Back when she started out, Karen Elson had her eyebrows infamously off-ed at the suggestion of Steven Meisel. She catapulted to international fame fronting high-fashion campaigns and covers from W magazine to Italian Vogue. All this would suggest that the loss of one’s eyebrows is actually rather beneficial- a debate being started over on the Daily Mail website. In the latest Givenchy advert, model Adriana Lima shows off a pair of bleached brows and the Daily Mail is as always on the attack.
Unfortunately for my now traumatised retinas, the newspaper made up a few of Britain’s biggest stars without eyebrows (image above.) I’m not a fan; waking up without eyebrows would be one of my worst nightmares. I can understand that on someone staggeringly beautiful and Elson-esque, a lack of eyebrows would only increase allure. However, this is most definitely one trend I pray does not make the leap from womenswear to menswear. Let’s leave it to the models!
Winter is often a season of necessity versus beauty. Unless one has enough in his wallet to buy a piece like this Alexander McQueen (a cool £1,095,) fashionistos are left to settle for cheap and not always stylish alternatives. The gilet (or body-warmer) is a fickle fashion item and this season it has been made-up in enticing chambray by label Wings + Horns.
Gilets often look awful; after all, the Michelin Man-look has never suited anyone. However, when worn over-sized and unzipped with skinny jeans and leather brogues, your padded-tube of fabric becomes the key component of a high-fashion look.
I would say ‘Yay’ to the idea of a gilet- simply follow Brandish’s style advice and you’ll be looking awesome anyway!
Nickque Patterson is setting the London fashion world alight- slowly but surely. As a stylist, DJ, designer and all-round fashionisto persona, Nickque is one of those people for whom every street is a real-life catwalk. Whether in front of the camera as a model or working behind the scenes orchestrating an edgy editorial, Patterson knows the trends and makes fashion happen.
Ever so fortunately, he was excited to be interviewed for Brandish and after the jump we have his full interview. Prepare for shoes described as ‘elite,’ Nickque’s self-decided role as the “Jesus of Fashion” and grooming-secrets (just check out the hair!)
We love him!
When American Apparel president Dov Charney tells the press that he’s “not sorry of expressing myself,” it usually means that he has done something involving hip fashion, knee-high socks and models who are dubiously dewy-skinned. However, in this case, Charney is responding to reports over his recent legal battle with infamous director Woody Allen over American Apparel billboards featuring a screen-cap from Allen’s well-known film, ‘Annie Hall.’ The ads showed Allen in Rabbi clothing and the director has stated that he did not give any permission for the image to be used. Originally asking for $10 million, Allen was today awarded half of that for the supposed damage the ads have done to his reputation (?!)
Let’s just say that if American Apparel wanted to put up a billboard featuring a picture of me I wouldn’t be complaining!
Topman is great for its designer collaborations and its ‘Priceless’ range, designed by celebrated fashion designer and tailor Antony Price, delivers every season. The range has just gone up on Topman.com and with its wonderful waistcoats, brilliant blazers and perfectly pleated pants (in the American sense of the word,) I can’t wait to get a piece of the action! The look on the left is almost exactly what I outlined in my ‘Will’s Summer Wants’ piece only last month and the peach colour is perfect for summer.
Other standout pieces include the taffeta suits in purple and green as well as the ‘ice grey chintz’ suit. Most jackets are around £140 with trousers at £60. Why not enlighten us as to what you plan to invest in by chatting to us on Facebook?
The more I write about summer clothes, and slowly accept that summer isn’t actually coming, I look to next winter and start structuring my cold wardrobe. Coats are a notoriously hard thing to get right and a single inch too short or too long can ruin not only an entire look, but an entire wardrobe (well, almost.)
The Fashionisto has lifted the lid on the latest H&M collection for A/W 2009 and this faux-crushed velvet coat has a bit of an edge on other high-street pieces. With what looks like a simple collar and in solid black, the material of this coat allows it to be easily worn with any items while being a stand-out piece in itself.
I would keep to simple tones but contrast fabrics and textures to build up the layers of an elaborate get-up. Throw in a bit of tacky bling-age to mix up the expensive looking coat but keep it minimal; garish garb is best when less.
When my English teacher announced we would be studying ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ I have to admit to a light leap of the heart as I reminisced on John Galliano‘s ‘Blanche DuBois’ collection of 1988 and Marlon Brando in all his retro glory; oozing sex appeal and hard-edged fashion prowess. With these thoughts in mind, and a bit of time spent re-watching the iconic film made in 1951, I set about creating an outfit based on the look of Stanley Kowalski.
I’ve mixed a pair of amazing chino/casual-esque trousers with a bit of a vintage feel and a thin leather belt from with a basic tee from Topman and a pair of roughed up plimsolls from New Look. This is simple and seemingly effortless but the look as a whole is incredibly effective at turning you into a rugged, alpha-male icon. Now, with the fashion bit past, can anyone do a good New Orleans accent?
Over coffee the other day, I was talking to a friend who suffers from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder.) Listening to the misery of days spent not knowing what to wear each morning (friends will know of how immense the impact of fashion is upon my life!) I decided to go on the lookout for a designer who can deliver trans-seasonal clothes that will carry us males throughout the year.
b Store London is edging towards the avant-garde and I wasn’t at all expecting to find my SAD solution on its site. Its b Clothing range is full of really wearable, all-year pieces and I would be proud to don this shirt-come rain or shine.
For the British, summer is a time of seaside, (dubious) sun and 99p ice creams. It can be hard to find the perfect sun ‘n’ sea outfit and I won’t bore you with details of the economy but, basically, we should all be investing in classic investment fashion pieces. Could there be anything more perfect than these cropped trousers in a brilliant azure blue. At $798 (£542,) they might be rather over-priced (okay, very over-priced) but they can be worn in the heat with a basic white tee and Raf Simons gladiator sandals or in the winter with black brogues, a black tee and a grey cardie.
The one problem? They are only stocked up to a size 4 so, as if the beach wasn’t enough in itself, you now have even more reason to drag yourself to the gym after work!
Tavi, the famously fab 12 year-old blogger, is often cited as one of the most fashion-forward figures of the current style circuit. Fashion folk worldwide tune into her Style Rookie blog each day to get a glimpse of her latest get-ups and commentaries. When I saw this photo of her wearing her classic Slow and Steady Wins the Race sunglasses, I was reminded of one of my favourite males and his similar sunnies.
I know, I know; Topman has become a bit of a regular feature on Brandish but when I noticed this look on the label’s website during my regular internet trawl, I couldn’t resist commenting.
While I’m not too sure about the rather peculiar Alice Dellal haircut (as highlighted in a previous Brandish post.) I think he gets off with it due to his incredible look- brash patter shirt, acid-washed jeans and skinny belt…but messy enough to avoid the overly-manicured style of the 80s fashionisto.
More to come on Topman’s ‘Motel Arizona’ look soon!
(Shirt, £25 on topman.com)
Mickey Boardman is the infamous columnist at Paper magazine as well as a social butterfly and fashion extraordinaire. He is also the proud owner of a rather distinctive and intriguing look. Boardman blends paired down basics in block colours (Lacoste polo shirts, chinos, simple cardigans in luxury cashmere,) with extravagant costume jewellery and accessories. Chunky necklaces and lavish loops of gorgeous beads add a high-fashion touch to any simple look. But I worry it might raise a few eyebrows (and maybe a few fists) down at the local supermarket.
Back when she started out, Karen Elson had her eyebrows infamously off-ed at the suggestion of Steven Meisel. She catapulted to international fame fronting high-fashion campaigns and covers from W magazine to Italian Vogue. All this would suggest that the loss of one’s eyebrows is actually rather beneficial- a debate being started over on the Daily Mail website. In the latest Givenchy advert, model Adriana Lima shows off a pair of bleached brows and the Daily Mail is as always on the attack.
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