I love the less structured, relaxed nature of his suit, but the whole look rests on the coordinated slouch of his hat.
This is also one of those looks that, if worn exactly the same way as this gentleman, would look great on the right girl.
This young lady looks like a classic Italian film goddess of the 50's and 60's: a modern, sharpened Sophia Loren.
The tattoos take her look to a entirely different place. Honestly, I can't decide if they add or distract from her natural beauty but, with that added edge, it's hard to take your eyes off her.
Paris is off to a slow start this season.
Have you seen any shows that you really love?
The first show that I really liked was Junya Watanabe.
The humor and quirkiness of Junya were still evident this season, but they were toned down to a point that made the collection even more desirable. Some Junya diehards commented afterward that the collection seemed "too commercial." I know they didn't mean it in a good way, but that commercial element made the collection so much more desirable for me. 



This young lady was one of the cleaning crew at Pitti Uomo.
She wore the same green uniform as all the other young cleaning ladies but, as you can imagine, she was the only one that really stood out in that crowd.
Of course I really don't know anything about her but her stylistic choices for her hair, piercings, etc. give us a good place to start.
Uniforms are, by nature, an attempt to make people conform to a code. I always find it interesting when people are able to play within the set boundaries of a code while still not totally losing their own uniqueness.
I love this mix of Adidas shoes and a chic linen jacket worn by a refined gentleman. To wear the expected loafers or espadrilles would, in this case, make his look somehow less interesting.
This is easily one of the best Prada men's collections I've seen in a while. Gone are the sometimes over-the-top design details replaced by a very desirable collection based on color and proportion.
I think one of the few positives of this economic turbulence has been a shift away from designers trying to seduce us into what they think we need and instead offering clothes that we simply want to wear.
I'm showing more images from the runway this season (so far, anyway) because I'm actually seeing lots to love. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will continue in Paris.
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Today was a very good day of menswear shows in Milano. It started early (very early) at Bottega Veneta and just ended at Prada with stops at Ferragamo, Ferre, and Moncler along the way.
Bottega Veneta was so strong: the color options, the focus on sportswear, and the casting of masculine, virile models.
I'm very curious about where the prices will come in on this collection. Even though the design details are fantastic, I don't want to spend a ton of money on cargo shorts. 







Italian khakis are the best!
I love American khakis, but American brands add so much fabric to the back upper-thigh panel and butt that it always visually adds 10 pounds to any guy's backside.
This gentleman's khakis fit almost like jeans, and that's why they look so cool.
Alright!
I should be back on a more consistent posting schedule for the next several weeks, if not for the rest of the summer.
I am really inspired by some of the young guys that I'm meeting at Pitti. They seem to appreciate the elements of quality that great menswear can offer and yet approach and use these elements in a more modern and experimental way.
Sequins will be seen on all items though, so don't limit yourself. There's blazers featuring sequins to fit any style - from all over to more subtle paterns. The same applies to tops - choose the amount of sequins that will fit your personality.
There's several looks that were big in the 1980's that have been taken by designers and updated for the modern lady. The first of these is the jumpsuit, either shorts style or with harem pants. Great for a night out clubbing, team up with a chain belt to pull in at the waist. Finish off with several bangles and either killer heels or gladiator boots.
Ballerina skirts have returned this year. These layered net skirts create volume and shape, and make the wearer appear playful instantly. Monochrome colours are best for the ballerina skirt this year. Wear with a printed t-shirt, another of autumn's essentials, or bodysuit, add some pearls, and team up with either a blazer of biker jacket.
Which brings us to the biker jacket. As well as paired with short skirts, biker jackets look good over skinny jeans. Black or brown look best, although other colours suit, such as red, white or grey. And don't presume they must be leather, but look out for fake leather, thick cotton twills and other synthetic materials.
Biker jackets commonly have studs, which ties in with the sequin look. And many have taken on that 80s look of the shoulder pad - but these are more subtle than the days of Dynasty to give shape rather than building up the shoulder.
If you need a dressy look then you need the printed dress. Again monochrome works best this autumn, but rather than strict patterns you are looking for a more abstract design. Again, smarten up with a subtle sequin blazer or add that racy look with a biker jacket.
These are just 5 of the key styles for Autumn 2009. So when you are out shopping for that killer autumn look remember these ideas and you will be setting the trends early.





























