Five Material Stab Anointments

How good is Easter!

Every year it rolls around, different date each time, don’t really know why or what it means but hey: four day weekend! Now that the hangovers and fish sweats (is that a thing?) have subsided and the poor wretches among you are back at the desk, we thought it high time to induct a few material possessions into the Church of Stab Recommends. It’s a disorganised, but progressive cult: everyone’s welcome and there are no rules.

Sincerest Flattery Trunks

Elbowing some space for yourself in the boardshort market is tough, but there’s a rich surf trunk lineage that’s oft left untouched. Hats off to R. for tapping into that timeless Okanui cool. A gent throwing buckets in these would be quite a sight. 

Trunks 100% proven not to age.

Shining Bastion of The Printed Surf Press

When you’ve made a few mags you can spot fillers borne of idleness from some distance. A low res photo with a bit of grain strewn over the top, curious blank space and meaningless Q+A interviews being some of the most common. Thankfully, there’s a surf rag who still pour over every sentence and photo, and they’ve been doing it for the best part of 30 years. 

Reward those who dedicate their live to keeping printed matter alive. 

Ruby Slippers (You Don’t Have to Pinch)

The iconic ruby pumps worn by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz were recovered last year after 13 years on the lam. Their recovery (by the FBI, no less) has since made red shoes acceptable to wear. Pay tribute with these fine Cons heel-clickers.

Be bold like Dorothy, wear red.

RVCA’s 900th Slick Collab

RVCA can’t spell “no”, and thus continue to offer up the most eclectic collabs in our world. This time it’s a tasteful longsleeve with NYC’s chicest watering hole, The Flower Shop, who, incidentally, had a little Activision start up coin shovelled in from the Birdman himself, Sir Tony Hawk. Strange, but true. 

“Hey where’d you get that tee”, in here.

Lord Of The Trains

Realising that you’ve spent the best part of a decade peddling myths as to the sophistication of your country of origin is humbling. Returning to the UK recently and realising that the once great seafaring is more backwards than it’s colonies was a revelation. And, reading the musings (written 40 years ago) of a learned man sitting on trains, listening and reporting what he sees has made it clear that the decline has been long and slow. Paul Theroux’s account of the old country is as useful a document in examining the mess they’re in now as any. A must read for any would-be anglophile. 

Impress your friends and family with worldly armchair knowledge.