Designer Spotlight: Narendra Kumar

Cities |  Mumbai | 

Fashion designer Narendra Kumar has a long history in the world of fashion and style.

His fashion career began when he was the founding fashion editor for Elle India and following that, he mentored and taught college courses about fashion. This background prepped him for his journey into fashion design. Narendra Kumar launched his first collection in 2000 and it was an immediate success.

His clothes are widely popular due to their perfect lines, fit and cut, showcasing Nari´s (many in India refer to him as Nari) refined tailoring work. He is innovative and modern, yet stays true to his Indian roots. He´s been involved in several fashion weeks, including LA fashion week and Australia Fashion week. His work has been featured in several Bollywood projects and been worn by famous Indian celebs such as John Abraham, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra and Saif Ali Khan.

Nari is the brand ambassador for Swiss Air, and has created looks for their signature SWISS calendar since 2009. He has also designed exclusive collections for Debenhams and Westside. Recently, he has collaborated with Mattel to design an exclusive kidswear line for their Hot Wheels Extreme brand. Nari also helps with corporate clothing projects for companies such as HSBC bank and Unilever.

Narenda Kumar has also been the recipient of many prestigious awards such as MTV´s Breakthrough Designer of the Year. His products include not only menswear, but womenswear, couture, Indo-Western, bridal and ethnic items.

You can visit his shop in Mumbai at this location:

Store Address: Dhariya Apts, Ground Floor, Near Madhu Park, 11th road, Khar (W), Mumbai- 400052.

Tel: 65224842

For more information, visit the Narendra Kumar Website, Facebook page or follow Nari on Twitter.

Photos from the Narendra Kumar Facebook Page.

Posted by: Lori

 

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Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York City

Cities |  New York | 

Excessive snow and winds didn´t stop Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York City from happening this year. Many fashion lovers trekked through severe weather conditions to see this year´s Fall/Winter 2013 runway shows. Michael Kors even showed up in Uggs (gasp!).

In spite of the weather, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York City brought to light some fabulous new collections and debuted some new menswear trends as well.

This season on the catwalks the baggier, fuller cut pant made an appearance. This wider leg pant often popped up in which otherwise seems to be a more tailored outfit-a suit or coordinated trousers and dress shirt. It also showed up in a few unique ways: first, there is the ¨fuller wide leg all the way down¨ look (Alton’s favorite) which we see with Marc Jacobs (note the beautiful red top coat), Lacoste and Libertine.

Baggy Pant Marc Jacobs, Lacoste, Libertine

Then we have the ¨baggy at the top slimmer at the bottom¨ look, which worn with the right outfit can absolutely work. Here are some options from Perry Ellis, Roberto Seco and Robert Gellar.

Baggy Top Slim Bottom Perry Ellis, Ricardo Seco, Robert Gellar

Both baggier styles provide an interesting new tweak to the otherwise basic suit or tailored outfit.

In contrast, if the pant isn´t baggy, it´s super tight and/ or cuffed. I saw very little ´straight leg´ this season.

David Hart (2) and Marc Jacobs (1)

Utilzing the skinny pant gives a fresh look to these three 1970´s style patterned and bright colored suits. The first two by David Hart and the oxblood by Marc Jacobs, these designers are putting a modern twist on a previous trend.

Cuffed Pants by Nautica, Todd Snyder, Raif Adelberg, Y-3

The cool thing about the cuff is that you can cuff the straight leg pant, the skinny pant OR the baggy pant, as shown above by the Nautica straightleg (well, borderline baggy!), the Todd Snyder skinny pant, the Raif Adelbergn baggy pant and the Y-3 baggy pant. (For help cuffing the Best Dressed Man on the Planet way, refer back to previous post Cuff ´Em).

If you want to be on trend, make it wide leg, baggy, or skintight, maybe with a cuff.

All images from the offical Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York City Photo Gallery. 

Posted By: Lori

 

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080 Barcelona Fashion

Barcelona |  Cities |  Madrid | 

The 11th edition of 080 Barcelona Fashion was an impressive three day run of fashion shows and events. This edition boasted several menswear designers and collections, some of which were pretty spectacular. Trending for autumn/winter 2013: knitwear, layering, volume, and of course the trusty black and grey color scheme.

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Jan Iú Més for Punto Blanco shows some warm, baggy knits, cottons, and linens, all while staying within a basic color scheme of gray, black, beige and white.  The looks are casual and low- key but with a sexy, touseled touch.

Slazenger brightens things up with more tailored, preppy London- style looks. The collection, ¨Heritage¨ features sweaters and knits, but with more form fitting pants. It includes accessories like hats, fingerless gloves and cuffed pants with patterned socks to spice up a dull wintery day.

Torras brings us back to basics with knits, leather, and of course the signature grey, black and blue colors. The ¨Black Torras Collection¨ which is aptly named for it´s color scheme, is a minimalist collection aiming for simplicity, elegance, quality and austerity.

Brain & Beast is a relatively new line of menswear created in 2010 by three spanish designers: Angel Vilda, Ceasar Olivar and Veronica Raposo. The pieces are designed with a geometrical thought process and a structural simplicity. The collection is quite different than most of the more basic looks we´ve seen so far at 080 Barcelona Fashion, and it has a fun and exciting twist to it.

Josep Abril, founded in 1996 by you guessed it, Josep Abri himeself, is a successful menswear line that has walked catwalks in Barcelona and Madrid for several years. The collection shows the trending fall colors of grey and black, but with interesting layers and volume, and a unique pattern here and there.

Images from the 080 Barcelona Fashion Facebook page 

Posted by: Lori

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Leform Boutique

Cities |  Moscow | 

Leform Boutique, a multi-brand shop, opened it´s doors in Moscow in 1997. This was really first store of its kind in Russia. When it opened almost 16 years ago, Leform boutique sought to provide original, unique clothes amongst a sea filled with high- end designer chain stores. Back in 2009 the shop was named the best luxury multi-brand store in Russia. Fast forward to 2013, where Leform is thriving via their strong following of celebrities, hipsters, business men, bohemians, and even students.

The boutique is not limited just to menswear but also carries homewares and items for women as well. Some of it´s most popular brands hail from far away lands, such as Dirk Bikkembergs, Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, and Dirk Van Saene from Belgium, Junia Watanabe, Rei Kawakubo and Yoshiki Hishinuma from Japan and Helmut Lang from Austria, just to name a few.

Whether you are looking for elegant, classic, trendy, or casual, Leform Boutique has it all. The clear, modern store set up will help you find what you are looking for quickly and easily.

There are two Leform Boutique locations in Moscow.

35/28, Povarskaya str. +7-495-691-8220
7, Dmitrovsky per. +7-495-660-0280

High top shoes from Leform BoutiqueSummer outfit from Leform BoutiqueLeather and stripes at Leform Boutiquecolorful sweaters at Leform BoutiqueImages from Leform Boutique  Facebook page

Posted By: Lori

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Agi and Sam

London Collections Menswear

Cities |  London | 

Fashion is art and fashion week is the vernissage.

The reigning fashion capital, London has long been known for its creativity.  Although it is only the second season where menswear has been given its own individual platform separate from London Fashion week, London has established itself as a city with opinions worth listening to in the realm of men’s fashion.

Savile Row has long held the crown internationally for its traditional men’s style. Here on The golden mile of tailoring anyone is welcome to have a bespoke tailored suit made to perfection, provided they can foot the bill.

Re-inventing and contemporising the traditional idea of tailoring are the brands Orschel-Read, Oliver Spencer and Jaewan Park. Whether it’s Jaewan Park’s Surrealist touch or Orschel-Reads jacquard prints and bold colours, the heritage fundamentals are still present and make these brands the ideal choice for a modern day gentleman.

London Collections Menswear Jaewan Park, Orschel-Read

Jaewan Park and Orschel-Read

Oliver Spencer in particular is a master at dressing real men. While most fashion shows feature models who have entered the fountain of youth with cheek bones that could cut bullet-proof glass, his casting was far more inclusive of the varied types, and ages of men.

London Collections: Menswear

Oliver Spencer

Another brand which illustrated diversity with casting (even featuring a smartly dressed beagle) was Agi and Sam. Well known for their witty prints, colourful plaid and snappy tailoring they will be a name to remember. This season they have taken the traditional English Countryside attire, rolled it through East London and the result, bohemian aristocrat.

London Collections: Menswear

Agi and Sam

Taking inspiration from the unique personal style of John Waters, designer James Long has created an idiosyncratic take on men’s casual wear. His collection featured lavishly embellished jumpers, densely worked knits and quilted leather bomber jackets using deep yellows, greens and browns.

London Collections: Menswear

James Long

Pushing the boundaries is not something London designers are afraid of. That being said, J.W. Anderson’s collection saw the gender line and sprinted across it. A brilliantly bold collection featuring men dressed in bandeau tops, ruffled shorts and dresses also featured more wearable coats, jumpers and trousers.

London Collections: Menswear

J.W. Anderson

Orange is a colour seen in almost every collection. But for those who prefer a minimal look, Lee Roach is a designer worth noting. Buckle details on the otherwise unembellished black, white and navy collection suited the slender aesthetic. Even from a distance the focus on quality is evident.

London Collections: Menswear

Lee Roach

To summarise the second London Collections: Men’s is difficult. In London there is a constant dance between safe and unsafe, heritage and contemporary, street style and high end, yet always a focus on quality and that is why it is the fashion capital. Unlike London’s neighbours on the mainland, people aren’t afraid of fashion. Whatever your taste, London has something for you.

(All images courtesy of British Fashion Council)

Posted By: Emma Pulbrook

 

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Soho Style in Buenos Aires

Buenos Ares |  Cities | 

Buenos Aires is sometimes said to be the Paris of South America and with good reason. The city takes on a European vibe, much different than its southern hemisphere counterparts, and whose inhabitants look for fashion which is hip, trendy and tailor fit. Although the city is large with many distinctive neighborhoods, look no further than the cobblestone streets of Palermo SoHo when hoping to mingle with the fashion-forward.

Aptly named for its similarities to the famous SoHo (South of Houston Street) in New York City, the streets are filled with an assortment of options ranging from upscale boutiques to national brand retailers. The atmosphere overall is quaint and bustling young fashionistas shop eagerly to find the hottest locally-designed and brand label fashions while stopping for coffee or lunch at one of the many outdoor cafes.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with where to begin, however, here are a few highlighted local boutiques that will have you dressing like a porteño in no time!

Felix

Gurruchaga 1670 (El Salvador y Honduras)

4832-2994

www.felixba.com.ar

This go-to boutique outfits some of the most fashion-minded and trend men of Buenos Aires. With collections ranging from graphic T-shirts to tartan and velvet sport jackets, the brick-walled interior of this popular boutique is sure to have you dressing with the best of them. So try on a pair of skinny trousers, grab a fitted blazer or pop on a pair of vintage sneakers before heading out to the coolest spots of the Buenos Aires nightlife.

El Burgués

Gurruchaga 1743 (Costa Rica y El Salvador)

4834-6880

www.elburgues.com

If you’re looking for a bit more uptown style, look no further than El Burgués, Weather you’re on your way to high tea, or heading to the polo club, this designer collection dresses to impress. If the interior’s wall-mounted deer head or grand piano does not shock you, the prices might. Although a bit steep, the quality at this hot spot is there to match, as well as the attentive and friendly staff who are happy to assist. If footwear is more your vice, be sure to check out their incredible collection with everything from wingtips to handcrafted leather boots. Or stop by the new branch location focused sole-ly on footwear right down the street at Gurruchaga1638.

Photo: www.blackbookmag.com

 Garcon Garcia

Honduras 4702 (Malabia)

4831-6297

www.garcongarcia.com.ar

European trends are all the rage here in Buenos Aires, and that is no exception for this Argentine label. Clean and simple looks make the fashion timeless, yet infused with lots of the current trends of men’s nautical striping, colorful swim trunks and tailor fit v-neck T’s. So if you’re off to a traditional Argentine asado or heading out on the riverboats with friends, pick up a your preppy silhouettes and accessories at one of their two Palermo SoHo locations.

Photo: Garcon Garcia Spring 2012 Lookbook

Boliva 

Gurruchaga 1581 (Nicaragua)

4832-6284

www.boliviaparatodos.com.ar

If you’re searching for a downtown look, head to this wooded, funky space for owner-designed, local fashions. Each has a personal, handcrafted touch that will allow you to fit in while still standing out With its simple style, but pops of unique color and pattern, the style ranges from V-neck sweaters to zip-up sweatshirts and distressed, contemporary button-downs. So slip on their staple, modern military jacket with a pair of lace up boots and head out the door feeling like a porteño!

Posted By: Rachel M.G.

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After Christmas Sale Shopping in New Orleans

Alton Barber Journal |  Cities |  Other |  Thrift Etiquette | 

Spending some time down south(USA) for the holidays, I had plans to do some after Christmas sale shopping in New Orleans on December 26, 2012. I was staying at the Loew’s Hotel on Poydras St. which is a short walk to Canal Place Shopping Mall. My favorite place for after Christmas sale shopping in New Orleans is Saks. How do I know?…I’ve done this sale many times.

It’s not New York City, so it’s a smaller store. For the fewer more stylish guys in this smaller market, there are many wonderful items to choose from after Christmas and less competition for them. This season did not disappoint, as there were lots of great pieces to desire.

I got up early on the 26th and walked over as they were opening the doors. My strategy for this sale is to quickly peruse the racks looking for complementary pieces to round out my wardrobe. I pushed and pushed racks, collecting pieces for a couple hours.

What did I pick up?

Hugo Boss Orange Label Navy Jacket from Saks

Hugo Boss Orange label navy jacket. Great fit and concept.

Vince bd Black Sweater Saks

Vince Double breasted sweater in black.

I have this exact sweater in navy, and like the fit and look so much I had to have it in black. Here is a case where patience paid off, because I had seen this sweater in Saks Chevy Chase, but decided not to spring for it at the regular price. Saved some lunch money!

MK Pinstripe Jacket Saks

Michael Kors Flannel pinstripe Jacket with zip in lining. A cool look to keep warm.

MK Sweater Jacket

Michael Kors sweater jacket. A unique piece.

Gucci Patent Leather Shoe

Gucci Formal black patent shoe.

Suede Lace Up Boot

Suede lace up boot in brown.

Bally Red Driving Slippers

Bally Italian driving slipper in red to match my red Italian sports car.

I’m pleased with my purchases at Saks, as each piece is wonderful and at these prices a great value. A couple I never would have bought at this point, if they weren’t aggressively on sale. I spent a couple grand yet saved about a grand. Not bad.

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Menswear Shopping in Singapore at Ed et al

Alton Barber Journal |  Cities |  Intrepid Executive |  Singapore | 

For a break from a 38th parallel Northern hemisphere December, Singapore is a great destination. Well, once I got there anyway. For you intrepid executives out there, I did DCA-JFK-HND-SIN, 23 hours out and SIN-NRT-JFK-DCA, 31 hours(extended layover at Narita) on the return flight. Got rained on a bit while there as well, but the weather was mostly great compared to what I left in DC.

I chose the Grand Hyatt on Scotts Road because I wanted to be near the main shopping district on Orchard Road. After an afternoon and night of sleep to recalibrate, the next day I got out and walked around Orchard Road. The street was bustling and everyone was out, all social and economic strata. I popped in a few of the malls on the street, and saw all of the usual suspects…venerable global brands that you would find in NYC or London. I know that I overlooked them or didn’t know where to look, but I didn’t see much in the way of mens boutiques that was unique or remarkable. (I later had drinks with my B-school buddy Laurent, a fellow BDMOTP who now lives there, and he mentioned a couple nice boutiques but I didn’t get to check them out this trip…next time)

Orchard Road 2

Although not in the Orchard Road district, I heard about a custom shoe boutique, ed et al, and wanted to make certain that I visited before leaving Singapore. I took a 15 minute taxi ride out and found it on the side of what seems to be a small apparel mart called The Mill.

EdEtAlInt1SM

EdEtAlInt3SM

I took a look around the shop then spent a little time with the owner of the boutique, Edwin Neo. He gave me the basics on the different product lines and the particulars of their custom made(from S$800) and bespoke(from S$1500 + one time S$1000 last) shoe processes.

EdEtAlLastSM

Bespoke is a pretty straightforward process, but you need to be in the city for a few days to come back for multiple fitting. This was a problem for me, as I was flying the next day with no plans to return.

EdEtAlInt2SM

Not to worry, there are many wonderful off the rack shoes to choose from for a realtime purchase. To make sure I saw as much of the line as possible, everything is not on display in the boutique, a salesperson brought me a catalog and offered a drink. Several styles caught my eye as I sipped a bottle of water, but a taupe lace up boot really stood out. I tried them, they looked great, are well made, and are a reasonable price(S$350.) so I bought them.

EdEtAlBoot2SM EdEtAlBoot1SM

 

I thanked Edwin for a wonderful experience and promised to see him for a bespoke appointment on my next visit to beautiful Singapore.
EdEtAlShakeSM
EdEtAlExtSM
EdEtAlTheMillSM
The next time you are in Singapore, visit with Edwin at ed et al, and make sure you tell him that Alton from BDMOTP suggested you stop by.
ed et al @ The Mill
5B, Jalan Kilang
Singapore 159405
HP: (+65) 8383 2685
Skype: edetal
edwin@edetal.sg
Tips
1. The shop is on a small side street, so make sure to plot the location on a map to hand to your driver beforehand.
2. Ask to see their catalogs, as everything that is available is not on display in the store.
3. Remember, if you want a bespoke, make certain you can arrange multiple fittings.

While at The Mill, I stumbled upon a custom tailor, Kevin Seah Bespoke, in the building and popped in to take a look at their offerings. They did very nice work, had some nice linen pieces on display, but a bit pricey for a whim purchase. However, it is certainly a place I’ll plan a proper visit to on my next trip to Singapore and will also check out on Facebook.

KevinSeah1SM

KevinSeah2SM KevinSeah3SM

Finally, after grabbing a bite (in some mall, I don’t recall the name), I came across a wonderful Asian textile company by the name of Sahib. They had some of the nicest shirts I have seen in the most beautiful fabrics. I was rushing so I did’t buy anything, but will certainly plan a visit again. These shirts could be the focal point of any ensemble. They also had a host of other interesting items, including storage trunks, and some womenswear as well.

Sahib1SM Sahib2SM Sahib3SM Sahib4SM Sahib5SM Sahib6SM

Plan to visit these boutiques when in Singapore. It is worth your time.

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Cosmo Colanna Shoes

Shopping Guide to La Bella Roma

Cities |  Rome | 

Italy, without a doubt, is a utopia for shoppers. Between Milan and Rome, you can find multiple shops for every high- end european designer that has ever existed, not to mention millions of tiny boutiques. The problem is, with so many options, where do you even start? My solution is this shopping guide to la bella roma. I advise you to head towards the smaller places. You can find a Prada or Gucci in large cities all over the world-but Italy is a fashion- foward shopper´s paradise for quality cashmere, leather, silk, etc and so sometimes the smaller places is where you can find the most original and quality items, especially in Rome.

Again, with so much amazing shopping, things can get overwhelming, so here is a brief shopping guide to La Bella Roma to lead you to some of the best smaller shops in Italy.

George´s

First off I discovered George´s Boutique, which also has a separate shop for women down the street.

It immediately caught my eye and it was packed with customers, which is always a good sign. Open since 1975, George´s offers several Italian brands, among other international ones, such as Tagliatore, Buttero, Mauro Grifoni and more. They have especially fantastic selection of coats with many different styles to choose from.

 

For more information visit George´s Website or Facebook page.

Location: Via del Pantheon 58

Hours: Mon 10:30-7:30 Tues-Sat 10:00-7:30 Sun 3:00-8:00

All photos images from Georges Facebook Page.

Ripense

The next stop on my shopping list was Ripense.

Ripense is the perfect place because it´s not only a boutique but a taylor as well. They will alter anything you purchase and also things you bring in. According to the owner of Ripense, the shop is for the ¨sophisticated and assertive gentleman, crazy for details. A place devoted to the man looking for something not merely beautiful but also of superior quality and able to convey and enhance his identity¨.

For more information visit the Ripense Website.

Location: Via di Ripetta N. 38

Kiton

Onward and upward to Kiton…a mens suit boutique where you won´t likely find a discount, but you will find skillfully and masterfully constructed suits. Each suit, according to the rules of the Neapolitan tailoring school, are constructed piece by piece for a sleek and well fit look. Unlike the others, this store has locations in many countries, so be sure to check and see if there is one near you!

For more information visit the Kiton website.

Location:  Via del Bauino 130

Cosimo Colonna

Finally I headed over to my last stop, Cosimo Colonna. This large shop has pretty much whatever you might need-Lardini suits and jackets, Hackett shirts, even Gallo socks. What specifically caught my eye were the wool-like ties, they seemed very unique!

 

They currently don´t have a website-so just go pay them a visit!

Location: Via Uffici del Vicario, 53

 

All four of these shops are easily walkable…so start in the Centro Storico and work your walk up and around to the Piazza Spagna to hit all four.

Happy Shopping!

Posted By: Lori

 

 

 

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POSTED IN | Cities, Rome
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Dolores Promesas Launches New Menswear Line

Barcelona |  Cities |  Madrid |  Thrift Etiquette | 

Fashion forward boutique Dolores Promesas (founded by Dolores herself) is a trendy yet affordable chain of boutique shops in Spain.

In 2005, Dolores created her first womenswear line exclusively for her friends and 2006, she lauched a public collection that was very successful. Six years, later, you can find Dolores Promesas stores all over Spain, and better yet-this fall she has launched a menswear line for the very first time.

One of the standouts of this brand is that all the production is done in Spain, which is very unique in the fashion world today. Almost everything nowadays is made in Asia, so it´s nice to buy something locally created and produced.

The Dolores Promesas stores are merchandised in a whimsical, elegant manner which makes you feel as if you are going to a tea party. It makes for a very pleasant shopping experience, for both men and women alike.

The menswear collection will be present in all of the Dolores Promesas boutiques throughout Spain and is functional, casual, comfortable and classic.  The line has an underlying 70´s vibe to it, and Dolores always likes to use patterns and different types of buttons and detailing to add a little extra ¨kick¨ to the clothes.  Her signature t-shirts will also be available in men’s silhouettes and sizes-which include a shirt with her screen-printed face on it, one with a sketch of a her dog, Tula, and ones that say her signature quotes ¨Cupable de Quererte¨(Guilty of Loving you) and ¨Prometo Serte Fiel¨ ( I vow to be true to you).

To view more of the mens Fall-Winter 2012-2013 Collection or find store locations (three in Madrid, two in Barcelona, and more throughout Spain), visit the Dolores Promesas Website. 

 

Prices:

Tshirt 39.90 euros

Tan Blazer 164.90 euros

Navy Sweater 148.90 euros

Black Trousers 89.90 euros

Posted By: Lori

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POSTED IN | Barcelona, Cities, Madrid, Thrift Etiquette
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