Dear John

(source)

John Galliano, who I think secretly wants to be a spy, is the king of the catwalk appearance.

Moncler

(source)

I'm not really au fait with ski wear, and I haven't kept a close eye on the menswear shows, but this Moncler presentation from Thom Browne makes me think of Olympian skiing in the Swiss Alps in the 50's. With snow, hot chocolate and a roaring fire.

Panos Yiapanis

Photog: Karl Lagerfeld

Photog: David Armstrong

Panos Yiapanis is a Cypriot fashion editor and stylist who I decided to research after I saw a photo of him on Jak + Jil. He's styled all of the Givenchy menswear advertisements since 2007, as well as the Rick Owens fashion shows since 2002. He also directed the amazing Tilda Swinton shoot for the SS09 edition of Another Magazine (I am obsessed with Tilda).

Photog: Craig McDean

Even when working with Chanel haute couture, his grungy, dark style comes through as strongly as if he were dressing Rick Owens on halloween. Until recently I haven't really thought a huge amount about the stylists collaborating with my favourite designers and photographers, but this changes everything!

Gentlemen of Bakongo

(source)

"SAPE: Society of Ambianceurs and Elegant People. At the start of the 20th century when the French arrived in the Congo, the myth of Parisian elegance was born among the youth of the Bakongo ethnic group, who were working for the colonisers. At that time, many considered white men to be superior, due to their sophistication and elegance. In 1922, Grenard André Matsoua was the first Congolese man ever to come back from Paris dressed as a genuine Frenchman. His arrival caused great admiration among his fellow countrymen; he became known as the first Grand Sapeur. Supported by the respect and admiration of their community, today’s Sapeurs consider themselves artists. They add a touch of glamour to their humble environment through their refined manners and impeccable dressing styles. Each of them is unique, each possessing a particular and individualised repertoire of gestures. They all share the same dream: to go to Paris and return to Brazzaville as the ambassadors of supreme elegance."

(words and more pictures)

Men's Fashion Week Fall '09: Comme des Garcons

Gang Gang Dance - First Communion

(via men.style.com)

I want to write about how exciting this collection is as much as I want to pretend the H&M collaboration didn't happen... A Lot. It adheres perfectly to one of the clothing principles I (and my housemate Amee) stick to most fastidiously; taking hideous, ill-fitting garments and making them look amazing. For this reason alone it is number one on my list of two best men's fashion week shows. (I definitely hate the hats and shoes, though.)

Men's Fashion Week Fall '09: Junya Watanabe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(via men.style.com)

I LOVE this!!! This is my best friend Robin if he went to live in a secluded forest in an American backwater for 5 years, surviving by chopping wood for the local villagers.

Hans Christian Madsen

 

 

 

 

 

 

I say or think this a lot, but if I were a boy, I would dress exactly like Hans Christian Madsen's models. Most of these looks are from his RCA MA collection, via here.