COMUNE fall/winter 2011: how to dress simply, but well

Gentlemen, meet COMUNE, a brand from LA that couldn’t be further from what I view as “LA.” I’ve tried to let my imagination run wild (yes, even trying to picture the COMUNE model as Emile Hirsch in Lords of Dogtown), and I’m still not really sure how COMUNE is based out of Los Angeles, but that’s neither here nor there (clearly they exist somewhere, otherwise I wouldn’t be writing about ‘em). They call themselves a lifestyle brand, and that lifestyle—as you’ll plainly see—is one that relies on minimal effort, like a one pot meal.

Junya Watanabe reinterprets the field jacket

Junya Watanabe makes amazing jackets, plain and simple. I was coveting the duck jacket, and now I want this reinterpretation of a field jacket, complete with leather patches, wool flannel and drill cotton. The best part is, the hood is detachable, and I seem to have this problem where a hood does not welcome my gigantic head, so a point always forms at the top and I always seem to look like I’m representing a non-existent fashion branch of the KKK. Frankly, that’s not really what I’m going for.

 

Triwa Fall/Winter 2011 watches may be “bold” for Sweden, but it’s just right for me

I tend to shy away from most watches. It certainly seems that people feel the more money a man spends on his watch, the better his taste is, but that’s kind of bullshit, to speak bluntly. It might work better than some, but on the surface, some of the more expensive models tend to have too many bells and whistles (and that’s like screeching down a residential neighbourhood in a Ferrari). Triwa claims they are returning to a time when Swedish design was more bold, and I can certainly see that, but even with the extra elements on the face, it still feels refined and worthy of the fascination most people currently have for modern Swedish design. I’d definitely take the purple one for a spin.

Boys with Beards: B-Insider

The Hudson’s Bay Company scouted Toronto beardos, and I was selected as one, and according to former Fashion Television producer and now Social Media Manager for the company, Christopher Sherman, the shoot was inspired by Dressed for Dinner. I blushed. And then I sat on a stool and played model for an evening (being shot by Jaclyn Locke) while I drank beers with writer Fraser Abe, graphic designer Ron Ruiz, artist and graphic designer Nick Fox, industrial designer Jano Badovinac, artist and academic Dave Colangelo, photographer Brandon Titaro, photographer Stevie Myers, designer Edward Keeble and production assistant Brent Marson. Check out a little teaser below, and see the whole shebang at the b-insider.

Please, forget about the Ben Sherman you thought you knew

 

 

Think about what you know about Ben Sherman. Target-Underground branding, mod fits (that fit no one correctly), but ultimately pretty cool (and you wanted to wear the clothes, but most of the time, couldn’t, because, well, the fits were pretty wonky).

The skirts and club collared poplin shirting is gone for the girls, and now, in what seems like a whole new world (for Ben Sherman), Sherms has taken to a full-on menswear concept debut entitled Plectrum, which, to be completely crass, is fucking awesome.

The Plectrum look is heavily workwear-inspired and highlights basics (well, of the genre) like plaid shirting, chunky knit crewneck sweaters, corduroy pants (that I actually like), and very dapper, seemingly cocoon-like suitable-for-maybe-Russia-and-Canada coats (so, hooray for me). So, it is me. I inspired this collection. Okay, I didn’t, but take a look and tell me what you think. I love the green pants.

 

 

 

Dressed for Dinner: a new dawn brings slightly less facial hair

My beard grows back in an instant. I shaved it off one week ago (above photo) and it is already racing back. Perhaps that is a comment on how much testosterone I have (somewhat laughable), but what it shouldn’t mean is that I’ve lost the focus of this blog. Dressed for Dinner grew into a niche site for beard(o) enthusiasts, but it was also meant to be an investigation of menswear (hopefully more interesting to you than, uh, say, GQ?). This will be the last self-indulgent, look-at-me post. I just thought I’d ease into the return.

Where’d he go? Dressed for Dinner hiatus over

I’ve been gone for months, and here’s why: http://www.torontolife.com/daily/style

I am working as the Associate Online Editor at Toronto Life where I, well, edit, the fashion section. It is a real full time job, whereas before I was working 20 hours a day with a night job on top of blogging and freelancing (working hard does pay off, so, uh, do that). My life is still busy, but I can go to bed by midnight some nights if it is possible. Anyway, I’m returning to my blog as of tonight and am hoping to re-ignite my Bearded feature and my regular discussions of contemporary menswear as swiftly as I can. To those who have hung in there, thanks. I know it has been a while. For all new readers, hello!