This past Saturday, while watching Saturday Night Live, I’m sure we all gasped a little when we saw host Will Ferrell wearing a familiar jacket…one that is bright orange, striped, and features a huge tiger head on the front.  Well you may have known that jacket has also been worn by none other than Valensi.

I made a previous post about this particular jacket awhile ago and it seems like I didn’t really like it then, nor do I really like it now.  Do I really have to explain why?

After seeing the jacket resurrected by the SNL host of the night, I decided to do some digging to find out the exact origins of the big cat outerwear.

Turns out it was designed by Jeremy Scott for Adidas and released back in 2009 for the brand’s “Originals” collection.  And the jacket is called the “King of Africa” zipup.  Can this track jacket get anymore gaudy?  Well if you haven’t noticed the matching striped track pants that were also designed to match, well then…

So who wore it best?  I’m going to have to say Ferrell did, because he is a comedian and can get away with ridiculous tiger jackets like this.  Valensi, on the other hand…let’s just say vintage leather is much more suited to his occupation.

*ASOS.com interview with Julian, May 2010*

Julian Casablancas

Single man

The frontman of The Strokes talks to Emma Sibbles about thrift-store shopping, dressing for girls, and going solo

What are you wearing today?

‘The white Nikes I designed myself online, the pants [red skinny cords] I got from American Rag.  This Indiana Jones jacket, I just got at a thrift store, it was about $20.  A fan gave me all the necklaces except for the gold one, which was made by a friend.’

Where do you shop?

‘Thrift stores, vintage stores.  I go anywhere to find good cheap stuff.’

How would describe your style?

‘I guess you want to go up to the edge without crossing it.  Something that looks cool on stage but you can also pull off in a bar.’

Is your on-stage/off-stage style the same?

‘It used to be the same, now I think I try to step it up on stage.’

How much thought goes into what you’re going to wear on stage and in videos?

‘I used to to never really think about clothing that much until I got into a band.  As a fan, you’re always looking at everything right down to the shoelaces.  When you know it can affect a fan’s enjoyment, you kind of have to think about it.’

How did it feel to inspire other people’s style with The Strokes’ uniform skinny jeans and Converse?

‘It’s weird if someone is dressing exactly like you, but if someone takes it to the next level then I think that’s cool.’

You recently became a father [to a son named Cal], do you dress him in skinny jeans?

‘Ha, that would be too much of a pain in the ass.  It’s funny, you don’t really get to dress them, so many people gave us gifts and hand-me-downs.  I got him a Sesame Street T-shirt from a thrift store and that has pretty much been my contribution so far.’

It must be hard being on tour away from your family?

‘They’re here.  It’s been a little tricky because you get into tour mode, survival mode, where you’re just head down, compartmentalise, and suddenly I have to balance everything.  But it’s been good.’

Who or what inspires you?

‘Everything that’s above average.  It could be a movie, music, books, even commercials or people.  A really cool commercial can inspire you.’

Who do you think looks stylish?

‘I like mixing different things from different people.  I have phases of thinking Michael Jackson looked great but I wouldn’t dress like that!  You have to try and have something that’s your own and individual.’

How’s it been going solo without the rest of The Strokes?

‘It’s been great for me.  The vibe has been a lot more laid-back.  The crowds have been really fun, musically, it’s totally liberating.  Not to take away from the dudes, it’s just a personal comfort thing.

What are you listening to at the moment?

‘Metronomy, Beirut and this cool ’70s Turkish soul song - it sounds like Marvin Gaye’s band.  All pretty random.’

Who do you dress for?

‘I think everyone in society dresses for girls.  That’s obviously a vague generalisation, but to be honest, it’s like 50/50, like my music - half for other people and half for myself.  I want to like it and I want other people to like it, hopefully.’

❖ Julian’s new album, Phrazes for the Young, is out now

Happy birthday to our dearest Albert, who turns 32 today!

Although Albert is one of the more stylish Strokes, there are instances in which that doesn’t hold up so well, however rare.  And because poking fun isn’t just for Julian, let’s take a look at an Albert look that isn’t up to par with his three piece suits, cool denim jackets, and tight t-shirts.

The exhaustive blue of this look: the large blue aviator jacket, blue shirt, and blue pants, with an added Ushanka makes him look like a postal carrier. (Or perhaps a “Postal Blowfish?”)  It looks like he will be delivering his own birthday cards. 

This look isn’t fantastic, but he has made up for it since then and has proved that he still knows how to dress like the dapper man that he is.  

Let’s hope Albère has a great birthday, one that’s far better than the creepy picture Julian tweeted to him earlier today.  (If only the picture were as cute as the tweet’s text…but then again, this is Julian we’re dealing with.)

SPIN Magazine’s February 2006 issue features The Strokes in some out-of-this-world outfits that make them look like the coolest and most stylish band in the universe.

Fab’s moustache makes him look like a stereotypical cop out of one of those hilarious raunchy comedies.  All he needs are some aviator sunglasses.

There they are.  Sheriff Moretti, fighting crime On The Other Side of the tracks… 

Julian looks like a cool space cowboy, with plaid suit, leather belt, western shirt, and all.  Look out y’all, The Strokes’ Juicebox Rodeo is coming to a town near you.

Nikolai spices up his vest and button down shirt combo with a hat that’s been beamed from the 40s.  Talk about totally cool vintage!

Albert’s look is a bit weak in this shoot, though.  Just a classic Albert suit?  How boring.

Nick decides to add some mod style to his look with a scarf.  So much can be done with a simple scarf.  He adds a layer of superstar style on top of his perfectly Valensi-classic look of a loose fitting t-shirt, skinny jeans, and sneakers.

April Fools!  This is probably the oddest shoot the band has done and it really isn’t representative of what The Strokes actually dress like, not even in 2006.  Albert seems to be the only one who hasn’t been sucked into the bizarre fashion black hole the rest of the band has fallen into.

From the styling to the cheesy space set theme, everything is just weird.  These are definitely not favorite looks on the band, but it’s fun to laugh at Julian’s ridiculous suit and Nick’s sassy scarf.  

But for real, someone confiscate Nikolai’s hat and Nick’s scarf, give Fab’s face a shave, and let’s plan a ceremonial burning of Julian’s outfit.  And then we need a minimalist set and some more leather jackets in here, stat!

Take a look here at the slideshow of pictures and lessons about how to get the band’s look that Huffington Post’s style blog Gilt MANual put together after Angles was released.  [Link via thrillsarecheap]

Watch out for the jab they take at Julian at the end.

[Photo via absolutionabsolutely]

Albert shows up at the film premiere of Les Adoptés in New York City on March 28th, wearing an understated and sophisticated look.

This cerulean-blue sweater over a red striped button up shirt, combined with black well-fitting chinos and a large silver watch is a departure from the light-wash denim jacket over a hoodie and maroon Dr. Marten boots that he has worn at previous film premieres.

Not to say that this outfit looks bad, it just makes Albert look older and less of an urban character whose style revolves around vintage graphic t-shirts, worn leather jackets, and Converse.  Is anyone else getting a chic “settled-down dad” vibe?

As hinted by this sweater and shirt combo, are The Strokes growing up?  Will Nick ditch his slouchy sneakers next?  Will Julian give up leather jackets?  Will Fab stop dressing like he’s stuck in 2001?  Will Nikolai retire his Niko vest to the corner of his closet that serves as a museum of his youthful past?

But with Julian tweeting things like “It’s all just happenstance people. Na’mean? Lol xoxo :) :( ;(-)- - - (vomiting winky-face)” and Nikolai claiming “Mugician” as his profession as well as all the other recent antics the band has done in the past few years, I think The Strokes are far from growing up; they will be forever young, na’mean?  ;;—))

[GIF by vflowz]

Back in an issue from 2002, Q Magazine pinpoints where The Strokes’ Is This It era looks derive from.

The image’s text reads as follows:

[ALBERT’S] HAIR BY THE MODERN LOVERS: A walking monument to hair-care products — or lack of — in mid ’70s Massachusetts, guitarist Jerry Harrison’s mop was a distinctive feature of the Boston power-poppers — much like their familiar, fractured guitar riffs.

[ALBERT’S] SHIRT & TIE BY THE CARS: Pin-sharp ’70s new wavers The Cars always knew their way around a haberdasher — and appear to have bequeathed their best red shirt and tie combo to pin-sharp, 21st century new wavers The Strokes.

[NIKOLAI’S] POSTAL WORKER’S THREADS BY CLIFF FROM CHEERS: Nikolai, you’ve got mail!

[FAB’S] HAIR & [NICK’S] JACKET BY BLONDIE: Picture this!  Shunning punk’s prevalent trend for a spiky “do,” Blondie bassist Nigel Harrison scoffed up all his crusts and made a virtue of his natural curls, while advertising the merits of a smart jacket at all times.

[JULIAN’S] HAIR, [JULIAN’S] JEANS, & [JULIAN, FAB, & NICK’S] SNEAKERS BY THE RAMONES: Maintaining the New York status quo, the punk rock mop, faded denim and canvas footwear (the latter lying fallow outside of heavy metal circles for almost a decade) has now been revived for another generation.