Fashion Week Journeys — Lots of RTW for Women, Get Ready!

Posted on September 23, 2014 by SMM

NYFW takes you to many venues, if it’s MBFW, you are at Lincoln Center. But home to many other runway presentations is Chelsea Piers. Let’s check out some dynamic designers that showcased their RTW women’s apparel for S/S 2015!

VIVIENNE HU

Vivienne Hu knows what women want in their wardrobes. As a former investment banker, Hu knows Wall Street women and is now infusing her true passion and knowledge into design. Since her fashion week debut in 2012, she has been successfully channeling the independent, sexy New York woman in her designs.

The collection was extremely versatile, featuring both light, airy pastels that characterize the playful, soft side of a woman, and bold neutrals that designate power and influence. Although there was a delicate, feminine side to the collection, it certainly did not lack in strength. The other side of the collection captivated the sexy, independent side of a woman, with bold neutrals, cropped hemlines, and loud prints.

While being able to capture the essence of the many sides of a New York woman is not a new talent of Vivienne Hu’s, her Spring/Summer 2015 collection exceeded well beyond past collections. Through her versatility and ability to cater to a broad spectrum of women, Hu remained true to her classic contemporary roots.

Karolyn Pho — Designer Karolyn Pho’s fifth collection definitely had a story that she wanted everyone to see. The Pho’s Girl for the Spring/Summer ’15 season is a nomad, a traveler basically one that forgot her self-preception. We follow her as she meanders through castles in the air, traipses between realities and crosses unknown borders.

The collection was presented at Pier 59 Studios. In classic Pho form, she dabbled in the menswear details such a double breast lab coat paired with nurse clogs. This collection served a clean slate for the designer where she showcased her flow of feminitity and innocence.

There was a lot to take in with this collection — trendy dresses, separates, day dresses, outerwear, & more. This season she aims to further abstract the conditioned perception of femininity and masculinity, with a color palette inspired by the Med-Deco architecture of Miami. Pho utilized a great sense of color from delicate pastels in sky blue and soft pink to neutrals in tans and beige, and even to some bold pops of color such as forest green & tangerine orange.

The collection featured sky blue pinafore day dresses and racerback tank dresses, while Pho’s first foray into sequins as debuted in patch dresses and sequin back t-shirts.

Event PR — Mao PR

Sally LaPointe — Spring Cleaning Anyone?!?

Posted on September 20, 2014 by SMM

For Spring 2015, Sally LaPointe thought about the idea of spring cleaning — approaching the season by cleaning the visual palate. The result, a fresh, confident, and committed collection. And the looks were really just that — clean lines, crisp feel, and so chic!

LaPointe describes the collection as being “void of confusion and excess. It is boiled down to only core essentials. The act of stripping away reveals a sense of confidence and ease in the clothing.” With this there is a clear focus on each look being very cool and with a high luxury vibe. LaPointe has applied her traditional powerfully feminine, linear aesthetic to relaxed silhouettes, which even further aides in delivering this clear and focused message and point of view for her S/S 2015 collection!

This collection has a lot to offer and takes one on a fashion-filled journey —

easy going silhouettes and separates

lower hemlines on full-cut trousers

carefully draped tops, and some even cropped!

The color palette goes with the relaxed, chic, and easygoing vibe of the overall collection in that of cool hues and tones. As seen above, there is tons of black and optic white, but also varying shades of purple, i.e. magenta & lavender;

and blush.

Stand-out featured pieces for the collection include sculpted dresses in techno jersey

and artisanal knits with ostrich feather accents.

Feathers are featured on several key dresses, furthering the concept of a fresh start. Lapointe considers them as uplifting and symbolic of a higher power. The feather-work is translated into oversized graphic prints. Images of feathers were magnified, producing a painterly effect. Key fabrications include lightweight bonded silk, double-faced jersey, printed chiffon, pebbled leather, and silk gazaar.

LaPointe adds, “The idea of letting go was my focus this season. I wanted to deliver a collection that was clear and concise, amplifying the power and conviction of the clothes.” This collection didn’t have a lot of fuss; it was the clothes, the garments themselves, that did all of the talking. And I loved this collection and what it had to say. The pieces were well made, high quality, very luxurious, and versatile. Kudos and high marks from Fashion Nexus to Sally LaPointe!

The beauty, make-up look was very clean, very fresh, to keep in line with the underlying theme of the collection — lightly bronzed cheeks, light coral lip, and lavender eyes.

There were some amazing accessories that were also a part of this show, from coordinating handbags/totes to exquisite silver belts.

Special guests in attendance —

Actress Jennifer Morrison

Glamour Mag Accessories Associate Editor Brooke Danielson & Fashion Stylist Rachel Wang

Bravo TV cast member for Ladies of London Noelle Reno & Model Julie Henderson

May Kwok, DJ & downtown NYC fashion figure

Linda Fargo of Bergdorf Goodman

Musician Zola Jesus

Russian model Vita Sidorkina

Athena Calderone, lifestyle blogger, Eye Swoon

Jasmine Solano, DJ & VJ

Additional presentation details —

PR — C&M Media
Venue — Skylight Modern

Nicholas K. Takes us to the Saharan Desert

Posted on September 19, 2014 by SMM

Nicholas K, for S/S 2015, took us to the Saharan Desert — chic, layered, head to toe inspired looks. There were plenty of safari and utilitarian influences. And working in quite easily, fluid fabrics that were layered to perfection — head wraps and all.

The design duo for Nicholas K were specifically inspired by Isabelle Eberhardt, a Swiss explorer in the late 1800s. A road trip through Morocco led brother-and-sister design team Christopher and Nicholas Kunz to look up female explorers who had traveled the region. They found Isabelle Eberhardt, the Swiss explorer who dressed as a man so that she could move freely through turn-of-the-century North Africa. With this collection, the traveler, explorer spirit, was definitely a vibe seen throughout the collection.

Also, there was a strong feel for a masculine play on feminine looks.

To translate the ideas of protection and power into clothes for a modern explorer, Nicholas K. stuck with what they know well — wares for the urban warrior. There were leather shawls, scrunched-up cargo pants, harnesses, and knee guards.

In a novel turn, a little black dress was adorned with an armor of Pilot pens.

Casio G-Shock watches were done with camouflage bands, which complemented the lightweight cotton pieces rendered in a similar print.

Lace-up heels, created in partnership with Korean designer Kiyoon Baek, added a sharp sexiness.

And jewelry designer Victoria Simes’ horsehair accessories emphasized the nomadic, almost wild, look.

The color palette was in basic staples of blacks & whites, but also traditional brand colors in darker tones, greys & olive greens. However the pop of light metallic sky blue was refreshing and I could see it as part of the traveler’s story.

The beauty look of “Saharan Desert Eyes” couldn’t be ignored. It was bold, dramatic, and spot-on for this runway presentation. Ditching the traditional cat eyes, the designer went for little on the lid and everything below the bottom lash line — and all things matte.

“The focus of this look is on the inner corner of the eye,” says Lauren Anderson, Avon’s global celebrity makeup artist.

Tons of special guests showed up to root on this dynamic duo design team —

Australian musicians, Liv & Mim Nervo

Irina Pantaeva (model & actress), Frederique van der Wal (Dutch model & businesswoman), Beatrix Ost of The Coveteur, & Alysia Reiner (actress, activist & writer)

Eric West, DJ & actor

Shaun Ross (model) and Robert Christopher Riley (actor)

Lyrica Woodruff, actress

Andi Muise, fashion model

William B. Johnson, musician &

Debbie Dickinson, actress & model

Also, shout-out to ANTM Cycle 6 winner Dani Evans, workin’ NYFW all over the place!

Job well done Nicholas K. for a very inspired collection!

Last Post for NYMD — Ready, Set, Go!

Posted on September 16, 2014 by SMM

So wrapping up NY Menswear Day, we have Bespoken NY and another womenswear presentation with Stephen F., all showing for this event-filled day. Do check out my other pieces for NYMD —

NYMD was presented by Cadillac and was held at Industria Superstudio. It was a great time and truly amazing to see so many talented designers. Now let’s take a closer look at Bespoken NY.

Bespoken fleshed out a lineup of its signature tailored pieces. From the formal attitude of suiting to the casual direction highlighted by sportswear, Bespoken revealed a smart undertaking.

The brand added a custom flare for the season, tropical prints dressed a few pieces with color blocking also making an appearance, as you can see above.

Bespoken Menswear kept it mostly neutral with dark rich blues, blacks and whites.

There were mixtures of street and formal wear, including separates like hoodies and slacks. The brand has really stepped it up with this collection. I love seeing the growth, so adding new modern takes and twists to the brand’s traditional staples.

We even saw a hint of womenswear, nice change-up & twist for Bespoken!

Additional presentation details —

Styling — Justin Min
Tailoring — 7th Bone
Sunglasses — Cutler & Gross

Additional event sponsors — AVEDA; Need Edition; Trask; Johnston & Murphy; Peroni Italy; Black Velvet; hint Water; & Svedka.

Moving on now to a traditionally tailored menswear brand, Stephen F., but with this year, taking a spin on mens’ looks for women! Presenting, Men’s Dream Collection —

Looks left to right —

Black linen blend tuxe jacket & nylon shorts with blue linen pocket square
Black cotton long-sleeved button down, light orange knit tie, bright orange linen blazer, & coffee summer light wool pinstriped trousers
Sunshine yellow suede bomber jacket & nylon shorts, with light orange suede portfolio
Linen blend houndstooth tuxedo blazer & shorts, and blue silk pocket square
Suede bomber jacket in lily, lavender silk scarf, and maroon linen blend trousers
Olive green summer wool/silk textured tuxedo shorts suit
Maroon linen blend 2-button suit, light pink silk scarf, and metallic lilac pocket square
Light blue suede bomber, dark grey summer wool trousers, and ivory silk scarf
Tangerine suede bomber jacket, light orange cotton long-sleeved button down, black summer wool tuxedo trousers, and lilac leather portfolio.
Black linen blend double breasted suit, white cotton long-sleeved button down, and light grey silk pocket square.

Such a dynamic presentation, great tapered looks for women, but of course in a full-on men’s tailored style. The colors work and of course the cuts. These looks are very modern and work for the fashion-forward, professional businesswoman.

Additional presentation details —

Jewelry — Phoenix Rose
Shoes — Sargossa

MBFW/NYFW Journeys — Let’s Run the Gamut

Posted on September 13, 2014 by SMM

When you are on the go with fashion week, any given day, chances are, you will see it all — menswear, sexy spring options for women, and even full on design competitions. Another great aspect about fashion week is getting to know designer brands even better, such as with taking a look at what Meden had to offer for S/S 2015!!

MEDEN

Meden presented a very elegant and sexy presentation — sexy slits, form fitting pieces, and short skirts. The designs encompassed fine art as well as mechanical art, which showed the contrast of the two elements, being sensual/alluring, while also maintaining elegance. The brand presented several dresses with floating panels, to illustrate what it would be like walking through the park on a nice sunny day in May. There was also leather, different rays of blues, and metallics.

Moving on to another dynamic womenswear designer, who too presented a strong showing for S/S 2015, also exuding powerful femininity, dressing for the confident, sexy woman — MESKITA.

This collection was influenced by the Empire of Egypt, a mixture of chiffon’s, silks, whimsical pleats, and neoprene hit the runway. The prints exhibit fertility of the Nile blossoms and the deep shades of the Sahara Desert. Each garment exemplified power and strength with a delightful touch of femininity.

Options for women are always great to take in, but it’s nice to see what’s also out there for men. I mean come on, nice looking male models in suits and bold designer clothing — YES, I’m a fan!

Perry Ellis — Taking cues from the Big Apple’s structured grid system and with a healthy dose of sharp suiting, the collection mixed white-collar workwear with athletic sports gear in a juxtaposition that reflected the changing focus of American menswear from dressed-up stiffness to a more relaxed, casual direction.

The Supima Design Competition was also another big item on the agenda for my day’s outing. This year’s host, none other than super top model Coco Rocha. The judges — BryanBoy, prominent fashion stylist Isabel Dupre, casting agent Natalie Joos, Fashion Market and Accessories Director at W magazine Karla Martinez de Salas, blogger Phil Oh, fashion consultant Roopal Patel, RTW designer Marcia Patmos, style/beauty expert Mary Alice Stephenson, Fashion Stylist at Japanese and Chinese Vogue Anya Ziourova, and Tom & Lorenzo.

Competition partners — Brooks Brothers, AG, Uniqlo, Aveda, MAC, Corso Como, Carlo Bonomi, Tumbling Colors, & Nice Dyeing.

Designers & Their Institutions —

KENT STATE — ANASTASIA IAFRATE — WINNER

Intrigued by couture eveningwear, Iafrate infuses the love for her home country of Russia into her SDC capsule collection. The collection, entitled “White Nights of St. Petersburg,” is an homage to the beauty of the city and the unique arctic circle twilight that is such a phenomenon there.

FIT — OU MA

Beginning by working on her Barbie dolls as a child, Ma is now known for her exquisite knitwear. Ou’s collection explores deeply the status of mental disturbance and the infinite progression of emotional recovery. Starting from free-formed yarns, pin-tucks, pleats, and flares were manipulated base on the nature of the Supima cotton fabrics. She likes to think about silhouettes based upon the performance of the swatches she initially received.

ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY — JENNY HOANG

Known for her womenswear and denim, Hoang’s SDC capsule collection is inspired by transformation. The collection creates something unique and unexpected out of cotton.

RISD — SHARON MOON

Specializing in women’s ready to wear in both knit and wovens, her SDC capsule collection revolves around decaying flowers. Ms. Moon is using laser cutting to portray a different and modern interpretation of a traditional flower. She enjoys the strong Supima fiber, especially as it applies to her laser cutting technique.

SCAD — YUXI BI

Known for couture eveningwear, Bi is creating a romance themed capsule collection for the contest. Bi loves the elegance and texture of Supima and what it adds to her designs.

FIDM — DAVID LEE

Known for his precise illustrations, Lee’s SDC capsule collection capitalizes on a unique representation of abstract floral prints. He has worked hard to make certain that the personality of the Supima fabric fits the designs he creates from it.

Womenswear at NYMD?

Posted on September 12, 2014 by SMM

Why yes, of course! The predominant focus of NYMD is most certainly MENSWEAR! But there was a couple of designers who showcased looks for women. antonio azzuolo presented a mixed collection, one for both men and women. But first up, let’s check out a solely menswear designer, Carlos Campos, and his take on “art coming to life” for S/S 2015!

For Carlos Campos S/S15, the inspiration comes from renowned Spanish public space artist, Javier Abarca, aka Eltono (“The Tone”). Eltono’s art is known for being made of humble materials, like masking tape or acrylic paint, and for conveying a sense of freedom that transcends geometric patterns and lines. Campos is now applying a similar approach – overlaying starkly geometric treatments to the designs, combined with his traditional design work of profound attention to detail, tailoring, & sense of movement.

This inspiration came to Campos from a trip to Mexico, being astounded and falling in love with the idea of overlaying bold, colorful shapes and sharp angles as a graphic strategy. Campos still retains his staple design aesthetic – subtle and sophisticated design cues. Signature tailoring is also very much present with suits, but construction for this collection is light, thus allowing for motion. Pretty much all staple pieces were given a modern inspirational twist – the bomber jacket (neoprene w/ constructed panels), and sweatshirts to round out the collection, demonstrating a deft intersection between fine art and style.

Look details, left to right — Black Neoprene bomber jacket with double-layer mesh color-block, white Pima cotton button-up shirt, and double-layer mesh dress shorts; 2nd — Black Neoprene bomber jacket with double square motif, white Pima cotton button-up shirt with double square motif, and black Neoprene dress shorts with heavy mesh pocket trim.

The color palette is still streamlined in basics of black and white, but added are pops of color in vibrant blood orange and industrial blue.

Looks, left to right — Deep navy Pima cotton button-up shirt with white color-block and frame trim, and industrial blue paper touch cotton shorts.; 2nd — Industrial blue Pima cotton button-up shirt with blood orange frame trim, and industrial blue cotton trousers.

This collection is meant to challenge the perception that art is static, rather that art should be filled with life and motion. I loved the hint of playfulness and fun with this collection, but at the same time it did have such sophistication and clean lines. It’s a great style for men to showcase being fashionable, but not over the top.

White Pima cotton button-up shirt with blood orange frame trim, and blood orange cotton trousers.

Additional Event Details –

Styling – Julie Ragolia
Make-up & Hair – Aveda
Shoes – Matt Chevallard, Del Toro

Black neoprene long coat, off-white Neoprene sweatshirt with black vertical stripe design, and black Neoprene lounge pants with heavy mesh pocket trim and quilted-accent cuffs.

Casting – Maurilio Carnino for MTC Casting
PR – Agentry PR
House Photography – Marko Kalfa
Music – James D’Adamo

Black Neoprene sweatshirt with white quilted color-block, and white quilted lounge pants.

Models – DNA, Aim, Fusion, NYM, Request, Soul, VNY, & Wilhelmina

Additional Event Sponsors – Hint water, Peroni, Svedka, Black Velvet Whisky, NEED edition, Johnston and Murphy, & Trask shoes

Industrial blue cotton blazer, deep navy Pima cotton button-up shirt with white color-block and frame trim, and deep navy cotton trousers.

Moving on now to antonio azzuolo, for Spring/Summer 2015, we have a collection for both men and women. The looks, austere, playful, sartorial, and very much streetwear. The mood, romantic, contemplative, and poetic.

The inspiration for this collection was an individual, one elegant in spirit and dress, grounded by nature, yet with a traveling, exploring, and free spirit. This person pursues their imagination, poetically interpreting heirlooms of vintage couture while integrating the elements of the streets where he or she has traveled.

For the menswear aspect, the designs juxtaposed casual and formal elements, ideal for the modern man who wants to look his best at all times. There are sharp, tailored jackets, which were half cinched and paired with cropped trousers. The eastern flair continued with kimono-style tops, which coincided with a selection of black and white garments for effortless fashion choices. Meanwhile, bright colored plaids rounded out the collection with a western attitude.

The brand has signature styles and shapes in black and white, but it was nice to see a.a. represented in some new colors for S/S, such as industrial blue, but also different prints such as the multi-wave neon striped print seen above.

It’s also great to see how this collection’s inspiration is translated for both men and women, lots of light layering, but definitely a free flow sense of movement, perfect for one on the go!

Additional event details —

Casting & Styling — John Tan, JTC Casting
Make-up & Hair — Aveda
Footwear/Accessories — For men, Johnston & Murphy and Nike; For women, Nike & Santoni

Additional event sponsors — hint Water; Svedka; Black Velvet Whiskey; Peroni Italy; NEED edition; Cadillac, & Trask footwear

NYFW Journeys — The Earlybird Gets the Worm!

Posted on September 11, 2014 by SMM

For others, Fashion Week likely started later in the week during the 1^st week in September. But my journey began on Sept 2^nd! And from chic womenswear presentations to varied menswear collections I must say, there was no better way to kick off my time with NYFW!!

For these first 2 straight days I was exposed to a vast array of fashion week presentations – from emerging talent with designers such as Daniel Silverstain – Brazil in the 1960s comes to llfe — and Wenqi Wu – a recent Parsons grad’s take on Russian Constructivism — ,

**Daniel Silverstain — looked to famous influential Brazilian architects Oscar Niemeyer and Roberto Burle Marx for his spring 2015 collection. He interpreted the celebratory theme through a mix of innovative fabric techniques and unexpected texture mixes, like 3-d prints with beading, digital prints on micro-fiber, and luxurious silk crepe de chine or jacquard next to futuristic metallic leather. The NY-based Israeli designer also incorporated neoprene to elevate the sportswear-trend aesthetic.**

Wenqi Wu

**Inspired by the 1920’s Russian Constructivism movement of applying modern design techniques to functional and utilitarian clothing, each individual outfit within the collection bared masculine tailoring with an air of femininity, which was infused through bold colors and digital prints.**

Continuing onto that of brands I was 1^st being introduced to, such as Catherine Litke – an eco-friendly brand going into its 3^rd season and now expanding with accessories! For spring, she worked with natural fabrics in the form of quilted plaids and patchworks. Accessories included espadrilles and sandals in bright patterns with biodegradable soles and straw totes in a neutral palette of black and tan.

Other designers and/or brands opted for their own takes with NYFW, such as pas de calais’ practical in-store presentation or Maison Jules for Macy’s with their F/W 2014 showcase rather than presenting for S/S 2015.

pas de Calais — Designer Yukari Suda used a handmade Japanese indigo dip-dye technique throughout her spring collection. Named the “Gathering,” the lineup was inspired by family and friends gathered at the table. So, the shapes were all relaxed and easy, ranging from linen tops to silky striped dresses.

Of course it was great to be able to take part in exclusive NYFW kick-off parties, such as Flaunt Magazine’s Distress Issue Cover Party, featuring Vanessa Hudgens on the cover, with partnerships from Siwy Denim and Brian Lichtenberg, which was held at Gilded Lily.

But the main event for these 1^st 2 days of my early start to NYFW had to be NYMD, which encompassed a wide variety of dynamic menswear brands – 10 to be exact! NYMD was held at Industria Superstudios and was presented by Cadillac.

David Hart — Goin’ bananas for Palm Springs! Full feature here!

Gents — the infusion of boxing & Formula 1 racing. Full feature here!

J. Lindeberg — Head designer Jessy Heuvelink, continues to uphold the label’s core “fashion meets function” values as well as its soft spot for denim, leather, tailoring and a slimmer silhouette. Looking ahead to Spring 2015, “Biotopia”, those continuing themes make a strong showing with a lighter edge thanks to subtle florals, embroidered fabrics and Summer weight fabrics.

Lucio Castro — a “Soviet Summer.” Full feature here!

Stephen F. — menswear take for womens’ apparel.

Carlos Campos — embracing a sportier style, vibe, & edge.

WRK — is off to the races! Literal prints such as oil spills and tire marks offered graphic stimulation, coupled with pops of green and blue from the mostly neutral palette.

Antonio Azzuolo — showcasing menswear & looks for women.

Bespoken — dynamic mixtures of street & formalwear.

Original Penguin — welcome to “Magic City”! Full Feature here!!

Loving #NYFW thus far!!

Maison Jules F/W 2014 — Chic Looks for Every Fashionista

Posted on September 8, 2014 by SMM

NYFW is ongoing and the main focus is showcasing for S/S 2015. However, Maison Jules set out to present early, on Sept. 2nd, and the brand was presenting for Fall/Winter 2014. Macy’s Parisian-inspired brand teamed up with Betty Autier & Mathieu Lebreton, French style bloggers of Le Blog de Betty, for the presentation of this campaign. The collection was showcased at ArtBeam and truly was a great time — memorable looks, cozy atmosphere/environment, cocktails, appetizers, music, & more!

The collection encompassed looks of light layers, comfy sweaters, subtle fall tones/hues, and numbers that are perfect for any fashionista, NYC & beyond!

Soft pink feather leopard cardigan & sequin top pleated dress
Ivory studded lace dress & Animal boyfriend cardigan
Stone cowl neck poncho & “Frankie” black super slim pant

All of the looks just had such a great vibe, one that is cool, eccentric, and unique. Many of the pieces can be mixed and matched, dressed up or down. It’s great when a collection provides its consumer with lots of versatility!

Ivory metallic dotted dress & denim jacket
Leopard sweater & “Sophie” washed indigo pant

Every aspect of this collection and presentation was well thought out — the pairings/styling, the set-up, the lighting, and more. It was truly eye-catching and not only was a great experience, but the best way I could think of to kick off my NYFW journey!!

French Striped boxy tee; White foil cable pullover; & Black skinny pant
Lurex waffle cardigan & Deep forest paperbag dress

Additional presentation details —

Stylist — Gabriela Langone
Make-up lead — Erin Van Anglen of Aveda
Hair Lead — Michelle Combs of Aveda
Manicurist — Kelly Taylor of Priti NYC
Illustrator — Ian Sklarsky
Photopraphy — BFA

Casting — Factory PR, also PR & Event Production
Lighting & Sound Engineer — Josephy Cady
Set Design & Props — Shop Studios
Performance — Chargaux
DJ — Leslie Kirchoff
Accordion Player — Mary Knapp
Catering — Sonnier & Castle

Striped Sweatshirt Combo dress
Cat Cashmere sweater & Shadow striped dress

Even More on Nolcha Fashion Week & The Designers!

Posted on September 2, 2014 by SMM

Nolcha Fashion Week is fast approaching, Sept. 8-10! I’ve had such fun writing about and getting to know the many designers taking part with NFW. Here are some of my other pieces —

Even with all of this, there are still more to designers to get to know, from the runway to taking part with the Fashion Lounge!

ILE MIRANDA

Ile Miranda is a designer brand rich with historical relevance and is a timeless expression of individuality.

BAXTER DESIGNS

Simply clean totes & handbag styles, with bold colors & patterns, that’s Baxter Designs.

DHARMA EYEWEAR

Get to know the vintage & cultural hybrid aesthetic of Dharma Eyewear — practical fashion!

JESS RIZZUTI

Jess Rizzuti is a luxury accessories brand, handbags that convey quality & style, also craftsmanship and affordability!

EVA SHAW DESIGNS

Eva Shaw Designs is a jewelry brand that is 100% Made in NYC and globally conscious.

PLOOSH

Ploosh is all about playful luxury — a whimsical handbag that brings you back to your childhood days!

LYLA JARN

Lyla Jarn signatures — luxury, feminine, self-expression, playful prints, unique quality, energizing textures, glamor, & innovative design.

Top Suit Finds for #MenswearMonday!!

Posted on August 25, 2014 by SMM

Menswear suits are definitely a type of fashion apparel that are on my mind! And no, not just because of the gorgeous male models often donning some amazing designer threads. But rather, many red carpets are on the way and I like to see what menswear suits stand out. Summer is ending, but it might be that one could still make use of a new suit for an end of summer wedding or cocktail event, where the look could still easily transition for early fall. Fashion Week is right around the corner and I’m very eager to see what’s in store for menswear in Spring/Summer 2015! With that all said, here are my top menswear brands for my Fashion Nexus readers to check out, more specifically my male readers! But hey, plenty of women out there love to help dress their man, so again, here are my top picks!

BONOBOS

Bonobos is a men’s apparel brand focused on better-fitting clothes and a better-shopping experience. This focus leads to suits that deliver a great fit, high energy, and the best of the best when it comes to customer service. Take for example their extensive assistance page offering important and detailed information on fit & sizing guides! Launching just in 2007, the brand is now the largest apparel brand built via the web in the US. Partnering with Nordstrom has moved this brand past being solely online.

Bonobos has not only caught my attention, but that of many other larger and more recognizable publications — “One of America’s Hottest Brands” by Advertising Age; “Best Men’s Pants” by New York Magazine; one of Inc. Magazine’s “20 Awesome Facebook Pages” and was awarded Crain’s “Best Places to Work in New York City”. The brand has received additional features in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Forbes, BusinessWeek, Entrepreneur, and Inc Magazine, with appearances on on Bloomberg TV, CNBC’s Mad Money with Jim Cramer, Fox, Reuters and The Today Show.

Bonobos keeps up with top menswear trends and working towards providing more options for the brand’s customers by continually launching collections. Take for example, the brand’s recent launch of their Spring & Summer 2014 collections — men’s Seersucker and Cotton suits — still providing a great-fitting and lightweight natural complement to whatever warm-weather events one might be attending — weddings, garden parties and mint juleps!

The suits are very dynamic, but Bonobos has even more to offer with that of pants, casual shirts, dress shirts, denim, sweaters, and even more basics when it comes to menswear apparel and accessories. Bonobos clearly has a lot to offer and its focus is right where it should be, on the customer!

SEIZE SUR VINGT

Seize sur Vingt is a dynamic menswear brand, a true NYC born & raised menswear brand, with a very recent expansion now to the West coast. The plaids are simply eye-catching. The basics are still detailed to a tee. There is such high quality in each piece — very apparent, even at first glance.

This brand is certainly all about customization — made to measure and made to fit. Seize sur Vingt is not afraid to go beyond the basics, mix prints, and work with bold, statement-making colors. Check out the brand’s various new arrivals, men’s options, including accessories & shoes!

The brand has experienced a great deal of features, very well deserved — Departures Magazine, LA Times, & WWD. And also, celeb dressings with Paul Rudd, Adam Levine, Steven Yeun, Matt Berninger, & Ian Wheeler at the Grammys!

DAVID HART — I was blown away by this brand’s presentation earlier this year for F/W 2014. So of course when it comes to top-notch suits, David Hart is a must to have on my list! His brand started out as a collection for only menswear accessories — luxury ties, bow ties, and pocket scarves. It was only last year that he debuted his first collection! And that impresses me all the more!

David Hart describes his pieces as “confident yet approachable” and similarly I say the suits are bold, statement-making, while still being practical and wearable. There is definitely a vintage vibe, but no doubt a nod towards being very modern. Each collection offers not only more options for the brand’s menswear consumers, but it brings to the table something new and intriguing with each piece.

I know I’ve made a great find with a brand when it has received as much press as David Hart has — Details, GQ, Nylon Guys, Men’s Week, Scene, LA Times, Esquire, WWD, and more! He has also attracted some major celeb clientele, such as Andy Samberg & Daniele Radcliffe.

David Hart’s work is clearly that of a true talent, top-notch designer menswear suits. But there is still a great deal more to choose from when shopping — original brand staples such as bowties and ties, but now also socks and shirts. Needless to say, I’m very excited for Agentry PR’s NY Menswear Day for NYFW and to specifically see what David Hart has in store for Spring/Summer 2015!!

HANGRR

Hangrr — a custom menswear suits brand, all about simplicity, luxury, and accuracy. I admire a brand with such clear principles and goals — top-notch fit, unmatched value, and diligent customer service. It was great to read thru the customer reviews & testimonials!

The fit is maxed out a 100% guarantee — light as a feather German shoulder pads, perfect cut at the waist, superior comfort with inner linings, and more! Again the suits are custom and hand-finished with the finest of details, so also the highest assurances of quality are made! With Hangrr you will receive exclusive designs, true superiority, and fabric of the highest quality with the best of wool blends, quality linens & cottens.

There are a lot of options to peruse and consider, such as the various collections ranging from Business Suits to Wedding Tuxedos to Safari suits to Wedding Suits to Interview suits to Lounge/Dinner suits. You can also shop the basics, from custom suits to tuxedos to jackets to blazers. Hangrr is truly a great menswear find!!

INDOCHINO

Indochino is an online leader for custom menswear. Fit is very important to the brand, so much so that each suit is hand tailored by the brand and delivered; no outside tailoring is required. The brand is also about providing professionalism, affordability, sophistication, all while still being fashionable. Each suit is of the highest quality — superior fabrics & techniques.

This brand is certainly encompassing of basics in black & grey, but adds some great modern flare with pinstripes and blues. Basics aside, the brand also takes it’s spin on high-end menswear, classic and flashy tuxes! But purchases can also be made in apparel and accessories categories such as coats, pants, and shirts.

You can also make selections based off of collection categories, rather than item types — The Essentials (suits, shirts, signature style, black tie looks, and accessories)’ Fall 2014 with traditional hues and tones; Premium Italian shirts in various styles and colors; and suits for Weddings!

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A fashion blog for anything & everything fashion, including fashion law topics

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