One of the things I’ve learnt writing for Brandish is that menswear is all about the details, but this really takes the biscuit.
Elevating the levels of Obamarama to extreme Neck of the State have taken it upon themselves to chronicle nearly every tie the US president has ever worn, all available to view in the handy tie gallery. The purpose of the site is apparently to find meaning in Barack Obama‘s choice of neckwear and extrapolate some political insights from said neckwear. Good luck boys!
To mark the redesign of their first US store Max Mara are displaying Paolo Simonazzi’s “Tra la Via Emilia e il West” retrospective.
The collection of photographs pick out bits of Americana nestling in the Emilia Romagna region, providing a dialogue between the two countries who have had close links for hundreds of years. See after the jump for more images.
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.
Ed Westwick has been snapped for a steamy photoshoot for Harper’s Bazaar. It’s not actually that raunchy when you find out the images were shot by Terry Richardson, with Aleksandra Woroniecka editing. Westwick who plays Chuck Bass in hit show Gossip Girl star wears a combo of preppy and indie which isn’t that groudbraking but I guess the point is to provide a foil for the lovely Helena Christensen. Visit CQ for more images of the shoot.
Radio DJ Chris Evans is the proud father of new-born son Noah and he has taken to his BBC blog to reveal pictures of his baby. Evans told readers of his BBC Radio Two blog that the new born child is “a little belter” and explains that “I know everyone says that about their own but he really is a bit special.” How adorable!
Evans married wife Natasha Shishmanian, a golf instructor, in 2007 and the ginger DJ has previously gone out with Billie Piper.
The Sartorialist may have crowned New York as the centre of street style but Paul Flynn has written an eloquent piece on why London style is among the most interesting in the world, as part of the G2 London fashion special in the Guardian today. It explains why, although we don’t get the commercial glory of New York or the couture kudos of Paris London is still a force to be reckoned with:
“If in Paris you could take an educated guess at someone’s salary from their wardrobe, in London, Manchester or Glasgow you could probably pin down the last record they bought, their political inclinations, and the places they most like to get drunk in. British street style is delivered with a spirit of invention, not regimentation. It doesn’t replicate, it innovates. Much to our credit, there is no shame in busting a look, which is why we gave to the world punk in the 70s, acid house in the 80s and the micro-niches of both (electro, nu-rave, elegantly wasted indie kids).”
Another item which is made for women but who gives fig when they look as good as this? The Liberty X Nike collab hits the Liberty store when else but this February 14th for a limited time, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.
They have a plain blue pair named Nina, and an orange pair named Phoebe, but the nicest by far are the Patchwork Dunk, a mix showcasing the best of Liberty print. If you should be lucky enough to be slight of foot head down to Liberty and snap up a pair, at £70 for the plain and £85 for the patchwork they’re fairly reasonable and will go wonderfully with the new season pastel pieces making the rounds for Spring/Summer.
Spotting the familiar face of Yu Masui on NYT’s site brought back some good memories. We snapped Masui last year out and about at Graduate Fashion Week (right) in a great Balenciaga neckpiece and cropped trousers. Elizabeth Spiridakis (aka White Lightning), talking up her holy trinity of boy-fash crushes interviewed the Japanese fashion writer who said this about borrowing from womenswear:
“Clothes are getting more and more borderless, like the new YSL unisex collection. Women’s wear always takes ideas from men’s wear, so why can’t men’s get influence from women’s? Anyway, the biggest reason is men’s wear is more boring than women’s wear!!”
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.
Another inspiring gallery of new season clothing, this time from uber chic French label A.P.C. The made news recently with their Nike collaboration on the All Court tennis shoe and I’m sure we’ll be seeing lots more of the label thanks to ourmutuallove for all things madras.
Smart trenchcoats, soft velvet sweatshirts and sharp tailored suits make for an easygoing but stylish collection. The muted palette will coordinate easily with your wardrobe, and A.P.C quality means they’ll become a treasured favourite.
Doesn’t Fiddy scrub up well? From coke dealer to primped popstar I guess it doesn’t come as that much of a surprise to learn that 50 Cent is planning to release a range of cosmetics for men. Jean Paul Gaultier’s heralded the acceptance of male cosmetics into the mainstream, (and also a hilarious video or two courtesy of Stuart and Sean) and now Curtis James Jackson III is joining the bandwagon.
The line will include moisturiser, night cream and health supplements, a source close to the rapper said “50 prides himself on having a ripped body… he’s on a health kick and barely touches alcohol”.
The jury’s still out concerning your valentine’s day options, so treat yourself to a bit of a scrup-up and polish at the Kyoku pop-up salon in Mayfair… For free!
From 10th to 13th of February you can try their Volcanic Minerals Facial experience: you’re greeted with a detoxifying green tea and peppermint cocktail and for 40mins you’ll get scrubbed, massaged and pampered using the Kyoku products. All you have to do is log onto their website and make a booking for your free treatment. Whether you’re meeting up with your sweetheart, going out on the town or treating yourself to a KFC bucket at home, doing it with a freshly pampered face will make it all that much sweeter.
America really has all the sweetest deals at the moment, they’ve got a sexy new pres, the Domino’s cheeseburger pizza, grape soda and now the land of opportunity is bringing you the opportunity to design your own hoodie. If customising your Nikes and creating your very own pair of Converse has left you wanting more then Champion’s Hoodie Remix is for you but unfortunately it’s only for the Yanks.
Choose from a range of patterns and colours to create a zip-up hoodie that reveals the real you, there’s blinging LV-style logos should you win then your design will get produced by Champion, bonus! If the real you is colourblind then they also have a selection of ready to go designs, and a top 50 of the most popular.
Click image to enlarge
From:Arsene, if Arsenal sign Ashley Williams, please don't make him captain