London has a definite lack of men only boutiques in comparison to, say, New York, so a few mixed places are bound to creep in. Nevertheless what Goodhood has on offer for the boys is, well, good. Nestled on a sidestreet off Hoxton Square Goodhood has a very urban vibe. Streetwear and city essentials are the mainstay. Graphics are strong – not surprisingly seeing as co-owner Kyle Stewart is a graphic designer (check last week’s TimeOut for a Valentine themed piece on Kyle and partner Jo Sindle). Stand out pieces on my visit were newly arrived nautical striped tops by Wood Wood in cotton jersey and fantastic hunting themed shirts and jackets by Unrivaled.
The dedicated menswear day at LFW is definitely cause for excitement, the names might not be as big as on the womenswear schedule but in terms of creativity and variety it’s hard to beat. Here’s a preview of some of our fave designers from the line-up, stay tuned for more.
We featured Carolyn Massey‘s Topman Lens collection back in July, a stickler for tradition with an eye for detail she produces contemporary menswear tailoring.
Fashion extraordinaire and all-round legend Karl Lagerfeld recently told the press that “an H&M dress and a Chanel dress can look the same in a small photo, but not in real life” and explained that he isn’t ready to take the Chanel label online. However, Opening Ceremony (the great albeit not couture label) have just opened their website and online shop.
The online store will offer a mixture of the label’s own collection as well as other brilliant labels. After all, this is a label favoured by many a hipster and frequently sees collaborations with the likes of Chloë Sevigny.
My-Wardrobe recently launched their men’s section, joining the ranks of online retailers making tracks in menswear. We had a chat with one half of their buying team, Lee Douros, about the launch.
We’re really happy with all of the labels that have come on board for the SS09 season – they were all our top picks! One of must-haves are APC, the masters of Parisian understated cool, whose clothes will be sticking around in your wardrobe for seasons to come. On the high-end side, no-one can top Vivienne Westwood for pieces with an interesting quirk, like shirts with a high, three button collar or “drunk” trenchcoats (pictured, left) that have an undulating, twisted front.
Men.Style have just posted this hilarious video of self-confessed ‘Lo-Head’ rapper, 88-Keys. Don’t panic- I too had absolutely no idea what a ‘Lo-Head’ was but all is revealed and it turns out that this term is colloquial for someone who is obsessed with the Ralph Lauren Polo clothing.
What do you think of these label loons. Do you go ga-ga for Gucci? Are you bonkers for Bottega? Vote Yay or Nay after the jump.
I hate to admit it but fashion weeks kill me. They really do. Don’t get me wrong- I love the glamour, the fabrics, the details, the models and every other part of the fashion seasons. But it gives me a pain in the very bottom of my heart when I realise that the glorious clothes I drool over and dream about will only end up on the Jonas Brothers 2 months later.
Case in point: Joe Jonas (above center) in Burberry at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards last Sunday. That brilliant and rather glorious, embossed silk jacket should be mine! What do you think-can clothes be ruined by the celebs who choose to wear them?
Tell us on our Facebook wall.
(Image Source: Apega/WENN)
As the days lengthen, the volume has definitely been turned up on Spring fashion options. A clear voice amongst the throng, ACNE have just launched their SS09 POP Classics collection. Inspired by reminiscence of ‘the freedom of our teenage years‘ (a serious lot those Swedes), the collection features lovely, bleached-out pastels and some groundbreaking shapes.
T-shirts come in luxurious, sexy jersey with ‘stretched-out’ or ‘deep round’ necklines and an overall looseness in shape – perfect for playing with proportion alongside some slim jeans. More unusual (at least for men) are the ‘carrot’ and ‘balloon’ leg trousers which can be worn alongside those loose T-shirts with some smart shoes to add gravity. Speaking of shoes, how about seeing last summer’s Happy Days loafers in primary colours? You’d certainly turn heads in these though not sure what The Fonz would think about it all.
With a prime spot on Dray Walk, A Butcher of Distinction provides a slice of the traditional in an area more known for the crowded, visual chaos that is Brick Lane. The boutique makes full use of the potential for irony in its name: shiny tiles, butcher block counters and clothes displayed on hooks.
In outlook, ABOD is a distant cousin of men’s outlets in New York such as Freemans and the Rugby boutique – places cherishing the idea of heritage but with a thoroughly honed, modern intent.
Kris Van Assche, creative head of Dior Homme, and luxury sunglasses label Oliver Peoples have already put out successful collections of their collaborative designs but this week has seen the launch of the Spring/Summer 2009 collection.
The sunglasses for this season are still over-sized but thinner and sleeker than the thick-rimmed versions of previous seasons. Available in black, white and a divine tortoiseshell, these sunglasses (yet to be given a pricetag) are sure to feature on the WISHLIST of the entire Brandish team.
Nitrolicious has revealed that Alexander Wang, the most recent fashion darling and It-designer, is to launch a menswear collection for Spring/Summer 2010. Adamant that he isn’t simply jumping on the bandwagon, Wang explains that “for us it’s a component that’s always been there..the idea has always been there, I’m just expanding it” in reference to his famously androgynous looks.
What do you think- would you be up for Wang’s signature baggy vests, scruffy trainers and cropped trousers? I’m already excited! Write on our Facebook Wall and let us know what you think.
As if having the reputedly oldest shop in London (circa 1567) as your first retail space didn’t mark you out from the crowd, how about it also being the subject of a novel by Charles Dickens? And that’s exactly what design partnership Blaak have in The Old Curiosity Shop. Opening in September last year, Sachiko Okada and Aaron Sharif gave the original shop a makeover orchestrated by Fritz of Frick n’ Frack (designer of homes for Bjork and Boy George in the early 90s).
Part one of our Paris Menswear show round up, and both Hermés and Raf Simons wowed but for different reasons, check after the jump to see a short clip of the Raf Simons vid complete with rotating mirrors and you’ll see why the fash pack went mad for this one. Also after the jump is the Dries Van Noten show, a timelessy retro affair with ’40s influenced tailoring which managed to look fresh rather than museum-y. the green baize-y background added to the Hitchcock glacial feel.
Denim has been revolutionised in recent times and the last few years have seen denim be used by menswear designers to make a true statement. Whether skinny, twisted, acid bright faded, torn, studded, boot-leg: some might say that ‘jeans maketh man.’ And they wouldn’t be far wrong.
So, what would these jeans say about a male? They lace up (with white leather might I add) the side and turn up at the bottom. The have a diamond pattern detail on the back pockets and come from one of the coolest labels of the moment.
Yay or Nay my friends? Vote after the jump.
“Rake-thin, 12 year-old-looking, alien-eyed lady-boys”- this is how one of my friends describes the male models of today. While I don’t quite agree with his overly-harsh and rather sweeping statement, I have to admit that there are times where the men plastered over magazines and high-fashion ad campaigns just seem completely out-of-touch.
Gareth Pugh‘s first menswear show was greatly anticipated but having seen it I rather feel a bit of an anticlimax. It was exactly as I could have predicted with wetlook finishes, goathair epaulettes, and Margiela-style .He carried on the aesthetic from his last womenswear show, taking his origami facets onto puffa jackets and trousers, and accessorising with studded boots and feather headpieces.
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