Spring/Summer 2009 Trends: Color and Texture

Although its still a bit chilly, winter is on its way out. Winter coats are going back to storage and are being replaced by Anoraks and blazers. Military or "Bad Ass" boots are taking a back seat to AirForce1s, boat shoes and loafers. Black and Gray are out colored by Sunset Red, Limoncello Yellow and Caribbean Blue. Dark washes of denim are being phased out. Slim legged, white denim and neutral colored trousers will soon be the norm. Lastly, Aviator and Wayfarers will continue to protect the eyes of the stylish man.

The Top 5 Trends for Spring 2009

1) Patterns. Whether it be plaid, pinstripe or polkadot, a lot of men this spring will be wearing blazers or t-shirts that have symmetrical/asymmetrical shapes on it. The more common ones you'll see will be pinstripes or checker. Mixing patterns with plain colors creates a very balanced look. If you are to combine patterns for a more creative look, make sure that the color of one pattern complements the color of the other. For example a black and white pinstripe blazer would look great with a plain fitted dress shirt and a white polka dot black tie.



2) Pop Color. Let's face it. Most guys are color blind. It's very rare to find a guy who can tell the difference navy blue and midnight blue. Our range for hues and tones is limited. So let's keep this simple. For spring, guys will be wearing more colored shirts, more colored pants, more colored shorts. You will see variances in shades of red, yellow, blue, green and neutrals (beige and gray). If you're not sure what color goes with what, pick up a color wheel from an art store. The colors that are directly opposite each other are complementary. Bright colored shirts go well with both light and dark colored trousers.


3) Crop Pants. Over the last few SS seasons, the only type of crop pants guys would wear are the ones made of linen or a light cotton. This season you'll see a bit heavier fabrics used in the crop pants. You'll see denim making a come back as well as treated nylons and cottons. There will also be variations in length. The more common crop pant is cut slightly below the knee. The fit will be slim with a bit more room in the knee area for bending.



4) Slim Blazers. The difference between a blazer and a jacket is that jackets tend to be more structured. Jackets are also usually patterned or textured while blazers tend to be plain. For those evening parties this season, you'll see a lot of guys dressing their jeans with a blazer usually beige, black, navy and for the more daring white. To take it even further, guys will be mixing blazers with their crop pants for a more Miami look.



5) Accessories. Straw Fedoras. Ray Ban Wayfarers or Aviators. Linen, Silk or Cotton Scarves. Totes or Book Bags. These will be a staple sight on the streets this season. Any one of these or a combination of 2 or more will finish off your look nicely.


Add more color and texture to your wardrobe this season. The more elements you can mix and match, the more unique your look will be.

Keep looking good!

Spring is just around the corner....

It has been a crazy couple of weeks since I've been back from New York Fashion Week. And tomorrow we move our clocks forward an hour. Yes, Spring is around the corner and guys should be starting to tuck away those winter coats and pulling out some key transition pieces like light cardigan sweaters, linen or cotton scarves, and nylon trench coats. The black and grey in your wardrobe are turning into orange, beige, yellow, and blue.


Things to look out for on ISTYLEU over the next few weeks.

- Top 5 Spring 09 Trends
- Street Wear this Season
- How to wear White
- How to be a Recessionista: Looking good with what you have in your closet TODAY.

Stay in style!

Your Stylist,

Paulo

William Rast turns in a New America

Usually when a celebrity is involved with an apparel label, the chances of putting out quality lines is very slim. Not in the case of William Rast. Justin Timberlake, recently nominated as one of the 10 most stylish men in America by GQ magazine, together with childhood friend and business partner Trace Ayala have put togehter a collection that revives the true meaning of great American fashion. With designers Johan and Marcella Lindberg in tow, the lines screamed denim and leather: always a great combination.

Trace Ayala, Justin Timberlake, Johan and Marcella Lindberg
Image by Kris Krug

The theme of "A New America" was quite fitting to describe the evening. From the clothes, to the models, to the music, and the crowd every detail resonated "fresh, new, innovative". Both men and women rocked the runway with tassled jackets and boots. Guys wore extra long tanks alongside slim fitting blazers. Girls wore studded motorcycle jackets, tailored vests with sweeping lapels, and capes to complete the all-american look.

All in all, it was a fantastic show and a great way to cap my experience at New York Fashion Week.

My favorite pieces from the collection:

The return of the Acid Wash Jean




















Double Breasted Wool Coat with Scarf



















Leather pants, Denim Shirt, Double Breasted Fitted Blazer

Images by Dan Lecca for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week FW 2009

Z Zegna -- memorable collection and show

Its not always that you see male models walking on a black dense foam runway, splattered with water to recreate a rainy day in the streets of New York or London. To further exaggerate this scene, the coats and jackets were sprayed with water making the collection very convincing for the season.

Z Zegna is a fashion forward, innovative and urban brand geared towards a new and younger consumer. With a combination of quality and style, the label produces unique pieces that spices up every man's wardrobe. This season there was a huge focus on classic overcoats cinched with a variety of belts, muscular and powerful silhouettes in the jackets, and innovatively cut tailoring in their double breasted suits in wool and lurex (metallic). There was also a hint of vintage with accessories such as ascot ties, Edwardian-style hats in angora, and doctor's cases that helped finished the looks on the runway.

Alessandro Sartori, Creative Director for Z Zegna, says "This collection was designed with a dramatic visual approach, sharp contrasts, and an iconic take on reality, set with a powerful yet elegant tone for the contemporary man." And on that note, my top picks for Z Zegna this FW09 are:

Wool/Lurex Peak Lapel Three Piece Suit



















Raw Edged Pea Coat with Leather Belt, Distressed Leather Doctor Bag


















Wool Melton Biker Jacket, Slim Flat Front Pants, Laminate Leather Weekend Bag



















Thermo Taped Coat


















Images by Dan Lecca for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week FW 2009

New York Street Style

In between the fashion shows during Fashion Week, I made sure to capture the very best of street style. I wanted to see what people were wearing and find out what trends were on the horizon. Some key pick ups are

• Fake eyeglasses. The bigger the rims, the better.
• Duffles, Doctor Bags, Weekenders, and Totes are the most popular types of MAGs (Men's Bags) this season.
• Fur trims on coats and hats.
  
• Bow Ties. Dress them up. Dress them Down.
• Preppy is still in with white pants, colored ties, tailored overcoats.
  

Calvin Klein does what it does best -- Simplicity

Calvin Klein once said "We`re not doing outrageous fashion; I make sports clothes that are relatively conservative, clothes that everyone wears." And that continues to remain true up to this day. Starting as a coat shop in New York City in 1968, Calvin Klein has mastered the art of simplicity. He sets his own trends in a very subtle way. He makes his clothes accessible.

This season is no different. From the jackets to the trousers, each piece depicts clean lines and monochromatic tones. There wasn't anything exaggerated. Nor was there anything dramatic. The lines were very clean, understated, and simple. The tones were varying shades of grey and black. The fabrics ranging from wools, cottons and metallics.

"Nothing gets in the way of me and my Calvins" -- a tag line made famous by a 15 year old Brooke Shields in the company's earlier advertising campaigns. A lot of men can still probably say this especially with this collection that I guarantee will stand the test of time.

My favorite pieces this season are

White Round Collar Bomber Style Jacket, Slim cut Trousers



















Leather Zip Up Hoodie



















Metallic Suit



















Single Button Tux with Velour Notch Lapels

















Images by Dan Lecca for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week FW 2009

Monarchy mixes edgy with classic euro at NYFW

Its been a day of great shoes so far. And what better way to cap Day 2 of New York Fashion Week but to see Monarchy's much anticipated FW09 collection. Led by Chief Designer, Eric Kim, Monarchy continues to blow my mind with the creativity and originality of their pieces. The category they're in is fairly saturated with the same designs from brands like Diesel, G-Star and Sixty. And to survive in this business, Monarchy sets itself apart by integrating a variety of pieces and fabrics in a way that no one else can. Fashion forward. Eclectic. Euro Rock. Edgy. Equestrian. Raw. Classic. These are some of the terms I would use to describe this season's line. Motorcycle jackets with high necks. Leather coats with built in hoods. Three piece separates. Military inspired pea coats. As much as I wished I had every piece in my closet, here are my top picks.

Three piece suit seperates, with the bowler hat, and riding boots.



















Motorcyle Riding Jacket with a Zip Up High Neck

















Military Inspired Coat with the Cross Stitching Detail

















I loved each and every piece in the line and can't wait to see them at the following stores in the United States:









Images by Dan Lecca for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week FW 2009.