Designer Collections

June 19, 2013

Modern English: Burberry Prorsum Spring 2014

Were you up at 2pm London time yesterday, to catch Burberry’s spring/summer 2014 men’s show live from London? If not, we can’t blame you—time zones throw us off too. (It aired at 6am where we are.)

In case you missed it, here are some highlights from the collection, its inspiration, stylish show-goers, and Burberry Creative Director Christopher Bailey, courtesy of Burberry’s official Instagram feed—plus video of the full show below. We enjoyed the classic tailoring (as always), mixed with op-art prints and new ideas on proportion (by now a signature of Bailey’s menswear collections).

You’ll have to wait a year for this collection to hit shelves. Until then,
SHOP: BURBERRY PRORSUM | ALL MEN’S BURBERRY

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June 18, 2013

Kanye West, Minimalism, and Leather Moto Jackets

Kanye West has been compared to Pink Floyd, Steve Jobs, and even Mozart. (That last article drew a lot of fire in its comments section, of course…as well as a few lucid arguments from music majors who backed their opinions up with historical facts and classical theory.)

Whatever you think about the man and his music, you have to admit that he’s been influential—in pop culture at large, as well as in the realm of menswear. GQ ran a retrospective on West’s style today, which points pretty clearly to the fact that (ethical qualms with floor-length fur aside) the rapper/producer’s present-day wardrobe choices are his wisest, and most relevant to the rest of us, to date.

See above. West’s tough, monochromatic minimalism seems right in step with the bluntly reduced electro thump of his new album, Yeezus, out today. In his recent NY Times interview, West says a lamp by minimalist architect/designer Le Corbusier changed his entire point of view. He also says it takes him a fraction of the time to get dressed these days—proving what we’ve known for a while now: Throw on a leather jacket with anything, from a T-shirt to a tie, and you’re good to go.

[We're not saying West did or would wear these particular jackets; but if you'd like to recreate his minimalist MOTO look, start here. Pierre Balmain | A.P.C. | Just Cavalli]

The image up top is from West’s performance on Saturday Night Live last month—one of the darkest, most jarring, and most fascinating things that’s happened on that show maybe ever. (Well, there was this.) We can’t exactly show the video here, but if you can handle some controversial political topics, click here.

Here’s a few more live music performances, some from Kanye, some from SNL, and some from 20+ years ago, whose style tips you can take to heart today:

West and Jay-Z performing their Watch the Throne single ‘Otis’ at the MTV Video Music Awards. Kanye reps DENIM ON DENIM, with a touch of AMERICANA in the form of a hanky in his back pocket. (Oh yeah, and the giant US flag-inspired backdrop, designed by Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci as part of the duo’s album art.)

At his previous SNL appearance, performing ‘Runaway’ off My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, West definitely got our memo on BOLD BLAZERS (or, maybe, it was the other way around).

Kanye West famously wore a women’s blouse by Céline at Coachella a couple years ago. Bold move—and we won’t fault him for it. For the rest of us though, vintage grunge heroes like Pearl Jam, promo’ing and dress-rehearsing for SNL in 1992, are probably better role models for summer FESTIVAL STYLE.

Meanwhile, for more BOLD COLOR (colour?), surf-inspired gear, tank tops, high tops and wildly printed pants, Living Colour in 1989 take the cake. (OK, fine, we just like this song.)

[Intro image via Gorilla Vs. Bear. Video clips © NBC and MTV. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]

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June 12, 2013

Custom Duffels by Michael Bastian & More

It was just last week that we mentioned the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) and its uncanny knack for a) honoring our favorite menswear designers in the biz, most recently Thom Browne, and b) throwing parties that draw highly photogenic crowds.

The CFDA’s noteworthy deeds continue this week with a collection of one-of-a-kind weekend bags that the non-profit organization, along with Details magazine, commissioned from top menswear designers including Michael Bastian, Rag & Bone, Todd Snyder and Billy Reid.

[The plain, military-surplus duffel each designer started with.]

The bags are being auctioned on eBay through this weekend only. As of this posting, Todd Snyder’s is the most hotly sought after with 23 bids. But you know how these things work: The auction ends June 17; now’s your chance to stake out your favorite bag, then swoop in at the last minute to drop the winning bid.

Check out our favorite bags below, and pop over to eBay to see about scoring a one-of-a-kind work of art (slash piece of luggage). All proceeds go to the CFDA to benefit new and emerging designers.

Michael Bastian. The 2011 CFDA Award winner patched up his bag like an Eagle Scout sash full of merit badges; but in a Jack Kerouac-like twist, the obscure mementos look like they’ve been collected throughout a road scholar’s lifetime of strange trips.
Shop Michael Bastian | Bid on This Bag

Rag & Bone. Sleek black leather contrasting the faded olive give this duffel—by the English-bred, New York-based duo behind Rag & Bone—the look of a refined doctor’s bag. Perfect for carting a change of clothes uptown to hit the gym before or after the office.
Shop Rag & Bone | Bid on This Bag

Marc Jacobs. Win this auction, and you get not only a cool bag—but also dozens of what appear to be hand-doodled buttons to pluck off and pin to your jean- and leather-jacket lapels.
Shop Marc by Marc Jacobs | Bid on This Bag

Tommy Hilfiger. It’s amazing how some blue dye and leather accents can make an Army/Navy bag look incredibly luxe—as with Hilfiger’s unmistakable play on one of our favorite trends for summer: unapologetic Americana.
Shop Tommy Hilfiger Watches | Bid on This Bag

Billy Reid. Alabama-based Reid devised one of the most functional duffels of the bunch—complete with longer handles to toss it over your shoulder during endless airport treks, and a strap on the end to easily nab it from the overhead compartment (or the flatbed of a truck).
Shop Billy Reid | Bid on This Bag

Ovadia & Sons. Twin brothers Shimon and Ariel Ovadia offer a wry twist on their signature mix of preppy and military influences, with aeronautical patches affixed in a jaunty, haphazard manner.
Shop J. Press York Street by Ovadia & Sons | Bid on This Bag

Duckie Brown. Where other redesigns sought to urbanize the source material, this one embraces olive green’s earthy side, with a wooly blanket pattern that recalls visions of summer camp.
Shop Florsheim by Duckie Brown Shoes | Bid on This Bag

Todd Snyder. This Iowa-born designer chose to pursue the ‘Navy’ side of Army/Navy, with a sailor-inspired creation that turns the conventional duffel on its ear. Rugged natural leather and sturdy rope make it ready for a long boat ride—preferably to the Bahamas.
Shop Todd Snyder | Bid on This Bag

And two more auctions we’re eyeing: Richard Chai (top) and Public School—we don’t carry these guys, but they made some of our favorite bags of the bunch. The former utilizes a rare color scheme we suddenly hope to see more of: olive green x neon blue.

The latter, in always-appropriate black on black, looks like a cross between Michael Jackson’s jacket from Thriller and some space-age survival gear from our recent favorite sci-fi film-festival throwback.

[Intro photo by Donnell Culver for We Are The Market. Duffel photos via Details.com.]

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June 7, 2013

Thom Browne: CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year

Congratulations to Thom Browne for taking home top honors in the Menswear category at Monday night’s CFDA Awards.

If you’re curious what that means, the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) puts on what basically translates to the Oscars of the fashion world each year. As for the winner (seen above in a fittingly subversive twist on black tie): After famously reviving the menswear industry’s interest in slim tailoring a few years back, Thom Browne has persistently pushed the boundaries of what constitutes a ‘fashion show’ to the limits of absurdity (note his Punks vs. Jocks and Preps from Space -themed shows as examples) while somehow maintaining a somber atmosphere that implies what’s on view is nothing short of art.

A snapshot of Browne’s Fall ’13 Amish cloaks, pixelated for the business park, popped up in the CFDA’s #cfdaawards Instagram feed—as did hundreds of shots of dapperly dressed designers and drop-dead-gorgeous actresses and models. Here are the highlights:

L: Prepping the red carpet.
R: Michael Bastian, 2011 CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year, with Todd Snyder,
nominated for this year’s Swarovski Award for Menswear.

Legendary supermodel Linda Evangelista with future hall-of-famer Karolina Kurkova.

L: Billy Reid, last year’s CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year.
R: The crowded venue at NYC’s Lincoln Center.

House of Harlow 1960 designer Nicole Richie and Australian model Jessica Hart.

L: The good stuff. | R: Model Frida Gustavsson and BLK DNM designer Johan Lindeberg.

Actress Sofia Vergara. (The new Peg Bundy?)

L: Public School designers Maxwell Osborne and Dao-yi Chow, winners of this year’s
Swarovski Award for rising stars in Menswear.
R: Alexander Wang and friends on the steps outside.

Michael Kors with a model on each arm. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

L: Mood lighting at the after-party.
R: Womenswear winners Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler…
who appear to have a firm grasp on menswear, too.

Actress, award presenter, and Bridesmaid Rose Byrne—getting photo-bombed.

L: CFDA International Award winner Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy with actress Jessica Chastain.
(How hardcore was she in Zero Dark Thirty?)
R: One of our favorites (and definitely the funniest) from the female blogosphere,
Man Repeller Leandra Medine is a certified CFDA superstar.

End on a High Note: In the clip above, an army of male models awkwardly a capellas Daft Punk x Pharrell disco jam ‘Get Lucky,’ all while wearing the Fall ’13 collections by all three CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year nominees—and somehow keeping a straight face.

Crashing a black-tie bash of your own sometime soon?
SHOP: TUXEDOS & FORMALWEAR

[Instagram photos via CFDA.com; click here for individual credits and tons more photos. Video via KCD. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]

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May 7, 2013

T by Alexander Wang: Way Beyond Basic

The Alexander Wang five-step plan for fashion-world domination:
1. Move from San Fran to NYC at age 18 to attend the esteemed Parsons school of design.
2. Drop out.
3. Create a killer debut women’s collection that makes boutique buyers salivate and converts the world’s hippest models, actresses and it-girls into steadfast devotees.
4. Win GQ Designer of the Year 2011, promptly upon your first foray into menswear.
5. Get named creative director of illustrious, 99-year-old fashion house Balenciaga.

That last point is a whole other story, so let’s focus on #4. Wang won over GQ with his T by Alexander Wang line of so-called “basics”—T-shirts, tanks and hoodies that, thanks to their meticulously slouchy “anti-fit” and superior fabrication, are in fact anything but basic.

These days, Wang is punctuating those high-end essentials with streamlined statement items, like the black-on-black cotton/leather shirt-jacket hybrid seen in the photos here. (You could call it a basic in the sense that you’ll wear it every day for years to come. As far as street-cred style points, though—it’s pretty exceptional.)

A few more favorites from the T by Alexander Wang collection (click images to shop each piece):

And, for your viewing pleasure, a sampling of the A-list it-girls and -guys Alexander Wang attracts—featuring A$AP Rocky, Azealia Banks and more:

SHOP: T BY ALEXANDER WANG FOR MEN

[Photography: Robin Stein. Styling: Ashley Helvey. Model: Gus Drake.
See more images from this series in our recent Rick Owens post, and on Nordstrom's Tumblr page.]

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May 1, 2013

Inside Jack Spade’s NYC Showroom

You know how a lot of product crossovers are woefully misguided? Like green ketchup, or clear Pepsi? Then, there’s that rare individual who can do no wrong—one minute, his records are going multi-platinum; the next, he’s acting in Oscar-worthy films, hosting SNL every five minutes, and making out with Mila Kunis on-screen.

Well, Jack Spade is basically the Justin Timberlake of the menswear game. The brand started in 1997, selling durable bags (in hardware stores—a telling detail) that were the epitome of form-meets-function. Today, they produce a full line of apparel that’s every bit as ruggedly stylish as their cult-favorite briefcases and duffels.

We had a chance to visit Jack Spade’s showroom in New York recently, for a preview of the Fall/Winter 2013 collection. Check out a few snapshots below (click to enlarge):

…While you’ll have to wait a few months before the Fall goods above land online, you can pre-order items from Jack Spade’s Pre-Fall Collection right now. A few of our favorites are below—along with killer Jack Spade accessories that are available for purchase immediately. (Know your camo: That cool geometric motif on the card case is inspired by Swedish M90.)

SHOP: JACK SPADE

…And check the launch date of more upcoming collections
on our new PRE-FALL DESIGNER TIMELINE

[Showroom photos by Sunny Chang at Treasure & Bond.]

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April 5, 2013

Fade to Black: Rick Owens Spring ’13

Spring is here—and as much as we can appreciate bold color, we know it’s not for everyone. No one understands this better than Rick Owens, the reigning king of avant-garde, neo-ninja streetwear.

We took a trunk-full of his Spring 2013 collection for a test drive through our favorite Seattle neighborhoods, and found out that—despite their somber palette—these pieces are fully warm-weather-compatible. (Think butter-soft lambskin bombers, a feather-weight windbreaker and sweaters in airy Italian wool.)

When the rest of the world is in full bloom, what better way to differentiate yourself than donning all black? (Short of taking Owens’ own advice and shaving off your eyebrows—see rule #1.)

Rick Owens ‘Mollino’ Lambskin Leather Jacket
and ‘Island’ Hooded Merino Wool Sweater

Left: Rick Owens ‘Island’ Crewneck Merino Wool Sweater

Rick Owens ‘Mollino’ Bomber Jacket and Elastic-Waist Drop-Crotch Pants

Rick Owens ‘Sternberg’ Lambskin Leather Bomber Jacket
and ‘Perfecto’ Lambskin Leather Biker Jacket

Rick Owens ‘Perfecto’ Lambskin Leather Biker Jacket,
‘Island’ Merino Wool Cardigan and Elastic-Waist Drop-Crotch Pants

SHOP ALL: RICK OWENS | DESIGNER COLLECTIONS

[Photography: Robin Stein. Styling: Ashley Helvey. Model: Gus Drake.]

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April 5, 2013

Menswear with a Message: Jeffrey Fashion Cares

Celebrating 10 years raising funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS- and LGBTQ-related causes, Jeffrey Fashion Cares held its annual runway show and silent auction in NYC Tuesday night.

The evening brought out supportive celebs, the industry’s most in-demand models, and killer clothes from some of our favorite menswear designers—and most importantly, raised over $800,000 for an amazing cause. Jeffrey Kalinsky (the event’s founder as well as Nordstrom’s EVP of women’s designer—he’s pictured above in a pale-blue button-down and tie) had this to say: “I live for the day when there will be a cure for AIDS and equality for every man and woman in this country. Tonight is about gay rights, and in a greater context, human rights.”

Congrats to Jeffrey and everyone involved, and here’s to breaking a million at Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2014. Scroll down for a look backstage and on the runway—and pop over to our women’s blog, The Thread, for more.

Emmy Rossum, star of Showtime’s Shameless (as well as an enthusiast of opera and hotdogs), hosted the event.

Model Tip #1: Barring the opera and the Oscars, a leather jacket and T-shirt are usually all you need for a night out.

Model Tip #2: Lounge around in Lanvin and Valentino like it ain’t no thing (left).
Model Tip #3: Grow hair like this guy (right—easier said than done).

Model Tip #4: Rad eyebrows are a sign of virility. Thou shalt not tweeze.

The Lineup. Highlights included Jil Sander, Burberry, Dries Van Noten, and Givenchy.

Runway finale. Get psyched for bold colors and camo for spring/summer ’13.

[Photos by Patrick McMullan—except first group photo and runway lineup photo by Kevin Tachman. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]

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April 3, 2013

Modern Masters: Art History with Shipley & Halmos

In an homage to the anonymous geniuses who engineered the everyday works of art (like street signs, film stills, and home interiors) that found their way onto Sam Shipley’s and Jeff Halmos’s Spring 2013 inspiration board, the NYC design duo loosely titled their new collection The Unknown Artist.

Despite that (or perhaps because of it), the S&H guys—masters of wry humor as well as rounding out your wardrobe—decided to cast 6 not-so-unknown artists in the stylish faux-portrait above. Below, Sam and Jeff of Shipley & Halmos discuss an artwork by each modern master that has, in some way, influenced their own aesthetic. Click each artist’s name to learn more.

1. Joseph Beuys, I Like America and America Likes Me, 1974. “Beuys as an artist might be as iconic as the works he created. You’ve seen his trademark hat, and always wondered what it would be like to wear one of his felt suit sculptures.”

2. Keith Haring, ‘Crack is Wack’ Mural, 1986. “When driving through Harlem on the way back down to Manhattan, you can see this original Keith Haring mural from 1986, one of the finest examples of graffiti art in the world. So happy the city of NY has kept its condition in such great shape. It’s inspiring each and every time we see it.”

3. Pablo Picasso, Chien, Coq Et Pierrot, 1970. “What can we say about Picasso that hasn’t already been said? The guy was a master, and is almost always a reference point for us. His detailed sketches, such as this one, inspired some of our recent print work.”

4. Roy Lichtenstein, Still Life with Portrait, 1974. “This particular Lichtenstein painting inspired a T-shirt graphic a few seasons back. Our rendition included a frosty beer, hamburger, fries, and framed picture of MJ circa 1988.”

5. Richard Prince, Untitled (From ‘Cowboy’ Series), 1980-1992. “Prince’s Cowboy series is an interesting example of blending classic Americana with a modern pop-art feel. The works are currently being shown [through April 6] at the Gagosian Gallery in Los Angeles. As a present-day artist, Prince is so versatile in almost every medium.”

6. David Hockney, A Bigger Splash, 1967. “During the winter doldrums, flip open a book of Hockney’s work (one of Jeff’s personal favorites)—especially his Pool series. The color palette and subject matter instantly reminds you that summer is almost here!”

[Portrait collage and artwork images courtesy of Shipley & Halmos. All artwork is © the artists noted. Individuals featured do not endorse Nordstrom.]

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March 22, 2013

Frank Ocean in Band of Outsiders’ Spring Polaroids

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After rocking a rad Band of Outsiders yellow shawl-collar tux at his recent Grammy performance (and channeling Richie Tenenbaum with that headband), Best Urban Contemporary Album winner Frank Ocean is starring in the brand’s spring 2013 ‘Polaroids’ campaign.

Shot by designer Scott Sternberg himself, Ocean follows in the footsteps of some of our favorite people ever, like Jason Schwartzman, Sarah Silverman, Josh Brolin and Marisa Tomei—proving once again that Sternberg and co. have great taste, and not just in clothes.

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