Fashion

Never Take Yourself Seriously, Or You’re Finished

Fashion, Uncategorized

manolo

This is a quote from a documentary I recently watched on Netflix.  Manolo, The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards is an adorable portrait of the shoe king, Manolo Blahnik.  It’s an interesting look on how he started out and managed to still be relevant up to this day.

It was during my time in uni when I first learned about this shoe designer.  I was studying clothing design at that time so flipping thru fashion magazines had become a past time if not a necessity to keep up with what’s going on in the industry and these glossies, particularly Vogue, always had an ad featuring the designer’s sketch.  He was (and still is) aspirational— and I can’t blame Carrie Bradshaw for worshiping his shoes.

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At 75, one would think that he is just working in the background of his shoe empire but as the documentary portrays, he is very hands-on from designing to actually making the samples.  This is very rare even with the younger generations.  The dedication to his craft can’t be faulted.

Watching this made me admire him more (and miss my designing days).  His cheeky personality, the way he dresses, as well as his mannerisms are very endearing.  There’s a re-enactment of that time when he first met with Diana Vreeland and it was really funny.  I would probably do the same if I was standing next to a fashion legend.  Anna Wintour, Rihanna, Isaac Mizrahi, among other personalities are featured in the documentary too.

B3W

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Razzle Dazzle | The $40,000 Balmain Jacket

Fashion, Uncategorized

So the $40,000 question is: Would you buy it?

The crystal encrusted baseball jacket which apparently took two months to make and has the words BALMAIN ARMY featured at the back is Oliver Rousteing’s answer to men’s wear “revolution” and attributed to the fact that now, men are more keen in adopting “glamour without feeling ridiculous”.

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There’s enough glitz in Balmain’s Pre-Fall Menswear collection (Photo: Instagram)

Can you handle the bling? Or the price tag?  It’s the season of excess so this may be the perfect gift for yourself or that man in your life who has everything (or needs a bit of sparkle).

What do you think?

B3W

The Hitlist | All-White Kicks

Fashion, The Hitlist, Uncategorized
The all-white kicks can be the starting point from which you can build your looks.  It is very versatile that it has become a staple—a wardrobe must!  Wear it with jeans, shorts or even a suit any day of the year (yes, including winter).  Also, I like how it softens a blazer look, making it more young and approachable.
To help you find the perfect pair, scroll down to see some of the best white sneakers you can get online (or in the mall if that’s how you roll, grandpa).

Common Projects

The king of them all—the Achilles Low has a minimalist, logo-free design (read: bullshit free) and looks very luxe.  It’s the grown-up man’s sneakers.  (Can someone gift me a pair this Christmas? I’m size 40, thanks!)
Common Projects Original Achilles Low.  Get it from SSENSE.

Maison Martin Margiela

It’s not entirely white but if you’re into army trainers then this is for you.  It is very chic in a retro kind of way.

Maison Martin Margiela Replica Sneakers.  Get it from SSENSE.

Converse

Cuffed jeans and high top Chucks. ‘Nuff said.

Or you can opt for the low-cut version if that’s more your style.

Converse_CTConverse Chuck Taylor All Star High Top Sneakers.  Get it from Amazon.

Adidas

Get this if leather or canvas is not your thing and if you want something that looks more sporty.
Adidas Originals NMD R1 Primeknit Sneakers.  Get it from Stylebop.

Acne Studios

Another no-nonsense pair.  Very straightforward and I like the contrast of the white leather against the thick gum sole.
Acne Studios White Adrian Sneakers.  Get it from SSENSE.

Valentino

Again, an option that is not “all-white”.  The bold color stripe lifts up this shoe to the next level.  Get it in your favorite color.
Valentino Garavani Open Sneakers.  Get it from SSENSE.
 ***
Oh, and to those who have some degree of self-control left in them (please ignore if you don’t), it’s Black Friday in a few days so you know what that means.  😉
B3W

Would You Wear This? | Thibaut’s “Thong” Jeans

Fashion

Who is it for?  Someone who loves jeans and at the same time, being naked?  Where would you wear this to?  Is it a millennial thing?  Am I too old to understand and appreciate this style?  So many questions ran through my head when I first saw online photos of the aptly named “Thong Jeans” from new designer Thibaut during Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo.  And they are still unanswered up to now.

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Front view. Photo from Shutterstock

And *gasp*

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Back view. Photo from Shutterstock

Maybe you can wear this for next year’s Halloween?  Or to an event with a post-nuclear war as a theme?  What do you think?

B3W

Will You Grow A Moustache This November?

Fashion, Lifestyle

You should.

To raise awareness of men’s health issues, an annual event is being held and ran by the Movember Foundation since 2004.  The organization’s aim is to reduce the number of preventable deaths among men—be it cancer or mental health issue—by increasing the rate of early disease detection, accurate diagnosis and effective treatments.  Their website contains a wealth of information—from the causes they are pushing for to interesting trivia to styling and grooming tips—so do me a favor and click this link.

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The idea is simple:  Show your support and involvement by signing up at https://ex.movember.com/ , growing your moustache (not your beard!) for 30 days and helping to raise funds for the (worthy) causes the foundation is advocating.  The task is not difficult.  You just need to stay away from your razor (or clipper) until the end of November.  That’s it!  Minimal effort required and you get to promote awareness among family and friends.  Not to mention the money you will save from buying creams and aftershave cologne—it’s a win-win!  Hehe.

From a style perspective, the mo is making a comeback and currently a fashionable look for guys (please don’t wear it with flared pants or you’ll be in retro land!) .  It may be off-putting to some (hello, creepy) and have a dated quality to it but if you manage to pull this off, you’ll be the coolest guy anybody would want to hang out with.  I can see this look good with pieces from H&M’s collaboration with Erdem—a perfect contrast of masculine and feminine.  But since having one can be a hit or miss, the Movember initiative is a great way to determine whether the ‘stache is for you or not.

Here are some styles you may want to try.

Try out the chevron or if you want to unleash your inner hipster, go for the handlebar (the latter may require you more than a month to grow so that means commitment).  Yalla! Make the month of November count.  Grow those whiskers and be the difference in a man’s life.

 

B3W

H&M x Erdem | A Floral Explosion

Fashion

For the first time ever, Erdem Moralioglu designed a collection for men and based on the photos released by H&M, it doesn’t disappoint and will be a hit among the fashionable bunch.  This year’s designer collaboration focuses on the romantic—think florals, tweeds and a bit of ruffles.  The collection has a hint of androgyny that I really like.  Very dandy, I must say.  And the styling reminds me of Dries Van Noten, one of my favorite Belgian designers.

While not every piece in the collection is Doha-appropriate, there are a lot to choose from especially that we are starting to feel the drop in temperature.  This is not something a regular Doha guy will wear but if you want to make a statement, these clothes are fool-proof and a definite conversation starter.  You’ll probably get a side-eye or two but who cares, right?  If you love what you’re wearing and you feel you look good in it, damn the bashers.  LOL.

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Pyjama party, anyone?

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That bright blue sweater is calling me

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I NEED this shirt!

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Mohair jumpers x Ruffled shirt = love

The collaboration hits both physical and online stores on November 2 so you better put that in your calendar and line up early if you don’t want to end up empty-handed.  These items will be snatched up in seconds for sure!

 

B3W

In The Mood For Denim

Fashion

As Doha transitions to cooler weather, a wardrobe change is in order. Now is the time to take your coats and jumpers out from wherever you’re keeping them so you’ll be ready once the temperature drops.

I’m a Manila boy so I didn’t invest in cold weather garbs before coming here but since Qatar winters are not like Canada’s, a sweater or a light jacket will suffice.  If you don’t have one yet, a jean jacket would be a nice addition to your clothes arsenal.  It’s light, casual and Doha weather appropriate which means layering is possible without the worry of looking and feeling stuffy.

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Photo grabbed from The Garment District

Denim is made of cotton so you know it can breathe and can be dyed in a wide range of colors.  It comes in different thickness too so depending on how you can tolerate the cold is just a matter of preference.  In terms of styling, denim clothing is versatile.  You can even wear this material to work!  Like this for example:

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Eidos Slim-Fit Unstructured Herringbone Denim Blazer at Mr. Porter

Personally, I like the distressed (not extreme though) look as the frays and abrasions exude more character—it has that lived-in vibe (without looking beggarly) that I really love.

 

DENIM JACKET

The Classic.  Levi’s Distressed Denim Jacket at Mr. Porter

How about these trucker jackets?

Did I inspire you to get one?  I know I did. =)

 

B3W

 

 

 

Is The Balenciaga x Crocs Collab A Joke?

Fashion

First of all, I love Demna Gvasalia.  Vetements had that impact when it first came to the scene—it was progressive, unexpected, and he challenged how we usually perceive fashion. For example, his take on Levi’s is fresh and it gives out an effortless vibe.

And while he did a 360-degree turn as far as designing Balenciaga, his collections for the house showed his strength in precision tailoring and creating high impact looks since he took over the brand.  Fast forward to now—the Crocs.

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Photos grabbed from Vogue.com

Gvasalia reimagined the Crocs as a platform sandal complete with plastic pins (for customization options).  It looks clunky and doesn’t elevate the dresses it was paired with.  I am all for juxtaposition but the thing with matching opposing elements is that they are either a hit or a miss.  And this did not hit the mark for me.  They don’t look practical.  Some fashionistas may argue otherwise and I will agree to some extent but this is borderline ridiculous.  Sorry, I’m not sorry.

Sure, there is a market for these quirky clogs—I’m thinking the Japanese can pull this off with their eccentric and offbeat approach to fashion, the Balenciaga faithfuls, and maybe some who are drawn to the novelty of it.  Whatever rocks your boat, right?

I am not a hater but I was never a fan of Crocs.  Never had one and I don’t plan on acquiring a pair ever.  I don’t care how comfortable they are because they look so tacky—not my cup of tea.  And I don’t think I’m the only one who has this opinion about this footwear.  What do you say?  Do you like this collab between Balenciaga and Crocs?  Did it make you excited?  Would you wear one?

B3W