unveiled their new fall line of evening slippers—with a few irreverent twists, per usual. As a rule of thumb, if you’re going to venture any further than the standard black-velvet hard bottoms, you’d do well to go with something that evokes the smoky den of a retired British admiral, not a neo-apocalyptic runway show. It’s not that you can’t have a little fun with them, though—after all, this is one of the few affectations that may never see the light of day—which is why we’re particularly fond of this pair that looks to be a standard monogrammed set, until you read them together. (We’ll let you sound it out.)

Also great for fans of The Odd Couple.

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07/12/12
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Labeled

Slipping into Summer

The summer is no excuse to go barefoot. (But it is an excuse to get as close to it as possible with your footwear.)

This new line of linen, cotton and silk slippers from SVZ is exactly what you need to keep it light on your toes. They’re handmade to order in Italy and have a soft grippy bottom—we would recommend these for puttering around on a Sunday afternoon, not hitting the town. They’ll especially come in handy tucked into your weekender—ready to sub in for those flimsy hotel slippers or flip-flops if you find yourself outside of a few hundred feet radius of water.

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04/20/12
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Toni Garrn Can See Her House From Up Here

Toni Garrnvia Fashion Copious

Ghostface for the Block: The NY Times reports that a Hollywood Squares remake is in the works—trading over-the-hill celebrities for aging rappers. This is going to be amazing. [The NY Times]

Statesman of Style: Winston Churchill was rocking embroidered slippers since before you were born, young man. [The Paris Review]

A Call from Cooperstown: The Baseball Hall of Fame offers 49-year-old pitcher Jamie Moyer an internship. Hilarity ensues. [MLB.com]

Come, Come, Mr. Bond: The Telegraph rounds up the most iconic hotels that 007 has stayed in. Start packing your bags. [The Telegraph]

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02/28/12
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Big Picture

The Greatest Slippers We’ve Ever Seen

Embroidered slippers have been gaining traction for a few seasons now, but we may have found our favorite pair, a custom job from legendary Australian tailor P. Johnson. In a just world, someone would FedEx a pair of these to Grandmaster Flash.

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02/15/12
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Sports Illustrated Always Finds the Nicest Swimsuits

Victoria Germynvia Sports Illustrated

Louder Than a Ton: Tommy Ton takes on New York Fashion Week, with predictably sharp results. [GQ]

Kilim Rising: Perhaps it’s time for you to buy a pair of slippers that look like a carpet. [Die, Workwear]

V Is for Victory: Some push-pull on the value of Valentine’s Day. We still blame the roses. [The Atlantic Wire]

Keep It Simple: In the background of Fashion Week, Dana Lee continues to kill it. [The OEN]

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02/03/12
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Dept. of Corrections

The Rise and Fall of the Men’s Slipper

Sometimes the fashion world ruins things.

It happened to Chuck Taylors. It happened to the espadrille. And now, it’s happening to the slipper.

The tragic rise and fall of the men’s slipper»

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10/11/11
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Object

The Raw Slipper

Here’s a low-key alternative for those who aren’t ready for the full house shoe. These slippers come from Sweden’s Pia Wallén, and instead of suede and velvet, they sub in every industrial designer’s favorite material: raw felt.

We won’t sugarcoat it; they’re just a swath of wool glued to a patch of rubber. But if it’s just for puttering between your bed and the shower, that might be all you need. The gray is the Dieter Rams favorite (plus, it’ll match your MacBook), but there are also red and white versions if you feel like something flashier. If it’s still not flashy enough… there’s always the velvet slipper.

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09/19/11
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Good Idea

The House Shoe

We love fall, but it has a few drawbacks. For instance, it may be too chilly to spend Sunday afternoon barefoot. It’s a shame…but nothing a well-chosen slipper can’t solve.

Specifically, the most decadent piece of footwear known to man: the house shoe. If you’re indulgent enough to pick one up, it’s likely to be the most comfortable item you own—for the simple fact that it will never venture outside your house.

And naturally, we’ve got a few favorites.

Our three favorite house shoes…»
 

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09/14/11
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Object

Upgrading the Hotel Slipper

Portegna Slippers

Here’s a new secret weapon for your weekender bag: a pair of leather slippers. This pair comes from Portegna—a Spanish leather company more accustomed to handbags and card holders—with a little design help from Monocle. It’s designed to sub in for the flimsy hotel slippers you usually find alongside your terrycloth bathrobe. But instead of cotton and cardboard, these are glove-soft leather—and the kind of thing you might actually want to wear around the house.

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06/24/11
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Good Idea

The Rules of the Slipper

Thurlow

To add our two cents to the furious slipper debate currently raging through the blogoverse, we’d like to direct your attention to these deerskin mocs from Thurlow.

On the face of them, they don’t have a lot in common with the Hefner-esque velvet slipper they’re pondering at Esquire, except that they’re both handsome, well-made items that don’t quite qualify as shoes.

It’s as if you’re putting extremely beautiful bags around your feet. In the comfort of your own home—or perhaps your own yard—you’re free to indulge your eccentricity. But once you step into the social world, people might begin to wonder why you’re not wearing any shoes.

This sounds as if we’re knocking slippers, but we’re honestly not. They’re like tank tops: not bad in and of themselves, but likely to cause bad behavior. Approach with caution.

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06/23/11
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LinkOut

An Extremely Unfurnished Room

unfurnished via The Citrus Report

The Body Shop: Jesse Thorn takes on the varieties of the human body, and reveals Alan Flusser’s deep, Randy Newman-esque antipathy for short people. [Put This On]

The Great Outdoors: Outerwear gets sharper with Nanamica’s latest batch. [A Continuous Lean]

Slip Sliding Away: Against the velvet slipper…and the half slipper that will let you squeak by. [Esquire]

The Battle of the Bulge: The story of the fugitive Whitey Bulger and a decade’s worth of close calls. [The Atlantic]

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12/10/10
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Labeled

The Evening Slipper

phineascoleslipper_crop.jpg

In the midst of our plaid-based bundling, it seems that we haven’t properly addressed our feet. To that end, we give you: the tartan evening slipper.

Paul Stuart’s Phineas Cole line, just released a new batch for the holidays, and we’re duly impressed. From solid flannels to regimental stripes to traditional tartans (our pick), they provide toasty protection from the most despicable of winter offenses, cold floors. Sure, an Italian-made leather sole might be a little bit of overkill for a shoe that’s never going to leave the house—but it’s the good kind of overkill.

And your robe will be glad to have company.

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05/25/10
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Good Idea

Slipper Culture

monocleslippers_crop.jpg

These Kyoto-inspired slippers are the latest item in Monocle’s never-ending parade of desirable goods, and they got us thinking about exactly where the slipper falls in the modern domestic arsenal. Most western eyes probably see these as a good item for Sunday mornings—possibly to be paired with a bathrobe and a homemade Bloody Mary—but to Japanese eyes, they’re a good deal more versatile. Stop by a Japanese house, and you’ll find an array of these slippers at the entrance for padding around after you’ve taken off your street shoes. If you’re looking to institute a shoe-free household—and avoid bloggy repercussions—you could do a lot worse than picking up a half-dozen of these. At the very least, they’ll be handsomer than socks.

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11/18/09
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Object

It’s Not a Good Day to be a Goose

rlslippers_crop.jpg

Ralph Lauren’s take on Americana has had a lightly ironic touch to it, but it’s been getting heavier in recent years.

Case in point: This latest pair of slippers, which tops off a handsome plaid pattern with a pair of playfully kitchy hunting figures. If it were just the gentleman with the long gun, we could take it in stride, but the sight of a Canadian Goose in mid-plummet was almost enough to make us laugh out loud. Which, for a pair of cozy Sunday slippers, is a pretty good quality to have.

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09/23/09
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Object

It’s Cold Out There

monclerboot_crop.jpg

With the threat of winter already looming, it may be time to examine your footwear options. Galoshes are fine enough and by now you’re probably familiar with a few indestructible worker boots, but you may need something else to round out your options. Something a bit…puffier.

These Moncler slippers are a direct translation of their famous bubble coats into the world of footwear. That means they’re a little better suited for indoor lounging than outdoor trekking, but provided you don’t have more to do than fetch the paper, they should hold up just about perfectly.

And if you need to do a little trekking—you can always break out the boots.

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03/05/09
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Bad Idea

Loose Threads: DIY Edition

uncut_crop.jpg

Your portfolio may be down the tubes, but we implore you not to follow it. Keep your composure when all about you are losing theirs! Remain kempt in the face of unkemptness. Retain sartorial virtue.

And do not, under any circumstances, wear slippers you’ve cut from a sheet of velco-enhanced felt.

Please.

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11/24/08
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Object

Slip Away

shipton_crop.jpg

Velvet slippers have been venturing farther and farther outdoors lately. We’ve seen them come from sneaker companies and on the heels of a MOTH, but it’s always best to go to the source. And in this case, the source is England.

Shipton & Heneage’s only retail stores are across the sea (Paris and London, to be specific), but you can get these bespoke slippers well enough through the mail…even if that means you have to get measured stateside. They’ll even throw in the extra-British touch of sewing your family seal over the toes. (Judging by the two-headed eagle, this gentleman’s a Habsburg.)

How to wear a velvet slipper»

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05/15/08
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Storefront

The Trusting Type

ingodwetrust_crop.jpg

We’re curious fellows here at Kempt, so we’re always up for a little rack-hunting.

To that end, we took a peek inside *In God We Trust*, a boutique split between New York’s SoHo and Williamsburg. Managed by designer Shana Tabor, the stores split their stock between the house label—mostly female, but with a few very tempting bags—and what Shana calls “like-minded brands.” The store and the label both project a kind of Newport bohemianism that comes off much easier than it sounds.

The trick, we suspect, is being selective.

Inside *In God We Trust*»

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Style: some people have it, and some neighborhoods really have it. To show you what we mean, we’ve partnered with Cadillac to present Style Shifters—a five-part, in-depth look at what the hippest gents in some of the country’s coolest neighborhoods are wearing now. Our intrepid photographers have roamed the streets in search of the most stylish guys around. Herewith, a few photos of what they found...

New York

Brooklyn

Williamsburg

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is home to some of the country’s best bars and coolest restaurants—and, of course, some of the best menswear shops in the world. Naturally, you’ll find more than a few stylish individuals perched outside those locations (and no, not all of them are Billyburg hipsters). See what we mean below...

On The Streets: Brooklyn

  • Drew Ledbetter Actor
    Lives: Providence, RI

    Hometown: Chattanooga, TN / Bay Area, CA

    What We Like Drew’s shoes are made by Cole Haan.
  • Drew Ledbetter Actor
    Lives: Providence, RI

    Hometown: Chattanooga, TN / Bay Area, CA

    What We Like Drew’s shoes are made by Cole Haan.
  • Justice Hampton Works for Club Monaco
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Dallas, TX

    What We Like Leave it to a Texan to know that a linen jacket is the perfect bit of outerwear to transition you from spring to summer.
  • Justice Hampton Works for Club Monaco
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Dallas, TX

    What We Like Leave it to a Texan to know that a linen jacket is the perfect bit of outerwear to transition you from spring to summer.
  • Jamie Clawson Runs a leather accessories business (valentinegoods.com)
    Lives: East Village, New York

    Hometown: Cleveland, OH

    What We Like Jamie’s shirt is called the “Expensive” shirt by Wil Fry. Ironically, it goes for about 30 bucks.
  • Jamie Clawson Runs a leather accessories business (valentinegoods.com)
    Lives: East Village, New York

    Hometown: Cleveland, OH

    What We Like Jamie’s shirt is called the “Expensive” shirt by Wil Fry. Ironically, it goes for about 30 bucks.
  • Koppel Verma Researcher at Google
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Cambridge, MA

    What We Like Turns out, the Swiss Army makes more than knives—they also made this jacket (it’s vintage).
  • Koppel Verma Researcher at Google
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Cambridge, MA

    What We Like Turns out, the Swiss Army makes more than knives—they also made this jacket (it’s vintage).
  • Chris Afzal Audio engineer
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Baltimore, MD

    What We Like If you needed any more proof that Brooks Brothers has shed its stodgy image, these shoes should do the trick.
  • Chris Afzal Audio engineer
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Baltimore, MD

    What We Like If you needed any more proof that Brooks Brothers has shed its stodgy image, these shoes should do the trick.
  • Malik Alokpovi Host for a hotel
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Born in Togo, West Africa, but lived in the South of France

    What We Like Malik’s red suede shoes came from A.P.C. Try not to step on them.
  • Malik Alokpovi Host for a hotel
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Born in Togo, West Africa, but lived in the South of France

    What We Like Malik’s red suede shoes came from A.P.C. Try not to step on them.
  • Billy Cadden Musician
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Woodstock, NY

    What We Like Billy’s worn this shirt, which he got at H&M while on tour, at every show since.
  • Billy Cadden Musician
    Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Woodstock, NY

    What We Like Billy’s worn this shirt, which he got at H&M while on tour, at every show since.
  • Sam Bowstucky Bartender
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    What We Like He’s actually on his way to a working audition for a bartending job at the Blind Barber. Good luck, Sam.
  • Sam Bowstucky Bartender
    Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    What We Like He’s actually on his way to a working audition for a bartending job at the Blind Barber. Good luck, Sam.
California

San Francisco

Mission District

Style. The Mission’s got it. Union Square’s got it. But each of them goes about having it in a different way—the Mission rocking a more bohemian coffee shop vibe, Union Square hosting some of the best higher-fashion shops (and shoppers) on the West Coast. We rounded up a few of the most stylish folks from both. Have yourself a gander below…

On The Streets: San Francisco

  • Brian Cunningham Shop clerk
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: Boston, MA

    What We Like The first rule any SF transplant learns: always bring a light coat. Brian sticks with a denim jacket from AllSaints. (Button to taste.)
  • Brian Cunningham Shop clerk
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: Boston, MA

    What We Like The first rule any SF transplant learns: always bring a light coat. Brian sticks with a denim jacket from AllSaints. (Button to taste.)
  • Erik Newton Attorney
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Diego, CA

    What We Like Erik likes to throw on an interesting sport coat with a pocket square and skip the tie—on days he’s not in the courthouse, naturally.
  • Erik Newton Attorney
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Diego, CA

    What We Like Erik likes to throw on an interesting sport coat with a pocket square and skip the tie—on days he’s not in the courthouse, naturally.
  • Jason Moo Banker
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: New York, NY

    What We Like Jason picked up his prized pocket square at his favorite tailor, tucked away in NYC’s NoHo—Michael Andrews Bespoke.
  • Jason Moo Banker
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: New York, NY

    What We Like Jason picked up his prized pocket square at his favorite tailor, tucked away in NYC’s NoHo—Michael Andrews Bespoke.
  • Presyler Galvin Bon vivant
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    What We Like A good carry-all bag is a necessity in the city—and you won’t do much better than a Goyard. Extra points for the monogram.
  • Presyler Galvin Bon vivant
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    What We Like A good carry-all bag is a necessity in the city—and you won’t do much better than a Goyard. Extra points for the monogram.
  • Randal Ruiz Design student
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Jose, CA

    What We Like Randal fashioned those elbow pads himself—ensuring he’ll never bump into the same blazer anywhere else.
  • Randal Ruiz Design student
    Lives: San Francisco, CA

    Hometown: San Jose, CA

    What We Like Randal fashioned those elbow pads himself—ensuring he’ll never bump into the same blazer anywhere else.
Florida

Miami

South Beach
June 6

Forget everything you know about Miami style. Today’s Miamian is more LeBron James than Crockett and Tubbs—as you’ll soon see in our next edition of Style Shifters…

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