NEWS: IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN — STARBUCKS' PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE IS BACK & MORE

Ahead of fall, Starbucks is set to release its cult-favorite Pumpkin Spice Latte for the 18th year in a row.

The handcrafted beverage features the coffee company’s signature espresso blended with steamed milk, real pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Customers can enjoy the latte hot, or iced topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices. In addition to the PSL, the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew will also return, which comes with notes of vanilla and is finished with a pumpkin cream cold foam on top, as well as a dusting of pumpkin spice topping.

The Pumpkin Spice duo will be available at all of Starbucks’s U.S. locations on August 24.Hermès has expanded its lineup of luxe goods with an extra stylish food bowl for dogs. The release joins the luxury brand’s collection of pet accessories, which includes leashes, collars, carrying bags and a bed.

The bowl, crafted from oak wood, takes inspiration from the French house’s iconic Chaine d’Ancre motif, arriving in a shape similar to the chain. The design can be detached down the center that is kept together with magnets, while the stainless steel bowls can be removed from the wooden base. The piece is complete with Hermès’s logo stamped onto the side in black.

Would you cop this luxe bowl for your pup? The product is now available via Hermès’s websiteand stores for $8,900 HKD (approximately $1,143 USD).CASIO has released the CASIO Vintage A100WE, a watch that shows off the ideal balance of vintage-inspired style with the latest technology. The new release from the CASIO Vintage collection is offered in three metallic colorways with extra durability for daily wear and tear while on the wrist.

Each of the three iterations of timepiece — the silver edition (A100WE-1A), gold edition (A100WEG-9A) and the darker gunmetal edition (A100WEGG-1A) — includes a stainless steel band. Like other CASIO watches, the A100WE is water resistant and has a chrome-plated finish for protection. Designed for easy, everyday wear, the CASIO A100WE is a serious metal timepiece with a light weight feel.

Combining the latest in technology from the brand with the watch’s vintage leanings, the A100WE features an inverted LCD display and functions with a 1/10-second stopwatch. There’s also a LED-light, which allows the watch face to be subtly illuminated from the side. Zooming into the model, the top sector of the watch face includes markings for the month, date and day underneath the classic CASIO logo. The lower sector of the watch includes four buttons for time-keeping functions and light.

Paying homage to previous digital watches that CASIO released in the ’70s, the A100WE brings added capabilities in a lifestyle-centric package. Interested fans can purchase the CASIO A100WE by heading to the brand’s website.Daniel Arsham will soon unveil his new collection of furniture, Objects for Living: Collection II, at the Friedman Benda art gallery in New York City. Arsham’s new collection will be his first solo exhibition at the gallery.

The upcoming iteration in the series builds upon Arsham’s Objects for Living show, which made its debut at Design Miami in 2019. The first installation was a fictional recreation of his Long Island home that was built in 1971 by Norman Jaffe. In creating the second installation, which was fueled by the time Arsham spent at home amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the multidisciplinary artist thought about what objects he would want to live with. As a result, the new exhibition is a personal account of his experiences in the home throughout time, specifically how they all worked to inform his craft today.

Collection II will expand the recreation of his Long Island home with new furniture pieces. The pieces include chairs, sofas, beds, lamps, dining tables, benches and mirrors. Many of the new pieces were inspired by the free-form sculpting quality of Play-Doh, which can be seen in the collection preview above.

Throughout his career, the acclaimed artist has had a number of successful installations across the world in addition to his many collaborations with brands such as Dior, IKEA, Porsche and more. Recently, Arsham also became the Creative Director for the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is the first time an artist has assumed the role with the NBA.

BEYONCÉ AND JAY-Z CELEBRATE MODERN LOVE IN TIFFANY & CO.'S HISTORIC CAMPAIGN & MORE

Earlier this month, Tiffany & Co. appointed Beyoncé and Jay-Z as its new brand ambassadors. Now, the jewelry company has unveiled its newest campaign starring none other than the Carters.

“Beyoncé and Jay-Z are the epitome of the modern love story. As a brand that has always stood for love, strength and self-expression, we could not think of a more iconic couple that better represents Tiffany’s values,” Tiffany & Co.’s Executive Vice President of Product and Communications Alexandre Arnault shared in a statement. “We are honored to have the Carters as a part of the Tiffany family.”

Dubbed “ABOUT LOVE,” the campaign explores connection and vulnerability. Situated in front of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s never-before-seen Equals Pi (1982) painting, Queen B wears the brand’s famous 128-carat Tiffany Diamond. Following Mary Whitehouse, Audrey Hepburn and Lady Gaga, Beyoncé is the fourth woman and first Black woman to have the honor of wearing the rare gemstone.

Meanwhile, Jay-Z is seen in Jean Schlumberger’s legendary Bird on a Rock brooch, which has been reworked as a pair of cuff links. In addition to the campaign, the jeweler will pledge $2 million USD towards scholarship and internship programs for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

“ABOUT LOVE” will release worldwide in print on September 2, while an accompanying Emmanuel Adjei-directed film will launch on Tiffany’s website on September 15.

In a recent interview with Harper’s BAZAAR, Beyoncé announced her and Jay-Z‘s decision to work with Tiffany & Co. as brand ambassadors. Tiffany and Co. has recently been acquired by LVMH (PARIS:MC.PA -1.93%) , and with new executives taking the helm, the company has shifted its marketing strategy, placing a heavier emphasis on social media and influential brand partners.

For Harper’s BAZAAR’s September cover, Beyoncé wears her own label IVY PARKalongside Tiffany & Co. earrings and pendant. Beyonce turns 40 this September, and in the cover interview, she looks back at the last four decades, shedding light on her unparalleled journey, meticulously built legacy, sources of inspiration, and future ambitions.

Hova has been making big business moves this year with the launch of the Monogram cannabis line and multimedia platform Edition, and sizeable investments in Fanatics, Bitski, Certified Collectibles Group (CCG), and more. It is also rumored that Watch the Throne 2 could release at the end of 2021.

In addition to the iconic couple, other Tiffany and Co. recruits include actress Anya Taylor-Joy, pro skier and model Eileen Gu, and Rosé from BLACKPINK.

A historical multi-million dollar mansion in New Orleans, reportedly owned by music’s greatest power couple, Beyoncé and JAY-Z, was seen caught on fire earlier this week.

The New Orleans residence was a three-story building located in the Garden District which went up in flames for approximately two hours before firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. According to the New York Post, the fire is now under investigation as arson. A spokesperson for the fire department told the publication, “If they didn’t get there when they did, it could have been much worse. It’s a historic home.”

At the time of the fire, New Orleans police “received a report of a suspicious person in the area,” enough to give the authorities to open an investigation for arson. NOLApreviously reported that the property was owned by JAY-Z however. Reports indicated that in 2015, Sugarcane Park LLC acquired the home. LLC is managed by Beyoncé’s mother, Celestine Lawson. The home was previously reported to be worth over $2.4 million USD. However, according to city records it was only bought for $2.5 million USD.

The home is a six-bedroom and features six-and-a-half baths. The building which spanns across 15,200 square feet, is labelled historic as it was built in 1927 as the Westminster Presbyterian church.

SPORTS: Cryptograph Releases Exclusive Never-Before-Seen Photo NFTs of Kobe Bryant

Cryptograph is releasing a set of eight never-before-seen photos of Kobe Bryant as NFTs in celebration of Kobe Bryant Day, also known as August 24.

Cryptograph’s “KOBE” collection features photos from renowned LA photographer and director Davis Factor of Smashbox Studios. Factor photographed these photos of Kobe at the beginning of his career more than 20 years ago, giving fans a chance to see a different side of the athlete. Each of the photos will be immortalized as a one-of-a-kind NFT with 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale benefitting the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, the non-profit organization set up by Kobe himself to create a positive impact for underserved athletes and young women in sports.

Through Cryptograph, each transaction is automatically donated to a cause. The winner of the auction and collector of the Kobe Cryptograph will be 100 percent the owner of the art, but also automatically support the cause. Eight individual photos are up for auction. The exclusive Kobe NFT goes live on Cryptograph on Tuesday, August 24 at 1 p.m. EST.

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ART: 11 Picasso Paintings Will Be Auctioned off at the Bellagio in October & MORE

The City of Sin will soon play host to one of the largest auctions of Picasso paintings ever. 11 works owned by the MGM Resorts, with a combined estimated value at around $100m USD will be available for the biggest pocketbook on October 23. 

Presented by Sotheby’s, the auctioneer will bring its New York show room to elegant halls of the Bellagio — a hotel whose art roots are now legend, thanks in part due to movies, such as Oceans 11. But more than just a film reference, the Bellagio has always championed the arts, with many of the artwork to hit auction hanging in the hotel’s Picasso Restaurant. The reason the work is going on sale, according to MGM Resorts chief hospitality officer, Ari Kastrati, is to buy new art in hopes “to creating an even more inclusive collection that maintains the breadth of our existing portfolio while giving a greater voice to artists from underrepresented communities.”

One of the highlights of the auction is Picasso’s 1938, Femme au Béret Rouge-Orange, one of the final artworks he created of his lover and muse, Thérèse Walter, who Picasso’s grandson, Olivier Widmaier Picasso, states reawakened his grandfathers art. 

The sale of these 11 Picasso’s is expected to be the largest fine arts auction in the history of Las Vegas. An event that will coincide with a four day exhibition of luxury items. The auction takes place on October 23.

Fast forward to contemporary art, George Condo has brought his psychological cubism to Sprüth Magers Berlin.

Bellagio
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd,
Las Vegas, NV 89109Cali Thornhill Dewitt‘s eclectic career has spanned working on capsule collections with NEIGHBORHOOD and HYPEBEAST, to showcasing art at Brixton Village Marketand Tokyo’s COMMON Gallery. For his latest exhibition, “Haunted House,” the Los Angeles-based artist uses his background in streetwear to speak on the tragic fate to befall some of the most revered musicians and entertainers in history.

The solo exhibition is located at Los Angeles’ One Trick Pony and features 20 never-before-seen obituary sweatshirts designed by Dewitt, alongside a grid of two-tone portraits of the obituary subject. Amongst the legendary figures on display, you can find a piece dedicated to Whitney Houston, Joan Crawford, Carrie Fisher, Harpo Marx and Darby Crash. 

Speaking on this latest body of work, Dewitt tells Hypebeast:

“These are portraits, both text based and actual portraits, of 21 people who’s work and lives are heartbreaking and messy, singular and inspirational, beautiful and frightening. Most of them ended in some form of tragedy. History has showed us, time and time again, there isn’t much room on this planet for people with this kind of vision. They are too beautiful for this world.”

Fans of Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo merch, will instantly gravitate towards Dewitt’s work which, for this sereis, will run at One Trick Pony until August 28.

Also happening in art, Yoko Ono invites you to mend broken pottery in her new interactive exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery. 

One Trick Pony
1051 S Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90019

Rick and Morty‘s co-creator Justin Roiland is expanding his portfolio into the fine arts category. His debut foray into the fine art world sees the illustrator and animator auction of an acrylic-on-canvas painting title, mypeoplefriend with Sotheby’s.

The painting appears to be visually chaotic, accented with dozens of cartoonish characters that connect with audiences through their large, boggling, bug-eyes. The piece is a comment on the dark humor of Rick Sanchez. The vibrant use of multiple colors, including warm oranges and red contrasting with cool blues and greens, help to embrace Roiland’s signature humorous and child-like cartoon imagery.

The artist fills the canvas with a slew of facial expressions that range from grotesque figures with bared fangs to over-exaggerated smiles and excitement. Sotheby’s comments on the figures stating, “There is something tragic about these creatures that try to frighten us but cannot. Or perhaps there is something tragic about our position as viewers, so far removed from the innocence of childhood when these creatures might have frightened us.”

For more information on the piece, check out Sotheby’sNew York-based filmmaker Sophia Loren Heriveaux has released an interesting film comparing the artistic lives of Jean Dubuffet and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Produced by Goldfin Films and in partnership with the Barbican Centre, Brut, My Beauty provides a fascinating look at two artists separated by nearly 60 years, but who possess a strikingly similar aesthetic, influences, and philosophy towards society and life. 

As the film shows in more detail, neither had a formal art education and were equally inspired by self-taught artists. Both had a similar approach to painting their work, hovering over the canvas as it lay on the floor. Amongst their biggest similarities, the film argues, is the idea that both artists defied the traditions of realist paintings by capturing the spirit of their subjects through their raw and gestural aesthetics. 

In the 1980s, Basquiat would ask Pace Gallery founder, Arne Glimcher, if was able to be in attendance when Dubuffet’s work was being installed. Some art historians believe the rising horizon lines in some of Basquiat’s subsequent work was inspired by these visits, such as the French artist’s landscape (paysage), 1950-59.

It is unknown to the public whether the two actually met, but perhaps the closest encounter the two physically had, was in 1983, when they both exhibited at a group show, entitled “Expressive Painting After Picasso” at Basel’s Beyeler Foundation. Regardless if they ever met or were influenced by one another, they inevitably share a symbiotic relationship in the canon of art history.

FRESH KICKS:

Kerwin Frost and adidas (XETRA:ADS.DE -0.45%) are kicking their eccentric partnership off in earnest by releasing a larger-than-life Superstar “Superstuffed.” Though Frost has been working with adidas since the beginning of 2020 — and has teased many a kooky collaboration since then — the “Superstuffed” marks his inagural adidas Originals product launch and arrives in big, bold and boisterous fashion.

Inspired by the comically large footwear often spotted on clowns and sporting mascots, the “Superstuffed” has been filled with enough padding to make it appear five sizes bigger than its actual size. This disproportionate look is a Frost signature, as he’s known for wearing super-sized clothing. However, besides its enormous proportions, the “Superstuffed” is all classic Superstar thanks to a white leather upper with a tonal rubber shell toe, black Three Stripe graphic and metallic gold detailing. It also features co-branded insoles and comes packaged in a co-branded box. 

“My first shoe with adidas is an absolute masterpiece,” says Frost, clearly not lacking for confidence. “We completely changed the genetics of an iconic shoe – maybe the most important shoe of all time. And this is art. This is special. This has never been done before. We’ve seen the platform sneaker wave but never just a BIG SHOE.”

“I hope these bring joy and a smile to people’s faces,” he continued. “The fact that this shoe exists is a symbol that anything is possible. The idea sounded crazy at first, but here we are. It’s beautiful! Shoutout to the adidas development team for figuring out a way to make these wearable. Clown shoes for the masses!”

The Kerwin Frost x adidas Superstar “Superstuffed” will release as part of adidas CONFIRMED’s “Members Week,” being made available for purchase via the CONFIRMED app on August 26.After first teasing his second adidas (XETRA:ADS.DE -0.45%) Superstar SUPEREARTH collaboration in March, Round Two co-founder Sean Wotherspoon is now hinting that its release is imminent. Wotherspoon recently took to his Instagram to post the most detailed picture of the sneaker yet — and mentioned in the caption of his post that the shoe was “dropping worldwide very soon.”

Originally set to be a China-exclusive release before being switched to a global drop, the black leather upper of Wotherspoon’s Superstar is covered in the same embroidered flowers as his first release, done up in vivid colors and featuring uncut strings that reach down to the ground. These are splashed across both the lateral and medial sides of the shoe, with further detailing served up by light blue heel tabs, an orange collar lining, green eyestays and a yellow tongue tag.

The tongue tag and heel tab both expand their detailing with special “SW” hits, and a large cartoon-style Earth character is placed above the laces. Tongues swap out standard Superstar construction in favor of a thin, Samba-like build, with recycled rubber toe caps, midsoles and outsole finalizing the Earth-first look.

Sean Wotherspoon and adidas’ Superstar SUPEREARTH in black will likely release in the coming weeks. A retail price has yet to be announced.

The holidays are traditionally when Jordan Brand brings out a substantial amount of footwear offerings, and it’s in this season that the Air Jordan 11 tends to shine in the spotlight. In terms of bring-backs, the Beaverton imprint is expected to revive the classic Air Jordan 11 “Cool Grey”, but it’s also choosing to give the ladies their own special makeup — the Air Jordan 11 “Animal Instincts.”

While not as loud as previously-revealed “Animal Instincts” Air Jordan 3 and Air Jordan 35 pairs, this variation still bears a substantial amount of wild flair. The higher parts are designed with an understated mentality as the heels, interior lining, tongues and side panels are all drenched in solid black, most of which is devised with a smooth nubuck. Mudguards — which are usually treated with glossy patent leather — have been modified in this case and come presented with white and black faux fur that’s decorated with zerba-esque patterns. The lower parts of the kicks are fashioned with clean white midsoles and outsoles that are tinted with a charcoal gray outer.

Early reports are saying that this women’s pair will be dropping on Black Friday, November 26 for $225 USD, but Nike hasn’t confirmed this yet.Another day has dawned without a solid DONDA release date in sight, but Kanye West‘s legions of loyal fans have a restock to tide themselves over while they wait for ‘Ye to drop his 10th studio album: his adidas (XETRA:ADS.DE -0.45%) YEEZY Powerphase “Simple Brown” is back on YEEZY Supply. The unannounced restock was also accompanied by a reissue of the YEEZY Powerphase “Clear Brown” and the YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 “Beluga” — both of which are now sold out — plus landing pages for the kids-sized YEEZY DSRT BT in “Oil” and “Salt,” though both of these boots feature a countdown timer with a release date that’s more than four months away. 

The “Simple Brown” and “Clear Brown” both debuted back in September 2019, while the “Beluga” made its debut in September 2016 as the first-ever YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 colorway. As its name would indicate, the “Simple Brown” serves up a straightforward earthy color scheme across its suede build. A gold “Calabasas” stamp replaces the Powerphase’s original text branding, while a small dash of color is provided by a green and red adidas Originals logo below the eyestays. Tonal midsoles and outsoles complete the look.

It’s uncertain if this random assemblage of Kanye kicks is a continuation of YEEZY Day, a totally random restock or even a website glitch (why load up a product that’s not set to release for four months?) but interested parties can purchase the YEEZY Powerphase “Simple Brown” on YEEZY Supply now for $120 USD.