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.

THE BEST LOOKS FROM NEW YORK SPRING 2012 COLLECTIONS

New York Fashion Week is in full swing. Unfortunately for us fashion nobodies, the only way to get into the action and be informed about the trends & season's must-haves is through the net. Enough of me whining, check out my  favorite looks  from different shows.

Tommy Hilfiger S/S 2012 Collection can be easily describe as the "Modern Prep." This collection was highly civilized, if not slightly rebellious with a touch of army prints, nautical stripes and color blocking to complete the boldness of the look for the season. There are so much to love about this newest offering from Hilfiger, the desert boots and the use of camo, coloured pants (really digging the red pants), tailored shorts, shirts and jackets in electrifying colors that will be good items for any man's closet. As Meenal Mistry puts it, "Hilfiger clearly wants to up his fashion ante, and in that respect, this collection had meat—and certainly gave everyone a little something to chew on." 

General Idea is a Korean brand,  so it's really nice to know that Asians are really breaking the barriers and trying to make a name in the western market. Creative Director Bumsuk Choi offered bold prints and patterns and highlighted colourful beachwear with orange as the hue du jour for this season.  Evidently the man understand well the value of contemporary sportwear as it can be seen from every items of his collection such as parkas, jackets, knit ties, casual pants and woven shorts. Sending out the message that spring is all about being loose and staying casual.

As much as I love colors, I always adore earth tones specially the shade of gray. I adore it's versatility and softness. No wonder that I'm drooling over the entire 45 looks of  DKNY S/S 2012 Collection. From the crisp tailored suits down to the easy, classic sportswear. The only thing that bugs me ... the Teva-like sandals, oh yes! Please tell me now they're not making a comeback. Overall the collection looks young, fresh and contemporary. The collection successfully showed what DKNY has to offer this coming season - style, status and success. The perfect ingredients of life for the modern man!

The Lacoste S/S 2012 Collection was the first for the Portuguese designer Felipe Oliveira Baptista. Sending down the runway only nine menswear looks that mixed primary colors with vibrant brown, olive and classy navy and went for a new twist on cuts resulting to an array of simple yet sexy military-inspired basics. Most of the looks veered away from the classic old  preppy design aesthetic, but I'm still digging its new direction.

THE ORANGE REVOLUTION

Forget about the trial of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko with ex-president Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine, condemning a 2009 gas deal with Russia story, what I'm talking about is the trend that can be seen in the runways and editorials for menswear at present. The return of very bright, very sunny, very perky...ORANGE. So, members of the style jury let me ask you to consider the principle and to examine the  pieces of evidence.

Richard Chai leads other designers (New York Fashion Week S/S 2011) in sending the message for buyers and consumers that it's the perfect time to loosen up this spring. Last September 8, 2011 the American fashion designer sent his army of models in a tropical ease wearing hues ranging from turquoise, and sea-foam green and of course orange. Referenced as one of the “new Asian” influences on modern design, his collection for S/S 2012 (specifically the menswear) appeared geared to two distinct camps: the grown-up skater with perhaps a touch of meat on his bones, and the bony hipster with a high tolerance for quirk. Either way the explosion of colors were definitely "eye candy" as Richard Chai himself said before his show.

The dynamic designing twins behind the label Dsquared2, Dean and Dan Caten showed their typical youthful & sexy looks for Spring 2012 in Milan. Describing their most recent collection as “Sartorial-minded sportswear for guys who aren’t afraid of color.” Quite obviously, with models donning their colorful outfits. Dsquared2 knows how to do color blocking with the most unlikely bright orange thrown in but the look was delicious paired with distressed blue jeans and other items.

L'Officiel Hommes Korea second issue features a full editorial regarding this trend entitled "Orange Ground." Brazilian top male model Francisco Lachowski graces the cover and appears in a solo spread styled in ensembles with a pop of orange to brighten up the entire outfits. Photographer Kim Hanjun captures the Ford model's stylish streaks wearing various shades of orange from the fall collections of Prada and Mugler, among others.

To safely rock this juicy hue, without resulting in a fashion police violation, keep your orange item simple. Remember to mix and match it with whites, browns, blacks and for the more daring go for the block look by wearing it with turquoise and purple (trust me it works.) Just pick the right orange that complements your skin tone, there are various shades to choose from, ranging from neon to coral. And yes, the verdict is in!

BABY-FACED, TATOOED, & PIERCED

Want to know the latest trend in male modeling scene right now? Punk Boys! Yes, you heard me right, punk-rocking models with baby face, skinny frame, and sporting some tats and piercings. These boys are scoring great numbers of editorial works and runway appearances lately. Quick, name a male model that epitomize this look...Cole Mohr! This Texan model is the pin-up boy of this current trend. He has multiple tattoos, and is known for the "AprilMayJune" across his chest. He always brought his boyish and grunge sensibility to the fashion forefront as a male model. His personality never fails to show up in any photograph and editorials. Here's the man of the hour together with the hardest working top model in the fashion industry right now, Freja Beha Erichsen for Moussy Spring/Summer 2011.

Miko Lim - Photographer
Cole Mohr & Freja Beha Erichsen - Models
Yannick D'Is - Hair Stylist
Hung Vanngo - Makeup Artist

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.

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.