Logging On is ICYT's weekly newsletter by Columnist-at-large Ian Chow and Co-Founder Raeland Mendoza​. The duo also make up ICYT's consultancy division, Tomorrow Works.

Weekly Specials:

RAE: My week has been a a fit-related emotional rollercoaster.

Earlier in the week I **linked and built** at an important client dinner. The occasion called for a vintage double breasted blazer paired strategically with some tastefully faded work pants and freshly shined derbies. Admittedly nervous going in, my tailoring-meets-workwear cosplay get-up paired with some sake, and a great Izakaya tasting menu helped me solidify the relationship leading to some promising creative opportunities in the future. 

We then hosted MYST MILANO for one of the wildest ICYT parties and DJ sets I've ever experienced. Over the course of the night I had MULTIPLE (?!) members of opposite sex not only compliment me on my outfit, but straight up tell me that I looked hot. This is a very welcome change to the streetwear bro's who live in my DM's. Said party fit consisted of an oversized tee with a Stussy Knit Tank over it (because, swag), the same faded work pants, hiking boots, and a black puffer jacket that was immediately thrown behind the DJ booth. Something was definitely in the air that night as our crew noted that it was one of the h*rniest crowds we've ever played. The vibe can be summed up in some wise words by Alfred leaving the party, "the lights turned on and everyone was still hot." 

Lastly, I woke up on Sunday to the woman who may or may not be the unrequited love of my life posting the best fit pic I've ever seen on the streets of Tokyo. Thinking clear and with a level head, I immediately texted Ian to inform him that I was moving to Japan purely off the strength of an all black oversized bomber and cargos, a gold chain and knit patterned bucket hat. 

What does this all mean? Why am I sharing this all publicly? I haven't the slightest clue. If anything, this just further exposes my deep seeded emotional neuroticism and its' relationship with clothes. If anyone has some advice and/or similar stories, please let me know.

PS - Big up Myst! 

IAN: Apologies to all the non-sports and footy fans, but it's been SIX long years since my club has held a trophy. I don't care that it's the Carabao cup. It could have been some bs International Friendly Tostitos Scoops trophy. Silverware is silverware. A new era has begun with a new Erik catalyst. GGMU!!

LINKS:

FAshion

THISISNEVERTHAT SPRING 2023 LOOKBOOK​

R: I rarely leave the house without my red tinted AKILA sunglasses, as they go with everything, add the perfect amount of "fuck you" to any outfit, and are one of the rare exceptions to my all black uniform. A new model to their SS23 line up, the Ascent's have a squared off silhouette and are finished with some funky side detailing. And after seeing these, I may have to scoop up a fully murdered out pair when I want to go full incognito at the cafe on Sunday mornings. 

MEDIA

Look What Happened When ChatGPT Got Ahold of My Online Dating Profile cnet

"In the last few months, humanity has been discovering the capabilities of AI tools with a fast-churning mix of horror and fascination. Art created by artificial intelligence is so cool -- except maybe it rips off human artists. ChatGPT can write songs, but does that mean creativity no longer lives in the penthouse of a building the robots don't have the keycard to?"

I: Society is moving closer from HER (the Spike Jonze vehicle, not the artist) to I, Robot. And if you're unaware of other big AI discussions, please do yourself a favour and read the uncomfortably real conversations with Bing's Chatbot.

Inside the NBA’s Great Generation War gq

Not so long ago, retired NBA stars could put on a suit, go on ESPN, and lay into the next generation of young players with little pushback. And then something shifted: The younger guys hopped on their podcasts and Instagrams and started to fire back. Alex Wong takes us inside the seismic rift between the old talking heads and a new generation of brand-savvy, terminally online stars.

I: Shoutout to JJ Redick and Draymond for pushing back all the old heads. Nothing better than seeing some old talking head get flamed on live TV for their takes on 60's basketball players being better pure scorers than Lebron James.

Randall Park Breaks Out of Character

The “Fresh Off the Boat” star made his career in amiable roles, but his directorial début, “Shortcomings,” is full of characters who are, in his word, “shitty” people.

I: We stay boosting Asian actors in this newsletter.

What rewatching old shows teaches us about ourselves vox

Returning to familiar TV shows is about more than nostalgia.

I: Rewatching an old show allows for greater appreciation for personal growth. "It wasn’t yearning for the past; it was an appreciation of the present."

BEEF REPORT: YEGO.DEATH VS. YEGWAVE​

R: In some extremely local niche internet news, Edmonton meme and/or journalism (very loose use of the term) accounts are now beefing. Let the record show, it's Yego.death only on this side.

MUSIC​

IAN:

Shame - Food For Worms dead oceans

Gracie Abrams - Good Riddance interscope

U.S. Girls - Bless This Mess royal mountain

Black Country, New Road - 'Live at Bush Hall'​

RAE:

Omar Apollo - 3 Boys 
"3 boys would work if I wasn't so tethered to you" 

DON TOLIVER - LOVE SICK 

Kali Uchis - Moonlight 

The Weeknd x Ariana Grande - Die For You Remix

DRAKE & 21 SAVAGE - SPIN BOUT YOU (VIDEO):​

Further viewing: "A Moody Conversation" - Drake & Lil Yachty ​

WILDCARD: AIME LEON DORE SS23 - ALD IS STILL HERE, STILL SO GOOD 

I: Every time ALD drops a lookbook, the proverbial streets are shutdown and no other brands can market any of their goods. Because none would be foolish enough to launch alongside the heavyweight champion. Without fail this will spawn several hundreds of imitations and replications, but none can match the layering, the styling, the overall imagery.

R: As a longtime fan of the brand and the people behind it, to me ALD is a great heat check to where the larger conversations of menswear are currently revolving around. Obviously the styling is immaculate, but more interesting to me are the trend cues: less emphasis on technical gorpcore-esque pieces, crochet and hand-knit accessories and detailing are all over the place, thotty lace fits are back again for another summer, and blokecore really is hottest thing in the streets right now. Bonus points for streetwear suiting (guilty as charged), and TikTok-friendly Y2K leather racing jackets. For the very advanced, the cycling jersey​ inspired half zip sweater will be dominating IG moodboards in 5-6 months. 

In the larger meta ALD discourse, it's also interesting that this previous FW22 season marked the first time in years the brand did not do their beloved friends and family WORLD'S BOROUGH lookbook campaign. Though they certainly didn't invent the trope, perhaps they've been replicated so many times (again, guilty as charged) that it's time to collectively move on. In the spirit of new things - I've been loving their cinematic vignettes, with this season being some of their best work to date.