Best Dressed Men at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards: My Top 5

It had been a while since I last had the chance to stay up all night to watch award shows so last night I was all giddy with anticipation trying to stay awake for the Golden Globes. Though the ceremony itself keeps getting duller by the year men's fashion seems to be on the up.

Looking at my last Golden Globes post from 2014 it looks like actors (and their stylist) have finally understood that while a classic black tuxedo is perfectly elegant it can get a bit repetitive. So this year I am happy to have my list topped with guys who tried something different.

Eddie Redmayne tops the list in a bicolour number by Gucci. I find that pairing black trousers with a different colour works great for evening. That, together with the subtle polka dot print of the jacket and the slim fit makes for a perfect modern take on evening wear.

Following suit is Ryan Gosling, no surprise here. He, too, went for a bicolour combination – black trousers and a classic ivory evening jacket by Ralph Lauren. Gosling's build is slightly too broad for a slim fit. However, he achieved a slim effect by having all pieces perfect fit and carefully choosing a spread collar with a bowtie that didn't overpower the look. He finished it off with a pair of Gucci patent leather shows – the most popular choice last night.

Paul Dano, who has had a terrific year in movies and TV (Love & Mercy, Youth, War & Peace), was decked down in Prada. I will never tire of repeating how strong a colour midnight blue is for evening. In his case, choosing a double-breasted jacket was a perfect choice as he's a tall but narrow-shouldered guy. Tod's patent leather shoes finished off the look.

Tom Ford was the designer of choice for Michael Fassbender. It is the strong detailing that make this black look interesting – the very traditional shawl lapels, cuffed jacket sleeves and bowtie, all in satin. Should the trousers have been taken up a bit more and paired with an evening slipper instead of lace ups the look would have been perfect. The beautiful Chopard timepiece on his wrist somehow makes up for that.

Orlando Bloom is the only actor who also appeared on my list a couple of years back. His black Lanvin suit was a very different take this year. The top half of the look was an improvement. I love the simple jacket and Lanvin's signature oversizes bowtie. However, a slim fit on the trousers would have suited the patent leather slippers, my favourite footwear choice of the night as was his grooming. Nothing updates a classic evening look like a modern haircut.

The Top 5 Best Dressed Gents at the 71st Golden Globe Awards

I am a big fan of award ceremonies but I am even more keen when they celebrate TV and cinema as they are two of my other passions. Such was the occasion at last night's at 71st edition of the Golden Globes, which I live tweeted through the night.
Award-wise, I was really pleased with most the recipients of the Globes – perhaps only Best Drama could have gone to a different film. Only two of the winners, however, have made it onto this year's best dressed list.
In 5th place, Orlando Bloom in a midnight blue Lanvin number. I give him kudos for not choosing black and for opting for a skinny shawl collar jacket with an unconventional fastening. However, his shirt sleeves should have been altered and, c'mon, Legolas would never wear his hair so messy.
With a fit to perfection Ermenegildo Zegna tux Chris Pine gets 4th place. Only a slightly less traditional choice of tailoring and better grooming (shave your neck, man) would've rated him higher.
Winner of Best Actor in a Drama for 'Dallas Buyers Club', Matthew McConaughey found the perfect balance between classic and fashionable in a three-piece Dolce & Gabbana suit in emerald-green with contrasting lapels.
Almost at the top (believe me, I considered it at length) is Jared Leto, who also won an award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama. Giving everyone much to talk about with his 'man bun', Leto looked really sophisticated in a slim Saint Laurent tuxedo accessorised with a silk scarf and his spotless beard.
Who else but Bradley Cooper could be number one? Ever since he cut his hair the actor seems to be on a fashion roll. This classic and epically well cut Tom Ford tux is one of those things only a tall broad-shouldered man can pull off and, since it can't be me, I am glad it's Bradley.

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How to do Smart Casual in the Summer, by Chris Pine

Chris Pine is one of the few celebrities who understands that when it comes to being stylish the key is in simplicity and attention to detail. After the more dressed up hits we saw during his 'Star Trek' press tour this latest look is very refreshing. The actor nailed the so-called 'smart casual' at a recent press conference, where he wore a light beige knit jumper as a top. He tucked it into his dark cropped slim chinos and a nice pair of brown leather lace-up shoes – it's the footwear that throws the look more towards smart. A pair of New Balance or Vans sneakers would have given it a cool feel but a much more dressed-down one.
This is a great outfit idea for a day when you want your look to translate nicely from day to evening-wear. And these are a few options of similar items currently available online:

Top, left to right: ASOS Cable Knit Jumper, ASOS Crew Neck Jumper, Lanvin Burnished-Leather Oxford Shoes.

Bottom, left to right: ASOS V-Neck Jumper with Elbow Patches, J.Crew Slim Fit Cotton Twill Chinos,

Paul Smith Slim Fit Cotton Blend Trousers, Gucci Leather Derby Shoes.

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Clothes I Want to Wear: Looks from my Favourite PFW SS14 Collections (I)

With the SS14 menswear collections now finished I can honestly says this has been one of the best seasons of the last few years. Streamlined is probably the word which describes the most part of the proposals of the designers from London, Milan and Paris. A certain simplicity and understated elegance make room for lines and silhouettes to become protagonists. The colour palette includes a great range of hues – interesting but also understated, as were the many prints we saw everywhere. These are some of my favourite looks from my favourite collections shown in Paris. Part II is coming up later today.

Valentino

Louis Vuitton

Kris Van Assche

Berluti

Lanvin

Style.com

How to Wear the White Suit, Inspired by Bradley Cooper

I have always had an allergy of sorts to all-white clothing. I hardly ever wear white jeans or chinos and I've never put on a white blazer or jacket because this seemingly common colour can make a bigger statement than any bold hue. It is also incredibly unforgiving – if not beautifully cut, washed, ironed and fit it will only enhance everything you would like to conceal. Not to mention very few men could pull it off even with all of the above ticked.
Even though Bradley Cooper isn't exactly an every-day man – as much as I'd like to I can't quite relate to him – his latest red carpet offering in a full white suit with cuffed trousers worn with classic blue notes and leather shoes has awaken something in me to make me dare and try this look. The first step is to find a slim-fitted suit (baggy white clothes read retired holidaymaker). Keep the lines very simple and avoid any fussy detailing and pair them up with classic pieces put together in a modern way.
Of the options available online I feel most inclined to try the more casual takes as proposed by ASOS or Valentino, which I would wear with any of the pieces below.

White suits above: ASOS Slim Fit Cotton Suit, Richard James Cotton-Twill Suit,
Valentino Slim-Fit Cotton-Piqué Suit Jacket and Suit Shorts.

Below: Beams Plus Linen-Chambray Shirt, Hartford Linen Shirt, Burberry Brit Cotton and Linen Blend Shirt,
New Balance 576 Leather and Mesh Sneakers, Tod's No_Code Leather Oxford Shoes,
Lanvin Burnished Leather Oxford Shoes.

SS13 Trends to Try Out: The Cuban Shirt

Clockwise from top left: Sandro floral shirt, Acne Oahu striped shirt, Dolce & Gabbana jacquard-woven shirt,
Dolce & Gabbana striped shirt, Lanvin panelled shirt, Dolce & Gabbana micro-dot shirt, Reiss pique shirt.

Until Dolce & Gabbana and a few other designers like Acne and Lanvin decided to include 'Cuban shirts' in their SS13 collections they were a marginalised garment we knew of thanks to Tony Montana in 'Scarface', McDunnough in 'Raising Arizona' and Raoul Duke in 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'. I guess none of us ever saw themselves wearing one because of the awfully loud and often tacky prints. But you can always trust a fashion designer to take something before undesirable and turn it into a season hit.
I have been eyeing a few of the pieces available online, amongst which I favour the quiet pique take of Reiss and the micro print silk option by Dolce & Gabbana the most. After Dave Franco's editorial debut, I was thrilled to see Zac Efron sport another of the Dolce & Gabbana pieces. He wore it to the MTV Movie Awards and paired them with a slim pair of washed dark jeans and lace-ups.

JustJared

How to do Monochrome, by Ashton Kutcher

JustJared

What has everyone been up to this week? Sundance has been quite disappointing this season, with celebrities not taking advantage of the 'alpine chic' look. There have also been a few premieres but I didn't fancy making a post full of black suits, elegant as they might be.
The most interesting outfit I've seen all week has been Ashton Kutcher's monochrome number above. There is nothing chicer than a well put together casual outfit with different shades of neutral colours. And so I put together a similar look, which is perfect for the Spring. Instead of Ashton's light tweed jacket, I have gone for a slim-fit classic cotton one by Canali. I've paired it with a slightly lighter pair of slim cotton chinos by Slowear and a basic white tee with a pocket and a wider crew neck by J.Crew. Even though I can't see the shoes Kutcher is wearing I would like to think he didn't screw it all up with an ugly pair of shoes. I would wear the whole outfit with a beautiful monochrome pair of suede and patent leather Lanvin sneakers or a simple pair of white leather Nike's.

I'm not Frank: What I wore to the British Fashion Awards 2012

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you will undoubtedly know that on Tuesday night I attended the 2012 British Fashion Awards. I went a little picture crazy because not only I'm still testing out my (first ever) iPhone but I was terribly excited about the event as I had never gone to an awards ceremony before.
The whole night was pretty amazing. Starting with all the known faces around us at The Savoy Theatre , followed by the unexpected appearance of Valentino on stage, the Rita Ora performance at the end, the lovely Japanese dinner and the fun afterparty at Beat. And so, here is a quick recap – in pictures – of what I wore to the awards.

 

Pictured, a slightly 50's midnight blue blazer from Top Man worn with my Ermenegildo Zegna Su Misura white shirt and my brand new wool tartan bow tie from Drake's.

 

A snapshot of the proud GQ Grooming Award of my hairdressers at Pankhurst London, which I visited  last Friday to have my hair fresh and ready for Tuesday night.

 

As you might remember, I've been coveting this Lanvin flower pin for quite some time. So I thought this was the best opportunity to finally get it from Mr Porter and add a nice touch to my look.

 

I do apologise for the blurriness but I took this on a cab. I wore my midnight blue jacket with a classic pair of black suit trousers from Hugo Boss paired with a funky pair of Gant socks (with stars all over them) and my favourite Sutor Mantelassi shoes I posted about recently.

All images: Fashion, Frankly

Most Stylish of the Week: Robert Pattinson has a green Gucci moment

JGL week excluded, I think this is the best Most Stylish of the Week post I've had so far. With the CFDA Fashion Fund, the Glamour and GQ Awards, and multiple movie premieres including the world tour of the 'Twilight' cast I have been absolutely spoiled for choice this week. So I decided to actually rank my favourite eight looks and to let you, unknown stylish reader, choose who your favourite is on the poll box below.
Robert Pattinson's green Gucci moment (1) had all the cool ingredients we hadn't seen since Ryan Gosling set a similar (and, ahem, better) precedent a few months back. He has continued to look extremely sharp and original at every one of his press tour stops. I also loved his textured grey number (2) from the German premiere. If only he hadn't repeated shirt and tie...
Taylor Lautner has also been doing surprisingly well. It's not only that clothes fit him well but, though less sartorial than Pattinson's, his choices of colour are quite interesting. I have never liked an all-black suit ensemble but this one (3) looks so good!
I was close to cutting this look (4) from today's post because of Pharrell Williams' awful choice of belt and comical attempt at joining Movember. But then again, it's Pharrell. His Lanvin look was as relaxed as it was chic and the sock-less situation and said facial hair actually give suit a sort of Mexicana feel that I'm actually quite into.
Hamish Bowles (5) could probably be in this post every week but I feel like he has the advantage to have been 'playing the game' better and longer than the rest of us. His pattern mixing, not to mention matching sock action, makes me realise I know nothing.
Not everyone has the build to pull of a Tom Ford suit. What with the broad lapels, long jackets and wide ties a man has to be tall and seemingly buff not to get lost in one. Bradley Cooper (6) is that man. I loved the subtle check and the way he knows a blue shirt is his best ally.
Even though I'm still undecided about Chris Pine's Ralph Lauren Purple Label look (7) on the red blue carpet I do commend the purple/lilac touches and the choice of shirt collar. I wish we saw more signature Ralph Lauren on celebrities rather than bland bard suits.
Cory Monteith (8) was probably the last person I ever thought I'd ever blog about. But I must admit that I find this slightly odd brown-black suit with the burgundy tie and the velvet shoes kind of fascinating.

JustJared, Getty

Harry Styles & the Lanvin buttonhole flower pin

It isn't the first time I post about one of the One Direction boys (proof here and here). And it won't be the last. This week all five of them attended BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards and walked away with a bunch of awards. Funnily enough, none of them to do with style.
Of the five band members, Harry Styles – a foretelling name indeed – is the one with the most individual style. He always sports his signature look of skinny jeans, slim blazer and often t-shirts of plunging necklines. This time, he accessorised his look with a muted pocket square, some small necklaces and, my favourite, a black Lanvin buttonhole flower pin.
I have been eyeing these Lanvin pins on Mr Porter for months and Harry has reminded me how cool they would look both on a casual and a smart outfit. Mr P is not only currently stocking Harry's choice of pin but also another three models in grey, brown and electric blue. And I want them all. Badly.

Getty, Mr Porter

I'm not Frank: What I wore to Milan Fashion Week

Fashion, Frankly

I know I haven't been blogging in a very regular way over the last few weeks. I promised myself I would only ever post when I really wanted to and never just because. But I still have some juicy posts coming up from my last trip to Milan in January, especially the Ermenegildo Zegna and Z Zegna shows. So stay tuned.
Even though I didn't quite take any pictures of my looks this time my friend Giulia, who helps me out with Know Wear, emailed me this picture of the two of us she took with her iPad during breakfast at the Armani Hotel (a must stop if you're in town!). And so I thought I might as well make a post about my outfit.
It was ridiculously cold, though sunny, in Milan and even though I wasn't fully ready I managed to survive by layering good pieces. On day two I wore my most trust-worthy vintage denim shirt paired with my also very reliable +J beige blazer. I paired them up with a wool tartan Barbour tie I bought at My-Wardrobe and my amazing Lanvin mother-of-pearl tie pin from Mr Porter. I am also wearing my then brand new Illesteva sunglasses, which I also bought from Mr Porter.

Meet Mr Joe Jonas

Courtesy of Mr Porter

I never would have thought Mr Porter would choose Joe Jonas to be a part of their 'Journal' series. I guess it's that unexpected factor that makes it work. Joe is probably the most fashion savvy of the Jonas' and even though his casual style tends to be a little too flashy LA for my taste he does mostly look quite slick on the red carpet.
The shoot, shot by Angelo Pennetta, follows Mr Porter simple elegant aesthetic and the and styling, by Dan May, is spot-on! I love the Gucci pea coat with the YSL turtle neck underneath and the Burberry velvet blazer with a plain A.P.C. tee.
I was a big fan of Mr Porter (and customer) until now but this story has started to also turn it into a reference point of coolness.

H&M x Lanvin: Mission Accomplished

After all the anticipation and a couple hours of waiting in the cold I finally got what I wanted from the H&M x Lanvin collection! If you remember my post from a few days you'll know I didn't really want to get many things. I was happy to find the merino wool trousers in dark grey and brown. I am already creating outfits including them in my mind. Did you get what you were wishing for?
I'm wearing my beloved A.P.C. coat, Alexander McQueen scarf and a Lanvin wool hat.

[Picture: Iñaki C.]

Lanvin x H&M: My picks

Most of you reading this will have probably seen the entire Lanvin x H&M collection by now. But I though I'd make a little post about it telling you about what I am dying to own and what left me unimpressed.
First of all, I have to say how amazed I still am about the range of suits, jackets and separates that Alber Elbaz and Lucas Ossendrijver have managed to pull off. This said, I will also say how the bow ties are, by far, the biggest disappointment for me. My favourite bow tie is from Lanvin and I was hoping this would be the time to stock up on cheaper versions. The pictures might be deceiving but the H&M translations seem not only too big (even for oversized) but also incredibly cheap-looking.
My favourite item is, by far, the jersey trousers. I will buy (if they are forgiving) as many as I can afford because I can't think of a more versatile and cool men's garment than this one. It's a great piece for travelling, achieving the perfect casual/chic middle ground and to generally play with. I am also really keen on owning the kind of parka/overcoat in khaki and, possibly, some of the tailored pieces. But all of this depends on how they look up close. I am, however, quite uncertain about the shoes. They don't look too appealing on the pictures but if the price goes in relation to the quality I might get myself a pair of copper ones to mix my winter wardrobe up a bit.

[Pictures: carolinesmode.com/modeman]

Too casual

Last week Giulia and I attended a GQ event at H&M's flagship store on Regent Street where they were giving attendees a preview of their FW10 menswear assortment. There was an incredible amount of heavy knit cardigans that looked amazing but fitted me badly due to my dwarf-y size. They were giving a handy 25% off everything, which made my frustration bigger. I did find a perfect camel coat but they didn't have my size. So I eventually settled for a paisley pocket square.
As G and I walked around with our ginger whiskey cocktails in hand we ran into an old friend we met during our first year at LCF. Kieron looked very dapper, as usual, in an outfit which, to me, kind of brought together east-coast preppy and the cool sportswear of the Brooklyn. Keep an eye on Code-Vision, his blog. I, on the other hand, was slightly underdressed for the occasion but didn't care too much as I felt quite comfortable. (And, yes, I know. My eyes look almost closed in the picture...)

Kieron is wearing: Uniqlo Oxford shirt, Raf Simons gilet, Top Man carrot chinos, vintage loafers. I am wearing: vintage Levi's denim jacket, vintage neckerchief, Uniqlo jersey jumper, Acne jeans, Lanvin sneakers, Oliver Peoples specs.

[Picture: Code-Vision]

Monochromatic

It's been a while since I shared one of my daily ensembles. I really didn't make any kind of effort for a few days after fashion week. I wore this about 3 or 4 days ago to meet a friend for a Starbucks on the King's Road. I wanted to wear something simple and yet make kind of a (restrained) statement. I took the colour palette from my Lanvin sneakers and wore a beige and grey outfit that kind of played with the suede and patent leather of the shoes, the jersey of the blazer and the denim of the trousers. Is anyone a fan of monochromatic looks?

[Picture: Iñaki C.]

Long live the polo

I'm not the biggest fan of the summer. People say I'm a freak but, quite honestly, I get tired of wearing shorts and t-shirts in a heartbeat. And the fact that you're always feeling sticky definitely doesn't help. The main clothing item that gets me smoothly through summer is the polo shirt. I love the fact that is not as flowy as a t-shirt but not as stiff as a shirt and the fact that the collar and the sleeve trimming offer something different. Throughout the years I've tried all kinds of polo shirts —I was a Lacoste boy all the way in my teenage years, I then moved on to Polo Ralph Lauren to eventually be contented by Uniqlo. Lacoste has the best designs and I still love the little crocodile logo but the quality of the material was disproportionate to the price. Ralph Lauren's quality was much better but the cotton on the collar always felt too soft and I hate the fact that Americans have the need to add that longer flat at the back of a man's top. Uniqlo, on the other hand, has the perfect mixture of a classic design that fits well, a good quality and very good price and a ridiculous amount of colours and designs.

[Picture: Iñaki C.]

Clever adds to the summer wardrobe

Every August I'm faced with the same dilemma of whether to buy summer items for sale or save my money to start gearing up for the autumn. Having a look at the designer clothes on sale there seem to be a bunch of things that aren't necessarily seasonal and that we can wear now but also into next season. Jumpers and long-sleeved shirts are obvious choices but things like suits or blazers might seem trickier. A blazer works amazingly over a t-shirt with rolled-up sleeves but they can also be winter jackets over a jumper. A suit with shorts is a very clever choice as you can wear both pieces together or separately and still use the jacket in the winter. Suede accessories are also useful picks because they look chic in the summer and cozy in the winter. Do remember to buy season-less colours, though. And, finally, canvas bags can be worn all year around, so they're worth investing on. I have last year's design of the YSL bag (which looks better than the new one and explains the ridiculous price of the latter) and I use it to go to class, work, travel and go to the pool.

[Pictures: MatchesFashion.com]