Numéro Homme: Splash

Summer, it seems, is here - at least for bi-annual magazines. And even if all the outfits are tuxedos, the dominant color is still blue.


Veste et pantalon de smoking, chemise à plastron, ceinture, nœud papillon et pochette, Yves Saint Laurent; boots, Louis Vuitton

'Splash' from Numéro Homme, Printemps-été 2009

Veste de smoking et chemise du soir à col cassé, nœud papillon en soie et pochette, Giorgio Armani

Break free from tedious uniforms. Penguins, after all, enjoy a good swim.


Veste et pantalon des smoking, Prada; derbys, Louis Vuitton

Summer!


Veste et pantalon de smoking en soie, chemise, nœud papillon et pochette à pois, D&G

Come prepared for unexpected soaks.


Veste de smoking et chemise à col cassé, nœud papillon en soie et boutons de machette, Gianfranco Ferre; maillot de bain, Dolce & Gabbana

Though there should be a limit to chlorine.


Veste du soir, chemise à poignets mousquetaire et nœud papillon, Dolce & Gabbana; slip de bain, Speedo

Savor it while it's still here.


Veste de smoking, chemise, nœud papillon et pochette en soie, Carlo Pignatelli

Par Matthias Vriens
Réalisation, Timothy Reukauf

Carlo Pignatelli Cerimonia in L'Uomo Vogue

A good fashion photograph is based upon taste and style. It depends on what you place in front of the camera. If you place something that's lame in front of the lens, you won't produce gold; the most you can expect is either brass or nickel. (Walter Chin, photographer)





Just look at these exquisite details. They make formal evening wear lavish without being loud, their obvious extravagance played down.



Stylish ceremony, from L'Uomo Vogue January 2006



Allowing utmost ease and even laziness.





But never losing that rarefied charm.





Or that particular playfulness.





Can you still call these men penguins?



Tuxedos, evening dresses, ruffled shirts e sparati, tail jackets e bow ties: tutto Carlo Pignatelli Cerimonia. Tutte le scarpe da smoking sono Church's e Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane. Jewels, Ellegem NY

Photography by Walter Chin
Fashion editor: Robert Rabensteiner

L'Uomo Vogue

I had written about Vogue Italia before, featuring their covers from various decades and also praising both the editorial vision and the personal style of its editor, Franca Sozzani, but I had never realized that its men's counterpart, L'Uomo Vogue, was such a breathtaking magazine.

Folie Bizzare, from L'Uomo Vogue January 2006

Camicia bianca di fiandra, B>More; striped pants, Givenchy; lace scarf, Southpaw; stivali da motociclista, Odds; collana, Kt. PER LEI: Ivory frac jacket, Jean Paul Gaultier; jeans, As Four



Camicia di denim con plastron, Neil Barrett; painted jeans, Polo Ralph Lauren; navy cord, Fenton USA; foulard in vita, Southpaw; pointed boots, Destroy @ Trash and Vaudeville. PER LEI: Pants di pelle e stivali, Daryl K



From the few issues that I have, I was awed by the way it captured past and present eras (in this case, projecting a future one) with the decadence of emotion, but practicing enough restraint to render its images possible, near to wearable.



DA SINISTRA: Camicia bianca e silk pullover, Gucci; shiny golden linen pants, Dolce & Gabbana; cappello, Marc Jacobs; black boots, Destroy @ Trash & Vaudeville; collane d'oro, Fenton USA e Alyssa Norton. PER LEI: Pants di pelle, Alexander McQueen; stivali, Jean Paul Gaultier; sciarpa di seta, Southpaw; catena con piume, Fenton USA. Gold metallic blazer, Dolce & Gabbana; white tuxedo shirt, Jean Paul Gaultier; brown leather pants, John Galliano; cintura bicolore, Roberto Cavalli; stivali, Odds



L'Uomo Vogue presents a man who is intense and at the same time aloof. In spite of his style jests, he is ultimately simple and grounded, confident of who he is.



DA SINISTRA: Camicia con ruches e pantaloni da smoking argento e nero, Roberto Cavalli; jacket, John Richmond; stivali, Cloak. PER LEI: Black cape, Vintage Loft; pantaloni, VPL. Military blazer, Carlo Pignatelli Outside; camicia bianca con plastron, Neil Barrett; pantaloni neri, John Richmond; cintura di pelle con fibbia gioiello, Roberto Cavalli. Blazer beige e pants, tutto Emporio Armani; band jacket, Odds



Upon reading (actually just looking at!) this magazine, I am more and more convinced of the viability of fashion photography as a visual art. L'Uomo Vogue raises images to the level of intimate moments - even portraits.

This editorial is only my first post on this fantastic find. Can't wait to share the rest!

Photography by Tom Munro
Fashion editor: Victoria Bartlett

L'Uomo Vogue: The new hedonist

Abito di lurex broccato, Carlo Pignatelli Outside; white cotton tank, Dries Van Noten; white patent leather shoes with bows, Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane; Calze, Gallo; spille, Ellagem NY

From L'Uomo Vogue January 2006

Camicia bianca con davantino e striped pants: tutto Jean Paul Gaultier; cross broche e cufflinks, Ellagem NY; spilla d'oro, Pippin NY

Ivory brocaded suit and vest: tutto Carlo Pignatelli Outside; camicia, Jean Paul Gaultier; white patent shoes con fiocco, Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane; pin con perle, Ellagem NY; fibbia di madreperla e hankerchief di pizzo, Ellen Christine

Camicia stampa Japan, Paul Smith; camicia di musseline navy blue e knickers ruggine: tutto Jean Paul Gaultier; spilla Ellagem

Brocade bronze suit, Carlo Pignatelli Outside; gilet, Hellen Uffner Vintage, collarless shirt, Jean Paul Gaultier

White broderie Anglaise jacket, Kenzo; blue cotton shirt, Jean Paul Gaultier; pantaloni da cavallo e stivali: tutto Ariat; guanti di pelle, John Galliano

There are financial crises because there are hedonists. They never disappear. Though I hope the same goes for striped pants and brocade suits for men.


Giacca smoking e ruffled shirt di seta, Roberto Cavalli; oversized black pants, John Galliano; patent leather shoes, Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane; cufflinks, Ellagem NY

Photographer, Alex Cayley; fashion editor, Robert Rabensteiner