Superman and Calvin Klein

Jean, Pepe jeans; sneakers, Converse; bandana, Ralph Lauren
From 'Dignidad', Numéro Homme, Automne-hiver 2008
Par Matthias Vriens, Réalisation: Timothy Reukauf


Two jackets from Calvin Klein's Fall 2009 collection


Given the right jacket, each man gains the swagger of a cape.

Cowboy day

It begins with a messenger's shoulder strap, which turns into a belt.

Then skinny jeans and boots. The floral (not discernible) over plaid patterned shirt is a welcome deviation.

Shirt, cK Calvin Klein; vest, Dean & Trent; jeans, Bench; thrifted boots, Timberland; gold wristwatch, Omega Seamaster



Some coffee for inspiration, but in the end, I guess not enough dust, rocks, and gravel to roughen up the outfit.

Street photos by Kyle San Diego

Strangely, that's what bowler hats and animal print shirts accomplish in this editorial shot.

A gauche: manteau-cape en drap de laine, Fendi; pantalon en cuir, Dior Homme; boots, Boris Bidjan Saberi. Au centre: pull en laine imprimée, Rykiel Homme; gilet en coton, Neil Barrett; jean, Dior Homme; boots, Ann Demeulemeester. A droite: blouson en cuir metalassé, Dirk Bikkembergs; chemise en coton impremé, Rykiel Homme; jean, Kitsune; boots, Boris Bidjan Saberi; ceinture, Km*rii; chapeaux, Gaultier(2)

'Guet-apens' from Numéro Homme, Automne-hiver 2008

Par Horst Diekgerdes
Réalisation, Charles Varenne

Bosquejo Bauble: Amulet necklace

This necklace is part of what I wore today. I have been talking about men's accessories for quite some time. So this is my first DIY attempt to bring together my thoughts on the matter.

My first idea is to use amulets commonly sold in Manila for good luck or to bring specific fortunes to those who wield them. The amulets, or anting-anting in the vernacular, come in a mix of sacred and profane iconography typical of the country's folk Christianity.

I have opted to get rid of all religious and superstitious associations in order to focus on the design.


CX Prêt-à-porter shirt, wool tie, Structure leather belt: all thrifted; jeans, Calvin Klein Jeans; pullover, French Connection; laceups, Marlboro Classics; bag, Tyler; necklace, DIY

Though some may argue that the first necklace looks too feminine, it may either be that there are still some chinks in the design, or that it may only be a matter of interpretation. Nevertheless, I have created this second version that I expressly intend for use by women. My sister has already asked for it.

Hopefully, I'll be able to create more necklaces to expound on this first idea, before I move on to the next.


Bought the amulets from Quiapo

Play

Contrary to popular belief, this blog is not always serious.

Shirt, cK Calvin Klein; thrifted plaid pants, Izzue; sweater, Sisley; sneakers, Bass

Photos by Patricia Suzara, with the invaluable assistance of Cecilia Aycocho

Blue boy

Just a quiet Sunday out scanning the bazaars. It was all sunny and humid, then the afternoon went all orange before the sky rumbled.

Clouds were probably as crumpled as these pants I thrifted. I honestly don't know what they're called, but rolled up, they go well with this check shirt, also thrifted. At first, I thought its bottom part was accidentally bleached out. Apparently, it's part of the design.

Now the sky is all black. No doubt about that.

Thrifted shirt, Calvin Klein Jeans; pants, thirfted; sneakers, Converse; tote, American Boulevard

Top photo by Kyle San Diego

Numéro Homme: Nightclubbing

'Nightclubbing' from Numéro Homme 17 Printemps-été 2009
Par Miguel Reveriego, Réalisation: Serge Girardi

Foulard riveté en coton, Givenchy par Riccardo Tisci; lunettes, Dior Homme

Fantastic colors and combinations, but I can't help but imagine taking each separate piece from these outfits and incorporating them into everyday wear. Like this red jacket with jeans.

Veste en jersey technique fluo, Calvin Klein Collection; t-shirt imprimé, Lucien Pellat-Finet; leggings, American Apparel

Veste zippée en Néoprene, Thierry Mugler; t-shirt, Nike; pantalon en cuir, Dirk Bikkembergs Sport Couture

In this case, maybe just the shorts. This purple and aqua leather jacket looks sweet as candy.

Blouson en cuir tie and dye, Gucci; débardeur gansé en coton, Roberto Cavalli; short technique perforé, Nike; lunettes, Ray-Ban

On the other hand, these Ray-Ban and Dior Homme shades should only be worn with neons and fluorescents, or maybe even pastel, but the colorful palettes must be kept.

Blouson à capuche en vinyle, Emporio Armani; lunettes, Dior Homme

The Dior goggles go better with nylon, neoprene, and other technically enhanced fabrics.



Oh, and don't forget Damien Hirst. He can rock any fabric.

Veste en vinyle, Guiliano Fujiwara; débardeur en coton et lunettes, Dior Homme; jean imprimé, Levi's limited edition Damien Hirst

Blouson en cuir verni et lunettes, Dior Homme

Even though the Cyclops (the mythical creature) doesn't really see that far, this trend may be worth the narrow enjoyment.

Blouson et toile de Nylon, Moncler; t-shirt, Lucien Pellat-Finet; lunettes, Dior Homme

Numéro Homme: Performance

Leggings are for dancing, and so are skirts, as long as they are paired with them. What other way to say this than by the modern version of stop motion photography?

'Performance' from Numéro Homme 17 Printemps-été 2009
Par Victor Callens par Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Réalisation: Serge Girardi

I must say that, along with Hedi Slimane's photos of skaters wearing his Dior Homme creations, these are the most convincing images I have seen of men wearing skirts. Movement, it's all about movement.

Débardeur en maille jacquard, Gaultier2; kilt en toile laquée, John Galliano; jean imprimé, Roberto Cavalli; sneakers, Lanvin; ceinture en cuir, The Viridi-Anne

Short, Nike; pull en maille de coton, Gucci

And color, which this editorial so spiritedly splashes around with: like spring and summer after an overly oppressive winter. Who says man skirts have to be black and gothic?

Pull à emmanchures raglan en maille rigide, Calvin Klein Collection; bermuda plissé en coton; Comme de Garçons Homme Plus; jean, Dior Homme; sneakers, Martin Margiela

Something you can't do with bermuda shorts.

If summer has to deal with the color black, it will have to be in patterns. More than one, even more than two. Let the combinations be dizzying. Let them move!

T-shirt imprimé, Comme de Garçons Homme Plus; bermuda en acétate imprimé, Emporio Armani; leggings, Nike; sneakers, Dior Homme

T-shirts imprimé, Edition limitee Stephen Sprouse pour Louis Vuitton

Let colors and patterns scintillate together.

T-shirt à ceinture élastiquée en jersey de coton, Dior Homme; sarouel en jersey de coton imprimé, John Galliano; leggings en velours éponge, Vivienne Westwood Man; sneakers, Nike

Stars that glow in the dark.

Let your step be light.

T-shirt en jersey de coton imprimé, Jean Paul Gaultier; short vintage customisé, Z Zegna; leggings, American Apparel; sneakers, Edition limite Stephen Sprouse pour Louis Vuitton

Take the disco with you in your every stride.

(Don't you think only dancers can give justice to these mirror leggings?)

T-shirt oversize en jersey de lin imprimé, John Galliano; leggings miroir, Maison Martin Margiela; sneakers, Dior Homme

Of camels and editorials

From Details. CAMEL COATED: Photographs by Thomas Schenk

Suit and shirt by CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION. Tie by MISSONI. Shoes by CHURCH'S.

Camel hair clothing or camel-colored apparel comprise two editorials, respectively, from the August 2008 issue of Details and the Fall/Winter release of Fantastic Man. Notice the difference not only in the styling and photography, but also in the language of the text.



Jacket by TOMMY HILFIGER. Scarf by APC.



Clothing by POLO RALPH LAUREN. Belt by YVES SAINT LAUREN.



Clothing by BOSS SELECTION. Shoes by CHURCH'S.



MISSONI.



ISAAC MIZRAHI.



GIORGIO ARMANI.



Clothing by VALENTINO. Shoes by CHURCH'S.

Styling by Paul Stura, hair by Johnnie Sapong using Aveda Men, makeup by Charlotte Day for See Management.



From Fantastic Man. CAMEL GALORE: The multi-layered allure of a neck-to-toe camel outfit, edited by Jodie Barnes and photographed by Paul Wetherell.

Who knew there were this many shades of camel? There is so much green in the TOM FORD cashmere camel double-breasted coat to almost slip it off the camel chart. Here, it's worn on top of a brown-ish GIORGIO ARMANI herringbone suit jacket, a more oatmeal POLO RALPH LAUREN camel cashmere poloneck and a reddish camel silk scarf by LANVIN, which is tied here as a cravat. Meanwhile the gold in these POLO RALPH LAUREN camel trousers really shines through.



Wow, look at the orange of those JUNYA WATANABE camel cords! They are part of a look that is more modern man than (its) neighbor (on top). The CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION wool coat is treated with plastic and has a narrower lapel, while the classic camel suit-jacket by LANVIN is of a short length. Underneath, the caramel coloured poloneck is by BOSS BLACK, while the gold CARTIER watch is as close to camel as you can get in a timepiece.


Details only succeeds in one outfit: the one with Polo Ralph Lauren denim. In an effort to tone down the camel hair, the other combinations have only become slack and boring. Fantastic Man conquers the fabric with panache.

This is also what I mean when I said that Fantastic Man is more personal. Though the approach is conceptual - hence the color scheme - it welcomes the reader, while the images from Details appear more like shopfront installations that have the potential to assault passersby.

The absence of the model's personality allows room for the reader to project himself into the clothes, and the accompanying text offers usable information, and yes, even insight.

Wow indeed.

Black and blue

Sometimes I am not myself, and I don't want to be. Even when I'm wearing layers of sheer clothing, nothing is clear.

During these times, the act of simply dressing up helps. Forces me to get out of bed, to pull up a face to meet the faces that I meet.



Sheer striped sweater, Zara; sheer striped tee, Guess; jeans, Calvin Klein Jeans; thrifted boots, Timberland; scarf, SM Department Store

Photos by Patricia Suzara