SPRING TREND: RED PANTS FOR MEN

Been so busy with home projects lately, like remodeling the bathroom and putting ceramic tiles in the living room and bedrooms. Anyways let me give you an update regarding one of the biggest trend for menswear in the recently concluded New York Fashion Week S/S 2012. This seasons trend is very hot and it concerns the uber flexible chinos!

For sure you already own a black, tan, gray trousers and numerous pair of jeans, and it does right by you, and I'm not going to try to convince you that you need another one just like it. But you may want to add some color to your wardrove, then check out the current trend ... the red chinos/pants. Everyone from Pitbull, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Ed Westwick and Justin Bieber have stylishly wore red jeans and chinos. So this season dont shy away from colored bottoms. Here are some inspiration to put you guys in the right track.

HERE ARE 3 TIPS IN ROCKING THIS TREND

1. Combine the red chinos with a basic white/black/gray shirt, polo or T-shirt. You may also Try pairing them with green, orange, yellow & do some color blocking. This trend provides you with a possibility to experiment. If you want to look more formal, keep it simple.

2. The best way to look good is to feel confident. Don’t confuse it with arrogance and mannerism. Try to behave as you normally do, not trying to behave like you are a star, or on the contrary – a shy little boy. Try to understand, that you are not doing something criminal wearing this fantastic trend.

3. If you will buy a new trendy chinos, you should clearly understand with what you will wear them first. So, check your closet and try to visualize which shirts, tees and polos will look good together with a pair of red chinos.

ADD (ANOTHER DATING DISASTER) SAVED BY BARGAIN HUNTING

It is always a gamble how a date is going to turn out. You will never know if that someone is the perfect one, without taking the plunge. So, I've decided this afternoon to take the plunge and thank goodness for ADD (Another Dating Disaster.) After being honest about my feelings, I cut the date short and tried to be courteous in telling that I truly appreciate the effort and time to lessen the blow, somehow. To free myself of guilt and stress, I   continue my Wednesday afternoon hunting for bargains. I am a firm believer in retail therapy, and have been dealing with quite a lot lately and decided to treat myself to a much needed spree. I can't help but share the joy of these items, LOL.

I guess the old people's saying is true after all - "Sometimes even if you are not sure of your direction you can find your way to something wonderful."

THE RETURN OF 90S GRUNGE STYLE

The 1990s grunge or alternative rock movement was the music of my generation. It is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the 1990s in the American state of Washington. The aesthetic is stripped-down compared to other forms of rock music, and many grunge musicians were noted for their unkempt appearances and rejection of theatrics. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, indie rock, and noise rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song dynamics, and apathetic or angst-filled lyrics.

Everyone knows that music and fashion have a major impact in redefining every generation. If you were a teen in the 90s like me, for sure you were a member of a grunge/alternative rock movement and helped catapult Kurt Cobain in godlike status (the lead singer of Nirvana, was an inspiration for the grunge look that made its entrance into mainstream fashion in the early 1990s.) You adore Brenda (Shannen Doherty) and never missed an episode of Beverly Hills 90210. You at least owned a flannel shirt and a pair of Doc Martens boots or what we called back then as DM's. During the 90s the music scene began to apply the "anything goes" fashion approach, any teen or even kid of that era will remember the influence of grunge.

While were reminiscing about the 1990s, style bloggers all over the net have already revived the 90s look with a massive shot of sex and glamour. Trendsetters and style innovators everywhere have been rocking everything from faded denim to chunky work boots. Undeniably,  the iconic grunge style of the 1990s is back with a vengeance! 

David Guison of DG MNL blog. Visit his blog click HERE.

Carlos Concepcion of The Kingdom of the C blog.  Visit his blog by clicking THIS.

Paul Dela Peret Jatayna of Paulhigness. Visit his blog, click HERE.

Gerald Diaz Perez of Gerd Perez blog. Click HERE to visit his blog.

Nineties nostalgia is booming, so just lie back and enjoy the ride. Learn to celebrate the past by representing pieces of our lives that meant something to us & focusing less on the unattractive aspects that occurred. It is therefore crucial that old mistakes are not revisited and old prejudices rekindled. Oh yes! Just like style and fashion of the 1990s it should always be remembered with equal measures of nostalgic joy and embarrassment.

FALL IN LOVE WITH H.E. MANGO FALL 2011 LOOKBOOK

Don't you just love fast fashion? Here's the latest offering of one of the leaders in the European retail, specializing in women's and men's apparel and accessories... Mango. H.E. is the menswear line of this Spanish high street brand & it's latest Fall 2011 lookbook is full of stylish clothes for the man of today. Composing of slim-cut formal suits, casual jeans, knitwear and more that will surely satisfy any modern dandy's craving for sartorial taste. With a host of top male models of our generation namely, Noah Mills & Brad Kroenig, as photographed by Hunter & Gatti.

WEARING RAIN BOOTS WITH DIGNITY

 

Growing up in a small fishing town in Zambales and a frequent face in a fish market auctions as a kid, I was accustomed to men & women wearing rain boots even on dry season. Both of my grandparents were fishmongers.  It is only  sensible for them to wear rain boots  to the fish market for the floors were wet with melting ice & fish blood.

Supermodel Kate Moss

However in the past seven years rain boots, wellies, gumboots, billy-boots or anything you want to call them have made the transition from utility item to desirable fashion accessory. Thanks to supermodel Kate Moss who single-handedly reinvented the pair of wellies into a more cool and chic perspective. She made wellies fashionable in 2005 when she sported them at the Glastonbury Music Festival with short-shorts and a tank top, inspiring women all over the globe that they can be glamorous and cool in a pair of wellies.

Ed Westwick, Gareth Gates and Penn Badgley.

The questions I want to stress, can we men rock this trend especially this rainy season? Is it sexy for us  to hike up / tuck our work trousers, jeans,  into a pair of wellies, and even pair them with shorts? It's a no brainer, definitely yes!

 

Hannah Irons (Website Administrator at Wellieboots.com) believes that the failure to interest men in buying gumboots is a result of the fashion industry, “which is always geared more towards women than men”. Certainly, many men still need a lot of convincing that boots can be worn in the city.

As for me, I am open to wearing Wellingtons because it serves a purpose for the bad weather. As "The Style Guy" of GQ.com asserts, "In England when it rains, every man has a hat, a mac, an umbrella, and rubbers. In America you see otherwise well-dressed men trying to skip between puddles in their suits and leather shoes. They’re the ones who look silly, not the guys in the Wellies."

For more information regarding Hunter Original Wellies click HERE.

THE SPARKLING NEW SHOE TREND FOR GUYS

You may need to wear sunglasses while reading this latest post entry. The trend around fashion capitals has definitely seen more and more eccentric & shiny new shoes for men. These "show-shoes" as I would like to call them, are unique choices for the daring, fashion forward men and fashionistos. They are creative masterpieces in their own right. The majority of styles feature some form of embellishments which make them pop. Think studs,  metal tips, appliquéd crystals and sequins.

Always leading the avant-garde fashion, Louis Vuitton's  Spring / Summer 2010 Menswear Collection includes these dress shoes covered in sequins, "Butterfly Richelieu in Sequin-Embroidered Fabric" in particular. The shoes can be picked up in silver or black, bringing the price tag to oscillate at US$1070.

Miu Miu's Fall / Winter 2011 collection includes this embellished sneakers. Also available blush,  gold & black and are made of patent leather, arabesque lamé & velvet. They will be available at Miu Miu boutiques starting this month & will set you back between US$450 - US$585.

Surely to make shoe lovers salivate with longing. The only shoe style that will be difficult to find in a fashionisto's shoe rack this season is something very plain and simple. As for me, anyone caught  dead wearing these bad boys is fashion royally perfect in my book.

KILLIN' IT WITH A BAND SHIRT

One of the perks of being a part of an institution is that you get invited to major events, no need for an invitation written on fancy paper / constant verbal reminder,  as well as the need to R.S.V.P... You're always expected to come. That Saturday night, in lieu of any actual social life of my own, I took part vicariously through my third organization's acquaintance party.

Three hours and two plates of beef mushroom later, I decided to call it a night. Sometimes oxfords, ties and dress trousers are just another Saturday night until you walk away and being given a real-life multiple choice question. A. Go home and get a good night's sleep, B. Go home, change and bar-hop with friends or C. Go home & be a couch potato.

They say every action has an equal reaction and once something is set in motion, it can't help but build momentum. Correct guess my dear friends, I've chosen item B and above was the complete look that I decided  to rock that night when me and my friends went bar hopping.

YOUNG, DRIVEN & "BLUE" BLOOD

Who doesn’t want to look younger than his/her age? The older the age, the stronger is the desire to look younger.  Most people says that choosing the right color of our clothes speak volumes about our  digit. Therefore, it becomes important to dress in colors that will be enough to betray your real age, especially if you are past your teens. I always thought that the shade of powder blue, baby, or sky blue can really be a great fresh look. The color helps me paint the picture I want for my day and every day should be absolutely perfect to be prepared in a very stressful environment.

Did you know that powder blue may refer to two different colors? Originally, it referred to a dark blue color, but it has since come to refer to a pale blue color, possibly because the name reminded people of baby powder and so people thought of it as a color similar to baby blue. The original color is now called dark powder blue. The paler variant is often associated with powder snow. Incredibly beautiful color that's both unexpected and calming! I never would have put these combination together, but that's why they're so inspiring... Sweet innovation.

GARRET NEFF BREAKING THE DRESS CODE IN GQ FRANCE

Wearing a suit is the complete definition of power dressing but sometime the look can really be boring. So remember to have some fun by breaking the office dress-code or just predefining it. How? you might ask...Why not editing out your dress shoes from your whole outfit for the day and sport your favorite casual sneakers instead. Break the monotony of formal dressing. Life in style is an adventure no matter where, how, or who you are at any given moment. Enjoy it because we all have a little rebel in us.

We men of style know, that the reality about the color white, whether its for shoes or whether it’s for your suit jacket is that it will draw attention. It’ll draw attention from girls and it’ll draw attention from guys. Therefore, it is important that if you’re planning on wearing white that you are ready for it. If you have the right attitude and the confidence necessary, you’ll be a master of fashion. If you get intimidated by comments that come your way, then you’re going to dread the color for some time to come. Wearing white is a very unique experience and we commend all who have mastered it.

Fashion photographer Sergi Pons shoots Garrett Neff in GQ France styled by James Sleaford who outfitted the famed top model in pieces from the likes of Dolce&Gabbana, Hackett, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Pepe Jeans and D&G among other. Pairing up these designer goodies with sneakers from Converse and Chaussures.

BE INSPIRED WITH STOCKHOLM FASHION WEEK S/S 2012

Creativity is an enigmatic aspect of human experience. It is often arduous to identify what it is that drives this impulse and the elements that inspire us. As for me, I am deeply compelled and influenced by the  accomplishments of man, the unmatched beauty of design aesthetics and the incomparable commitment of designers/artists to produce one-of-a-kind pieces that will revolutionize the face of today's menswear. Let me share some of the collection that inspires me as an observer of style, but before that let me give you a  crash course in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Stockholm 101.

In an effort to promote the Swedish designers in the leading fashion industry of the world, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in cooperation with the Government offices of Sweden are supporting this great effort twice a year according to the seasonal trends. Here are some of my personal favorites of different looks from different shows  at  Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Stockholm.

BOOMERANG S/S 2012

WHYRED S/S 2012

UBI SUNT S/S 2012

THE LOCAL FIRM S/S 2012 

FIFTH AVENUE SHOE REPAIR S/S 2012

PABLO RAMIREZ S/S 2012

HOPE S/S 2012

CHEAP MONDAY S/S 2012

 

 JOSEFIN STRID S/S 2012

CARIN WESTER S/S 2012

 

Since the first event in 2005 the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Stockholm has grown to become one of the most important fashion weeks in Scandinavia.

Its main focus is to attract the international fashion community such as the press and fashion buyers to get a closer look at the Swedish fashion scene. The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Stockholm supports around forty local designers twice a year.

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 runway style gave a great preview of  Sweden's upcoming summer favorites: simple yet powerful, minimalistic yet supremely confident. Basically style is for everyone.