Batman Arkham Knight: Season of Infamy Expansion

First things first, I love the world of Batman and I waited to buy a PS4 until Arkham Knight was available and was lucky enough to get a bundle that included the game for free! Anyway, I was rather naive with regards to games and season passes as I had sold my PS3 many years earlier and the gaming world had changed so much in just a few years. I purchased the season pass not knowing what it would hold, assuming it would add new story missions and expand on the core story. Unfortunately, I was mistaken and whilst the DLC has been fun, it has mostly consisted of random stories of other lesser-known or less interesting characters. These characters also mostly control the same as batman but just have a different skin which is always disappointing. There has also been the occasional racing or challenge pack which, whilst fun, adds little to nothing to the main story. 

This DLC pack however is very different, it takes place in the original Gotham map and features new set-pieces and expansions to existing locations within the game which immediately peaked my interest because as mentioned, I LOVE this world. In terms of characters, there is (as pictured) the Mad Hatter, Killer Croc, Mr. Freeze and Ra's Al Ghul which are interesting characters that already exist in this game world but may have some loose ends that need tying up which makes them perfect for some DLC. The new section of the game adds to the "Most Wanted" missions and each has several core missions or goals to accomplish before you inevitably lock up the offending villain in GCPD.

New gameplay mechanics and interesting relationships are created in this DLC which gives Batman fans more of what they want - more Batman gameplay and not more of what seems to be filler. This is what I hope DLC and season pass content looks like in 2016, an interesting expansion on great games so we get even more out of a great game. I know I, like a lot of people am eagerly anticipating some new Fallout 4 content so heres hoping Bethesda can create content like this for their game. 

What to Cop: Puma Disc Blaze 89

Its no secret that I have a lot of shoes but they are predominantly Nike and Adidas and whilst I have always wanted to expand into other brands of shoes, I have been a little hesitant to enter the unknown. Despite this, I was browsing on subtypestore.com (Great Site) and came across the Puma Disc Blaze 89 pack. I instantly loved the tone on tone styling of the shoe and the leather upper rather than textiles that have been so predominant recently. The shoe has an instantly retro vibe, although it is still modern and fresh. The "disc" element of the shoe is also creative and intuitive, it keeps the shoes secure and is easy to tighter or loosen with precision and the unit that holds the disc adds extra character to the shoes.

As stated, I was hesitant and the shoes originally retailed for $220 which I thought was a little too steep for a shoe I may not like so I held out and it paid off, they went on sale and I got both the black and red for $300! Again, I really enjoy the Subtype store as it is based out of Sydney which translates into short delivery times (and if you unfortunately need to, cheap and easy returns). Once the shoes arrived, they did look slightly different to what I expected but as I thought, the disc mechanism is cool and easy to operate, the shoes stay secure throughout wear and the structure of the shoe coming from within the leather itself rather than added pieces of material is a cool feature. If you are looking to cop, I would say stay true to your size, they fit similarly to a Nike Huarache. Otherwise, have a look at Subtypes website and instagram, they have a lot of the best stuff that you can get from Australia. 

What to cop: Adidas tubular

I haven't always been the biggest fan of Adidas and a year ago I would have never considered buying a pair, but some of their new designs have been straight up fire. Along with the Kanye endorsement, they have come a long way from those terrible sneakers with the fat tongues. The great thing about Adidas shoes is that they are often less expensive than Nike shoes and they are relatively easier to cop. This is helped by the fact that they are usually released worldwide and you don't have to account for time differences, log on in the middle of the night to an international site and go through mail forwarders to potentially not even cop a pair. 

A great example of how far the brand has come in terms of design is the Adidas tubular (releasing Nov 21). We don't have pricing details at time of publishing but no matter what these are worth, I'm definitely grabbing a pair and the release date conveniently falls on my next pay day (It's a sign!).

When the first images of this shoe leaked it was believed they were part of the Kanye x Adidas collab. That is not the case and quite frankly I am glad because less people will be wearing them and we might actually have a chance to grab a pair. Who knows, by the looks of the image, Kanye still could release a variation of the sneakers with what looks like a heel tab similar to that on the Nike Air Huarache and that would be great but without the 'ye cosign these sneakers will surely be relatively more affordable and less hyped. This is great for us sneakerheads because we can just appreciate the design of the sneaker rather than the celebrity influence.

The sneakers on their own are a great design and they are even better when you put them side-by-side with the Y3 Qasa, a shoe I have wanted to cop for quite some time now. These will be a great alternative to that shoe and they have an almost identical sole that runs around the perimeter of the shoe but instead of the bandage-wrapped upper, the Tubular takes inspiration from the ZX series, implementing a heel-cage and subtle lines. 

If you're keen, head in store on the 21st or go online to cop, as I said they should be fairly easy to cop on launch day but don't hesitate too much, I missed out on a pair of pureboosts because I hesitated and was so upset about it. In the meantime, head over to Complex or Kicks on Fire to get a closer look and tell me on Twitter what colour way you're going to grab.

Sports Luxe

Sports-luxe is one of my favourite looks and for good reason - its extremely comfortable, minimalist and stylish. Even designers such as Calvin Klein, Givenchy and Alexander Wang have all embraced the trend. In addition to the designers own collections we have seen an abundance of collaborations between sportswear labels and high-end designers, this is partly thanks to Ronnie Fieg's contribution to mens fashion. The goal is to look athletic but not like you have just been for a run; the aesthetic is a little more elevated and expensive, take on that attitude to nail it.

Inspiration:

If you want some quick inspiration you can check out the asos fashion finder; you can also shop a lot of the looks on the site if you want a no-fuss experience.

To start out with, I'll give you an example of one of my favourite outfits that I own:

As you can see, I like to execute this trend in a monochromatic style with the emphasis on all the different textures of the individual pieces.

To get the look:

• Bomber jacket (This one is by Cheap Monday but you can find similar styles on asos, or you could improvise a Nike windbreaker, the new tech pack is amazing)
• White Tee (This is a raw-hem version from GLM for Lee but I also love MR SIMPLE tees from Kaeho, they're also having a closing sale so you can score a great deal)
• Jogger pants (These are Zanerobe, you can find a great range on Karmaloop)
• Sneakers (These are nike free flyknit 5.0's which are sold out but the 3.0 version or Chukka's are both great alternatives)

Cop list:

These are some products I have on my shopping list right now.

Nike Rose Gold Fuelband

I keep accessories to a minimum when wearing sports luxe but this nike rose gold fuelband is minimal enough to work. 

Buy: Nike (you will need a mail-forwarder) or you can try your luck with eBay

Rick Owens x Adidas

These shoes are amazing, the quality is great and the little details really stand out. 

Buy: Sneakerboy

Kith Bleecker Short

I have been looking for some jersey shorts for so long and these by Kith are amazing, the postage is a little expensive but definitely want to cop these before summer

Buy: Kith

As you can see, the sports-luxe trend is easy, comfortable and stylish and can really work on any budget by keeping it simple. If you try the trend, feel free to tag me on Instagram so I can check it out or tweet me for advice on items or styling.

Music Monday #3

Michael Jackson - XSCAPE (iTunes, YouTube)

So I slept on this album for a while (mainly because the last MJ album was a little tacky and made for the wrong reasons) but I heard "Do you know where your children are" in a store the other day, tagged it with Shazam and have had it on repeat since. A particular highlight is "Blue Gangsta;" to me, that is what MJ is all about, it goes back to my post about modern masculinity and just owning who you are and expressing it and thats what he does so well. The production is great and I'm sure this album is going to continue to be played years into the future because all of his music is ageless.

Kimbra - The Golden Echo (iTunes, YouTube)

I love Kimbra, and even though she's from New Zealand, I'm going to claim her as an Aussie. A highlight for me on this album is "goldmine," it characterises the whole album and shows how Kimbra has an innate sensibility that allows her mix many different genres of music and create something beautiful. This is one of those rare albums that sounds different if you listen to it in order as a cohesive piece, so I suggest that is what you do. Still just starting to dissect this one so I'll keep you posted on how I go through twitter. 

Kanye West - Yeezus (iTunes, YouTube)

I put this album in this week because I will officially be seeing him live in less than a month! I loved everything about this album, the promos with wall projections around the world and the weird "American Psycho" remake with Scott Disick, everything was a play between absolute minimalism and maximalism. I remember when "New Slaves" was released I thought it was so strange that it changed so drastically towards the end and Frank Ocean only appeared at the tail end but now I realise thats what Kanye wanted; its the contrast: light and dark, day and night and you can only appreciate each by having the others company - genius!

Music Monday #2 (Actually on Monday...)

Been listening to some new and some not-so-new stuff this week so lets get into it. 

Nicki Minaj - Anaconda (iTunes, YouTube)

Nicki's flow on this song is Amaaaazing. I love the throwback to "baby got back" and it was a great choice for a sample - the cover art also makes sense now, I thought it originally looked a little cheap. The release was pushed back a little and it was rumoured that was due to beyonce being added and despite that not eventuating its still a great release and I haven't been able to stop listening since its release.

Meet me in a house of love - Cut Copy (iTunes, YouTube)

I was into Cut Copy years ago when they released "In Ghost Colours" but sadly forgot about them and moved from EDM to R&B and hip-hop but this release has made me revisit the band and clearly we both have grown up a lot. I love the vibe on this song and its just so great to have someone saying lets just meet in the middle and do things out of love, and then we will be at our greatest and we'll achieve more than we can imagine.

War Wounds - Ace Cosgrove (Soundcloud)

Last but not least this week we have a great song by a rapper on the come-up and best of all its a free release! I love songs that mirror what I am feeling and this song does that for me. This song tells the story of the hustle and how each experience may leave you a little wounded but keep hustlin' and you'll end up getting guap... one day. 

Hope you guys like these tracks as much as I do and you can let me know by tweeting me.

Keep Your Kick Game Strong (Shoe Envy Post)

So heres the deal... I LOVE SNEAKERS! Apart from all the hype (which can get annoying), sneakers are a great way to express yourself and they're also damn comfortable! I wear a lot of nikes because they are #1, so I obviously aspire to wear the market leaders shoes but also they are so technologically advanced (Flyknit, lunar tech, air soles). These shoes inspire me to be better and innovative and also try to push my creativity. As nike is my number one choice for sneakers its only fitting to dedicate this post to nike shoes.

So getting right into it, these are the shoes I am seeking right now:

Nike Air Huarache (JD Sports, Size?, eBay)

So public opinion seems to be very divided on these but I think they are awesome! That heel strap that wraps around to the mid-foot and the sock-like upper are dope. The retail price on these isn't too bad but reseller prices are crazy, especially for "hyped" versions such as the all-white ones pictured. I am waiting for a great colourway (and hopefully an Australian release) before I pull the trigger but keep your eyes on eBay, there is occasionally a deadstock pair that is a must-cop.

Nike Free Orbit II SP - (eBay)

This design is so cool and considered but that is to be expected - they were designed by the guy responsible for the air yeezy II. I originally thought the RRP was a little high but there are so many details on this shoe that make it worth it. The premium textiles and the 3D studded design with a mesh toebox for breathability all look great and despite not having laces, this shoe doesn't make you think its more suitable for a seven year old rather than a grown man. 

Nike Free Mercurial Superfly htm - (eBay)

This is another one of those shoes that just sold out instantaneously, and unfortunately if you live outside of the US, these types of shoes (limited run and very hyped) are pretty much impossible to cop because even if you have a mail forwarder in the US, nike does not accept Australian Paypal/credit/debit cards. You can try to cop a pair on eBay but be prepared to pay reseller prices.

Music Mondays #1

Listening to music is such a visceral experience. This, along with the inspiring nature of music is what keeps me looking for that next thing to add into my iTunes library. Listening to music really helps me visualise things and helps me think of different colours/textures as well as moods and I filter this into outfits, logos, campaigns and pretty much everything else I am working on at the time. So on that note, I decided to start this music mondays series where I will feature a few songs/albums that I have been listening to a lot each week with links so you can listen/download.

*Feel free to tell me what you think and even suggest new artists I should be listening to on my Twitter.

#1 After the Dance - Tittsworth feat Q-Tip, Theophilus London, Alison Carney.

This song just nails laid-back cool and conjures up images of cool people in downtown New York very early in the morning walking home reflecting on the great night they've had. The very understated, cool nature of this song sets it apart and all of these artists are on the come-up which is a great reason to show support - and its free for download from Tittsworths soundcloud.

#2 This is America - Parker Ighile feat G-Eazy.

I found this song and haven't stop listening since! Theres a great narrative element to this song and it is also haunting like the pressure of making a name for himself and other peoples influences are stopping him from doing that and really breaking through. It also makes me think about "The American Dream" and having an empire and the chase of that vision - which looks different for us all and how success is gained in western society.

#3 Heavy Metal and Reflective - Azealia banks (iTunes)

Despite all of the controversy surrounding AB I think she is extremely talented and this is her first single to come from her own record label. Azealia does Azealia and no one else, she doesn't care what people think and she just wants to be true to herself - something that I fully support. I saw Azealia live at Future Music Festival last year and she was amazing! I expect huge things to come from her and hope the album is as good as this.

Kanye West: Thank you and you're welcome

I have been a HUGE Kanye fan for a while and I finally picked up his book.

Safe to say, I have learnt a heap from his "kanyeisms" and the thoughts in this book are really inspirational and provide an insight into kanye's thoughts and explain his mind-set behind the success.

If you are a Kanye fan, this book is a must-read.