Main Content

runway recaps

February 27, 2013

Urban Odyssey: Band of Outsiders, Fall 2013


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’s Breakfast of Champions at the NY Public Library…


…Powering up with custom, co-branded cookies at Momofuku Milk Bar…


…Posing with Tumblr intern Tommy the Pomeranian…


…Tying a bow tie with none other than GQ Creative Director Jim Moore checking the technique…


…Delivering a burger to frequent Band of Outsiders collaborator Aziz Ansari (that’s him wearing B of O with Sarah Silverman on the left)…


…And re-enacting a classic scene from Woody Allen’s Manhattan. (Whew.)



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.
 

SHOP THE CURRENT COLLECTION: BAND OF OUTSIDERS
…And view the complete Fall ’13 slideshow at Style.com.
 
 

[Photos courtesy of @ThisIsBandOfOutsiders on Instagram, except final Sternberg/Ansari pic by Instagram user @dmc_dmc. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]

0 COMMENTS

Click For More: , , , , , , ,

February 21, 2013

Prep Redux: J. Press York Street, Fall 2013

Take a century-old, Yale-bred campus shop (J. Press), put those hundred years of heritage in the hands of two young masters of the modern menswear movement (Shimon and Ariel Ovadia of Ovadia & Sons)—and the result is an immaculate, if at times off-beat, experiment in Americana. It’s called J. Press York Street, and it’s coming soon to the Nordstrom Men’s Shop. (More on that later.)

In the meantime, we’re lucky enough to have some exclusive images by one of our favorite photographers, Evan Tetreault, from the J. Press York Street Fall 2013 presentation he attended during New York Fashion Week. Check out Evan’s work below—and a few of our favorite looks from the collection below that.






 


Our favorite looks—from left:
1. Beanie + repp tie + sweats. The definition of high/low.
2. Tech-parka over pinstripes. Very Maine meets Wall Street.
3. Had it with V-necks? Replace it with a rugby shirt. [Click all images to enlarge.]


More favorite looks—from left:
4. We’re into olive-green everything lately—a great neutral for pants and, obviously, sportcoats.
5. Pretty much the perfect toggle coat.
6. What to wear chopping wood when the fire dies. Or when your girlfriend forgot to take the trash out. Or under your suit next winter if you live in Michigan.

 
 

[Close-up photos by Evan Tetreault; view his Portfolio and follow him on Tumblr. Full outfit shots via GQ.com.]

0 COMMENTS

Click For More: , , , , , , , ,

February 8, 2013

Tough-Guy Tailoring: Todd Snyder Fall 2013


Having paid his dues at menswear juggernauts around the industry (Ralph Lauren, among others), Iowa-born designer Todd Snyder was able to launch his eponymous brand, a mere two years ago, already at the top of his game. While past collections have added expanded on Snyder’s roots in traditional haberdashery and hands-on sewing with references ranging from military to classic Hollywood, the lineup for next Fall germinated from a 1950s vintage leather jacket the designer unearthed at a thrift store in Leeds, England. The result, in Snyder’s own words, is a “badass” take on gentlemanly dressing.

[Above, left: Any time Bruce Pask is backstage, you know it's going to be good.]


Precision Instruments. While the cornerstone of Snyder’s new collection—the moto-inspired leather jackets—show a devil-may-care patina, their fit is immaculate down to the millimeter. (Click images to enlarge.)


Hardcore Haberdashery. Snyder got his start at an old-school Iowa tailor’s shop. His formative years shine through in streamlined suits and outerwear with plenty of attitude.


Serious Sweaters. From a windowpane-plaid cardigan (matched with leather pants, of course) to a shawl-collar in marled mustard, to shoulder-broadening stripes paired with sweats and boots–Snyder’s sweaters had just as much snarl as his biker jackets.

 

SHOP THE CURRENT COLLECTION: TODD SNYDER
…And view the full Fall ’13 slideshow at Style.com.

 
 

[Instagram images, clockwise from top, from users DetailsMag, Unstill_Life, and ToddSnyderNY. Individual looks by Fillipo Fior, via of Style.com.]

0 COMMENTS

Click For More: , , , , , , ,

January 28, 2013

Rarefied Air: Kenzo Fall 2013



Whereas Kenzo’s spring ’13 show was rooted in the brand’s 1970 ‘jungle’ origin story—replete with a monkey-screech soundtrack, safari-pocketed silhouettes, parkour performers, and acidic shades of blood orange and papaya—the new collection has its head in the clouds. Designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim call it The Jungle in the Sky, and say they were inspired by visions of stratospheric deities while gazing out airplane windows during their frequent sojourns between Paris and New York. The show took place earlier this month in Florence, Italy (where Kenzo was a special guest at menswear tradeshow Pitti Uomo)—but its creativity and visual impact were so inherent that we’ve been eager to report on it ever since. Our favorite standout trends:


Touch the Sky. An ethereal color palette transcended the ruddy earth tones and army greens Kenzo’s previous season. While later looks in the new collection veered into menacing red and deep-space navy, these oddly innocuous shades of powder-blue—along with jet pack-like backpacks and belts mimicking safety harnesses—set the tone for the show’s lofty theme.


Use Your Illusion. Color and shape were used to create double-take-inducing modifications in the human form. From left: a shirt that sliced the torso diagonally, sleeves that ghosted out the wearer’s arms, and a sweater that conveyed supernatural strength. (While we might not recommend the latter for, say, an average day at the office, it is a poignant reminder of the power of tailoring.)


Powerful Prints. While leopards and tigers have ruled past Kenzo collections, the new prints look skyward—from buoyant cumulus clouds on a ruggedly oversized coat, to a menacing storm that translates as intangible camo (right). The primary-color stripes (center) are a tougher read: An abstracted sunset horizon? An homage to a pilot’s badges of honor? Check out the full-on flight suit for a closer look.

 

SHOP KENZO’S CURRENT COLLECTION
…And view the complete Fall/Winter 2013 slideshow at Style.com.

 

[Behind-the-scenes photos via KenzoParis_HQ on Instagram. Individual looks shot by Marcus Tondo, via Style.com.]

0 COMMENTS

Click For More: , , , , , , ,

January 24, 2013

Cult Following: Givenchy Fall 2013

Abstracted religious icons. Subversive stars and stripes. Angular flora and the now-pervasive snarling Rottweiler. By emblazoning instantly recognizable symbolism on everything from luxe T-shirts to tailored jackets, from his signature warrior kilt (don’t call it a skirt) to Kanye West’s and Jay-Z’s album art and stage wardrobe, Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci has achieved a rare feat: pledged allegiance from runway critics and cool kids alike. While the man named Designer of the Year by GQ scattered a few emblematic graphics throughout his new Fall ’13 collection, the most memorable moments were delivered through creative fabrications and silhouettes. Check out our favorites below, followed by a video of the complete show.

[Above: artwork from the show's invitation, by M/M Paris.]


Out-There Outerwear. Lapel-less suits and topcoats made a minimalist impression at the start of the show, but were soon displaced by experiments in sartorial armor like glazed tweed and primitively patchworked goalie gear. (Click images to enlarge.) Parkas worn as accessories at the waist were common throughout: an all-black evolution of Kurt Cobain’s cinched flannel shirts.


Graphic Content. Tisci’s signature pictographs manifested as Renassaince humanism juxtaposed with stark geometry—and upended Americana.


Leather Accents. Sometimes a little (like shoulder patches on a cropped toggle coat)—sometimes a lot (like the leather-front overcoat that alludes not-so-subtly to a butcher’s apron).

 


The Show. The cryptic vibe of the invite (up top) was carried through on the runway with séance-like candlelight and baroque classical music (which then gave way to an unapologetic break-up song).

 



The Details. Here’s a closer look at the elaborate jacket that looks like Frankenstein’s football pads…Sartorial looks so minimal that they lack lapels…A shackled twist on monkstraps…And argyle turned obscene.

 

Givenchy is available at selected Nordstrom stores.
For assistance, please contact a Designer Specialist at 1-877-543-7463.

 

[Invitation design by M/M (Paris), via Givenchy's Facebook page. Runway photos by Marcus Tondo, via Style.com. Detail shots by Gianni Pucci, via Style.com. Backstage photos via Givenchy's Facebook page.]

1 COMMENT

Click For More: , , , , ,

January 22, 2013

Psychedelic Sleepover: Dries Van Noten Fall 2013

Last season, Dries Van Noten (alumnus of legendary Belgian design collective known as the Antwerp Six) turned his attention to the ubiquitous but clearly open-to-interpretation realm of camouflage—transforming the traditionally rugged pattern into incarnations that alternately skewed gruff or gossamer, vibrant or vicious. For Fall ’13, Van Noten’s eye is on a different pattern—paisley—and his mind is focused not on far-flung wilderness, but simply on facing daylight after an evening of untold depravity. ‘Clothes for a quick exit,’ as Style.com quotes the official press release; the bleary-eyed walk of shame has never looked better.


Seeing Sounds. What began with widening lapels has morphed into a full-on early-’70s homage across the menswear landscape this season. Van Noten’s embraced the insanity, with exploded paisley paying tribute to acid rock like Hendrix and The Doors.


Reality Check. Where some looks drove the hallucinatory aspect home head-to-toe, others were rooted in wardrobe staples like shawl-collar blazers, DB topcoats and shearling-lined biker jackets—and only hinted at insanity.


PJs for the PJ. These luxed-out iterations of derelict-chic (robes, peej pants, the wooly socks with sandals up top) are one part agoraphobe, two parts what you’d wear to roll out of bed and onto your private jet.

Dries Van Noten is available at selected Nordstrom stores.
For assistance, please contact a Designer Specialist at 1-877-543-7463.

Check out the full Fall/Winter 2013 slideshow at GQ.com.

 

[Instagram photos, clockwise from top left, via @fashiontv, @philip_manghisi, @hannahemslie, @mensfashionfix; individual looks via GQ.com. If your work appears here and you'd like it removed or credited differently, please contact us using the 'Email the Editor' link at right.]

0 COMMENTS

Click For More: , , , , ,

January 18, 2013

Dark City: Salvatore Ferragamo Fall 2013


Having started as a forward-thinking shoemaker to Hollywood stars of the 1920s, the late Salvatore Ferragamo’s eponymous brand has come a long way. One aspect that remains a guiding force under Creative Director Massimiliano Giornetti: a scientific approach to the art of style. Chiseled lines and innovative mixes of luxe leather and wool with technical fabrics define this calculated new collection, rooted in a cavernous spectrum of near-black hues. The result is an army of outerwear that would somehow look as at-home in the Matrix as it would on your sunless, socked-in commutes next Fall.


Leather Weather. The show featured a wide range of takes on this quintessential piece of all-attitude menswear—from cropped biker jackets to hip-length trialmasters to knee-length trenches.


Soldier of Fortune. Military references are invading throughout the season’s shows. No exception here, with double-breasted officer coats and peacoats, aerodynamic bomber jackets, and the all-terrain trench in the Twitter pic up top.


Rain Men. Soaked cement was a clear influence, with storm sounds starting the show and puddles literally lining the runway. Giornetti found countless ways to revel in the rain—like a voluminous cloak, rubberized sweater and futuristic poncho fit for a gunslinger in space. (Click images to enlarge.)

 


Watch the video above for a glimpse backstage prior to the Salvatore Ferragamo Fall/Winter 2013 runway show—which took place in Milan only a few days ago—and hear from Giornetti himself on the thought process behind the new designs.

 

SHOP OUR CURRENT SALVATORE FERRAGAMO MEN’S OFFERING:
CLOTHING | SHOES | ACCESSORIES 

…And view the complete Fall/Winter 2013 slideshow at GQ.com.

[First three images courtesy of the official Salvatore Ferragamo Twitter page. Individual looks courtesy of GQ.com. Video courtesy of the official Salvatore Ferragamo YouTube channel.]

1 COMMENT

Click For More: , , , , , ,

January 17, 2013

Gritty Knits: Missoni Fall 2013

Missoni, an Italian fashion house founded in 1953, is known far and wide for its innovative experimentation with eye-shocking patterns in wildly varying shades. Sixty years in, the brand is still family-operated, with Angela Missoni serving as menswear designer. (Her daughter, model/heiress/accessories designer Margherita Missoni, offered GQ some salient dating tips earlier this year.) By varying the color and configurations of the brand’s signature stripes, plaids, zigzags and speckles, Angela Missoni’s recent collections can come off as space-age and streamlined (see the current Spring collection) or earthy and ancient—the latter being the case for Fall/Winter 2013, which melds Italian swagger with a palette that reflects the rugged American West: from desolate plains and grand canyons to lush wilderness.


Controlled Doses. Sometimes a dab of pattern is all you need—like on a vest layered over your jean jacket, or a statement sweater that stands alone. Click the guy in the middle to see the subtle pattern in his pants, and on the panels under his arms.


Pattern on Pattern. It wouldn’t be a Missoni show if some of the looks didn’t go all in. Click the images for closer looks at how color, texture and scale subtly interplay—and make these bold mixes totally work.

SHOP MISSONI’S CURRENT COLLECTION

…And view the complete Fall/Winter 2013 slideshow at GQ.com.

[First photo by Jorge Valls, via the official Nordstrom Men's Shop Instagram. Individual looks courtesy of GQ.com.]

1 COMMENT

Click For More: , , , , , ,

January 15, 2013

Dapperly Disheveled: John Varvatos Fall 2013



John Varvatos, Detroit-born menswear designer (and rock aficionado—he built his flagship store inside the legendary punk-club ruins of CBGB), unveiled his latest collection over the weekend in Milan. Expanding on the brand’s core aesthetic of English dandy meets NYC snarl, next Fall’s clothes seem to explore references that reach even further, resulting in a vibe that spans time, geography, and works of fiction. One song remains the same: As dressed-up as Varvatos’ gents get, one always gets the impression they can hold their liquor…and hold their own in a dark alley.


Boardwalk Vampire. Part prohibition-era Buscemi, with a drop of Bram Stoker. Varvatos’ razor-sharp tailoring goes shady and sinister.


Oxblood & Ink. Whereas Jil Sander’s color pops are primary, Varvatos’ are muted and moody.


Young Guns. Weathered textures, cocked brims and beat-up boots took a left-turn from East Coast to Wild West. (Click images to enlarge.)

 

SHOP JOHN VARVATOS’ CURRENT COLLECTION

…And watch the complete Fall/Winter 2013 runway show
at the official John Varvatos YouTube channel.

 

[First three photos courtesy of John Varvatos. Individual looks courtesy of GQ.com.]

2 COMMENTS

Click For More: , , , , ,

January 14, 2013

Zealous Restraint: Neil Barrett Fall 2013

British designer Neil Barrett, whose grandfather and great-grandfather were master tailors, knows a thing or two about clean lines and confident silhouettes. His latest collection, though manifested in his signature mod-art minimalism, was inspired by the Bahá’í Faith. It’s a bit difficult to get a pulse on precisely what that means, but one interpretation might lie in the 19th-century Persian religion’s core value of unity—that all races, religions and genders are created equal. From luxed-up sweatshirts to immaculate topcoats made more casual by cropping at the waist, every look on Barrett’s runway feels somehow equivalent; on a level playing field of laid-back formality. Check out other unifying themes that caught our eye below:


Get Mono. Black-on-black, camel-on-camel, navy-on-navy. Going monochromatic is subtle and forceful at the same time.


Textural Feelings. From leather panels to fuzzy wool to embossed chevron patterns, Barrett found countless ways to add interest to his restrained palette. (Click images to enlarge.)


Oddball Geometry. Quintessential shapes like crewnecks, bombers and blazers were treated as blank canvases for op-art graphics.

Neil Barrett is available at selected Nordstrom stores.
For assistance, please contact a Designer Specialist at 1-877-543-7463.

Check out the full Fall/Winter 2013 slideshow at GQ.com.

 

[Photos courtesy of GQ's Instagram and GQ.com.]

1 COMMENT

Click For More: , , , , , , , ,

HOME