October is Breast Cancer awareness month, and to make it even more special for those who want to support the cause- David Yurman has collaborated with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to create two variations of a Pink Rhondite Dog Tag. 10% of proceeds will go towards research, and compared to other David Yurman collections, these pieces are actually priced relatively moderate sitting at $450 for the Pink Rhondite-Sterling Silver piece, and $950 for the Pave-Diamond encrusted version.
Every year around this time, I do a closet reorganizing. Summer swim trunks, polos, and shorts make room for the more diverse and adventurous winter collection. While some may hate the bitter cold, I absolutely love the opportunity to add scarves, sweaters, jackets, and layers to a wardrobe. A crucial piece every guy should have is a good Leather Motorcycle Jacket. I highly suggest the Marc by Marc Jacobs piece, currently on sale at Gilt - e-mail me for an invite if you don't have an account.
Years ago, the motorcycle jacket was rebellious, but designers such as JunyaWatanabe, and Dolce & Gabbana have helped in crafting them to be a part of every man's wardrobe, whether you're looking for the rebellious bad-ass look or if you just want a clean masculine silhouette. The reason I love Marc's Leather Motorcycle jacket is because he is a master at sculpting the male body. The shoulder epaulettes help broaden and strengthen the shoulder while the pockets are strategically designed to taper and slim the waist area.
Pair this with a graphic tee and fitted jeans for a casual look, or wear over a button-up and dress pants to add an edge when you walk in and leave an office.
Tip: Always remember that leather jackets need to be very fitted, no one looks good in a jacket that is even slightly big. The best way to tell your perfect size is to go smaller and smaller until you can't move comfortably and then reach for the next size higher.
With fashion week going on, I was reading through some of my old documents to get away from the 'fashion world' for a bit and I found an essay I had written for law school. I wrote the following essay for Columbia Law when I was an undergrad and after I already received an acceptance from my first choice law school. So I decided to write something that was as "true" to myself as possible and let the chips fall where they may. Spoiler: I ended up getting in.
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I remember the moment I decided that I wanted to be a lawyer. It was the summer of my freshmen year in college. I was in Paris for my internship with Chanel. Did you know it’s really pronounced Sha-nelle? I didn’t and I can’t begin to tell you how that put me at a disadvantage when I first started! So here I was, lowly college student in Gap khakis and a button up shirt going for the American-casual (read: affordable) look standing next to a 5’10 size 0 girl named Zeesa (seriously, I couldn’t make this stuff up), who was wearing something Donetella Versace sewed together at the last minute before a soiree (I’m really using this story to illustrate all the fancy words I know and can use as a future lawyer) at Elton John’s summer getaway in Lake Cuomo, in other words Zeesa was looking a hooker-chic, and on the other side of the room was Clark, an androgynous man with a James Dean obsession puffing on cigarettes, each delicate breath bringing him closer to his idol. Wanting to befriend my new coworkers, I offered them my sushi, which they firmly rejected much to no one’s surprise, so we sat in silence as I ate my sushi and watched them brunch on cigarettes and Evian- the diet of champions.
Then the designer and as I’m told- God, came in. His name is Karl Lagerfeld but he preferred that we called him Uncle Karl, I just called him “Karl” to avoid any confusion about what type of relationship “Uncle Karl” and I were fostering. We’re told that he is picking models for his Spring collection so obviously we’re going to go watch. Zeesa, Clark, and I run (not walk) over to the showroom floor past the throngs of models propping themselves up by the wall practicing their “fierce” face. We manned our stations, Zeesa called models in, Clark gave them directions, Karl watched, and I asked inane questions. Well oiled machine. In case it’s not apparent at this point in the story, I’m definitely not as fashion-conscious as Zeesa, Clark, or Uncle Karl so everything intrigues me. Eventually Karl’s business partner gives me each model’s look book so I can critique their editorials and ad campaigns. I really didn’t have anything to say as at the time, I did not subscribe to my issue of “catty comments weekly” so every model’s book was “good” or “fine” while Clark was so astute as to point out “urgh! She has a beauty mark near her buttcrack, that is sooo not cute” for a particular model- totally something James Dean would say. Then the golden It Girl model of the moment walks in and the room lights up. She’s booked on the spot but there is one complication- she will not bleach her hair due to another show’s request that her hair remain dark brunette. Suddenly the seemingly Disney-fairytale ending we created in our minds went kaput. No one knows what to do and the stress is mounting. People are yelling in French and Italian, and I am wishing I listened to my mom when she encouraged me to buy Rosetta Stone before coming here. It is at this point that I realize this industry truly is as superficial as people think. To end the stress, I ask “How about we give her a package she can’t refuse?” “What would that be?” Karl asked back, “Have her drop from the other shows. Let her open or close ours. And book her for your ad campaign- that is more publicity and money than she would be getting otherwise.” The room goes silent, then suddenly cheers and a roar of applause is heard, I (apparently) just invented the concept of “exclusive booking”.
So by now you are thinking two things “this guy tells amazing stories” and “I can’t connect this to why he wants to be a lawyer.” Well here’s why I wanted to be a lawyer at that exact moment: because I just did. There is no special life-changing experience or a manifest-destiny at play, there are moments where things just click and I just thought at this moment that “I would be a great lawyer and should pursue this.” If I can work with Zeesa and Clark, then I can work with any motley crew of cut throat lawyers, and if I can make a room of angry fashion insiders give me a standing ovation then there is no jury I can’t sway, and if I’m clever enough to screw another company over just for the short-term pleasure of gaining one model for my company, then maybe, just maybe I have that certain je ne sais quoi that all successful lawyers have which makes them both loathed and envied. Besides, I used the word “buttcrack” to tell a story about why I want to be a lawyer, can you imagine how awesome I will be during mock trial and Socratic debate? I rest my case.
New Yorkers, mark your calendars for September 10th! We'll be kicking off this year's New York Fashion Week with a citywide program called Fashion Night Out. Exciting and diverse events will take place, ranging from the Olsen twins bartending at Bergdorf to Alexander Wang teaching shoppers how to do the proper runway walk. My former company, Gucci will be handing out free NYC Save Fashion T-Shirts, while champagne will be on hand at most high-end boutiques. Check the list below to see the events I will be attending and what we have planned:
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FENDI 677 Fifth Avenue (between East Fifty-third Street and East Fifty-fourth Street) New York, NY 10022 (212) 920-8117 www.fendi.com
Fendi will celebrate the creative platform of design by highlighting the Selleria Collection, which is made by hand. We will present the first Peekaboo handbag from the spring collection. Artisans will be on sight for the night.
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MARC JACOBS 163 Mercer Street (between Houston street and Prince street) New York, NY 10012 212-343-1490 www.marcjacobs.com
Photo exhibition
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MARC BY MARC JACOBS 403-405 Bleecker Street (at West Eleventh Street) New York, NY 10014 212-924-0026 www.marcjacobs.com
Get your candid photo taken on a special Marc by Marc Jacobs set.
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LOUIS VUITTON 1 East Fifty-seventh Street (at Fifth Avenue) New York, NY 10022 (212) 872-2000 www.louisvuitton.com
Extended shopping hours and book launch of the special edition Louis Vuitton: Art, Fashion and Architecture.
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ARMANI / 5TH AVENUE 717 Fifth Avenue (at Fifty-sixth Street) New York, NY 10022 (212) 339-5950 www.giorgioarmani.com
Experience the luxury of the world of Armani at Armani / 5th Avenue with extended shopping hours. Receive a complimentary glass of Prosecco while shopping the Fall Winter 2009 Collection.
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YVES SAINT LAURENT 3 East Fifty-seventh Street (at Fifth Avenue) New York, NY 10022 212-980-2970 www.ysl.com
On the occasion of Vogue’s up-coming Fashion’s Nights Out, Yves Saint Laurent will officially launch its new bag: the ‘Roady’; the ‘Roady’ is the 7th iconic bag of the house and has already been released worldwide in press thanks to the Fall/Winter 2009-2010 ad campaign and editorials. ‘Roady’ is a large hobo bag available in different skins with a chic leather and metal handle. For this special night, Yves Saint Laurent will recreate a chic parisian atmosphere in its boutiques with a great selection of music and cocktails.
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GUCCI 725 Fifth Avenue (at Fifty-sixth Street) New York, NY 10022 (212) 826-2600 www.gucci.com
Gucci is pleased to support Fashion’s Night Out in New York. The Gucci Fifth Avenue Flagship and Madison Avenue stores will host in-store events from 6 to 11 p.m., serving cocktails and Gucci chocolates. All guests who attend the Gucci events will receive a limited-edition Fashion’s Night Out T-shirt, while supplies last. In honor of this initiative, Gucci will make a special donation to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.
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Don't miss out! Let me know if you will be at any of these events.
After all the fruitta and gelatos I've consumed in Italy, traversing the cobblestone streets of Rome and Florence; I'm more than slightly bitter to be back to the grind of the big city- away from the tourist lined streets filled with cafes, eateries, and gelato hole-in-the-walls that I have called home for all of two very enjoyable weeks. Five hours into my arrival in Manhattan, I got the itch for a cool-summer treat and with my gelato palette spoiled by Italy, I knew I had to find something more 'American'.
Enter the Ice Cream Sandwich: two slices of a baked good (cookies, brownies, bread, etc), stuffed to the brim in the center with ice cream. If Gelato is the treat of choice for Italians (and Summer tourists), then Ice Cream Sandwiches are New York City's answer. The City provides ample variety so your ice cream sandwich can be wedged between crisp dark chocolate waffers or raisin oatmeal cookies, or it can be bigger than your fist or the size of a Palm Pre.
Favorites include (ironically) Strawberry and Mokaccino gelato on Brioche, which comes at $6.50 at L'Arte del Gelato. Though for more adventurous palettes or more refined palettes, I recommend my favorite flavor combination: Nutella and Pistachio. The gelato absolutely melts in your mouth!
I'm also a huge fan of the Ice Cream Sandwiches served at Jacques Torres, which serves different options on different days, though my favorite is the roasted banana ice cream over their signature chocolate chip cookie- available for just $5.
Whether you're visiting New York City or if you live here- check out an Ice Cream Sandwich to beat the heat and humidity during this (still) summer season.
The latest issue of Details proclaims "shoes make the outfit. Sunglasses make the man". I couldn't agree more, for men- sunglasses serve as the window into ones personality, quirks, and taste. I usually go through phases with sunglasses between aviators, thick-rimmed, wrap arounds, etc. While shopping in London, I found my new favorite pair of sunglasses from The Elder Statesman made from real buffalo horn.
As the sales associate explained to me, because of the rare and unique material (buffalo horn)- no two pairs are exactly alike. This might be why the price of individuality will set you back $2,800. They're not showy, nor are they trying to serve as examples of cutting-edge design- instead they're quite subtle and eccentric. For a more bargain price (considering the range), you can also check out the unisex buffalo horn frame from Bottega Veneta for $2,200- though I'm not sure if their limited edition run has dried up yet.
Just make sure you try it on before you buy, because when Bottega Veneta is considered the bargain-buy in the playing field-you know you're spending more than is necessary especially when the rest of the designer competition is at an eighth of the price.
Nice Collective is one of my favorite brands, not just because they originated from San Francisco- the home of hipster wear, but because their materials are organic and their designs are both subtle yet edgy. Marc by Marc Jacobs- need I say more? E-Mail to score an invite!
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