Style Cynics » Affliction Clothing

Affliction Influence Jeans

Fashionista — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:00:00 +0000

Sometimes, when you wear a pair of jeans, you just want them to fit well, make you look good, and be versatile with the style that you choose to exhibit that day. When I put on my favorite pair of jeans, they’re able to fulfil all of the criteria, and I’m comfortable wearing them. Affliction understands the need for a good pair of jeans, and their Influence piece is no exception.

Although these jeans definitely remind me of something that a tattoo artist, rap star or motorcyclist would wear, they’ve still got a modicum of style that separates them from the cheaper models. Personally, I like the fact that they’ve been hand-distressed, because they’re not stiff and new when you put them on. The worn places above the knees and on the back seem to give the impression that these jeans have a bit of give in them. The best jeans are those that have already been broken in for you!

The Affliction Influence jean is made of 100% cotton and cut in a vintage boot cut fit. They’ve got a twenty-inch leg opening, which is great for those people who like a nice roomy leg, and they have an 11.5-inch ringspun. The jeans are printed on the inside with a wicked skull pattern, and they have a water base front screen and contrasted skull lining on the front pocket. If you haven’t already guessed, these jeans are trying for edge. Thankfully, they have it. Actually, I really like the skull print – they provide just enough contrast to make these jeans interesting.

The pants also have been put through a medium calcified wash and have been deconstructed by hand. I personally enjoy the custom touches – Affliction has embroidered their logo on the back pocket (always discreetly) and has a metal jean patch at the back, as well. They’ve detailed the pants with custom skull buttons and a custom hangtag and dog tag, as well. I really like the Native feather print on the right leg – its wispy, sort of windblown look just makes these jeans a little more awesome. Even if Affliction isn’t looking to make a political statement, I can’t deny that the artwork is absolutely mind-blowing.

You can find your Affliction Influence jeans at SolisStyle.com for $169.99. For a pair of jeans that looks this good? That’s a great price.

Affliction Lucky Hat

Fashionista — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:00:20 +0000

For a hat that has “lucky” in its name, the resulting design doesn’t strike me as being filled with hope and luck. In fact, it’s a bit dark, although extremely cool. The hat itself has a silver lava wash, with a leather under brim, metal hat button, and dome studs. In fact, it contrives to be quite hardcore, and with its skull-and-cross design, it’s almost pirate-like. The design reminds me of rap stars – in fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve actually seen this design on a rap star before. However, it doesn’t matter if you’re a big name or just someone wanting to look good – Affliction’s hats are, indeed, worth every penny, and they make you look really cool.

It’s the design itself that’s a bit odd, as it incorporates a cross and two skulls, ringed by stripes. It’s interesting because it’s so amazingly detailed, but it’s confusing as to how this is lucky. The cross is in the shape of a high Celtic cross, without the organic knotting on the shafts. It’s studded on all four corners by metal studs, and surrounded by two grinning skulls, facing each other, at the top, and what looks like birds of prey at the bottom. The whole design is surrounded by black and white stripes that almost resemble a Native Chief’s headdress. The print is picked out in extreme detail, and the whole effect is stunning.

At any rate, the hat itself is extremely interesting. I really like the metal studs on the dome of the hat and on the cross – the little details are what makes this hat better than an average baseball cap. For $46.00, it had better be good. Affliction likes to hand-distress their items, and I really think that it makes a difference in the quality of the piece. You can go out to the store and buy any old hat, but one that’s been carefully crafted and designed is worth a lot more. In this case, the grinded look gives a worn, comfortable look to this hat. I like the addition of the leather under brim – it definitely gives a little more strength to the design of the hat and makes you really believe that you’re getting what you pay for. The hat comes in one size, but it should fit most heads.

You can find your Affliction Lucky hat at SolisStyle.com for $46.00.

Affliction Clothing Tribe Button-Down

Fashionista — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:00:02 +0000

There is, perhaps, nothing more profound than Native art, no matter how it’s produced or depicted. The suffering of the Native peoples is amazingly heartbreaking, and every artist seems to find a different way to drive home that point. Affliction, always rising to the occasion, has created a button-down shirt with a design that not only drives home the point of Native suffering, but also reminds us of the mass death that certain tribes experienced. At a time when many Native tribes are trying to get back what was once theirs, the design is incredibly emotive.

The long-sleeved, collared shirt is a gunmetal-grey, with a distressed oil stain wash and custom metal buttons. From a distance, the shirt actually looks like it’s made from watered silk. That alone would make it amazing, but the depiction of a Native Chief in full headdress was what really drew my eyes to this piece. The feathers are picked out in black and grey and the face of the Chief is reflective white. What’s interesting is the dual way that you can look at the print – on one side, the Chief’s face is intact. On the other, it’s a skull. Any way you look at it, the effect is noble and extremely moving.

All political connotations aside, the design fails to strike anything in me but absolute admiration for the artist, because it’s hard to present something like that without failing miserably. Thankfully, in this case, the design succeeds. In fact, I have seen tattoos of this very subject, and they have not measured up to this piece of art. However, what else would you expect from Affliction?

What’s really interesting about Affliction clothing is how they present their labels. In this case, the Affliction name is outlined in red over the contour of the Chief’s headdress. The name is accented by odd red squiggles at intervals around the print’s headdress, and again on the front of the shirt, where a print of two feathers is where the left front pocket would be. Are they supposed to be blood? I have no idea. However, they serve their purpose – my eyes are immediately drawn to the design. Not that they wouldn’t have been in the first place, but the red is a nice contrasting touch.

You can find the Affliction Tribe Button-down shirt at SolisStyle.com for $84.00. Well worth it, in my opinion.

Affliction Samurai Hood in Blue

Fashionista — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:00:02 +0000

What is it with the obsession with samurais? Everywhere you go, you see video games, movies, and books, even classes on how to fight Asian-style. People seem to love the ceremony, pomp and bravery that comes with samurais. Is it because a samurai is, literally, an ultimate warrior? Considering Affliction’s UFC connections, I think a samurai hoodie is quite appropriate. Hoodies alone are cool and comfortable; an Affliction hoodie combines that and edge to make this shirt amazing.

This one, the Affliction Samurai Hood in Blue, is especially cool. If anything, the color of the hoodie alone would get me to buy it for my significant other. This sea-blue tea stain-washed shirt is grinded and distressed to look appropriately worn, and the sleeves are seamed down the arms to create a slightly ruched effect. The color is even slightly splotchy, which makes an interesting textured effect.

The aforementioned samurai design is what really makes the shirt. Picked out in a fine black network of lines, the samurai warrior jumps to life as he wields his sword on a background of wild, wind-swept trees. The warrior is amazingly detailed, down to his ceremonial war costume. I personally enjoy the look of rage and bloodlust on his face. If you’re going to wear a creation by an ex-UFC fighter, you’d better be appropriately fierce. With the current Asian craze, I predict this shirt will be quite popular.

I also like the ink-spotted white Asian characters on the left edge of the shirt. The Affliction logo is found on the back of the shirt, and instead of the simple elegant script, the font has changed to resemble the style of the Asian characters on the shirt. You can also find the words juxtaposed on one of the same branches that adorn the front of the shirt. The attention to detail is one of the reasons why Affliction’s clothing works without looking garish or cheap – you can tell the artists have designed the print with as much care as they would design one of their most expensive tattoos. This is why these clothes are considered designer-quality, and they literally deserve to be.

The shirt is heavyweight cotton and has a zippered front. You can find it at SolisStyle.com for $110.00. Before you think this is too expensive, consider the quality of this shirt. For something this cool, I’d pay a lot more.

Affliction Men’s Binded Polo in Chocolate Brown

Fashionista — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:22:25 +0000

I think one of the best inventions in shirts, for both men and women, is the polo shirt. It’s comfortable enough for everyday, and you can do pretty much anything with it. I have several polos myself in different colours, because they’re the perfect shirt for casual wear. I also like the soft material and loose fit of a polo shirt. In short, polos are awesome. It then goes to show that Affliction polos will also be awesome. Case in point: the Affliction Men’s Binded Polo in Chocolate Brown.

The shirt is simple, goes with jeans or khakis, and it looks comfortable. But it’s more than just a regular polo shirt because of its intriguing printed design, and, let’s face it, its sexy shape when a guy wears it. The website tells me that this is classic Affliction with an updated design. All I have to say is classic Affliction clothing is extremely attractive, indeed.

I’ve spent a lot of time talking about the historical and symbolic connotations of Affliction’s designs, but it’s because the artists seem to have put a lot of thought into the clothing. When clothes turn into art, you know that the impact has been achieved, and every single one of Affliction’s pieces seem to have struck me in a good way. This shirt depicts a skeleton against a dead tree with a crow sitting on a stump next to it. My first thought is the Biblical story of Judas being eaten by crows after his betrayal, but on closer inspection, it seems to be that the skeleton is actually a part of the tree, in a growing or creeping death sort of concept. An interesting notion, indeed. Besides the amazingly cool design, the shirt also has a three-buttoned placket and an understated collar, as per polo standards.

The shirt itself is binded polo in a chocolate brown wash – it has the Affliction logo written across the span of the left shoulder. However, it only comes in small or XXlarge, surprisingly. Why only two sizes? Seems a bit unfair. Sorry if you fall anywhere between those two sizes, buddy – you’re out of luck. Either way, the shirt minimalist enough to wear pretty much anywhere, but edgy enough to make a statement. Your choice. You can find the Affliction Men’s Binded Polo in Chocolate Brown at SolisStyle.com for $55.00.

Affliction Seeker Flying V Shirt

Fashionista — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:00:27 +0000

When I was younger, and in my goth days, I was obsessed with Celtic crosses. They have a certain beauty about them that completely overrides their Christian origins, and in fact, the crosses themselves throw back to a more organic art form. The pagan symbol of the sun is juxtaposed over the cross. I simply loved the whimsical look they gave my clothing, and I find it hard to believe that it could ever look hardcore. However, Affliction has once again proven that they can, indeed, turn anything edgy, and their Seeker Flying V-shirt is no exception.

Affliction has taken a Celtic cross and put it on one of their V shirts, but what’s awesome is that instead of a knotted or organic look, they’ve used their own design in the shafts of the cross. The Affliction fleur-de-ly is centered in the “sun” of the cross, and the organic design found on the neck, tail and crossings of the symbol has been replaced with a sharp, angular geometric pattern. What I find most interesting about this shirt is the fact that the cross is backed with faint wings and overlapped with two back-to-back grey skulls. Even knowing that Affliction does not mean the Celtic cross as a Christian symbol, the cross itself does not represent death. Nevertheless, the effect is interesting, and with the design of the shirt, I can definitely see a motorcyclist wearing this in his troupe of Hell’s Angels. Heck, I can see any rock-obsessed guy wearing this one, and what’s more, looking great.

The coal-black shirt is made of 100% cotton and is machine washable. It’s also premium-cut and dye processed to give it that metal look and it’s been hand distressed. The cross is printed again on the front, and the Affliction name has been transposed over the reflective design. The V of the shirt is really a bit of a keyhole, but it’s technically enough to live up to its name. On the back, the Affliction name appears again above the cross.

I suppose what’s really awesome about this shirt isn’t simply the redesigned high cross, but more so the fact that the whole design actually works. It’s edgy and interesting, and that’s what really gets people to notice clothing. The price isn’t bad, either. Find your Seeker Flying V Shirt at SolisStyle.com for $39.00 – and get ready to scare some upstanding citizens when you roar by on your Harley.

Affliction Elite Button-Down Shirt

Fashionista — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 20:04:36 +0000

Whenever I see Elite in the name of a piece of clothing, I inwardly groan, because the clothes never live up to their name. However, in the case of this shirt, I have to take that back. I love a man in a button-down shirt – and if a man came up to me wearing this, I’d definitely find him more than mediocre. If you’ve got a shirt with a cool design, you’ve caught my eye.

Affliction’s Elite Button-down shirt is printed, as all of their clothes are, with a thought-provoking image. In this case, it’s a skull with long, iron-grey hair wearing a top hat and cravat. The skull is ringed with red roses and backed with lighter grey swirls. The effect is slightly disturbing, but no one can dispute how well-done the image is. The skull has careful detailing around the eye sockets and teeth, and the hair is picked out in flowing ringlets. This gentleman in the white cravat was apparently not elite enough to escape death. Mementomoria again – ah, Affliction, you are clever. Even on a shirt, no one escapes. Despite this, the effect is stunning, and one can imagine a tattoo artist wearing this shirt as he inks away. In fact, I could actually see him inking this image onto an arm – it’s just that vibrant.

The shirt itself is dark grey, with contrasting white stitching on the collar and sleeves. It’s made of 100% cotton and is machine-washable. However, Affliction does suggest that you wash it inside out because of the careful detailing. It’s been hand-distressed and dye processed for the ultimate in edge. The shirt has a logo pocket on the front – a white bordered shield with the Affliction name and symbol. The symbol itself reminds me of a fleur-de-ly, but I’m not sure that’s exactly what it is. Either way, it works with the shirt’s design of ornate grotesque. Actually, the whole thing has a bit of a Phantom of the Opera feel to it. I also really like the pinstriping effect on the shirt itself.

You can find your Affliction Elite Button-down shirt at SolisStyle.com for $75.00. It comes in small, medium or large sizes, and it seems to fit pretty close to the chest. It’s almost a dress shirt, but I wouldn’t suggest wearing this to work; that is, unless you work in an edgy environment or one that appreciates clothing artistry.

Affliction Dragon Jean

Fashionista — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:48:35 +0000

My favorite pair of jeans is the pair that is completely worn. They’re a faded dark blue; they have a relaxed waist; they pool around my feet and they’ve got worn places in the knees. They’ve been washed so many times that they’re softer than fleece pajama pants, and I love them that way. In my opinion, all jeans should be akin to your favorite pair. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks that way. Affliction has made a pair of slouchy jeans that are more than just comfortable – they’re hardcore. And really, why shouldn’t a comfortable pair of jeans be stylish?

The Affliction Dragon jean, on first glance, looks like a balled-up worn pair of jeans with a dragon design on the leg and some ripped places on the denim. On closer inspection, they’re carefully deconstructed to look that way. The vintage boot-cut jeans have gone through a medium calcified wash, for that beat-up look, and the waist slouches down to provide ultimate comfort. They’ve been adorned with custom skull rivets and a metal jean patch, with the Affliction logo prominently displayed on the back hem of the waist. The jeans have a seam meandering over the left leg and a printed skull-pattern inner lining.

Pretty normal, right? These jeans may look like regular pants, but the dragon design on the left leg puts that idea to rest. A woodcut-like dragon roars over the fall of the leg, trailing down to just past the knee. It’s surrounded by white Asian characters and surrounds almost to the back of the pants. The dragon’s an important part of Asian culture – it represents health, strength and confidence. Although I’m sure Affliction can’t promise you that, they at least can promise you a cool pair of jeans.

The design even almost covers the back pockets, which are discreetly printed with an embroidered A, just in case you didn’t see the jean plate. The best thing about the dragon is that it’s not garish – it doesn’t look like someone came along and decided to slap a picture on a pair of pants. The whole effect is cohesive with the light, worn denim. The jeans’ leg openings are twenty inches and the jeans have an 11.5 ounce ringspun.

Find your Affliction Dragon Jeans at SolisStyle.com for a reasonable $172.00. Hey, who said style had to be expensive? When it comes to edge, it’s got to be affordable.

Affliction Winged Reaper Beanie

Fashionista — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:00:42 +0000

When I was a kid, we wore beanies in the wintertime, complete with snowsuit, boots and wet woollen mittens. We lost them frequently, to find them the next spring wet and half-disintegrated under the melted snow. Now that I’m unfortunately older, beanies seem to be the thing to wear among the people wanting to make a fashion statement. Thankfully, Affliction’s made beanies that, instead of dripping with snow, actually have style. If you lost these hats under the snow, you’d be throwing away a work of art. Not cool at all.

The Affliction Winged Reaper beanie is one of the company’s offerings, and really, the thing is amazing. My favorite thing about Affliction clothing is their careful attention to artistry and detail. This hat has exactly what’s needed for rap and rock n’ roll stars to make their edgy statement, but also gives a regular guy on the street what he needs to look cool among his peers. I never have understood the idea of wearing a beanie in all weathers until I saw this one.

Made of black wool, the hat sports a leather appliqué patch in the form of a slashed A and a corresponding embroidered logo on the back. If you’re not sure what designer you’re wearing, well, you’ve got two reminders. Actually, the logo isn’t that garish – it fits with the hat’s design. When you’ve only got so much room to fit a designer logo on a hat, it’s pretty cool that you can do it twice, and have it not be too conspicuous, let alone look cool.

My favorite part of this hat is the twin winged reapers on the front. These skeletal beings, picked out in silver, kneel next to a river, framed by detailed trees and other nature. The juxtaposition is interesting, and even if you’re not concerned with what the design actually means, like I am, the effect smacks of cool. The tattoo design would look just as good on skin, and the old Baroque reminder of “mementomoria” (remember death) gives a little more significance to a simple beanie.

The hat also comes with a water base screen to protect your investment against the rain, snow, and whatever else you wear it in. A hat that can keep your head warm, yet make you look cool? Who would have thought it!

Find the Affliction Winged Reaper beanie at SolisStyle.com for $40.00.

Affliction Clothing Line

Fashionista — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:18:07 +0000

Like UFC is the ultimate intense fighting championship, so it goes that clothing made by ex-UFC fighters should be just as extreme. If you’re looking for clothing that can really pack a punch, Affliction Clothing is definitely it. There’s nothing soft or gentle about these garments – when you put them on, you’re not kidding around. Think the clothes look like something rap stars would wear? Well, they are. They’re also the favorite shirts, pants and hats of celebrities from Paris Hilton to Ozzy Osborne, and every rock and fighting star in between. If you’re looking for a metal look, you’ve got it with Affliction.

If you’ve ever wished that you could wear tattoo artistry on your clothing, then you’ve found it. Affliction clothing is printed with amazingly detailed designs made by some of the best tattoo artists in the world, from Japan to New York to Canada. The clothing runs the gamut from motorcycle-edge to almost whimsical fantasy-goth. Girls and guys alike can wear Affliction – the company has three lines of clothing. The Affliction line is for men, and has denim pieces, t-shirts, muscle shirts, wife beaters, hats, belts and boots. The Sinful line is for women, and includes baby Ts, cap sleeves, tank tops, corsets, and more. The last line, the Extreme Couture, was designed by Randy Couture, an ex-UFC fighter.

No matter what you need to wear, Affliction has made it. The hats alone boast the grungy style of a hardcore UFC fighter. This hat, the Affliction Dragon hat, is made of a silver lava wash twill and grinded to give it a worn, beat-up look. The hat is made with a red Affliction logo and a detailed print of a fierce dragon. It’s perhaps the detailed artwork on the hat that makes it worth $44. That’s not normally a price people would pay for something not noticeably designer, but Affliction is considered a designer line. The hat also has a metal hat button and a black stitched brim.

For the ladies, Affliction makes corsets and a full line of tops. The corsets themselves are simply divine. Made to look like tanks, they boast an elegant laced-up back and a detailed Sinful design on the front. The Geisha corset sports a print of a demure geisha girl on a scarlet background with Japanese characters. The straps of the corset are where it’s really unique – they narrow down at the back to create a streamlined look. For $56, it’s a great piece to own.

Whether you like UFC or not, this line of clothing is more than just ordinary. The future of designer clothing is afflicted with creativity.