So what happens when you take a seven-year-old, extremely successful online business and move it into reality? Well, the phrase “sink or swim” comes to mind, but only time will tell for the chaps over at Threadless. That’s right, the guys who have spent the last seven years supplying a never-ending chain of ironic t-shirts to the creative class are opening their first retail space in their hometown of Chicago. Part store, and part gallery, the Threadless store was designed to give maximum exposure to t-shirts as an art medium and to allow Threadless designers a moment to shine as artists.

The store will feature new tees every week as well as weekly window paintings by some of their artists. And, it gets better; if you’re in Chicago, swing by the Threadless grand opening party tomorrow evening, followed by an after party. Each features a select line-up of bands playing. The only catch is that you’ll have to make a stop at the store sometime today or tomorrow to pick up your free tickets.

The team at Brooklyn-based Mishka NYC streetwear packed a ton of new amenities into their relaunched site, which is as dope as the punk approach they take to their clothing designs and graphics. Read up on their daily ruminations and curious finds on the new blog, plan your fall wardrobe with a peek into the lookbooks and catalog, check out an oven-hot mix from Trouble & Bass’ Math Head (I can’t get it out of my head!), and of course, go shopping — they’re marking the site’s redesign with the second launch of their online-only tees, two of which were drawn by Evil Design. Fair warning though: These tees are in a limited run of 20 to 40 each, so best buy ‘em before they get cold.

Those SAGxOGI bags Josh gushed about not to long ago are finally up for sale, and the fact that there are only two available (alas, neon pink’s a goner) certainly won’t stop us from posting about them.

San Francisco-based OGI created these bags as good-looking study in art and ethics, and pulled his inspiration from the storied “seven dirty words” of American culture. Each one-of-a-kind bag, while entirely G-Rated on the outside, is filled with nicely hand-painted and mom-unapproved words and designs, and is running at a $600 pricetag. I sort of favor the neon green one, but that gold-on-suede also has a something wonderful going for it (perhaps it’s that “God” is written on the inside?). If you are a fan of OGI, or just in the market for a really, really incredible bag/piece of art, I recommend high-tailing it in this direction as fast as you can click.

I’m a little nervous about bringing iminlikewithyou up again — mainly because you crazies have gone completely batshit every single time we’ve mentioned the networking/gaming/dating site — but hey, I love you, want the best for you, etc., so here goes.

IILWY, if you aren’t already familiar, takes a comfortingly raucous approach to internet networking by enticing users to participate in games created by other users. Players bid points (that they rack up by winning other games, logging in, and getting involved in a few other ways) on games to get them in the running for a top five spot, which in turn lands them (if chosen as winner by the game’s creator) with a little chat sesh. Why we’re reviewing all of this basically amounts to the fact that after a ton of hard work (involving the sweat and tears of our own Editorial Director, Heather, who is now double-troubling in the same capacity over there), a freshly perkinated iminlikewithyou has been revealed. Aside from being even prettier than the original IILWY, the new site features a snarky news section, an easier way to chat among users, and what some have been referring to an “overall aesthetic fiesta.” We’re so dang happy with the new site that we have once again (oh dear, here’s where the madmen come out…) decided to throw our readers an open invite. Just click here to get to our JS reader-friendly sign-up spot, then get crack-a-lackin’ on setting up your profile/first game. Maybe Heather and I will find you…

More screencaps after the jump. READ MORE…

When Godmother, co-founder of premium denim label 5EP, learned about the Styleforum message boards from a member/customer, her interest was piqued and shortly after, she was signed up and posting. What she found was a diverse collection of (mostly) males discussing a broad range of topics from clothing trends and design to more practical subjects such as pricing or laundering techniques. The ball was set in motion, and soon moderator LA Guy and Denimbar owner Mauro found themselves corresponding with Godmother on a potential special edition collaboration between 5EP and Styleforum. Released this week, as a culmination of over 7 months of work, with leadership and final approval from the aforementioned trio, plus dozens of pages of feedback from forum members: a straight leg jean with a mid-low rise cut from raw Japanese selvage. The denim is a slim cut, not super skinny, so you’ll want to get your true size for a slim fit or size up one if you don’t want to deal with the hassles of not breathing as you break in your pair. Limited to just 200 pairs, they will be available from Styleforum, Denimbar, Oak, and Hollywood Trading Company. If you’ve grown out of your True Religions and Diesel jeans and are ready to move up a tier in the world of premium denim, you might want to give any of these locations a call, or better yet, visit them and try on a pair.

We told you a little about artist and sneaker designer Methamphibian before, but only a little bit and in the context of last year’s Couture Assassins, Miami. Now he’s got a solo show coming up in Los Angeles — this Saturday at Kazuo HQ, a joint production of Evil Monito, Mountain Dew and Tiger Beer — and he deserves a post of his own.

Click on over to his website; the Gallery tab gives you a flavor for his work (including over 170 incredibly pimp sneakers that you’ll probably never get your hands on), and the Store tab is the place for you to (try to) buy some of his custom shoes. These are the kind of kicks that will get you noticed, envied and very possibly laid. Now that I think of it, Methamphibian isn’t an “artist and sneaker designer.” He’s just an artist.

My most favorite artist in the whole wide world, Takashi Murakami (see: Superflat, Louis Vuitton), is co-curating an exhibit with Giant Robot publisher Eric Nakamura, selecting the cream of the crop from Murakami’s respected GEISAI art expos in Japan and bringing them across the Pacific blue to LA. GEISAI’s an important event he organizes through his Kaikai Kiki artist management company and provides fresh, rising Japanese artist talent with a direct link to the public. The GEISAI Artists show will run from September 15 to October 10 at Giant Robot’s Los Angeles GR2 gallery, which we all know has steadfastly proved itself as an important space since its inception as any of the other hoity-toity galleries in the city. Among the artists showcasing are Yasushi Ebihara, whose work revolves around an almost stalker-like obsession of Macauley Caulkin; Jaga Ichiro and her devious paintings of liquids that come from our bodies; Miki Taira and her fabric people; and Sashi Masakatsu, whose painting is the leading image of the show (left). An opening reception kicks off the show on Saturday night.