Crossed Combs - retro stuff, rhythm and blues, tiki and all that jazz.

Mr Sinatra and J. Press

Back in 1968, Frank Sinatra walked into a J. Press store. Usually, a good story begins with "a man walks into a bar", but this one doesn't. It is however a good story. Follow this link to Ivy Style and read more.

Bing Crosby and his Levi's denim tuxedo

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) should already be known to you, dear reader. But did you know that Bing Crosby was a denim lover? And that he was given a denim tuxedo by Levi's? It all happened back in 1951, after Bing having problems getting a hotel room because he was dressed in denim.  Read the whole story over at One Trip Pass!

 

 

Meet the man who coined the surfing adage 'Old Guys Rule'

Don Craig has surfed since age 5. His dad, Doug, would take the family to San Onofre State Beach nearly every weekend. Hermosa Beach was then an early surf city. Acclaimed surfboard craftsmen were clustered there - Dewey Weber, Dale Velzy, Hap Jacobs, Greg Noll and Bing Copeland. The five are charter members of the Hermosa Beach Walk of Fame, founded in 2003.

"These surf icons were good friends of our family and some of my earliest mentors," Craig recalled. "Beginning at an early age, I was recruited to be a team rider for each one of them."

In 1958, he won his first contest. Dozens more trophies were to follow over 50 years.

Of his contributions to surfing, Craig is proudest of Old Guys Rule "because I did it on my own and did it from scratch."

He started the brand by accident. At San Onofre, his dad and two old chums were known as the "Three Wise Men," admired by surfers young and old.

"As a tribute … I had a buddy make some stickers with the slogan 'Old Guys Rule.' I thought it would be fun to put them on all of our cars," Craig recalled. "Soon, other guys were asking for a copy of the sticker. The owner of Dive 'N Surf wanted to buy 100 of them. Sensing a business opportunity, I trademarked the slogan."

Meet the man who coined the surfing adage 'Old Guys Rule' - Orange County Register.

Old Guys Rule t-shirts are available from Sivletto.

Dita von Teese designs for Wheels & Dollbaby

We here at Crossed Combs doesn't find all that burlesque business so exciting, but while catching up on recent posts over at RetroToGo, this caught our eye.

Dita von Teese has designed a skinny fit knit wool cardigan for Wheels & Dollbaby. The collar and the floral embroidery looks really nice actually.  Read more, and order one, over at ASOS.

Via RetroToGo

 

Edwin Nashville for the ladies

Edwin is quality stuff. Now they have made a version of their classic Nashville jeans, for the ladies. The ladies cut has slightly lower rise and and slimmer leg but everything else the original Nashville has.
Raw 14oz red line selvage denim, button fly and coin pocket selvage.

Find them at Sivletto

Ladies rockabilly jeans by Freddies of Pinewood

Raw rockabilly ladies jeans without stretch. Invisible zipper and button behind one of the front pockets for a more feminine look. The high waist gives you the real authentic retro feel.
Four big pockets, two in the front and two in the back.

Check out Freddies of Pinewood Classic jeans

Sivletto - new web shop

After some 3 years, Sivletto has launched a brand new web shop. One of the new features is combination offers, so currently you'll get a discount on a Hawleywoods Layrite t-shirt if you buy Layrite pomade.
The graphics are very retro and cool, and the navigation is improved. And yes, they ship worldwide.
Check it out at http://shop.sivletto.com

Miss Fortune rockabilly clothing now at Sivletto

All you rockabilly chicks, look here! Sivletto are now selling clothes by British company Miss Fortune. Very fifties, not so expensive.

Visit http://shop.sivletto.com

Tiki Magazine winter 08/09 issue

If you love the Island Lifestyle, Tiki, Hawaiiana, Polynesian Pop Culture or swaying palm trees, Tiki Magazine is for you.

Even if you're far away from the islands or coastline. Tiki Magazine will bring the islands to you and provide the escape you need to get you through the day. The magazine feature events, people, art, music, cocktails, food, and the latest in collectible merchandise.

The winter issue is out now, available from Sivletto and other stockists. Investigate!

Lee Originals : The Archives

In the spring of 2009 Lee will launch a new Originals collection. This time it's called The Archives.

Lee Originals, conceived in 2000 as a limited edition of timeless collector’s items, has now evolved into a wide scale celebration of Lee’s roots.

Lee Originals: The Archives is not about setting a new trend. It goes beyond this. It is about rediscovering the tradition underpinning Lee’s true heritage.

Exact, carefully detailed replicas showing just how jeans were really made, back in the old days. Produced in Japan, undisputedly the jeans production Mecca of the new century, their authenticity is guaranteed by the use of the same sewing, cutting and weaving machines and the handcraft techniques of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. This all provides the uniqueness of each item, giving each piece a real frontier personality as well as satisfying the demands of the expert denim collector.

Extra extra! You can get parts of this collection as we speak! Yes, Swedish denim lovers Sivletto has been chosen by Lee to sell jeans and jackets for a limited period of two weeks. Then you will have to wait until spring... Visit Sivletto here