Posts filed under 'Men'
Over the weekend, we searched high and low for the perfect men’s mini messenger bag, a reader request from Mat.
To use Mat’s description, we were looking for a small day bag that was, "Casual, but still clean, versatile and understated." We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
So without further ado, we’re pleased to present to you our top four man bag options. Note that each comes in a variety of colors that ranges from classic to trendy–you’re not limited to the colors shown here.
November 7th, 2005
Background on Paul Munroe:
A former civil engineering student, Paul Munroe has been showing his
designs on the runways of South African Fashion Week for the past six
years. This show, which featured only menswear, was Munroe’s US debut.
Key Takeaways:
What this collection lacked in cohesiveness it compensated for with
creativity. While we weren’t quite sure how to describe the ensembles
seen at the show (Urban thug? Eighties rockstar? Space cowboy?) we
decided that perhaps the collection’s inability to be labeled is part
of its appeal.
Silhouettes: Baggy jeans, plaid pants and kilts, quilted nylon overalls, vests.
Accessories Report: We
spotted leather piping, medallions and iron-on patches on
everything–from the sides of a pants leg to the back of a vest–as
well as pocket detailing and fabric-and-stainless steel belts.
What’s Wearable:
While many of Munroe’s outlandish ensembles seem fitting for only the
most extreme of alternative lifestyles (example: a sleeveless leather
tank resembling a corset), each individual garment is interesting
enough to worn as a stand-alone piece. We also liked the bomber jackets
and baggy black jeans (our photographer boldly proclaimed: "I would
definitely wear those.")
November 1st, 2005
Part II of Style Intelligence Report’s guide to Men’s Lightweight Jackets.
We present to you Five stylish, semiformal jacket options. Whether you’re looking for something basic, unique, sophisticated, comfortable, or edgy, we have a jacket for you!
Kenneth Cole "Boxcar" Coat | $129.99 (sale) at Macy’s
For a sophisticated, minimalist look, this coat is perfect. Plus, it’ll go with everything in your wardrobe.
Knit for comfort, but tailored for style. The collar detailing on this knit jacket made it a real standout.
No stylish man’s closet is complete without a fitted corduroy blazer. We like this one for its cropped fit. The jacket looks great on tall men, but the cropped length also makes shorter men look taller.
Romain Kapadia Canvas Trench | $438 at Guyshop
Expensive, yes. But we adore this jacket’s off-centered button detailing and the diagonal belt fastening. Truly standout detailing.
Slim fit, streamlined detailing, and washed leather. What’s not to love about this jacket?
November 1st, 2005
Part I of Style Intelligence Report’s guide to Men’s Lightweight Jackets, brought to you by the request of Mat.
We’re splitting up this article into two sections because of the large number of great jackets we saw out there while perusing the racks. In this post, Part I, we present the best Casual jackets. In Part II, we’ll bring to you the best in semiformal jacket options. Happy shopping!
The quintessential fall weather jacket, with versions found at BR, Gap, Express, etc. year after year after year. Basic, but functional. The selling point? It works with everything in your wardrobe.
CK Jeans Bomber Jacket | $98 at Macy’s
What can we say, we just love the look of bomber jackets on men (and women, for that matter).
What’s great about this jacket? The oversized pockets (good for storing your keys, wallet, iPod, cell phone..), the drawstring waistline, the stand collar, and the tailored seamlines.
Track Jackets are the New hoodie, remember? They’re great for a sporty, youthful look. Plus, they’re comfortable. We like the contrast striping on the arms on this jacket–a nice alternative to the standard across-chest striping.
We love the architectural look of this streamlined motorcycle jacket. The front zipper is slightly offset and the two side pocket zippers are intentionally uneven for a distinctive look. If your style is a little off the mainstream, this jacket is for you!
This jacket feels very 1970s chic, but in a good way. We appreciate the contrast collar, the shoulder yoke, and the color (we heart Green). And hey, quilted jackets are Hot right now.
Classic Americana, and it can be Yours for well under $100! This coat stays true to the original, with the tabbed collar, soft elastic at the cuffs, hem, and chest pocket, side slit pockets, epaulets, and of course, the Members Only logo patch.
October 31st, 2005
Out of LA Textile comes four major trends for color and fabric:
Tundra
Colors: Greyed out colors, browns, blues.
Textures: Silky smooth fabrics, metallic finishes, brushed cottons and wools for a frosted look, botanical and crystal motifs for fabric prints.
Winter Blooms
Colors: Apple and emerald green, combined with blues and both light and dark purple tones.
Textures: Boucles and tweeds, especially in wool/silk and wool/mohair fabrications. Paper-like cutouts are achieved through laser cutting. Appliqués are botanical inspired, with leaves and flowers.
Indian Summer
Colors: Rich, autumnal tones of reds, golds, oranges, and leafy yellows are juxtaposed against dark smoky blues.
Textures: Folkloric prints are color yarn-dyed, patterned, and ombred with stripes. Patchworks and wood block prints will be seen along with subtly pinstriped denim and oversized lumberjack checks.
Woodland
Colors: Dark greens and blues combine with teal, ash grey, and a warm bronze.
Textures: Spongy surfaces reminiscent of moss, botanical-inspired fabric irregularities, and veining reminiscent of leaves, bark or wood grain show up in prints. Velvet is huge.
October 24th, 2005
Carlin International’s It list for menswear included:
Jackets with shawl collars,
Cropped blazers,
Faux T-shirt over button-down shirt layering,
Fancy jogging pants (really?),
Woven shirts with front knit panels,
Silkscreening on finished goods, such as sweaters and t-shirts, and
Corduroy jackets with utility detailing.
Carlin’s menswear accessories report predicts:
Multipocket across-shoulder bags,
Cloth (especially woolen) messenger bags,
Fancy oxford shoes,
Fedoras with ribbon detailing,
Knit caps (we called this one!),
Hooded scarves, and
Poofy newsboy caps.
October 21st, 2005
Background on Waraire Boswell: This
LA-based better menswear collection is one part preppy, one part sporty
and one part dapper, making it a perfect lifestyle collection for men
of all interests.
Photo Credit: Cary Wun
Key Takeaways: The
emphasis was on irregular choices: for instance, zip-up windbreakers
with ties and jeans (casual, dressed-up and sporty all at once), or a
suit paired with a tie of an unusual color.
Color Palette: Hues ran the gamut from peach to periwinkle to purple.
Silhouettes: Suits, blazers with jeans and button-down shirts with jeans and flip-flops.
Photo Credit: Cary Wun
Accessories Report: Aviator sunglasses, flip-flops.
What’s Wearable: The meticulously tailored dress shirts; button-down shirts with contrasting cuff patterns.
At the WB show, we saw some dashing suits (and models):
Photo Credit: Cary Wun
October 19th, 2005
Trend Importance Factor: Medium.
Wearability Factor: Medium High.
How to Wear It: Grommets, metal zippers, D rings, snaps, and buckles have found their way to traditional garments ranging from dresses, sweaters, and blouses to pants and skirts. The hardware look gives a bit of an edge to otherwise conservative (read: normal) looks, and really turns up the heat on more risqué garments.
For maximum wearability, keep the metal pieces small and on sections of the body that you want to highlight. If you have a great waistline, for example, wear metal on your belt. And if you love your shoulderline, look for hardware trimmings on or near the shoulder area. For a fresh look, try D rings and buckles in unexpected places.
Where in Trend Lifecycle: This trend has been bubbling up for at least a year. We even made note of hardware detailing at Armani Exchange back in April. And hardware studded bags were a ubiquitous accessory this past season. Look for this trend to continue as a counter to the pretty, overly feminine look dominating the runways.
October 17th, 2005
Trend Alert: Printed Bags
Trend Alert: Oversized Bags
Trend Alert: Mini Messenger Bags
Trend Alert: Man Messenger Bags and Oversized Bags for Women
Trend Alert: Hardware Detailing on Bags
October 14th, 2005
Trend Report: Plaid Shoes, Oversized Bags, and Colorful Umbrellas
Trend Report: Fedora Hats and Belts with Hardware Detailing
Trend Report: Sport Sneakers and Belts with Hardware Detailing
October 13th, 2005
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