ManChic

Phillip Sparksby Steven Carver

Sometimes it takes an engaging idea to inspire a designer to conceive of a collection that will make wearers want to buy several pieces, if not all of them. For designer Philip Sparks, his concept of a chic petty thief is one that creates a lot of covetable items for Fall/Winter 2008.

Pieces can be interchanged and worn from morning to night. Whether it’s a cardigan or vest worn over a shirt with a collar with a twist, or a suit with sharp details, it’s all there.

Coats are luxurious in cashmere and wool. Both long and shorter styles were seen in greys and creams - perfect for any occasion, but ideal for those special nights out on the town.

Fabrics range from tweeds to leathers with a good dash of beaver fur mixed in to keep warm when the temperatures drop. Who doesn’t want a pair of fur gloves in winter?

With the tailoring leaning more towards the traditional, there are some contemporary frills seen in the cut of some of a tuxedo with braided trim, leaner jackets and fuller pants.

Overall, Sparks creates a style of a common criminal that a man won’t have to resort to robbing a bank in order to look just as good as the models on the catwalk.

It Looks Fast, But It's Fasterby Steven Carver

With a design influenced by the square lines and vents from the series of Gundam’s anime robots, the Nissan GT-R not only looks fast, but is fast.

A VR-series twin-turbocharged 3.8 litre V6 producing 480 hp and 430 lb/ft of torque takes this rocket from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds. The 6-speed, dual-clutch gearbox with three driver-selectable modes speeds to over 290 km/h (180 mph), while the Brembo brakes stops the car in its tracks.

Putting the muscle to the pavement is Nissan’s ATTESA ET-S All-Wheel Drive (AWD), Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC-R) with three driver-selectable settings, 4-wheel independent suspension with three driver-selectable modes, and exclusively developed nitrogen-filled Bridgestone® RE070A high-capacity run-flat summer tires.

The technology tour continues inside the leather-lined interior. Features include: 7-inch high-resolution color-LCD touch-screen monitor; HDD-based GPS navigation; digital Bose® audio system with AM/FM/in-dash 6-CD changer and 11 speakers including dual subwoofers; and Bluetooth® Hands-free phone system with voice recognition.

And, there are an abundance of safety systems to keeps its occupants protected: dual front, dual-stage air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant-classification sensor; driver and front-passenger side-impact supplemental and roof-mounted curtain supplemental air bags; and front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters.

Get in line because these cars will go disappear faster than they’re being built – Nissan will only produce 1,000 cars a month when sales start this summer.


(Photos courtesy of Nissan)

Velvety Smoothby Steven Carver

Known to be one of the most luxurious fabrics produced, velvet is a perfect material for winter clothing because it’s both lush and plush.

During the colder months, nothing looks better than a velvet jacket or coat. Short or long, a velvet topper can be dressed up with a dress pant and patent shoe, or dressed down with a crisp dress shirt and a pair of sporty shoes. It depends on the event.

Whether the colour is light or dark, make sure it’s well preserved and cleaned after each outing. To raise the pile, brush with a soft-bristle brush – the fabric will last longer, and the topper will be worn for years to come.

Salt Stains On Shoesby Steven Carver

(Photos of Salvatore Ferragamo shoes courtesy of Nordstrom)

Just like a man moisturizes the skin on his face, so too should he take care of his shoes to keep them from drying – especially in the winter.

If there are salt stains on your leather shoes or boots, mix one tablespoon of white vinegar in one cup of water. Dip a clean soft rag in the liquid, the wipe the salt stains. When dry, the shoes should be good as new.

If the footwear is suede (even though no one should wear suede in the winter), don’t use oil-based cleaners because they will stain the suede more than the salt. Try a mild blend of one teaspoon of dish washing detergent and fabric softener in 500 ml of lukewarm water.

First brush the suede with a shoe brush to loosen and remove any salt and dirt. Spray some of the solution on evenly over the suede and lightly brush it in. Wide off with a cloth dampened with clean water. When dry, rub the suede with light sand paper to recover the texture.

Finally, to keep the leather looking supple, apply a spray or cream protector in-between cleanings. Your shoes will thank you.

Shades of Grey for an early Springby Steven Carver

Grey is any colour between black and white, so it can be described as the third neutral. It’s sophisticated and urban, and a perfect addition to any wardrobe.

Most grey pigments have a cool or warm cast to them. Yellow, orange and red undertones will look 'warm,' while green, blue, or purple ones will look 'cool.'

Layering shades of grey adds a subtle impact – a charcoal overcoat with a dove-grey suit underneath, and a heather sweater or scarf to remain warm on colder days.

Grey is the perfect solution for those who are timid of colour, yet it allows the wearer to look calm, cool, and collected.

KLEINby Stefano Guerrini

In the 80s we wanted our MTV, in the 90s we wanted our Calvins…in 2008 we desire a lot of things, many of them related to the luxury market, but Calvin Klein is still deep in our hearts, linked with all the right fashion trends. How could you resist to be such a fashionable nerd with a pair of Calvin Klein glasses? At the same time it’s easy to imagine ourselves at the pool wearing a trendy pair of Calvin’ sunglasses…maybe drinking our glass of champagne and discretely spying the situation around!

For spring-summer 2008, Calvin Klein Collection Eyewear, produced by Marchon Eyewear, Inc., brings a combination of the quintessential modern shapes with contemporary technical styling. The 947 model, for example, has futuristic digital geometric pattern details and a cool optical mood, the metal frame with its modern rectangle shape is available in bold shades of shiny silver, sand and gunmetal. A contemporary and very confident style.

Redux tailored workwearby Stefano Guerrini

Launched in 2007 and at its second collection, Redux is not only a complete project of all-organic denim, but also a style concept, deliberately made up of exclusive limited pieces for men only. Meltin’Pot Redux is inspired by the aesthetic philosophy of the Bauhaus artistic movement and borrows from it the elements of style innovation, materials design and the structure of clothing.

The keywords of the collection are: ‘perfect fit’, which is the result of extensive research on tailoring, and ‘modern classic’. In fact the essence of Redux is the five pocket slim-leg work chinos, made of vegetable dyed organic material, in the light blue, unwashed blue and soft black denim versions, accompanied by overalls, a vest and a buttoned jacket, cut, lined and finished like a custom made garment. Designed and produced in Italy, distributed through the Meltin’Pot showrooms in Milan, Paris and New York, Redux is the tailored workwear for a modern gentleman, like the ones you can admire in these pictures shot by Rankin.

Baby Got Back...

This season, the world of men’s underwear will forever be changed. With his new collection, fashion designer Andrew Christian introduces Flashback Butt-Lifting and Contouring Technology that gives men the illusion of having a sought-after “bubble butt” without having to spend hours in the gym. The design and construction of the underwear automatically lifts the buttocks making it look more firm and round.

Pal Zileri in Belgradeby Marko Ckonjevic

Pal Zileri opens the fashion season in Belgrade! And what an opening it was!!? If there is a both prestigeous and traditional male fashion event in Serbia, than we are talking about Pal Zileri fashion shows. A Pal Zileri man, this spring, is a very hot one, indeed!!! It has never been just a fashion show, but a social event of a great importance. Always a spectacle!!

Nike unveils iPod-less Nike+ SportBand

Nike recently unveiled the Nike+ SportBand, confirming earlier reports that the company would release a "sans iPod" version of its fitness tracking system. According to MacLife, the SportBand functions similarly to the iPod combination set, where it can measure time, speed, distance, and calories consumed. The system supposedly writes this information to a USB memory stick for upload to a computer. Nike will sell the SportBand for €60 (~$95), and will ship in April. Nike is reportedly not abandoning the Nike+iPod sports system, merely offering a less expensive alternative for users who can't afford an iPod nano.

Late last year, Nike and Apple were both under scrutiny for allegedly violating a patent, involving custom footwear that tracks the wearer's performance. Recently, Samsung announced a joint venture with Adidas with the goal of taking on the Nike+iPod system. Source: Electronista