In Mens Clothing Mens Fall/Winter 2014 Review Mens Fashion Menswear Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York Fashion Week Nicholas K

From The Inky Depths, Into Mens Closets: Nicholas K Fall/Winter 2014 Mens Collection Review

First off, I like to dress by mood and if you're anything like me then you overpack whenever you stay away from home.  Options involving multiple pairs of footwear, several shirts with pant options, underpinnings, coordinating accessories are all intricately crammed, folded, stuffed and rolled into the appropriate overnight bag, carry-on satchel or rolling duffel.  Of course this completely conflicts with my need to appear as though I arrived dashingly light-laden.  Afterall lugging heavy bags may look masculine but, unless you have elevators and a bellhop, who wants to show up disheveled and sweaty.

I've faced it.  The designers make it hard to want to live simply.  Case in point is Nicholas K's Fall 2014 Men's collection.  Like most Nicholas K collections of course you desire most of what you see and just when I had decided to turn from the "black" hole that many NYers are thrown into, here comes a collection whose inkiness was as sumptuous as it was modern.  

Classic in the Nicholas K model of interchangeability and fluidity was this collection of dark clothing inspired by the Kunz brothers reinterpretation of a photo series called 'Men At Sea' by French photographer and filmmaker Jean Gaumy. The series captures the struggles of deepsea fisherman between 1984 and 1998.  The result was a collection of dark introspective clothing that were beautiful and masculine which went together beautifully with the languid shapes and lustrous textures reminiscent of eel, nautical rope and wet surfaces.

The draped shapes on items like functional and inter-seasonal layered outerwear were the perfect toppings for the masculine forms beneath them.  There was a strong silence in the subtle navies, Atlantic blues, midnights, charcoals and black varieties that created a sense of steely isolation and weathered strength in their humble but definite beauty.  The shapes were creative as always but also had the familiar presence of comfortable menswear.  Knit balaclavas and scarves were cozy and functional but in the draped knit had an everyday feel that when paired over trim dark button-downs seemed a great modern layered option to chunky sweaters for Fall.

There was a strong work shirt vibe with the collection that seemed to say 'consider the option of lightweight warm layers for protection and isolation'.  Added elements like buckled closures and convertible collars added to that welcomed protective aesthetic.  Then the pants seemed to anchor that aesthetic further.  There were trim leggings in good knits paired under cuffed and looser arc-shaped crotch pants that seemed a practical way to reinforce layering, protection and isolation.  The arc shapes of those easy trousers were inviting and great modern staples for the newer menswear trends of joggers and sweats as everyday wear.  The wellies on the feet anchored the Kunz' inspiration of the fisherman from the photo series but could easily be swapped out for great combat boots, chukkas or high-tops.

As always, the interchangeability, integrating and styling options of a Nicholas K collection are refreshing to see.  The Kunz' have a knack for capturing the spirit and integrity of menswear outside of traditional tailoring by understanding that masculinity can have a softness and ease without sacrificing the strength.  Their designs look good for the journey and make looking cool while at the destination great.  Unfortunately, what they have not done is made it any easier to narrow down what to pack so I'll just have to pack more cleverly.   

Read More

Share Tweet Pin It +1

4 Comments

In 2 Gingers Alcohol Review BIG GINGER Carharrt Work in Progress Cocktails Dolce and Gabbana Happy Socks J.Crew Mens Accessories Mens Spring/Summer 2014 Review Moncler St. Patrick's Day Umit Benan

It's Easy Being Green: Clothing and Drink Recipes for St. Patrick's Day

Seems like Saint Patrick's Day is the perfect excuse to drink.  A lot!  It's also the perfect excuse to go shopping for something green.  Not that you needed an excuse for either since you are grown & sexy (I would hope) right?  Well drinking and dressing grown & sexy go hand in hand to me.  After all let's face it, if I saw a man in an impeccable birds-eye double-breasted bespoke suit picking up a two-pack of Arbor Mist, I'd kinda cringe.  I'd also be no less dumbfounded if I saw a sweaty skater with sagging Levis and stickered deck underarm walk into a swanky Tribeca steakhouse and order a Grand Marnier cocktail.

Well on this unofficial drinking holiday I say keep the glass full and the attire well-attuned.  That's how I'd do it.  However, I say erase the pretension and get ready to move with the gang on that bar crawl.  Here are some at-ease recipes involving several of my loves whiskey, ginger and menswear.

Be comfy for that bar crawl (or for being hungover on your bestie's sofa) in these handsome St. Patty's finds of mine:

Clockwise from topleft:  Printed shirt from Carharrtt Work in Progress at Hypebeast.com, Bomber from Dolce & Gabbana at TheCorner.com, thing stripe sock from Happy Socks at Happy Socks.com, Cropped Trousers from Umit Benan at LuisAviaRoma.com, low-top sneakers from Moncler at SSense.com and wool/cashmere/rabbit hair sweater from J.Crew at MrPorter.com


What better way to enjoy St. Patty's day than with the BIG GINGER®, a twist on an Irish classic from 2 GINGERS®, a new smooth, malty and lightly sweet Irish whiskey to hit the shelves.  The result is a tempting and refreshing cocktail with notes of citrus, caramel and vanilla.  2 GINGERS® is worth the trip to your whiskey retailer today and worth demanding from your favorite local watering hole, if it's not there already.

BIG GINGER®
2 parts 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey
Ginger Ale
Lemon Wedge
Lime Wedge
METHOD: Pour the 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey into a pint glass with ice. Top with ginger ale, followed by a wedge of a lemon and lime.

www.2GingersWhiskey.com

You've now got some really good recipes for a pretty smooth St. Patty's day.  As always, enjoy responsibly and arrive dashingly.

Read More

Share Tweet Pin It +1

0 Comments

In Indigo Denim Maison Kitsune Mens Spring/Summer 2014 Review Staple Pieces Wardrobe Building

Built From The Jean Out: Maison Kitsuné Denim

Warmth is on the horizon.  A bitter cold and snowy winter gives way to a what will hopefully be a perfectly mild and appropriately sunny Spring.  The perfect time to pull out the clothes that were hiding in the closet for the winter is now.  However, this is also the perfect time to update your wardrobe's staple pieces.  Those pieces that can carry over from day to night, season to season, casual to evening out are what I mean.  Staple pieces have longevity, staying power and while you're busy updating a shirt here, a tie there, a cap up and a belt down, it's these staple pieces that stand as solid reminders silently announcing that "hey, I'm here for you to build around".

The indigo or raw denim jean is a staple piece.  Don't have to wear a full suit and can't look like an extra in the rodeo scenes from 'Dallas Buyers Club', then a great pair of trim, well-made and good-fitting pair of raw jeans is key.  They can be that anchor under a nice trim blazer to make a jacketed look more youthful.  On the flip side, they can be that inky broken-in second skin that complements your favorite Spring v-neck and Chuck Taylors.  Enter Maison Kitsuné.


Maison Kitsuné has some great staple denims this season.  Constructed of Japanese denim with subtle details like the right back pocket's tri-color tag and classic details like the red and white selvedged inner outseam, the look is clean like a staple should be.  What really draws you in even further, however, is the fit, the fit, the fit!  French artistry + Japanese quality = Great fit and most assuredly will be the only pant you'll need in that weekender bag for Spring's impromptu weekend escapades.

Maison Kitsuné
1170 Broadway New York, NY 10001
Btwn. 27th and 28th Sts.
212.481.6010

Kitsune.fr

Read More

Share Tweet Pin It +1

0 Comments

In Entertaining Hornitos Plata Tequila

It's No Party Till The Cocktails Come Knockin': Hornitos® Plata Tequila Mardi Gras Cocktails

Colorful beads, cheekily printed tees, bare-chested balcony beauties and drunk frat boys 'acting a fool'.  You may either excitedly or drearily but definitely expectedly have this vision of Mardi Gras.  However, ponder this for a quick sec.  Imagine drinks well made, clean and in a dignified glass rather than a cup that resembles a bong.  Think about well-worn running shoes and breezy cargo shorts ditched for suave loafers and a trim safari jacket that may very well drape the shoulders of a young miss sipping a sweet cocktail come night fall.  Well whether your envisioning of Mardi Gras leaves you schmoozing lavishly lush or has you left embarrassingly lush, I'll paraphrase a remark I've said to a few of my clients before tapings.  "I'm gonna start you out interesting, polished, impressive and perfectly made up….but it's your own business if you end up on your face so don't come blaming me!"

With that said, the height of the winter fashion season just ended on Sunday with the Oscars just in time for the unofficial dawning of Spring on the horizon with the height of Mardi Gras.  So in the spirit of New Orleans' annual fiesta I decided to share a couple of tequila cocktail recipes whose appealing combinations may inspire cleverness but, well, once again however you end up…don't come blaming me!

Pick up some premium Hornitos® Plata Tequila made from Blue Agave with hints of almond and floral spices, try these cocktail recipes and please remember to enjoy responsibly!

Ragin’ Cajun
·         1 part Hornitos® Plata Tequila
·         2 parts lemonade
·         3-4 dashes of green hot sauce
·         Salt/smoked paprika rim

Preparation:
Rim shot glass with salt and smoked paprika. Mix chilled lemonade, chilled Hornitos® Plata and hot sauce in mixing glass and pour into shot glass.



Tequila Tuesday
1 part Hornitos® Plata Tequila
1 part concord grape juice
 ½ part lemon juice

Preparation:
Add ingredients to glass over ice and stir.


Read More

Share Tweet Pin It +1

0 Comments

POPULAR POSTS

Jacket Optional, Shoes Required. Powered by Blogger.

Follow Me On Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/jacketoptional/

Search This Blog

Blog Archive