Armory Madness: Plum Sykes will be wearing a body-hugging, flesh-toned dress to 7th on Sale so she can avoid the dressing rooms. Try this with Lycra bike shorts and we don’t know you. [NYSun]

Giorgio’s Way: “No matter how hard I try, I will never persuade Sam Jackson to appear without a hat!” That and 20 somewhat more useful of rules for style appear in The London Times. Geez, that guy is everywhere these days.

Slacker Synergy: Mope/goof Jason Schwartzman is modeling for prep/punk Band of Outsiders. Seems right. [WWD 2nd Item]

Big Dummies: The industry is betting that you’ll wear whatever Brad Pitt, David Beckham and Sir Steven Redgrave are wearing. Wait… who? [The Independent UK]\

Closeout: Online Band of Outsiders sale at Blackbird. [HelloBlackbird]

Strapped: The YMYL unisex gadget holster—so geek, so sharp. [Refinery 29]

The Sartorialist Diet: Having problems losing those last, pesky 10 pounds? The man behind the camera suggests Corona and vests. [The Sartorialist]

Gabardine and Gravy: Brooks Brothers serves up a sale as good as Grandma’s sweet potato pie—and there ain’t nothing better than Grandma’s sweet potato pie. [Click for Details]

Shipley and Halmos

At this point, we’re almost hungover from the hangover. As the our impressions of Fashion Week drift slowly into what remains of our long-term memory, we arrive at the best of the best. Nervous?

2. Band of Outsiders:

Since visiting Scott Sternburg’s presentation early in Fashion Week, we’ve been hearing mixed reviews. More than likely, though, these returns were based more on Band of Outsider’s trend targeting than the quality of the clothes. The hunting motifs, plaids and English references on display were almost tired by this point. Sternburg’s narrow evening jackets, tartan pants and corduroy cargo pants (yes, you read that right) were spot on, however, even if they were riding the tail end of a bell curve. The blue-plaid hunting jacket and a double-breasted vest will most likely stand the test of fad. [Men.Style]

And the winner is…

Close Shave: Tom Ford releases men’s toiletries line (soap, shower gel, aftershave) to complement his signature cologne. Scratch the screen for a preview. Not working? Keep trying—it’ll happen. [DNRNews]

Season Opener: Suit up for the vernal equinox. [Refinery29]

Big Stink: Related - How to look like Colin Farrell smells. [Style Dash]

Mea Culpa; Apparently, a red club tie with contrasting white stripes is the universal signifier for, “Sorry, I was thinking with my jock.” [NY Times]

The Chicer Picker Upper: Ever eloquent with her actions, if not her words, Paris Hilton gracefully ends the celebrity-fashion-line era with her new collection of paper towels. [LA Times]

Plain White Ts: Gap will continue it’s indie designer collaborations program with Band of Outsiders, Michael Bastian, Philip Crangi and 3.1 Phillip Lim. Somehow, Threeasfour snuck in while no one was looking. [Racked]

Chuck Rock: The collision of Converse and gabba-gabba-hey. [The Guardian]

Labor Pains: That BR sweater you’re wearing for casual Friday might have blood on it. [One World]

Along Came a Spider: We knew a kid in High School who drove an Alfa Romeo, which was so cool because it was as sexy as a Porsche but cost less than our used Saab SE. We don’t know what to think about this new one. [Luxist]

Deal Alert: Suit up for your next expedition at Freeman’s Sporting Club and then stop in for a cut and shave. Tell Van we sent you. [Racked]

Hairy Beast: Arctic Muskox is the new hotness, dontcha know. [A Suitable Wardrobe]

Outside The Lines: Martin Greenfield shares his craft with Band of Outsiders. [Men.Style]

Screen Shots: DJ/Designer Matt Creed professes his love for Gawker - meaning it’s only mere moments before they sully his good name. [VanityFair.com]

Jessica Biel Carrying Justin Timberlake’s Lovespawn: Surprisingly, we approve. [Egotastic]

Duffer Droid: The worst part about a Robo Caddy? No course tips. The best part about a Robo Caddy? No cash tips. [Complex]

Natalie Portman Regrets Sex Scene: We, however, do not. [MTV]

Best Foot Forward: Armani creates Chelsea’s off-pitch suits for the Champions League final. We’re not really sure what that means, being American and all, but it sounds good. [Vogue UK]

Dressing the Part: Underneath this whole Mac vs. PC business lies an entirely different conflict: Steven Alan vs. Band of Outsiders. [A Continuous Lean]

Broad Range: Radha Mitchell has done indie flicks and Vin Diesel movies, so you know she’s flexible. [Esquire]

Endangered Species: Is the Gentleman in short supply? [Times UK]

Flavor of Love: After 10,000 years of history, Man perfects salt… with bacon. [Uncrate]

So Tru: Capote and Sinatra take up residence at Dunhill. [Men.Style]

Deal Alert: Bargains on Band of Outsiders, Cheap Monday and Shipley & Halmos at The News. [Racked]

Oh Zo’: One of our many, many girlfriends gives Black Book a dose of her loveliness. [Black Book]

And the Winners Are…: Some of our faves, including Scott Sternberg and Tom Ford bring home CFDA awards. [Nitrolicious]

Retail Valhalla: ACL shops at Odin. [A Continuous Lean]

Pick Up: A wallet made for all you weekend guitarists. [Uncrate]

Steven Collaborates: Mr. Alan teams up with Urban Outfitters. [Racked]

The Ties That Bind: The Korean Green Foundation claims that, “Going without a tie lowers the somesthetic temperature by 1 or 2 degrees, which could lead to a reduction in the amount of electricity used and a corresponding reduction in CO2 levels in the workplace.” Treehuggers. [Hani]

Not all of J. Crew’s collaborations are on the racks. This week, they launched a microsite with GQ dedicated to “rebel style,” with J. Crew merch giveaways on the side. (At least you’ll know where to spend it.)

The premise of the microsite is a 30 day crash course in becoming a “well-dressed rebel.” We aren’t sure if Shia LeBeouf is quite what comes to mind when we hear “well-dressed rebel,” but their guest, Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders, is a little closer to the mark. The biggest saving graces are the Vice Records soundtrack and bizarrely Godardian titles, both of which give the enterprise a lot more cred than it deserves.

There are a few unexpected tidbits, like Sternberg’s preference for short-sleeved dress shirts, but so far, the advice is pretty much what you’d get from the magazine—like popping the top button, sticking with upscale cotton suits, and curveball footwear. Then again, the site only releases one video a day (starting the day you sign up), so we’ll have to wait until September to get to the thrilling conclusion.

Learn to Ad: A gallery of prehistoric advertising. Don Draper would be horrified. [Boing Boing]

Gossipmongers: A gossip blog complains about another gossip blog outing the details of a television show centered around gossip. [Daily Intel]

Hat Man:The search for the dandiest hat continues. [A Suitable Wardrobe]

Toyland: There’s nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come. In this case, lego-inspired clothing. [Selectism]

Men.style’s Spring ’09 preview just went up and it looks like next year is going to be interesting. The names are all familiar—Condé Nast has clout for a reason, after all—but they all seem to be working just outside their comfort zone. Band of Outsiders shows up looking uncharacteristically yachty, Duckie Brown has a depressive moment, and Shipley & Halmos indulges their inner corporate raider. It’s good to know nobody’s getting too comfortable.

The outfit that really caught our eye was this vertical-striped number from Patrik Ervell. The stripes are a little on the carnivalesque side—coincidentally, Adam Kimmel has some matching pants—but it’s just bold enough to work, especially paired with a banker’s collar and neutral pants. Well played, sir.

Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.

Back before he became a big time music producer and multi-Grammy winner, Mark Ronson used to DJ all the hottest parties in town—and some out of town as well (ask him about the time he flew to Milan to DJ at a Gucci soirée and got in a shouting match with Charlize Theron.) His sartorial acumen has increased appreciably since those days behind the decks; onstage these days he affects a sort of dapper nouveau-rockabilly vibe, necktie always knotted just so.

More on the distinguished gentleman»

Slam Dunst: Scott Sternberg unveils Spring ’09 for his vanity collection Boy for Band of Outsiders. Everyone’s favorite aloof, hipster blonde whines her way through the sharp but muted looks. [Trend Mill]

Waist Belt Warzone: The crucial debate of updating your trench coat, or keeping some things sacred (for the love!). [Valet]

Because We Love a Trilogy: Part three in A Continuous Lean’s Autumn Look series, wherein the Moncler puffer jacket gets a gentleman’s touch, and we get out our wallets. [ACL]

Ford Made: After four post-Gucci years, a men’s empire and the umpteenth nudie magazine profile, Tom Ford might be making good on that promise to direct a feature film [Marc Malkin]

Band of Outsiders returned to do another version of their successful Sperry Top-Siders revamp, and we have to say that they turned out pretty well.

They swap the treated leather for treated wool, making it a little less susceptible to dunking, and the deep green is more army than navy, but how many of those shoes ever see the top of a sailboat anyway? In this case, we don’t mind a little creative anachronism.

The Spring 09 collection from perennial favorites Band of Outsiders is currently making the rounds (thanks, Kanye), but this time they’re in video form.

Instead of a set of static pictures, we get a series of people fading gently in and out of frame in madras hoodies, tartan shorts and, of course, bow ties. The shoes are mostly Topsider-esque boaters, but there’s nothing here to suggest the BoO folks are slipping. Mostly, we just wish it were warmer.

See the videos in full»

Ankled: Another model eats runway. Can we set up some kind of foundation for this? [The Cut]

Band of Insiders: Scott Sternberg dishes out some borderline-abusive rules of style. Maybe it’s the bow tie? [Men.Style]

Lured: Innovative cufflinks and ties get a little cheaper. God bless you, deflation! [Josh Spear]

Rabbit Hunting: Tom Junod waxes elegiac about the departed John Updike. [Esquire]

Now that the overstimulated fever dream that is Fashion Week has drawn to a close, it’s time to sort the whole mess out through a period of meditative reflection. Our favorites were rag & bone, Simon Spurr, Antonio Azzuolo, General Idea, and Band of Outsiders, but there was plenty more to see that got lost in the shuffle.

Luckily, our friends at Valet Mag have put together a comprehensive but manageable guide to all the menswear to come out of New York Fashion Week, via a little bit of well-applied Flash programming and a whole lot of legwork. Let the browsing begin.

After years of tireless effort, it looks like the blazer might finally be coming back.

A Continuous Lean just posted a few snaps of Band of Outsiders’ latest fall line, and we couldn’t help but notice the 70s vibe running through the whole thing. Tweed and corduroy both make strong showings, along aviator glasses and uncannily helmet-like hair.

At the risk of sounding gushy, this is pretty much the fashion line we were looking for when we started praising the 70s. They even got the button tabs right! Well played, gentlemen.

More from Band of Outsiders»

Fresh on the heels of their CFDA nod, Band of Outsiders posted another video projection full of thick plastic shades, madras trenchcoats, and trilbies as far as the eye can see.

It’s nothing too different from last time around, but we’re glad to see a few more suspenders get in there, and the welcome addition of topsiders to their lookbook. And they still do men’s shorts better than just about anybody.

The hitting streak continues…

See the video»

Girls Gone Somewhat Wild: Terry Richardson redeems himself yet again, providing art for the 18th Gossip Girl-related cover story so far. [Rolling Stone]

Boyish Charm: In case you needed more Band of Outsiders… Sarah Silverman takes over for Kirsten Dunst with Band of Outsiders latest “Boy” shoot. [The Moment]

Westward, Ho: Michael Williams heads to SXSW…and we are jealous yet again. [A Continuous Lean]

Clash of the Titans: Louis Vuitton takes Google to court over copyright infringement. Which side will Kanye choose? [The Cut]

Every once in a while, we run across an item that’s impressive simply by virtue of being so difficult to wear.

For instance, how does one approach this Band of Outsiders button-up?

Is it too busy to be paired with jeans and left untucked? Maybe under a gray blazer that’s rumpled enough to seem casual? It’s going to take a lot of careful consideration before pulling this one off.

But we’ve never run from a challenge before…

This Band of Outsiders bowtie just made an early appearance at Seattle’s Blackbird, and we’re immensely pleased. Of course, after last season we already have a bowtie or two in our closet…but there’s always room for one more.

All that Glitters: In response to troubled times, CITY Magazine gets even crazier. [Refinery29]

Paint it White: Esquire rewrites the rules of wearing white—suspiciously, just after memorial day. [Esquire]

The Man in the Mirror: A hapless film critic subjects himself to Michel Gondry’s pitiless caricature skills. Better you than me, Mr. Modell. [A.V. Club]

Band Aparte: Band of Outsiders keeps cropped preppidom going in their F/W catalog. [Anthem]

About a Boy: Marisa Tomei reps Band of Outsiders, earns our undying affection. [Fashionologie]

Night at the Movies: The Coen Brothers’ Cannes short celebrates cowboys and foreign film. [Thompson on Hollywood]

The Magic Numbers: This year’s sales numbers look pretty bleak, especially for department stores. [We Are the Market]

Play Ball: In a media world ruled by softball, The Daily Show is king. [Gawker]

The shacket has been a hipper-than-thou staple in New York circles for some time—here’s the culprit, if you were wondering—but it mostly stuck to equestrian tweed and aside from a few flagship models, there wasn’t too much variation.

Luckily, Band of Outsiders is picking up the mantle with this heavy plaid shirt, which arrived today in Blackbird. It makes sense, since you can find that quasi-Buffalo check on both overcoats and button-ups. And while you can wear it in place of a blazer, like the gentleman in the picture, in less wintry times you can also throw it on over a light t-shirt and count on the lining to protect you against any errant breezes. It’s one trend that definitely deserves its second act.

Gitman Brothers Vintage is best known for their intricate checks, but they’ve got a few more tricks left in the archives.

This Baby Cord shirt reminds us of a few of Band of Outsiders’ more recent overdyed button-ups, but since it’s from Gitman, this is the real thing, rather than a retro recreation. As for pulling off purple, we’d say this model has it about right: find a subtly contrasting tie and a good pair of jeans and you’ll do just fine.

We Love Kate Moss, Kate Moss Loves Topshop: We’ll keep mum about our own feelings towards Topshop. [Refinery29]

Outsider Art: Another day, another set of collegiate ties from Band of Outsiders. [Material Interest]

Back to the Future: Mad Men chalks up its third historical inaccuracy. Two more and we’ll stop watching. [Vulture]

The Return of the Chef: Raekwon the Chef readies his illustrious return. [WBE]

Scott Sternberg has always been good for a quote or two. Case in point: Last time the Band of Outsiders honcho checked in for a serious interview, he ended up dropping gems like, “Style fills the gap between how you see yourself and how you want other people to see you.” (Seriously, marinate on it.) So we’re always happy to listen in…

Most recently, he popped up as part of the Sundance Channel’s Full Frontal Fashion video series, comparing himself to more established icons like Ralph Lauren, J. Press, and Brooks Brothers: “We’re all drawing from the same well. But the filter through which we put it out there, and our personal quirks make it all quite different.” In Sternberg’s case, the preppy lineage comes by way of Jean-Pierre Léaud (he confesses a mild obsession in a separate clip), but Léaud’s not that far off from rugby players and businessmen—or at least not in Sternberg’s eyes.

But for variety’s sake, we’re hoping he doesn’t take up polo.

This might be for tie aficionados only, but if there’s a particularly accessory-minded person on your list, you may want to consider wrapping up a cravatte or two. As the trend pieces may have told you, it’s not just for grandmothers anymore.

This Band of Outsiders crest tie is piece of sly preppidom currently on sale at Aloha Rag and, while it’s not as obvious as candy stripes or snowmen, something about the tongue-in-cheek classicism says holiday spirit to us. Now you just have to find a matching sweater…

The Semi-Professional: Natalie Portman pops up in Elle UK. [SwipeLife]

Band of Outsiders Returns: Scott Sternberg weighs in with a line of retro polo shirts. [Valet]

Going Long: Starting the fight against too-long pants. [Put This On]

Seamanship: Learning to tie knots in your earbuds like a professional. [Gizmodo]

The latest polaroids from Band of Outsiders define spring as something spent on a yacht, while wearing a bowtie and a white suit. But two out of three should be enough…

Questionable Posture: More loungewear enthusiasm from the lads at GQ. [SwipeLife]

Slow Learner: Digging up the extremely short fiction of John Hughes. Shockingly enough, it’s pretty damn good. [Vanity Fair]

Just for Kicks: Vice embraces self-parody in a flurry of alternately hilarious and horrifying dick jokes. Bring popcorn. [Vice]

We Go Together: Barneys gets together with Band of Outsiders and comes away with a single button twill tuxedo. [Selectism]

One more dispatch from Fashion Week: After the impeccable Band of Outsiders show, a lucky photographer caught this snap of Jason Schwartzman and Scott Sternberg sharing a laugh. And much as we admire Mr. Schwartzman’s Redford-esque stache, this one belongs to Sternberg.

It’s not just the Steve Allen glasses (not that Steve Allen), although those merit a double-take just about every time we see a picture of him. But we’ve seen those before. Instead, we’d direct your attention to the rugby top, pulled fresh from his new line of polos. We’ve been waiting to see one of those in the wild for quite some time, so the first spotting definitely merits a MOTH. Sure, he looks a little underdressed, but that’s the whole idea.

These Band of Outsiders suspenders just arrived at the Context shop—an overdue men’s version of a women’s item they’ve had for a while—and they commit what might be one of the most overhyped faux-pas’s of the style world: the clip-on suspender.

Clearly, in a maximally elegant world, we’d all have suspender buttons and use the fancy kind of shoulder strapping, but there’s no shame in something a little quicker. For one thing, finding a pair of trousers with the right buttons takes some serious searching. For another, you won’t be wearing these out in the open anyway: You’ll have a cardigan or blazer on to keep things proper. True, it’s a little more laddish than the buttoned-down style—but that’s not such a bad thing.