sweat until my clothes come off

Looks from Roberto Cavalli, Neil Barrett, and Missoni
Spring/Summer 2009
The menswear shows started this week in Milan and it looks like an oversized grandpa sweater is essential for next spring. Chunky sweaters for spring? I guess hell will have officially frozen over by next year.

WANT. WANT. WANT.

Rag & Bone
Bowling Shirt in Navy, $128
If only I spent that Economic Stimulus check on discount designer goods, I could wear this while sipping mojitos at a cookout. Damn me and my financial responsibility.

the heritage collection

Hmmm. Is it bad that Forever 21 Man is inspiring me for spring? Shameful? Slightly. Stylish and affordable? Yes, please.

Stripe Utility Jacket
Dearborn Striped Cardigan
Cargo Shirt
Pieces like this that are not over $35!

For more click here.

mactown

via The Sartorialist
I cannot get this image out of my head. I've often thought about wearing three-quarter length outwear in the winter, but now as spring is approaching I'm seriously considering investing in a macintosh like the one pictured above. I usually prefer my outwear to stop just below my waist, but the urbanite above looks so lean and elongated, only helped by the length and cut of his coat. The search is on...

milan fashion week: outerwear

Five painfully bad coats from the Milan menswear collections:

Versace
Alexander McQueen
Burberry Prorsum
Jil Sander
Dolce & Gabbana

wishful thinking

Fine examples of how to wear a turtleneck and neutrals:


The Sartorialist captures the scene at Men's Fashion Week in Florence, Italy.

cheap trick

Roberto Cavalli for H&M
You know that feeling of repulsion you get at H&M when your fingers graze over the truly cheap pieces? Well, yeah, I'm certain this would happen with the Roberto Cavalli collection hitting stores soon. Skinny vests, sheer shirts, bronze scarves???? I imagine these clothes will have a better life in the discount bin six months from now. And surprise surprise he used gold everything and animal print for the womens items. Zzzzzz.

photo courtesy of fashionista

the shawl

Vintage fleece shawl-collar pullover, $69.50


I have been after a shawl-collar sweater for over a year now. There is something very Paul Newman circa 1968 about them that I think fits my aesthetic for Fall. I tried on the pullover pictured above at J. Crew today and I must say it's every bit as comfortable and effortless to wear as it looks. The price is a little steep for what is essentially a sweatshirt, but don't you believe in paying for what you get? When you get something as sharp and cool as what is pictured above you can't complain, right?*


*Don't worry, kids. I am not that financially irresponsible. Sixty-nine dollars is way too much for a sweatshirt. I asked the salesman to put it on hold until the price goes down a bit.

the suit

Have you ever wondered how it must feel to wear a Thom Browne suit? I've often wondered if $4,000 justifies what is essentially a suit perfect for Easter Sundays in elementary school that only ever typically look good on Browne himself. Thankfully those ever so witty and pithy people at Esquire pondered the same question I had. A contributing writer, David Katz, got two Browne suits tailored by the designer himself and followed his specific instructions on how to wear a Thom Browne suit. It's worth a read because in a way it makes this new form of luxury come across as inherently separatist and absurd and yet completely seductive at the same time. Such is the price one pays for a $4,000 suit.


Click here to read.

summer breeze

Two recent purchases that fill me (and my closet) with pure contentment:
1. Gap Silver Stripe Shirt

2. Trovata Water T-Shirt in Riptide Blue
(click for detail)


Both shirts are lightweight cotton, comfortable beyond belief, cut to fit me just right, and were purchased on sale. How can you resist the essential fabric of the summer when it's affordable and feels like it was made just for you?