Acne Studio - hidden door panels and oversized knobs.

The spanking new Acne Studio in NYC's Soho has been generating considerable chat over the past week and rightly so, I feel, when I pore over these delectable images so representative of the Swedish brand's Scandinavian quiet cool. The store or, if you would rather 'studio', now occupies the place where another vein of quiet cool, albeit of a more dark and stern nature, once resided, that of Plokhov's Cloak.

I include Q+A with creative director Jonny Johannsson courtesy of Refinery29...

How long has this store been in the works?
Forever, I think. It's more or less one of the first or second things that you think of [as a designer].

When you imagined the "perfect New York store," what came to mind?
For me personally, it has a lot to do with having a really great relationship with Opening Ceremony, that's why it's here in this space right now. And also, I've always been drawn to this area of New York. When I used to come here when I was young, I'd always go to Canal Street to pick up ugly things!

Is this shop similar to your others?
Every store is different. They're all kind of individual, but they're also united by this feeling of being unfinished, a little bit of a work in progress, portraying an art-photo studio kind of feel. But for all our stores, our colors are light and powdery, and Andreas and I do the furniture design together. Our brand is a platform for doing lots of different things.

Any chance you'll eventually be selling your own furnishings and objects in the shop?
Yes, it's a great possibility.

Can you point out a few details you're particularly pleased with?

These knobs [on the wall], are based on typical Swedish doorknobs, oversized on purpose and made by a well-known Swedish glass designer who is also a friend of mine, Ingere Rädmam. When we sit down and have coffee, she's always saying things like, 'Jonny why do you always decorate the front of the woman and not the back?' She's just a really interesting person, and to me that's inspiring.

Acne Studio can be found at 10 Greene Street, NYC.

Images from Refinery29[by Piera Gelardi] and Men's Style

VMAN.com and FORD Model Search 2008

For all the budding Seans, Ryans and Evandros out there...




More info HERE.

Images from Vman

Trustfund Triumvirate

Ok, so the topic at hand here may not be the most menswear-relevant but having spent several hours during the past few days enthralled in the earlier episodes of Gossip Girl, I just have to. The exceedingly popular series, which centres on the antics and troubles of NYC Upper East Side's school-going elite is quite pleasurable to watch, especially considering its wealth(no pun intended) of sartorial excellence and characters epitomising innate NY class. Never have the male denomination of a TV series been so obsessed with dress and, I must admit, I love it.



Simply smart with a subtle, romantic flourish on the tie.



That NY casual cool demonstrated immaculately.

Even their school attire is covetable.

Or is it just their covetable genes that do the trick? What do you reckon?

Images from Gossip Girl Insider

VMAN, Vogue Hommes and a refreshed L'Uomo Vogue

Just a brief update on the latest publications in an attempt to keep you all informed...and I call myself a blogger...

Vogue Hommes International - Josh Beech by Hedi Slimane



An entire issue devoted to all things erotique, don't say you're not drooling to get your hands on a copy, phwoar!

VMAN - Ashton Kutcher by Mario Testino



Disappointing, disappointing oh and painfully average.

-UDATE-

L'Uomo Vogue March - Louis Garrel by Bruce Weber



Redemption. It's a beautiful thing, finally...

Images from TFS

CFDA Nominees 2008

Thom Browne

It's that time of year again, yes the nominations for the 2008 CFDA Awards have been released and I, for one, am pleased with the array in the main Menswear category.

Two of the top T(h)oms in the industry, Tom Ford and Thom Browne are both named, accompanied by one Michael Bastian, he of the fondness for fusion of NY casual class, British quirk and Tokyo kitsch. I find it quite difficult to choose a definitive deserver but instinctively approach Thom Browne. Such 'circus-freak' theatricality, if at times contrived, is to be commended when achieved in menswear. Anyway, Ralph Lauren won the award twice at least and that was hardly deserving...

The nominees for the somewhat less prestigious award - as is often the case - showcase oodles more talent. Patrik Ervell, Tim Hamilton and Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders have all been nominated for the Swarovski Award for Menswear. My pick? Again, it's an immensely tough call but the crisp yet meltingly attractive hue of gold shown by Ervell has me hooked.

Your nominations?



Patrik Ervell



Tim Hamilton



Band of Outsiders

France beckons! Unfortunately, no more posts 'til Monday!

Images from Men's Style

Denim Dispatches

Someone's fetching Cheap Monday's

These are good days for denim. High-street giant H&M has just bought out Fabric Scandinavien which owns Cheap Monday - the much-adored casual label - and plans to expand the brand and generally, broaden its horizons. Sounds sincere but considering the crux of business is profit, I'm not so sure. Still, more Cheap Monday can only be good. Note that the big-time retailer will not alter Cheap Monday's designs and doesn't plan to sell the wares in H&M stores.



Acne Gentleman's Jeans

Additionally, one of my favourite magazine editors has just tried his hand at denim design. Yes, the delightfully direct, butt-loving Gert Jonkers of Fantastic Man and BUTT was consulted for the production of Acne's latest line - Gentleman's Jeans. Fantastic Man's art director, Jop van Bennekom, also chipped in and the results, I can say, at least look great, I'm ignorant regarding the fit unfortunately. Try the creased jeans for yourself at Colette and Acne.

UPDATE: "Let it hang!" - Victoria Beckham's detestation of skinny jeans on men leads to mens denim under the dVb label. More here.

Images from Slamxhype and Picsaweb

Fujiwanna

Apologies for the serious lack of postage these past few days, mock exams have proved themselves tiresome and taxing, however-and thankfully, finite.





As often happens with myself and brand names, I was vaguely familiar with guilianoFujiwara but could not recall any trademarks or remember any looks from recent seasons, or any seasons whatsoever for that matter. My attention has been drawn to the Japanese-headed, Milan-based menswear brand thanks to a savvy Male-Mode reader who was kind enough to alert me.

A few brief moments browsing the lush site leads to speedy satiation of my daily requirement of flash-fash sites. The enveloping black, crisp white and shots of scarlet red remind me I need to make browsing of designers' sites more regular.

And the clothes. Well, the FW 0809 collection boasts structurally austere pieces in deep blacks amongst those in brightest citrus orange. Accessories are definitely variegated and contrast beautifully; squatty ties, elongated slim belts and a compact sports bag reminiscent of space-bound capsules.

Masataka Matsumura, creative director, has also ingeniously included such a wide variety of textures and fabrics, chinchilla to sheepskin, alpaca to Plexiglas. What was intended as an artist's exploration of the origins of "hip-hop" has yielded more than I had anticipated.

Images from ModaOnline