Note: Suit 101 is a series dedicated on the finer side of menswear. Last week, we spoke of the suit as if there exists only one kind of suit. In fact, there are different kinds of suits that some guys may not have even heard or know about. As per usual, team BS4F will take you through an educational journey to further furnish your knowledge about suits, starting from… 1. The single breasted suit The single breasted suit is the most common form of suit. Its ubiquity lies in its practical nature — after all, it is much better to fiddle with one row of buttons than two, no? There…
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S/S Trends: Colorful is the new Black
As announced on a tank top on the opening look of French designer Maxime Simoens’ fashion show, “colorful is the new black”! Looks like many designers this season followed his provocation and gave life to vibrant multicolored outfits perfect to embrace spring! Chanel Dries Van Noten Maxime Simoens
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Suit 101: Tailoring
Note: Suit 101 is a weekly series that discusses on the finer side of menswear. Last week, we talked about Vitale Barberis Canonico, one of the oldest and largest mills in Italy. But the mill is one part of the suit game. Tailoring is, in my opinion, what makes or breaks a suit. Thus, a post must be dedicated to the science and art of tailoring – in edible chunks of course. 1. Anatomy of a suit Like body parts, there are parts to a suit. Parts of a suit: I shall not go on a lengthy tirade on each parts of the suit but the image above is self-explanatory. If…
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Mario Dice and his “vintage of the future”
Mario Dice is a young fashion designer who, after many collaborations with famous fashion houses such as Trussardi, Krizia and Gattinoni, in 2007 founded his own brand with both men and women’s collections. “If I had to describe my collections with three adjectives, I would say: elegant, ductile and saleable” His interesting career began when he was only 15 when he started working for Clavin Klein in New York. Then he continued more and more to improve his skills finding every day something new, innovative and fascinating for his prêt-à-porter items. After years of experiences, now Mario Dice is ready to show to his public what he really intends as fashion…
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Suit 101: Vitale Barberis Canonico
When I hang out with my guy friends, the first thing I always — always — observe in a guy is the shoes, followed by the watch and belt. If they have a formal wear on, the white shirt, the suit, the way their trousers drape around their ankles, socks (it matters!), cufflinks (if any) and the choice of adornment (pocket squares, ties, bows etc). Yes, I am that anal despite growing up in a country that does not have a strong suit culture. It did not help that I lived in Milan for almost six months, and have a strong interest towards menswear, particularly the suit. When it comes to the suit, the…
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The Return of Galliano
Debuting Maison Margiela, Galliano presented the collection behind Buckingham Palace in an all futuristic and white theme. Many were apprehensive of the dwindling creativity Galliano has shown in his previous recent collections but form the reactions, there is no need to worry… to say the least Galliano is BACK! Find more in BoF’s article on the return: http://www.businessoffashion.com/2015/01/john-galliano-makes-return-maison-martin-margiela.html by Madison Hall Sikorski
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Painting Pantone
2014 has barely bid us goodbye, yet talks of 2015 trends have sprung alive. And no surprise, Pantone — American based provider of universal colour systems — have named their colour of the year: Marsala. “A naturally robust, earthy wine red, Marsala enriches our minds, bodies and soul” – cr: Pantone.com Last year, Pantone had “Radiant Orchid” — a curious blend of purple and pink — as colour of the year, and the year before, the ever-green “Emerald” rose as their choice (no pun intended). 50 Shades of Emerald – cr: Pantone Many (including me) wonder: what is the significance behind Pantone’s choices? What is Pantone? What makes Pantone so important? Fret shall answer these…
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(Insert luxury brand here) Made in Sweatshops
Gucci made it to the headlines again — and this time, for the wrong reason. A recent report claimed that Chinese employees for Libero Mondo — one of Gucci’s subcontractors in Italy — worked 14 hours a day on handbags, instead of the contracted 4 hours. Worse, Libero Mondo’s Arnoldo Guidotti proclaimed that Gucci is fully aware of the exploitation, and Gucci buys those bags from Libero Mondo for 24 euros. In store, a Gucci bag retails for approximately 1000 euros. Kering (once Pinault Printempts Redoute or PPR), Gucci’s parent company, responded that they would include additional measures to ensure that incidents like these would never repeat again. Yet, in 2002, Brylane — a US based clothing supplier for Kering —…
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Fashion: Recession Style
Google “Recession 2015”, and one is bo mbarded with headlines about the economy going from bad to worse. Falling oil prices, the devaluing rouble, whispers about a Chinese credit crisis, and the possibility that Germany will fall into recession along with the rest of the Europe, paint a bleak new year. Consumer confidence is in its all time low and people are spending lesser. In the midst of this a new wave of trends emerged: 1. Style a la recession Prada’s S/S Uomo 2015 Drab dresses, sloppier silhouettes and conservative colours dominated the runways. Minimalist is the key. Excess is out, austerity is in. The rise of the “recession chic” style came as a response of…
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Luxury archives: past or future?
Recently, numerous fashion luxury brands have decided to dive into the past. Thanks to their archives, they manage to amaze their customers with historical prints used for past collections. Clothes and accessories are the symbols of a continuing evolution of these brands for which innovation and history go at the same speed. Modernised collections become every time a great achievement for brands that, believing more and more in the uniqueness of their details, show how these ones represent the key of their success since years. In the past, these peculiar prints were appositely designed for royal people but even now they preserve the charm of the Made in Italy excellence.…
