CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

anthonymcgrath405 / 29/01/2014

Out of Space – Dress like an Astronaut with Betabrand

A week doesn’t go by without some fantabulous media story about space travel becoming Sooooooooo accessible in the very near future and how we’ll all be holidaying in Orbit and on the Moon rather then San Antonio or Bodrum. But it isn’t happening, is it ? Although Sir Richard of Branston keeps on banging on about his Virgin Galactic project and saps with far too much money like Lance Bass are already sign up for its inaugural mission, when will that actually be, supposedly next year, but yeah, yeah, yeah we’ll see.

In the mean while you mightn’t be able to blast off, just yet, but designer Steven B.Wheeler has been busy beavering away on a prototype Astronaut jacket which isn’t just restricted to a space walk. The self confessed Space Geek, explained his inspiration,

“I designed this jacket as a tribute to the continuing legacy of American spaceflight. I wanted it to embody everything I loved about the space program, and to eventually serve as an actual flight jacket for present-day astronauts on missions to the ISS (International Space Station). There are other “replica” flight jackets made for space enthusiasts, but I decided to come up with something boldly different, yet also completely wearable and well-suited for space.”

Space fans have flocked to the jacket, crowd-funding it in 24 hours. Betabrandunveils imaginative prototypes each week and allows its customers to shape the future of its fashions.

The white, non-woven Tyvek shell of the jacket calls to mind the EVA (extra-vehicular activity) suits worn by astronauts during spacewalks. The inside lining is a silvered nylon taffeta, chosen not only because it visually references the “foil” MLI (multi-layer insulation) used on the exterior of satellites, but also because it helps retain radiant body heat, I almost sound as though I know what the hell I’m talking about !

anthonymcgrath405 / 28/01/2014

So much more than Underwear – Calvin Klein Platinum

Yes the weather is still rubbish and the shops are full of swimwear, YEAH Spring 2014 is here. Even though we are still in our winter warmers of hats, gloves, scarfs and in some cases full on finished with a coat or two, it’s reassuring to know our friendly neighbourhood apparel stores are chucked full of t-shirts, shorts and the all important sandal just in case we get a glimmer of sunshine and an upturn in temperature.

Well don’t too much dear consumer, with money burning a hole in your pocket, we at Clothes-Make-the-Man can advise you on great products that can just as well be implemented now as when the Sun does return to our shores and bask us all in it’s lukewarm glow. One such range is Calvin Klein Platinum the new accessories line for both men and women from the King of Amerciana cool. Fitting in with the brand’s ethos of minimalism with an athleticism and urban edge, perfect for taking you from a business meeting, to the gym and seamlessly onto a drink with friends, never looking out of place. The colour palette as you would expect from Calvin Klein is ‘classic’, neutrals including black, white and grey.

anthonymcgrath405 / 24/01/2014

Homme Mode à Paris – Paris Menswear Show Review AW14

Bonjour my petit pois ! We have the last of out previews from the European Style Capitals for this season, well for next season but let’s not confuse matters. This time as though it needed an introduction, of course, the city of lurve, Paris.

First, for our delectation is one of the oldest Fashion Houses and hottest tickets for all Paris Menswear Shows, Louis Vuitton, under the style direction of uber talented Brit Kim Jones. Jones has shown he’s not only come along way since his collaborations as a young Designer with the like of TOPMAN and sports brand Umbro, but has finely tuned his talents to produce some of the most sublime collections in recent years from the house of Vuitton. For Autumn/Winter 14 the trend driven show wasn’t as obviously as past seasons, opting for letting the Clothes do the talking, but was loosely inspired by Kim’s trip to the Atacama Desert of South America.

Louis Vuitton

On to one of the busiest men of the Paris Men’s shows Kris Van Assche, with the first of his two presentations of the week, up first is his own signature collection. Here we shown a totally wearable and rather commercial range from Van Assche, offering us colour, patterns in herringbone and eye catching dizzy dots.

Kris Van Assche

Then with a hop, skip and literal jump over to the second of Monsieur Van Assche’s collections, told you he was busy, in Dior Homme. Where if we were in any doubt as to his Dotty tendencies, they were confirmed here. We were offered them in Suits, shirts, shoes, ties, honestly you name it, it was covered in dots, but please don’t be put off, he managed to pull this off, to quote Mr Kenny Everett, it was all done in the best possible taste !

Dior Homme

Now then, Ami’s, Alexandre Mattiussi continues his assault on being the favourite label of choice among the style press and it isn’t surprising as to why. He’s proving to be a Jedi Master in the art of producing collections that have that simply, unassuming, stylish charm about them, but all the time screaming, your life won’t be complete without me in it !

Ami

Into the final straights, we have a name who over the past couple of seasons has been making a lot of the right noises while showing in Milan, but for this season has made the move to Paris. Turkish born, Umit Benan, each season, selects a character to base his collection around. In the past, we have seen such inspiration as the taxi drivers of his home Capital Istanbul, or Vintage Rockers or even Investment Banker. However, this season we looked to, Jackie Robinson, who? The first African Amercian Baseball Star. So the presentation had a very 1940’s feel to it from the political references to the lack of freedom Robinson had to put up way at this time.

Umit Benan

And so to the final of our designers, we started with a Brit designing for a French Fashion house and we finish with a British Designer showing in Paris. No less then Sir Paul Smith, who relaxed his silhouettes this season and drew inspiration for his collection from one could say, another iconic figure, in Jim Morrison. So no surprises when I tell you there was a distinct ROCK feeling to Smith’s show.

Paul Smith

anthonymcgrath405 / 20/01/2014

A Revolubetion in Shaving – King of Shaves NEW Hyperglide Razor

After four long and hard years of research, long into the night and development. Will King, founder of King of Shaves, is proud to announce the creation of a razor that implements something called superhydrophilic or super water loving to you and me, advanced technology on the cartridge’s entire shaving surface to create its own shaving gel so users can just simply add eater and shave, YES SHAVE AND GO, if you so like.

This truly amazing innovation was originally developed by a UK University for use in the medical industry, to aid in they easy insertion of catheters into arteries with minimal invasive friction.

King says of this revolutionary or Revolubetion as he likes to call it, “Launching Hyperglide is aniPhone moment for us. Competitor razors require shave prep – gel, foam or cream – to deliver a comfortable and close shave whereas with Hyperglide, water does the hard work.We pioneer the new – ‘just add water and shave’. Its taken four years and £5m investment to develop and perfect this technology, which is a genuine shaving first.’

Plus with a premium, luxury, limited edition version n the pipeline, watch this space….

Now without sounding like Ronnie Corbett, perched on the edge of his 1970’s leather armchair, wearing his gerrish Pringle Golf sweater. “A funny thing happened to me on the way to work”, well not quite work but, just before Christmas myself & Mrs Mc attended a wonderful Winter Wedding in deepest, Darkest Cheshire. I know, where is this story going, I know but basically, I forgot to pack any shaving foam but had packed this product, the all new King of Shaves Hyperglide Razor and I can testify, it not only works but works blindingly well, no shaving rash, itching or redness and all without the use of Shaving foam.

anthonymcgrath405 / 16/01/2014

Milano Moda Uomo (Milan Menswear Shows AW14)

Ciao Ragazzi ! we follow on from the splendiferous LC:M of last week with what hopes to be equally captivating and awe inspiring Milano Moda Uomo. Unlike London the colour palette of our stylish Italian cousins seems to be of a more somber and some might say commercial and seasonally appropriate nature, that is apart from Prada, Versace ohhh and the Brit Dame Vivienne Westwood, more on that later folks.

First off on our whistle stop round up on the Italian style capital is Ermenegildo Zegna, capably helmed by ex YSL Creative Director, Stefano Pilati, who was inspired by the fusion of City and Nature on a global scale. The city-scapes of New York, Shanghai or Milan where Zegna suits are common place, the mixing of casual elements with the formal cuts which Zegna has made its name in.

Ermenegildo Zegna

On a more ROCKIER tip was John Varvatos, who despite worked with Black, Navy or white was channelling a very Glam rock vibe which culminated in Kings of Glam Rock “KISS” yes Kiss coming out to take a bow with the man himself.

Crazy, crazy night with John Varvatos(far right, just in case)

Now over to a Dolce & Gabbana, who always love a theme for their shows and boy do they know how to put on a show ! Literally all we needed was good King Goffrey sat frow (front row, God get with it) giving his Royal approval to complete this Medieval Merriment. The duo paid homage to everything of this epoch and ensured more Game of Thrones then Spamalot.

Gotta say I loved the D&G balaclava, there I said it

And so from the King of ROCK dressing to what has to be the Queen of dressing Rock Stars, Donnatella Versace, who was in a Wild, Wild West mood, I think can only sum it up. No one could ever accuse Ms Versace of not having a sense of humour which is often lost in the Fashion industry, where people take themselves far too serious.

Just off down the corner shop, does anyone want anything ? Yes, this was one of the more conservative looks.

Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein, drew on the Urban Explorer trend we are seeing rather a lot of this season, but also explored the heritage that made Calvin Klein so iconic using the names of three of their timeless fragrances in, Obsession, Eternity(my personal fave) and Escape to be emblazoned across some of its sweatshirts.

Calvin Klein

Now we all know I hate to start off on a negative and sorry for that Prada, but what was that soundtrack all about ? I needed some heavy duty Mexican painkillers for the headache after I left ! And have to say it did interfere with the enjoyment of the show, which was my favourite Prada collection of recent years. Trademark signature colours, which so shouldn’t work but so do, lil military detailing and a move away from that skinny-Malinke silhouette.

Prada

Penultimately we have the first show from Marc Jacobs since he parted company with Louis Vuitton to concentrate on his signature line. This is a man who knows a thing or two about Fashion design and this collection has to be one of his most commercial and wearable to date. Take away the styling details of the turn ups etc this a collection that every man with a modicum of taste will LOVE, honestly, I promise.

Marc Jacobs

Ahhh and once again we reach the end of our non stop tour of some of the biggest names in men’s style and what better way to finish then with an Italian Super brand synonymous with style, class and excellent taste, of course, Gucci. While watching this show I couldn’t help thinking of two inspirations throughout it, firstly, obviously Frida Gianinni was draw towards the influences of London’s Swinging Sixties of Carnaby Street and the Beatles but secondly and somewhat more obscurely was the Hovis boy of the TV ad fame, sorry I know but couldn’t stop referring to him.

By’eck son it’s None other then Gucci

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