In the Closet

"Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit.  A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world."

         ~Ada Louise Huxtable

Means out with clumsy Coats and Jackets that add bulk to our clothing and in with the new. Though folks on the runway tend to herald the trends our summer might follow, our style is a professed insight of our fashion artistry and uniqueness.

www.yoox.com

Just like summer brings to harvest the loveliest flowers of our time, we profess our style and fashion sense like peacocks. Elegance, beauty, color are all essence of who we are.
Summer affords us the opportunity and exotic freedom to explore our stylistic visionary act, we should however, be wary hence, this is the Season our profound fashion sense is most vulnerable.

"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different"

          ~Coco Chanel

Bright colors are synanymous with Summer. Bright colors portray purity and are best to depite our skin tone. However, a good combination of  bright and dark colors can profess our dress sense. Our ability to ardorn colors beautifully well makes us unique and outstanding. Combine wisely. Bright top with a dark pant and vice versa. Lavender is the color to look out for this summer

www.yoox.com

Summer trends are t-shirts, tanks, polos etc. V necks T-shirts (thanks to Simon Cowell) are becoming very trendy. They are best to feature your new shinny jewelry. Tattooed, logo and emblem ridden t-shirts are significant pictures on the runway. The loose, oversized Polo shirts synanymous with "Ralph Lauren" are replaced by slick tight fitting polos with Italian logos. The modern day designer has redefined what a Polo shirt should look and feel like.

Denim short sleeve shirts are in big time. They come pre washed in indigos with vintage adornment. Be wary of too much denim though.

www.yoox.com

White is the new black, flirt with other colors. Be bold and brave. Be sure to adorn your wardrobes with rare color denims this summer. You are sure to stand out. The good old indigo denim is always classic and timeless, but ain't nothing as good as a rare color denim sitting on a fine summer Paul Smith "Musa" sneaker.

Don't put away yet, your well tailored waist Coats for some summer evenings are mild.

Summer is the best time to show off jewelry and acerssories. Remember to combine wisely and not tend to overdo them.

To cap it all, you can never go wrong with Sandals and flip-flops. Again, choose the right colors and go with the ones that best adorn your feet. Bear in mind comfort is the key.
Picture yourself underneath the canopy of a trendy bar on a hot summer aftenoon. Happy Summer

"Fashion is not something that exist in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening"

          ~Coco Chanel

Perls on Lapels

Jewellery or Jewelry are personal adornments in form of necklaces, rings, brackets, brooches etc. They are made of natural gemstones, precious metal or shells. The original Jewelries were made from natural materials like bones, animal tooth, woods, shells etc.
The word Jewelry can be traced to an ancient french ("jouel") and Latin ("jocale") words meaning plaything.
Often times they depite our culture, religion, tradition, wealth, and believes. Jewelries are as old as man kind.

"In both business and personal life, I've always found that travel inspires me more than anything else I do. Evidence of the languages, cultures, scenery, food, and design sensibilities that I discover all over the world can be found in every piece of my jewelry." 

 ~Ivanka Trump

matterart.wordpress.com

Brooches and pin ups though, synonymous with women are becoming big hits with men. Brooches are not only cropping up on runways but, are fast becoming a cliche of gay and lesbian Chauvinism in fashion cosmopolitan cities like London and New York.

"Our regular items draw bigger business for us. This year we think brooches will sell well."

          ~Ginger Reading

Leading brooch designer, Lanvin is taking brooch designing for "his" and "hers" to the next level. Lanvin is credited for the return of brooches on runways with his stunning and unique designs that are not just vintage but, bear the touch and look of a modern working man.
The famous Gothic brooches by late Alexander McQueen, has attracted rock stars and punks alike. These Gothic trends are also eminent in the designs of Mcqueen suceessor, Sarah Burton
Lately, the trend with male political Bourgeoisie, is to adorn the tricolour pins on their Lapels. However, the trendy him tend to wear over sized Brooches as a fashion statement to profess his Style

polyvore.com

"Jewelry takes people's minds off your wrinkles." 

 ~Sonja Henie

Rings have become the fashion statement of our times. Our fingers are our mildest touch and deserve all sorts of adornment. My fingers feel naked without a ring. "His" rings, though not yet as profound and unique as "Hers",Belgian designer, Maison Martin Margiela is revolotionizing male rings with his eccentric and unique ring designs

Brass rings are making their journey back into the trends of today. They come bulky and thin. There is no gainsaying the fact that two finger rings are the way forward. Though my all time favourites, two fingers rings are rare and, the best I have seen are from Maison Martin Margiela.
The beauty of a decent ring adorning a well kept finger can never be under rated. They mirror our unique preferences and style.
Having overcome my writer's block, I'll be concluding with this beautiful quote form "Office With No Windows"

oki-ni.com

saksfifthavenue.com

"The jeweler allows me to wear the sapphire blue lake on my finger, the emerald green leaves around my neck, and take the citrine sunset with me wherever I go.  Jewelry has become my daytime link to nature in an office with no windows.  And if I have to work late, there's nothing like diamond stars and a pearl full moon against an onyx night sky. "

          ~Astrid Alauda,

Accessorized Man

Accessories are add-ons that we need to complement our Closets. They vary from bands, cuff links, brooches, rings, necklaces, watches, ties, wallets, sun glasses, hats, bags etc. They add a touch of class and colour to our Style. They define our cultures and often times religion.

Some accessories are more prominent and distinctive than others. Women are very particular about accessories. The most distinctive pattern of a woman's Style is her bag. The variables come in different shape and form. Lately, the trend is tilting towards different Collections. Traces of this trend are trickling down to the male folks.

"men who care passionately for women attach themselves at least as much to the temple and to the accessories of the cult as to their goddess herself"

              -- Marguerite Yourcenar--

Accessories are most addictive Collectibles of our Wardrobes. Male fashion Victims are accessorizing like never before. The trendy Man accessorize everything from bags to bangles. An adage goes that, the  personality of a man is best portrayed by his watch, wallet or shoes. While the Professional Man is particular about his Tie and cuff Links, the Casual Man embraces other Variants.

www.jacobtime.com/

The Watch on a man's wrist defines his taste. Seldom, men wear their watches on the right wrist to portray their style and conviction. However, big label Chronograph Watches are favorites to catch the attention and admiration of a Clientele.

Ties are no man's best friend. Knotting a Tie can be a man's nightmare. We love to hate them but, they adorn our Wardrobes. The bulky silk Tie has played out it's time. The modern day man is stepping up his game with "Narrow Ties". Knit Ties, my all time favorites are becoming the hype of our time.

www.ralphlauren.com

Scarfs are no longer a female only trend. Those who mourned the demise of the Mufflers, found some kind of solace in Scarfs. Our sympathy with the Palestinian cause made the trade mark "Arafat Scarf" a trendy phenomenon. Scarf wearing among men is fast becoming the trend of the 90s, You bet we will yet again see the rebirth of Mufflers.

The next big thing to creep into male trend will be Brooches. Lately, the trend with male political Bourgeoisies, is to adorn the tricolour pins on their Lapels. However, the trendy him tend to wear over sized Brooches as a fashion statement to profess his Style. Designers are yet to adopt this trend though. Over Sized male vintage Brooches are hard come by. You can't find them in high End Shops, your best bet will be Flea Markets or Second hand Vintage Shops.

Bowler Hats are accessories you won't be bidding farewell. Bowler Hats are big time. They transcend across all ages and genders.  Don't expect to find Bowler Hats only in your grandpa's Closet. You will not only find them on the teenage boy planning his first date, and on the shaved shiny bald head of some IT Professional in an airport lounge but also, on the hip bohemian Chick in a Kreuzberg Cafe in Berlin.

Bags are becoming a male Companion like never before. Though men from our gay communities are credited with over sized distressed Bags, the trend is spreading like wild fire amongst men. While over sized Bags are synonymous with the Sohos of London and Manhattan, it's fast becoming a boomerang for our credit cards and creating hole in our pockets. Over sized Bags will define the new Man of the jet set age.

In the words of Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel

"It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure" 

Denimize The World

Denim originated from the french word "serge of Nimes". The serge material was originally made in the european towns of Nimes in France and Cheri, an Italian coastal town north of Turin. Wikipedia defines denim 

"as a rugged cotton twill textile in which the weft passes under two or more warp treads. This produces the familiar diagonal ribbing identifiable on the reverse of the fabric, which distinguishes denim from a cotton duck."

The blue Jeans (bleu de genes), an indigo dyed trouser made from denim, was commercialized in the 19th century by the German immigrant, Levis Strauss and his American Compatriot Jacod Davis. 

www.levistrauss.com/

Before it commercialization, the original blue jeans was worn by Sailors in the Italian naval town of Genoa hence, the french "bleu de Genes" literally translated as "Blue Jeans". 
The origin of blue Jeans could also be traced back to the Indian  town of Dhunga. Lest, you were wondering where the phrase "dungaress" came from, the Sailors of Dhunga wore Jumpsuits made from denim.


Designers have now redefined the modern day Denim since Levis Strauss and Jacod Davis invented the Blue Jeans in 1873.
Denim now come in different styles and shades -skinny jeans, jeggings, jumpsuits etc.


However, the brand that caught my eyez, is the design I call the denim with a soul, "Nudie Jeans" a Swedish premium clothing brand originating in Gothenburg and founded by Maria Erixsson. http://www.nudiejeans.com/start

www.nudiejeans.com/

Nudie Jeans, an obsessive designer Jeans is become a Cult amongst denim Junkies, including my humble self. The passion for denim differentiates Nudie Jeans from it's Competitors.

"We love jeans, a passion we share with everyone who morns a pair of worn out jeans as a close friend. Jeans share the same soul and attitude as music. The inspiration springs from the same dreams. As a true jeans brand we are not looking for short-term trends. The inspiration is far from glamour and catwalks. The collection is tight, like a rock band, reflecting the telling of everyday life" 

 The "orange tread", the character that defines Nudie Jeans is like an electricity that runs trough Nudie. This runs all over Nudie including the unique back pocket embo. 

www.nudiejeans.com/

Nudie takes so much pride in it's dry selvage denims that it recommends not to wash the dry denims for six months to allow for the breaking period. This affords the denim the ability to age beautifully, which then depicts a natural worn in look."Nudie Jeans" fans has a dedicated website called "mynudies" http://www.myudies.com 
My nudies, an online community and resource for Nudie Jeans deals with forums on new models, blogs, galleries, links, videos and pictures of "broken" denims (the skins of denims not washed for six months and above). Your best bet for all things nudie and how, and where, to acquire a well cherished pair hence, they are only sold in a few high End Stores. Every new pair comes with a booklet on how to maintain and wash the denim

www.nudiejeans.com/

Though "Nudie Jeans" is a lifestyle choice for men, women are also attracted to the brand. They come in different styles and shades. I have worn different types, my favorite for now is the "Thin Finn" As a die hard, am head over heals with "Nudie Jean" hence, am particularly keen to raving about it. Nudie Jeans has also become the hype with celebrities like Venessa Hudgens, Jay Z, Jack Efron, Nick Jonas, Duffy, Gabriel Aubrey etc.

"Nudie is the "naked tuth about denim". Denim has the ability to age beautifully - formed by its user into a second skin, naked and personal. The longer it lives the more character it gets. The indigo is a living colour that fades and gives the denim its character. The more you wear your jeans the more beautiful it gets. Jeans are more than just a piece of clothe."

Trendy Him

Summer is drawing to a close, there is no gainsaying the fact, what a trendy Summer it was. This Summer brought back the amazing 80s style. Besides, bringing out the style in us, it enhanced the creativity of our Stylist and fashion Designers. Denim once again became the culture and trend that will not evaporate.
While women have traditionally been the trend setters and men playing catch up, this Summer depeats our crave for Style. Men are becoming equally as trendy as women, sporting designs that are traditionally associated with women.

source: www.acnestudios.com

The most outstanding trend of Summer 2010 is "Skinny Jeans". Denim was once again very trendy. It came in all forms and colours - jeggings, ripped, patched, studs and jumpsuits.
Boots are creeping back to Style. These are just no ordinary boots. They come distressed and battered, trading the old skool look. While Summer had its share of distressed lace up shoes, musas, canvas and wedges for women. Boots are trends to watch for this fall and winter.

source: www.style.com

Though winter is normally the traditional time for Boots, Peasant Boots will set a new trend this winter for his and hers. PEASANT is the way to go. Peasant Boots, Country Side French Trench Coats are cropping up on Runways from Milan to Paris. The trendy revolution on peasant style is so eminent that virtually everything form Pants, to Coats and Accessories are taking queue from the trends set by our 15th century Uncles and Aunts. Though every designer has jumped on this bandwagon thus so far, am personal intrigued by the collections from the Belgian designer, Ann Demeulemeester. www.anndemeulemeester.be/

Though women tends to be more associated with Boots. Peasant Boots are turning out to be a big time trend for Men this winter.

source: www.anndemeulemeester.be

Denim was the dominant trend in Summer, the emphasis this fall and winter is on skinny chinos and khakis tailored to embrace the peasant look.

source: www.anndemeulemeester.be

The Professionals will also have their cut this fall and winter. Folks running around in good old boring Suits and Briefcases will also be pimped come winter, thanks to our peasant Forefathers. The fashion minded professional will walk about in style in D&G Peasant Boots and trendy distressed oversized Totes.

source www.style.com

source www.style.com

The Peasant look is not just synonymous with high end designers like Dolce and Gabbanna, Ann Demeulemeester, Custume National, 3.1 Phillip Lim but, high street shops like H&M, Top Shop etc.

Men are also bracing the streets of New York, Berlin, Paris and Milan with "Over sized Bags", an acronym usually associated with women.

So if you are already planning your winter wardrobe like I am, keep in mind, PEASANT is the way to go. It don't need to be a collection from the top designers, which is above the budget of most folks. Shop wisely. Peasant boot is a must have this winter. I bet you want to keep up with the trends but, remember Style is an act that can't be copied. It is unique to oneself. In the words of John Fairchild

     “"Style" is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma. Fashion is something that comes after style.”