How to Wear It: Grand Canyon Style

Our friends at College Fashionista created a look perfect for the Grand Canyon featuring pieces from AE. Take a look at the pieces Style Guru Jaquelin D. choose and how she styled them on College Fashionista.

College Fashionista Style Guru Jaquelin D.. shows her Austin style.

The AE Tribal Corset Dress will fit in perfectly with the colors and feel of the Grand Canyon. Keep the AE Lightweight Hooded Anorak close at hand for sudden Grand Canyon rainstorms or cooler weather. Complete the look with the AE Artisan Ring and the AE Desert Booties.

We created this Grand Canyon look that is perfect for checking out all the sights "The Eighth Wonder of the World" has to offer. The Grand Canyon gets cooler in the evenings, so stay warm with the AE Denim Western Shirt. The AE Prep Length Twill Shorts are perfect for hiking during the day or heading out for dinner at night. AE Leather Flip-Flops are super comfy after you've spent a day in hiking boots. The AE Cinched Duffle Bag is great for carrying your gear in and out of the gorge.

Video Pick Of The Day: Dr. Dog - "Warrior Man"

We’re loving the new Dr. Dog record "Be The Void" out now via Anti-.

Check out the video for Warrior Man – it’s pure, good ole rock n’ roll:

New Music Tuesdays

Head over to Rdio to check out our favorite picks from the new releases hitting stores today. What new releases are you most excited for?

Where Has Your AE Been - Bora Bora

Rebecca M. from Vancouver, Canada went on a four week honeymoon trip through Tahiti, Moorea, New Zealand's North Island and Bora Bora in French Polynesia in July 2011. While in Bora Bora, she swam with sharks in open water, toured the islands by jet ski and stayed in an over-water bungalow.

Rebecca in an AE tube top from Summer 2009

Have you taken your AE on the trip of a lifetime? Email your photos to social@ae.com and you could be featured on our blog.

Stream 'Beard, Wives, Denim' by Pond

Pond

Ahead of its US release on March 6th, Pond's Beard, Wives, Denim is now streaming in its entirety at The Hype Machine. Listen to Beard, Wives, Denim.

All 13 album tracks are streamable and embeddable, including previously released tracks 'Fantastic Explosion Of Time', 'Moth Wings', and 'Mystery'.

Beard, Wives, Denim will be out in the US next week. Pre-order your CD copy of Beard, Wives, Denim, or your digital version.

Pond's US tour starts next week in DC, all announced dates are below. SXSW info will be shared shortly!

TOUR DATES
Tues March 6th || Black Cat Backstage || Washington, DC *!
Wed March 7th || Telfair Square, Savannah Stopover Music Festival || Savannah, GA *#
Thurs March 8th || The Drunken Unicorn || Atlanta, GA *!
Sun March 11th || Fitzgerald's || Houston, TX *+
Sun March 18th || Low Key Arts || Hot Springs, AR *
Tues March 20th || Johnny Brenda's || Philadelphia, PA *
Wed March 21st || Bowery Ballroom || New York, NY *
Thurs March 22nd || Brighton Music Hall || Boston, MA *
Fri March 23rd || Casa Del Popolo || Montreal, QC *
Sat March 24th || Cafe Dekcuf || Ottowa, ON *
Sun March 25th || The Drake Hotel || Toronto, ON *
Tues March 27th || Lincoln Hall || Chicago, IL *
Wed March 28th || Taylor University || Upland, IN *
Fri March 30th || Cactus Club || Milwaukee, WI *
Sat March 31st || The Maintenance Shop || Ames, IA *
Mon April 2nd || 7th Street Entry || Minneapolis, MN *
Wed April 4th || A Club || Spokane, WA *
Thurs April 5th || Sunset Tavern || Seattle, WA *
Fri April 6th || The Biltmore Cabaret || Vancouver, BC *
Sat April 7th || Jinx Art Space || Bellingham, WA *
Sun April 8th || Squeak & Squawk Music || Tacoma, WA *
Mon April 9th || Mississippi Studios || Portland, OR *
Wed April 11th || Rickshaw Stop || San Francisco, CA *
Fri April 13th || The Echo || Los Angeles, CA
Thu April 19th || The Standard, Sydney
Fri April 20th || Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane tix
Sat April 21st || Great Northern, Byron Bay
Sun April 22nd || Northcote Social Club, Melbourne tix
Tue April 24th || Ed Castle, Adelaide tix
Sat April 28th || Bakery, Perth tix

* with Oberhofer
+ with A Place To Bury Strangers
# with Dinosaur Feathers
! with Dive

Spring Break Guide: The Grand Canyon

Derrik Chinn, travel planner extraordinaire and owner of Tijuana tour company, Turista Libre curated six Spring Break guides for Made to Last. He is our featured guest blogger and is giving tips and tricks for all of the hottest Spring Break destinations. This week we are featuring The Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon

Ah, The Grand Canyon. One of North America's most breathtaking geological wonders that's two billion years in the making, all at your fingertips. Well, yours and about 50 million others. That's right, some five million tourists flood the Grand Canyon every year. Let's get as far away from as many of them as possible, ASAP. They'll hog all the fresh air.

Skywalk. On this walkway that extends 70 feet off the canyon's edge, a mere 2.5 inches of glass is all that separates your bootied feet (so as not to smudge the view) from the 4,000-foot drop down to the Colorado River. Located on the West Rim, 24 miles west of Grand Canyon Villiage, Skywalk opened in 2007 to give visitors access to views of the canyon normally reserved for folks with enough funds to throw down on a private helicopter tour. grandcanyonskywalk.com.

White Water Raft in the Grand Canyon

White and wild. The Grand Canyon ranks as the country's top white water rafting trip, says NatGeo, with waves that can top 20 feet and hydraulics that flip boats like flapjacks. It's not always a bumpy, the ride includes scenic stretches that pass Anasazi ruins and cactus. The waiting list for a permit to captain your own vessel down the Colorado is backed up for years, but plenty of tour outfits operate regularly. Multi-day treks are the norm, usually at least three days. But single-day options exist, too. Check raftarizona.com, westernriver.com and grandcanyon.com.

Waterfall swim party. The Havasupai, whose name means people of the blue-green water, are the only continual residents of the Grand Canyon, going on 800 years. And they're totally cool with you pitching a tent in their backyard. Just call ahead to tell them you're coming (havasupaitribe.com). Otherwise they'll charge you double. For real.

It's an eight-mile hike from the parking lot at the canyon's southern rim during which you'll descend 3,000 feet to Supai, capital of the Havasupai and the most remote village in the U.S. (the mail still arrives on a muleback; the post office sells postcards so you can write home to say just that). Then it's another two miles to the campground, all together making for a 4-6 hour hike in.

Havasupai Waterfalls

The next few days consist of a continual swim party in the turquoise pools at the base of Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls, all between a half and three miles from camp. Havasu is the closest and most picturesque, falling 100 feet into a sweeping turquoise pool. The tallest, Mooney, measures 190 feet.

Camping at the bottom of the Havasupai isn't really for pamperati. You haul in all your food and water, haul out all your trash and do your business in a hole.

Tweets of the Week

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Download "Flinty" by Anya Marina

Anya Marina

Download “Flinty” from Felony Flats

Portland based, singer-songwriter, Anya Marina is gearing up to release her third album on March 13^th, titled, FELONY FLATS via Atlantic/Chop Shop Records.  The self-produced album – which follows 2009’s acclaimed label debut, SLOW & STEADY SEDUCTION: PHASE II sees the multi-talented Marina joined by some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest musicians, including guitarist Cody Votolato (Blood Brothers, Telekinesis), bassist Jeff Bond, drummer Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse, Mister Heavenly), and Blitzen Trapper’s Eric Earley, who contributes additional piano and guitars.

Anya describes the inspiration behind the album as “a map of my darkest hallways, my deepest—and sometimes ugliest--yearnings, and my most glaring mistakes. It chronicles a time of profound loss. During this time, I lost friends and family, I lost my way--risked losing nearly everything—and then slowly, piece by piece and step by arduous step, found my ‘way back home.’ It was a difficult journey, but it was also my proudest. It’s the album of which I am most proud all around—sonically, creatively, thematically, lyrically.”

  

Buy the single for "Notice Me"

Like Anya Marina on Facebook
Follow Anya Marina on Twitter
Watch Anya Marina on YouTube

Behind the Lens: Spring 2012 Photo Shoot

We are totally obsessed with the awesome photos (and video!) from our Spring 2012 photo shoot in Palm Springs, California. Some of our crew members, including our model Rodrigo, wanted to share their photos from the shoot.

Kerrie, Laura, Rodrigo, and Steve rocking the denim button up in Palm Springs

Spring Break or Bust

Camille tries hitching a ride out of town

Marcell gets styled for the shoot

Keith, Creative Director for AE, tests drives the vintage convertible used in the shoot

You can find more of Rodrigo's photography on his Tumblr.

New Music: 'Breakfast' By Chiddy Bang

Chiddy Bang

Breakout electro inspired hip-hop duo Chiddy Bang, comprised of rapper Chiddy and producer Xaphoon Jones, have sent us an exclusive and inspired playlist featuring their favorite tracks of the moment. Chiddy Bang already released their much buzzed about debut album Breakfast exclusively on the iTunes Store (iTunes.com/ChiddyBang) and will hit retail and digital outlets on February 28th. Additionally, their song “Handclaps & Guitars” will be this week’s FREE iTunes “Single of the Week,” starting today.

In conjunction with the release of Breakfast, Chiddy Bang has linked up with software developer Smule and their MadPad sound mixing application. Smule's MadPad app turns everyday sights and sounds into the ultimate percussive instrument. Remixers can play thousands of premade sets or make their own video soundboard in just minutes. Chiddy Bang have created a number of their own MadPad video sets, one of which they remixed to their single “Ray Charles.” A video featuring the band both recording and performing the MadPad version of “Ray Charles” can be seen exclusively on Chiddy Bang's and Smule's YouTube channels. Users can play with Chiddy Bang's sets by downloading MadPad, which is free this week in the iTunes App store.

Listen to the Chiddy Bang Playlist on Rdio:

How to Wear It: Cancun Spring Break Looks

Our friends at College Fashionista created an AE outfit perfect for Cancun. Take a look at the pieces Style Guru Lizbeth H. chose and how she styled them on College Fashionista.

College Fashionista Style Guru Lizbeth H.. shows her Cancun style.

The AE Sweetheart Cropped Corset is perfect for showing a little skin in Cancun. You can pull the Aerie Striped Midi Skirt over your bikini for shopping after the beach or for dinner and dancing at night. The Bed Stu Aunt Rose Penny Loafer has a beachy feel and is great for keeping your feet comfy on the beaches or strolling the streets of Cancun. Add on a cute accent piece like the AE Festival Cuff and you're ready for whatever Cancun has in store for you.

Cancun style for guys is simple. All you need is a pair of board shorts for playing in the sand and surf, a bright colored t-shirt to head to and from the beach in, your favorite flip flops, and the AE Sling Bag to keep your drinks cold in the Cancun sun.

New Video for 'Love Interruption' by Jack White

As reported previously, Jack White will be unveiling his debut solo effort, Blunderbuss, this April and today, we get the remaining details and artwork for that album.

The album art is...well... Jack White hanging out with a bird. That's about it.

Jack White - Blunderbuss

Check out the full tracklist and the clip to the lead single, "Love Interruption," for the new album featuring Mr. White performing in the middle of a room alongside Ruby Amanfu and the rest of his band.

Blunderbluss drops April 24 via Third Man Records/Columbia.

Track List:

Missing Pieces
Sixteen Saltines
Freedom at 21
Love Interruption
Blunderbuss
Hypocritical Kiss
Weep Themselves to Sleep
I'm Shakin'
Trash Tongue Talker
Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy
I Guess I Should Go to Sleep
On And On And On
Take Me With You When You Go

Where Has Your AE Been - Japan

Sandra T., a former AE store manager in Jacksonville, NC, moved with her family to Japan last year. They visited Okinawa to attend the 34th Motobu Yaedake Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) earlier this month. Sandra, her husband Tim and son Liam were all outfitted in AE and 77kids. 

Tim is wearing a T-shirt and shorts from AE and Liam is wearing a T-shirt and shorts from 77kids.

Sandra is wearing her AE jeans with her son, Liam.

Have you taken your AE on an awesome excursion? E-mail your photos to social@ae.com and you could be featured on our blog.

Spring Break Guide: Cancun

Meet Derrik Chinn, travel planner extraordinaire and owner of Tijuana tour company, Turista Libre. He is our featured guest blogger and is giving tips and tricks for all of the hottest Spring Break destinations. We're kicking things off with Cancun, the ultimate Spring Break locale.

CANCUN

Cancun Guide curated by Derrik Chinn (above far right)

Cancun is, has been and perhaps always will be first and foremost a notorious playground for gringos and their European brethren, and its most infamous, obvious amenities attest to this. The booze cruises, the monstrous clubs, the fake tattoos, the tequila funnels, the Pleasure Islandesque debauchery. It's all an ever-tempting distraction from the fact that the Yucatan peninsula is one of the most ecologically unique sites on Earth. Cancun. It's way more than a beer billboard, güey.

Playa patrol. A brief 101 on the beaches. Party at Playa Tortugas. Escape the party at Playa Las Perlas. Surf at Playa Delfinas. Snooze at Playa Langosta or Linda.

Take a break from the beach in a sinkhole. Natural wonders abound in a tropical paradise like this, but it's a mecca for aficionados of the planet's ultimate swimming holes: cenotes. Sinkholes caused by collapsed limestone that dot the Yucatan terrain, many connect to underground rivers and complex subterranean cave systems as deep as 300 feet below the surface. Once used for sacrficial offerings by the Maya, who considered them portals to the netherworld, they've since become remote oasises for swimmers and cave divers. One of the more popular stops on the Cenote Trail, which runs along the Cancun-Tulum freeway, Las Mojarras (cenotelasmojarras.com) measures 200 feet in diameter and 45 feet deep. And it's rigged with a zip line, diving towers and camping facilities. Other cenotes worth checking out along the route: Siete Bocas, Boca del Puma and Verde Lucero.

 

Indiana Jones' Yucatan dream pad. The farther you push into Latin America, the more probable your chances of stumbling upon some ancient megacity that the jungle swallowed centuries before the conquistadores set sail. Among those is Chichen Itza, one of the more of the more impressive reminants of Mayan civilization and a two-three hour drive from Cancun. Active from 600 to 1200 AD., it's now one of Mexico's most visited archaelogical sites, banking more than a million visitors annually.

Chichen Itza

Townie time. Mexican tourist destinations like Cancun are always a tale of two cities. One is specifically for visitors, home to high-end resorts, star restaurants and posh nightlife spots. The other holds the side of the city only the locals know, the true root of the city's original flair. Escape the whitewashed hotel zone for downtown Cancun and park it at Parque Las Palapas, a plaza at the intersection of Tulipanes and Alcatreces where impromptu amateur hour is every hour for local Latin American Idol hopefuls of all ages, while you kick back a few empanadas and tamales. Nearby Mercado 28 is where to head for a Mexican arts and crafts shopping spree for Saint Death statues, serapes, tire-soled sandals known as huaraches and such. Then stroll down Avenida Yaxchilán, a central thoroughfare lined with divey cantinas and restaurants usually reserved for locals but with always room for a loaner gabacho or two.

Wet and wild. In the Mexican Carribean, where playa paradise is here, there and everywhere, you're right to wonder why anyone would waste time at waterpark. That is, unless, you know that few waterparks in the world compare to a Mexican waterpark, which comes as a vital lesson to the average foreign visitor: One's safety, even in environments such as waterparks where the gringo custom of million-dollar lawsuits usually ensures that an establishment keeps everything up to code, is never to be assumed. "Ride at your own risk" is the unspoken law, but the tradeoff of the heightened chance of peril is the added freedom to do so in ways never conceivable in the U.S., namely headfirst either on your back or stomach. Wet'n Wild, Cancun's lone parque acuatico, houses some six slides, a lazy river, wave pool and a full bar.

Forging la fiesta. CocoBongo is a massive dance club whose campy rap is preceded only by its cultish take on Vegas-style shows, and probably the only bar in which you'll see a Lady Gaga impersonator who isn't a man. Mambo Café books live música latina acts from Colombia, Venezuela, the Domincan Republic and Cuba; here's where you'll learn that it really is all in the hips. Live lucha libre (masked Mexican wrestling) and bikini contests happen at Bulldog Cafe. The City calls its million-watt sound system the best in Latin America, and the performer hall of fame includes the likes of 50 Cent, Sasha, Tiesto and Paul Van Dyk. Dady'O, known for its light shows, recently played host to a DJ set by LMFAO's Redfoo.

Spring break is not for sleeping. Cheap: The Cancun Nest Hostel, centrally located downtown. Cool: El Rey del Caribe, 31-room eco-hotel, downtown. Sweet kitsch: HotelXbalamque, ode to Mayan Jaguar god of the universe, downtown.

El Rey del Caribe

-Derrik Chinn
@turistalibre
Turista Libre on Facebook
Turista Libre Blog

Tweets of the Week

We love all the awesome tweets we receive from our fans... here are our favorites of the past week!

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Win an AIR Signed Art Print and Book of ‘Le Voyage Dans La Lune’

AIR - “Le Voyage Dans La Lune”

 Enter to win a prize pack from AIR.

AIR returns with their new album Le Voyage Dans La Lune on EMI Music, continuing the lunar theme seen within their debut album Moon Safari. Originally asked to create an original score to the classic 1902 silent film “Le Voyage Dans La Lune” by Geroges Méliès, the work on this film became the inspiration for French duo’s new album.  In addition, vocal and lyrics from such artists as Victoria Legend (Beach House) and Au Revior Simone are featured. The Limited Edition versions of Le Voyage Dans La Lune (digital and CD + DVD) feature the newly restored movie including AIR’s original score as a bonus that you can buy, but it will only be available for a short time.

The winner will receive a special art print, a reproduction of the original Cannes Film Festival poster, plus a special 200-page book documenting the restoration of Georges Méliès’ masterpiece. Both are signed by Nicolas Godin and JB Dunckel of AIR. Three winners will be drawn at random and notified by email. Contest ends midnight March 2nd!

Download the MP3 for “Seven Stars” from Le Voyage Dans La Lune

Buy Le Voyage Dans La Lune