The Latest: Thursday 09 February 2012
Our Valentine's Day pajama party with StyleMayvin | BuyEvery year we consult with our esteemed colleague T.Strong aka StyleMayvin for help picking out the perfect Valentine's gift for women. After years of avoiding the great cliché of sleepwear/lingerie in general and Victoria's Secret in particular, we decided it was time we learned to do it properly.StyleMayvin: "If there's one thing I know about giving a woman pajamas for Valentine's Day, it's that good taste always wins over sex appeal. Men, you may not necessarily agree because as soon as someone says "women like tasteful pj's" your mind generally goes straight to your Mom's old cotton nightgown or Grandma's muumuu, but let me assure you, comfort does not equal frumpy in my style book. Just imagine, the fabric that feels the sexiest to you, also feels fabulous against our skin. So, we can agree that silk should be the material of choice this year. As she opens her annual box or gift bag bearing the usual VS logo expecting to see a cutesy little lace number (selected mostly for your enjoyment), why not surprise her with something a tad bit different. This 2-piece satin pajamas pant set [$69.50] by Victoria Secret gives the feel of classic elegance. And, if red isn't your sweetheart's color of choice, there are various other options including animal print for the inner wild woman in her. Another beautiful satin option, i found at online at Nitori.com is this gorgeous "Miko" robe [$170]. The color and print is very alluring and the kimono styling is not only comfortable but it also exudes a level of timeless, demure, sex appeal. You simply can't go wrong with either of these options and I promise you, this is one Valentine's Day (and night) that you will both enjoy." Check out StyleMayvin this week to see our pajama picks for gents, and every week for insights and commentary on women's fashion. | |
Wasting time in the H&M dressing roomWe've found the H&M dressing room page to be a fun time-waster. It's a challenge to try and assemble something you'd actually wear, because (a) most of the clothing options suck, (b) everything's worn wrong, like Red Baron scarf wraps and cardigans buttoned all the way down, and (c) there are glaring omissions, like offering only a navy suit and only black dress shoes. Anyone who'd wear black shoes with a navy suit probably also owns a van with blacked-out windows. Regardless, it's sort of fun. And we still have a weakness for disposable seasonal crap from H&M. Feel free to use their "share" control to post links to your creations in the comments. | |
The future of tobaccoIt's really a shame that the Chinese market has taken to cigarettes so enthusiastically, because this uptick in buyers serves only to delay the transition of the tobacco industry into better smelling and considerably less lethal products. Artist Xu Bing's exhibition at the Aldrich, which feaures a gigantic rug made of cigarettes, is a grand artistic gesture on everyone's favourite toxic leaf, but you can make a considerably more intimiate statement with a tobacco-based fragrance. A few that we like: Miller Harris Feuilles de Tabac, woodsy and masculine. Hilde Soliani Bell'Antonio, a blend of leaf and dark coffee aromas. Aramis Havana, on the sweeter end of the scale with a strong presence of tobacco flower.03.feb.2012 culture | |
The influence of costume dramasEvery time one of these period TV shows hits the mainstream, the Internet's various fashion forums fill with people wanting to wear a jacket like character X had in program Y. Sometimes this is a good thing; the world needs more colourful, bold, f**k-you suits made from the fabrics seen on Steve Buscemi's Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire. Mostly it's bad news, when the same character causes wannabe little big men to sport tie pins and Don Cherry-esque collars. It's great to get clothing ideas from the likes of Boardwalk and Downton Abbey, but some aspects of period style are a lot easier to work into a contemporary wardrobe than others.AVOID: Anything relating to collars or lapels — All of these aspects of period clothes are full of pitfalls that would look costumey in any contemporary context: twee club collars, foppish collar pins, dated high or narrow lapels. Hats, in general — No. Just forget it. Coat styles — There are exceptions, sure, but most suit coats in ye olde days seem to have been baggy 3- or 4-button monstrosities. CONSIDER: Colours — It's been a few hours since we said something about how well brown, olive, and camel work as neutral bases for strong colours. Hair — There are at least half a dozen variants on close-cropped and tight that work in every decade. Just go easy with the goddamn gel. Materials, textures and patterns — Tweeds, wool flannels, plaids, windowpanes, herringbones and chalk stripes were awesome in the early 20th century, and some things never change. | |
Gilt Groupe is circling the bowl(e) | FailEvery conversation we've ever had with anyone about Gilt reveals an experience marked with suspicion, frustration, and/or resignation. While last week's news that 10% of the staff has been let go might be a good sign that management sees the need to make some changes, we're skeptical. A string of bad decisions lead Gilt to where they are now. We tracked the trajectory.30.jan.2012 style | |
Poster Series: Herr Hugo BossWe pick on Hugo Boss because we love Hugo Boss. And no, we're not counting on an endorsement deal anytime soon. | |
In praise of ivoryWe're not going to call it the new white, because... well, light grey... but a lot of things we'd never wear in white suddenly become appealing when the brightness is dialed down just a little to an ivory or cream tone. Whereas white is neither warm nor cold, ivory is always warm. Think of it as the difference between fluorescent and incandescent light. Shown: Uniqlo ivory scarf and cashmere sweater. Jack spade olive corduroy blazer. Bonobos navy wool and cashmere trousers.25.jan.2012 style | |
Tie Bar Spring / Summer 2012 Pocket Squares | BuyThe Tie Bar has rolled out some new cotton pocket squares for spring / summer, and we particularly like how fabrics normally associated with other kinds of apparel—things we wouldn't normally wear—somehow seem a lot more interesting when peeking out of your chest pocket. Few of us would attempt a full-on southerner's seersucker suit or the neo-prep's madras shorts, and the chambray workshirt is frankly pushing it since the death of faux-workwear, but the fabrics normally used in these pieces all make for nice pocket accents.23.jan.2012 style | |
Poster Series: Necktie OvercompensationApparently not everyone got the message about tie boners, so kindly post and help us spread the word on this important issue of our time. | |
Mailbag: Velvet, in generalJuice asks: "Velvet? Ever?" Answer: Sort of. We'd file velvet shoes under "never", seeing them as fussy foppish anachronisms from the age of pocket watches and monocles. We're going to admit we love velvet blazers but it's really hard to justify buying anything that only really works for a select category of social event taking place during the last three weeks of December and the first few hours of January. On the other hand, velvet makes for nice details, such as elbow patches and collar trim on overcoats. Shown left to right: Del Toro slippers. Charles Tyrwhitt blazer. Holland Esquire overcoat with collar detail. | |
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