TAKE IVY BOOK TO MAGAZINE

I have known of this books existence for some time but bloggers caught wind of it not too long ago and as you would expect a million posts followed. I was pleasantly surprised to find Andrew Brauteseth had a copy when he photographed me for "Portrait of a Nation" and it was something entirely different to flip the pages myself. It certainly captures a lost era. I particularly miss the general grace the men seemed to possess, but that could also be owed to their Ivy League education.

I tried to locate the book via Exclusive Books and a couple other stores locally but it seems one can only purchase it online at stores like Amazon. I will be in the States next month and will be sure to buy myself a copy!

The "Ivy" or more commonly named "preppy" look has been in and out for a long time. Oddly enough I find myself leaning towards a more refined preppy look myself these days. But my style would still fall closer to a James Dean type from this era, unless I specifically went for the side path and loafers look.

Morten Bjarnhof, for Breuninger's Spring 2011 magazine, photographed Mathias Lauridsen and Cesar Casier in precisely the get-up we were just talking about. Clean cut men, shorter length trousers and fitted blazers, all a modern nod to the era that so many love to emulate.

THE 'BALMAIN BOOT' LOOK

One of my favorite looks to come out of fashion week (and by that I mean outside of fashion week) was the varsity jacket look as photographed above. Since said jacket is already on my wishlist and it's a bit difficult to locate locally, I have moved my attention towards the boot. The whole look has already been nicknamed the Balmain boot look since they released it in their 2010 and 2011 campaigns. When the 'Gas' boot appeared before me I immediately thought of this look. Of course you're in luck for two reasons, firstly this boot was made locally by Bronx shoes, and secondly they retail for a measly R649! I'm still on the lookout for a black pair though.

Now it's just a matter of locating the varsity jacket but while I'm in the U.S in April I will scout around for a more affordable version to Balmain, although obviously it would sit pretty well in my wardrobe.

Get cracking people because it won't be long before it's cold enough and you can wear what you want again! For additional information about Bronx visit their website or call 021 590 7000. 

UPDATE: These boots are also available in black from Bronx.

{Top image courtesy of mymanybags}

Mickey Mouse fashion trend

"Who's the leader of the club... That's made for you and me? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E"

We all recall our friendship with that large eared character from our younger days. Because not only was he thoroughly entertaining to that tiny six year old, but he was everything that that time stood for; innocence, all round goodness and some great T.V.

The icon that is Mitchell Mickey Mouse debuted alongside Minnie Mouse in 1928. Fast forward to 2010 and his unchanged face is still in our hearts... (and in some cases on our bodies). 

It's hard to say where the fascination started but it happened and before you knew it, Mickey had returned in the form of fashion statements, accessories in big budget music videos and landed in some of your favorite high-street stores. Of course it all started when Lady Gaga appeared in her popular video for  'paparazzi' wearing the Jeremy Scott glasses. These are the same ones that would later be worn by Beyoncé in their 'telephone' video. It didn't take long before Rihanna followed suit with her newer tough-girl image and her own set of ears.

Supposedly the main reason Disney added the white gloves was to allow audiences to distinguish the characters' hands when they appeared against their black bodies. The three black lines on the backs of the gloves represent darts in the gloves' fabric extending from between the digits of the hand, typical of kid glove design of the era.

Having appeared vastly across the internet on blogs, famous bloggers and even celebrities (see Kelis below) it's a valid question to be asking you: Will you be joining the jamboree?

The Talented Mr's Dolce and Gabanna

Drawing inspiration from Édouard Manet's “Le déjuner sur l'erbe”, in which a small group of people casually enjoy a picnic, D&G delivered a truly Summery collection if there ever was one. Checks, Hawaiian prints and rolled cuffs aplenty, models walked out carrying baskets and hold-alls of fruit, bread and wine. Not particularly fair for those of us chin-deep in Winter, but since we enjoy 85% yearly beach weather we can't really complain.



I particularly enjoyed the 50's influence which reminded me a lot of Matt Damon in 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'. Including the shorter European swim-shorts, which let's face it looks a lot better than any pair of baggy board-shorts.

Louboutin Animal Printed/Studded flats

Bloggers know when something is about to make an impression on the fashion World. We know it because we all want it, and we all want to blog about it (Kevin and OOoOO). Christian Louboutin is no stranger to this blog, and I would proudly like to introduce you to these studded flats which now come in Leopard and Zebra print. Now these are statement shoes! Approach cautiously.





Statement shoes, as I've been asked before should be worn with care. Dress your whole outfit down to allow the shoes to do the talking. That's how you end up paying £315+ for a pair of shoes. Of course like most trends, other designers have jumped on that bandwagon too. Including Giacomorelli, whose shoes were spotted by Tommy Ton on the streets at Milan Fashion Week. I have a tough time deciding which ones I like more.







photo credits: wwd/Tommyton

Burberry you Stud, you!

While Christopher Bailey is not bowling you over with colours and prints that we have not seen before, what he is doing is keeping the legacy of the brand fresh. Burberry just wouldn't be Burberry without the trench, and frankly I wouldn't want it to be any other way. Keeping to a similar colour palette as last season Bailey introduced a heavy Rocker influence with the use of the Stud trend in many forms.







In addition to this, Bailey experiments with mesh tops, transparency and even leather shirts to further define the 2011 Spring/Summer season as a prominent Biker rebelliousness. The point he makes is that the subtlety's of his changes are effective without overpowering or insulting any die-hard Burberry Prorsum fans, all the more pulling Burberry to the modern age.











And of course, finally Burberry releases a Gum-boot for their mens range. Which in our current climate would be perfect! So you know...

{FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: D&G, ICEBERG, BOTTEGA VENETA, BURBERRY, ETRO}




TOP {FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: FERRAGAMO, GUCCI, ETRO, ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA}
BOTTOM {FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: NEIL BARRETT, D&G, COSTUME NATIONAL, ROBERTO CAVALLI}



{FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: VERSACE, ROBERTO CAVALLI, BOTTEGA VENETA}



{FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Z ZEGNA, TRUSSARDI, ROBERTO CAVALLI, VERSACE}



TOP {FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: FERRAGAMO, PRADA, BOTTEGA VENETA}
BOTTOM { LEFT TO RIGHT: FERRAGAMO, ROBERTO CAVALLI, PRINGLE, ICEBERG}

Paint trend for 2010: You should paint my Love

When Fashion tells you to add a splash of colour, be mindful of how much. Appearing all over Summer 2010 in not only menswear by ladieswear too, one of the newer trends is paint. Used by designers, Thakoon, Alexander McQueen and BCBG to name just three, this paint theme is really making a splash!





Using paint in fashion has even made it's way to print campaigns such as Lanvin, and editorials like the one below in FHM with the black dipped hands. It goes to show that even a novice Fashionisto could take out a paint bucket and spruce up and old pair of jeans. But do so, cautiously.







Don't be surprised that a trend like this lands up in VOGUE HOMME, But on your underpants too? Well that's Fashion for you.