Hotel Sezz

by Tim Yu

On a recent trip to Paris I had the pleasure of staying at the boutique Hotel Sezz, located in the 16th arrondissement, steps from the Seine, about 400 yards from the Eiffel Tower and just a few blocks away from the #6 metro. For all that, the small boutique hotel is located on a tranquil, very residential street, making for a more authentic Parisian experience.

Surrounded by other similar small-scale apartment buildings, the Sezz blends in with its classic-looking façade, but the inside is nothing but sleek, modern and pristine. Lacquered tables hold stacks of coffee table books and a curated selection of paintings and sculptures fills the lobby. I didn't use the flat screen TV or DVD library too much but the firm mattress was very comfortable. An abundance of natural light in the room during the day was easily blacked-out by curtains ensuring a good night's sleep. The best features of the room had to be to the French doors leading out to the balcony and also the huge bathroom which consisted of a dual-head shower, a three-foot deep square stone tub and Kiehl's products.

With 27 rooms and several suites—most with balconies and some with views of the Eiffel Tower—the hotel is small enough to provide each guest with a personal concierge assistant and just big enough to allow a sense of personal independence.

Visit Mr & Mrs Smith for a detailed review of Hotel Sezz including a list of other boutique hotels in Paris in case the Sezz is filled up.

Hotel Sezz
6 Avenue Frémiet
75016 Paris, France map
tel. +33 1 56 75 26 26

Puma x Atmos x Mitsuaki Iwago: Endangered Species Asia Pack

by Ami Kealoha

by Kyle Small

Next Monday, 28 July 2008, Puma's second series in collaboration with NYC store Atmos and National Geographic photographer Mitsuaki Iwago drops, doubling the small collection from three to six. In addition to the noble purpose of building awareness surrounding endangered animals throughout the world and bringing to light the significance of their possible extinction, we think they make pretty good-looking pairs of kicks. (Click images for detail and check out one more image after the jump.)

Each different style interprets the respective animal, using that animal's body and characteristics for colorways and patterns. Also, each shoe's insole will include a high quality photograph of the animal taken by Mr. Iwago himself. As an added little bonus, the soles of the shoes glow in the dark!

The Polar Pack, which came out last June, focused on endangered polar animals. It featured the Polar Bear, the Harp Seal and the Macaroni Penguin. The new additions, grouped in the Asia Pack, center around endangered animals on the Asian continent. It will include the Golden Monkey (middle), the Giant Panda (bottom) and the Crested Ibis (top)—all are either Clydes or Puma Mids.

Line up at Atmos in New York and Ubiq in Philadelphia. Ranging from around $125-150 (depending on where you buy them), these shoes are a great way to raise interest around the problems facing endangered animals—and to look great while doing it.

Imaginary Foundation Sublimation Tees

by Ami Kealoha

by Kyle Small

Over at The Imaginary Foundation, the mysterious "Director" and others have been experimenting with t-shirt styles for a while now and the Sublimation series is a new process that makes for super detailed imagery. Using dye-sublimation, the tees can be highly decorative and imaginative; talk about wearing art to its fullest extreme. And what really makes these shirts unique is the fabric: specially designed for the Imaginary Foundation, the exterior of the shirt is made of polyester while the interior is cotton. The combo not only makes for a comfortable fit, but enables the printing of the crystal-clear image on the outside—the best of both worlds.

The particular shirt that we have is called the Paint Bucket (pictured), a collage of kaleidoscopic colors and images, which might not be for you if you don't feel like standing out. With something this flashy, you're going to. What's more, the design is on both sides of the shirt, making for a full realization of the impressive sublimation process.

But don't rush through their site. Take time to read everything carefully, they warn about sizing differences and possible inconsistencies in the image.

At $45 a pop (all availalble from Imaginary Foundation), these shirts aren't on the cheap side, but how else are you going to get that much attention?

Days With My Father by Phil Toledano

by Tim Yu

Cool Hunting favorite Phil Toledano recently released a photo essay titled Days With My Father. A touching compilation of photos taken after the death of Toledano's mother, the images give an intimate look at the father-son relationship and serve as a time capsule of the period. Although very simple and sparse, the series captures a spectrum of emotion.

Created by Fashionbuddha, the elegant design and functionality of the site compliments the work by allowing the photos to stand on their own and speak for themselves. I found it to be inspiring and at times heart-wrenching. Grab a tissue, visit Days With My Father and then go call your family.

via Computerlove

Also on Cool Hunting: Phone Sex by Phil Toledano

Maths Class

by Doug Black

by Mat Lyon

Maths Class are the latest U.K. band exploring the intersection where Post-Rock, New Wave, Pop and (yes) Math Rock collide. From the shards of this genre car crash, they form a compelling racket that's chaotic and precise in equal measure, jerking between passages at super speed and challenging the listener to keep up. They walk a tightrope of technical ability, creative endeavor and melodic accessibility that makes for an exhilarating sonic tangle.

Their frenetic creativity also extends to their visual aesthetic. The band's photographs reference Dada cut-ups, presenting the band as a mangled mass of enlarged facial features; posters and artwork show the band's name spelled out in slashes of twisted material.

They are miles ahead of the current crop of Foals copyists, and they're carving out a live reputation to match their striking aural and visual identity. This is one Maths Class you'll be fighting to be at the front of. You can watch the video for their song "Nerves" above.