If it’s possible to add more sex to Vegas, we’re pretty confident there’s only one man for the job. Word is that Tom Ford, the designer who brought sexy back in the land of women’s attire before moving on to menswear, is opening a flagship in the heart of Las Vegas. The Gucci-rivaling storefront will be located in the new CityCenter development, right on the strip (of course).

Seems like an obvious next step from the man who brought us the G shaped bikini wax—a trend that, we have no doubt, really hit home in the City of Sin. The store is said to have a similar aesthetic as the original Madison Avenue location, but our guess is that they’ll be moving more merchandise in the new digs (it’s Vegas, after all). Las Vegas and Tom Ford—some things were just meant to be.

—A.P.

Welcome to our newest feature, the Kempt Man of the Hour. We’re thrilled to have legendary photographer Patrick McMullan on the Kempt team, keeping an eye—and lens—out for the most stylish men about town on his nightly rounds. We’ll highlight the best of the bunch on a regular basis….

Many of the moneyed crowd at last week’s Guggenheim International Gala wondered who this impeccably dressed young man might be. Turns out he was the evening’s entertainment. Soulful singer/songwriter Ferraby Lionheart has been favorably compared to the late Elliot Smith, and (for once) not without reason; his debut self-titled EP is in our permanent collection. Though his workaday attire is quite a bit more casual, Mr. Lionheart certainly knows how to step up to the occasion…

Photography: Mary Hillard via Vogue.com

Leading Man: Tom Ford settles into a black-teak, sable-fur-lined director’s chair. {VogueUK]

Liberal Intelligentsia: The Economist creates its first fashion shoot for their spin-off fashion/lifestyle mag (which is apparently too cerebral for American consumption). [GuardianUK]

Resort Wear: The staff at the Beverly Hills Thompson Hotel will wear casual Jenni Kayne. Call us old fashioned, but we prefer our bellhops with white gloves and those little pillbox hats (makes them look more like monkeys). [The Daily Upgrade]

California Dealin’: Just in case you thought we got no love for the West Coast… [BlogsIsWatching]

Style Warehouse: The Starrett-Lehigh on the West Side Highway may be impossible to get to by subway—but the lunchroom looks balance that out nicely. [NyMag]

Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.

Kilian Hennessy embodies that old chestnut about life not being fair. The dashing Sorbonne grad is the grandson of the founder of the LVMH Group and the heir to a long line of “luxury pioneers.” You should have seen all the well-bred babes fawning over him at the launch of his new By Kilian fragrance collection, L’Oeuvre Noir, the other night at Bergdorf’s. And unlike us, he will never, ever, run out of cognac.

That a fellow like this should be extremely well-dressed to boot comes as no surprise we suppose »

*From the Director of Alien and Themla & Louise: *Ridley Scott to direct the saga of the Gucci family. [SunUK]

Playing Doctor: Man of the Hour Patrick Dempsey is the Versace man. [MSNBC]

Recycling Bags: Mulberry refocuses on men. [MPDClick]

Forward Russia!: Tom Ford to open shop in the city with—after New York, of course—the world’s greatest concentration of high rollers. [Bloomburg/VogueUK]

On the Barricades: Plum Sykes fights for her right to earn, rocking the whole “fashion girl meets snowbunny” thing. [NYMag]

Burberry Check: An analyst’s view from among the Chavs. [Portfolio: Fashion Inc.]

LES Speakeasy: A peek into THECAST on Ludlow. [UrbanDaddy]

It appears that the “brutal” new James Bond is something of a prima donna. At the cover shoot for GQ’s December Men of the Year issue, deconstructed 007 Daniel Craig refused to wear any of the designer duds the magazine’s fashion mavens picked out for him, insisting instead on a suit of his own. Having caught wind of the clothing contretemps, we asked GQ’s Adam Rapoport, who wrote the Craig cover story, what went down.

His report from the shoot after the jump »

You wouldn’t know it from Tom Ford’s entourage, but apparently the fashion industry saw a downturn in the past few months, with sales flagging well into the holidays. But thank heaven for the financial press. Fortune has figured out the problem and help is on the way in the form of a trend piece. The headline? Boring Fashion Hurts Economy.

Of course, the fashion industry has always been the engine of America’s prosperity, so there’s only one conclusion to draw: your deep v-neck tee is a threat to our nation.

Other ways in which style developments menace our national character »

Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.

The New York Times may feel no affection for it, but Brad Pitt seems solidly behind the three-piece suit surge judging by what he wore to the 13th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards in L.A. the other night. Of course there are two mitigating factors: a) he’s Brad Pitt, and b) his threads are by Tom Ford.

In other words, he doesn’t give a shit if some twit from the Times advises him to “ditch the suit.”»

Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.

Out of all the Hollywood heavies stalking the red carpet at the 14th Annual SAG Awards the other night, bearded Canuck Ryan Gosling stood out for his superlative sartoriality.

Gosling, a Chet Baker fan and accomplished jazz guitarist in his own right, sported one of those signature Tom Ford single-breasted, peak-lapel three-piece suits we’ve been musing on lately, in a new incarnation. His was a steel-hued silk and linen herringbone number with oversized patch pockets, worn with a white-collared tan and gray checked shirt and black leather shoes also from Ford’s closet. Adorning his lapel was a special tribute to unfortunate pal Heath Ledger in the form of a black ribbon designed by his sister Mandi, Gosling’s date for the evening.

More on today’s MOTH »

Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.

While he may have dressed multiple MOTHs (four to date) as well as James Bond, every so often we’re reminded that Tom Ford is really his own best model. In the same sort of way that a restaurant with an absentee owner never seems quite right, Ford’s clothes come across so well precisely because they’ve been road tested and perfected by the man himself, who just happens to be one of the most stylish men on the planet.

The other night at the opening of a new wing at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art»

Moby Dick: If you’re a weasley-looking, self-righteous vegan of limited musical ability and even more limited muscle mass who manages to bed Natalie Portman, please try to be a gentleman about it. [NYPost]

N’Stink: Ever wonder what all that stuff in Justin Timberlake’s hair smells like? It’s Givenchy. [Catwalk Queen]

“The Bubbles Tickle My Nose”: Behold! The chick drink of tomorrow![PSFK]

Who Knew?: In a city of queues and lines, perhaps the strangest is outside of Abercrombie & Fitch. [Racked]

Offensive Foul: Crocs, the ideal merchandising tie-in for the today’s uptempo, run-and-gun NBA. [Just-Style]

My Beautiful Launderette: Design is only a rinse cycle away. [Kitsune Noir]

“Does Tom Ford Hate The Straights?”: Sorry, Gawker, we were a bit distracted by these pics here. What were you saying? [Gawker]

“Marc Jacobs Plagiarized My Dad’s Scarf”: Just imagine how pissed he’ll be when the knockoffs start showing up on Canal Street. [The Local, Sweden]

Welcome to the MOTH makeover edition. Rather than an award for a single outfit, this one goes to Tom Hanks for his recent transformation from Tinseltown schlub to one of Hollywood’s best-dressed men.

Up until the past few months, it was strictly sack suits and Today’s Man looks for the hapless Hanks, when he could even be bothered to wear a tie. When Hanks started turning out extra nattily, we quickly detected the hand of Machiavellian style master (and MOTH mainstay) Tom Ford, whose new ad campaign is causing such a ruckus. Ford prescribed well-cut suits and elegant ties with bespoke details in classic monochromatic palettes worthy of Cary Grant.

More on Hanks’ latest transformation»

Nau

Green Man: Nau co-founder Ian Yolles explains fashionable sustainability. [PSFK]

Not So Horny: “Vivid colors, flowing silk ribbons, and glittering bits of mirrors.” And you thought Vikings looked like this, silly goose. [Eurekaltert]

Incoming!: Suface2Air’s Spring/Summer 08 available now. [Word is Bomb]

The Boom Bip: The perfect footwear for the Ed Lover Dance. [Hypebeast]

The Barn Jacket: Seems we’re not the only ones with a fetish for waxed cotton. [A Suitable Wardrobe]

Def Junk: Russell Simmons officially launches his already launched hip-hop-on-the-back-nine fashion brand. It will suck. [Celebrity Brands]

How To Pronounce Comme des Garçons: Don’t blow this one. [Robby Wells]

International Champion: According to the Nielsen company Gucci is the most desired fashion line in the world. Tom Ford commemorates the success of his former employer by rolling over in his sable-covered bed and snoring. [Bloomberg]

High Kicks: Adidas has their Yohji Yamamoto. Now Puma has their Hussein Chalayan. [Fashion Week Daily]

Hang The DJ: Dear Elle UK, hitting “play” on iTunes does not count as “branching out.” [ElleUK]

Negative Reaction: Kenneth Cole falls $3.1 million into debt. Where be your cheeky billboards now? [DNRNews]

Cardigan Cabal: The international press is conspiring to make the Cardigan today’s, “dead sexy chick magnet.” Almost Orwellian, ain’t it?

Restoration Hardware: John Varvatos’ conversion of CBGB’s is taking for-frigging-ever. [Racked]

Lil’ Bit More: Crunk poet and Renaissance man Lil’ John not only has his own celeb clothing line on the way, but is currently vintnering up a storm at Little Jonathan Winery. All class that one. [Pro Hip Hop]

Collateral Damage: The new Bond film is an absolute blood fest, destroying one innocent Tom Ford suit after another. [VogueUK]

Co-Ed Naked Design: Matthew McConcaughey and his old lady create new clothes to shed while walking on sunny pacific beaches. [Gawker]

There’s nothing like a little competition to stir the blood.

The nominations for the CFDA Awards were announced today, with Kempt favorites Thom Browne and Tom Ford picking up menswear nods, along with Michael Bastian. Due respect to Mr. Bastian, but we’re more excited about seeing the two T(h)oms face off. We like to think of it as bare chest vs. bare ankle. Mr. Browne took the prize last year, but we wouldn’t put it past him to bring it home again.

Having said that, our heart is with Mr. Ford.

Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.

In our first five months of MOTHs we’ve witnessed some significant sartorial transformations—see Hanks, Tom—but none so dramatic as today’s honoree, Terry Richardson, the photographer who’s pioneered a sort of nouveau-perv aesthetic. Richardson, son of famed fashion photographer Bob Richardson, lensed fellow MOTH Tom Ford’s controversial new ad campaign. Richardson has long favored a uniform of grungey plaid flannel shirts, thermal underwear and well-worn tees.

But the Natural History Museum’s Ball saw another side of Mr. Richardson»

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]

Stepping Light: Rough day? Sit back and enjoy Common Projects’ relaxing spring collection. [Common Projects]

Mr. Mom: First, she was a woman. Then, he was a man. Now, he’s pregnant and we’re dizzy. [HuffPo]

Tom Boy?: In related news, Tom Ford also plans to poop out a kid. [NYMag]

Trend Setters:Working hard to keep up to date on urbane tomboys, alternadads and all those other mythical creatures of lifestyle lore? A short peek at Radar will keep you ahead of the curve. [Radar Online]

Three Pointer: After years of sitting on the bench, Michael Jordan finally shows some game by employing Tex Winter’s famous “Triangle Offense” in Miami. [NYPost]

Chic Picks: Free music from everyone’s favorite fashion oracles. [Refinery29]

Who Wears Short Shorts?: Styledash don’t want to see none of your inner thighs. [Styledash]

Go Greyhound: Like every other used and abused streetwalker who’s seen too many hard New York nights, Fashion Week may be shuffling over to the Port Authority. [NYMag]

Go Back to Jersey: What’s wrong with Joey Pants? Try everything. [Magnificent Bastard]

Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.

Following in the footsteps of Sean Penn and Petra Nemcova, aging action hero Bruce Willis has been stepping out lately with a much younger model, sometime Victoria’s Secret siren Emma Hemming.

Willis isn’t really known for his sartorial savoir faire, but he does have the sense to realize that a new look is necessary to pull off a poule de luxe.

More on today’s MOTH»

The Tom Ford/Thom Browne divide has been deepening for some time, but it seems like DNR wants to turn it into a full-fledged national conflict.

Mr. Ford’s British tendencies have been well-documented (think Get Carter not Pete Doherty), and apparently his fall collection is full of the large checks and cutaway collars that more fashionable Britons have been donning for some time.

More on the coming turmoil»

Thanks to our friends at GQ, we managed to get our hands on the five-page profile of Marc Jacobs from the May issue, hitting newsstands next Tuesday.

The piece takes a closer look at Jacobs’ transformation from mop-headed shut-in to flamboyant tabloid fodder, as well as his rise to power as creative director of Louis Vuitton. Apparently his secret is ulcerative colitis, a disease that forced him into a restricted diet and ruthless exercise regimen. The piece’s best line is this bon mot: “If Ralph Lauren is a lifestyle, Marc Jacobs is an ethos.” Does that make Tom Ford a nightclub?

More on Mr. Jacobs»

Il Bue Che Dice Cornuto All’asino: Italy bans Tom Ford ad because of their long tradition of high-minded, unporny public discourse. [Radar]

The Distinguished Gentleman From Milan: In related news, Santo Versace, business manager of the family label, has joined Italy’s Parliment. [WWD, 2nd item]

“Masturbation Cuts Cancer Risk”: Well, in that case, maybe we’ll try it some time. [BBC]

Slip Ons: Socks for men without shoes. [Men’s Vogue]

Ripped From the Headlines: Our very own Jared Paul Stern is set to be detonated in effigy in an upcoming episode of “Law & Order.” We couldn’t be more proud. Also, Chung-chung. [NY Daily News]

Ring of Fire: Like a ribbon ‘round your finger, this accessory will remind you of appointments or anniversaries or burn you in the process. [Uncrate]

Beggars and Choosers: A probing piece about the difficulties of funding and presenting at Fashion Week. [Papierdoll]

Monroe Doctrine: The Marilyn sex-tape fantasy goes “pop” in 1,460 words. [Defamer]

Members Only: A jacket checklist for these windbreaker months. [Refinery29]

Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.

Debonair designer Zac Posen has been on the verge of snagging many a MOTH before now, only to be usurped at the last moment by some slightly more splendiferous fellow. Truth be told, there were some very close calls where we ended up handing the prize to a less consistently natty rival, simply because we knew there’d never be a shortage of stylish Zac sightings. The man seems to be at every A-list event on the social calendar, and he’s usually the life of the party.

More on Mr. Posen»

Apparently Mrs. Bruni’s marriage—and less-than-savory photographic past—hasn’t dimmed her prospects as a model. Apparently the UK supermarket chain ASDA has dumped their current spokesperson in the hopes of landing the French First Lady. Maybe they’re after a break on their export taxes.

More on Ms. Bruni’s future endorsement gigs»

Belly Up to the Bar: Thank Бог someone out there is poking around Russian Elle for Bar Refaeli shots. [Goldenfiddle]

Casual Friday: We’re a little surprised that this internal memo from Interview on office dress code was even necessary. We could guess that this has something to do with the magazine’s new Capo di tutti capi, Glenn O’Brien—but then again, the guy doesn’t always hew to the rule himself. [Gawker]

Spice on Set: Failing fashion designer Victoria Beckham teams up with failing movie mogul Tom Cruise for what will almost certainly be Ben Stiller’s ugliest film since “Meet the Fockers”. [FemaleFirst UK]

Bowery Boy: Does John Varvatos even have time to design anymore with all these CBGBs questions? [NYTimes]

Cheap Shots: The best suits under $500 photographed by Scott “The Sartorialist” Schuman. [Men.Style]

Word Games: Watch as three out of four panelists stuff their feet straight into their mouths while attempting to define “Hipster.” [PSFK]

Shwing!: Tom Ford wants you to appreciate the human dingle as much as he does. [NYMag]

Today, PSFK points us to another web gem. This time it’s a post about pre-experience design. That’s (apparently) what brainy ad folk call your expectation of the product, built up by the various things you’ve heard about it. The shining example is the ubiquitous iPhone ads that made everyone want to be able to turn their phone sideways and “pinch” to zoom. Creating the experience starts before anyone buys an iPhone, the argument goes. If you really want to enjoy that wine, he suggests, you should start by buying an expensive glass.

What all this has to do with style»

Super Villians: Roberto Piqueras dresses the gay Legion of Doom. [Skeleton Legs]

Tom Ford and Thom Browne Square off at Bergdorfs: And somehow Pee Wee Herman is the ref. [NYTimes]

Aqua Man: Meanwhile, down the hall at Thursday Styles, Mike Albo hunts down beachwear. [NYTimes]

Deforestation: Harrison Ford makes the ultimate sacrifice for the environment. [NYDaily News]

A Close Shave: The return of the barbershop (without Ice Cube). [Art of Manliness]

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]

Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.

Comic actor Will Smith isn’t typically our beau idéal of a stylish fellow, but we have noticed him turning out in some pretty snazzy threads of late.

Still we were surprised by the boldly checked three-piece Tom Ford suit he wore to the premiere of his new superhero spoof Hancock the other night. We expect this sort of thing from MOTH whiz Daniel Day-Lewis but hardly the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

More on today’s MOTH»

Six Films Made Better by Batman: What? Only six? We can think of thousands. [Maxim]

The Right to Sag: The ACLU is threatening a court battle in defending the slouchy pants wearers of Flint. [Newsweek]

Last Action Hero: It’s always nice when the protagonist looks like your sophmore-year roommate. [The Moment]

New Classics: Albam may look familiar, but it’s fresh as can be. [Dejour]

Very Punny: Kenneth Cole’s are really starting to push people in the wrong direction. [Gawker]

No Tom Jr.?: Tom Ford isn’t exactly in a hurry to squeeze out puppies—which is good given that he still doesn’t have one of those newfangled man wombs. [NYMag]

Considering how seriously nouveau 007 Daniel Craig takes his suits, we were not surprised to see that he made the grade in Vanity Fair’s 2008 International Best-Dressed List.

However, knowing how into Tom Ford Craig is—as we noted before, he refused to wear anything else for his GQ cover shoot, and went through 40+ Ford suits while filming the latest Bond flick, Quantum of Solace—we were somewhat taken aback to see him pictured in the mag wearing nothing but Dolce & Gabbana. Looks to us like someone at VF went out of their way to favor the Italian duo over the MOTH king—and it also looks like Tommy needs to buy a lot more ad space.

Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.

As a counterpoint to the toothsome model duo we presented you with the other day, here’s a well-tailored pair of gentlemen who provided a rare moment of sartorial splendor during a mostly humdrum Fashion Week.

On the left, former MOTH Zac Posen, the social butterfly fashion designer; on the right, a certain rich clown with an oversized ego and an identity crisis to match (what’s is it this week? Puffy? Diddy? Poncey?) The two met up at Mr. Posen’s runway show, where the designer sported an elegant ticket-pocketed tropical weight woolen number complete with boutonnière.

But those sleeves…»

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]

Here we have the latest convert to the cult of Tom Ford, - the fellow affectionately known the world over as “Becks”. Mr. Beckham obviously did some research into what the well-dressed MOTH is wearing, and wisely opted to adorn himself likewise. At a fragrance launch the other day he sported a three-piece, single-breasted, peak lapel sand and ochre stripe, silk and wool homespun check “Buckingham” model suit with a ticket pocket, white shirt, brown silk tie and brown calfskin wingtips all from Mr. Ford’s atelier.

More on Mr. Beckham»

In our all consuming quest to keep you looking your nattiest, it’s high time we address your face. Or at least the glasses sitting on it. With the help of our good friends Jordan and Erik from Silver Lining Opticians—our vote for the best specs shop in all the land—we’re going to bring you the vintage shades you should be wearing, one category at a time. And if something catches your eye, just shoot us an email and we’ll point you in the right direction.

One of the secrets of vintage gear is nailing down a specific place and time. In the case of the plastic aviator, it’s the late seventies, when muscle cars, eight tracks and unreconstructed rock could all still pass as unironic. And, now that it’s being sported by celebs from Kanye to Tom Ford, the plastic aviator is enjoying a much deserved revival. Ranging from high-tech to faux-cheap, we’ve put together a list that can see you through beach weekends, skiing, and your usual daytime adventures. And, of course, they all look good with a mustache.

After the jump, see our favorite plastic aviators»

AskMen just put up its list of the 49 most influential men of the year and, naturally, we’re furious we didn’t make the list. Of course, we would have been the only blogger other than Kanye…

Now that we’ve gotten over the initial shock, we have to admit it’s pretty good work. It’s got its share of our favorite movie stars—The Cloon (22) and Robert Downey Jr. (4)— mixed in with who-the-hell-is-that picks, like Jonathan Ive (23), the design mastermind behind the iPhone, and Rob Kay (8), the brains behind Guitar Hero. On the style front, Kempt favorites Thom Browne (43) and Tom Ford (4) also weigh in, although we’re surprised Ford is so high and Browne is so low. Maybe the accountant look isn’t as popular as we thought.

But any list that puts Kanye two spots ahead of Ben Bernanke can’t be all bad.

Product placement is nothing new to the James Bond movies, but we were pleased to hear that the new film is going to feature a whole lot of one of America’s most prominent designers.

Of course, Daniel Craig is already on record as being much-impressed with Tom Ford, but apparently he’s got a bit more clout these days, which means we’ll be seeing less Brioni and a lot less of those miniscule swimming trunks from Casino Royale. (Something tells us Roger Moore didn’t have to put up with that sort of thing…)

It’s rare to see a choice like this made by the star and not the marketing or wardrobe department, but it looks like Mr. Craig is moving up in the world. After all, what’s the point in having an acting gig if you can’t use it to score a good suit every now and then?

Let’s just hope he can keep them clean.

When times are tough, people tend to cut back on things that aren’t absolutely essential. For instance, the market for $500 tanning goggles is probably pretty shaky right now.

Sorry, Mr. Ford. This was a bad idea.

Now that Tom Ford can do whatever he wants, he’s decided to direct a movie. He’s roped in Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, and the sainted production designers from Mad Men, so he’s off to a good start, but we’re still a little unsure about Ford’s new incarnation as movie mogul.

The movie is adapted from A Single Man, a day-in-the-life novel about a bereaved gay college professor in California in 1962. The novel is a gay touchstone—Elton John named an album after it, to give you some idea—so Ford’s interest isn’t completely out of left field, but it still seems like an odd choice. Ford’s ads and even clothes seem designed to project a guy’s-night-in-Vegas aesthetic. How well will he transition to measured musing about the passage of time? Is this just getting back at Thom Browne for snagging the Mad Men wardrobe? We’ll have to wait and see.

At least those goggles are going to a good cause.

Can’t Tell Me Nothin’: Kanye goes through his favorite Obama pics. In other words, if things turn south, we can expect one hell of a blog post. [Kanye West’s Blog]

Very Big Love: Tom Ford adds Ginnifer Goodwin to his stable. Of actors. For the movie. [The Cut]

Take a Bow: If you have managed to get through life so far without knowing how to tie a bowtie, this is the video for you. Live in fear no longer. [His Fashion Eye]

Industrial Camoflage: Graffiti meets civic beautification when fire hydrants are painted the color of their surroundings. We expect a lot of bruised shins. [PSFK]

Marketing has become a bit of a dirty word lately, but it has a lot more to do with modern fashion brands than anything that comes out of a factory. After all, where would Tom Ford be without a few well-framed photographs?

With that in mind, Commonwealth Utilities had a good idea. The label is a back-and-forth collaboration between designer Anthony Keegan and marketing guru Richard Christiansen—Anthony provides the clothes while Richard provides the image—and the fact that they go back a decade-plus doesn’t hurt. The advertising end has been impressive so far, with a perfectly designed shirt package and a lookbook shot with a UFC fighter, but naturally, we’re a little more interested in Mr. Keegan’s contribution.

If their Spring line is any indication, we’re about to see a lot more high-buttoned blazers. And we love a well patterned pocket.

See more from Commonwealth Utilities»

Finger on the Button: All the Obama buttons you ever wanted to see in one place. This is what thrift stores will look like 50 years from now. [BoingBoing]

Ford v. Walnuts: Tom Ford and Paulie Walnuts: Separated at birth. [Men.Style]

Garters on the Rise: Argyle makes a strong showing in this rundown of winter socks. [A Suitable Wardrobe]

Take Five: Winn Perry’s five tips for looking good. (None of them involve tanning.) [Portland Mercury]

If you were wondering about the legacy of those Tom Ford ads…we might have something.

The German exotica shop Condomi must have decided their old bags weren’t eye-catching enough, so they designed totes depicting thong-clad crotches, with a particularly well-placed handle. It’s a good way to spread word of mouth, but we can’t help but wonder how many of their more timid customers are turning down bags at the register.

And if this is what they do with a bag, we’d hate to think what they do with a billboard…