PAJAMA PARTY

admin — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:02:09 +0000

Famous loungewear enthusiast Hugh Hefner once claimed, “I have about 100 pairs of pajamas. I like to see people dressed comfortably.” And while you may not own a mansion or a bevy of blondes (note to self: get on that!), there is something to this mindset. Designers have been making waves with the grown man pajama uniform from Marc Jacobs taking all three runway bows (Marc Jacobs, Marc By Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton) in silk sets to JW Anderson showcasing silk, luxurious pajama designs prominently in his Spring 2013 menswear show. Maybe not every man will embrace sleepwear as daywear, but one thing’s for sure: the fashion set will find it a perfect bedfellow. Believe it or not, pajamas, even just worn to bed, have always been a bit controversial. First introduced in India in 1880, they were a shocking alternative for men after years of unisex nightgowns. Here was a silk sleep set that was modern and purely masculine. Pajamas for women didn’t take off until after women’s suffrage and when style-setting ladies had ditched the skirt for androgynous pants. Seems masculinity and the right to be heard also gave you the right to comfort.

In the 1930’s, pajamas became popular beachwear(!) and loungewear for the wealthy and with the mod but lax 60’s pajamas truly entered the realm of mainstream everyday by becoming the uniform for the jet set crowd for entertaining and dinner parties. For now, though, the look is purely casual and laidback. There’s still an air of sartorial refinement in wearing your sleepwear out and about, but men can pair their daytime pajamas with pants or shorts or break the set up and wear them with other pieces in their wardrobe, making the look even more personal or versatile. The best part is pajamas are an ideal way for men to look polished and fashionable but remain cool and comfortable for summer, which is great because guys don’t get many options when the temps rise.

Ultimately the pajama trend offers a sleek, modern and relaxing way to present yourself and your fashion know how. Somewhere Hugh Hefner is nodding approvingly.

- Mac Smith

ALL THAT JAZZ

admin — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:46:03 +0000

Fashion and film: They make such great bedfellows it’s a wonder that the two don’t meet head on more frequently. But perhaps it’s this infrequency that makes the moments when they do collide that much sweeter. Such is the case with with the any-day-now release of Baz Luhrmann’s highly anticipated remake of the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic, The Great Gatsby. No stranger to the intensely stylized — not to mention the anachronistic — Luhrmann’s glossy and glamorous update is bound to be one of the most fashionable films released this year. While the Jazz Age decadence and over-the-top glitz that would be expected of any Gatsby adaptation would be more than enough to seal the deal, the addition of costumes created as a collaboration between costume designer Catherine Martin and Miuccia Prada takes things to a whole different level of fashion nirvana. Even better, the incredible array of costumes featured in the film’s outrageous party scenes are currently on display at Prada’s SoHo Epicenter.

While the beauty and intricacy of each costume ensures that anyone who visits will enjoy the view — Martin and Prada employed what I would estimate to be about a metric ton of sequins, beads and crystals — fashion aficionados will have fun trying to identify which details came from what season of Prada’s body of work. There are chandelier crystals taken from Spring 2010, sequined “feathers” borrowed from Fall 2007 and plenty of the chunky embellishment and faux-naif costume jewelry that have become the designer’s hallmarks. From the tops of the perfectly adorned headdresses to the tips of the fabulously un-historical shoes, each look displays a personality all its own — a fact driven home by the plaques providing the scoop for each party-going background character who donned each incredible look. The best part, however, is the up-close-and-personal nature of the exhibit. Laid out on the SoHo store’s Rem Koolhaas-designed graduated steps and giant “wave”, the display invites viewers to look at each mannequin as closely as they like, close enough to touch in fact (though that would be frowned upon). If Gatsby Fever has reached a pitch, this exhibition — open to the public until Sunday May 12th — should only add to it.

- Justin Friedman

GET THE LOOK: RYAN GOSLING

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:02:57 +0000

Ryan Gosling has it all: Sensitivity. Manliness. Eva Mendes

Oh, and a wicked sense of style. From velvet suits to rich, unexpected colors, Ryan is never afraid to push the boundaries of red carpet menswear, and his casual looks are just as sleek with rat pack loungewear styles mixed with hipster street influences.

Suiting in Unexpected Colors and Styles | It takes a man with a savvy sartorial sense and a strong backbone to take the risks Ryan takes. That killer physique and wicked smile probably don’t hurt either. For now, here’s a great way to test the waters without diving in head first. Gosling loves a velvet suit, but Lanvin’s velvet blazer is more accessible in classic black and light enough for all year round. Mix and match with your favorite trousers for a playful suit look or with jeans for a more polished weekend style.

Rat Pack Influences | Ryan knows that the swinging mid-century men from the Rat Pack really knew how to knock the dames out with their tailored looks. This season Gucci is also really flying over the moon for Frank, Dean and the crew. Ladies will now really get a kick out of your wardrobe.

Hipster Street Cred | Sure Ryan cleans up nice, but man if he doesn’t look just as sleek and modern just walking through the airport. These hipster off-duty styles are easy to transition into your closet thanks to the rock n roll designs of Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent.

No matter which is your favorite Ryan Gosling look, it’s easy to crib some from his signature style and make it your own.

- Mac Smith

STRONG SUITS

admin — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:45:05 +0000

Fashion rivalries are great for us. Exhibit A: the Raf Simons for Dior versus Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent showdown at Paris Fashion Week last fall. As both designers were unveiling their first ever ready-to-wear collections at their respective houses, the media was busy pitting Simons against Slimane – leaders of the new guard – against each other. Whether either designer succumbed to the gossip is unknown, but we have to be thankful for the fierce competition this rivalry created, which seemed to take shape in the clothes, giving us the sleekest and sharpest suiting for spring.

Dior and Saint Laurent presented sharp tailoring in two very different ways – the former more tucked-in and the latter a little less restrained. At Dior, Raf Simons gave new definition to the coveted hourglass shape with tuxedo jacket-dresses that caved in at the waist. Dior’s spring suiting was a breath of fresh modernity, encouraging a world where women can embrace their femininity and wear a power suit that doesn’t scream androgyny.

But for every piece of this Slimane vs. Simons rivalry that seems to have been made up for fun, you can’t ignore the message Dior’s tux jacket-dresses symbolized as a sort of response to the sharp suiting YSL is traditionally known for. Slimane’s womenswear debut for Saint Laurent definitely paid homage to the iconic YSL Le Smoking. That being said, Simons took YSL and turned it on its head, starting with the new name right on down to the hippie-rocker-grunge-LA aesthetic he sent down the runway.

At Saint Laurent, skinny tailoring was topped off with wide brimmed hats and enormous pussy bows. Tuxedo jackets were less formal and more suited for today’s chic dinner party. We saw simple clothes with complex details that helped make Slimane’s tailoring less about formalities and more about living in the moment. Forget the boardroom, the world is your stage!
This free-spirited attitude is also apparent in the neon floral prints of Stella McCartney’s jacquard jackets or Reed Krakoff’s lightweight crepe blazers. The most inspiring mix of masculine and feminine tailoring lies in Altuzarra’s transformative blazers and colorful pants; see the hidden underarm zipper that transform a simple blazer into a cape or his mini peplum jackets for proof.

At a time when mixing-and-matching is totally acceptable, if not preferred, these toppers look great combined with J.Crew’s silk and or silk trousers from Isabel Marant and 10 Crosby Derek Lam. Still, for those who prefer to stay a bit more traditional, Theyskens’ Theory provided a bold spin on tailoring while staying true to classic silhouettes. Shoulder pads made their debut on V-shaped jackets at Theory but these suits were anything but retro. Double-breasted jackets and slim tapered pants also gave way to full-leg trousers and cut out body suits underlining powerful blazers. Whether their inspiration is the world at large (Theyskens’ sea-inspired suiting used inky deep-sea-black leather) or an imagined fashion rivalry, designers had no problems cranking out new power attire to help us all be a bit more sharply suited for spring, from the boardroom to the boardwalk.

- Amirah Mercer

PRODUCT PLACEMENT: VOL. 12

admin — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:36:52 +0000

WHAT IT IS: Tom Ford Lip Color Shine

WHY WE LOVE: In this lip-centric world we live in, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find those holy grail products — the ones that end up as our go-to, must have, permanent-place-in-the-beauty-arsenal favorites — due to the sheer number of sticks, glosses, stains, lacquers, pencils and the innumerable hybrid products created expressly for prettifying our pouts. While this Product Junkie has certainly indulged in trying out the NEWEST, GREATEST and BEST with the kind of rabid enthusiasm usually reserved for kids opening gifts on Christmas morning, I can’t say that I don’t crave a little simplicity every now and then. It’s no wonder that I could hardly contain my excitement when Tom Ford Beauty announced the launch of its Lip Color Shine. Touted as a supremely hydrating semitransparent lipstick/balm combo, this new range of 10 new colors ranging from flattering neutrals like Nubile (rose nude) and Abandon (light tan), feminine pink shades including Quiver (light blue-based pink) and Insidious (coral), and vivid brights like Willful (orange-based red) and Ravenous (hot cerise), is the total package. Delivering more than its fair share of pigment given the semi-sheer formula and with impressive staying power considering it’s high on shine and highly moisturizing (which usually equals slippage and minimal longevity), Lip Color Shine could very well be the holy grail lip product for the warmer months when ease and comfort are what you crave in your makeup routine. Tom Ford Lip Color Shine glides on smoothly, softens instantly and provides the perfect punch of color in a single swipe. All of the glamour you need with none of the fuss, and soft, sensuous lips to boot? Consider me sold.

WHERE TO BUY: $48 each, available Saks Fifth Avenue stores, Saks.com and BergdorfGoodman.com.

- The Product Junkie