W&I is a Swedish music duo comprised of film composers Ola Wilhelm, 29 years old, and Sandra Windahl, 26 years old, who got together at the end of 2011. Being based in Stockholm, there’s already some weird genius creativity flowing through their sinks so whenever they take a shower or drink from the tap, they just get inspiration. Scientists haven’t proved it but who cares. We don’t care about no scientists!

Anyway, W&I create grand, dreamy Indie-Electro tunes and this union has resulted in their self-titled debut EP, W&I. What song caught my attention? The group’s second single, “Dreamy Creature.” Watch below and then read about who has inspired this duo and where they prefer to shop.

THAT FASHION DUDE: In one word, describe W&I’s sound. Go!

W&I: Epic.

TFD: Who have been some of your musical inspirations?

W&I: M83, Sigur Rós, Beach House and the Drive soundtrack.

TFD: On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the easiest and 10 being the hardest, where would you place the process of writing lyrics?

W&I: Oh, that depends on how much inspiration we get from the sounds that we first create. We find it more easy to write when the harmonies are in minor. I guess we have a thing for melancholia. But in general, I guess we would have to say 7. We are both more into describing our music with instrumental parts. Lyrics always come second.

TFD: How would you sum up your style?

W&I: Dreamy and somewhat mysterious. Musically we try to experiment with the contrasts of organic and electronic sounds. And also capture the influences from film music in to the pop music.

TFD: Where are some of your favorite shopping destinations?

W&I: The southern part of Stockholm with all the amazing second hand stores.

TFD: Which designer would you pick to create the costumes for your first world tour?

W&I: We love this Swedish up-and-coming designer, Diana Orving.

TFD: Sunrise or sunset?

W&I: Defenitely sunrise!

Are your ears wanting more? If so, check out more of W&I on their official YouTube channel or SoundCloud page.

The post 7 Questions With… | Swedish Music Duo W&I appeared first on That Fashion Dude.

A pretty dope option comes courtesy of British fast fashion retailer, Topman, with their Multi Comic Wave Vest ($36) which is part of their Warhol inspired Pixel Pop online collection.

The post Fashion Friday | Pop Out From the Crowd with This Tank appeared first on That Fashion Dude.

“Facing West,” the song which the aforementioned lyric is pulled from, that first turned me on to The Staves just a few weeks ago and ever since, I cannot stop listening to their acoustic Folk/Rock offerings. Sure, I might be going through the processes of putting a failed relationship in the past but even if I weren’t, something about their lyrics just punch you in the heart. Even songs that talk about an active relationship are tinged with sadness that hints at an ending. You know what? Just listen and you’ll know precisely why they are this week’s fixation.

Oh, it doesn’t end there! Listen to “Tongue Behind My Teeth” and be even more amazed. 
For more of The Staves, simply click over to their official YouTube channel or Soundcloud page.

The post Weekly Fixation | The Staves Make Breakups Sound Beautiful appeared first on That Fashion Dude.

That brings me to my main point of discussion: the livestream! It really was the perfect setting for a drinking game. Take a shot every time one of the hosts puts us through an incredibly awkward silence. Take two shots for every time the hosts don’t know who the hell they’re talking to. Yes, there was a moment when Hilary actually looked off camera and asked “Who?” as her guest approached her.

Don’t get me wrong! Home girl looked painfully gorgeous but if we’re being honest, she could have used a bit more time before tackling the daunting task of interviewing guests on a red carpet. The same goes for her co-host Billy Norwich who delivered the most cringe worthy moment of the night. While interviewing Psy, K-Pop royalty, Norwich stopped mid-sentence, asked for clarification from the feed in his ear, looked at Psy psy-lently (see what I did there?) for about three seconds too long and apologized before pushing him away. The other supremely awkward moment? When Beyonce finally arrived and Billy dropped to this hushed voice as if Jesus herself had appeared. She’s a global superstar, not the savior for planet earth.

But enough of how incredibly weird 90% of the live interviews were! Let’s talk fashion. Who met the brief with aplomb? Who killed it? Who received 10′s across the board? None other than Miley Cyrus, Zachary Quinto and Anne Hathaway!

Miley wore Marc Jacobs and considering the visual direction she’s been heading, her red carpet ensemble made perfect sense. That body is infuriating in the best way possible and I would slap a nun for the chance to party with her. Quinto, a man that’s been after my heart for years, wore Vivienne Westwood. The blue hair made it look a bit costume but those eyebrows made it all better. They always make things better. Now, can we chat about Anne Hathaway with the shocking blonde hair in that Valentino gown? She was the epitome of punk gone glam and is actually my Best Dressed of the night.

The reason these three celebs stood out to me is because they had fun with it but still kept that fashion edge. I’m surprised more models didn’t werk it out but what can I say? Obviously people were more concerned with looking couture than punk. Case in point? Andre Leon Talley. “I skipped punk and went straight to couture,” ALT said during his red carpet interview.

The post How Awkward was the 2013 Met Gala’s Red Carpet? appeared first on That Fashion Dude.

If you couldn’t tell by now, this month’s The Crave List is all about the bags we carry while traveling. No one wants to be the jerk trying to cram overstuffed bags in the overhead compartment so it’s best to have your carry-on be of the small variety. The bags listed below are modest enough to slip under your seat but carry enough style that allows you to lug around the essentials (notebook computer, an actual notebook, a magazine and/or piece of literature) like a boss.

Just a heads up but I have a major boner for WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie.

- WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie O’Hare Leather Trimmed Canvas Tote Bag ($350)

- WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie O’Hare Leather Trimmed Cotton/Canvas Tote Bag ($325)

- WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie Oversize Organic Cotton Hartsfield Weekender Tote ($395)

- ASOS Leather-look Holdall ($49.88)

- J. Crew Wallace & Barnes Weekender ($475)

- Michael Kors Twos Tone Leather Tote ($498)

The post The Crave List | Top 6 Bags for Summer Travel appeared first on That Fashion Dude.

What happens on Monday mornings when you stroll into the office? You boot up your computer as you have a cup of coffee, try to put out any fires from over the weekend and begin laying a foundation for the remainder of the week. You’re slashing through items on your check list left and right feeling like a total bad ass headed straight for a promotion. Maybe an hour after that first sip of joe, you get a little rumble in your stomach and suddenly it’s time to gird your loins.

Up from your desk you rise and off to the restroom you stride. You sweep into a brightly lit white space with two urinals and two stalls and just as you start heading towards it, something happens. You notice someone is already in a stall, someone’s at the urinal who noticed you come in and/or someone walks in immediately after you. Think fast, playboy. What do you do?

Shit. Literally. Clinch those cheeks no more because it is totally acceptable and encouraged to frequent the bathroom and perform a Number Two. By releasing, you help eliminate the possibility of becoming constipated, getting hemorrhoids, anal fissures and having to live with the fact that you gave yourself anal fissures because you didn’t want your co-workers to know you have a functioning bowel system.

Still, there are a few things you want to bypass during your stint in the restroom. Yes, we’re talking bathroom etiquette, dudes.

1. DON’T TALK TO PEOPLE THROUGH THE STALLS

I have witnessed this and it made me uncomfortable. The only time you should be chatting with another guy in the restroom is if you happen to bump into them while you’re both washing your hands. Other than that, keep all talking to a minimum.

2. DON’T CLAM UP IF SOMEONE SITS NEXT TO YOU

The guy in the stall next to you probably can’t see your shoes unless he’s being a total creeper and is peering underneath to try and identify you later in the day. Either way, you’ve got real things to worry about like getting confirmation on sample deliveries, approving a press release to be distributed and then some. Do yourself a favor and push through any awkwardness so you can get back to your desk.

3. STILL…DON’T GET TOO COMFORTABLE

It is great that you might be at peace with dropping a deuce in the office bathroom but please remember that you are still in a public place. Heavy sighs, grunting and/or loud whispering to the heavens above should not be heard by anyone…other than the people in your head. Also refrain from leaning on the walls or dividers while at the urinal. You’re using the restroom, not catching a breather during a workout.

4. DON’T LEAVE VISIBLE EVIDENCE

There is absolutely no reason for one of your co-workers to walk into the stall you’ve recently vacated only to stumble across toilet paper, skid marks or anything else for that matter. It’s equally disgusting to walk up to a urinal full of yellow liquid. No one likes a “show off” so it is more than okay if you have to flush more than once.

5. DO OMIT THE FACT THAT YOU’VE JUST TAKEN A CRAP WHEN IN CONVERSATION

Yes, we are all adults and we all poop. This has been established. At the same time, your co-workers do not need to know the exact reason why you were gone from your desk for twelve minutes. If you’re performing a stand-up routine, it might be acceptable but trying to make light of your recent bowel movement in the office is just asking to be ostracized.

Don’t get tangled up in the fear of dropping off unnecessary baggage because there is a 100% chance that the majority of your co-workers are making drop-offs, too. This is actually the one time you can tell your mom it’s okay to go with the crowd is doing.

We all do it so there is no reason to be ashamed to join in on this conversation. Join together and discuss one of the most common, repeated rituals of the American office worker. Don’t clinch up as if you don’t know exactly what I’m talking about because at one time or another, we’ve all been there. Where exactly? Oh, just to the office bathroom to drop a deuce. Sure, it sucks to walk into a cloud of damaging smells left by a faceless colleague, but it’s not healthy to hold it in. [Research on holding shit in

The post Etiquette for Dropping Deuces in the Office appeared first on That Fashion Dude.

These AllSaints Sanshirt Shorts ($105) might be a bit pricey for someone who doesn’t wear shorts often but you can’t deny that they would be a pretty solid option. The leaf print design? The cuff? The desaturated color palette? I know Spring/Summer is all about a punch of color but you can’t do it every day.

You just can’t.

The post Fashion Friday | Don’t Shortchange Me appeared first on That Fashion Dude.

The F0428 matte aviator sunglasses ($5.80) from 21Men are as gangsta as one needs to get when they’re not a huge shades person.  I’m also really feeling for matte in general so combined with the price, this is by far one of the best steals of the month.

The post Fashion Friday | Time To Break In Some New Sunnies appeared first on That Fashion Dude.

So who was born from this exercise? An artsy couple residing in Brooklyn. It’s the classic tale of one person being more successful and their partner failing to hide their resentment.

———

Some People Live in the Downpour

Photo courtesy of Trevor Quan

He chewed on the thought of leaving for good but couldn’t even get out of bed. She was in the bathroom and he knew he would wait for her to come out before even moving from his spot. There was a loud thunder clap and the constant sound of heavy rain but none of it mattered. His thoughts were consumed with her, thoughts of leaving her.

After a couple of years together, he had grown exhausted with always being the strong one for them. She was an artist, she was a creative, she wasn’t made to be suffocated by corporate red tape. She would go silent for days, then she would return angry and there was blatant jealousy that he was a successful art dealer and that she was a struggling painter. There were arguments as to why she wasn’t a priority artist for him to push, why he couldn’t try to sell her pieces as well. There were the times that she said she hated him but they had gone to high school together, fallen in love during undergrad, moved to New York City right after school finished and started a life together in Brooklyn. They quickly turned into one of “those couples” they once made fun of while back home in Indiana. They had history, he loved her, she had a good heart so how could he leave her now?

The shower turned off and a few beats passed before he heard her footsteps padding down their short hall and into the bedroom. Another explosion of thunder ripped through the air. He decided to use this as a starting point. He slightly jolted and rolled over onto his back bringing his hands to his face.

“Shit,” she muttered more to herself as she dried off and simultaneously walked around the room. She had always hated the thunder. Too violent she claimed. “You up?” she asked blindly, the towel now on the back of a chair, her naked body on display. He sat up in bed and watched her pull a floral printed dress over her head. She turned around a few times as if looking for something, stopped in his direction and walked to his side of the bed. She bent down, grabbing a brown leather braided belt of his. She wrapped it around her waist and went back to where she stood before. “I’m almost finished with that portrait landsacpe piece and I know you hate when I ask you this, John, but I’d really appreciate it if you could talk to your boss about featuring it in the gallery. This one’s special,” she said.

He noticed she had not looked at him once this entire time. He got out of bed and went to give her a hug. Before he could get his arms around her, she walked out of the bedroom asking if he knew if he had seen her navy blue kitten heels. He didn’t say anything but she called out his name again as if to repeat the question. He went into the bathroom and shut the door. Her footsteps were walking toward him so he quickly locked the door and leaned against the sink.

The first time they had said “I love you,” they were sitting in the house he grew up in right after his mother’s funeral. She spoke the words and he echoed them right back. She had kissed him on the forehead and went to talk to his dad. At his graduation, John’s dad had teared up saying how his mother would be proud, how he was excited that he was gonna go off to the big city and that he should cherish every moment with Alyssa. She was the real deal, a keeper and his mother was more fond of her than of her own husband and son.

In that moment of locking himself in the bathroom, it was this conversation that flashed through his mind and he suddenly felt trapped. His heart felt like it would explode but he took a deep breath and turned to face the tiny mirror above the sink. He didn’t bother looking in, turned on the cold water and splashed a few handfuls into his face. Most of the water ended up on the floor and he almost laughed because this was something she originally thought was hilarious about him. The last time she commented about it, they ended up getting into a screaming match that resulted in her punching him in the face. He had temporarily moved in with his buddy Alabama but went back when she showed up at Alabama’s place crying for forgiveness.

He quickly brushed his teeth, splashed some mouthwash around and made his way back into their bedroom. She had the light on and the voice of a woman singing in French floated from her Macbook. She was rubbing lotion on her arms and looked up at him, her expression a mixture of sadness and contempt. Alyssa started talking but the sound of the rain drowned her out. John walked over to the window and looked out. He could barely see more than fifteen feet in front of him it was coming down so hard. He took a deep breath and turned to Alyssa who was still talking.

“I mean…are you even listening?”

“Sorry, babe. What?”

“Really, John? Did you hear anything?”

The post Flash Fiction | Some People Live in the Downpour appeared first on That Fashion Dude.

I noticed that while OneRepublic always has an epic single from each album campaign (“Apologize” and “Good Life” anyone?), the albums tend to have a lot of filler. This was not the case with recently released Native which proves that Tedder and frequent writing partner/band mate Brent Kutzle are the kings of catchy. Native is full of Pop anthems tailor made for an advertisement, the train ride down to work or just chilling at home doing something for yourself.

Can we talk about “Something’s Gotta Give,” “Burning Bridges” and “Can’t Stop” for a moment? Massive. That’s the best way to describe these three tracks! “Give” is the perfect evolution of what the band does best and shows they know how to expertly progress into different territories. “Bridges” is the type of song to play at the end of a movie trailer with a star studded ensemble cast where there are shots of smiles, tears and other shenanigans.

As for “Can’t Stop”? Oh, listen to this! They rope in Leona to make the song an eargasm duet, release it as a single that shoots to the top of the charts, they pull a Black Eyed Peas and she joins the group. Quite frankly, I don’t see any downsides here. Leona’s career isn’t exactly shaping out how it should and her voice suits Tedder’s lyrics almost better than his. With their recent performance on American Idol with Katharine McPhee, I thought she might be a good fit but realized almost instantly that something like this belongs to Ms. Lewis.

To hear more, check out the official OneRepublic YouTube page now.

The post The Weekly Fixation | OneRepublic – Native appeared first on That Fashion Dude.