The great outsider and collaborator

One of my current personal favourite designers is Watanabe. he can be considered a fashion outsider because he is something of an enigma and I think this is part of the attraction. I must admit that I've not really taken too much notice of him previously but now I am looking through his past creations and really enjoying what I'm seeing! Unfortunately menswear design is not really known for innovation but designers like Watanabe and (more recently)Throup are helping address this. I love how Watanabe deconstructs classics, for example taking apart white shirts or trench coats and exaggerating a facet or two, and then putting them back together for an entirely new and accomplished result. In an arena not exactly known for embracing groundbreaking innovation, Watanabe’s menswear has received particular acclaim. Although I like his s/s 2008 collection it is far too cold to be thinking about that season so I will concetrate on a/w 2007 and his bikerwear collection! As I've come to understand the 'Watanabe way' is to leave no sartorial cliché un-deconstructed, so he broke down the biker jacket into its component parts—collar, belt, zips, etc.—and put them back together in unexpected ways, reminiscent of The Clash.

This image is courtesy of men.style - Daft Punk on the catwalk? I'm in love with leather biker jackets right now and this show was one of the main reasons for this love to blossom.

Not content on concentrating merely on the leather biker jacket he looked at cloth versions and added numerous zips...as I've mentioned previously I adore zips.

Other than the search for the perfect biker jacket which is a tremendously difficult task because it is a classic and should be regarded as a staple for any man's wardbrobe I am looking for the right boots. I'm undecided between keeping to the biker theme or purchasing something a little more formal. I will keep you updated as to how my search goes and leave you with one more example of Watanabe's work...

Just look how Clash like this is!

"All I can do is be me, whoever that is."

Love him or loathe him most of us are going to be seeing and hearing alot about Bob Dylan in the coming months. With the new biopic being released soon (check out the trailer here) and the release of a number of 'new' Dylan albums.

I personally love him and there can be little doubt that he is more than just a music legend, he is a style icon too! Even women and not just Cate Blanchett want to get in on his style as seen on Catwalk Queen. There are many eras to Bob Dylan as shown by the recent biopic and this site (which I came across on my google search!) but for me there is only really one time in which Bob Dylan will be remembered for his style, mid 60s Dylan. he had just shaken off the Woody Guthrie and folky look and found a style of his own. He had the Wayfarers (which were back with a vengeance this summer!), he had the skinny jeans, the biker boots and he had the attitude of the Beat movement!

Playing Dylan during this time is (as I'm sure you have heard) Cate Blanchett. I've seen quite a few stills and she looks arguably the most Dylan like out of all the actors in this film. I've definitely seen a few female Dylan alikes around London over the last couple of months but Cate is definitely the best.

Anyway, back to men's style! I expect to see quite a few men's style magazines commenting on Dylan's style. I've not yet seen any but I will keep an eye on it. I think the mid 60s Dylan look is very wearable today and is pretty perfect for those days when you are not too sure what to wear or even on Saturday mornings when you are a little hungover.

Jewels: Big, Bold, Funky, Chunky

Ok. I actually hate the word "funky" in almost any and all circumstances (when Melora in "Ghost World" uses it, that pretty much sums up everything I hate about it and the people who use it a lot), but it rhymed with "chunky, " so fuck it.

Anyway, so, seeing "that blue and black Marni necklace" EVERYWHERE, (Behindbigglasses tried to make their own! Respek!) I can't help but want that a billion other big-ass pieces -- primarily necklaces -- of stone, wood, leather, Perspex, Lucite and any or all combos of mixed materials therein. Viva la statement pieces!

And so, my obsession begins:

($972, Marni, Net-a-porter.com)

Alas, just a wee bit out of my price range.

($730, Marni)

Pure beauty. Love the grey.




Jewelry designer Ligia Dias basically rules. She's barely 30 and she's already designed jewelry for Lanvin, and she's collaborated with Comme des Garçons and Phillip Lim. Good luck getting your hands on her stuff though, unless you live near a Holt Renfrew or are in a position to drop by Dover Street Market or Colette on your way home from work. Refinery29 also did a piece on her. Sigh and swoon.

($695, Erickson Beamon, Net-a-porter.com)

You really don't need more than a solid tank top with a necklace like this. Well, that and pants.

($477, Erickson Beamon, Electricladyland.com)

Ok, so this is a little wack, but so is BEING BORING.

($240, DAY Birger et Mikkelsen, Net-a-Porter.com)

So speaking of boring, this bow necklace would be nothing spesh if it were made of plastic, but it's made of LEATHER which makes it way more amazing and unexpected. And amazing.

($48, Marc By Marc Jacobs, Shopbop.com)

Love this Marc By Marc Jacobs ring...

($58, Marc By Marc Jacobs, Shopbop.com)

But not as much as I love this Marc By Marc Jacobs tortoiseshell '80s pin. I've been craving this fucker for a fortnight.

($55, Createdestroyrebuild, Maleorderonly.com)

This stuff is allegedly for the menfolks, but whatevs. Strong enough for a man, rad enough for the ladies, I say! And check out the Gameboy/girl. Tee!

($49, Buyghostly.com)

Cute widdle ghosty!

($75, Pethypothesis.com)

Cute -- AND made from reclaimed billboard vinyl! Wee!

($80, Isharya)

Loves. Fin!

Broke & Skinny

You may not be rich, but at least you can LOOK skinny with the aid of skinny jeans, right ladies? I mean, HELLOOOO! Priorities! Live fast and fuck dieting: just suck it in and charge these slimifying pants! Wee!

Pooooor Posh. If only she were A LITTLE thinner, she could totally be my thinspiration. But, until she sheds at least 15 pounds (at LEAST!), she'll have to remain a heifer. I do love her jeans though. They're by Superfine:

($287, Superfine, Brownsfashion.com)

($260, Superfine, Net-a-porter.com)

A nice winter wash!

($108, Citizens Of Humanity, Net-a-porter.com)

LOVE these. They'd look so cute with some black boots and a purple and black flannel.

($235, Sass & Bide, Net-a-porter.com)

Perfection.

($226, Judi Rosen, Shopbop.com)

I know I've said that I'm basically anti colored jeans, but I will defend my hypocrisy by saying the following: these aren't some ridiculous color usually reserved for ice cream or emergency vehicles. Blue is a NATURALLY OCCURRING shade of denim. And these are adorable.

($321, Twenty8Twelve, Asos.com)

No, Sienna Miller really doesn't need the $300 or whatever percentage of each sale she receives. But these are HAWT.

Comfy Cardis!

My cardigan and knit obsession continues, especially in goes-with-anything greys and blacks. Here are several cardis, sweaters and other knits I so deeply desire:

($150, Clue, Satineboutique.com)

But will I look as pouty and impossibly small-waisted if I buy this?

($306, Alexander McQueen, Shopbop.com)

I normally can't stand wearing clothes with brands plasted across them, but this isn't too obvious. Plus, graffiti = funs!

($228, Marc By Marc Jacobs, Shopbop.com)
This is so effin' cute. Subtle too. Deeeelightful!

($235, L.A.M.B., Shopbop.com)

Due to the placement of the knit straps, I'd prolly advise not wearing this is you're over a small B-cup, lest your boobs push the belts so far to the sides that they get swallowed up by your pits. Regardless, I sorta love the lederhosen vibe this cute little sweater gives off.

($63, Priorities, Bluefly)

A striped, zippy hoodie cardi is such a necessity that they even named it PRIORITIES!

($194, Nom*D, Refinery29.com)

One for the dudes! I'm sorta unsure how I feel about longer stuff on dudes (save for a nice 3/4-length coat, but I guess this is sorta similar.

($245, C&C California, Shopbop.com)

Can you make it through the winter without a dark cashmere cardigan? (Or a reasonable facsimile -- a reasonable facsimile being at least $150 less and probably NOT cashmere?) No. No you cannot.

($258, Juicy Couture, Nordstrom)

Love the dainty little ruffling -- usually I HATE ruffles, but this is just non-intrusive enough. And I love the heather grey version too.

($29, Target)

I realized most of the stuff I posted was well above the FB affordable standard, so here's one from Ol' Faithful, Targz.

Brazilian Spirit

Feel the Brazilian spirit. Famous Brazilian artist Felga had been conceived to help the women show her seductive side with maximum appeal.

Style with graphic impact. This set has a geometric lace thong with textronic lace detail and side ties and a bra with underwired cup with textronic lace.

Picture postcard: goodbye internet

Image courtesy of Fak! (their exclamation mark, not just me being overexcited)

Dear Steve,

Greetings from the floor of my living room! I am surrounded by boxes with my life (well, mostly my plates) packed in them. Moving at last! This does of course mean that I will be without proper internet access for an unknown period of time, but never fear as I shall try to comment/take over other people's computers.

Anyway, back to the pic. I (of course) really like this lovely, casual androgynous look. It's the kind of outfit you make up of stuff you haven't worn or thought about in ages, then realise that it looks pretty good and, hey, I should wear this hat more often. That bag is wicked too and so DIY-able. Mostly, though, I just wanted to draw your attention to this website. I think it's Ukranian, though correct me if I'm wrong. while some of the outfits are a little outlandish for me, I just love the photos. Also, I love the fact that it puts the total cost of the outfit... I get a bit jaded with certain street style sites that only seem to show people dressed in expensive labels (or blatently expensive vintage) .

Oh, I just remembered a question I meant to ask you. Do men compliment other men on their clothes or is it just not done? I'm always telling random women that I like their shoes or their top or whatever, but always hesitate to do the same to men. Agony aunt, help me!

EJ

Hello there EJ,

It's saturday Morning and I'm in a funny moody. I'm so pleased that I'm not at work but then I've lost my gf for 10 days which also means that I've got no internet access either. So the next few days (other than arranging the internet for my own home) will include frequent trips to the internet cafe down the road. I hate those places! Anyway, back to your post. I've not come across this site before but it's cool. I like how it contains many facets that other street style blogs just don't offer. Such as the elaboration of the outfit and the various shots of key components of it. I love the case that your chap is holding and I agree that it would be fun to create something like this. My instant favourite on the site was this chap who is doing a fairly common look within the realms of Brick Lane and Shoreditch but is doing it really well. This chap would certainly be snapped by the likes of facehunter. He seems to possess something though that many others featured on the styleblogs that I regularly consult. Yes the squash racket case is a little unnecessary but I like the style conscious humour of this outfit. Most of all i love the tie and the contrasting autumnal tone of the entire thing. Good find EJ!

Now onto your agony aunt query. As your well informed Agony Aunt I can tell you that quite a few men do comment on each others style but the level of dialogue contained within this conversation can range from 'Nice shirt' to a lengthy discussion about rare trainers (which I have done after a few drinks). I'm not sure how many men would discuss this with random men though, I'm a little shy about it personally, I normally just look and admire. Overall, the style dialogue between the majority of men is nowhere near the levels of that between the majority of women and I'm not sure that it ever will, at least not in my lifetime. Unless of course I succeed in revolutionising how men think about clothes. I do think though that more men are thinking about clothes and of course thought leads to discussion (well hopefully). It's a little too early for this pseudo-social science exploratory investigation as I've not even had a Lady Grey this morning. It is an interesting question though and I'd like to open it up the readers...because amazingly we have readers now. What do you think J, Dustcakeboy, Stephen and friends?

Time for tea. Much love

Steve xxx

Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore in Mario Testino's "Let Me In"

It has been said the avid magazine readers are likely familiar with Mario Testino's work. He is an amazing photographer to the celebrities and contributes regularly to famous fashion magazines such as Vanity Fair and Vogue. His new book, Let Me In, consists of amazing photos he has taken throughout his career, along with those he has taken on the sidelines of photo shoots, capturing celebrity subjects in their natural states. One of the best pictures made it as the cover: Demi Moore putting lipstick on hubby Ashton Kutcher - sexy, voyeuristic, and kinda weird (in a good way).

Click here to see more photos from the book

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Frederick’s of Hollywood 2008 Spring Collection

The Frederick’s of Hollywood 2008 Spring Collection fashion show was held at the Hollywood Palladium last October 24. The show unveiled a starry display of celebrities. Jessica Simpson, Amanda Bynes, High School Musical and real-life lovebirds Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri, Amanda Bynes, Kirsten Bell, Bai Ling, and Ashley Olsen were among the few celebrities that attended the show.

Check out what happened during the show...









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