MEN'S ALPHABET OF STYLE

Gidday stylish boys and gals! Question... how many among you can describe a piece of clothing specifically, but can't actually recall its generic name? Don't worry, I also suffer from this type of embarrassment. So, here's a basic guide in menswear & style, sure to help even the most fashion-handicapped individual.

Aviator sunglasses, or "pilot's glasses"  are a style of sunglasses that were developed by Bausch & Lomb and branded as Ray-Ban. They are characterized by dark, often reflective lenses having an area two or three times the area of the eye socket, and metal frames with bayonet earpieces or flexible cable temples that hook behind the ears.

Bomber jacket is a leather or nylon jacket with two front pockets, sometimes with sheepskin lining, and a zippered front. The waist and cuffs may be made of elasticized material. The initial bomber jacket was a heavy weight leather jacket, specifically designed for pilots who conducted bombing raids. Cockpits were not airtight, and early pilots often flew at elevations where it could be uncomfortably cold. The first bomber jackets were called flight jackets, and were produced by both the British and American Air Force.

Chambray shirt is a sturdy form of cotton chambray which was commonly used for a workman's shirt, hence the term "blue collar" comes. The fabric is woven with a white weft and colored warp, usually light indigo blue, and the shirt is assembled with white top-stitching.

The Denim is a rugged cotton twill textile, in which the weft passes under two or more warp threads. This produces the familiar diagonal ribbing identifiable on the reverse of the fabric, which distinguishes denim from cotton duck. Denim has been in American usage since the late 18th century.

Epaulets are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder straps or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the underside of the epaulets passing through holes in the shoulder of the coat. Colloquially, any shoulder straps with marks are also called epaulets.

The Fedora is a men's felt hat that is creased lengthwise down the crown and pinched in the front on both sides. The creasing does not define the hat, however. Fedoras can also be creased with teardrop crowns, diamond crowns, center dents, and others, and the positioning of pinches can vary if they are found at all. Early on, fedoras were sold open crown, meaning they were uncreased, with the owner creating his/her own crease manually.

Giorgio Armani is an Italian fashion designer, particularly noted for his menswear. He is known today for his clean, tailored lines. He formed his company, Armani.

Henley shirt is a collarless men's formal wear pullover shirt. It essentially resembles a collarless polo shirt. The sleeves may be either short or long sleeve, and it can be made in almost any fabric, although cotton, cotton-polyester blends, and thermals are by far the most popular. Henley shirts are generally regarded as menswear, but recently women's versions have appeared as well.

Italy has a long fashion tradition, and is regarded as one of the most important in the world. Milan, Florence and Rome are Italy's main fashion capitals, however Naples, Turin, Venice, Bologna, Genoa and Vicenza are other major centers. Major Italian fashion labels, such as Gucci, Prada, Versace, Valentino, Armani, D & G, Missoni, Fendi, Moschino, Max Mara and Salvatore Ferragamo, to name a few, are regarded as amongst the finest fashion houses in the world.

In British English, the term Jumper describes a sweater. It is a versatile item of clothing and can be worn on top of almost any outfit. There is a great variety of design with wide array of necklines to choose from , such as the V-neck, turtleneck and the crew neck are the most popular.

Khaki is a type of fabric, it is a loanword incorporated from Hindustani and from Urdu and is originally derived from the Persian, which came to English from British India via the British Indian Army.  Today though, civilian khakis come in all ranges of colors and the term refers more to the design or cut of the pants or trousers. In this context, khakis have become popular as business/casual pants and includes other cuts and fabric types.

Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather.

Madras is a lightweight cotton fabric with typically patterned texture and plaid design, used primarily for summer clothing pants, shorts, dresses and jackets. The fabric takes its name from the former English name of the city of Chennai, India. In contemporary fashion, it is used for men's shirts, women's skirts and pants, golf apparel, children's wear and for accessories. Along with Sperry topsiders and Lily Pulitzer dresses, madras is a mainstay of preppy clothing.

The Nautical Striped Shirt (also known as Breton Shirt) is identifiable by its thin horizontal lines. Born officially as part of the French sailors uniform to easily identify them if they fell overboard. The original shirt featured 21 stripes, one for each of Napoleon's victories.  Everyone from Coco Chanel, James Dean, Andy Warhol, Joey Ramone and even Anna Wintour (yes, you have read it right!even Nuclear Wintour) sported the unisex nautical striped shirt.

The Oxford Shirt is a garment with a collar, a full-length opening at the front from the collar to the hem, and sleeves with cuffs. The front opening is fastened using buttons or studs, and the cuffs close with buttons or cuff links. Shirts are normally made from woven cloth, and are often accompanied by a jacket and tie, for example with a suit or formal wear, but shirts are also worn more casually.

Pin stripes are a pattern of very thin stripes running in parallel found in cloth. The pin-striped suit has become associated with conservative business attire, although many designers now produce fashionable pin-stripe patterns for fashion-conscious consumers.

Quick-Dry Shorts or more commonly known as Board Shorts are a style of men's and, recently, women's swimwear. They were originally developed for aquatic sports, specifically for surfing, but in more recent years they have grown in popularity outside of these sports, and have become a popular form of general beach and swimwear. They are durable and hold up to wear from contact with a surfboard, yet are comfortable and light-weight. They are well-adapted to their use in various active watersports.

Rolex Watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and Business Week magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands. Rolex is also the largest single luxury watch brand, producing about 2,000 watches per day, with estimated revenues of around US$3 billion. It is the perfect embodiment of a "Power Watch".

Seersucker is a thin, all-cotton fabric, commonly striped or checkered, used to make clothing for spring and summer wear. The word came into English from Hindustani. It is woven in such a way that some threads bunch together, giving the fabric a wrinkled appearance in places. This feature causes the fabric to be mostly held away from the skin when worn, facilitating heat dissipation and air circulation. It also means that pressing is not necessary. Common items of clothing made from seersucker include suits, shorts, and shirts. The most common colors for it are white and blue; however, it is produced in a wide variety of colors, usually alternating colored stripes and puckered white stripes slightly wider than pin stripes.

Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. The print’s infinite variations mean it can be produced for every style demographic. That’s why you can buy Tartan shirts everywhere from the thrift store to Urban Outfitters to Ralph Lauren to Viviene Westwood. In other words, plaid is the populist print for the masses.

UGGs are a unisex style of sheepskin boots, made of twin-faced sheep skin with fleece on the inside and with a tanned outer surface, often with a synthetic sole. It originated  from Australia or New Zealand, where they became popular in the 1970s, ugg boots emerged as a fashion trend in the United States in the late 1990s and as a world-wide trend in the late 2000s.

The Vest  is a garment covering the upper body. It derives from French veste "jacket, sport coat", Italian vesta, vestevestis. The sleeveless garment worn by men beneath a coat may have been first popularized by King Charles the II of England, since a diary entry by Pepys (October 8, 1666) records that "The King hath yesterday, in Council, declared his resolution of setting a fashion for clothes.... It will be a vest, I know not well how; but it is to teach the nobility thrift."

Windsor Knot also referred to as a Full Windsor or as a Double Windsor to distinguish it from the half-windsor, is a method of tying a necktie around one's neck and collar. The Windsor knot, compared to other methods, produces a wide symmetrical triangular knot. The knot is often thought to be named after the Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII before his abdication). It is, however, named after his grandfather. 

Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India, whose goal is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility.The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism and Buddhism. The three main focuses of Hatha yoga (exercise, breathing, and meditation) make it beneficial to those suffering from heart disease. Overall, studies of the effects of yoga on heart disease suggest that yoga may reduce high blood pressure, improve symptoms of heart failure, enhance cardiac rehabilitation, and lower cardiovascular risk factors.

Ermenegildo Zegna or Zegna is a leading Italian fashion house, specialing in men's clothing. Founded in 1910, it is now managed by the fourth generation of the Zegna family and remains in family ownership. The brand is also observed by men's clothing magazines of nearby countries such as China and Taiwan. As of 2005, there were 25 "E.Z by ZEGNA" stores across Japan.

PHARRELL...THE STYLE ICON OF THE CURRENT GENERATION

“Fashion has to reflect who you are, what you feel at the moment, and where you’re going. It doesn’t have to be bright, doesn’t have to be loud. Just has to be you.”

-  Pharrell Williams

Meet the Man of Style.

Pharrell Williams (born April 5, 1973) or more commonly known as Pharrel is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer,  fashion designer and style icon. He created a fashion line in 2005 with Nigo  (a Japanese record producer and creator of the clothing line  A Bathing Ape), later he co-founded the clothing brand Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream Footwear. He has a store in New York City. In 2011, Pharrell  launch his cream liqueur, Qream with a Q. Cream liqueur strikes a new chord as it targets the female demographic with a touch of indulgence which, according to Pharrell, was missing in today's female drinks. Qream with a Q comes in two varieties, Strawberry Crème and Peach Crème.

Now lets talk about his style. 

Pharrell will never fall into the mold of the prototypical rap star uniform, he is a lot more casual in the way he dresses on a day to day basis. Through this, he redefine the style scene of the current generation. Evidently from the re-emergenge of the trucker hat, vintage graphic tees down to camouflage cargo shorts.That doesn’t mean he cannot do formal though. He can effortlessly transform his stylish self into a polished modern dandy with an edge, through bow ties, crispy shirts and velvet blazers. 

Just recently, Pharrell revealed his thoughts on style exclusively to GQ.com. Here's an excerpt from the interview.

My style hero was Batman. Now it's Tony Starks. 

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Sometimes what is bad taste now, three years later could be the most incredible thing ever. You just never know.

I like it when Prince William goes dandy. He's got all the proper wardrobe when they do the hunting thing. They kill that! I was inspired by a lot of Purdey - the Space Beach Cape in the new BBC A/W collection was Purdey mixed with a bit of Malcolm McClaren.

How did I dress well on a budget? I dressed completely ridiculously. We had this habit of wearing two pairs of socks. One we would wear normally, the other we would pull right over the ball of your foot. It would make your shoe puffy, which would make your foot appear smaller. We were just weirdos, man. I don't know what dimension that rolled out of.

Alber Elbaz is just a genius. He'll be in a dinner jacket and he doesn't care what time of day it is: I love that about him. He just marches to the beat of his own drum.

I love boat shoes, but I've got to let them go now. Don't you think? Dr. Martens are making a very interesting comeback. Good colours and a different silhouette. A lot of [high-end] shoes come across as "designer". It's anti-designer time.

If you look at Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream, I've been inspired by archetypes. In the super hipster dance culture, there are things like these [picks up Ice Cream tracksuit trousers with popsicles on them]. Shay would never wear these - but they are so comfortable. I was making them so punks and hipsters could come and get some things too. Because we're not a punk or hipster brand. We did a lot of hipster things, but we moved on.

Nike is still killing it. I don't know what it is but there's something about the futuristic sneaker shape that kills it. I saw this kid wearing [purple and pink woven] Nike shoes downstairs and I was like, "What the hell is this?" Those were cold.

Marc Jacobs is the godfather. In no specific order, there's Karl [Lagerfeld], Junya Watanabe Rei from Comme Des Garcoms and Tommy Hilfiger is creeping up too - he has a nice couture line. Let's get Nigo in there as well! All of those guys are the kings of all kings. The fact I was able to meet those people and work with them was really cool.

Ralph Lauren Purple Label is incredible. That denim collection was crazy: they had overalls with a coal-mining type of look.  I'm for sure going to Ralph's restaurant in his Paris store.

Takashi Murakami and Jeff Koons capture my imagination. Brian Donnelly [Kaws] is on the way. Lucien Pellat-Finet is a designer but he kills it.

I look at some clothes and say, "Never". But then I wake up one day and I'm wearing jeans that are tight as fuck. I remember having that conversation five years ago and saying, "Not me." Then two years years later all my jeans are super-slim. I felt crazy wearing bigger jeans. I give it two or three years but big jeans will come back. I don't know about people starting to wear them lower though - when things come back they come in a different incarnation which isn't the same cut.

I don't know about style mistakes. I like the world. I like the fact that some people dress great, some people dress fucked up. Here's how it works: everything everyone wore two or three years back are now no-nos. As the next year progresses, another year falls past. But you keep everything.

I love black tie. Getting dressed up, performing, wearing tuxes: I love that. When Shay cleans up, he's a sharp guy. [At this point Shay interjects: "Unfortunately, I don't. I went to the Met Ball in T-shirt and jeans."]

Steve McQueen is still my all-time favorite. Him and [Robert] Redford in Gatsby.

  

This guy really know what he's talking about. A true Icon of Style.

GOODBYE...AMY WINEHOUSE

The English singer-songwriter known for her powerful contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres has now joined a host of other performers who lost their lives before their careers reached their full potential. She was found dead in her London flat on Saturday. The troubled singer was just 27-years old. Another young talented artist died due to drug addiction.

The Recording Academy paid their respects in the following statement, issued by President/CEO Neil Portnow:

"Five-time GRAMMY winner Amy Winehouse was a dynamic performer and musician who seamlessly blended rock, jazz, pop, and soul and created a sound all her own. Her rich, soulful and unique voice reflected her honest songwriting and earned her a devoted fan following, critical acclaim, and the genuine respect and admiration of her musical peers. She will forever be remembered for her immense talent, and her music will live on for generations to come. Our deepest sympathies go out to her family, friends, and fans during this difficult time."

SHOPPING FOR A PEA COAT

It has been a year now that I've been obsessing over a pea coat, but every time I feel a bead of sweat runs down my forehead while trying it on to the confines of a dressing room, I suddenly and instantly reminded how my country can get very sunny. Sunny, not in a good way. It's a little impractical to actually own a pea coat. Today though is a different story, and who says fashion is all about comfort?!

Klaxon Howl Campaign A/W 2011 on the HSCS Haida Destroyer

Shot by Matt Barnes

The term "pea coat" originated from the Dutch or West Frisian word pijjekker, in which pij referred to the type of cloth used, a coarse kind of twilled blue cloth with a nap on one side. The Pea Coat was originally worn by sailors and members of the European Navy. It is known for it's double breasted fronts, wide lapels, vertical pockets and large wooden or metal buttons. A nice bonus of pea coats is that their collars can be turned up and instantly it gives you that mysterious look while buttoning it all up will give you a classic, manly look.

THE RETURN OF BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD AFTER 14 YEARS

Great news to all of the 90's rock/metal-band loving, head banging slackers of my generation, Mike Judge discussed the revival of his animated characters Beavis and Butt-Head last Thursday at Comic-Con and offered a peek at the new season.

Most of the characters from the original series are coming back, including the hippie teacher and gruff military teacher. Judge joked that he brought the show back because he felt like TV was getting too smart. He explained that originally, he ended the series after being burned out, stepping away from the characters in spite of offers for sequels to the movie, Beavis and Butt-Head Do America.

Bieber fans might not even have any slight idea who were Beavis and Butt-head, understandably, as you were probably not yet alive when these two first riff on music videos and MTV shows. Beavis and Butt-head  was first aired in March 8, 1993. The series ended on November 8, 1997, with the appropriately titled episode Beavis and Butt-Head are Dead. So let me introduce the two perennial AC/DC and Metallica shirts wearing teens.

"Beavis and Butt-head (both voiced by Judge),  live in the fictional town of Highland, Texas. Beavis was the blond one with the glassy-eyed stare and the Metallica T-shirt, while Butt-head had dark hair, crooked teeth with braces, and wore an AC/DC shirt. Forever insulting each other and everyone else with such loving epithets as "you suck" and "look at his butt," Beavis and Butt-head were best known for their unison dirty giggle, which went something like "Huhhuh-huh-huh-huhuh-huhuh" and which was heard whenever someone uttered a word with even the slightest sexual connection. They have no apparent adult supervision at home, are woefully undereducated, and seem quite dim-witted. Although they are teenagers, they are young enough that they are barely through puberty. They attend Highland High School, where their teachers are often at a loss as to how to deal with them, although in many episodes the two skip school altogether. They occasionally work part-time at Burger World and sometimes other side-jobs when people mistake their odd behavior as outgoing and assertive. Their recreational activities (besides watching television) range from chasing women to skeet shooting".

Beavis and Butt-Head will return this October on MTV.

TIME TO HIT THE GYM

I woke up early today and my biceps and triceps were a little sluggish, well what do I expect, been ridiculously lazy the past few weeks. I want better muscle condition, endurance and lets not lie , a little added muscle wouldn't be minded. The first step to getting in shape is...just ease my way back into it, go for say 1 hour of weight training to start with, then let enthusiasm build. I'd say the main thing is to not go in too hard too fast - everytime I've done that I've burned myself out. Turn it into a habit rather than doing it to achieve something specific, make it a lifestyle rather than something you're doing to achieve a cut, defined shape.

THE NEW GENERATION PHILIPPINE BANKNOTES

Last December 16 of 2010, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas unveiled the new designs of what they called "The New Generation of Philippine Banknotes". These latest bills are now in circulation. All six banknote denominations – including P20, P50, P100, P200, P500, and P1,000. Somehow the design and bright colors remind me of the eighth most traded currency in the world, the HongKong dollars (and I'm really digging it).

The newly updated bills highlight the indigenous species (the Blue-naped parrot or kulasisi, the Asian Palm Civet or alamid, the giant trevally or maliputo, the tarsier or boot, and the gentle giant, the whale shark or butanding) and different key tourist destinations ( Banaue Rice Terraces, Puerto Princesa’s Subterranean River National Park, Mayon Volcano, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Taal Lake, and the Bohol Chocolate Hills). The same heroes of the past bills were retained, with the notable addition of Corazon C. Aquino to accompany her husband Ninoy Aquino on the 500 peso bill.

According to Ed Biado these banknotes most essential characteristics are for security purposes. Printed using the latest technology, the bills possess a lot of hard-to-forge features.

Other great things to expect in these latest Philippine banknotes.

1. More realistic portraits of former Philippine presidents and heroes.

2. Tourist destinations and notable animals found in the country on the reverse.

3. New BSP logo and Republic of the Philippines Seal.

4. New euro-like design with large numbers for easy identification.

5. Security features are spruced most noticeably the serial numbers which some might find weird and the security thread which is wider. A foil-like optically variable device is found in the new 500 and 1,000 peso bills.

6. The paper used is "hygienically treated" or has anti-bacterial properties.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is starting the mass roll-out this month of July. New coins will be launched beginning 2012. Current bills can still be used for at least three years.

BRIDESMAIDS VS. THE HANGOVER

Bridesmaids was the last spring offering from Universal Pictures and producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin). Here in the Phili, it opened in theaters last July 20, 2011.  A great deal has now been written about this film, and there is something that is so interesting about it. This dramedy features Kristin Wiig (a long-time cast of Saturday Night Live) as Annie, a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend Maya Rudolph played Lillian, the bride to be and a group of colorful bridesmaids played by Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper on a wild ride down the road to matrimony. Obviously, Kristin Wiig is the star of this chick flick, the only question is: Will she be the next Tina Fey?

Bridesmaids resembles the Hangover template, a little.  According to Matt Goldberg, "It is a wonderful comedy that deserves better recognition than “The Hangover with chicks” or some other ill-fitting description. It’s an original story that takes aim at some clichés but never gets bogged down in having to prove itself as a particular kind of comedy.  It knows what pitfalls to avoid and sidesteps them with not only grace but raucous humor.  Bridesmaids isn’t a parody or an imitation.  It’s simply one of the funniest films you’ll see all year ". So I'll take his word for it and give this film a shot, hope it will exceed my expectations.

THE TRIBAL REALITIES

Ethnic chic is the current trend that men are slowly submitting themselves into. One of the major inspirations were the creation conceived by Christopher Bailey for Spring/Summer 2012 (Burberry Prorsum's Chief Creative Officer) when he sent his army of male models wearing trench coats, cashmere knit tops, skinny trousers for the bottom, shorts and a variety of tees with ethnic prints or embellishments.

 

 

 

Burberry Prorsum S/S 2012 Menswear

There is no doubt that such collection would eventually translate into a trend, especially when Topman (the stand-alone fashion business counterpart of Topshop) released their  newest collection called "BE BOP" that embodies some clashing patterns that were aroused by divine influences from Aztec and Navajo complex tribal patterns.

SENSE Magazine for July 2011 issue

David Guison rockin' the trend.

The key in rocking this trend: Keep things in moderation. One should avoid wearing both pants/short and shirt with a tribal pattern, as this will look over the top. Pair it with your preppy clothing items, just enough to add some quirk. If you choose to wear shorts, a pair of boat shoes/loafers is a good bet. It sure is a mix of eccentricity and fun heritage style...So, what dya guys think?