50/50

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Fashion tends to repeat itself; what is in style now was probably in style at some point in time some years ago. The next big thing is slated to be 1950's fashion. Miuccia Prada, who dominated last season to the point where retailers virtually lifted her pieces and put them on their own shelves, flooded her golf field runway with cropped shirts, high-buttoned suits, and newsboy caps. 

Prada s/s 2012

Prada didn't simply copy designs from a different era, effectively putting out a vintage reproduction like most designers do, but she took a cut and a style and made them Prada by adding studs and whimsical prints. While prints have been popular the past few seasons, the emergence of the 1950's as a key style may come as a surprise to some, but not to the movie or music buff. Jack Kerouac's classic On the Road is being adapted as a movie coming in 2012, and bands like The Drums are consistently infusing 1950's trends, such as rolled up jeans, into their ever-influential wardrobe. 

Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and their Beat friends 

1950's style icon James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause

Stock up on 1950's staples like cropped shirts, letterman/varsity jackets or sweaters, blue jeans (make sure you roll 'em up), motorcycle boots, jean jackets, converse all-stars, and a slick pompadour.

The Drums in 50's gear

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Betty James - I'm a Little Mixed Up

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raf

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While some critics argue that Raf Simons has been running out of ideas and reissuing clothing from old collections, I say that the Belgian designer's fall/winter 2011 was one of his most interesting and striking collections in a while. I was initially shocked at first, but eventually came to appreciate the cozy yet bold nature of this season's offerings. One piece that stands out to me is this hooded sweatshirt. It features a padded and strictly tailored body, giving it a boxy silhouette that is a breath of fresh air in menswear today. Buy it here, while it lasts. (all picture from there as well)


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Bill Cunningham - 10/22/11

Your's truly with the man himself, Bill Cunningham.

Firstly, let me apologize for not posting since August. School and my job have kept me very busy but I am determined to write more often from now on. Now to get down to business....

I was fortunate enough to be photographed by the legendary Bill Cunningham outside the Manhattan Vintage Clothing show this Saturday. His humble nature and seasoned sense of humor made for a few minutes of enjoyable conversation about my purchase that day (a Dior Homme dress shirt from s/s 2002 - more to come on this in a future post). 

Jacket - Vintage from Another Man's Treasure / Shirt -  Vintage from 10 ft. Single by Stella Dallas / Jeans - Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche by Hedi Slimane 

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staying creative

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The Drums - Blue Stripes Demo

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And here is one more, for Matteo. It comes out August 19th. Enjoy.


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The Drums - Portamento Demos

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My favorite band: The Drums. If you, like me, thought that their first album was the greatest thing since sliced bread, think again. Portamento, their sophomore album is set to be insurmountably full of musical brilliance, hip-swinging melodies, and deeply emotional lyrics. Just take a listen and see for yourself.  

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The Drums - Book of Revelation Demo

The Drums - Days Demo

The Drums - What You Were

The Drums - Money

The Drums - Hard to Love

The Drums - I Don't Know How to Love

The Drums - Searching for Heaven

The Drums - Please Don't Leave

The Drums - If He Likes It Let Him Do It

The Drums - I Need A Doctor

The Drums - In The Cold

The Drums - How It Ended

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first look - alexandre plokhov f/w 2011

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Remember my excitement-filled post on Plokhov's new collection a while ago? It seems that Park & Bond, a subsidiary of Gilt, is the first retailer to post some of the new collection's pieces online. Prices are a bit higher than most had been anticipating, however, are still reasonable for the products given their impeccable design and cut. The Elbow Zip blazer is currently holding the top spot on my wishlist. 


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all pictures are from here, where you may see the rest

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the standard for candid photography

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These are from the Standard Hotel in New York City and its surrounding neighborhood the Meatpacking District. This is the hotel that has been known for having it's residents be seen, oftentimes naked, to people walking on the streets down below. I was surprised at just how many lodgers (and a maid) I viewed in the windows by standing on the corner of Washington and West 13th. Thankfully they were all some-what clothed.


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HELLO!

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all photos are property of me!

dollar is not your friend - ellery james roberts

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photo property of me!

cloak s/s 2004 poem

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The LYF Jacket

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Yours truly in the LYF jacket, taken a few short hours before the boys played some heavy pop.


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photo credits go to this girl

cloak pt. 3 spring/summer 2003 detail shots

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I found these rare glimpses into Cloak's rustic past at the library of the school I am taking classes at for the summer. They depict the label's first collection under the collective design team of Alexandre Plokhov and Robert Geller. A dramatically different look from the gothic tour de force of the brand's later days, these detail shots are paired with my favorite band's newest song. More to come from Cloak soon. 


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raf for jil - raf for raf

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source: Citizen K
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buy my stuff

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For any of you out there who are looking for some nice pieces by Hedi Slimane, Raf Simons, +J by Jil Sander, Lanvin, et cetera please look here. You can email me at hedislimaniac@gmail.com for more details.


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the good old days

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I recently won a pair of Hedi Slimane-era Yves Saint Laurent jeans on eBay (post to come) and I thought it would be fitting do a post on what many consider to be the best menswear designer of our time in his developing years, creating some of his best work. I like to think of Hedi's time at YSL to be perhaps the only time in the history of menswear that a designer created true "haute couture" pieces for men. By definition this could be applied to any time a man has a custom made piece of clothing crafted for him (usually a suit or a shirt), however, in a more refined and relevant sense the collections Hedi created channelled a formal yet luxurious elegance onto the runways. Shrouded in a mysterious romanticism, the pieces were simultaneously modern, even futuristic, while being very traditional as well, something which no designer has ever executed like Hedi did in his more formative years. The serious yet intelligent image, an androgynous precursor to the designer's latter work, featured slim trousers and cutting edge tailoring, which set Hedi's work apart from his counterparts. The clothing was adopted by many fashion insiders, which, along with Gucci's buyout of YSL and consequent instillation of Tom Ford, catapulted Hedi to stardom and Christian Dior to revitalize its menswear line.

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photos courtesy of Hedi Slimane and firstview

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