Waiting for the summer

It's hard to think of summer clothes already. Or at least it is for me living in London. We seem to have brilliant weather one minute and pouring rain or cold wind the next, which makes it not only frustrating but also difficult to choose what to wear. Even so I keep thinking of the shorts I'm going to buy for the new season and how I'm going to wear them, far as that moment may seem now. As much as I like the bold colour blocking trend of the season I doubt I will be mixing a lot of really bright colours. I much prefer going for a slightly more restrained version in more muted colours and picking nice tailored pieces to contrast with shorts. I am also a faithful supporter of khakis and baiges for summer because they look so chic. So my parka is staying close to me together with my bright apple green and my anchor-printed shorts.

[Pictures: TheFashionisto.com]

Hardy Amies SS11 campaign

It's hard to come by inspired advertorial campaigns for menswear these days. Thankfully, Hardy Amies is here to change that. Their SS11 ad story features British model George Barnett wearing the house's sartorial wonders for Spring having fun in the surroundings of one of those wonderful British country houses. I can't help but think of 'Brideshead Revisited'. Sebastian Flyte's sense of style was as exquisite and immaculate as it was fun and quirky and even cool. I love the house's new fashion focus for their ready-to-wear line, perfectly portrayed on their campaign.



[Pictures: TheFashinisto.com]

Picture perfect

Patrick Petitjean

by Papo

Artistic direction: Chabela García

[Picture: TheFashionisto.com]

Dressing for Christmas

If you haven't heard yet, Christmas is coming. This year will be a little more different for me because I'm spending it with my family but we're taking it to a new scenario in the south of Spain, in a city called Granada. While I am unaware of the temperature there, I am guessing it'll be quite different from Madrid's icy Christmas so I am preparing nice outfits that either don't require a coat or in which the coat need not be accompanied by much layer underneath. I've put together a little inspiration post of what would make my perfect holiday wardrobe with photos from menswear editorials from the last couple of months to pay a bit of attention to FW10 trends.

My staple outfits for Christmas always include velvet at some point and some well-combined green and red. This year I will be taking my red-wine and my black velvet blazers with a selection of colourful shirts and bow ties for dinner. I will also give the "Tom Ford for Gucci" a go —aka: turtle neck jumper with a blazer (preferably velvet). I have thought of this for such a long time that my black velvet blazer and my tweed trousers are already getting refitted for a polished Christmas look.


My ultimate favourite casual look this winter, stereotypical as it may be, is the denim shirt and heavy knit combo. Especially if the latter includes a cozy neck and winter motifs. Over the years I've realised how having the back of my neck well protected makes me feel at easy no matter where I am, which is why I love those kind of jumpers or coats with fluffy lapels. I love the touch of the denim shirt in winter because it plays with the idea of a country look but it still looks put together.

I will also be packing my tuxedo shirt, which I'll probably wear with a cardigan or a normal blazer. I love traditional men's tailoring with all my life but I feel like it makes more of a statement if you wear it when it's unexpected rather than to a black tie event. My only two wardrobe regrets to date are not owning a plaid suit (best by Band of Outsiders or John Varvatos) and one of Prada's fw10 knits, which, to me, are simply a must-have this season.

[Pictures: Coute que Coute, The Fashionisto]

Aaron by Alasdair - Man about Town

I don't like posting things with too little text but sometimes certain things need no explanation. I'll just say Aaron Johnson had such an exceptional style, which has been wonderfully captured in this video for Man about Town magazine. No wonder he got the "Nowhere Boy" gig. Take a look.

Cameled

It's annoying that camel has become quite the trend for fw10. And it is because that means that I can easily find lots of coats, jackets and jumpers in this very chic colour but it also means that plenty of other people will be sporting it as well. I have decided it's too hard to resist not to buy and so I will stock up on camel garments this season and keep some of them until next winter when I can wear them regardless of any trends. I loved the photoshoot below because it shows how such a classic hue can become contemporary and young. And that combination of the camel jumper with the leather vest and denim jacket is exactly what I have in mind for this winter.

[Pictures: carolinesmode.com/modeman]

Story of my life by M. Bastian

This video pretty much epitomises the perfect world I've always created in my head and which I always thought would be unable to actually express in any way. Who else would be capable of such great deed but the one and only Michael Bastian. My heart literally beats faster with the sheer excitement of his line for Gant.

Advert perfection

[Picture: Coute que Coute]

pense GQ

It is rare for me to find menswear editorials where not only I like the clothes but I would also wear them. This one from GQ France's August 2010 issue is one of those rare gems. It's cool and fashionable menswear for a guy into fashion that needs to be taken seriously. I am loving the tucked in polo shirts and tees this season but only with shorts.



I am so happy that after GQ US recommended (this) my A.P.C. shorts for this summer, GQ France recommends the Uniqlo +J suit from which I got the blazer. Give me a job?

[Pictures: TheFashionisto.com]

Ad me up

I've never really got why people complain so much about ads on magazines. Personally, I love them because they get me in the mood of the issue of the magazine I'm reading. And I love menswear adverts even more because they usually heavily detailed as they are selling a very concise lifestyle to a very specific kind of man. I always love Dolce & Gabbana's because they're mostly shot by Steven Klein but I am so keen on the FW10 campaign because it carries on with the 1940's Naples theme of their collection and because it lacks that sexually ambiguous note that I don't dislike but that's refreshing. Ralph Lauren and Filippa K are always classic and yet you always find yourself wanting to be one of the guys in the advert. And Z Zegna has delivered a very different looking campaign that links to the innovation going on in their collections.

[Pictures: The Fashion Spot, Coute que Coute]