The ladies already know, but Wang is the man. Alexander Wang is the downtown New York Designer who always hits a home run with the “it” set.
Source: alexanderwang.com
I resisted the Wang fan club for a long time, chalking his “it” status to hype, but I was wrong. This past summer, in Los Angeles, Wang came into my life when I bought the most amazing tank-top at the most amazing shop. T by Alexander Wang is a basic line, which has developed season by season. The men’s collection has been a slow start, but worth the wait.
Guys, you must enter a Wang T-shirt into your wardrobe. The American classic T-shirt has been given a contemporary spin by Wang. Wang T-shirts have a relaxed fit that fall away from the body without making you look sloppy. I wear mine on the plane to look “cool” and put together. Each Wang T is made from the softest cotton and makes your body look amazing. I’ve started giving them to my male friends as gifts. This Spring, dump that crew and get a Wang.
I don’t know what a train wreck looks like, but I do know what fabulous looks like, and here it is—Westwood Spring 2012. The Queen of British fashion is most defiantly keeping face with her new royal subjects—China! With a new store in Shanghai, Westwood’s runway presentation used Asian models, Japanese inspired prints, and, like British fashion, Westwood deconstructs the Chinese costume.
Source: Westwood 2012
To me, this was one of her most outstanding collections since her Fall/Winter 1994, when Westwood was blasted for making Kate Moss look like a prostitute according to Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), March 8,1994. Why the little history lesson? Well, like the Mad Hatter in “Alice in Wonderland,” Westwood is a personality all her own. What looks like a mess to others is simply genius in disguise. There is a reason why Sex And The City, part one, used Westwood as their fashion muse; WWD (1994) said it best: “Long Live the Queen!”
Westwood has a sense of humor with fashion that is unlike any other designer. She is not afraid to challenge beauty standards by exaggerating hemlines, hip proportions, and traditional dress. I like that Westwood allows her customer not be perfect. One of the most beautiful things about human beings is asymmetrical–Black, White, and Yellow; tall, skinny, and short—we’re all amazing. Society today requests us to fall into fashion line; buy the right trend; create the right look; follow Celebrity lines. Never one to conform, Westwood has always been on the fringe fighting for individuality, creating rebel fashion. Spring 2012 says she’s still kicking ass!
Well, one thing we can all agree on is that January is a new start. We decide what we want to change and how we go about changing. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I need to get a new shave kit together. I know most guys never want to talk about their skin; it’s girly, sissy, lame. The unspoken truth is that most men care about their skin and what they look like. One basic point that most men must deal with, regardless of their skin regimen, is shaving. You may not do it every day, you may only do it once a year, but at some point you will have to pull out that blade.
Source: L'Uomo Vogue 2009
In adolescence, we learn to shave from our father, older brother, or no one. No matter what, most likely they didn’t know much themselves: razor, foam can or soap, and away you go. STOP! Here is a mini tutorial to get you started to the right shave.
I stopped into Masc, Vancouver’s secret weapon to men’s skin care, to speak with skin care expert Jamie Beuthin about what was needed to start a shave kit.
Step 1: Scrub
Prep skin with scrub. This will help slough-off dead skin and allow facial hair to stand at attention; it’s like Viagra for the skin. Masc specialist, Jamie Beuthin, recommends Jack Black’s face scrub—my personal favorite as well. My suggestion would be to make sure you dampen the skin with warm water before you apply scrub, then apply a dime size amount to skin (more if needed), and then rinse with warm water. This will help to open hair follicles and raise facial hair—it also feels great! If you’re lazy like me, just do it all in the shower. Invest in a fog-free mirror.
MASC: Jack Black Scrub
Step 2: Shave Cream
A good shave cream will protect your skin from the blade, ensuring you receive an optimal cut during the shave. Jamie recommends GEO. F. Trumper’s shave cream, which comes in five amazing scents: almond, sandalwood, rose, and (most popular) lime and coconut. Also, Jamie suggests the E-Shave brush to help gain lather longevity during your shave. For me, a shave brush is a great way of extending your scrub. The brush helps to get your beard extra prepped for the razor. Yes boys, foreplay even for your skin!
MASC: Shave Cream (GEO.F.Trumper)& Shave Brush (E Shave)
Step 3: The Shaver
This is a debate among many men—disposable shaver, electric, straight edge—all personal choices based mostly on skin comfort, accessibility and usage. This tutorial is based on blade razors. (I will have another one for electric guys!) Jamie recommends using the Merkur Shaver, which comes in four different finishes: nickel, brush, black, and polished. The benefits of this razor are expanded in a video tutorial with Jamie.
When you shave, you should try to go in the direction of the hair. The scrub prep will help you to see if your hair grows up or down. This will help you avoid those pesky ingrown hairs, if you regularly cleanse and moisturize your skin, your skin will thank you later with a smooth shave.
MASC: Merkur Shaver
Step 4: Aftershave
Aftershave helps to calm your skin, prevent ingrown hairs, and helps to heal nicks after your shave. This is very important for skin health and prep for future shaving. Not just an up-sell at department stores. Jamie had three wonderful choices: Erye, Men’s Science, and Kyoku.
MASC: Aftershave; Eyre; Men's Science; Kyoku
Use these tips to help get your best shave. Thanks Jamie for all the good advice. Now, guys go get your kit together!
The clock has stuck midnight and you’ve thrown off your tacky sparkle suit, it’s 2012. Winter is in high gear, so I guess the next thing to do is plan your spring wardrobe. Flipping through Style.com, I stumbled across an old-time favorite, Jean Paul Gaultier.
JeanPaulGaultier--Spring 2011
The Gaultier men’s collection is always innovative and sexy; he always makes me feel guilty for not pushing my male fashion style envelope; skits, tribal prints, and unconventional models—Gaultier is King. Like this spring/summer 2011 look, Gaultier pushes traditional men’s wear.
However, looks like a times are-a-changing, with volatility in stocks and jobs markets, people need to get back to work, including Gaultier. James Dean inspired looks were combined with signature Gaultier plaid, nautical strips, and bare-chested men to create a wearable wardrobe.
This Gaultier collection is not one of my favourites, as I normally dream of wearing each piece in a created fantasy, while this collection blends into my realty, Gaultier is my street style dream. I miss feeling bad about not having my tattoo print shirt and tribal skirt on as I walk to the nearest grocery store; Gaultier is men’s fashion at its best. The looks of this collection will keep you fashionable and sexy all spring and summer, while cash registers bulge at stores, but Gaultier’s whimsical spirit is left behind on this one. Anyway, the best thing about fashion is that a new collection is always on its way. These are the highlights of his latest.
What do you get when you mix top models with music? A hot track! Harper’s Bazaar December 2011, British Edition, goes behind the scene of Duran Duran’s music video Girl Panic, documenting fabulous mega models.
Bazaar 2011 December: Girl Panic
I love mixing fashion, music, and models it just makes sense. Who doesn’t want to scream into a hair brush when they hear these songs!
