PUMA Mens RTW F/W 2010 URBAN HILANDER by Hussein Chayalan

Great Scot Marty!  

If these leather and plastic sneakers don't immediately make you think of Biff's BMW 633 from Back to the Future II (see the last photo if you don't believe me), then....you haven't seen enough sci-fi movies and/or need to work on your tangential mental reference connections.

As was the case with the marbled Jeremy Scott Adidas sneakers (one of my original postings), these caught my eye as something truly special and that weren't readily recognizable as Puma.  Out of what I consider tired and juvenile designs, I usually ignore Puma except for their occasional collaborations.  With these, designed by Puma's Creative Director Hussein Chayalan, even the brightest light, the trademark side design is all but completely hidden.  These look throwback and hyper-futuristic all at the same time.  

Trad, meet the future indeed.

German-spec BMW 633 CSI from Back to the Future II

HERMES Men's Permanent Collection Solid Orange Silk Tie

I'm writing this at around 0100 in the morning in the D gates section of American Airlines terminal in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.  The terminal is vacant save for the cleaning crews, who through their sweeping, dusting, mopping, and floor shining give the impression of bustling, industrious nervous insects preparing their hive for the impending arrival of their queen... 

I have an aversion to articles of clothing and accessories in certain colors, namely orange and purple, colors opposite each other on the color wheel as it turns out.  (This aversion extends to a lesser extent to green and yellow. ) This goes for all shades of orange and purple, from burnt umber to eggplant, respectively; these colors almost universally visually repulse me.  It has nothing to do with these colors not matching my skin tone, or my personal seasonal aesthetic (are you a winter or a fall? Answer: What does that even mean?)  

That said, I told myself that if I ever did feel compelled to purchase something in either of these two colors, it would have to meet a certain set of criteria.  Namely orange or purple would need to hold some special significance to the brand in question.  The article or accessory would need to be completely orange or purple, else it would appear as if I was trying to mask the fact that I had made a purchase that contained a little or a lot of two colors I loathe, almost as if these colors were afterthoughts or incidental.  

I had been contemplating purchasing something Hermes for a long time.  For me, my first purchase from a brand has to be something classic, something the brand is known for because they do whatever it is that I'm purchasing, the best.  I'm not a scarf guy--they're too fussy, too delicate, and too costumy.  This isn't to say I don't appreciate scarves, especially by Hermes.  On the contrary; they're just not my look.  An eight of an inch of precisely-folded solid white pocket square protruding from a suit pocket is as far I venture into that realm.  

It goes without saying that Hermes is known as much for their exquisite neckties for men as they are known for their Birkin bags for women.  Specifically, Hermes is known for their whimsical, collectable, and instantly-recognizable patterned silk neckties.  This color is whimsical and daring enough for me, along with being the Hermes signature, and so this is what I chose.  Just what the doctor ordered, a birthday present to myself as it were.  The buying experience was exceptional.  Although I made it known I was just in the market for a simple silk tie, the sales associate treated me as if I was entertaining the notion of purchasing several ready-to-wear pieces.  Multiple associates assisted in the packaging and the ultimate presentation once the transaction had transpired.  

I expect to pair this tie with a crisp white slim-fit dress shirt, khaki slacks, a light brown belt and loafers.  You can expect to see a picture of the same shortly as I aim to start photographically documenting some of my complete looks.

PRADA Men's RTW S/S NYLON ACTIVE TRAINER 2010

A short sign-of-life post.  I've been galavanting around without my computer and have been neglecting blogging about recent and not-so-recent (but have yet to be worn) acquisitions of interest.  Many more postings are ahead in the coming weeks.  

I purchased these trainers in the Summer of 2010 at the Prada SOHO store, (which merits its own post at some point) and I have been searching ever since for the more widely-known ugly-beautiful orange and green version.  Everything about these shoes works perfectly from a visual aesthetic perspective, which is an exception to the rule for Prada.  I'm ambivalent about whether or not it's a good or a bad thing as proportions are all garment and shoe-specific.  In the case of these trainers however, these mostly fly under the radar---unlike say, the Espadrilles whose soles came this very shoe.  Suede, nylon, plastic, rubber, leather: these fetishistic components have been amalgamated in a wearable, classic shoe.  Note, I almost bought them in sky-blue before settling on the modern grey and silver.  

I almost left with these--this was taken in the Madison Avenue Store. 

GUCCI Men's RTW S/S 2010 GSB9 Parachute High-Tops

Sometimes style can (and should) be escapist.
Who do you want to be?
Where do you want to go?
How do you want to feel?
I ponder all these things whenever I am considering a substantial purchase...

Until extremely recently, I had never been a Gucci fan.  At all.  I lumped it in with Versace in terms of a House whose menswear seemed directionless, uninspired, and tired, with everything slathered in loud branding of questionable taste...

That is until Frida Giannini's very anti-Gucci scuba-themed Spring Summer 2010 collection.  This parachute-inspired pair was featured with multiple different runway looks, and may be the most creative pair of men's luxury high-tops to come out in the last couple years.  Nothing even remotely resembles them.  They're athletic, elegant, futuristic, clean, and well-proportioned.  Think 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea meets Tron Legacy meets Gattaca. The white leather and nylon pairs exceptionally well with the grey nylon straps, silver buckles and dark navy piping.

Penelope was waiting for Odysseus for a long time while he was away on this shoe Odyssey--my odd proportions extend to my shoe size as well, and thanks to the staff at the (now relocated) Gucci in Tysons Square, Virginia, I was able to have the last pair in the U.S. in my size shipped in from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Most spectacular compliment received while wearing these shoes?  I looked as though I had just walked from the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey.  And...worth it.

LANVIN Men's RTW F/W 2010 Deconstructed Jacket

I had intended for this Lanvin jacket to have been included in my previous posting in which I sang high praise about my recently-acquired cardigan and two-button jacket, but, after much debate about the fit, I decided to return it and go up to a European size 52. That said, the piece is extraordinary enough to merit its own posting.

Fit.  In order to fully appreciate the cut and proportions of Lanvin, the proper fit it essential, lest details be  stretched beyond recognition if the sizing is too small, or lost unnecessarily in rippling if the sizing is too large.  Come now Goldilocks, get off that big bed, walk pass the small one and go to sleep on the made just for you.  This jacket, fortuitously, feels as though it was fit just for my odd proportions: long torso, long arms, large shoulders: not exactly fit model.

Detailing.  Deconstruction, deconstruction, deconstruction--and, ruggedness? As the deconstruction is  pronounced and obvious, (I would hesitate to refer to it at all as detailing), the Lanvin aspects of this jacket render it much more pronounced and worked than my other more subtle Lanvin pieces (my graffiti t-shirt notwithstanding.)  But that's what makes this garment so unique: exposed/deconstructed aspects can be found along each side of the middle zipper, side pockets, under each sleeve and along the cuffs, along the top of the shoulders, and across the bottom hem.  The slightly cropped body and the wool collar gives this jacket a decidedly classic American 1950s biker-meets-football player letterman's jacket look and feel.

The color is a gunmetal bluish-grey.