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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:
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, hostingSNL 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.)
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.)
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.
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!”
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.
SHOP: BAND OF OUTSIDERS …And See new Frank Ocean pics as Band of Outsiders
releases them this weekend on their Tumblr.
[Photos via Band of Outsiders. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]
Has your wife or girlfriend ever borrowed your coat or wandered the house in your favorite hoodie? If not, you might need better clothes. ‘Let Her Borrow’ is a new series in which Kristina Zias, a menswear expert at our Grove store in LA, shows off her favorite new items from the Nordstrom Men’s Shop.
“With spring around the corner but indecisive weather now, I’m eyeing a few of the new sweaters in our Men’s Designer department. Beware though, guys: They’re made for you, but if your girlfriend gives you one as a gift, she might have ulterior motives. [maniacal laugh.] Here are my three key sweaters for the season: The hoodie, crewneck and quarter-zip.”
—Kristina Zias, Nordstrom at The Grove, Los Angeles
1. The Hoodie: U Clothing. “One of our newest Men’s Designer labels, this London-based brand took a basic zip-front hoodie and did it right, leaving no detail unnoticed. The cotton/terry blend has a really impressive, luxurious feel to it, and the metal hardware detailing adds some edge. It’s lightweight and perfect to throw on without thinking twice.”
[Shop: U Clothing Hoodie | All Men's Hoodies]
2. The Crewneck: Jack Spade. “This sweater’s bold, red-and-pink stripes are perfect for spring—but you can wear it all year. Pair with shorts and Chucks for day-time weekend wear, then switch it up with a collared shirt, jeans and loafers for a dinner date. I’d even like to see it grunged-up with some camo pants and chukka boots.”
[Shop: Jack Spade Crewneck | All Men's Crewneck Sweaters]
3. The Quarter-Zip: Gant by Michael Bastian. “This cotton pullover sweater is extremely cozy, with intricate stitching that has a serious preppy vibe that I love. It’s a classic sweater to throw on over any outfit when the sea breeze kicks up this summer.”
[Shop: Gant by Michael Bastian Quarter-Zip | All Men's Zip-Up Sweaters]
Following yesterday’s post on SXSW cuisine, here are a few selected tracks from the innumerable artists who are making appearances at this year’s Mecca of small-venue music in Austin, Texas.
Highlights: Divine Fits, the new supergroup fronted by Britt Daniel of Austin-bred band Spoon; emerging rap virtuoso Kendrick Lamar; ’60s soul-inspired Pickwick (from our hometown of Seattle—more on them later); and deadpan soothsayers of the blues/gospel/art-punk faith for the past 30 years, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
On NPR last night (yes, we’ve been known to rock talk radio on the commute from time to time), one of their music correspondents noted that, while SXSW has its fair share of world-famous headliners these days (Prince is rumored to make an appearance)—you might spend your whole trip waiting on line just for a fleeting glimpse of one.
What sets SXSW apart from other festivals is the sheer amount and diversity of music available; the NPR expert said he researched about 1,500 bands while prepping for Austin—and suggested you could spend the whole week ONLY seeing metal bands, or ONLY music from, say, Asia. That inspired us to pull two disparate, but equally festival-ready outfits. Each will serve you well if you’re hopping a plane to Austin this week—or just grooving to public radio back home in Seattle (or wherever you call home).
1. Nouveau-Hippie. Each of these kits is based around a new take on the denim jacket (GQ approves). We rounded out this sleek bomber version with a watch to keep you on-time for the next act, and a bag big enough to hold your camera, notebook, agua, and a spare pair of Birkenstocks (which are back—and look best balanced with a touch of prep like the henley and shorts above). This combo will serve you well soaking up high-minded synth jams and orchestral pop. A.P.C. jacket | Want Les Essentiels de la Vie bag | Steven Alan henley Birkenstock sandals | Rogan shorts | Jack Spade watch
2. Texas Metal. The Austin version of a noise-rock aficionado should look as at-home under a car as in a dive bar. Feel free to pull a Cobain (i.e., tie that flannel around your waist) if your Filson is too full of PBR cans. Finish with made-in-America Red Wings and pre-thrashed jeans (if you don’t have time to break in your own). Your go-to uniform for plaintively drawled country and the kind of bands who don’t mind bleeding on-stage. Deus Ex Machina jacket | Steven Alan plaid shirt | Obey T-shirt Red Wing boots | Joe’s jeans | Filson backpack
Following in a tradition that’s shone the spotlight on rock legends like Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, Perry Farrell and Slash, the latest John Varvatos campaign features perhaps the most hallowed guitar god of all time, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, alongside blues-rock rising star Gary Clark Jr.
Designer John Varvatos had the following to say about the campaign, which was inspired by classic black-and-white portraiture and shot by Danny Clinch at London’s Rivoli Ballroom: “Jimmy Page has been a music and fashion icon of mine since 1970. He has been a major influence, and I am honored to call Jimmy a friend. Gary Clark Jr. is the real deal—an amazing guitar player, singer, songwriter and friend. Having ‘The Master and The Young Guitar-Slinger’ together in our campaign is a dream come true.”
As cool as the campaign imagery is, we’re just as interested in the music that inspired it. Below are John Varvatos’s personal favorite Led Zeppelin tunes—handpicked by the designer himself, exclusively for Men’s Shop Daily. [Song selections are his, commentary is ours.]
1. ‘Tangerine’ – Given Zeppelin’s reputation for practically inventing the brute force of what’s now known as heavy metal, it’s interesting to see Varvatos’s first pick highlight a sentimental ballad from the band’s folksy third record, 1970′s Led Zeppelin III. We’ve included a live version from the infamous 1975 Earls Court shows as well—largely because it’s a trip to hear frontman Robert Plant’s between-song musings uttered in his proper English lilt. (It’s easy to forget how soft-spoken he is, considering moments like the Viking howls that open the same album.)
2. ‘Kashmir’ – This epic from 1975′s Physical Graffiti puts the band’s signature sense of sheer force on full display—even with a tempo that’s methodically plodding, and the lion’s share of decibels emanating only from Page’s guitar and John Bonham’s measured drum pattern (bassist John Paul Jones mans keyboards on this one). Again, we pulled from the classic ’75 Earls Court performances, to hear Plant’s backstory…And also included an excerpt of Page jamming with Jack White and The Edge, from the 2009 documentary It Might Get Loud.
3. ‘Dazed and Confused’ – One of Led Zep’s most recognizable acid-blues masterpieces, characterized by the dream-like solo section in which Page routinely wailed on his guitar with a violin bow, is in fact a cover of a 1967 song written by Jake Holmes. We’ve always thought Zeppelin’s studio version, which appeared on their eponymous 1969 debut, sounded a bit stilted. The live versions above (left, from disc one of the live compilation BBC Sessions; right, a purportedly ‘lost version’ we just discovered on the internet) are loose, loud, brimming with the band’s patented improvised interactions between members, and feel like they might explode in a frenzy and/or fizzle out in disarray at any moment. In other words, Led Zeppelin at its best.
4. ‘Whole Lotta Love’ – The pulsating, overdriven rhythm that opens 1969′s Led Zeppelin II erased any notion of a sophomore slump—and inspired decades of visceral guitar riffs to come. Page described the snarling amp tone as ‘rude,’ and if you’re able to decipher Plant’s feral yelps, his lyrics are none too polite either. The studio version (left, above) is solid gold (literally)—but we included the live version (right) because seeing Bonham’s blur of drumsticks during the psychedelic interlude makes it even more transfixing. Extra credit: Check out this 13-minute long BBC performance that includes tributes to Zeppelin’s biggest influences, from John Lee Hooker to Elvis Presley.
5. ‘When the Levee Breaks’ – The band had legions of fans since their first record—but with stratospheric successes like ‘Black Dog’ and ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ 1971′s Led Zeppelin IV went 23x platinum in America alone. One of the record’s most satisfying sonic moments requires sticking around for the final track (based on a 1929 song by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy, about the Great Mississippi Flood). The transition from muddy, minor-key verses to Page’s glimmering guitar chords at 2:30 never gets old—nor do Bonham’s steadily thundering drums, which even the Beastie Boys (at their rowdiest in 1986) had to respect.
6. ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’ – Any amateur guitar picker worth his weight in sheet music has tried his hand at the tricky opening notes of this one—but it’s the turns the song takes from there that are more indicative of the Led Zeppelin ethos. While the band always dabbled in a variety of styles (folk, funk, eastern-tinged melodies, medieval sounds, orchestral arrangements, even reggae), here, multiple influences unfold seamlessly within a single song. The 1979 live version to the right displays an unapologetically brutal guitar tone from Page—an interesting choice given the song’s tender start and finish.
7. ‘Heartbreaker’ – Another tour de force from Zeppelin’s sophomore album (which remains perhaps the most crystalline embodiment of the blues-rock building blocks that informed their entire career). Again, the studio recording (left) is classic, but small details kick the live BBC version (right) into overdrive: Bonham’s furious fills, Jones’s gnarly bass sound, the brief ode to Bach during Page’s famous unaccompanied solo, and Plant’s upper-octave shriek that punctuates the final note.
John Varvatos was also kind enough to recommend his 3 favorite tunes by Gary Clark Jr., who appears alongside Jimmy Page in the campaign imagery above. The New York Times has called Clark Jr. the next Jimi Hendrix (the third track below happens to incorporate a Hendrix cover)—take a listen for yourself:
How do you follow a previous-season “fashion show” that saw a model locked in the window display of a Paris gallery for three days straight, armed with little more than some arts and crafts, a good book or two, a rack full of cool clothes, and (by the end of it all) a precious few remaining shreds of sanity? (More on that one here.)
Stage a sprawling, and stylish, scavenger hunt through the concrete jungle of New York City, of course. At least that was the solution Scott Sternberg, the Ohio-bred, LA-based designer of Band of Outsiders dreamt up. Models/contestants Miles Garber and Matt Hitt were pitted against each other, fed riddle-like clues (hence the confidential-looking manila envelopes above), and released upon the Big Apple to locate iconic landmarks and complete comical tasks.
They did it all while outfitted in next season’s Band of Outsiders collection, which Sternberg has described as uniforms for a utopian civilization of his own imagining—one in which businessmen, athletes and construction workers seem to cross paths regularly, within the same outfit or even the same garment. If the day these guys had is any indication, B of O’s Fall ’13 clothes are ready for pretty much anything. Read on for highlights from Sternberg’s alternate-reality version of a runway show.
Ground control. The scavenger hunt was masterminded via this moving HQ on the back of a truck.
Don’t hate the players. Miles (L) and Matt, clearly psyched to let the games begin.
Tools of the trade. Per the game’s official rules, after a 7:30am wake-up call, the contestants’ mobile devices were confiscated in exchange for one (1) pair of clean undies.
Luckily, they were given more than tighty-whities. Here, with the score even at zero apiece, the contestants are decked out in the first of many Band of Outsiders Fall ’13 kits.
Scavenger-hunt challenges throughout the day included building Lego self-portraits…
…Strumming for change at Herald Square Station…Utilizing the Dewey decimal system to track down Kurt Vonnegut’sBreakfast of Champions at the NY Public Library…
A few glimpses of the Fall ’13 wares, including a 2D globe-print T-shirt (a collaboration with artist Sam Durant), a subway-inspired tie, and a traditional Black Watch tartan shirt—with a signature Band of Outsiders twist. View the full looks here.
Sternberg (in custom-designed coveralls) with Ansari (looks like his bow-tying technique passes muster as well) at the after-party.
[Photos courtesy of @ThisIsBandOfOutsiders on Instagram, except final Sternberg/Ansari pic by Instagram user @dmc_dmc. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]
“With spring around the corner but indecisive weather now, I’m eyeing a few of the new sweaters in our Men’s Designer department. Beware though, guys: They’re made for you, but if your girlfriend gives you one as a gift, she might have ulterior motives. [maniacal laugh.] Here are my three key sweaters for the season: The hoodie, crewneck and quarter-zip.”
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