There is something reassuring about Tomas Maier’s seductive evolution of Bottega Veneta. As expensive (often headspinningly so) as these clothes are, there is so little that is nouveau about them that they seem to underscore the old-fashioned idea that wealth should be displayed discreetly. “I love a beautifully made product but I hate things looking new,” said Maier after his presentation. “They’re missing personality.”
There was certainly plenty of character in these clothes, starting with the fabrics. They were luxe but worn, so that Maier’s signature soft tailoring molded to the body. The most eye-catching piece was a jacket in leaf-green tartan that had been dyed, washed, resized, and hand-painted. There was quieter appeal in washed leathers, flannels, and piece-dyed moleskin.
New this season was a more formal edge. Maier likes what he calls “the nonchalant innocence” of young men in ties who’ve never worn them before. Paired with the soft brogues and the handmade, hand-painted porkpie hats that accessorized the collection, the collars and ties, slightly shrunken jackets, and trousers with narrow cuffs evoked Jack Lemmon in the pre-lapsarian sixties moment before America let it all hang out.
In keeping with bringing you all that queer and stylish, you don’t have to go any further than QC TrendSpotting. Up for fall 2006, three new fragrances for men from New York, Milan and Paris.
Along with a sportswear collection partnership with Converse (owned by Nike), the news this fall from New York’s John Varvatos is his second fragrance. It’s called Vintage (eau de toilette 4.02 oz, $75), and has notes of Moroccan lavender, Turkish tobacco, and Canadian fir.
The wait is over! The much-awaited masculine counterpart to Prada’s Amber, the women’s scent launched in 2004, is Amber Pour Homme (eau de toilette 3.4 oz deluxe refillable spray, $90). Dispensed by a round metal atomizer, the fragrance is deep and rich and smooth, with notes of saffron and patchouli, and a touch, a wee touch of the tactile, suede.
From Jean Paul Gaultier comes his first unisex scent. With Gaultier2 express the power of the encounter between two people like forces that must come together and become one. Gaultier2 returns to the grand art of Haute perfumery and blends three simple base notes of amber (for the mystery), musc (for its skin-like warmth), and vanilla (for its evocative sensuality).
Michael Kors is always precise in his use of celluloid inspiration. This season, it was love stories: The Great Gatsby, The Graduate, and, of course, Love Story itself. That gave the designer another opportunity to indulge his Ali MacGraw obsession in the womenswear, but the men were more done-up than one remembers Ryan O’Neal ever being.
Kors said his L.A. store has given him invaluable insight into the craving young guys feel for a more formal approach to getting dressed. So even though there was plenty of collegiate layering here, the Kors man was never less than immaculate. Shirts came with big, fat seventies ties, and the footwear of choice was cordovan boots—no sneakers for these college boys.
At one point, Kors paired a velvet jacket, treated with metal to give it a worn effect, with a denim shirt and gray flannel pinstriped trousers. The resulting mix—Dressed-down smart? Dressed-up casual?—epitomized the spirit of his menswear this season.
In his first collection since he was named creative director of the American accessories label Ghurka, John Bartlett went back to his roots, or what he calls “my big bear heart.” His show played out like a gathering of Iron Johns, celebrating their manhood in the woods. Bearded, balding, uncompromisingly butch, they strolled a wood-chip boardwalk in duck boots, with sturdy styling to match. A cord jean jacket, for example, was sported shirtless by its rug-chested wearer.
Unsurprisingly, it was the outerwear that impressed in this collection, particularly in a duffel coat or the chunky four-pocketed style that’s known as a mackinaw, or indeed anything else that evoked L.L.Bean. The knit trim on the pockets of a brown leather blouson or blazer was a nice touch. But the tailored pieces looked a little lumpen, and the sparkly silver hunting jacket was just plain weird (loden green and bark brown make more sense for the Bartlett Man).
But then the designer himself has always been partial to a streak of perverse whimsy. Hence the Gay Men’s Chorus harmonizing their way through “It’s Now or Never” to open the show. Is that how Bartlett himself feels about his place in the fashion firmament?
The “Beautiful Blog” can be summed up in one word, “beautiful!” It’s the collaborated combination of beautiful men, photography, fashion, entertainment and porn that makes this blog a must-read for all blog-lovers. Check it out today, there’s something for everyone!
Channing’s first experience with entertainment industry came when he was cast in Ricky Martin’s video “She Bangs”. He plays a kid with the platinum Mohawk. While he was still getting over his platinum hair dude, a model friend in Miami introduced him to some local agencies, where he moved and started his modeling career. Channing’s initial reaction to modeling was not so optimistic, instead his aspiration was to be an actor. After a period of struggle, Channing’s pictures were sent to Jason Kanner, a New York City modeling agent at Major Models. Jason persuaded Channing to move to New York to advance his career in the print world.
Channing has since been seen on the pages of Vogue Magazine, the cover of Out magazine, Citizen K, Contents, Elegance Magazine, and NY Times Fashion insert, and he was one of the Tear Sheet Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful faces (October 2001). Channing has worked extensively in Paris, Milan and New York in various campaigns such as Nautica, Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle and Emporio Armani. Channing can be seen in television commercials as well, such as Pepsi (“Scratching”), American Eagle, and of course Mountain Dew (“Drive”).
Check out Cinemale for your favourite male celebrities in the buff!
On August 9th, National Underwear Day will be taking Manhattan by storm for the fourth year in a row. This year will be the biggest and best event yet, with more sponsors, underwear giveaways, contests, and surprises. National Underwear Day is the day when underwear becomes not just the first thing you put on and the last thing you take off, but the most important thing you wear all day.
So, make sure you’re wearing a fresh pair.
Discovered after entering a modeling competition on a whim back home in Niagara Falls, this 19 year-old is now living the Miami dream – model style. Sure, he doesn’t get to snowboard much anymore, but the local party scene definitely agrees with him. While Teddy has his pick of the wo(men), what he really wants is to fall in love. Ahhh. Horoscope sign: Cancer, Hometown: Youngstown, NY, Favorite designer: Burberry, Something that no one has asked you yet but you want the world to know? Boxers or Briefs Neither!, Your heritage: Italian/Dutch, Fears: People using me without me being aware of it, Goal you would like to achieve this year? Establish some Favorite Moinvestments and buy some property, 1st thoughts when waking up? Where’s my colada?, What country would you most like to visit? Australia, Tatoos/Piercings: No/No, Favorite Model: Gisele Bundchen, Favorite Actor: Aston Kutcher
There was shift this season from the Italian house Costume National. Their love affair with the ‘70’s was put on ice and frozen away, and in its place designer Ennio Capasa looked back to On the Waterfront for his thunderbird rebellious spirit. But it was more the English lads of old the famed Teddy boys that captured his heart. The first passage was a long, tailored drape jacket over a waistcoat, collar, and tie and a pair of narrow, striped trousers. The look was Edwardian undertaker, with quaffed hair for rock cred. The next passage featured waistcoat, jeans, and a gossamer-fine jersey shirt with sleeves rolled up as high as they would go, more bovver boy than mortician. Still even though the collection notes gave reference to the ‘50’s, echoes of Brit-Punk styling’s of the early ‘80’s New Wave culture could be felt. In many cases we could believe Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor of Duran Duran would have looked smashing in these clothes.
As you all aware we here at QC are always on the lookout for cute boys, and where better to look than backstage at one of the biggest boywatch events known, than the fashion weeks in Milan, Paris and New York. Here is a sampling of the hotties on and off the catwalk. Enjoy.
We at QC have finally found a reason to watch and want our MTV, 8th & Ocean, bitches. It’s ANTM (America’s Next Top Model) without the forehead known as Tyra and the children as her peanut gallery…where were we again? Oh yes, want to know what the high-stakes, competitive world of modeling is really like? You’re invited to drop by 8th & Ocean. Deep in the heart of Miami’s hot South Beach, ten professional models live together in a beachfront apartment complex, each trying to make their way in a glamorous yet very demanding industry. That’s right kids, these are the real deals no wannabe’s with bad weave’s and sticky fingers and ghetto gurl tat’s (you know who we be talkin’ ’bout!)
It’s a wonder how Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana constantly manage to transmogrify the show tent attached to their Milanese headquarters. For their signature presentation this season, it was all mirrors and chandeliers. Two days later, the audience arriving for the D&G show encountered a swath of fresh green grass scattered with flowers in bloom. According to Domenico, he and Stefano were imagining “a pizza party on Ibiza,” with boys lounging around watching the sunset at Café del Mar.
Are you a man who enjoys running, biking, rolleblading, wrestling; a man that goes to the gym, a beach or dancing in the club? For the man who loves the feel of lycra spandex on his body, Spandexman.com is an on-line store for you…lycra spandex for work, play and sport! SpandexMan.com offers an array of different “costumes” for the guy who has a mind that expands like the fabric. Costumes ranging from Super Hero Unitards, to Fantasy Unitards, to Wresting Singlets, to Body Suits! This may not be your typical evening wear, but as the saying goes, “if it feels good, do it!”
Pumping iron, running, or lounging around never looked so, ahem, interesting!
P/S: Whatever you do, make sure you check out the Customer Gallery.
(via Fleshbot)
Christopher Bailey finally did it. He showed a traditional Burberry trench, not cropped nor colored nor fiddled with in any way. What’s more, he draped it over the shoulders of a model clad in a navy-blue suit, with smartly patterned shirt and tie. Bailey truly and unambiguously embraced the heritage of the house he has helped transformed into a billion-dollar business.
The inspiration for this particular outfit was the interior design guru, David Hicks, the latest in a steadily lengthening line of Bailey’s ineffably English icons. The spirit of Hicks presided over a section of the show marked by tailoring of a new sophistication for Bailey, albeit one leavened by a got-dressed-in-the-dark sense of playful eccentricity (collegiate-striped trousers clashing with a shirt in a ’70s print that was sheer Hicks).
