I might catch some flack for this but anytime I see lo-top canvas shoes with a simple silhouette, I immediately think of Chucks. They may not be the first, but the are definitely the most recognizable; the standard that others follow. When I saw the Sumfun model that PF Flyers was bringing back from 1947, I was incredibly surprised. Here was a shoe with incredibly clean lines and crisp edges and it does all this while managing to not look like a Converse copy. Recrafted by PF Japan, the reintroduction of this tennis shoe classic from the archives is a welcomed addition to my wardrobe.

Via Hypebeast

Ladies and gentleman: Our very own Sao Paulo correspondent Phuong-Cac is a now a published author. Hooray! Total Sao Paulo: A Guide To The Unexpected is out today! The book is all about, you guessed it, Sao Paulo– features maps, illustrations, a slang glossary (very important, man) as well as a curated list of the best restaurants, bars, clubs, shops, galleries, museums and other can’t miss things around the city.

All the photographs and illustrations featured inside are from talented people living in Sao Paulo– and launching with the book is a local listings site that will have magazine-style stories on Sao Paulo bands, artists, markets, and everything else you need to know about this amazing city.

Wanna celebrate the launch? Thought so. Head over to Carmichael Gallery in LA on Saturday, May 9th from 3-7pm and listen to performances by Andrea Ferraz, watch a capoeira demonstration, and hear DJ Marlon Fuentes play a special set of Sao Paulp legends. Not in LA this weekend? Just jump up and down on your bed after you’ve bought the book.

Congrats PC! Pictures of “inside the book” after the jump (looks fantastic)…

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Reusable bags. I want to use (and reuse) my reusable bags, but I always forget them at home. I love how many of them I see around lately though. I don’t carry a purse so carrying it around is a little tricky, but maybe I just need to get over that and carry it with pride. Flip and Tumble is a new (and I know, another) maker of Reusable Bags– and these ones look really awesome. Unlike Baggu (which we still love), the Flip and Tumble bags have a small little compartment to pack the bag back into sewn/built inside the bag, so you’ll never lose the little carrier. The bags are available in nearly a dozen colors and cost $9 if you buy 1-2, $8 if you buy 3-6 and $7 a pop if you buy more than 7. I say, Buy 7 and gift to your friends or family and help rid the world of plastic bags.

What would you do if you were an out of work art director with some free time and you wanted to help fight the Swine Flu epidemic plaguing Mexico (and looking pretty grim all over the place)? Irina Blok decided to get creative with some fashionista surgical masks. She says: With all the paranoia about swine flu i think there’s an opportunity to do something cool – design fashion surgical masks! Not only they are aesthetically pleasing, they can save your life (well.. not really.. they mostly just look good.)

My favorite by far is the awesome Domo-Kun reference (in the center). She’s going to produce limited quantities of these masks and sell them for $10, and you can email her if you want one! All proceeds go south of the border to help fight the flu epidemic. No word on where she’s donating though.

Throughout the history of film there have been some pretty niftily designed posters, many of which have become iconic images. Sure you could spot the artwork for A Clockwork Orange even without the title (right?), but what if most of the image was stripped away and you were left to contend with only colors, patterns and shapes? Could you do it then? That’s what the site Film the Blanks asks of it’s readers. Monday to Friday, classic cinema images are added sans some very important details. Tidbits are gradually tacked on, challenging readers to summon their powers of cultural recall to figure out just what lies before them. The first ten to correctly guess the abstracted advertisement earn a point in the standings. The more you guess correctly, the more you increase the likelihood of your coming away with the prize of a special one-off poster. Even if you don’t win, you have to admit, most of this movie art looks pretty sweet stripped down. The site also offers some of those astonishing reduced images for sale in their very own online store.

We’re big fans of I Heart Guts. The adorable LA-based family hit the perfect formula for didactic design with their plush organs. For jaded adults (and precocious kids), a soft heart (”I Got The Beat”) or a plus kidney (”When Urine Love”) is just what the doctor ordered. One of the best offbeat bits of toy news from early 2008 was when the plush uterus was recalled due to detachable ovaries that could pose a choking hazard risk. While all other organs in the I Heart Guts body of work are certified safe under US and European codes, they are bringing back the infamous adults-only uterus for Mother’s Day. It’s on sale for just $14 here. Or as the site says: “When it’s that time of the month, you may not like your uterus much, but hey, you wouldn’t be here without one, so give props to this special reproductive organ.”

On May 1st, Selfridges, the high-end UK department store, celebrates its 100th birthday in style. Over the last century, Selfridges has remained on the edge of fashion and culture by collaborating with luminaries like John and Yoko, Salvador Dali and Vivienne Westwood. In October of last year, they opened a designer toy lounge in conjunction with Kidrobot.

For their 100th birthday, Selfridges commissioned exclusive apparel, accessories and products in signature Pantone 109 yellow. The collection, which will be sold in the store throughout May, features pieces by Ralph Lauren, Levi's, Converse, Simon Carter, Fender and Moleskine. In addition, the Big Yellow Festival (including music, fashion, cabaret and gay bingo) kicks off May 1st. If you’re in the old city, be sure to stop by!

Hypebeast has a few nice pictures of the Dalek/Mike Giant opening at Galerie Magda Danysz that took place last week in Paris.

The show runs through May 23rd and if you’re in the area, you should definately check it out. Looks great!

Galerie Magda Danysz 78 Rue Amelot Paris 11, France
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London and Paris-dwelling designer Coco Pit has introduced a lovely set of silk accessories in her debut collection, the imaginative “Forget Me Not.” Colorful turbans and scarves feature antlered-animal themes and geometric patterns. The wares can be purchased online and through Barneys, a retailer that’s not unknown to the fashion illustrator, whose work has been featured in Nylon, ELLE, and Bon. As a consultant, Coco also writes about design in her work for the marketing and technology firm getConfused.