Note: This is part of an ongoing series known as Suit 101. A white shirt can create emotion, even if it is just a shirt. And if we look at shirt-making as an artform and an act of craftsmanship, then we began to sense the possibilities of making this staple…something special. – Sonya Glyn Nicholson, Parisian Gentlemen Bespoke shirts are no stranger to the man’s world — akin to how stilettos are no stranger to a woman’s world (Feminists may argue otherwise but let’s not get too deep here). Like shoes, a dress shirt — with its various permutations of patterns and colours — can give the entire outfit a fresh look. This could explain…
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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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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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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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Workshops: The Trend Researcher
To every season there is a trend. In fashion, this is an inevitable fact. Be it a colour, a fabric or a shape — from the window displays of luxury shopping streets to cheap fast-fashion retailers; the teeny bopper to the sophisticated male — trends are omnipresent. How do trends come and go? How do trends repeat and evolve? Gianni Fontana and Fiorenza Spezzapria from Milan Style Academy solved this question during the BS4F Trends Workshop. First, a trend (or “directions”) is a combination of past events that will have an impact on future events and it will determine the aesthetic. A trend can be defined as a research evolutive path, then supporting both creative and…
