On the Street.......The Natty, Milano

At Marni p.2

Fabrizio in Detail, Milano




At Calvin Klein

On the Street.......Rue Saint Martin, Paris

Carlo Montanaro of Corriere della Sera

I think there is something wonderfully subversive about wearing a suit that fits so wonderfully and is so well-made that even as it begins to crumple you cannot bear to throw it out, it's like a sartorial version of faded jeans.

Actually this suit was made for his father and Carlo estimates it is about 35 years old.

Style and sentiment are a hard combination to beat.


At Marni

How I Would Wear Thom Browne p.2


Chris Mitchell of Details magazine wears a Thom Browne suit the way ,I would guess, most of Thom's customers wear his suits.
I think I'm starting to look forward to this Brooks Brothers collaboration

At Prada

Pale Blue, Editor of Men's EX, Milano

Outside Gucci

5 tips on What to Wear in Office

No matter whether you just joined a new company or visit your client's office, it is always important to establish what to wear especially the "Halo" effect is very important to your business partners or associates. There are many ways to find out what you should wear in a office, but the following 5 tips are what I find most useful and workable for me so far.

Find a middle ground
There's no need to go to extremes with a full-piece suit, or on the other side of the spectrum, track pants and sneakers. There is a happy medium where dress pants, button-down shirts, sweaters, and sports jackets rule and serve to make you look like you mean business.

You can never be overdressed
This is something that holds true when you're at work. You won't lose anything by showing up overdressed, but on the other hand, you will feel uncomfortable if you're highly underdressed -- and wouldn't you rather people notice your sense of style rather than your ability to make rolling out of bed an art form?

If you're unsure, ask
If you're a new hire or simply aren't sure about the new dress code at work, there's nothing wrong with asking your HR department or your superior for clarifications of the guidelines and company dress policy. It's always better to ask beforehand than find out the hard way; like your boss telling you that what you're wearing is inappropriate for the office. And yes -- he will let you know.

A simple tip to keep in mind while dressing for work? If you're unsure or have doubts about your getup, then you're better off not wearing it. Follow your gut and remember that if you're hesitant about what you're wearing, your hesitation might be reflected in your attitude that day.

Pay attention to detail
Your ability to pay attention to the little things when it comes to your appearances will speak volumes about your attention to detail in every aspect of life, and that's a trait you want to show off in the business world. So if you do step out in chinos and a button-down shirt, make sure that there are no creases in your pants, all the buttons in your shirt are in order, and your shirt is properly tucked in. If you don't make yourself look presentable, who will? Remember, image is everything.

Dress for success
Lastly, whether or not your place of work has enforced a smarts casual dress code or strictly a casual one, you should always make sure you look presentable, professional, and like someone you would want to do business with. Of course, your style depends on the industry you belong in, but that is never an excuse for looking sloppy.


Enjoy.......................

Top 10 Tips on Proper Business Attire for Men

In my whole working life, being in work or attend business functions, parties or dinners, a proper dressed up is always a plus point than under dressed. In this session, I would like to share the TOP 10 tips on what we should wear in such environment.
  • Choose a conservative suit in navy, black or gray either pinstripe or solid. The quality of the material speaks as loudly as the color and can make the difference between sleaze and suave.
  • A solid white or blue dress shirt with long sleeves offers the most polished look. The more pattern and color you add, the more the focus is on your clothing, rather than your professionalism.
  • Ties should be made of silk or a silk-like fabric. Avoid the cartoon characters and go for simple and subtle if you want to enhance your credibility.
  • Socks should be calf-length or above. Make sure they match not only what you are wearing, but also each other. A quick glance in good light before heading out the door can save embarrassment later in the day. Check for holes as well if you'll be going through airport security and removing your shoes.
  • Shoes should without question be conservative, clean and well polished. Lace-up shoes are the choice over slip-ons or flip flops. Don't think for a minute that people don't notice shoes. Many people will look at your feet before your face.
  • Belts need to match or closely coordinate with your shoes. Once again, quality counts.
  • Keep jewelry to a minimum. In a time when men sport gold necklaces, bracelets and earrings, the business professional should limit himself to a conservative watch, a wedding band and maybe his college ring.
  • Personal hygiene is part of the success equation. Freshly scrubbed wins out over heavily fragranced any day of the week. Save the after-shave for after hours, but never the shave itself.
  • The accessories: briefcase, portfolio and pen. When it comes to sealing the deal, a top of the line suit, a silk tie and a good pair of leather shoes can lose their affect when you pull out the ball point pen you picked up in the hotel meeting room the day before.
  • The finishing part of the whole attire, be confident on your self and carry a good looking smile on your face.

How I Would Wear Thom Browne p.1


He looks really great!
- casual but still just enough design
- i really like the extra wide cuff on the more casual pants
- double-monk strap worn casually
- sleeves pushed not rolled
- shirt is open two buttons but still very closed at the neck
- his look is all Thom Browne, it is great to see Thom worn in a more casual way.
- love the smaller aviators

Effortless, Milan

Renata!

At Bottega Veneta, Milano

A New Muse, Milan


Business attire vs. Smart casual

For most of the gentleman, we always need to put a clear line between business wear and casual wear. Business wear, sometime is just fair too formal, and it might not suit all the working environment, especially you are able to join some function for the first time! Thank God! here come the combination between business and casual. Similar to the those working ladies nowadays, guys are also getting smart casual, which are more relaxed, and yet professional look. Below are some simple definition between Business attire and Smart Casual.

"Business attire" is a full suit with matching pants, a dress shirt and tie.It differs from the type of outfit you might wear to a wedding or evening event. It is conservative, designed to be sharp but not flashy, and elegant but not overly formal. The idea is to showcase the individual, not the clothes.

"Smart casual" is a more relaxed, yet professional look. Pressed pants, a collared shirt, and clean, matching accessories. A sport coat will add a touch of class to a casual look. Avoid jeans, sneakers and T-shirts.

So now the question is in what circumstances we wear business attire, smart casual and relaxed casual? It is really depend on individual, my opinion, as long as you feel comfortable.... :)
However, there are some custom and traditional culture that we still need to follow and bound to..(Anyway, you can still dressed your way if you want to... ) like funeral, marriage, wedding function, interview, Gala dinner

Everyone Loves Lino

Bella Donna, Milano

At Dries Van Noten



Guess wallpaper

For those that are interested in wallpaper, you might want to consider this nice Guess wallpaper
which I found in the internet few days ago.

"Stocky" to "Powerful"



A well cut suit can help a man go from "stocky" to "powerful" - I can just hear him telling his tailor "I want a suit that make me look strong like bull"

Also notice his collar and the collar of our friend in the recent post of June 20th "Does It Get Much Better" - they both have a very soft spread collar which is a very Neapolitan styling detail.

This gentleman also has his collar artfully askew - believe me, if you tried to fix is collar he would be pretty pissed.

Some Guys...

..always have the knack for finding the best accessories
Sorry, I never thought an ankle bracelet could look so cool with a suit! I also think the ankle bracelet is a perfect way to f*up a pair of wingtips in a good way
this is the same guy that had the bandanna as a pocket square last summer.

Slim Suited p.2, Pitti Uomo

Calling Mr. Onassis....Your Yacht is Ready

Long & Lovely, Pitti Uomo

Shades Of Blue, Pitti Uomo


Notice another Sartorialist wearing dark brown suede loafer

Slim Suited, Pitti Uomo

Guess Who I Ran Into Today...

Her name is Albertina Marzotto, a journalist, and as you can see she is a woman for all seasons

Does It Get Much Better?

I took two shots because both are equally important.
- The jacket fits great - nice twist with the single breasted peak label.
- Cuff perfect, drop perfect
- Americans should not be afraid of linen suits, just bad quality linen suits. It was two in the afternoon by the time I took this shot and he looks no worse for wear.
- Love the dramatic spread of the shirt collar.


Perfect pant cuff and perfect slimness to the pant bottom

I was wearing brown suede loafers ,very much like his, today and they were so comfortable in the brutal Florence heat.

Next Summer I'm buying them in several colors.

The watch that you must have! if you are affordable

Depend on your income and afford ability, I would like to discuss the watches in more detail in this post. For trend and styles, most people will relate to TAG Heuer, which is most welcome by professionals at the aged group between 20 - 40. For prestige and status, most executives, young businessman and entrepreneurs will prefer Rolex, which is slightly pricey as compare to the earlier model.

So for most of the man, which is hardly spend any of the big items throughout the year, this is the time to reward yourself. Do yourself a favor, buy an expensive watch.

My Favorite Jeans


After the earlier post, I would like to share some of the jeans that I have (plus some of my nephews' jeans! :p) which I like. Please give me your comments if you feel like want to give your opinions....

Pitti Uomo Tomorrow

Tomorrow Pitti Uomo starts, then on to Milan and Paris for mens collections.
The last two days have been the quiet before the storm so if everything goes well I should have my first post up tomorrow by 4pm and will start posting twice a day (morning & evening) until early July.

I read that Gianfranco Ferre died.
He was one of the designers I always wanted to shoot because he had such great personal style.
I hope his company is able to keep his name and work alive for a long time to come.

Hello from Roma

So I just spent the late afternoon in Rome but unfortunately this is the best dressed guy I found. I expected some tourists but Rome is all tourists right now.

Tomorrow i will be in Florence for the beginning of Pitti Uomo , the big menswear trade show, which is like the Super Bowl of style for men.

When I was there in January I got some of my favorite shots during Pitti.

Jean: History of Denim Jeans

In fashion history, jeans and denim history continues to baffle. No one truly knows the perfect answer to where jeans began. As so often happens fashions often emerge together in various parts of the world and are the result of the sudden availability of a new fabric, cloth, dye or technique.

But we do know that the phrase denim jeans is thought to derive from several sources. The majority of source books suggest that denim derives from the English translation of the South of France French phrase 'serge de Nîmes'. Denim fashion history is thus associated with Serge de Nimes.

Levi Staruss Jeans

Jeans history would be nothing without Levi Strauss. Levi Strauss is credited with inventing jeans. Levi Strauss emigrated with his family to New York in 1847. His family sold dry goods such as canvas tenting and Manchester drapery goods. He moved to San Francisco in the early 1850s because he thought the same dry goods business would be brisk because of the California gold rush.

About 20 years later a solvent Levi Strauss and a Nevada tailor joined forces to patent an idea the tailor had for putting rivets on stress points of workman's waist high overalls commonly known as jeans. Levi Strauss chose to use the stronger denim fabric and cotton duck, putting his own name on the product. Later the duck fabric was dropped as consumers found denim more comfortable, particularly after washing creating the faded bloom on the indigo blue dyeing that we all love.

Eventually in the 1950s people asked for denim jeans or just as often - Levi's jeans rather than waist overalls. Other manufacturers began to produce jeans and other brand names such as Lee Coopers and Wranglers also became famous. Each brand is renowned for having a particular cut.

The most famous jeans are still probably those produced by Levi as Levi 501s. Pre shrunk jeans had been introduced in the 1960s. 501s traditional button fly jeans designed in the Victorian era need to be shrunk to fit. They were a huge hit again in the 1980s when reintroduced to a new generation.

Cufflinks - the trend is back again

Cufflinks are the perfect accessory for men who recognise style and strong design.

According to the American National Cufflink Society, cufflinks have been around since Tutankhamen’s time. Apparently, their claims are based on ancient hieroglyphics found in the Egyptian boy pharoah’s tomb.

These have come back in a big way the last few years. More and more shirt manufacturers are making shirts with French cuffs to meet the demand. It's definitely a nod to a time when men dressed more formally on a regular basis. It also reminds me of old Hollywood. Other than a watch and a ring, cufflinks are really the only other type of jewelry guys can wear. So if one of the guys on your shopping list wear French cuffed shirts, a gorgeous pair of cufflinks makes an awesome gift.



Coffee with Avner


So I'm making my way through the Marais toward the Left Bank for the Zucca fashion show when I come across this very elegant gentleman, Avner Gruzow, 83 years young.

I ask to take his photo and he agrees on one condition: I sit and have a coffee with him, and tell him about New York (although I knew I would really be the one asking the questions).

Now, I wanted to go to the Zucca show, but how do you pass up a chance to sit and hear a little about the life of a gentleman like this?

Guess what he did? Deep-sea diving! "I was mad for diving," he said, more than once.

The years have not been so kind to Avner's ablity to communicate and he had trouble remembering certain words, but from what I could make out, he spent some time living in the Middle East with the bedouins, he owned a camel, he and his wife own a country house in the South of France but currently live on the Left Bank. He travels every year to Antwerp to visit the area where he grew up.

Before we said good-bye, he gave me his address and promised that when I return to Paris he will show me photos of when he was young in the Middle East riding camels and of his diving adventures.

His handshake is still strong (stronger than I expected) so my guess is that although he is 83, we will still have quite a few more coffees together, hopefully soon.

Man watches - The single most important accessory

If diamonds were a woman's best friend, then a watch is the single most important accessory a man can own--it is an essential style element. if you wanted a classic, like the stylish Ulysse Nardin, then the three month's salary rule came into play. Most of the rest had all the elegance of a Timex. But as the century turned, a fashion miracle occurred; mainstream designers, from Hugo Boss, to Fossil and Guess, revolutionized wrist watches by making whole lines of handsome designs, with open faces, elegant numerals and stately bands. Kenneth Cole too has an excellent set of time pieces, and all of these lines run around one hundred dollars.

Just remember how women take measure of a man; from his shoes to his watch, shoes/watch, shoes/watch. So think about life on the run like you would service in a restaurant; you won't get any if you are not wearing shoes. By putting a watch back on your wrist, you might not feel so naked, or lonely, out there.



Fashion in Milan: Latest Dolce & Gabbana collection


















Very well defined collection, with shape and details made to enhance the beauty of the body.

Fashion: Latest Dolce & Gabbana collection


















Colors are: white, blue and beige, with details in dark green and bordeaux, alternated with khaki and a hint of purple. You could see crests with the Olimpic emblems, impeccably cut weightless jackets, very narrow ties, ... Dolce & Gabbana did it again.

Fashion: Marc Antoine Barrois new collection


New collection of Marc Antoine BARROIS in Lille fashion show. This is not his first collection, and it is possible to see the maturity in cut, and easy in working with new materials

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