Many people who troll the various trend-spotting websites and “lifestyle” publications have probably already seen or heard of PegLeg NYC – a brand solely born of New York City origin (redundant, but true). But, if PegLeg’s brightly patterned high-fashion “streetwear” have eluded your view, you should check out what they have in-store (www.peglegnyc.com) for the spring of ought Nine.

Conceived and crafted by NYC natives Harry McNally, Bobby Waltzer and Nick Poe, PegLeg is a revelation of the pulse of “downtown” Manhattan – not some referential t-shirt company relying on a few witty slogans to peddle their “garmento” gear. Both young and hip (not in a tragic way, rest assured) and grown and sexy, Peg Leg clothing is decidedly bold, a brand for those with the desire to keep it funkier than others and call attention to their swagger. Their label has quickly evolved from a tiny t-shirt operation to a fully equipped menswear brand, separating their line from the herd of “hip” (often homogenous) counterparts in NYC in their ability to bridge the visible gap (a “disconnect,” if you will) between “low-fi” t-shirt brands and a “high-fashion” sensibility. In the past couple seasons PegLeg have developed into a clothier of all types of articles, designing everything from shirts to sweatshirts, button-downs to jackets to custom New Era fitted hats. PegLeg has been growing steadily since the brand’s onset in 2005, earning their “chops” in NYC’s fashion “scene“ and building the label through word of mouth/media – while also dispersing their wares to friends and associates throughout New York, to stay true to the “homegrown” aesthetic that got them this far.

PegLeg’s spring ’09 line of clothing is looking as crispy as ever; mixing their notorious usage of boldly colored patterns, with more design-driven “cut and sew” pieces. With the ongoing success of their brand at trade shows and events throughout fashion and a loyal following of  “movers and shakers,” it shouldn’t be too long before PegLeg NYC is world renowned in the “gear-game.”

Check www.peglegnyc.com for images of their latest threads and accessories…

Words and photos by Jamie Newman

You could spend a week in Austin and never step foot south of Cesar Chavez and that’s exactly what most attendees of SXSW do.  Or is it – Don’t do?  Regardless, most out-of-towners spend their entire stay in the vicinity of 6th St.  And why not?  That’s where most of the action goes down, it certainly is where the majority of street meat is sold after the witching hour, where most of the Mardi Gras-esque amateur-hour mayhem B.S. takes place.

For those with a little curiosity and a little cab fare for that matter, South Austin is as rich with reward as its neighbor to the north.  No, not Canada.  South Congress Street has the best of almost everything important; the best boutique hotel, the best home made ice cream parlor, the best migas breakfast and the best thrift stores.

The only drawback to thrift shopping in TX during SXSW is the hipster tax that the vendors assess to everyfuckingthing in the store.  That said we were able to navigate temptation pretty maturely if I do say so.  We escaped the first store with only one $30 pearl-snap shirt and left the incredibly preserved $45 blue moon boots sitting atop their cowboy shirt rack throne.

Now, Than is a pretty fashionable man in his own right.  He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who looks to his girlfriend for what looks hot and what does not.  In fact, we found out the (relatively) easy way that the New York based multi-instrumentalist drummer pretty much looks great in anything.

Zoe, a true fashion maven (and our photographer for the story) had her fashion way with Than Luu right in front of anyone who wanted to watch (just me) and dressed him up and down and damnit if he didn’t rock just as hard in the gold dress as he did in the army jacket.  Must be something in the way he holds himself.

Words by Mark Roemer, Photos by Zoetica Ebb

Photos by Zoetica Ebb

Photos by Cory Ryan

Japanese guys – The Geeks
Guys in spandex – The Frontier Brothers
Cool guys – Electric Touch

Jewelry Designed by Joanne Gowan

Photos by Zoetica Ebb