I love male models. Not only are they fun to look at, but the majority have explosive and playful personalities that translate fluidly to their personal styles. Urban, hipster, prepster or neo-gothic, these boy toys combine their experience and observation of the fashion world with a youthful and fashionably arrogant spirit. A burgeoning trend in the male fashion scene is statement kicks. Platforms, brights, luxe fabrics and bold graphics are stomping the streets of the world’s most fashionable cities. In Paris and Milan, Justin Wu and Canadian photographer Tommy Ton captured a flamboyant concentration of the world’s most gorgeous young men. Set to the Tune of Elvis’ A Little Less Conversation, fashion week’s favourite boys danced, flipped and peacocked their way across the lens. Wu, who directed the video, included several strong footwear moments. Tommy Ton captured those moments in his simple signature style. Athletic brights defined themselves to be the predominant trend - a very appropriate pairing with the boy’s exuberant athleticism. Highlighter high-tops and cherry hued Chucks cavorted alongside tangerines and bright blues. The colour-way carried over to the boy’s apparel as well, creating a ton of visual pleasure. After watching this video, I plan to hit the streets of Paris with my eyes on the pavement in search of candy coloured sneaks attached to tattooed, tall and terribly handsome specimens. And with those adorable accents I’m sure the boys have, I’ll take a little more conversation any day of the week!
One more from the City of Lights
While in Paris, my fashion business class visited the Madame Gres exhibit at the Musee Bourdelle. Before going to the exhibition, I (embarrassingly) did not know much about the famous couturier. Her name was familiar, but biographical details nor dress came to mind. So, I entered without expectations. The pieces felt familiar. This is not because they were “predictable” couture or bland in design, but because I recognized their acute influence on today’s designs. Clearly, fashions favourite contemporary designers look to Gres (pronounced Gray) for reference and inspiration. In Donatella Versace’s S/S 2011 ready to wear collection for Versace, the last 6 looks could have been pulled straight from the exhibit. The most obvious translation is the now infamous red dress that January Jones wore to the most recent Golden Globe awards.
Somthing from Paris this summer
Living in the lefty-est part of the left bank, I take the subway in Paris. A lot. The metro rides are bumpy, long, and often smelly. However, the best people-watching I’ve ever watched has happened in these underground tunnels. Paris is the city of LURV, so naturally there are hordes of couples slobbering all over each other to pass the time between metro stops. Usually they are within spitting distance of me, and sometimes they are spitting ON me. When this happens, I put on my shades for protection, pray to the fashion gods for a Burberry spit-proof trench, and avert my eyes to the floor. When I look down, I can’t escape the couple’s awesome (for them) affection. Lo and behold, their mutual adoration for each other translates to their footwear as well! Most common are co-ordinated converse chucks. Yes, everybody has a pair, but these couples are matching down to the cut and colour! The truth is, I want to hate it…but I secretly love it! Maybe this summer’s trend of comfortable androgynous footwear for both sexes is rubbing off on me. Either that or the couple’s excess dopamine is causing me to have dangerous side effects.
Let’s Talk about New York, Baby
I’m quite polarized about New York Fashion Week. Strutting their stuff at Lincoln Centre are models wearing designs that I, for the most part, would die to wear. But am I inspired to dream to drool and to dance by what these major houses are sending down their supply chains into my closet? Not often here in the city of dreams.
The business of fashion is an unusually major player in New York Fashion Week. Buyers of ginormous and luxurious department stores sit front row, making note of the garments their common consumer will want to buy. Some designers are household names: Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Diane Von Furstenberg. The reason they are household names is because of the sheer scale and scope of their production. These companies capture sales in numerous price and product markets. For instance, a stay-at-home mother who has (very reasonably priced) Ralph Lauren sheets on her bed will probably take notice of what he sends down the runway as well, although the cost of a summer dress may require taking out a second mortgage. But can she afford a pair of sunglasses or a diffusion-line cardigan? Absolutely. What she probably doesn’t realize, however, is that all of Lauren’s products he doesn’t send down the runway are merely licensed under his trademark. My point being is that America’s eyes (fashion lovers or not) have their eye on the New York catwalk.
There are also lesser knowns to the common household: Altuzarra, Alex Wang, Proenza Schouler, Thakoon. These are boys who are in the dawn of their careers (although to a blasé fashion eye they’ve been here FOREVER) and don’t yet have the pressure of an international commercial market boring down on their creative right to experiment. The housewife, I can assume, has never heard of them which admittedly makes them more exciting. Although they do still fall into the category of American sportswear which, at the end of the day, has the bottom line and department store buyer at front of mind.
To illustrate my point: although both are wearable, which one would the common consumer pick?
DVF with an always flattering knee-length black dress? or…
…Thakoon, with a hot pink woven mongolian wool sweater?
I’ve gotta tell ya darlin’, I’ll pick Thakoon any day of the week. Just look at those boots! My god… I need a moment.
Sorry to be negative, but in regards to 2012 pre-fall mid-calf culotte trend: DESTROY IMMEDIATELY.
Seen here at Acne (half-expected this) and Vionnet.
perfection
(Source: tattoome, via raiseyourweapons)
