FashionClub.com Daily

New Paris Report from Our Roving Correspondent Grace

Hello. This is Grace from London reporting fresh from a holiday trip to Paris!

What an adventure! Whilst on a shopping spree in one of Paris’ biggest department stores (Printemps), I saw the amazing window displays that they had. The one that caught my eye was the window of a gorgeous Dior dress with a lot of beads. Here is a picture I took on my phone. Sorry it isn’t very clear.

Another window display outside of Printemps is for Lacoste. Fernando and Humberto Campana are two Brazilian brothers who are furniture designers. They have collaborated with Lacoste to do three projects so far. The first of these projects was a chair made with toy alligators. This was on show in the window display.

There was also a shirt with about six alligators instead of the typical logo which is just the one alligator. Another project is a shirt made completely of the logos. These shirts represent the habit of laying on top of one another that alligators use to keep cool.

Paris was amazing and can’t wait till I go again!

--Grace

Grace is a thirteen year-old fashionista who writes sporadic posts for FashionClub.com Daily from her home in London.

 

Plaid Tidings for Guys

It used to be that the only men who wore plaid were ventriloquists, used car salesmen, and clowns. But why should they have all the fun? Plaid is making bold inroads into men's fashion design this season, with over-sized patterns that go beyond the traditional tartans. 

 

Plaid can be both rugged and fashionable, as this hooded duffle coat from Tommy Hilfiger demonstrates. It would look great in the city or the country.

 

On these pants from Dolce & Gabbana, the large scale of the plaid actually makes the pattern look more subdued than if there were a lot of smaller checks. 

 

Gucci does its ultra-fashionable take on plaid with this leather jacket featuring black and blue checkered sleeves. Again, notice the large scale of the plaid.

Admittedly, Glen Plaid suits can look a little Pee Wee Herman-esque. But when the checks are oversized like they are on this Ralph Lauren suit, the look is decidedly modern. 

 

Diesel reinterprets plaid with this black and grey checked shirt. The textile design is bold, and very different from the traditional plaid tartan.   

- Jonathan

 

Be Italian

If you’ve caught the trailer for the upcoming musical Nine, you’ve seen Kate Hudson performing the showstopper “Cinema Italiano,” in which she sings about her love for classic Italian movies. Once the movie opens nationwide on Christmas Day, everyone will be humming this song too, and we expect to see a resurgence of the retro Italian fashion design she mentions in the number. 

    

Skinny ties. Kate sings, “I love the dark, handsome guys with the skinny little ties.” Also into skinny ties are Dolce and Gabbana, who feature the sleek neckwear in their latest collection. (Coincidentally, Dolce and Gabbana make a cameo appearance in the movie as priests.)

  

 Skinny tie from Dolce & Gabbana

Italian shoes. The song continues, “I love to watch them as they cruise with their pointy leather shoes, wearing shades in the middle of the night.” As we know, there’s nothing like Italian footwear, and the square toe styles from a few years back have given way to timeless pointed toe designs, like these lace-ups from Salvatore Ferragamo.

 

Andrea lace-up from Ferragamo

  

And if you’re going to wear “shades in the middle of the night,” they need to be a classic style, like these Wayfarers by Ray-Ban.

Wayfarer sunglasses by Ray-Ban 

- Jonathan

Giving the Guys a Break

Okay, let’s talk men’s pants today. The length of a guy’s pants, usually referred to as the break (as in where the pant leg breaks on the shoe), is one of the eternal debates in men’s fashion design. Should those pants be puddling on the ground, or raised up like high waters? There really are no hard and fast rules anymore, so let’s look at the three most common breaks and what they say about the man wearing them.

 

Medium break

Considered the most common length, the medium break has the bottom of the pant leg hitting between the top of the shoe and the sole. This classic look is perfect for buttoned-down, professional men who are more on the conservative side.

 

Pants with a medium break

 

Full break

In the full break, the back of the pant leg hits right at the top of the shoe sole, creating a deep crease in front. This is a modern look for the fashion-forward man.

 

Pants with a full break

 

Short (or no) break

The most daring look of all, pants with a short break stop right at the top of the shoe, allowing the guy to flash a little ankle. Men need confidence to pull off the short break, because much of the public hasn’t caught on to this trend yet. However, it’s the look we’re seeing in catalogs and on runways.

 

A short break on Ludlow Pants from J. Crew.

-Jonathan

Return of the Tie Bar

When men stopped wearing suits every day, the tie bar went into hiding. But thanks to designers like Thom Browne, who have brought retro formality back to men’s fashion design, the tie bar is making a comeback. Besides adding a welcome dash of flair, they also serve the practical purpose of keeping a tie from flying into the wind, or today’s lunch. As you can see, jewelry designers are definitely inspired by this tie bar resurgence.

 

Designer Thom Browne sporting his tie bar.

Engine Turn Tie Bar from Brooks Brothers

Il Primo by Lamborghini

-Jonathan

FIDM Street Style: Dorian Pentard

               Dorion Pentard | Fashion Design

 

 

What are you wearing?

"Chicago Bulls hat; Calvin Klein sunglasses; Converse jacket; Vans button-up; American Apparel v-neck; Levis; Jordan 7's Retro."

How do you stay fashion-forward on a college budget?

"I truly don't have a budget, but when I go out I try not to buy everything."

What do you look forward to next quarter?

"I look forward to learning more, and meeting new people."

Your advice to survive finals?

"My advice to pass finals is to get straight to work and studying... try not to waste time."

    ~ Arali

FIDM Street Style: Andrew James Holmes

Andrew James Holmes | Fashion Design

What are you wearing?

"Acid skinnies, burned tee, Jordan 1's, G'shock watch, Rose Wood hat, Retro Super Future sunglasses, denim LV coin pouch, Bape Boy!"

What or who defines your style?

"My mood defines my style."

What do you love most about your major?

"Fashion is LIFE"

What do you look forward to wearing this Fall?

"Leather, leather, and more leather..."

Goals post-FIDM?

"Working for L.V.M.H"

    ~ Arali 

FIDM Street Style: Randy Gibson

Randy Gibson | 19 | Apparel Manufacturing

 

What are you wearing?

"Ben Sherman, Tom Ford"

What or who defines your style?

"My mood"

What do you love most about your major?

"I love it because it's hands on."

What do you look forward to wearing this Fall?

"Purple! It's the Fall "IT" color."

Goals post-FIDM?

"I plan to intern a lot and learn all that I can about the industry."

    ~ Arali

FIDM Street Style: Vincent T.

              Vincent T. | 19 | Fashion Design

What are you wearing?

"Vintage cowboy boots, Fendi bag, thermal."

What or who defines your style?

"Electric."

What do you look forward to wearing this fall?

"My fur coats and thigh high Givenchy boots."

What do you love most about your major?

"The creative aspects."

Goals post-FIDM?

"To continue with school and work for a magazine."

    ~ Arali

FIDM Street Style

Ryan Espinoza, 18 | Graphic Design



Style Inspirations: "Gaga!"

Closet must-haves: "Sweaters, shoes, and boots."

Shopping locations: "I shop where ever there are good buys."

Summer essential: "Tank tops"

Why did you choose to attend FIDM?
"I was recommended to the school."

   
    ~ Arali