The 2016 Balmain Homme Fall/Winter Slay
Olivier Rousteing's latest Balmain Homme Fall/Winter Collection 2016 streamed LIVE today at 5PM CET via www.balmainlive.com showcasing a very fresh and bold #BalmainArmy replica of 19th century-aristocratic layered pieces. This brilliant Parisian designer continues to push the bar with his vibrant recreations of staple eras by bringing them to life on the runway. Rousteing's Fall/Winter Collection featured unforgettable military-styled coats, equestrian drop-crotched trousers, embroidered riding boots, plaids, checkered prints, paisleys and more. In fact, mere words could never capture the detail and sensation of this well-constructed collection that only a visual could provide.
See for yourself...
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The Brett Johnson Trunk Show - Neiman Marcus, Atlanta
On the second stop of his 9-City Tour and Collection Launch via Neiman Marcus, Creative Director and Founder Brett Johnson makes his way over to Neiman Marcus - Atlanta for another trunk show. The Brett Johnson Collection was initially launched in 2013 with three footwear styles that gained phenomenal attention from fans and eventually stirred an interest to see more of this aesthetic displayed in apparel. To date, The Brett Johnson Collection now provides men's outerwear and knitwear via www.brettjohnson.co, www.neimanmarcus.com as well as through select Neiman Marcus locations nationwide and in a few specialty boutiques. Brett Johnson's collection is described as "a distinct brand of menswear which offers premium apparel that exudes style, sophistication, and edge for the global lifestyle."
When speaking to Brett Johnson at the Neiman Marcus trunk show event in Atlanta, I got a chance to ask about what inspires his designs. Brett shared that when he is developing and manifesting a concept, it always begins with a theme that has touched him personally. An example that he references is how he was inspired by the Sundance Film Festival that he attends annually. He shared how several years ago, he was inspired to pick a 1989 theme of an Armani Saks suit and reinterpret a similar look in a more modern form. Brett also mentioned that they are doing their first presentation in January styled by the world renowned fashion stylist June Ambrose in New York. This autumn/winter 2016 collection will introduce both woven shirts and trousers in addition to the items currently available.
For more, please visit www.brettjohnson.co
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Brrr!'s Grand Launch at Neiman Marcus - Atlanta
A Big Congrats to Co-Founders Tosha Hays & Mary-Cathryn Kolb of Brrr! for their recent grand launch event this past Thursday, September 24 at Neiman Marcus – Atlanta! Former Spanx executives Tosha Hays (CIO) and Mary-Cathryn Kolb (CEO) are the co-founders of the new innovative fashion brand called Brrr! Brrr! is a brilliant new technology invented and designed by Tosha Hayes that is scientifically made of cooling fabrics which makes it cooling to the touch and refreshingly cool when put on. On www.brrr.com, you will see a plethora of fashionably-witty items for sale such as the Coolwrap, CoolNester, CoolClutch, and more. Since their debut in 2014, the two ladies have received an enormous response from their growing fans of Brrr! and done astonishingly well with their eCommerce sales.
To date, and with great excitement, Hays and Kolb have expanded their brilliant company from mere online sales to the high-end department store, Neiman Marcus – Atlanta! Anyone who has had an opportunity to sit down with these ladies and hear their story would be totally proud to know that Brrr! is now getting the platform and exposure it deserves to catapult the brand to its next level. This brings us to the Fall Preview Collection Launch at Neiman's... The event commenced on the evening of September 24, 2015 around 6PM EST and from the initial entry into the department store passing Fragrances, the sounds of the crowd mingling in the center of the first floor instantly got my attention.
Let me just say that the turn-out for the event was super! The center of Neiman Marcus' 1st Floor was inundated with a host of people dressed in their best; creating an ambiance of sheer expectation and respect for the brand, the founders and their accomplishment. As the guests browsed the mannequins wearing the new Brrr! Neiman's Collection and the racks laced in fresh cool Brrr! styles, there were cocktails, bites and Brrr! shopping all taking place simultaneously. People gathered around the Brrreeze Machine to witness the Powered by Air™ and science behind Brrr! technology; and how all of that works. Tosha and Mary-Cathryn, both elegantly adorned in Brrr!, along with their families and guests got a chance to converse and meet the co-founders along with checking out the new designs for the Brrr! fall collection.
Finally, the highlight of the event was at hand – The fall preview fashion show! As the models gracefully made there way down the aisle, we got to see first-hand the versatility of Brrr! and how it's not only fashion-forward, but also practical. Mary-Cathryn shared how they intentionally wanted their clothing to be the canvas of their customer's day and to be relevant clothing to be optionally dressed up or casually worn depending on what scene you're involved in. During the show, we got glimpses of several new collection items for their collection which was collaborated with other elegant brands according to Neiman Marcus' 10 Trends of the season. Simply put, Tosha Hays and Mary-Cathryn Kolb have really out-done themselves and we are excited to see the other things the brand will reveal in the very near future. Congrats again Ladies!
Check out some of the looks from the collection and images from the event - Courtesy of Lindsay Abarca Photography
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Button Me Not
Not all guys are aware of the fact that buttoning the bottom button of your suit coat is a big NO-NO! Actually, if you go back to the earlier part of the 20th century, this was not always the case. Prior to, it was a pretty common thing to see illustrations of men with every button of their suit coat fastened regardless to how many buttons were on the coat. It was not until the early 1900s that King Edward VII started leaving the bottom of his suit coat unbuttoned simply because he had gained too much weight to keep it fastened. As a result, and to avoid offending the king, a new trend was created which has transcended into modern style etiquette today whereas men leave their bottom button unfastened.
You may wonder why this even matters. The answer to that would be that when applying this simple rule to the way you wear your suit coat/blazer, it automatically communicates to others that you are the type of gentleman that pays attention to detail and one who is well-accustomed to suit-wearing. Since its all about presentation, these small strides toward improving your presentation can go a long way. Below are visual examples and rules of how this button game works:
On a one-button suit, the button is to always be fastened when standing.
Be sure to always unbutton your suit coat when seated as to not to ruin the coat. The strain from moving while seated with a buttoned suit, can eventually distress the garment as well as the sewing to the buttons. However, it is common to see gentleman wear one button fastened when posing for an editorial or professional shoot. In this instance, the fastened button gives the suit a more polished look on cam.
On a two-button suit, the top button is to remain fastened while the bottom button is left undone.
When wearing a three-button suit, there are a few options... 1 - You can fasten the top two buttons and leave the bottom button unfastened or, 2 - You can simply button the middle button by itself.
Double-breasted suits should have all buttons fastened except for the bottom button.
As opposed to single-breasted suits, you can leave this guy fastened at the top button when seated. Reason being, when unfastened and seated, the extra flap in front appears sloppy and unattractive.
When wearing a vest solo, it is perfectly acceptable to have all buttons fastened and optional to have the bottom button unfastened.
When the vest is worn with a suit coat, the vest should always have all buttons fastened.
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Prelude to Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2015 - Atlanta, Georgia
Photo courtesy: Tomas Espinoza Photography
Just two weeks away, the annual and most celebrated fashion event in Atlanta takes place: Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2015! This highly anticipated event marks the 25th Anniversary of Jeffrey Atlanta | New York and will be held on the evening of Monday, August 31, 2015 at Phipps Plaza.
Jeffrey Fashion Cares founded by renown Fashion Retailer Jeffrey Kalinsky, will again focus its fundraising efforts for the benefit of Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta and the Atlanta AIDS Fund (AAF). A recent press release by the 2015 co-chairs, Lila Hertz, Jeffrey McQuithy and Louise Sams previews further details into the high-energy event. Details of which include a sneak peek into some of the luxurious items that will be featured in the silent and live auction, the location, after-party and more. On the runway, guests will see high-end looks from a plethora of the stated top designers:
photo courtesy: Ben Rose Photography
Balenciaga
Manolo Blahnik
Celine
Christian Dior
Givenchy
Landon
Christian Louboutin
Saint Laurent Paris
Valentino
Dries Van Noten
From the growing success of Jeffrey Fashion Cares over the years, we can undoubtedly expect yet another successful turn-out at this year's event. The vision and execution of merging high fashion with the breast cancer and AIDS benefit is one that everyone simply wants to be a part of. The proof is in the pudding! Last year, $700,000 was raised in this effort. People both local and otherwise take great pride in sharing this prime moment and anniversary with such an influential gentleman of style, Mr. Jeffrey Kalinsky.
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The Inside on Joe's Custom Clothier - Fine Bespoke Suits & Haberdashery
So who would have ever figured that such an elite and well-traveled connoisseur of fine men's garments and I worked in the same building? To my surprise, Mr. Joseph Hinton AKA Joe, a native of Sierra Leone, haberdasher and creative bespoke tailor was just 3 floors away from me! One day at work, a colleague casually mentioned to me that there was a gentleman in the building whom she thought Dress Like A Gent ™ should definitely spotlight on the blog. She briefed me on many of his accomplishments in the world of custom suit-making, tailoring and fashion merchandising. Without hesitation, I knew that I needed to meet him to find out more.
Upon entering into his shop and workspace, I was instantly drawn to this standing mannequin just ahead of me dressed in a well-fitted, heather grey, black & cream plaid 2-button blazer. The blazer was complimented by a custom-made orange and white checkered dress shirt with a solid orange flower lapel and royal blue necktie with polo-style stripes. Oh! And not to forget the contrasting lavender pocket square trimmed in fuchsia! Joe mentioned that he planned to wear this custom ensemble to the upcoming MAGIC event in New York. MAGIC is the world's largest fashion marketplace and trade show showcasing the latest in apparel, footwear, accessories and manufacturing.
Not only has Joe participated in MAGIC for years, but he also brings to fashion couture a wealth of experience including but not limited to nationwide fashion panel discussions, as well as experience in trade shows, fashion events, showrooms and more. Since youth, Joe has been diligent to cultivate his passion for tailoring and bespoke designs as he apprenticed under a major tailor in Sierra Leone who endorsed his gift; leading into the launching of his own brand, Joe's Custom Clothiers. In regards to tailoring, Joe very modestly has a wide range of regular clients who visit his business location throughout the week inluding trending celebrity personalities Jidenna and Janelle Monae. The level of detail, elegance and choice fabrics combined with contrasting patterns and textures is Joe's speciality. As a result, he has become one of the most sought after tailors for inumerous special events, Red Carpet events, weddings, and VIP soirées.
With over 30 years of business experience and international exposure, Joe has received several notable accolades including the 1992 Best Designer Award in Atlanta. Joe's Custom Clothiers also offers custom neckties, bowties, lapels, brooches, underwear, dress socks and more.
Here are three key reasons Joe lists on his site that you should own your own custom suit:
Distinctive choices of style and design that separate you from others.
Body measurements are taken, where the end result is customized fit beyond compare.
Exceptional fabric quality provides timeless endurance that lasts for over ten years.
For more info, please visit http://www.joescustomclothier.com/
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Atlanta Gears Up for The 4th Annual Culture Shock Show 2015
Living in a metropolitan city that is by no means an amateur where it concerns modern fashions and major fashion events, there is sometimes a gradual loss of enthusiasm where it concerns fashion shows and designer previews. The key for those immersed in the word of fashion is to strategically facilitate a substantial gathering with a theme that engages its followers and fosters an anticipation for more.
The Annual Culture Shock Show held in Atlanta, Georgia is just that! On October 17th, 2015, the Pop Productions Network will showcase the highly anticipated 4th Annual Culture Shock Show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Downtown, Atlanta.
The Culture Shock Show highlights fashion, art and talent from different cultures by “creating a positive reflection of cultural appreciation in the diaspora.” Their mission is to promote cultural appreciation by blending theatrical choreography and fashion all in a 1-night event. This year’s theme is a very interesting concept - “Africa Meets Asia” and will spotlight similarities between Africa and Asia on the catwalk. The Culture Shock is the ideal platform for opportunistic small businesses, musicians and of course, gifted designers.
For more information, please contact the producers at Thecultureshockshow@gmail.com
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