Category Archives: Product Reviews

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Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II: Product Review

Converse has revamped their classic All Star silhouette. And we like it. In this post I will address the similarities and differences between the new Chuck II and the original Converse All Star.

The first big change is the new box. The construction is sturdier and the box just seems more solid. The branding on the top of the box is a nice change from the plain black top on the old boxes. Once we popped the box open, another little change took us by surprise; The All Star II’s we got included an extra pair of laces. Little touches make all the difference, don’t they?

the new Chuck II with extra pair of laces and the new Box.

the new Chuck II with extra pair of laces and the new Box.

The most noticeable change between the classic Chuck Taylor All Star’s and the All Star II’s is the extra padding all around. From the new insole that’s included, to little bits of extra padding on the tongue and around the heel; the Chuck II’s are definitely more comfortable. The basic construction of the shoe hasn’t seen much change. So, anyone who is used to the old silhouette of the Chuck Taylor’s and is worried about the new style of the All Star II being too different can rest easy. Also, the sizing has remained the same, which is good news for fans of the classic Chuck Taylor’s. For the uninitiated, click here  to see our sizing guide for converse chucks.

Let me stress that these Chuck’s are much more comfortable. They are now sporting Nike’s Lunarlon insole, which is a lightweight, removable option as opposed to the old model’s unwavering, flat footed insole. Another addition is perforated micro-suede padding on the inside of the tongue, as well as on the sides and heel of the foot bed. Not only does this provide an extra layer of comfort, this also keeps the foot in place a little better inside of the shoe. Another little change that goes a long way is the addition of an elastic band to the tongue of the shoe. Again, this keeps the tongue from shifting around as you wear them and helps keep the foot in place, as well.

The biggest aesthetic changes are incredibly subtle, if not downright unnoticeable. The tongue on the All Star II’s now has less of a raw edge, and instead has a heavier lining stitched to it. The solid piping on the sole is now striped. The eyelets seem to be a little sturdier. They look practically identical. Practically. Somehow, the All Star II’s look more solid. Perhaps it’s the higher quality canvas they used, or maybe the extra padding adds an extra layer of support for the shape of the shoe.

All of these changes do come with a price, though. The Chuck Taylor All Star II’s are about twenty dollars more than the classic Chuck Taylor’s. They are also not available in all of the cool colors and textures as the classic All Star’s. They are also only available at select retailers right now. Right now the options for the new model are fairly limited. However, fans of the classic black and white, grey and white, or white on white Converse have nothing to worry about.

Overall, these are a great addition to the Converse family of shoes, and will be a great addition to my collection .

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A Diamond Supply Summer

The newest styles from Diamond Supply  are keeping streetwear at the top . Diamond’s summer wear makes it easy to go from the street to the skate park and their classic color scheme will keep you looking fresh.

The geometric design of the Simplicity Jersey  is anything but simple. Pair it with a pair of Diamond Minded Joggers  and the Diamond Blue DL98  Socks for a hot look on a cool summer night.Simplicity JerseyDiamond Minded JoggersDL98 Socks

 

Bucket hats are making a come back and Diamond Supply is making sure that they come back with a bang. The classic Diamond colors make these hat easy to wear with any of the new tees this summer.Micro Diamond Bucket Hat Micro Diamond Bucket HatSimplicity Bucket Hat

 

Speaking of new tees…check out these bold graphics. Diamond Supply brings a new level of sophistication to summer streetwear with new classy designs to make you shine.

Poppin Bottles T-shirtTokyo Life T-shirtCuts T-shirt

 

Diamond Supply’s classic color schemes and bold designs make them easy to wear and even easier to enjoy your summer by staying cool and confident. Check out the rest of our Diamond Supply collection to stay on top of things this summer.

Iron Fist Bringing Back the Originals

The new drop from Iron Fist Summer 2015 is banging with some of their classics that put the brand on the map. The original wishbone is back strong this season for both Mens and Womens.

Iron Fist – Womens Wishbone Skater Dress

 

Iron Fist – Mens Wishbone T-Shirt

 

My other top pics for this season’s drop from Iron Fist includes this Zombie chomper tank top. This can be easily paired with your Zombie Stomper platforms for the night out.

 

 

Lastly, the Slayer tank dress that they released this season is definitely a home run for any metal fan. It’s got the right look of bad ass and metal for your wardrobe and can easily be paired with some black platforms or boots.

 

 

The brand has taken a step back to its roots this season and focused more on the prints that put them originally on the map. Staying loud and focused on detailed graphics and the rock scene.  Be sure to check out the rest of our Iron Fist collection.

New Eleven Paris at Dress Code

We got in some new Eleven Paris for  women just in time to finish up your holiday shopping for the special female in your life. Eleven Paris is famous for doing portrait graphics featuring celebrities and fashion icons holding up a tattooed finger mustache across their face. They are also known for doing various pop-culture referenced graphics on their T-Shirts. Take a look at some of the new tees in from Eleven Paris.

Sun Mokat Hoodie

Here is the graphic that really put Eleven Paris on the map. This is the Sun Mokat hoodie featuring a black and white portrait of famous super model Kate Moss.
Savhom Tee

This Savhom tee is a good example of the type of the pop culture references used throughout Eleven Paris’ line. This tee features a picture of Homer Simpson failing to weigh himself while enjoying his favorite snack.
Cara Tee

This is another play on the Kate Moss version of this graphic, just with a different super model. For those of you that don’t know this is Cara Delvingne, who has modeled for DKNY, Mulberry, and covered Vogue magazine just to name a few.

There’s a ton of other cool tees and tank tops with some other familiar faces on our web store so be sure to check those out here and let us know what you picked up for the holidays.

New at Dress Code: Nixon Soft Goods

As most of you probably know, we already carry a wide variety of Nixon watches as well as the famous Blaster wireless speaker. Now, on top of that, comes an array of awesome soft goods, from wallets and beanies to hoodies, coats and anything in between. There’s way too many products to show you, so here are just a few pieces I chose to preview:

Paddington Crewneck

The paddington crewneck puts a modern twist on a classic crewneck. Heather Red cotton blend with “NXN” across the chest using a masking tape design. Just in time for Winter.
Lowtide Quilted Strapback

Here’s the Lowtide Quilted strapback in a black denim colorway. Diamond quilted on each of the “five panels” with a clean woven label on the front. 
Captain Quilted Jacket

Stay extra toasty with this Captain Quilted Jacket over your crewneck this Winter. Two chest pockets with a waterproof zipper track and quilted lining.

There are a ton more Nixon products on our webstore so be sure to check out the rest of our new soft goods here and let us know what you’re planning on picking up for Winter.

New Brand Alert: Hudson

Our newest addition to our denim collection this year is Hudson Jeans. Hudson is an American designer denim company, producing jeans for men, women, and even children. We will be adding a ton of new styles and fits for both men and women as this is one our newest acquired brands. For now, here are three fits for women that we just put up on our web-store.

Nico Super Skinny

The Nico Super Skinny is a Black Cotton/Tencel/Lycra blend offering some stretch in the material for maximum comfort. Nine-inch rise in the waist; They are slim all the way down and with a 10-inch leg opening at the bottom, these are one of Hudson’s skinniest models. 
Barbara High Waist Super Skinny

These Barbara High waist jeans offer the same slim (super skinny) fit as the Nico with the 10-inch leg opening at the cuff, only this time with a 10-inch rise offering the popular women’s high waist fit.
Collin Mid Rise Skinny

The Collin Mid Rise Skinny Jean is a dark blue wash with some fading and tears to give a distressed, worn look. These here will have a more roomy fit with a 12-inch leg opening as well as an eight in rise in the waist giving them a lower cut fit through the hips.

These are only just a few styles with many more to come for both men and women, so be sure to check back for more styles regularly as they will be up on our web-store very soon.

New Footwear at Dress Code: Dr.Martens

New to Dress Code Clothing, we’ve taken on British footwear company, Dr. Martens. Dr. Martens is a timeless footwear company originating out of the UK, dating all the way back to 1947. Dr. Martens offers a little something for everybody, with classic silhouettes such as the 1461 for formal or casual wear, or the 1460 boot, which was heavily popularized among the punk community back in the late 70′s and 80′s. Dr. Martens produces some of the most durable footwear on the market still to this day. Let’s take a look at a few models we recently got in:

Mens 1460 Boot

Today, the 1460 boot is one of Dr. Martens most prominently seen models, also being that it was the first model ever produced by the British Footwear company, now offered in a women’s specific design for a thinner, more sleek fit. This patent leather model has become a popular choice, offered in a wide variety of colors, along with those same choices given in flat tumbled leather like the classic brick-red 1460′s below.

 

Tobias Boot

Here we see what looks to be the 1460 boot revisited with a much thinner sole. The Tobias boot is one of Dr. Martens more recent models to offer a more lightweight shoe, suitable to some for a more everyday wear.
1461 Shoe

The 1461 Shoe is one of Dr. Martens more versatile models, wearable for formal events, or just everyday wear, offering maximum durability as well as comfort.
Dorian Shoe

The Dr. Martens Dorian model offers the same comfort as the 1461 while appearing thinner across the toes. Same 3-eyelet construction, just a thinner toe box and sole. This aged brown leather pair is perfect for any occasion.

New Brand Alert: Ese

New to Dress Code Clothing comes a Tucson local street wear brand called Ese. The brand plays off of various luxury brands, composing graphics in a unique way. Ese is all about the hustle and work ethic it takes to get rich and live a lavish lifestyle as they display throughout their line of graphic tees. Here are just a few pieces we have in stock from Ese Clothing:

Get Money Tee

This Get Money tee from Ese perfectly exemplifies the lifestyle most all of us strive for on the daily, which is living a prosperous life. The best way to do that is “Get Money”. 
Homie Tee

The Homie tee features a gold foil printed graphic that twists up the recognized font of luxury brand, Hermes, while still staying true to Ese’s street wear style, with lowrider culture being a prevalent past time in Tucson’s inner city lifestyle.
Homie Beverly Hills Tee

I like to think of the Homie Beverly Hills tee the afterthought of working hard once your goals are reached. For now it’s fuel for the fire of our dreams to make it to the top. The graphic is aided by the help of a few familiar faces as well.

This is only three tees from Ese’s first collection available in-store as well as our webstore. Be sure to shop the rest of the Ese line here, and let us know which tee you’re picking up in the comments below.

 

New Brand Alert: Black Market Art

A new brand we’ve added to our stock list is Black Market Art. The tattoo art brand was established in 2005 and continues to produce some of the most unique tattoo art clothing on the market for both men and women. All of Black Market Art’s artwork are hand drawn pieces by some of today’s top tattoo artists. Each piece is big and bold and easily distinguished among the tattoo artist community as well as ink enthusiasts alike. One unique touch Black Market Art adds to each shirt, is under each piece of artwork is the signature of the artist with the artist’s signature and contact information also on the hang tag. Check out a few pieces from Black Market Art below:

Heisenburg Tee

This Heisenburg tee is a favorite among BB fans and ink addicts. The hand drawn black & grey  portrait features Walter White covered in not just any tattoos, but each piece of work relating to him and the show. 
OG Hanya Tee

The OG Hanya tee features a black & grey Japanese traditional rendition of a Hanya, which is a synonymous piece in Japanese style tattooing.
Eve Raglan

The Eve Raglan features a black and grey drawing of what one artist believes a modern day Eve may look like; a beautiful woman covered in beautiful artwork with two cobras intertwined forming a nice frame. 

Be sure to shop the rest of the collection from  Black Market Art we have at Dress Code Clothing here.