Our resident stylist Andrew Porter waxes casual on men’s and women’s must-haves.

Art Production Fund Towels x Sven Vath “L’Esperanza (Visions of Shiva Mix)”
Okay, so if you hear this track this summer, chances are you’re on a beach somewhere in Croatia. I don’t know anywhere else in the world this Vath/Van Dyk meeting of the minds is getting play time. You’re probably shirtless and shoeless—billowy linen pants blowing in the warm breeze—surrounded by bikini-clad Eastern European babes. Not a bad look, if you ask me. That said, a weekend of Croatian-beach trance can be exhausting. Come Monday morning, you’re gonna need a rejuvenating dip in the crystal clear waters of paradise. I recommend one of the many Art Production Fund Beach Towels (pictured above) for post-swim drying action. This line has featured artists from Raymond Pettibon to Jeff Koons to Jasper Johns. Not only do these towels look amazing, but they’re also gigantic. Should you need to sleep on the beach, they’ve got you covered. For those who aren’t beach trancing, purchase one of these and let your friends know that you’re cultured—you know, “into art ‘n stuff.”

Monitaly Flat Front Shorts x Peyote “Alcatraz”
Peyote dropped “Alcatraz” in 1992 on R&S. For those of you that think this is a techno track, so be it—I’m not here to argue genres. As far as I’m concerned, this is a classic deep tribal desert-rattlesnake trance track. If you’re hearing this burner, you’re probably at some high plains rave in New Mexico that I know nothing about. If I had to guess, there’s probably a man in a sarong dancing next to you. Dreadlocks are flowing freely, the DJ is cueing up Rabbit in the Moon’s “Out of Body Experience,” and it’s hot as hell. You don’t want to overheat, but the man-sarong isn’t really your jam. Well, good thing I’m telling you about these. The Monitaly Flat Front Short is the perfect short for summer 2011. I saw these at Assembly last weekend and they blew my mind. The print is out of this world and the attention to detail on these is borderline obsessive—after all, Monitaly is designed by Yuki Matsuda of Yuketen fame. Alas, these are a bold statement and a bit expensive. So if deep tribal desert-rattlesnake trance raving isn’t really your thing, I recommend the J.Crew Stanton Short. Great colors, great fit, totally affordable. See you on the high plains.

Nike Free iD x Armin Van Buuren “Not Giving Up On Love (Extended)”
I haven’t bought a pair of Nikes in years, but I’ve decided it’s time for new direction. I’m really into these Frees. So much so that I purchased these two pairs (designed by yours truly) last week. These runners are incredibly comfortable and they look futuristic in just the right way. More importantly, the Andrew Porter-designed Frees are pretty much like wearing this Armin Van Buuren track on your feet. Slow build—you see them coming from a good seven blocks away. You know you’re waiting for something good, but not quite sure what. Then about four minutes and 40 seconds later, I’m standing in front of you and my sneakers just hit your eyeballs with a Van Buuren-caliber drop. Wham-O! You may tell yourself you’re not feeling these shoes—I assume this is also what you’re saying about “Not Giving Up On Love”—but deep down inside you know you love the both of them. Hey, if that doesn’t sell you on these, I encourage you to tap into your creative inner self and design your own pair. Stay positive. START TODAY!