Jill Sander - Fall 2009

I decided to continue viewing videos of the fall 2009 collections to see how well they are translating. Here is what Jill Sander had to offer:




At first I thought that it was going to be similar to Calvin Klein, boxy and monochromatic, but then some surprising pieces came down the runway. I really like the multi-colored jackets, they are a bit much with matching pants and turtle necks but thrown over a simple V-neck and jean would look smashing. It is interesting because so far I haven't really seen those jackets come up in an editorial sections in magazines, but I'm still not too far into fall issues as I am desperately clinging on to the end of summer.

I also thought the shapes were quite interesting. The over-sized sleeves with cuffs create an unique look, it doesn't look quite right for the office but it could be a big hit at a party. Many of the jackets seem narrow at the waist but wide at the shoulders and hips, it creates a sort of oddly manly hourglass figure. Usually I think of Jil Sander as a more androgynous look, but this seems to be more of a dualism of masculine and feminine instead of a lack of gender. I think it works for individual pieces but the look is a bit too much for head to toe.

Fall Fashion Flashback?

I saw the website was up for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and started thinking about how funny the timing of fashion week seems in the age of youtube. Designers works for a year to plan a collection and put on a show of clothes that are intended to be work six months in the future. Fashion is something current and changing, but the clothes we buy are from designs that are a year old by the time they get to stores. So now that it finally is fall 2009 I looked up some videos of the collections that debuted last spring to see how well they translate now.





Minimalist, monochromatic, colorless this collection seems really typical of Calvin Klein. I always like Calvin Klein clothes in reality, but his presentation is just always the same. The silhouettes a little too boxy which gives everything a really stiff feel. I will say I do dig the music though, but I don't quite see what its connection to the clothes is. I greatly prefer what Gucci had to offer instead.






I like the different materials and the slim cut look of their suits. Gucci is known for a dark, slick and edgy look and this does not disappoint. The accessories really add a great rock-n-roll touch to the look, but suggest that if dressed differently a very different feel could be achieved. Also that purple striped shirt just screams Chuck Bass to me, and that's never a bad thing.

Comme de Chuck!

I have been busy working my way through the hundreds of pages that fall fashion magazine editors have amassed for us this year. So far I am seeing a lot of good stuff, and plan on fully critiquing various ad campaigns for this site soon. Giving myself a much needed break from the perils of paper-cutting mags I was over at the Nylon Guys website and saw these awesome shoes:


Apparently Converse and Comme de Garcons have teamed up to give out feet some happy! I deeply covet that black pair and may have to go order them now (which you can do here).

I love that Converse keeps cashing in on its low-key cool by pairing up with either different designers or retailers. I got a few pieces from the Converse for Target line and have been a big fan of them and this new endeavor looks ever better. I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

The man for the job

GQ posted an article on how to dress for a job interview. They take a bunch of guys in interview outfits and then make them over for the same job. I thought it was a good little pictorial with some nice suggestions for how to achieve the best 'hire me' look. While some of the make-overs are great other still don't look that professional to me. I think they went too far with some of the looks and it comes off as more high fashion than big business:







In some other cases though, everything ended up looking mighty fine:

Kicking it old school

I was looking for something new to write about, and what do you know I ended up find this article on something old, sir Hardy Amies' ABC of Men's Fashion.

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I have heard of the sir Hardy Amies guide before, but have never actually read it. I was thinking that with fashion moving to a more classic look this fall it might be a good time to brush up on the history a bit. So if you're looking towards the future, be sure to keep an eye on the past.

Big Belly Weekend

No lie, I saw this specific article from New York Times referenced no less than 6 times this weekend. The basic premise is that the biggest trend among hipster guys is having a pot belly, as a reaction against the demands for physical perfection that have dominated for the past decade.



I'm not completely sure how I feel about it, I am always turned off by anything that suggests a physical characteristic could become a fashion statement. I know some people will obviously want to embrace a trend that lets them off the hook for gym time, and if that is what you want more power to you. But whether the body part trend of the moment is shoulders (as the instructors at my gym claimed this spring) or pot bellies it still seems somewhat dangerous of a notion to try and alter your body to fit specifics that are "in". And even worse if your motivation is, as the article implies, a reaction against a president who is both successful and in shape.

That being said, I personally am finding this article to be well timed as I had an overly packed, extended weekend filled with food, fun and drink. So at least for a few days until I get back into a regular routine of eating right and getting a healthy amount of exercise I'll take comfort that my little belly is hip right now. After all, it would be somewhat hypocritical given my statements above to bust my butt to loose the gut just because I prefer the opposite of the trendy pot belly. So I'll enjoy my workout, but won't sweat drinking that beer later on.

Makeover Madness

I stumbled across this link from In Style today and find it really hilarious. It allows you to see how you would look with a series of celebrity hairstyles, including everybody's favorite emo vampire Edward Cullen/Robert Pattinson and President Obama. I tried it myself and as expected looked comically awful in every single one. Try it yourself if you need a good laugh.

Hair for me, hair for you

The Style section of New York Times posted this article on hairstyle trends for men:

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In an interesting change of pace this is not an example of a magazine or fashion editor dictating what we should be doing with our head suits. Instead the article is more about a new spirit in men's hairstyling where the style you choose for your hair doesn't necessarily have to match the style you chose for your clothes or anything else for that matter.

Personally, I am a sucker for everything going together well for an overall look but I can also appreciate the desire to express every part of yourself in the way you see fit. Check out the gallery that goes with the article too, the pic above is just a few examples of the many varied looks inside.

Tom Brady does Details

Details posted some Steven Klein of New England Patriots' quarterback, and Mr. Gisele, Tom Brady. As always Tom is displaying a nice mix of relaxed style and classic America good looks. The pictures go along with this article, which is also their most recent cover story, take a look:


To be honest I don't think this is anybody's best work. I feel as if I've seen these exact picture of this exact quarter back before. Tom Brady is not really much of a fashion icon in my book, other than the excellent street cred of being married to the, now pregnant, Giselle he doesn't really have anything to do with fashion. Sure he looks good in a suit, but I don't get even the slightest impression that he knows or cares which suit he is in. The article itself is also rather terribly written, well below the standard I expect from the publication. But if you're a die hard Brady fan give it a look/read for yourself.

Environmentalism is in this fall

You know your idyllic summer is drawing to a close when even the most innocent of news scans bring up Fall Fashion. I came across this article from Conducive detailing some of the bigger trends that are emerging for menswear this fall.


I especially love that the focus is on using recyclable and sustainable options. While I tend to go for something a bit more stylish than the American Apparel referenced in the article the idea is still a good one. Now that the public at large is more aware of the pressing need more environmentally conscience it seems that designers are following in step. The notion that fashion doesn't need to be disposable is a good one. Personally I tend to fall a bit on the other side of the spectrum and never throw anything away. Whenever a piece still fits and is in good shape I will pack it away and wait for the trend to come back. If I grow out of something it goes to the donation pile and if something wears out I break it down for rags or try and find other uses for it. Every little step helps!

Mad for Mad Men

I've been catching up on Mad Men season 2 on DVD recently and am so excited for the new season to come out next week. The show is the absolutely perfect blend of style and substance, compelling drama with visuals beyond anything else on television. Simply put, it is a fashion lover's dream. Vanity Fair published this article along with some gorgeous pictures of leads John Hamm and January Jones



I consider Don Draper (John Hamm) to be the patron saint of Manscaper, he oozes style and class. There is nobody else in Hollywood who can pull of a suit quite like him. Tall, dark, handsome and mysterious Don Draper is the physical embodiment of classic good looks. If you've never seen the show, shame on you and run to rent or buy the DVDs!

College Style

It seems that you can't go anywhere lately without hearing about "Back to School". As somebody who is no longer in school it doesn't mean that much to me anymore. But here's a back to school look we can all get behind, the fashion line by Harvard University...yes, you read that right:

As soon as I saw those outfits, along with this guardian article, I had to wonder if the folks at Harvard are so smart why did it take them this long to come up with such a great idea? Preppy shorts, fitted oxford shirts and great briefcases are always in style as we transition from the hot days of summer into the cooler fall weather.

Sorry Time, we don't need more excuses to be lazy

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Time Magazine wrote this article explaining "why exercise won't make you thin" and I must say, though I was not able to complete my own scientific study to refute it, I believe that simple common sense will show the misleading information presented in this article. The basic premise of the article has two points: exercising leads to over eating, human bodies aren't built for short intense cardio.

I do agree with the second point, that our lifestyles have gotten too sedentary but unfortunately there is not a great deal that most of us can do about that. It would be ideal if we could all work in positions that involved moderate physical activity, but most of us sit in offices, cubicles or on the couch most of the time. So in that regard I say your half hour run three times a week is better than nothing, though neither is ideal.

However the other major point of the article is that studies show those who exercise are likely to eat more as a result. The author throws in anecdotal evidence along with the statistics and as a whole I find the article rather misleading. I find that in a nation with skyrocketing obesity rates its not helpful to give the public advice like this:

"The basic problem is that while it's true that exercise burns calories and that you must burn calories to lose weight, exercise has another effect: it can stimulate hunger. That causes us to eat more, which in turn can negate the weight-loss benefits we just accrued. "

That statement is true, but the article as a whole seems designed to turn people off of exercise. I feel a more responsible, and logical, approach would have been to suggest people take extra steps to make sure they eat a healthy diet while exercising, instead of making exercise sound pointless.

Personally, I do gain weight when I am exercising regularly because I gain muscle mass and I eat a healthy diet year-round regardless of how much time I have to hit the gym. It is simple math, if you eat the same and exercise more you burn more calories. I just feel the last thing we need is somebody telling people that exercise isn't helpful, because it is.

Being a busy bee is no excuse to slack on workouts

A lot of us have a great deal of free time in the summer, and that's awesome because there is always tons of stuff to do. However, too often there seems to be too much to do in the summer months and that can take time away from your workout routine when you need it most: swimsuit season. I was trying to find a quick and simple routine to do for busy summer days where there just isn't time to make it to the gym. I stumbled upon this great little workout on the Men's Health site that shows Jay-Z's workout tips. If there's anybody who is busy it is the Jigga Man himself, check it out:

Who shine?

I saw this wonderful article on how to shine your own shoes:

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I just thought I had to share it with you, it is not something that I have yet attempted myself but it is very informative. One thing that wasn't mentioned in it is my personal secret for shoes and that is to always remember that leather was once animal skin so the products you use on your skin will work just as well on shoes. While learning the correct way to shine shoes is very important and can insure that you look polished and professional sometimes you get caught in a pinch. In that case just your standard hand lotion or Vaseline will work wonders to buff up a few scuffs on a shoe should you find yourself on the way to an important meeting or event.