Frank's Weekend Picks

All Saints Cargo Biker Leather Jacket: With this mild October weather we're having in the UK a leather jacket is a man's best friend. It's a great addition to any look, especially if you need a bit of an edge for a preppy outfit.

British GQ, November 2013: The latest issue of the magazine is the best companion for a weekend coffee. Also essential to get cracking with all your purchases for the FW13 season.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling: I usually read a lot over the summer but I haven't had the time to do so this year so I am catching up now. To start, J.K. Rowling's light but brilliantly written latest novel. Don't let the roars of the name put you off.

The 20/20 Experience Part 2/2: It only came out last Monday but I have probably listened to it a hundred times. It's got some brilliant upbeat tunes perfect for the weekend or to start the week in high spirits.

Paris vs. New York by Vahram Muratyan: Always a favourite of mine. I love flicking through it to enjoy the witty illustrations and the excellent art direction.

Balenciaga Overnight Bag: Still my favourite bag since I bought it two years ago. It goes with me to work, on my weekend trips and holidays and, well, just about anywhere else.

Robert Pattinson Wears Balenciaga's Leather Panel Trainers

I can't say I am up to date with the relationship status of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson but either way it looks like Kristen's love for Balenciaga has rubbed off on her vampire husband. Last week, R-Patz was spotted leaving a studio in LA wearing Balenciaga's leather panel trainers in different textures of black and khaki laces. I had been looking forward to the moment they went on sale this season to snap up a pair but, alas, it seems like I wasn't the only one... and so they literally disappeared as soon as the sales kicked in.
Here's hoping the brand will decide to produce them again for next season but seeing as they were a Ghesquière introduction I very much doubt the Alex Wang accessory team will choose to take them forward.

UPDATE: A new model of high-top Balenciaga sneakers has been released this week on Mr Porter – check it out here.

JustJared

Most Stylish of the Week: A Tom Ford kind of week

It seems like all the stylish guys of the world – or the famous ones anyway – were saving themselves for this week. Between the SAG Awards and the numerous other film-related events I was spoiled for choice.
Tom Ford was the lucky designer to dress all the most stylish guys this week. Eddie Redmayne's blue number paired with the gingham shirt is one of the most interesting and chic looks I have seen on anyone for quite some time. He is definitely the best dressed guy at the moment. Justin Timberlake, who is finally pleasing us with his comeback, rocked a micro plaid wool suit and knit tie at the SAG awards. I wish more guys dared a little more with colours and patterns on the red carpet. Jude Law went for a more sober look but the grey, black and white combination and the sharp cut make it special. Bradley Cooper looked awesome in a midnight blue tux with a black shawl collar, simply perfect.
David Beckham was looking fly and keeping warm in London this week in a cool Moncler two-layer combo. I need to get myself a down jacket blazer. Nicholas Hoult continues his list of fashion hits with this timeless but modern Balenciaga grey suit. It would have looked even better with a green touch somewhere.
It wouldn't be a good week in style without a double Eddie Redmayne hit. He attended the SAG Awards in a risky brown velvet suit by BOSS Black. It's pretty impressive how well he pulled it off thanks to his lean figure, his freckled skin and slightly ginger brown hair. The guy knows what he's doing. Kevin McHale also took a risk at the SAG Awards with an all-black look and a bottle green satin blazer. I think it was a great choice but I don't quite get why he walked the red carpet with the jacket over his shoulders...

JustJared, Getty

Most Stylish of the Week: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and then some

GQ.com

I might or might not have a man crush on Joseph Gordon-Levitt – click here to read his cover piece on American GQ and decide for yourselves.
The fact is that Joe's GQ cover is, hands down, the most stylish thin from this week. I have been a fan of his from the '3rd Rock from the Sun' times and I'm glad he's gone on to make such great films and wear such cool clothes. At some point in the near past – probably when he cut his hair – he became this very sharp but rather hip dresser.
During the last week especially he's been showing off around the globe while promoting his latest film 'The Dark Knight Rises' (I'm watching it today!!). My two highlights from the press tour are his two-piece grey Balenciaga suit from the New York premiere and his 3-piece navy Burberry number from the London premiere – especially the polka dot tie. I'm not sure whether his measurements are bang-on the rack sizes or if all his clothes are tailored to the millimetre. In any case, Bravo!

GQ.com, JustJared, Getty

Most Stylish of the Week: Andrew Garfield

JustJared, Getty

It looks like I am going to be running monographs of my favourite style icons on the Most Stylish of the Week posts. It's hard for other men to compete when guys like Andrew Garfield are on press tours.
Garfield already started promoting 'The Amazing Spider-Man' (I am told the hyphen is compulsory) last week and he's getting better and better.
This week he dazzled in a slim red SS12 Balenciaga suit he paired with a blue shirt and classic brown wingtip brogues. I wasn't too keen on the inside red detail of the shirt, which I thought took away from the suit but I loved the fact that he went tie-less. Garfield went even smarter for another of his appearances in a total Gucci look composed of a checked blazer, charcoal printed trousers and a classic combo of white shirt and navy tie under a low crew neck grey jumper. This was utterly chic. His latest look this week was a lot more casual but equally effective – a blue Oxford button-down shirt and a beige blazer with a subtle pattern. He loves basics but knows that it's always all about the fit.

Nowhere without my blazer

Sarah Joynt

Don't you just love it when you buy that one piece every so often and you wondered how you could ever have lived without it? That's what happened to me with the Gant Rugger suit I bought a few weeks ago. I have only worn the blazer so far but it's already proved to be the piece for this winter. You can easily do without a coat and it makes any outfit look ace.
This is how I recently wore it to work. I am wearing: Gant Rugger herringbone tweed blazer from Mr Porter, vintage denim shirt, Uniqlo burgundy v-neck jumper, Acne jeans, Alexander McQueen scarf and Balenciaga bag from Mr Porter.

Wishlist: FW11 Shoes

1. Prada, 2. Church's @ Mr. Porter, 3. Creative Recreation @ Revolve Clothing, 4. Stubbs & Wootton, 5. Balenciaga @ Macthes, 6. Alden @ Browns, 7. Stubbs & Wootton.

I find funny how my taste and fixations vary from one winter season to the next. For f/w10 my obsession were desert boots and suede shoes. That is pretty much all I wore for the whole winter and so I bought quite a few of them. Now that f/w11 is approaching I need to think of what I need and want to buy. Last year's boots are classics I will keep using until they fall apart so I'm now looking for shoes with character. I have been going back to the Balenciaga sneakers over and over again and decided I will buy them this season they look comfy and cool and I love them in the powder greys. I am also obsessed with buying a pair of burgundy patent leather brogues.

Prada's take for winter tempts me because I so wanted to buy a pair of their summer brogues and these tricolour ones seem perfect for winter –quirky yet classic. On the other hand, Church's ones are also hard to resist. They're the epitome of English brogues and they'd look so cool with jeans in the winter. They're also much cheaper than Prada's. So it seems I'm very much into leather this season, which is why I am in love with the Alden boots. They are so effortlessly elegant and would work so well with a suit, jeans, corduroy trousers and pretty much anything I already own.

I've realised high-top sneakers are getting a lot more of my attention than usually. The Creative Recreation ones have a great mixture of colours and fabrics for the winter. And the laces add a kind of hiking-shoe touch to it I love for winter. And finally, the velvet slip-ons. I recently discovered Stubbs & Wootton, this Palm Beach-based shoe-makers who specialise in slip-ons. They're über cool "Screw You" model is no longer on sale but I am quite keen on their "Kings Court V" model. Velvet and Medieval motifs go hand in hand for me.

Frank Musts: Summer 2011

I am finally going on a proper summer holiday next Monday after almost two years of not stepping on a beach (not while it's hot anyway).
I have been quite excited for a couple of weeks and so I have been planning my wardrobe carefully. I also treated myself to a couple of things I could simply not do without by the seaside. I either already own or have bought all of the below (with exception of the Proenza towel). I don't want anyone to think I'm doing an advertorial.

Anchor belt @ ASOS, A.P.C. shorts @ My-Wardrobe, Superga shoes, Proenza towel, Balenciaga bag @ Mr Porter, Missoni towel @ Heal's

A companion for life: Balenciaga Overnight bag

Last week, to celebrate some good personal news, I logged onto Mr Porter just in time for the beginning of their sale and bought myself a present. My new Balenciaga Overnight bag arrived the following day in the biggest bag you could ever image, which only added on to the anticipation.
In just under a week it's proved to be a really clever buy. I carry it every day to the office as I can fit my laptop (15 inch MacBook) as well as my glasses, moleskin, iPod and anything else you'd like to put it. It is also a brilliant traveling bag. It came with me to Milan this weekend and, even though I took a trolley as well, it easily fit a couple of trousers and shirts and a pair of shoes and washing bag.
Once in Milan I used it as a regular bag as it's a perfect size to carry my camera and all the notes and press releases and invites you don't want to have ruined.
It is definitely on my top 5 list of best buys ever.

[Mr Porter]

The birthday dilemma

I go through this every year. Weeks before my birthday I go through endless lists of e-shops trying to find what I want the most for my birthday. This year I have shortlisted two pairs of shoes or rather, two pairs of sneakers as my preferred choices for birthday present. The first, the studded "Louis" Christian Louboutin high tops and the second, Balenciaga's multi-colour high-tops. I know that it seems like a classic vs. trendy piece but not to me. I have a tendency of getting seemingly seasonal pieces and turning them into personal classics, which is why this is a big dilemma. I can see myself wearing both on a daily basis and, to me, they're both extremely versatile. What's your advice?

[Pictures: Luisaviaroma.com, MatchesFashion.com]

Fashion Week essential #2: funky sneakers

I'd like to pick up where I left it on yesterday's post to continue with what I consider the most important piece in a man's outfit —they say a lot about its wearer. I grew up listening to my mum say how she could never like, let alone marry, a man who wore dirty shoes. And so I always wore the most pristine shoes to school. But personal anecdotes aside, one must choose his footwear carefully. For fashion week I like to mix it up and not wear smart shoes every day. In fact, I am a big fan of wearing quite a formal outfit with a very casual sneaker. Which leads me to this awesome specimen below. Balenciaga is making great sportswear luxurious pieces this season. I love the mixture of colours (including the bang-on trend orange) and how sophisticated yet urban they look. Pay a visit to Matches if you fancy a pair.

[Pictures: MatchesFashion.com]

He's Fly: Orlando Bloom in Balenciaga

One would think that the best thing about dating a model is that, actually dating a woman who is considered more beautiful than the rest. However, I'd say that the best part about it is, in fact, all the good things that come with her lifestyle. You get flown in to parties and events, even fashion shows. Such is the life of Orlando Bloom. In his case, you need to add his own celebrity to the equation. He was recently invited to sit first row at the Balenciaga SS11 catwalk show which her (pregnant) wife was walking. He was appropriately suited up for the occasion in an all-Balenciaga outfit from the FW10 collection. My favourite pieces were the awesome shearling jacket and leather sneakers that added the perfect sportswear touch to a classic smart look.

[Pictures: JustJared.buzznet.com, Celebrity-Gossip.net, Balenciaga.com]