… and go to your public library!  We’ve all seen trends come and go in a few months span – but one that we just can’t seem to shake (nor should we) is reinvention of “cool”.  It’s clear that our current generation of designers is somewhat apathetic – designing with the notion that everything has been done already, so there is nothing they can try that is truly original, just reinvention of past looks.  But think about this… in 1899 (yes, almost 20 years before the Ford Model T and 14 years before the Wright Brothers airplane) the Commisioner of the U.S. Patent Office made the claim that “Everything that can be invented, has been invented”.  Ha!  This leads me back to “cool”.  It’s not a trend – its an aspirational way of living that will never go out of style.

Classic Rock Cool

A note to all you designers (and fashion savvies), stop looking at the monthly trends in your fashion magazines and go check out a few books at your local library.  The collage of images here is ‘classic rock cool’ and it typifies a 1960s and 70s era in the flashy world of popular music, butyou takeaway should be… this is what “cool” was at that time.  Its much looser than the cuts and colors of the clothes – it’s the feel and the energy of the look and the time that we, as designers,  should be looking to reinvent… and you, as clothing aficionados, should be looking to wear.  Maybe this is all too ethereal for a penguin on a Friday morning, but I’ve been beak-deep in designing my new spring line (hence my 2 day absence) and this is what I’ve been thinking about.

So, before you rely on the minute-to-minute trends for your next fashion buy… see if what you’re getting/wearing fits in to your personal, modern, today version of “cool”.  Forget the hot colors of the summer for a moment and decide if those skinny jeans you’re looking at have the right energy, ON YOU… an energy you feel good about and connected to.  That’s all fashion really is or should be.

Maybe I should be embarrassed to admit it, but I’ve just now stumbled onto Chevingon Clothing.

Chevignon Clothing - French Take on the US 1950's

The French company has been around since 1979, and in the United States for about 19 of those 30 years.  Best known for their unique interpretations of American retro style, the brand was started with a take on the the “fights”, the bomber jacket worn by US Air Force pilots in the 1950s.  The inspiration of the entire brand is “The American Dream”, and you can clearly see how it’s communicated in every collection they’ve put out.

The look is something right off the backs of Josh Hartnett and Ben Affleck from the movie “Pearl Harbor”.  I love the current line, and wish it was more readily available here in the US.  The short cut of the outerwear pieces looks great on top of their neutral sweaters – and their merchandising with the hats really gives the line a fashion-forward street feel.

Can someone sit me down and explain why I would pay $240.00 for a pair of all-over-print, elastic waistband, drawstring swim trunks?

Vilebrequin Trunks only $240.00!

If you don’t know it, Vilebrequin is a beach apparel company out of Saint-Tropez that’s been around since the early 70s.  They are an authority in mens swim trunks, and have kept an original and classic fit around while others strayed longer, bigger, elastic-less, and otherwise.  I’m aware that their trunks are made from Spinnaker Canvas (the material used in sailboat sails) which is novel and kitschy, but the price tag still strikes me as laughable.  I actually really like some of their artwork in the prints, but there’s no denying that the patterns they use walk a tightrope line between eccentric, and tacky as hell.  This is one of those boutiquey novelty brands that finds a niche to claim, jacks the price, and runs with it like O.J. in the Bronco.  I suppose I should be no more surprised by Vilebrequin now than I am when Louis V drops a two panel beach bag for damn near a grand… but these are trunks, hardly a daily wear. Perhaps I’m just jealous.  “But daddy, I want a 90% markup item in my line too!”

I’m not a thrifty penguin – if something is unique and well made, I will throw down for it. But these I cannot justify.  If you can, get them at Gilt.com for $80 today.  [again, email me if you need an invitation for membership.]

On Monday I wrote about fashion designer and illustrator Richard Haines, and then this morning I stumbled upon this video which was strangely posted the same day I wrote my entry.  In it, he is sketching the FW09 line for a brand called 3Sixteen.

It’s an awesome video exemplifying the greatness of freehand fashion illustration amidst a sea of digital renderings.  There’s something tangible about putting pencil to paper that I connect with in apparel design, and I loved hearing Haines’ perspective about sketching today.  He explains – “an illustrator is able to kind of exaggerate a shape in a way that a photographer can’t… I can kind of elongate. I can stretch. I can kind of manipulate things, very quickly, that I think photography can’t… I think illustrating it brings a different thing to the table, partially because I understand the details.  I understand how a garment’s made. I understand, you know, kind of how the fabric drapes and what’s important in the garment… so all of that goes into the sketch.”

So I may be late to the party on this guy, but I’m just glad I was invited!   A good friend recently turned me on to artist Richard Haines’ blog -  ‘What I Saw Today’.  Haines tags the blog as “A visual record of cool stuff guys wear…and other things that inspire me.”, and it is exactly that.

What I Saw Today - Richard Haines

The man has an awesome sketch style – one I’m partial too because it reminds me of a much, much, much better version of my own fashion sketchings.  Haines lives in New York and makes it his business to roam the city with his eyes open, recording what he sees today, or what he sees every day, on a sketchpad and then on his blog.  Over the year, he has worked with some of the top designers in the business – most recently doing ads and inserts for J.Crew.

J Crew Announcement

Haines does sit-ins at retail stores and fashion heavy locations on a regular basis… sketching what he sees in the store, and what he sees on the people who enter while he’s there.   His style is just so much fun – an impressionist approach to fashion illustration that is considerably less abstract than your standard designer’s sketch.

I love it – it’s already inspired me to go back to sketching more for the development of my upcoming line.

The Sartorialist doesn’t always claim to be shooting great fashion choices… just noticable ones.  Here  is an example of someone stretching to reach and barely making it… and only because… look at this guy… he can wear whatever he wants.  But 99% of us would do this get-up much less than justice.

MC Hammer Shorts (img•thesartorialist.com)

I applaud his effort though… and I do think elements of this look are on their way back in, but cutting off a pair of Shaquille O’Neal’s Hammer Pants at the knee and turning them into nickers does not a fashionista make. The collarless neckline of the tee is great – I think that will have its place in the coming year.  I also like the pleats in the pants… and reverse pleats at that.  We’ll see this style coming back in new and different ways for men, with volley shorts and walkshorts – most guys should stay away from it in dress slacks for now though.

When it comes to fashion, the clashing of worlds (within reason, of course) is always a source of attention.  It’s the bright purple printed tie set against the otherwise simple, clean, black  suit.  It’s the jeans and white v-neck with a pair of bright yellow Sperry Topsiders.  It’s any hint of flair contrast amidst a sea of what is otherwise expected.  Once you know that, you can understand why I love this guy:

Converse & A Blazer - (img•sartorialist.com)

He’s wearing an unbuttoned white dress shirt under a black blazer with shorts and… here’s the kicker… Chuck Taylor Converse High Tops!  The combo of a dressy shirt/jacket with a pair of short pants was a shocking contrast at one time but is now commonplace, though still very fashion-forward.  What’s unexpected in this look is the dingy old high tops on our man’s feet.  The cuffed shorts are a little out of “I can pull that off” range for many of us, but when paired with the high Chucks, I think it’s just over the top enough to work.

The Key to a look like this = Confidence.  This guy is wearing the hell out of this outfit and no one’s asking any questions.  You do the same.

You may not know this, but penguins take birthdays pretty seriously – so it’s no suprise that my friend decided to spend his 30th at the classy and prestigious Mulligans Family Fun Center.  You need to get past how ridiculous the choice of this location for a 30 year old man may be, and quickly GO TO THE WEBSITE  www.mulligantorrance.com.  The fun center had a theme song professionally written and recorded for their website and it is amazing!!  Though that unnecessary expenditure could have something to do with why only 50% of the arcade games were in working condition.

To the point… the place was in Torrance, CA – quite an ethnically diverse area in comparison to my Antarctican roots.  Since the average age of park-goers was 12, I was surrounded by Torrance groms all day… and I was really impressed with their fashion sense.

Fashion @ the Family Fun Center

I apologize for the picture quality (my camera was apparently on a setting called ‘crap photos’), but look at these kids!  Maybe 11-14 and they’re turning on the style charm like it’s nobody’s business.  First off, both of these guys clearly believe in the ‘fashion first – comfort second’ philosophy because it was 95º in Torrance and I was in a tank top and shorts.  The guy on the left changed an otherwise standard jeans and v-neck outfit into a small statement, with a grandpa style, printed cardigan in brown and tan.  That said, I think the fact that he had chosen a v-neck shirt alone made an impression on me.  The plain white v-neck which was once saved for older men to wear under a suit or to mow the lawn on weekends is now on the back of this kid, matched with baggy jeans and skate shoes.  The kid on the right is maybe 11 or 12 and he was outstanding.  Discretion didn’t allow me to get a full body shot, but you should know that the v-neck (again), sweater, reflective angled aviator shades, and New Era hat you see… are paired with black skinny jeans and a pair of brown loafers that you don’t see.  I was jealous of this child’s wardrobe.  What’s more, he looked so natural – not like when Will Smith shows up to an awards show having dressed his boys in the exact same outfit as him.  No, this kid looks like this on a daily basis and he wears it with confidence.

I believe we all start out creative geniuses, and over time that imaginative spirit is stifled as we learn about and perceive  boundaries and limitations.  So it’s no shock that these young people are expressing themselves stylistically, even if they are looking to their elders for influence — I just wonder how long it is until I’m buying clothes off the shelves that were the brainchild of a 12 year old designer.

One time, my girlfriend and I were in the tie department of Barneys New York in NYC… and we hear the guy standing at the counter next to us start humming and singing quietly to himself.  Dude’s voice was INCREDIBLE,  so we both look his way… he flashes a big smile.  It was Usher.   Since that day I love him, love everything about him, thinking of being him for Halloween…. BUT…. does he really carry a gun?

Usher carries a gun?

Before you guys hit me with a barrage of emails about how the piece he’s wearing may or may not be a travel wallet/suspenders type of thing and not a gun holster… I am aware of that possibility.  Even though Usher’s strapped, leather holster appears to be the same one Doc Hollywood wore in Tombstone, I’ll admit that I cannot tell for certain from this picture whether it is actually a glorified coin purse.  Either way, he looks like he’s starring in a new urban action/musical, Hip Hop Cop.  Glad this shot was taken for Vegas Magazine and is not candid.

Sorry, I just couldn’t resist.  Yesterday I glorified that Italian man in Florence for his stellar ensemble complete with the Weejun loafers.   I claimed that kids across the country would soon be raiding granddad’s closet like a masked Jesse James to get their hands on some original Bass pennies… and this morning I learn about this:

Mark McNairy collaborates with Bass

American fashion designer Mark McNairy who’s most well known for his creative direction at the traditional blue blood clothing company J. Press, has teamed up with Bass on this line of Weejun loafers.  J. Press is the quintessential east coast brand and has been dressing presidents, businessmen, and socialites since Teddy Roosevelt was carrying his big stick.  Founded in 1902, the J. Press style has come to be termed “Ivy League” and it caters to the waspy and proud, deliberately keeping its stuffy shop locations in  New Haven; Cambridge, Mass.; New York; and Washington.

The J.Press Look

Characterized by staples like plaid blazers and fluffy cream v-neck sweaters, the fits, fabrics, and suggested tailoring (an almost demanded 1 3/4″ break in the pant leg hem) have stayed virtually unchanged since the early days.  However, Mark’s design perspective for the J.Press line has taken the brand out of the way-too-stuffy category and placed it in the acceptable and kitschy area.  So, it’s no surprise that he was approached by Bass to put together this new line of Weejun loafers just as the craze is about to tip [says me].  The collection, due out in Fall 2010, includes the classic tassled styles and alligator (which could hurt at $3675), but it also shows some serious flair and departure for the normally subdued McNairy.  A lack of adherence to Ivy League guidelines agrees with him as he drops styles in royal blue suede with oversized white leather tassles… and classic construction pieces made out of a uneven toned,  stamped leather.

Royal Suede and Stamped Leather

While I still think this trend is about to tip along more standard, classic style lines (for both men and women by the way), a glimpse at this collaboration shows me where Weejuns will go in the next few years.  We will undoubtedly see a crossover and expansion in colors, materials, and structure, much like the Sperry top-siders development… and I can assure you that grandpa doesn’t have those kinds of shoes stashed away in his closet.

Let me first apologize for the short absence… I elected to take a 4 day holiday over the weekend and head down to my new time share on an ice cap just off the coast.  Did a little ice blocking, a bit of curling (or as I like to call it, ‘shuffleboard on ice’), and dined at the finest krill spot this side of the Arctic Circle.

But now I’m back, and I’m ready to talk about this guy:

If your summers aren't too hot. (img:thesartorialist)

For me, this man is damn near perfect in the fashion and style department.  The image is from thesartorialist.com.  If you don’t know The Sartorialist, it’s a photo based blog that travels around the world snapping shots to show real people wearing fashion – a sidewalk translation of the runways.  I love doing the same thing sometimes, but my travel budget is a tad smaller than theirs, and flights out of Antarctica are tough to come by.  Their blog is huge, so if you don’t know the Sartorialist then I’m not sure how the hell you found about lil ol’ me.  Anyway, the amazing man above is the epitome of what TO DO with summer fashion if you live in a climate that allows you long pants and layering from July – September.  Short of a seersucker suit, this Italian marvel has thrown together something that most of us only dream about… a classic cool with a chic edge, in a comfortable package… all whilst appearing effortless.  The look is also timeless and generationally transcendent – he could take this outfit off his back, hand it to his grandkid, and sonny boy is an instant style stud.

I love it all.  The unstructured, tan, loose-weave single breasted sport coat… crisp, white cotton button down… chest pocket handkerchief to match… thin, but not too thin black tie that matches the…. black, tassleless, Weejun loafers… the deep navy blue skinny jeans… and a hit of eccentric style in some steel blue wayfarer shades with mirrored lenses.  Next to Superman, this guy might really be my personal super hero.

Other fashion experts and readers will take contest with the cut of his jeans.  Usually a denim pant cut this slender would be part of an altogether ‘dressier’ look, especially on an older gentleman – but I think it’s great here.  The way my hero makes it work is in his combinations and versatile options.  The look is pretty formal in a sense – just take off the shades and button the jacket.  Also, he’s had the pants tailored with no break in the hem (I predict), as they’re falling 3 inches above his shoes when sitting. This allows the look to be more formal if need be, and more fun when worn without socks.  People will also hate on his sunglasses. I love them. I own a pair just like these myself.  I think funky sunglasses are like party hats – some things you’re just never too old to wear.  People may stare at you… but damn you feel great when you have them on your head.  I can also sense some of you turning your noses up at my hero’s shoes, but I have to tell ya… the Weejun loafers are making a comeback in a big way.  Start looking for them on teenage kids who may just be stealing their first pairs from gramps’ closet over summer vacation.  The only misstep my hero makes (and I can’t even be sure because I can’t see closely) may be his watch.  It looks like a thick leather banded watch with a metal face sitting atop the wrist strap… which just doesn’t suit him.  For some reason, that style of watch always looks to me like the person wearing it is trying way too hard for that look – it turns me off.  You know this guy has to own a subdued Cartier or Baume & Mercier.  That’s what he should be wearing.  That said, I would shop in this guys closet any day!

I’m fine with all the Michael Jackson coverage – most talented and most famous musician of all time has died.   I’m NOT fine with the coverage of  Jon & Kate +8′s tumultuous relationship problems – two people whose only talent is baby-making, are cheating, fighting, and embarrassing themselves and their children.   However, I have left them alone… until now.  Until today, when I learned that Jon Gosselin (reportedly adulterous father to sextuplets, and doormat husband to tyrant Kate) is partnering with French fashion designer Christian Audigier to design a line of childrens clothing.

Jon Gosselin Hardy

Wow. It just became apparent to me that I haven’t publicly shared my strong dislike for everything Christian Audigier.  Let’s take care of that real fast.  Even if you haven’t heard the name Christian Audigier – you’ve definitely heard of and seen his brands, Ed Hardy and Von Dutch, adorning the bodies of grossly self-conscious men throughout the country for years.  Make no mistake, Christian is a bonafied genius.  Anyone who will dispute that is just jealous and wrong.  He’s a marketing phenom and an entrepreneurial powerhouse who knows how to create “cool”… and more important to his pocketbook, he knows how to capitalize on that “cool” financially – fast and furious.  His brand Von Dutch rose to ridiculous heights in a microsecond, and the astronomically overpriced product line carried an unparalleled profit margin. He got in, got out, and made b-a-n-k!  So yes, he’s good at what he does and he’s successful… but that doesn’t mean his style is acceptable to my eyes or friendly with my gag reflex.  I think Ed Hardy t-shirt art is offensively unattractive and carries a generally unsoulful vibe.  Ok, enough bashing… my point here is not about Christian starting yet another tragic company, it’s about Jon “baby daddy times 8″ Gosselin becoming a “designer” for one of them.  What the hell??!!?

Jon Gosselin is a style maven.

I was an early viewer of Jon & Kate +8 (and proud of it. I’m not scared), so I know that before Jon took his job as an unemployed adulterer, he worked as an IT Analyst for the state of Pennsylvania.  I’m sure he had a chance to cultivate his fashion sense and design perspective at that desk.  Throughout the show, we had the pleasure of watching Jon’s personal style and wordrobe choices progress from oversized cargo shorts with white Hanes tees, to oversized cargo shorts with screaming billboard Ed Hardy tees.  The pictures above illustrate some of the fashion trendsetting Jon has been doing – doesnt he look so comfortable in that brown crewneck sweater over the pink button-down?

Well Jon and Christian are teaming up to create a line of kids clothing… clearly it’s nothing more than a media stunt, crafted by the artful hands of Mr. Market Manipulator.  If you want to do something in kids apparel, and you want to make a splash the way C.A. always does, it seems obvious to bring on the overly controversial anti-daddy of the year who just so happens to be tabloid Viagra at the moment… and call him a “designer”.  The downside, from my perspective, is that stunts like this cheapen the term and the profession.

The Shawn White Inspired youtube commercial comes to mind.  It’s a self-depricating commercial where Shawn pokes fun at the notion of Target partnering with random celebrities (himself) to quote-unquote design clothing, check it out.

Business or pleasure?… These wooden business card holders by Japanese designer Masakage Tanno prove that at least one thing can be both.

Masakage Tanno Business Card Holder

Made from both Japanese Oak and Padouk, each case is hand-crafted in Tanno’s wood shop work studio, MIYABI.  The craftsmanship on these in unbelievable, with small hinges and detailings made from Kurogaki wood (Japanese Persimmon), and a small interior magnet embedded for the case’s closure.

Side View

The concepts clean, natural, mid-century modern feel is unique in the world of business card holders and the quality is unsurpassed.  You can see the gorgeous finishing from afar, and the attention to detail is impeccable up close.  The only place I’ve found to purchase these little wooden bits of magic is Merchant No.4, an online store for unique design objects.  I don’t know about you, but I’m dying to have one of these in my pocket… every interaction would end with me pulling a card and saying “it was a pleasure doing business with you…”.  They wouldn’t forget where THAT card came from!

.

Since it’s Friday and we’re heading into a weekend, I thought I’d send you guys out with a lighthearted story of a brands shift from legitimate purity to generic over-saturation.  Over it’s lifespan, Ocean Pacific (Op) of 1980′s corduroy shorts fame, has gone from head of the class – to absent from class – to barely auditing the class – to chewed up gum stuck to the bottom of the desks in the class.

Nothing beat 80s Op Corduroy

I know and love this O.G. surf brand very well.   In fact my father, The Style Penguin Sr. was a President of Ocean Pacific at one point during it’s heyday… and I got to watch the brand grow from the sidelines whilst wearing an unlimited supply of hightwaisted short shorts. When ‘Velcro Valley’ was popping up in Orange County, CA – Op was at the heart of it and really leading the charge. Nowadays, Op has kind of become a characature of what the brand once meant.  Something inately California coastal is now more of a middle America take on beachwear and surf culture.  There have been some attempts at a resurgence for the real brand feel, but nothing successfully captured the essence of what it once was.  And now… it’s gotten to the point where Op is sold exclusively at Walmart, the opitome of non-coastal, non-unique, made-for-the-masses, made with no ‘love’, consumer goods.  A clothing company that once sponsored legit surfing champions like Tom Curren and Kelly Slater is now sponsoring these people….

What a difference a decade or two make.

That’s One Tree Hill actress Sophia Bush, Malibu socialite Brody Jenner, 90210 star AnnaLynne McCord, Good Charlotte bad boy brothers Joel and Benji Madden, and some others.  Op’s customer has now become someone who may or may not have ever even seen the Pacific Ocean… but they are quite tuned in to the nightly lineup on ‘The WB’ Network.  All of this is not to mention the design asthetic of the newer lines themselves, which lack soul and creativity compared to the originals.  Granted there wasn’t nearly as much competition when Op came on the scene, but I have to think that the mentality of the brand at the time would have set their designs apart from the crowd.  This ad might as well be for [insert any active sports clothing company name here].  Where’s the love? And more importantly, where’s the corduroy?

The biggest news story of the past couple weeks (and probably the whole year) is the death of pop icon, music mogul, and unparalleled entertainer Michael Jackson.  As a penguin of the 80′s, this dramatic and unexpected event has rocked my world a little bit.  I won’t go on too long about MJ’s 40+ year career, his masterful songwriting, or his music’s ability to unite people of all races and cultures around a love for music, for energy, and for other people.  Since this is a style blog and I am The Style Penguin, I will honor Michael in a way befitting of my expertise.  After all, he was as unique a pioneer in the world of fashion as he was in music.

70s Style

Michael Jackson’s style evolved over the years, almost in precise parallel with the growth of his career, the subsequent changes in his lifestyle and the way in which he was treated by the world.  The Jackson 5 era spanned such a young period for MJ that his style wasn’t his own, much like everything in his life at the time.  Even after his debut solo album, ‘Off the Wall’ came out in 1979, Michael was still under the watchful eye  and control of management and stylists.  Shortly thereafter, he became so famous and powerful that he began doing and wearing whatever he damn well pleased.

Michael Jackson’s reign as the KING OF POP which really peaked and held in the 80s, turned him into a king from a fashion standpoint as well.  His wardrobe choices for both on and off stage were ostentatious and regal-esque, many sequined, gold-chained, studded, pieces literally fit for royalty… and only royalty of a foreign country where jewels and excess is valued.  He looked like an ancient Egyptian king. Actually, I would contest that he began dressing more like a prince.  A rebellious, young prince flaunting his power over the kingdom… with a nose up to his dad (the King) as if to say “I do what I want.”

KING/Pharoah of Pop

The amazing thing about this style choice is that it was somehow not seen or taken as a costume when Michael was the one wearing it.  Why don’t you try dressing up like Barnum, Bailey, or either of the Wringling Brothers and see if you can walk outside with confidence?  But look at MJ workin’ it – head-to-toe rhinestones, blacked out aviators, and a single silver glove. On the red carpet no less.

As the years progressed, the prince turned into a real king and the wardrobe followed suit.  The strong colors of black and red, contrasted by the gold embellishments and sparkle factor remained… but the look became refined, less costume-like and more of an identity.  It was as though Michael had become the man who he was once just ‘playing’ in an exaggerated game of dress-up.

MJ Announces 'This is It'

In his last press conference in which Michael announced his final tour, ‘This Is It’, he was dressed in black fitted jeans and this shiny, satin fabric jacket with metallic embellishments.  Gold has been replaced with the more humbled  and refined silver. Real metal accessories are now embroidery-based.  The military style markings on his sleeves denote an element that he was quite fond of and proud to wear, as I’d say MJ’s style could be seen as a sort of cross between a Las Vegas showgirl… and a distinguished Army general. You can see this influence in the images from the 80′s above, as this characteristic of his style carried throughout his entire career.  A cross between a king and the men who would protect him – Jackson’s style allowed him to assume both roles.

Perhaps I feel a penguinic connection with Michael Jackson because his song made me feel so comfortable about bing both black AND white.  Either way, dissecting the fashion of my all-time favorite entertainer is really enjoyable.  Maybe I should go through each and every one of his fashion quirks and contributions, and discuss them one by one.   It’s too bad the sparkled glove didn’t catch on to the masses.

So I may be a style penguin, but I’m no snob when it comes to fashion.  You know I’ve got my eye on fast fashion, and I pop my beak into the occasional discount store too… scoping out what trends have trickled down into mass market fashion, and seeing how they’ve turned out after the long game of design ‘telephone’.

So this past week i took a spin through the local mall and found myself in Old Navy.  If I’m being honest (and I almost always am) I saw nothing of real interest to me. However, please take note of the shirt they were displaying in great prominence at the front of the store.

I love boys THAT recycle? Really?

Now I applaud their efforts on the environmental front… coming straight out and professing their “love for boys that recycle”. However, does Old Navy also love boys who never passed the 4th Grade?  The word that refers to inanimate objects… not even dogs and cats are referred to using the word that - animals are living beings.  Attention Old Navy… you love boys WHO recycle! Isn’t it enough that your clothes have a tendency to make middle Americans look unattractive? Do you have to make them look stupid too?

And while we’re at it… here is a picture of the man WHO was standing in my shot as I was trying to snap the ebonics shirt.

And this man is married....

Now I’m dropping the Old Navy bashing here, as I have no proof that this man’s ensemble was purchased at the store…. but I can tell you that whenever he purchased it, his arms must have been 4 inches shorter, and the same goes for his torso. This is not a fashionable, 3/4 length sleeve shirt folks.  This man washes and dries on high heat and doesn’t care what he looks like when he leaves the house.  That said, he was there with his wife and kids.  My point? Ladies, do everyone a favor… don’t let your man leave the house looking like this.

Oh, he moved too fast for me to get a shot of his feet – but he was wearing Birkenstocks. With socks.

As I’m sure many of you know, Men’s Fashion Week in Milan has just wrapped up.  Instead of going through it day by day, I thought I would let it come to a close, digest it like the krill I had for breakfast, and bring you the highlights and my thoughts on the show as a whole – so that download may be the next few days.  Be prepared.

One thing we saw from the designers this week was a decisively futuristic feel.  Maybe this is the influence of the entertainment industry buzzing with the likes of Transformers, Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, etc….. I don’t know, but the future was in Milan this week.  Let’s take a look at how two different designers handled a similar feel:

Calvin Klein Black Attack

Calvin Klein gives a futuristic flair to an otherwise classic, almost 50′s or 60′s laid back look.  Take the leather off this outerwear piece and you get Steve McQueen on the set of Bullitt, circa 1968.  The sunglasses also give the look a terminator feel, because they clearly weren’t around for Steve to wear.

Prada in Prints

Prada also jumps on the future train (or hovercraft) with a slightly less dramatic leap into tomorrowland.  Miuccia Prada’s take with this line shows much more intricacy in prints and patterns [as seen above], all the while keeping with a very monochromatic grayscale pallet.

Miuccia Prada vs. Italo Zucchelli CK

In comparing these two lines – Prada’s designs are more of a classic take on the look of the future, whereas Italo Zucchelli’s designs for CK feel to me like a futuristic slant on otherwise classic pieces.  Take a look at each designers approach to the suit [directly above].  Both have a more casual flair, but CK makes a splash with color and contrast wheras Prada’s muted tones might seem dreary if not for the deep v pieces and interesting use of the sweater layer.  The ‘future’ in this look is not only in this unique neckline choice, but also the reflective and translucent fabrics.  For me, CK is more approachable, wearable, and fun.

I like what we’re seeing from both of these style mavens, and expect that the red carpet flaunters will too.

If you’ve entered a boutique or a department store in the past 6 months and paid even the slightest bit of attention, you’re well aware that plaid has been quite “in”. Perhaps you deduced that from the wall-to-wall cotton button downs in every madras and plaid under the sun… or maybe from the line of Nike shoes with plaid accents, or cotton woven dresses for women in every color combo. Regardless of what tipped you off, it’s good that you know now.

Patterns & Plaids for sale. [image © details

Point is – go ahead and wear the crap out of all the pattern fabrics that are in the market right now, but don’t get carried away all at once… and don’t neglect your solids or your textured fabric pieces in the meantime.  If you do, they’ll be pissed at you when you go to grab em outta the closet after summer ends.