Arctic Chills: J. Lindeberg Autumn Winter 2012

J. Lindeberg won the prize for most weather appropriate attire for Stockholm Fashion Week with the theme of "A Day in the Arctic."  For Fall 2012, the label presented a mixture of formal and utilitarian wear at their scenic showroom located inside the Fotografiska Institute while a continuous onslaught of Nordic snow shimmered through the windows.  Head Designer Jessy Heuvelink presented each look, which included padded down shorts layered over knitted leggings, two-toned wool suit jackets, and wing tip brogues. While I personally am not very into preppy attire, I'm impressed by the progressive tailoring and design touch that Heuvelink transposed on rather classic pieces.  He commented that they were appropriate for an Artic Wedding, seamlessly combining formal attire with more functional technical fabrics built to withstand a day out on the arctic tundra.  With the weather hovering around 15F for the past week, I've been faced with the challenge of trying to look passable while also staying warm, and I think any designer can be commended for providing form alongside function.  Now I just wonder what they have in store for women.

-Tiffany

Back to the Land

I don't normally make much of an effort to see many men's shows. I met up with Lulu at the Siki Im presentation last night, and we both admitted that the main draw is usually checking out the male models rather than taking a good look at the clothes. Hey, at least we're honest! Nonetheless, I was very impressed by the fall collection, which was influenced by somber spirituality, and an awareness of the earth and soil. Many of the pieces were inspired by the Native American spirit, and the designer collaborated with fifth generation Native American weaver Tahnibaa Naataanii to create the hand woven kilts and rugs worn in the show. There was a certain mastery in the layering of the various garments, which were piled on top of one another as protection from the elements, but inevitably reminded me of my favorite layer-lover, Brandon (who would probably add a good spike of color to the mix). Of course, under all the high hats, feathers, and dark eyeshadow, I did notice some very good looking male models hiding beneath.

-Tiffany

Margiela Babies

Carlo and Dom wearing their Margiela Sample Sale finds.

I didn't get the memo about the Margiela sample sale last month (Brendan James, weren't you supposed to text us?!), and apparently I really missed out, since Dom and Carlo were both wearing their finds last night to Allegra's barbecue at LaViola Bank. Carlo, who is a designer for Zero Maria Cornejo, and Dom, who sells his t-shirt line, AntoineDom and Barneys, are two of my favorite and most fashionable gays. I had to capture their outfits on my camera phone, since my real camera is still defunct (my new Canon Rebel arriving in the mail on Tuesday), so you can't really see all the incredible pouches on Dom's vest, which is unfortunate. Still, these photos were too adorable not to post, and I also had to put up this picture of the two of them at Project No. 8, wearing the Bless chain fringe glasses of my dreams. Love you boys, even if you dissed my party to go somewhere totally gaytown!!!

Carlo and Dom wearing the Bless fringed chain glasses.

-Tiffany

Project No.8b Store Opening Party

Brandon looking very regal while he reads Pin-up magazine, wearing his Issey Miyake cardigan and pleated pants.

While I was lusting over the unwearable Margiela heels that I wrote about a couple days ago at the Project No. 8 store, Daniel, who is probably the most dedicated sales person I've ever met, invited my friend Erik and I to stop by the opening of their new men's store, Project No. 8b. It's always exciting to hear that in spite of tough economic times, some of my favorite boutiques are doing well, and even are expanding. Even though Erik had to go back Stockholm, I headed over to the opening party with Brandon.

Project No. 8b is roomier than the original tiny shop (which will become completely devoted to womenswear), while maintaining the same minimalist aesthetic. The store isn't actually set to open for another two weeks, and in the meantime is still encased in its plywood construction shell, which I am assuming will come down, but looks kinda cool nonetheless. Of course the most stylish crowd of men turned out for the event, and Brandon and I couldn't help but ogle a gaggle of boys in head-to-toe CDG. I wish I could have gotten better pictures, but we were literally smashed up against everyone else, and the few garments that they had put up for display were barely visible through all of the bodies. Anyway, I can't wait for the store to finally open, and to see what new goodies they have in store for the women's shop!

Margiela trainers and boxes of Schiesser underwear.

Inside the store there were hoards of well dressed men, including a crew of Japanese boys dressed in CDG. The store is basically a white glass cube that is currently encased in a plywood box.

A Margiela Oxford shoe with tons of tiny nails embedded in the heel. I suppose it's the male equivalent to my Margiela nail bootie?

A crappy picture of the unwearable Margiela heel through the window of the original Project No.8 store.

The original Project No. 8 shop.

-Tiffany

Margiela Minotaur

David wearing his Maison Martin Margiela disco blazer and a decapitated pinata head.

Yesterday we celebrated Justin's birthday at our TriBeCa Grand party south of the border style, complete with sombreros and pinatas. I thought I would share some pictures of our favorite boys raiding the pinata, wearing their Margiela and Damir Doma. Happy Birthday Justin!

Justin wearing his Ruff Club shirt and his new Damir Doma pants.

-Tiffany

A Glimpse of Robert Geller

I've been looking forward to the Robert Geller show for a while, since it will probably be the only menswear show I'll get to squeeze in before I start working market week.  Unfortunately, I didn't get many good pictures, being that the husband wrangled the prime seats, and Ashley and I ended up in the back row somewhere, unwilling to climb over the masses of sticky boy-bodies that filled the room. For some reason, no matter how much air conditioning they can blast into a place, every show seems fated to be insufferably stuffy.  Nonetheless, I am always willing to sacrifice comfort for a bit of male-model pageantry, and it was only half way through the collection that Ashley and I realized that we should actually take a look at the clothing.  Thank god they handed out a lookbook, otherwise we might have missed the entire thing.  Not to downplay the clothing, which featured impeccably tailored suit jackets with a rakish riff-raff appeal and vests worn over bare chests to show off tattooed arms.  Think incredibly well-dressed tramp, or the no-good boys your mom always you to stay far far away from, which of course makes you want them even more.

-Tiffany