Funny story about this bag and how I acquired it but I will save that for another time. This bag has seen me through some good times, I took this and this only on a 10 day trip to France and it was all good. Mind you it was packed to the nines and the airlines weren’t too keen on me bringing it on as a carry on.They wanted to deny it because it did not always fit in that metal thing, but I managed to get it on. The thing about those metal things is that they are not accurate, your bag always fits! ha! Anyway the bag is dope, it doubles as a duffel and a backpack. It has a special place for your kicks and it zips from what I like to refer to as the belly. I love it and I think it is very dope. The bag is not out yet but it will be dropping soon. What I like about Herschel is that they are Canadian and make a great affordable product.

The bag is made with cordura fabric so you know it is durable and trust me I was afraid it was going to burst open on that last trip and it held up without a sweat.

Thanks Herschel

I tweeted earlier “What do you guys look for in a notebook?” and I got some pretty hilarious answers, especially one from Bun B who replied  ”PAPER”. In all seriousness I am noticing a surge in notebook popularity which is odd because of this highly digital world that we live in. My friend Nick from Complex usually shows up on press trips with a notebook in hand while others have digital recorders. As of recently I started writing things down in a notebook and I like the feeling even though my handwriting is getting worse.

I recently received some notebooks from Arwey and I was really impressed with the quality.

There are a lot of notebook options available in the market place. What do you guys look for in a notebook.

About Arwey

Craftsmanship
Quality
Design (functions + minimal forms)
Colours

They are manufactured using the highest quality components sourced from the best suppliers in the world, our notebooks are bound in two distinctive materials:

1- PU is a long-lasting material which is smooth and soft to the touch.

2- Canvas is a stylish alternative where a more traditional, firmer and textured surface is preferred.

Interior features follows;

+ Useful sketching and writing guides (lined-squared-dotted)
+ Perforated pages
+ Information pages

Arwey notebooks are made using smooth ivory paper allowing your pen or pencil to glide easily across the page. And paper is sustainably sourced and FSC certified.

Arwey’s factory is based in Istanbul, Turkey.

Today I walked into Magasin General and I came across this new watch brand by the name of Neuvo (pronounced nouveau) which is french for new. The watches are pretty cool, reminds you of the popular 80′s model but just with better metals and an easier way to adjust them. I love the copper colour I think it is my favorite, even though they are all fresh.

If you guys know me, you know that I like to share! I was able to get my hands on 1 of each colour and I want to give you guys a chance to win one.

There is 1 black, 1 silver, 1 bronze and 1 copper. The watches are nice, trust me!

RULES

1. Leave a comment on this post answering this question: WHAT TIME IS IT?

2. You have to be following me on twitter @marcustroy and you must follow @neuvomonde

3. You must tweet: #marcustroycontest  He is giving away 4 @neuvomonde watches follow him @marcustroy for details.

If you do all of this correctly you will be entered to win 1 of 4 watches. The contest ends September 15th.

Good luck!

Like me on  facebook/themarcustroyexperience

When I was in Paris I stopped by Collette and picked up this great leather camera strap by ROBERU. Roberu is a Japanese brand with its own leather factory, working the leather with unrivaled craftmandship ; all achievements are made by hand. The camera strap is perfect for the GF1. Adding style to your camera is the new personalization. I think you should invest into a dope camera strap to personalize your camera. I think it shows style & caracter!

80 euros.

Deurne 48 Hr Travel Bag

Haneda slim computer Bag

Hartsfield Travel Tote with Strap

Narita iPad2® Zip Case

Narita iPad2® Zip Case

WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie’s Fall/ Winter 2011 collection celebrates unity through contrast. The collection is fantastic and I wanted to share with you all some of my favorite pieces from the collection.

The silhouettes are clean but still pay attention to detail. I feel that the collection screams luxury and elegance without sacrificing style and brand recognition.

Redefining the concept of timelessness, each piece is designed to be relevant for generations to come. Constructed from quality materials that only get better with age, each product is meticulously crafted from the finest grade leather and 100% organic cotton, so you can explore your world with consciousness, efficiency and style.

Last week my brother was in ATL and he met up with Tunde who had a gift for me. Tunde is the man behind Fresh i AM, a collection of hats, accessories and clothing. The brand started getting some notoriety when Theophilus London has been popping up everyone rocking these snapbacks. The hats are only available in limited amounts and all the sayings are hand sewn.

State of Mind is a collection of hand-crafted snap-back hats that feature 10 clean, bold designs that are deceptively simple yet heavy with meaning. Their purpose is to act as a simultaneous representation and reflection of the current state of things whose definitions enjoy the ability to fluctuate depending on context, intent and delivery. While coming across as a physical representation of our wants, needs and desires, the sole purpose is to make a singular statement that drips with a variety of interpretations.

He gave me the EVOL hat which says LOVE backwards. I love the double meaning of this cap and it is a reminder of what I must do everyday.

We got on the phone for an in-depth interview that I will be sharing with you guys soon, We talk about how he hooked up with Theo and the story behind the collection. Check out the full collection here

Some pictures of TL & Kanye in Cannes.

Thanks Dito, Danniel and Tunde for the love.

My friends from Oakley invited us out to Osheaga festival yesterday and they gave us pairs of the new Oakley silhouette called the Plaintiff. These are fresh, I’ve always been a fan of aviators even though that frame goes in and out of style. They are perfect for a face like mine. I am happy that Oakley is venturing into other great silhouettes…they do have the best lenses in the game.

This past weekend I was in Toronto for Sneaker Friends which was held at the New Era Store. The fellas over at the shop offered us some parting gifts. I decided to go with caps from my favorite cities. I did not want to get traditional fitted or even a snapback so I decided on the Cooperstown 19Twenty collection fitted.  The Collection of custom fitted baseball caps styled after 1920’s “newsboys” hats. The caps feature a loose fitting, unstructured crown top and shorter brim.

I don’t see a lot people wearing these caps so I’m pretty stoked on these.

Available in NY Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals versions

When I was in Chicago a few weeks ago I got a surprise gift from a brother by the name of TY. He goes by the name RegularolTY on twitter. The gift was packaged in a wooden box with my logo engraved on it. What a great touch! Inside was a camouflage bow tie and handkerchief.

I love camo and this will be added to my collection.

Thank you for the gift.

You can learn about TY over here

My guys over at the Blind Barber have recently collaborated with C. Chauchat on a really cool tie. Make sure you head over to The Blind Barber to get a cut and get your self fixed up.

New York, NY — The Blind Barber, New York City’s first barbershop/vintage cocktail parlor, and C. Chauchat, the men’s handcrafted accessory brand, have collaborated on a limited-edition tie for the summer season. Both brands share an East Village zip code and a passion for the time-honored traditions of being a man, from the perfect shave to the thoughtfully chosen accessory.

Utilizing C. Chauchat’s signature technique of layering sheer fabric over opaque prints, the C. Chauchat x Blind Barber tie has the texture of a favorite heather gray sweatshirt on the front, with muted red and blue stripes inspired by a traditional barber pole on the back. Dapper enough for work and casual enough for play, the C. Chauchat x Blind Barber tie should be a man’s punctuation mark in his personal style statement.

Based in New York City, C. Chauchat is a collaboration between designer Curie Choi and Beverly Liang and was borne from a mutual appreciation for classic, high-quality garments. Having apprenticed under Isabel Toledo, Choi brings her experience with using the finest fabrics and hand-tailoring techniques. They most recently worked with Robert Geller to create a custom line of accessories for his FW 2011 collection.

The Blind Barber, located on East 10th Street across from Tompkins Square Park, is co-owned by Jeff Laub, Joshua Boyd and Adam Kirsch. Recently named one of the country’s top barbershops by both Travel and Leisure and Maxim magazines, the Blind Barber is the ultimate grooming destination, offering haircuts and shaves in the front with a full-service “speakeasy” parlor hidden in back.

The C. Chauchat x Blind Barber tie is available beginning June 22nd exclusively at the C. Chauchat website or at The Blind Barber for $160.