JULIUS THE NEW OLD

The post-apocalyptic stylings from Tatsuro Horikawa give us the beauty that is Julius.  If you have not seen his work then please take note.  Just as many Japanese designers Horikawa finds beauty and interest in the details.  The palette is mostly black for fall/winter and white for spring/summer.  That may sound somewhat boring but Julius is far from boring.  The use of washing and felting gives Julius a worn feel.  Julius breaks his clothes in for you but fret not it does not have the same generic wear as most designer jeans.  It looks and feels authentic and the price reflects it.  Julius is a high priced brand but the clothes are like art and art has its price. Let's hope the recession ends soon.

THE COMING OF SPRING 2010

The 2010 Spring Mens wear shows have come and gone.  I wanted to take some time and digest what was presented and consider what could fit in my life.  As usual I am drawn to black and grey. Tailored looks presented by Raf Simons and his interpretation for Jil Sander proved to be contemporary takes on classics such as the trench coat and its details.  Christopher Bailey's Burberry black on black suit was modernly dandified with a bottle green scarf and topped off with a baseball cap.  Hermes used its French roots as inspiration and loosened its fit for an airy holiday look.  The color grey was liberated from its grandpa status at Prada with there contemporary layering of texture and tone.  Dior Homme's take on the contemporary man was most evident in its semi-sheer suiting that used the blazers inner structure as a design detail.  

I definitely could see myself working these looks into my wardrobe.  It seems some designers are starting to move back in the direction of realistic contemporary clothes that utilize detailing to create interest instead of outlandish costumes for fashion victims.  These collections are embracing the future with new interpretations of classics that could last longer than one season.  In these financial times that is not a bad thing.

THE DEAD WEATHER

A fan of the Kills and The White Stripes?  Well, The Dead Weather album Horehound is a great mix of garage rock and sex appeal thanks to Alison Mosshart and Jack White.  It may have been recorded in three weeks but it will last much longer than that in my rotation.  Does Jack White ever rest?  I hope not if he keeps churning albums like this out.

MUSIC FOR ANY OLD SUNDAY

NaS Illmatic perfect for any day.  Maximo Park A Certain Trigger underrated and I really do not understand why.  If you never heard of these guys it is definitely worth tracking down.  Jay-Z In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 maybe as good as Reasonable Doubt just a little more polished.

MARCELLO THE EPITOME OF COOL

Such classics as La Dolce Vitta, 8 1/2, and La Notte have one thing in common other than amazing and that is Marcello Mastroianni.  The look is timeless and it seems so effortless. Leave it to an italian to epitomize style and charm.  If you have never seen any of the above films then you really should check them out. Cinema at its highest form.

DID I MENTION THERE IS A NEW U2 ALBUM

I have now listened to No Line On The Horizon at least ten times now. I have already posted my U2 convictions but I can not stop talking about how awesome this album is. Thank you U2 for placing the album on Myspace early for us fanatics. The album reminds me of an album that would fit somewhere between The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. The Edge hasn't sounded this sonic in a while and Bono's vocals are more dynamic than the last few albums. Larry Mullens Jr. rhythm pulses through the entire album with the support of Adam Clayton in a cadence for change. The songs Magnificent and Breathe have an energy that could easily fit on War. What a way to start the year.

BLACK FOR DAY AND NIGHT

Black is my thing.  It has been for a while.  The beauty of black for me is the graphic appeal and the usual contrast with  my environment.  Here are some looks from from Jil Sander, Raf Simons, and Burberry fall 2009 that I could definitely see myself wearing.  It seems as of late that I have been drawn to Raf's designs for Jil Sander and his label.  Christopher Bailey designs for Burberry has been very consistent for several seasons.  The proportions of these looks seem new and each have interesting tailored details.  I hope these looks are a sign of things to come in the world of mens fashion.