Thank You All!

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for reading the blog over the past few weeks, months, etc. The blog will definitely continue to run on in the new year but I am moving it over to my own domain.

The address for the Crockstar Blog will now be: http://crockstarlimited.com/blog/

Thanks a lot!

Crockstar

The Rebirth of the Brand? What "Personalized Search" Means for You

Intrduction:
After a lull in the hay day of the brand and the world in which "brand was king" (see a nice post on this) it is worth considering the new (and increased importance of brand) as a result of changes to Google-- most specifically the implementation of personalized search on Google. While some along the way were writing the obituary for "the brand" had sort of gone out the window and the whole idea was that brand loyalty would grow increasingly dependent on social media and "web 2.0", this new development by Google has some pretty serious implications.

Image Via: Google (Shocker...)

1. Implications for SEO
The exact metrics Google uses to rank pages has always been a bit of a mystery. Though personalized search will add to this mystery a bit, it is unlikely to change things a great deal. At the end of the day, this may create a larger drive for raw traffic and return visitors and decrease some of the emphasis google places on linkbuilding, but at present the magnitude of these effects remains largely unknown and are but toolks in the larger SEO toolkit.

2. Implications for Linkbuilding
While the need for a "huge number" of links has been debated as to its value in SEO returns, the argument has always stood and has been fairly well supported (LINKS) that there is a great deal of value in having some good quality pages that link to your site-- the whole concept being (at least in SEOmoz speak) that power or "link juice" can be passed from one well respected site to another site.
Example: A link from the BBC to your website would be more valuable than a link from Bill's Local Plumbing (assuming, for the sake of the example that your site is a fashion blog).

While the birth of personalized search may in fact impact the way in which this "link juice" is passed along, it seems unlikely that it will impact the value of having links from a good site. This would seem self explanatory from the standpoint of: more relevant traffic (in greater volumes) is likely to be driven to my website from a BBC fashion website than from the page of Bill's Local Plumbing.

3. Implications for Search Results:
This will change things from a certain degree both for the way in which we talk about search results, but also for SEOs and Google users alike. The first change will be an increased inability to describe yourself as "the third search result for fashion blogging". This may seem a drastic change, but this would never really be a reliable way to describe yourself as location, whether one considers AdWords results and a number of other factors will have already impacted this.

The second change, will be the increased desire to generate click through from organic search results to improve rank and to improve the likelihood that an individual (and folks with similar search behavior and interests) will return your site more regularly when searching for relevant terms. This will be an impact for the user (insofar as they are likely to receive results that are impacted by previous behavior-- DUH!).

There will also be impacts for SEOs and other internet marketing folks: there may well be an increased push for Google AdWords campaigns. Though the exact way in which click through on Adwords results will impact Page Rank and likelihood that your site will rank for a certain term it certainly won't hurt!

4. Impact for Developers and Designers
Despite some calling personalized search "the death of SEO" this does not seem to be the case. More than likely it may require more joined-up efforts between SEOs and Dev teams, but this certainly does not spell the end for SEO.

Why? Because, if anything, sites will need to perform better and be enjoyable (i.e. generate return visitors) to continue to rank well. While this may see the rich get richer (please see a great post on this by Randfish) it will also hopefully force dev teams and clients wishing to build new websites to incorporate some of the best practices for which SEOs have been calling for years:
a. Make sure your site is crawler/robot/spider friendly.
b. Make sure your content is worth reading and relevant!
c. Encourage interaction with visitors and a coherent and strategic cross-media approach.
d. Try to earn links from the most appropriate and relevant sources.


Conculsion:
Though "Personalized Search" may have altered the face of SEO a bit, it seems to have done nothing but reaffirm the need for SEO and to continue with many of the best practices from days past. The ever-evolving beast that is Google may not allow SEO to continue "business as usual" (in as much as it ever has been), but this will not be a knockout blow to SEO.

While "brand" may not have ever died, these changes will almost certainly magnify the effects of brand loyalty on the web and the need to have a user (and search) friendly site to which people feel a strong desire to return. The only "new" prescription I've really seen come out of any of the SEO communities is the call for an increase in the tightness [of integration] in metrics with page rank tracking (to paraphrase Randfish).

Image by Me (though I obviously don't own the rights to Coca-Cola nor its trademark and did not create this portion of the image)

As always, please feel free to hit me up with any comments you might have!

Keep 'Em Coming!

While I had initially requested that your pictures show you doing your favorite thing or in one of your favorite places I realized that Jeff is a Med student and rocking out on the computer with a Guitar at arms length is probably a nice break for him these days.

Keep sending your pictures for your few minutes of fame!

(a couple large tees left, get 'em while they're hot)

2009 Best Runway: Jeremy Scott (Flinstones - London Fashion Week S/S 2010)

This blog has moved.

The following post is now available at: Jeremy Scott Flinstones - Crockstar Blog


Thank you.

We Interrupt this Program... Google Nexus One

I hate to interrupt the countdown of 2009's best but it must be done for this announcement (that Apple can be thankful won't impact their win from 2009): the Google phone is both very real and very live. Being called a "beautiful, sexy mess" and an "iphone on beautifying steroids" by some twitter users it is a foregone conclusion of who the game changing winner of 2010 will be for best mobile release... and it's not even out yet.

The google phone (which has been rumored for at least two years now) is finally real and beat the apple tablet out of the gate. It is rumored to be carried by google directly as well as potentially through some other mobile characters.

Image via: Gizmodo

This IS going to be a game changer, on that I am willing to bet. Am all of a sudden very thankful that I resisted the peer pressure to buy an iphone (a genuinely great product) but am pretty amped that I will be without any contract tie-downs when Google releases this beast unlocked in January 2010. Oh yeah, it is said to be running Android 2.1 (an as of yet unreleased version), will be able to download at over 7mb per second (!!!) and was co-created with HTC so that all of the Google software and Android 2.1 platform run smooth as ice.

Look for your Google x HTC "nexus one" early January 2010 and plan on popularity that will make queues for the iphone look like a joke. Keep your eyes peeled on Gizmodo for more info and future updates!

Story confirmed this morning by google: ending speculation that the phone was little more than Twitter gossip.

Best Menswear Collection (Released in 2009) - Junya Watanabe MAN

Now, a lot of arguments can be made here about the choice of a collection RELEASED in 2009 as opposed to showed in 2009 and some might argue that MAN for Comme des Garcons should only count as a capsule collection, but, to do so is to discredit from what in my opinion was far and away the best collection of the year, if not of the decade.


Junya broke every last rule in the book with his current season collection (A/W 2009). While Crockstar Limited originally covered Watanabe's rulebreaking collection in August I have had the opportunity to think back on the collection with a bit of hindsight and with the benefit of comparison to other collections. In addition to combining blue, black and brown/natural leather (ill advised really) as well as fire orange and red (unheard of). Junya took outdoor chic and made it trendy for city and streetwear. Watanabe's collection basically takes some classic hints from the likes of L.L. Bean and mashes them up with the typical "cut and paste" flair preferred by Comme des Garcons making good use of a bit of streetwear edge.

The cuts were almost a full season ahead of what might have been expected and Watanabe's foresight is what gives him the credibility to be sold both in the basement at Dover Street Market and a prominent feature in GQ magazine, a spot on the coveted menswear racks of Liberty of London and a number of features in Highsnobiety. Watanabe toes the line between art and functionality and between edgy streetwear and classic menswear.

The colorways were quite obviously inspired by traditional autumn and winter colors as were the materials, his use and combination of these "traditional" motifs however are what separates this collection from others like it and what separate Watanabe from the rest. A collection that truly must be seen and -perhaps more importantly- felt, the combination of fabrics warrants every painstaking pound that a piece of this collection will set you back (close to a grand for many fo the jackets). Clasically trained by the same teachers as Yohji Yamamoto and heavily influenced by CdG creator founder Rei Kawakubo it is no wonder that Watanabe combined classic with experimental, past with future and threw down the best collection this year.

A great way to end a decade which saw a number of trends and a general lack of a full on style that embodied the era... I would not be shocked if this collection defines what is meant by fashion design in the "noughties".

Watanabe's attention to detail is unmatched. 10 out of 10.

All Images: GQ Magazine from Paris A/W 2009

The Year's Best Sneaker Releases

This was an extremely tough call for me to make, especially being a bit of a sneakerhead myself. Yes I queued up the day before to try to get a pair of Air Yeezy's (the black and pink ones), and no I still didn't get a pair. And though I like the feel and will hands down give the Yeezy's the nod for BIGGEST release of the year (more on that later) I cannot in good conscience give them the nod for best release of the year. This may be partially influenced by Kanye's stage-stealing, partially by a bit of bitterness at not having a pair myself and partially by my reluctance to admit that Kanye has serious style (I'm sorry people... despite some of the terrible trends he has started... he does). HOWEVER, despite the success of all of the Yeezy releases, the freshest, best looking pair of kicks from this year were both inspired by films and both released by Nike (I will freely admit my bias).

(Titanimg and Collider)

First up: the White Men Can't Jump inspired Nike Air Flight Lite High. These caught their fair share of both ups and disses, and the comment made by Nice Kicks contributor Matt Halfhill about the fact that he cannot remember Billy Hoyle wearing these bad boys at any point in the film is a valid point. However, the key here is the inspiration rather than the historical validity, and the inspiration created by Billy Hoyle's "chump" style is well worth exploring. While this is arguably one of the greatest films of the early 90s (if not the entire decade) it should be notice that these are about as true to Hoyle's persona and style as might be expected or wished for.

 Fresh'uns From Billy's Closet (Nice Kicks)

This is not an argument to say that a shoe based upon Sidney Deane's sense of style would not have been even hotter, HOWEVER, that said... this sneaker inspired by Billy boy is true to form and well executed. The selection of the Air Flight high's and their colorway is perfect for the mishmash style (tie-dye hat, work shorts, tube socks... come on) of Billy.

Billy Hoyle Driving on Sidney Deane (Uncoached)

Obviously, I would have been equally excited to see them bring back the Air Command's initially worn by Billy, but for a new and fresh film-inspired kick I couldn't possibly ask for more.


The next choice are the Nike Hypermax McFly (NFW)... another movie inspired sneaker and about as filthy a colorway as you will ever see (gray, white, pink, blue). This particular release is one of my favorites as well because it does more than simply make use of a nice colorway and the name of a film. Drawing inspiration from the ill shoes sported by Marty McFly in Back to the Future II (with a self-locking system and some serious light-ups) Nike took their hypermax and stripped the flywire out of them

McFly on His Hoverboard (Sneaker Hunt)

This is a cool decision to have made for two reasons: one flywire is a bit notorious for ripping despite it's lightweight and implied strength, TWO (and perhaps more importantly) it is a cool and literal approach to taking "back to the future" and bringing it to life a la Nike. Nike took one of their most technologically advanced sneakers (well known for its use of flywire technology) and flipped it old school by giving it a plain gray flat nylon/satin upper. The combination of the past and the future comes together nicely and a nice hit of glow-in-the-dark on the soles does nothing but make the drop even fresher. Argue if you like about the Hypermax NFW and the Hyperdunk McFly (from 2008), but they are both fresh as any sneaker I saw this past year.

Nike McFly Hypermax NFW 2009 (Highsnobiety)

End of an Era (The Year's Best)

As we are getting towards the end of an entire decade I thought I would announce a schedule for a recap/highlights of 2009. These will be looked at individually and in depth over the next few weeks but the winners are...

Best Sneaker Release: This one is a draw... both movie inspired, both redic releases. Nike McFly Hypermax NFW, Nike Air Flight Light

Biggest Sneaker Release: Nike Air Yeezy's

Best Menswear Collection: Junya Watanabe MAN for Comme des Garcon

Best Runway: Jeremy Scott Flinstones (S/S 2010, LFW)

Best Designer (Streetwear): Carri Munden, Cassette Playa

Best Accessory/Line (Men): Dita 2009

Best Gadget: iPhone (I hate to do it, and I know it's not new... but it's true)

Best Mixtape: 10Deep Presents: Donnis - Diary of an ATL Brave

Best Update: Windows 7

Best Album: Draw... Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More & Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3...
Honorable Mention: The Temper Trap - Conditions.

Image Credits (in order): Highsnobiety, Hypebeast, Nike, Hypebeast, London 

Fashion Week, Cassette Playa, Gear Culture, Apple, 10Deep, Complex Magazine, 7Digital

Sick of Being Outdone by the Griswold's?

Probably my favorite picture of the year.

From: Unplggd

Drogba Does Something Cool

I was trying to figure out why on earth Didier Drogba was wearing red laces in his boots at the Emirates this weekend as Chelsea demolished Arsenal (3-0). I saw him pointing to the boots after the match and couldn't for the life of me figure out why... well now we know.

Nike and project (Red) have launched the laces as a fundraiser/awareness campaign and Drogba as the (Nike)RED global ambassador was just doing his part. The launch took place at the Nike store last night and featured many famous footballers (Arshavin, Dempsey, Joe Cole, etc.) and everyone's least favorite do-gooder (Bono).

The laces are available at the Nike Store as well as at NikeTown, London (presumably they will be available at other major sports outlets as well). For the full article hop over to Nike Football.

Artist of the Day: Pete Harrison

As we haven't really been giving much credit to the digital designers here I thought it was worth choosing a strictly digital Artist of the Day today. Pete Harrison, UK based artist, knew he wanted to be a graphic designer since the age of 10. His work is quite indicative of the larger "mash-up culture" at hand and he describes his work in this most recent collection "Aeiko" is a crash between artists and designers and computer programmers. The outcome: well, judge for yourself. To me it seems sort of more like a collision between centerfolds and Tron-fans... but hey, I like the look.

Check out Pete's portfolio.

Mood Chair - Aether and Hemera

As we get closer to the holidays, I must admit that I have been feeling a bit guilty about my excessive consumerism over the past few years... I suppose working on a "low carbon" project/product development for three months will do that to you.

However, that said... I thought it was worth starting an unrealistic holiday wish list by way of the interweb.

In addition to a solution to global warming, world peace, universal healthcare for the states and a winning lottery ticket... I will start with my first item on the list.

Behold:

Introducing the mood chair by Aether and Hemera of Newcastle upon Tyne. So far there is no indication of cost or availability (probably a good sign that it will either not be made for production, or follow the age old rule: "if you have to ask you can't afford it").

However, the LED powered chair is designed to help you relax after a long day at the office by setting the mood. It seems a bit like a mood ring made for geeks, but that said... I can't help but think that this would put me in a better mood if it greeted me on my way into the house every evening.

I suppose a child, dog, cat, or even goldfish would probably have the same effect... but we all know that I'm not ready to take care of any of those things. Come to think of it-- I'm just not sure I have enough time to take care of a chair right now anyways.

Via: Unplggd

Reasons why I love working for a design agency...

#1 - Because I get emails including the following link: Designer vs. Businessman
#2 - Because I am certain that everyone in my office has thought about sending out a similarly snarky email at least once.
#3- Because I am confident that at least one of them has sent or will send out such an email at some point.

The above picture is from the linked site and the link absolutely warrants a full read to appreciate the humor of said pie-chart.

New Lupe Mixtape...

is absolutely fire. 22mins of pure pleasure, this Thanksgiving he truly gives us something to be thankful for. Cannot wait for the new album to drop in the new year. He is rumored to be dropping another mixtape on Christmas day called "Friend of the People".

This tape utilizes beats from Timbaland, Radiohead, Weezy and some others... really pretty incredible. Read more about it and find the link to download at: LUPEND Blog

Forget a Lock, Get a Clock!

Bike-chain clock. A cool $2,000+ but pretty rad nonetheless.

via: Weekly Drop

Green Tech of the Day: BenQ V2400

This bad boy comes with a 1920 x 1080 LED backlit screen, slim design (with 28% recycled plastic), and is energy efficient. What's not to like?

Via: Re-Nest

Mac Mailbox

You've got mail! Gotta love the reuse here of an old Mac tower. Seriously cool.

Via: Unplggd

Artist of the Day: Charlotte Gainsbourg

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Heaven Can Wait from Charlotte Gainsbourg on Vimeo.

Ok, I like the music... but this video is bananas.

NASA

Could NASA make cooler videos? Answer: Unlikely.

Via: Kanye

Low Carbon Artist of the Day

Now that is a nice way to recycle... cardboard sculpture by Chris Gilmour.

Hop over to his website (linked above) for more details.

Via: Kanye

BAPE x The Beatles

Fresh to death.

Via: Kanye

First street legal e-motorbike... can go over 45 KMH for over 40 k on a single charge... ill.

via: Highsnobiety

DIY Bar

As we furnish our new Camden abode I have been actively checking out some "green" options for furnishing the crib. I thought I'd share one of my favorite finds from this search for a do-it-yourself bar from a vintage trunk. It looks nice and the steps are quite easy.

Pop over to "Ready Made" for the 11-step instructions... if you've got an old trunk, great! If not... use your brain and see what else you've got lying around that you can turn into a stash point for your adult beverages.

My New Favorite Website...

As a result of spending far too much time looking over the shoulders of my coworkers at the studio I have been finding websites that I like left, right and center. My new favorite for now -- and it's a darn good thing I don't have the money to be investing in fonts right now -- is Hype for Type.

My favorite scripts on there at the moment (look out Crockstar makeover) come from "FOUNDRY" (ironically, a great bar in Shoreditch) with the prize in a tight race going to Celebrity (pictured above). Pop over to Hype for Type for some mouth-watering fonts.

The Hood Internet Vol. 4

As promised... the Hood launched their fourth installment of the mixtape as a self-proclaimed "soundtrack to your next house-party" and I think it very much qualifies as such.

Definitely a fine piece of work so far-- most of the tracks have already been released previously as free downloads on The Hood Internet but the beauty of what they do on these mixtapes is take their best tracks of the past year or so and put them together seamlessly. The way they manage to connect tracks that seemingly have no business next to one another is baffling and for those who have heard these tracks as singles over the year it definitely helps you to appreciate how these guys are best appreciated live or in full flow... as the mixtapes take their already prolific productions to a whole new level.

Pop over to their website (link above) and get started. If you don't already have the previous versions make sure you get volumes 1-4 for free... should keep you busy at work or studying or working-out or whatever else you've got to do today (only about three tracks in so far, but definitely feelin' it).

Thank you Hood.

*Note-- I recommend the continuous track version (for obvious reasons).

Today's the Day... Music Monday

Anxiously awaiting the release of The Hood Internet Mixtape Vol. 4 will be sure to throw up a link to the free download as soon as it is available.

In the meantime I'm rocking out to U2 x Justice remix of Get Your Boots On and Pance Party's Shakira remix both streaming from the provided links.

Enjoy!

Artist of the Day: Stephen Wiltshire

Stephen Wiltshire, an artist with autism born in London drew this picture of the New York skyline (18 ft) entirely from memory from a 20 MINUTE helicopter ride. Absolutely unbelievable.

For full story on Stephen and this incredible drawing check out the Daily Mail

Jay-Z x U2 live in Berlin... AMAZING.

Via: Kanye

Sneaker/Trainer Tourism

I'm not sure whether to be excited or disappointed by the news I've just read: SoleSearch (a sneaker search directory) has just made available for the Iphone. Designed to be used all over the globe, this handy little tool can help you find boutiques all over the globe.

Pros: quite helpful on trips to other cities and far off lands for must-have kicks.

Cons: takes away a lot of the need for research and being "in the know" to find the latest Nike release. Surely anyone in L.A. who catches wind of the fact that you only have to camp out for 24 hours for a pair of Yeezy's will book a flight and save the headache/luda asking price on ebay.
Also, not all of us have iphones... wahh wahhhh.

Via: Weekly Drop

Wally World

If you can deal with a whole lot of these people:

You can get an xbox360 effectively for $100 ($200 plus $100 gift card), this Saturday (November 7th) only.

Absolutely redurka. For more details pop over to Gizmodo.

Boo Maine... you fail.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Caligrafitti

Pretty cool vid from FatCap. Niels Shoe Meulman busts out some "caligrafitti".

Thanks Pops!

Music to my... neck?

New neckties made out of old cassette tapes. And if you have more time on your hands than is reasonable (or socially accessible) you can actually play the music contained within these ties. WICKED. Available now from Supermarket for $90. Forget the piano key necktie... this thing is way more BA.

Via: Unplugged

Quoddy New Mocs

Who'da thunk that a brand of Mocs from MAINE would be blowing up on: Highsnobiety?

N64 Kid

Not even kidding... is this our family Xmas '97?

Artist of the Day: Kina Grannis

More youtube fame... just couldn't help blowin' up her spot because I've been rocking out to her covers all week.

Famous Spotting of the Day...

Image via: Babble

So, I finally figured out why I have seen so many famous people lately: apparently the BBC radio studio is LITERALLY around the corner from me and I am just incredibly unobservant. Today's moderately famous celebrity: British TV presenter Fearne Cotton.

Real name? Unlikely.

Real attractive? Check.

Ruined or Radder?

Have your vote... New York street artist Craig "KR" Costello pimped/destroyed (depending on your view on street art) this Mini Cooper S with KRINK and his trademark "KRINK drip" design. Check it out if you are near Berlin any time in the next few weeks!

Vicious Gallery
Kleine Freiheit 46
22767 Hamburg

Will be at Vicious from Saturday.

Via: Highsnobiety

Lion Face - Lemon Face

No words of my own...

Info on the project's creator Steve from LION FACE LEMON FACE:
"My chief aim with LION FACE LEMON FACE was to experiment with the traditional role of story telling as entertainment or exchange of modern folklore in an unusual contemporary environment. A simple, provocative and highly subjective personal qualifier (’The Best/Worst...’) opens up a wide range of human responses. This in turn encourages engaging and dramatic narrative, and highlights memorable moments in the participant’s lives.

Everybody has stories: LION FACE LEMON FACE allows people a platform to share them as a performer, an event created entirely by the experiences of the people in attendance.
The photographic aspect is Ashlie's visual input to the idea, and a really strong aesthetic - the event would be totally different without it. We wanted to appeal to people on a social level, but with something different. With the success of such ventures as Don't Stay In, why not try something more formal, but just as fun? A contemporary photographic portrait series in a social, entertainment setting - with the same advantage of being able to exhibit online after, via this very site you are viewing."

Bunny and the Bull - London Film Festival

The much anticipated release from the guys behind the Mighty Boosh: "Bunny and the Bull" featuring our favorite Simon Farnaby (from the post on the Merah opening), had its final showing of the BFI London Film Festival last night at the Genesis Cinema in East London. While it was surprisingly less glamorous than some of the Leicester Square showings it was still a cool vibe and felt much more appropriate for a film made in the grim style of the Boosh crew's more recent work.

While Farnaby and Edward Hogg were the main characters of the film I am afraid to say that the Spanish (and faux-Spanish) actors really stole the show. Veronica Echegui (of "Yo Soy la Juani" fame) was absolutely adorable in her role as a potty-mouthed waitress working in a dodgy seafood restaurant in Poland before taking off with the boys on their adventure to "the fiesta" in her town in Spain where people were said to laugh, drink wine in the street and make love in the street.

While the story was not your normal "road-trip" story it did provide an accurate and only-funny-because-it-wasn't-happening-to-you portrayal of what happens when two guys go after the same girl and only one actually cares about the girl.

The film left me a bit down and while I cannot agree with The Times who gave the film 5-stars I'm perfectly comfortable giving it 3.5-4 stars. There were some moments of comic genius - most notably Noel Fielding and Richard Ayoade's roles -- and some moments of genuine sadness interspersed with some pretty incredible visual effects and cinematography. Additionally, the opening credits were incredibly clever and there were a lot of references to prior Boosh storylines and characters that made the film even more enjoyable for any fan of the gang's work.

At the end of the day you really wanted the film to end like "Wristcutters" (a film of which it was very remniscent)... whether or not it did, well you'll have to see for yourself.

Is it as hilarious as you might have hoped for from such a talented cast? Probably not. Should you see it anyways? Yeah, most definitely.

Just Down The Street From My Office...

Image NSFW (if you are a gearhead)

And not a moment too soon. Getting my bike finally next week and will definitely be spending abhorrent amounts of money in this place.

Tokyo Fixed Gear-- of much web fame-- will be opening their doors in Soho, London (on Berwick St.) late November if the Gearheads on the message boards are to be trusted!

In celebration of the opening, Tokyo Fixed Gear have teamed up with ilovedust design boutique (who judging from their website have got way more skillzzz in digital than on bike detail) for the opening. The frame/shape is absolutely gorgeous and though I have no leg to stand on in this regard: I've gotta say the paint job seems a bit "busy" for me. Colorway is hot and I dig the idea, but just a little too much of a seizure waiting to happen... that and it is not likely to be safe on the London streets for more than 5 minutes without one of these AND one of these.