ManChic

ManChic talks to model Lee Kholafai

Photo by: Aron Norman

Q: How did you get into modeling ?
LK: I first got into modeling when I was vacationing in South Beach when I was 18. I got tired of walking on the beach so I was walking back to my hotel on Ocean Drive and I was approached by 2 modeling agents that said I should model. One of the agents even stopped traffic when he stopped his black yukon in traffic to get out and hand me his card. I never wanted to be a model though and thought nothing of it. I was more focused on football but I posted some pictures whenever I got home on a site and was contacted by a lot of the top agencies. That made me think that this is maybe something that I should try and see what happens. I never actually committed until I broke my ankle in a football game and knew I couldnt play the following year so I was off to LA when I was 21 and signed with Vision Model Management.

Photo by: Aron Norman

Q: What is your experience about the industry ?
LK: My experience in the industry is that it is very competitve with a lot of goodlooking models so you definitely have to be able to make your personality shine to separate yourself from the others.

Q: Who is your favorite photographer ?
LK: Wow!!!! I dont have just one favorite photographer. Each photographer, I've noticed, has their own style that they have created so its hard for me to compare one to another.

Photo by: Aron Norman

MORE in second part of this post...

Chad White Confessions by Aleksandar Tomovic

Chad White is one of the most wanted models right now, and we have already featured the severla times here and here. It was great to meet the person behind this amazing face and body, and ask him a few questions. All the photos bellow were taken by amazing Nicolas Wagner.

Your favorite fashion magazine ?
CW: GQ, I loved that magazine when I was younger. It was my bible for what to wear. The legendary Jim Moore is there.

What do you wear when at home ?
CW: Comfortable is a must. Sweat pants and a tank top and slippers. The really comfortable ones with fur.

What type of face/grooming products do you use ?
CW: My face is really sensitive so the products I use have no oils. To shave I got a remmington electric then go over with a mach 3 turbo lol the thing vibrates but I do not use that. I don't like to shave but once a week or less.

Your secret for a great body ?
CW: EAT RIGHT.

Gadget that you can not live without ?
CW: It is not one gadget. It is a combo: my Bose head phones and my Ipod. The head phones block out all sound including jets from the airplane, annoying crying babies on planes, and crazy honking of new york taxi's.

What is your dream car ?
CW: Ohh man, good question. Lamborghini Diablo for sure. But in reality I'm going for A Lexus GS 430, thats my ride to be.

Your favorite city ?
CW: Easy question... Portland Oregon. Don't knock till you try, it is beautiful, rains a lot but I love the rain.

What would be the perfect photo-shoot for you ?
CW: Thats such a Tough Question to answer. Steven Klien would be the photographer, Alassondra Ambrossa (spelling way off) not wearing much, and somewhere hot and exotic preferably in warm clear ocean water but thats just me.

Holidays to die for ?
CW: New Years. It is the night you try to forget all your sins and start a new fresh clean slate.

Dressin’ Like a Sophisticated Italian Playboyby Stefano Guerrini

An international playboy, an elegant dandy who lives the Monte Carlo jet set life, who knows well the new York high society and patrons the exclusive clubs in London, not to mention knocking off a few rounds of golf on the world’s most prestigious greens and hanging out at the Hamptons during the season. If this character, inspired by sophisticated rockers like Bryan Ferry, that old slyboots, Serge Gainsbourg, as well as Sixties Latin lovers like the irresistible Gigi Rizzi, took himself seriously we would be in trouble, but in the hands of Fabio Di Nicola this image is masterfully interpreted with a tongue-in-cheek attitude, revealing an almost mischievous urge to chastise those who slavishly limit themselves to merely aping a look and lifestyle. The man Fabio is catering to is definitely in step with the times and, far from wanting to copy anyone or anything, he loves to mix and customize his clothing.

A/W 05-06

Fabio Di Nicola is clearly, collection after collection, telling us what makes a man chic, stylish and charming, in a modern and glamorized way. Here are the four important rules to be really a ManChic, according to Fabio, that the man himself told us after his latest presentation in Milan during the male fashion week.

Class
FDN: The idea of underlining a personal concept of class comes from personality, manners, attitude, which a suit should only emphasize. A man of class, who is not necessarily "smart" on the rules of the big brands' international style, makes use of fashion, he doesn't undergo it.

Heritage
FDN: Respect for the history of tailoring strictly tied up with fashion phenomenon of the latest thirty years. To bring up to date, to renew, it doesn't mean to copy a style. It just means not to forget.

Intelligence
FDN: Without intelligence there is nor development neither growth. All that is necessary.

Creativity
FDN: Creativity is a vital lymph applied to each sector. More abstractly, winning in equal measure, in human relationships too.

S/S 2006

Written by: Italian Spy (Stefano Guerrini)

429 SUBTLE

We have already presented you the 429 Life, but this time we are going further by entering behind the scene with this interview. The brand's creators GC & LF showed us there definition for SUBTLE which perfectly explains the spirit of 429.

SEXy
GC + LF: its all about how YOU do it.

UNFORCED
GC + LF: Comfortable in your own skin and your own clothes is a turn on... Simplicity is the true essence of sexy.

BOXING, BARS, BOATS, BRIE, BALANCE, BEER, BOYS
GC + LF: …a few of our favorite things.

TOPS
GC + LF: with 429, we master the art of tops. ... its all about the garments: tshirts, polos, tanks: A cut and fit that is perfect for most all body types; amazing fabrics that feel great to wear and are soft to the touch; smart details that make it more fun.

LONGEVITY
GC + LF: Quality lasts, and so does good energy.

EASE
GC + LF: two easy steps to wearing 429: step 1: "Slip on = Look hot", step 2: "Slip off = Look hotter."

Nico & Adrian

You all know that we have a thing for clothes made by Nico & Adrian and we are really happy to bring you their definition of CHIC and some photos from their Fall/Winter 2006 collection.

Nico & Adrian - photo by: Pieter Henket

Colors
N&A: Colors are our fascination, our strongest source of inspiration... colors of skin, colors of flowers, colors of skies from the morning to the night....

Hit
N&A: Hit from the tropics, from a sweted body next to you after sex.....

Illusion
N&A: Illusion of a beautiful world.

Creation
N&A: Creation the key word for success.

Fall/Winter 2006 - photos by: Michael Gwilliam

Blame It On Rio + Juliano Corbetta - CHIC Interview

For Fall 2005, Brazilian streetwear label Butch looks to the seductive ease and playfulness of Brazilian style, with a collection inspired by the energy of Rio de Janeiro. Here are some exclusive shots followed by CHIC Interview with brand's designer Juliano Corbetta.

Confident
JC: I believe that sex appeal is all about confidence and knowing how to carry yourself in different situations. Clothes should empower people and make them feel happy, confident and comfortable.

Hot !
JC: And I don't mean just feeling hot, which is how I would like people to feel when they are wearing our clothes. I am a total sucker for summer because of the energy that is in the air and the sense of freedom it brings. I try to incorporate this feeling into mostly everything I create. There is nothing better than being able to wear a swimsuit under some beat up jeans, a crisp t-shirt, and great flip flops.

Inventive
JC: As much as I want to stay true to Butch's customer base, I feel it is important to keep on exploring new directions and offering a different perspective every season. For fall we have started developing footwear with the only factory in Brazil to ever manufacture for Stephane Kelian in the country, which was an incredible and very promising experience. Expect a lot of changes for this fall and the season to come.

Cheeky
JC: It is hard to have fun when you take yourself too seriously. Sometimes going a little over the edge can be a good thing, and I always try to offer a couple of pieces that have a certain twist (perhaps in an attempt to get people to express a different side of themselves).

YOKO DEVERAUX - Fall 2005 + CHIC Interview

On February 8th YOKO DEVEREAUX presented it's Fall 2005 collection. The show took place in New York at CBGB's (315 Bowery), a historic venue for the punk rock music scene. We already had a chance to preview a collection and loved it. It is clean cut and very rich graphically.

Photos by: Vincent Dilio

To get the better feel about what all this is about here is the CHIC Interview with the Creative Director Andy Salzer.

Conceptual
AS: I keep the actual clothes very wearable for guys, but the inspiration always comes from a more conceptual place. Being able to provide a really strong story behind the collection and the brand is very important to me.

Highbrow Hoodlum
AS: The Yoko Devereaux guy is definitely a good guy that sometimes does bad things. I take a lot of inspiration from those moments where guys decide not to be on their best behavior.

Individual
AS: Creating a collection that has its own perspective is so important. Clothing is such an extension of who we are. I'd like to think that people want to be seen as their own person with a strong sense of self.

City
AS: Living in the US provides endless unique urban experiences - I love playing with that point where sophisticated uptown meets the more creative downtown. It's like two worlds colliding and can be very beautiful and also very raw.

OH THE LIFE OF... a Fashion Stylist

ManChic brings you an exclusive interview with Marc Reynolds, fashion stylist for a Carlson Twins 2005 Calendar.

In Feb. 2004 I was hired by photographers Drew and Derek Riker as Art Director/ Fashion Stylist for the Carlson Twins 2005 Calendar. Drew and Derek Riker were top male models in the nineties. We began modeling together about 10 years ago in Chicago. The Riker's, who worked closely with photographers Herb Ritts and Tony Duran, started seriously pursuing photography 4 years ago. They have a very close relationship with Lane and Kyle since they all hail from the Midwest.

As art director I was responsible for the "look" and "feel" of the calendar. Very early on we decided each photo or month would have a different theme. I was also responsible for every aspect of the shoot from locations to scheduling.
As fashion stylist I was responsible for all the clothing and props used in the calendar. It meant lots of meetings with the photographers and Lane and Kyle, who work a lot all over the world. Being a fashion stylist takes tons of research, shopping, phone calls and faxes to designers and publicists to "borrow" clothes.

From sourcing costume stores to find vintage baseball uniforms and the right baseball mitt to contacting the press offices of Armani and John Varvatos for tuxedos (which, unbelievably, didn't make the calendar!). One of the biggest debates was real leis or plastic for the beach shot in Miami. The hardest part of being a stylist (for me) isn't coming up with ideas, it's getting the clothing, accessories or props I want. You literally are competing with every magazine in the world to get the shoe or suit of the moment. It takes good people skills and a lot of begging! It takes trust. The stylist is responsible for the clothes. If anything is damaged or stolen the stylist is on the hook for the cost of the item! And yes, you must return the clothes (in most cases) though some designers will give you things! Perks!

The calendar shoot took 2 months to complete. It took us from the snow-capped mountains of Big Bear to beaches in Malibu and Miami. To the Florida Everglades, looking for crocodiles and back to the most beautiful home in the hills above L.A. It was fun, cold, wet, hilarious, drunken, exhausting, hot and beautiful. I loved working with Drew and Derek as well as Lane and Kyle who are as nice and they are beautiful.
The results? SUBLIME.

Photos: Top - Carlson Twins by Drew and Derek Riker, B&W - Marc Reynolds by Bruce Weber, Bottom - Marc Reynolds TV steel.