A blog dedicated to the interesting, scandalous, useful and cutting edge in the world of men’s style, fashion and grooming.
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The history of the novelty tie is pretty sordid. But even the piano-key necktie has the virtue of actually being a tie. This unfortunate item is really just the idea of a tie. And, as you may have guessed, it’s a very bad idea.
As usual, the mistake here is in the “quick” part. Wrapping a coat hanger around your neck may seem faster and easier than a half-Windsor, but if you’re in that much of a hurry, you might consider going tieless.
Or should we say, wireless.
We hadn’t given much thought to what the future of tennis would look like. But Lacoste has, and apparently it looks like a combination of Star Wars and American Gladiators.
We’ve always enjoyed Kate Moss, even in her current post-marital phase. And the last time she got together with Agent Provocateur, we had nothing but good things to say.
Unfortunately, Moss’s latest collaboration with the lingerie brand seems to have gone off the rails at some point. But as train wrecks go, it’s pretty spectacular»
It looks like guyliner was only the beginning.
Jean-Paul Gaultier unleashed a line of men’s makeup yesterday called Monsieur, including concealer, eyeliner, brow grooming gel, two bronzers and a self-tanner. The ad materials encourage the makeup as a way to unleash your “inner monsieur,” which creeps us out more than anything we’ve heard in a while.
It isn’t the first time this idea has been tried, but until now, the market hasn’t shown much interest in the powdered dandy look.
Let’s hope our luck keeps up.
Despite what Kanye might tell you, the market for high-end streetwear based on sci-fi movie in-jokes is somewhat limited. And for A Bathing Ape, the Pharrell-endorsed Japanese import, time may be running out.
Looking over all the loose threads we’ve piled up, you might think they just come out of nowhere. But make no mistake, hideously ugly clothes have to be manufactured, sold and promoted just like anything else. And, since most of them are too unsightly to make it past any decent department store buyer, they have to be sold through catalogues like International Male.
Based in New Jersey (naturally), IM was apparently still relevant when it launched in the 1980s, but since then has somehow morphed into a male Victoria’s Secret featuring some of the ugliest clothes ever to grace glossy pages.
Unfortunately for all lovers of Fraunch, the magazine is closing shop to join its subsidiary undergear.com in the rough-and-tumble world of underwear journalism.
Mashups of high and low fashion will always have a certain high-concept appeal, but it shouldn’t stop us from distinguishing between a good idea and a bad idea. And high-top wingtips are certainly the latter. Luckily, like pachinko and monster attacks, these unfortunate creations are currently confined to Japan, where they will hopefully remain. (We’re looking at you, Kanye.)
We’ve been waiting for the second coming of the cummerbund, but we didn’t think it would look like this.
This Japanese belly warmer, called a haramaki, is threatening to go mainstream. Adapted from a piece of samurai armor, the midriff scarf’s popularity is currently limited to bikers, skiers and the pregnant. While that may not seem like fertile crossover territory, it hasn’t stopped the garment from making waves online as the next big thing in layering.
We can easily picture it on a runway, but we offer the following request: Please, please restrain yourselves.
Please.
The world outside prêt-a-porter can be a strange and frightening place. Case in point, this jacket from Aitor Throup. There are fashion statements of all kinds, but when you find yourself stitching rubber skulls to a suit jacket, it may be time to reconsider your aesthetic.
On the plus side, the skulls zip open, so you’ll have somewhere to put your blackberry.
We love a good pair of shades, but unfortunately it’s too easy to mess up a good thing. For instance, let’s take an icon, known for its classic simplicity and connection to the past. And then we’ll fold it in half!
They even throw in a hardshell case, which almost makes up for completely missing the point.
Saks Fifth Ave [via Uncrate]
With backdoor health benefits becoming more and more common in products, it was only a matter of time before someone offered to sell happiness in a bottle. And, as you might have expected, it’s both hilarious and terrifying.
The French company Happy Therapy has come out with a line of scents called Smiley that are designed to chemically induce happiness, blending fragrance and what could charitably be called “aromatherapy.” Not only will they give you a joy-inducing scent, but you’ll be breathing in stress-relieving chemicals all day, with calming names like phenylethylamine and theobromine.
Playing with classics can be risky, so when John Varvatos relaunched Chuck Taylors, we knew there would be some imitators. But we didn’t expect this.
A product of the Virtual Shoe Museum, the “Converse Extension 1” is the first fusion of shoe and pants we’ve seen that didn’t seem like it should be worn with a surgical mask »
It takes a certain kind of mind to create a wearable desk. The obvious problems—like going outside or interacting with others—have to go completely overlooked through every stage of the production process. Then again, it only takes one person to say yes, so while brighter minds are working on new ways to wear houndstooth, hk-ergonomics is taking us one step closer to being cyborgs.
Members Only, everyone’s favorite 80s scapegoat, is re-launching today under the watchful eye of Kelli Delaney, alumnus of such esteemed publications as Allure, Glamour, and that pinnacle of fashion wisdom, Us Weekly. But more interesting are the places she hasn’t worked. Not only is this Delaney’s first foray into the production side of the business, she had no connection whatsoever with the 80s incarnation of Members Only.
In other words, it’s the clothing equivalent of Tab Energy »
In another chapter in the contentious, controversial dialog over men’s jewelry, the Wall Street Journal reveals that, “sales of men’s bling have taken off, nearly doubling from 2004 to 2006 and reaching $6 billion in the U.S.” No suckers, The Journal intimates that perhaps these figures have as much to do with clever luxury promotion and the recent crests in middle-class ostentation as true style. According to one expert, the trend has moved from hipsters and rappers to, “orthodontists in New Jersey,”—a tipping point or a death knell. Russell Simmons , with a somewhat different perspective, says he’s never seen, “a more untapped market.”
The January issue of Esquire does its readers a grave disservice in the innocent guise of giving advice about getting one’s ladyfriends liquored up. In its typical smarmy, overly-verbose style, the magazine’s “Man At His Best” section offers a primer on cognac, capped with the following: “The January Dilemma No. 1: Your Date, Though Curious, Doesn’t Want to Sip Cognac Neat.” It goes on to suggest feeding the unsuspecting female an emetic concoction consisting of cognac and cr‚àö¬Æme de menthe. They don’t give it a name, but we think “The Ipecac” suits it perfectly. The mag also inexplicably counsels readers to use perfectly good Rémy Martin Louis XIII for the mixture, which at $1,500+ per bottle is a little pricey to be dumping a bunch of mouthwash into.
The line between men’s and women’s dress shoes has traditionally been more of a moat. You cross it at your own peril. Of course, Manolo Blahnik has been feeling bulletproof lately, so he’s trying a jump or two.
What strange beast slouches towards Kensington to be born? Apparently it’s an open-toed oxford.
For the second daring feat…well, mandals are involved.
Maybe we should just be grateful he had the decency to stick with flats.
Functional clothing is a gamble. On one hand, wool hats are both stylish and effective. We all need socks, so they never go out of style.
But as Stephen Fry will tell you, form and function are very closely linked, and when you shoot for just one, you usually end up missing both.
Bag Men: Seems the yabbos over in England are wrapping themselves up in the the latest in visual intimidation—the Goggle Jacket. Apparently an evolution on some very idiosyncratic athletic gear, the British press—charming monster that it is—has cast the face-hiding anorak as a impending public threat (despite no evidence of its criminal use.)
In the same vein, the the London Times has added another level of terror for a English public already weary of Islamic signifiers by labeling the whole plastic mess the “Burqa for boys.” “The trouble in society,” says one quoted expert, “is not just crime but the fear of crime, and this new jacket is enough to give anyone a shiver down their spine.” Indeed, camo prints have always sent us running for the hills and we never really got over our childhood fear of C.O.B.R.A.
“Pants! They’re back! People are wearing pants! It sounds dimly like a fashion-news parody…”
Considering that this little moment of self-effacement comes from the same paper of record and author that recently declared neckties to be back “in,” it’s hard to take David Colman’s piece “Mr. Jeans Meets Mr. Pants” as parodic. Really, what’s the next hot item from the New York Times—collared shirts? Socks?
—G.B.
I guess we can’t blame Fall for being fashionably late, but thanks to its careless sense of punctuality, we’ve had to endure two superfluous months of the men’s plunging v-neck tee—fashion’s recent, misguided ode to the dude sternum.
For the over-hip, under-dressed, strategically-disheveled American Apparel shareholder who thinks this looks good, we’re tired of seeing you walk around SoHo with that extra-large Famous Ray’s pizza slice cut out from your neckline. You’re better than that. Let’s move on to the cashmere crewnecks and corduroy sport coats of the world. And let’s hope come next September, we don’t have to have this discussion again.
-M.S.
