STYLE
Spring has sprung into action, and so have all your favorite designers of menswear. For years now, fashion for men has been developing from more than just suits and slacks, into daring pieces that play with silhouettes, experiment with color, and give innovation to the consumer. This year is no different. Three key trends men should be ripping from the runway this spring are Prints & Patterns, Fit &Tailoring, as well as Color.
Prints & Patterns are great for the budding businessman and the more classic male who doesn’t want to get to out there with his wardrobe, but still wants to stay current. This season the runways were a blaze with prints from designers like Vivienne Westwood, and Sarah Burton who awed with a bronze combination gold and silver metallic blazer with matching trousers for Alexander McQueen (see left). The bolder male “fashionistas” can go to the extreme, while the further subdued can opt for more subtle approaches like Viktor & Rolph’s zigzag patterned black and silver suit also featuring a metallic finish (see slideshow).
XEX Magazine (pronounced "X") has long been an online and print publication that allows professional, as well as up and coming artists, to display their work and creativity. This past weekend was the launch party to celebrate the magazines first ever men’s edition, and neither the party nor the fashion disappointed. From a live model exhibition, and photo shoot to a gallery-like display of the magazine’s inaugural issue; the night was painted to be a success from the get go. Combine this with free booze and a hot DJ and you were in for a treat.
Music and a video footage featuring editorial material since the magazine's conception set the pace for a live model exhibition. Their highly stylized and outlandish looks featured some trendy pieces like a leather glove featuring cut-outs and leopard print, and a distressed leather fanny-pack with gold trim. But if you think the models were the ones to be watching, then you'd be wrong. This party gave way to some of New York City's local trend setters to strut their stuff. And because this was a men’s fashion event, the guys did not disappoint, also rocking some of today's hottest trends. Check it out!
To top things off, Editor-In-Chief Sailey Williams rounded his team, including fashion editor Inoisell Miranda, and decided to turn his guests into models with a live photo shoot where no one was safe. To delve into the plethora of fashions of the night, click here. In the midst of it all, there was still the magazine. The first men’s edition of XEX has the right amount of substance and features fabulous editorial material styled by some of New York’s hottest stylists. The “mode home” is everywhere to see, trying hard not to alienate the classic male, while still catering to the fashion forward. This launch had all the ingredients for a good party, and if you like a good party then you’ll love a good read!
For more info and recent issues of XEX Mag click here.
Fashionistas know that no outfit is complete without the perfect pairing of jewelry, bags, belts, and other fun accessories. Thousands of online retailers have launched in recent years and are offering specialty products that appeal to varying styles. More importantly, these boutiques provide a uniqueness that can’t be served up at the local mall. We’ve narrowed it down to five established and emerging boutiques that are sure to appeal to all you fashion accessory lovers out there.
Love, Always
Love, Always is more than just an online jewelry boutique offering the latest bling. Beyond the rose gold, spikes, and neon jewelry, peak inside the purse of the boutique’s founder, Stephanie Diaz, and get inspired by her fashion finds. The boutique’s mission is to spread love, not hate, by “helping girls and women challenge their inner beauty and strength to become the best self they can possibly be.” According to the Web site, each month, a portion of profits is donated to a different anti-bullying organization.
www.lovealwaysbysd.com
A trendy hostel in the heart of Miami Beach --how has no one thought of this before?
Developer Andrew Zobler is the C.E.O. behind Sydell Group (responsible for bringing the Ace Hotel to New York) and is the man responsible for bringing huge changes in the way hospitality works to Miami Beach. Quoted as calling his new endeavor a “game-changer,” the Freehand Miami Beach is hospitality for a new generation of travelers.
An amazing tale of inspiring entrepreneurship combined with trendy fashion and a worthy cause, the creators of PANDA separated after college only to be reunited by the power of making a difference. Lucas Lagera, Mike Mills, and Vincent Ko kickstarted PANDA with the idea of creating a new style, look, and purpose for sunglasses. We all wear sunglasses for the sake of blocking out the brightness of the sun (or to disguise those late, crazy nights!) and most of us choose our signature pair with the simple expectations of looking cool and feeling stylish.
Rue Saint Vincent is an inspiring summer collection one must feast their eyes upon. Fashion devotee and jewelry designer Thérèse Rosebelle Quiao is new to the market but a pro player in the industry. Her recently launched, once in a lifetime, dreamy collection consists of necklaces, rings, and even the occasional pair of cufflinks created from mixed metals and the combination of new and vintage wares. With an incredibly fitting name, Rue St. Vincent is on the fast track to becoming the new definition of inspiration without words. Thérèse Rosebelle Quiao has mastered the art of inspiring women with a simple piecNew Jerseye of “wearable art”. Read on to enjoy our interview with the crafty Rue Saint Vincent creator Thérèse Rosebelle Quiao.
Kate Middleton was thrust onto the fashion scene whether she wanted to be or not, once news broke of her engagement to Prince William. The Dutchess of Cambridge has been acclaimed for her perfectly put-together and lady-like ensembles. Several blogs have spawned with the mission of documenting (and helping you copy) Mrs. Kate's every stylish move including dutchessofcambridgestyle.org, katemiddletonstyle.org and whatkatewore.com. Kate's looks even inspired countless Halloween costumes this year.
No one can make casual and effortless look so glamorous and chic, quite like Minka Kelly. That’s right, she has a red hot career, Derek Jeter (speculation or not), and killer style to boot. Some people really do have it all. The most amazing thing about Minka is how she literally looks like it's nothing. She throws on a tshirt, hat, and skirt and that’s it, no muss, no fuss, yet she always looks stunning. Minka Kelly has perfected her personal style so well, that it translates into the characters she portrayed on Friday Night Lights, Charlie’s Angels, and The Roommate. Even professional stylists and casting directors adhere to her self-imposed guidelines, which is only further proof that Minka Kelly seems to have it all figured out. Though the task of highlighting her best five outfits was quite daunting, the vote was decided on, drum roll please…
According to Cosmopolitan.com, Ken Paves insists that, "the trick to perfect blow outs is using the right styling products and learning how to use the right sized brushes in conjunction with the blow dryer for the desired results."
Many curly-haired ladies have struggled for quite some time with attempting to recreate those salon perfect blowouts at home. Is there some secret technique we’re missing while we’re sitting in that stylists’ chair? Combined with the recent popularity of blow-dry exclusive hair salons, such as Blow Dry Bar, across the country, lead the Glam Damn It team wondering: “How can we do that?” So, we simply had to investigate and share our discoveries. Here are some of the tricks utilized by top stylists to prevent frizz and encourage beautiful, sleek locks.
- Select the right product for your hair type. Fine hair should get a volumizing mousse, medium hair responds well to light products such as leave-in conditioner and thick, textured hair needs a heavy product such as straightening cream or wax. Experiment with different products to see which type works best with your hair – everyone is different!
- Almost as important as the product you choose is the type of brush you’ll be using for your desired style. A boar’s bristle brush is best for using on wet hair. A paddle brush will give you the straightest look, while a round brush will give you lots of volume. Most stylists’ use a large, boar’s bristle paddle brush. The size of the brush head is also important – the larger it is, the more hair you can work with at once and the rounder it is, the bigger your curls will be and the more volume you’ll have when finished.
- Some things to keep in mind while attempting your perfect blowout:
- Fingers in your hair means static on your head! So keep your fingers firmly on your brush and dryer handles.
- Do not attempt to blow dry dripping wet OR completely dry hair – the perfect dampness for a blowout is somewhere in between. Experts suggest (in order) a thorough towel-dry, use of a wide-tooth comb for smoothing tangles, product application and then blow-drying. Keep hair damp with a spritz bottle full of water to avoid breakage from heat.
- If one section of your hair tends to have flyaways, use the nozzle attachment of the blow dryer – it helps to zone in on that area and prevent breakage.
Theophilus London is the next big thing in music. Recently, he gave an exclusive, high-energy performance at the W South Beach to celebrate the hotel's two year anniversary. The urban electro-pop sensation is one of several hand-selected artists participating in the Symmetry Live concert series created by W Hotels Global Music Director, Michaelangelo L'Acqua.
Theophilus London was born in Trinidad but grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He’s a self-made rapper-songwriter that blends a variety of genres including rock, hip-hop, electronica and pop to create a unique sound. He gained momentum under Green Label Sound, a music label for new artists curated by Mountain Dew, and has performed at Cannes Film Festival, SXSW and The Late Show with David Letterman.
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