Style Icon: Alex Turner

A good friend once told me that the distinctive fashion darling – more commonly known as Alexa Chung – had no choice but to end her four year relationship with her boyfriend, Alex Turner, due to his incomparable dress sense. Ultimately, it seems, he was beating her to the spotlight.

The English guitarist and frontman of Arctic Monkeys is nothing less than a special, one-of-a-kind musician, whose choice in clothing ranges from leather inspired, indie rock jackets to vintage prep and mod pieces. Alex is just one of very few artists to both rejuvenate and pull off the mop-top hair cut with great ease and confidence. Throughout his music career, the varied usage of guitars and studio recording equipment is paramount and of top quality. Equally, his choice of threads is as parallel and impressive.

If you were to search for ‘Alex Turner fashion’ on Google, you would need both time and patience on your hands. The quantities of ‘in-trend’ and ‘this season’ collections which feature him are beyond any other musical style icons I have previously covered. More than an entire generation of both male and female Alex Turner/Arctic Monkeys fans will project their praise and admiration for the young gentlemen’s voice, mannerisms and chic dress sense.

When Arctic Monkeys released their debut album, ‘Whatever people say I am, that’s what I’m not’, NME Magazine declared the album the ‘5th greatest British album of all time’. This piece of work resulted in the band receiving awards for Best British Band, Best New Band and Best Track. The album’s title represents the classical attitude of a musician who holds confidence and self-belief, a trait many of us (including myself) crave – and lot’s of it.

Men’s Style Icon: Ne-Yo

Singer, songwriter, superstar and self-confident could all be used to describe perennial chart sensation Shaffer Smith or, as he is better known, Ne-Yo. While the above statement could be taken as a little brash, it is generally not too far from the truth as Ne-Yo has often demonstrated time and time again.

Mens Fashion Week: Dsquared Fall 2011 Collection

 Leather pants, wing-tip boots, plaid shirts, denim, tight-cut suit coats in black. The Canadian designers Dean and Dan Caten brave the cold in their latest collection based on the rough and ready life of early American settlers.

 The twins behind the DSquared label brought up the curtain on their own winter menswear show Tuesday to reveal a snow-laden hut immersed in the mountains.The collection of reassembled work wear was built around the apron, which in fashion terms becomes a vest. Heavy leather belts, suspenders and pioneer hats accessorized the look. Jeans, low slung and in wool denim are a winter must.

[via a man fashion]

Men’s Street Style – December 2010

The Tale of the Tie, the Scarf & the ‘Kerchief.
Gents, the festive season is here and with it brings a reason to show some flourish in your styling. And where else to draw inspiration than from the Italians – the men of Milan to be specific.

Milanese men are products of their culture – daring, audacious, gallant and sometimes cocky – and why shouldn’t they be? They have a great heritage, a wonderful culture, a history steeped in the arts, the occasional foray into Empire building, a cuisine that’s heralded worldwide, and a very sexy language in which to express pride in the land of their birth.

All this poise shows clearly, especially in their wardrobe. Don’t we love the Italian fashion sensibility! They’re unapologetic about colour and unabashedly flamboyant with their ties and scarfs.

Try it yourself this holiday season. Jazz up a navy jacket with a  yellow kerchief, crumpled with style and tucked into your jacket pocket. Throw a Burberry scarf over leather and match colours boldly – blue on blue, red on red.

Pick some out-of-the-world ties to enliven a formal outfit, mash together patterns and hues and if you’re in a confident mood, throw a silk scarf over an army jacket. Mix, match and release your inner matador!

And yeah, yeah, this IS the same website that featured an Aussie man scorning the scarf, but hey, if you can carry it off well, JUST DO IT!

Here at MenStylePower we’re great fans of the European style aesthetic – it’s so strongly masculine and brash yet unashamedly elegant, tasteful and modish. What class, what dazzle, what manly dash!

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Man Fashion: Common Silly Mistakes to Avoid in Mens Fashion

Some of us always been classified as special group of human being that are less fashion conscious by our opposite sex (except minority). Whether we like this statement or not, we do find some of the silly fashion mistakes that made by most of the men on the street. So we thought like share out just few with some of the readers here.

Novelty Tie? Come on, Pianos or guitars should never be depicted on a tie. We know Christmas is at the corner, but try to avoid anything with festive tag on to it.

Watch out for trousers! never be too short or too long. Rule of thumb is to rest hemlines of trousers on the laces of your shoes.

Do you still notice some suit with label on sleeve? Remove this unecessary label from the blazer of your suit immediately. We are not full models for fashion designers, we should be judge by the look and style, not by the brand! :)

Watch out for our next review on common silly mistakes in men fashion.
from here

Military Fashion for Guys 2011

This year, military fashion has gotten insanely popular—not only for gals, but also for guys. But the question is—what exactly does this entail? A coat is almost essential, especially a watch-coat. Make sure that your coat comes down past your knees. The colors that are most popular are khaki, grey, navy blue, and forest green. Pretty much anything that falls into the military category of colors fits in this category.

Pleated slacks are also fairly common for when you want to jazz things up. Pair them with a pair of black, shined dress shoes. For a shirt, choose a regular button-up and leave the top button unbuttoned for that rugged, yet neat look. Or button all the way up for something a little bit more clean cut.
Boots are in!

Boots are also fairly popular this year. You can wear them for pretty much any occasion and they also keep you warm and are perfect for any kind of weather.

The colors that are in this year mainly rotate around muted colors, such as khaki, navy blue, and green.

Also, remember that you don’t have to take these fashions and use them exactly as they are stated. You can take them and mix and match them and make them in to what you will. It only takes you a little bit of thought and effort to do this and in the end, the result is usually insanely pleasing! Just keep in mind that shorts don’t go with long jackets and you’re fine!

from here

Autumn/Winter 2010 Men’s Fashion Trend – Shearling Jackets

Introduction

Now as we step into September, it is time for all of us to look forward to the new trends that are going to be present throughout Autumn/Winter and see how we can incorporate them into our current wardrobe. You might need a complete revamp, or more likely you will just need to buy some key pieces which will keep your look up to date and fresh. So over the coming months, I am going to preview all the major trends that we will see within menswear throughout the rest of the year and into the start of next. I am going to try and approach them all without bias and just give you the facts, so you can make your own mind up and see if it is one you can incorporate into your personal style.

You should know that I take this site very seriously and read literally every style, fashion and lifestyle magazine you could possibly think of. I also do research online through the latest catwalk collections, as well as reading personal blogs related to fashion and the like. What this means is that I can spot strong trends which have a large backing within the fashion community, and those that are set to take off within the premium and high street retailers. Each year we are inundated with new trends which may develop, but more often than not, there are set strong trends that are given a twist each year (think military and nautical), and then some seasonal trends reported but which never come to fruition.

The first trend I am going to report this season is one that I am particularly fond of… Shearling Jackets.

The Shearling Trend

So first things first:

is a sheepskin or lambskin pelt that has gone through a limited shearing process to obtain a uniform depth of the wool fibres for a uniform look and feel.Wikipedia

So you know those fluffy sheep you see in the fields? Basically it is the sheepskin fur off their back which has undergone treatment and been used to line garments – typically outerwear through the collar and inside lining, in order to give you warmth and some very impressive detailing. The trend this year features jackets in all shapes, colours and materials, which are all set apart by the shearling lining. So you can find all your favourite types of jacket; from leather, to denim, to duffel coats and even the new camel overcoats all lined with this eye-catching detailing. It really is a statement maker, as you will see when you get to the catwalk images and product picks.
   All of the major publications have been reporting this trend in their Autumn/Winter previews and I think it is one that won’t be utilised on mass. This isn’t your typical easy to pull off check shirt trend or similar, it will only be picked up by those males who feel like it matches their personality and are confident enough to pull it off. This gives the trend a real air of exclusivity that I really love.

As you can see above, many of the major design powerhouses were backing this trend in their Autumn/Winter previews. The biggest of which was Burberry Prorsum (top row) who produced some amazing leather aviator jackets, lined with a darker beige coloured shearling. The contrast between the brown leather and shearling is absolutely beautiful, and it actually has the look and feel of quality. Don’t get me wrong, you will have to pay a lot for such an item, but if you have the money and are looking for an investment jacket this year, I think it will only get better with age.

Other designers of note who were pushing the trend: Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, John Varvatos, Prada, YSL, Marc Jacobs and Acne. You can see that is a pretty impressive list of names who are behind the trend, and they have all made high quality jackets that come with the price tag. It will be interesting to see if the high street follow and back this trend, because the real idealism behind the jackets is extravagance and quality. These jackets look amazing, and the high street will need to get the detailing and quality right for the price they produce them at. I would love to see Topman’s or River Island’s take on this trend for example.

How To Wear

This trend is definitely nostalgic, with roots within the outdoor working males (cowboys especially) who needed a rugged jacket and sheepskin lining to keep warm during the cold winter months. It also was more well known for use within pilot aviator jackets as the high altitude demanded clothing that would keep them warm. However this trend has been brought bang up to date with the use of more modern cuts and materials for the jackets themselves. You can get your hands on denim, leather, wool, moleskin and the like so the choice is really up to you.

My personal favourites are:

• Leather or Aviator Shearling Jacket: Cropped near to the waist this jacket is great for just “throwing on” over your casual outfits. I can imagine such simple stripped down looks such as a plain white v-neck tee, dark jeans, brown military boots and brown leather shearling jacket being utilised. The shearling lining will be enough to keep you warm – even with such little clothing on – but will also allow it to be a real focal point and statement maker. You do not need anything else because it will come across as try hard. You could add a simple piece of knitwear over the top of your tee or simply swap it out for a plain shirt ala Burberry Prorsum (top right on catwalk images).
• The Denim Shearling Jacket: Denim jackets made a big comeback this year in men’s fashion along with the denim shirt, so this is the logical next step. Again this is a coat that can be thrown on over any casual outfit, but I particularly like mixing denim with beige/camel chinos or grey trousers. It comes away from the whole double denim look, and adds some amazing contrast between your top and bottom half. Other key pieces to mix with the denim shearling would be the thick check/plaid overshirts and worker boots because you could really hit that whole “woodchopper” look on the head this season.
• Camel Shearling Overcoat: Camel is going to be a big trend this Autumn/Winter (preview coming soon) so why not combine both trends and get yourself a real investment coat? It has a real sophistication to it and can be used over your suit for work, or in casual day time looks throughout winter. It will always be the focal point of your outfit, so by pairing it with a suit you will stand out from the crowd, and you can keep your casual outfits as simple as you like because no-one will look past the wonderful piece of craftsmanship that is on your back.

Lookbook.Nu Shearling
Only a couple of examples on their at the moment but here are 2 guys who have shearling jackets and have used them correctly. Look how stripped back the rest of the outfit is on each of them:

Shearling Jackets
So right now you will not find many shearling jackets online as a lot of retailers (especially high street) have yet to update their Autumn/Winter collections. However I have found some available for purchase today in a variety of styles:

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New Autumn 2010 ASOS Trend: Smart

ASOS have come up with a treat for us today. As one of the premier men’s clothing destinations on the internet they continue to reinvent and push their brand forward by producing great editorial, trend collections and look books. One of their featured Autumn Winter 2010/11 trends is called “Smart”, and it brings relaxed formal and tailoring to a new level.

Now some of you may be a little bored of the same ‘traditional tailoring’ trend every single Autumn/Winter, and yes, I’m one of them. But fear not, ASOS have come up with a trend that does involve classic tailoring, but with an added twist. It integrates into your current wardrobe seamlessly, and encourages you to buy timeless items to pair with the essentials you already own. That is the key to this trend, reusing items and providing a mix between casual and formal. For example, if you have an old denim shirt in your wardrobe from Spring/Summer, you can breathe new life into the item by buttoning it to the top and pairing it with a tailored jacket, and as you will see below, this is one of the key looks produced. In the end it means you don’t have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe like quite a lot of passing trends, which will save you money.

This trend is all about mixing and matching and clashing of styles. The key piece in the whole trend is the tailored jacket, which I hope all of you should own by now. Every modern male should have a blazer in their wardrobe which can be used in formal or casual outfits. It is a timeless item that will form the basis of many of your looks throughout this Autumn/Winter and so is classed as an investment piece. If you have yet to pick up a blazer, or are in the market for a new one, there are some great new examples on the horizon this season with modern features such as double breasted cuts, shawl collars, military detailing and much more. You really are going to be spoilt for choice this year as designers and the high street look to progress and get even better.

That is not to say blazers are the only styles which will rise to prominence. The peacoat, mac and trench jacket are always staples for the colder months and so you can definitely substitute these into your outfits seamlessly. As we have mentioned above you can mix your denim, checked or plaid shirts with sharp trousers and a mac, throw on your favourite knitted beanie with a plain white tee and tailored blazer or simply pair your favourite hi-tops or military boots with razor sharp slim trousers. The options are based around what you already own, and the trend aims to bring tailoring up-to-date and modern. This is not formal dressing, but adding some sharp style to your casual outfits.

There was a great look book produced by ASOS, so what I’m going to do is to go through five of my favourite looks and you can then hopefully gain some inspiration about how you can work your existing wardrobe into this trend. You may need to pick up a few new items, but if they are timeless tailoring pieces that will last, then they are a wise investment, not to mention versatile.

The Key Looks

Look 1

The first look I have gone for consists of a white shirt (could be a plain tee or grandad top though) under a double breasted tailored coat. Faint striped trousers mix well with the faint check on the coat. The addition of the loop neck scarf rounds off the look. Keep the tailored coat unbuttoned to show off the scarf and the contrast of the white under layer, which will also subtly highlight the stripe in the trouser.

Here are some key items that can be used to get this look:

Look 2

The second look consists of one major statement piece in the navy tailored mac. The layering underneath is where we can use existing items within the look – a crew neck jumper paired with a shirt gives the impression of formal (shirt with collar), but brings it up to date and clashes by leaving the shirt untucked. You will probably already own these items within your wardrobe, it is just a case of getting the colours to work together. The shades of blue running throughout this outfit is particularly great though. The shirt really does break up the outfit by injecting a lighter shade in order to differentiate between the trousers and jumper.

For the trousers they have gone for a deep blue colour which actually looks to have a little shine to them. Again this keeps the look modern and fresh, but I think you can easily sub in dark slim/skinny jeans here and still pull off the trend nicely. Shoes are kept simple and you could use navy, black or brown here. Same goes for the bag which is a great finishing touch.

Here are some key items to get this look:

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