The Versace name is synonymous with over-the-top glitz and glam of
the kitschy-yet-fabulous sort. And the current face of the brand,
Donatella Versace, knows how to live large (or, at least, be
photographed extensively in the act). In the upcoming July issue of Details, she shares her top 10
tips for looking good, wearing cologne, shaving, the perfect summer
getaway luggage, and which celebs have the best style.
the always stylish Kanye West
goin' my way? a Versace-designed Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster
facial hair done right, courtesy of the Killers
Versace luggage
The Dreamer cologne by Versace
Enjoy the Style Wisdom of Donatella Versace:
The three biggest fashion mistakes are cheap suits, shoes, and shirts. Spend your money on something good. (suits: Paul Smith)
Some men look great unshaven; others just look like they forgot to shave. Beards and mustaches work if they're distinctive - think earthy & rock 'n roll like the Kings of Leon or The Killers. (photo: James Dimmock via ew.com)
"I just designed the livery for a Lamborghini and I’m told this machine is a real object of male desire. But true luxury is about the best of everything. Don’t cut back on the little things—great coffee, a good novel, a wonderful aftershave." (Lamborghini photo: driversdrive.com)
"For luggage, I use big Versace suitcases. I always overpack, but my advice to men is to pack a capsule wardrobe: a few suits, a pair of casual trousers, and then tops and accessories for changes—ties, belts, watches, shoes." (suitcase: Versace.com)
"In my opinion, men who have greatstyle include Lou Reed (downtown–New York chic), Jude Law (London chic), Alain Delon (French chic), Marcello Mastroianni (Italian chic), Rupert Everett (English-public-school chic), and Kanye West (modern, cool chic)." (photo: vipglamour.net)
"When buying a gift for your wife, do your research. Find out what she wants by subtle interrogation, or ask her friends."
As you get older, go for an elegant and understated look. "But [older men] have the advantage that they can do the rugged thing—think of Sam Shepard in denim. I find older men more attractive than boys. I need a man who can teach me a thing or two." (photo: IMDB.com)
"I don’t like jeans—I love them. I like slim-cut jeans, and at the moment I like them dark and clean, like tailored trousers." (Theory slim jeans available at NeimanMarcus.com)
Scent is very important. Strong fragrances suit some men, while citrus types suit others. "I like my men to smell fresh and woody, but also like a man." (Versace The Dreamer cologne - Sephora.com)
"When it comes to dress, there are more rules in America than in Europe. Dress is more of a social indicator—except in L.A., where you don’t know if the guy in the T-shirt and combat trousers in the hotel lobby is the busboy or a studio executive. That’s pretty refreshing."
“One of the reasons my attendance in high school was almost non existent was due to a man who I have always looked up to as a role model, Gene Simmons," muses Jason Dussault of Dussault Custom Ink - a unique high end urban street wear line from Vancouver, Canada which customizes gritty-but-luxe hoodies for red carpet fixtures like Pamela Anderson, Nelly Furtado, Carmelo Anthony, B.E.P., and Robyn Williams. "I spent hours a day dressing, singing and emulating my idol for an upcoming air band, or drawing Gene’s character as the Demon all over my notebooks. My teenage dreams became a reality when I got to meet the man himself and we hit it off, the result being the MoneyBag collaboration. It is my great honor to co-release the first products of our line.”
Dussault recently teamed up with Simmons to launch the MoneyBag line streetwear with a limited edition run of 500 tees, each hand-painted, -dyed & detailed for a one-of-a-kind custom feel. They are priced at $250, and individually signed by Simmons (the signature can be cut from the label). "I have owned the trademark MONEYBAG logo for over 25 years. I have used it on my magazines, book imprints, my record company and a few other areas," explains Simmons. "Until I met Jason Dussault, I held off on really going out into the marketplace in the street wear line. It has to do with finding a kindred spirit. And, Jason is it. He and I share a passion for only doing things in life that mean something. Together we are creating cutting edge, in-your-face fashions. The MoneyBag Line, at long last, has become a reality.”
My Fashion Life tests out Condé Nast's new online baby, Stylefinder.
Bag Snob interviews one of the most powerful figures in the fashion industry, Julie Gilhart of Barney's New York.
Papierblog wonders whether fashion is getting too violent, especially after the debut of Stella McCartney's line at Target in Australia.
Coquette loves the sleek look of dressed up bermuda shorts and gives her favorite picks.
ACCESSORIES, BAGS & SHOES:
eBelle5,the designer handbag blog, recommends
hitting the courts in style this spring with the designer Louis Vuitton
Damier Azur Badminton Set and Pouch.
The wonder of the $42,000 Louis Vuitton
Frankenbag...which has Fashiontribes wondering if it was inspired by
other handbags of horror?
StyleBakery.com finds the hottest handbags of the
season, from $13 cheap chic finds to $1300 splurges (and everything in
between)
Wrapped in peach-pink satin and midnight-black lace, Kristopher Dukes is sure these shoes are pure you.
Read the Stylehive interview with Jennifer Sarkilahti
for Odette NY jewelry who handcrafts elegant and pretty jewelry with an
artisan feel from wax carving and casting.
The Jewelry Weblog talks about the trend of jewelry as part of clothing. For example, this platinum and diamond jacket.
MEN'S FASHION:
Check out Fashiontribes Fellow for the checklist of the top 10 wardrobe must-have's for men this spring.
The latest Omiru Fashion Hotlist is about what to wear to the office, with the most subtly stunning work gear: a sleeveless shirtdress for women and a pinpoint stripe dress shirt for men.
Diddy (aka P.Diddy/Puffy/Puff Daddy/Sean Coombs) & his monster diamond cross pendant. Nigo of A Bathing Ape fame with pave diamond-encrusted teeth. Pharrell Williams, hip hop fashion maven about town, sporting a $500,000 Jacob the Jeweler-designed medallion covered in 125 carats worth of ice. Since the early days of the genre when rap innovators like Run DMC, Slick Rick & Big Daddy Kane draped themselves in precious stones, hip hop has been synonymous with diamonds-diamonds-diamonds...& yet more diamonds.
However, now that proles everywhere look just like their blinged-out heroes, the A-list is onto a more old-money approach to fine jewelry that reflects quality rather than quantity. "For the hip-hop demographic, you have to be aspirational," Damon Dash, a founder of Roc-A-Fella Records and chief executive officer of Dash Enterprises told WWD. "When you make something and spend a lot of money on it, you don't want to see everyone wearing the same thing."
According to Minya Oh, author of Bling Bling: Hip Hop's Crown Jewels, a more under-the-radar way of transmitting your vast weath & power is currently au currant: "Now it's ‘How do I hide my diamonds, while getting the right people to notice?' If you're a casual person not associated with bling, you may not notice. But someone who is a power player will." Reflecting this change, Dash's new campaign for his Tiret line of fancy jewelry & watches will be shot by fashion A-lister Steven Klein, and feature model Carolyn Murphy - who has modeled for white-shoe jewelers Harry Winston & Tiffany.
"We're going through a more restrained, more refined moment," agrees Robert Burke of NYC consulting firm Robert Burke Associates (he was formerly VP of fashion at Bergdorf Goodman). "Many of the hip-hop artists are [now] wearing tailored suits and the female artists are wearing couture and ready-to-wear dresses... A few years ago, it was tracksuits and a big piece of jewelry...It's not a more-is-more moment." (via WWD)
To hear the Fashiontribes Podcast, visit the Fashiontribes Daily 5-Minute Podcast Show at PodcasterNews.com.
In the Omiru Fur: In or Out? poll, fur is losing by a landslide, so this week, we're all about cruelty-free (read: no animal products used) fashions from AlternativeOutfitters.com: a preppy pair of casual flats for women and a rugged vegan messenger bag for men.
Pair them with jeans and a white tank for a night in with the girls. Sugar Shoes Smokin Cat Slate Blue Vegan Sneaker - Alternative Outfitters
Billed as a "veritable Swiss Army knife of transporting possibilities." Parcel Black Daily Vegan Messenger Bag - Alternative Outfitters
With the huge success of the sporty Y-3 line designed by fashion darling Yohji Yamamoto, and Stella McCartney's highly touted (and marketed) partnership with Adidas of chic workout & yoga gear, the luxury performance fashion market is proving robust and then some.
Porsche and Adidas just previewed their new Porsche Design Sport line, which rolls out in 150 doors in Europe, the UK, Asia & the US in December 2006. The line consists of 130 pieces of clothing, footwear, and sports equipment for activities such as running, driving, tennis, and golf (the golf clubs are hi-tech wonders that are co-branded with TaylorMade). With a stark urban palette of black, navy, white, red & metallic grey, the ultrasleek line is made to perform in different sports categories and in different climates.
Lifestyles are continuing to get increasingly casual - and global - but many people are reluctant to give up style. Lines like Porsche Design Sport address that need, so it's no surprise this segment of the market is continuing to grow. via WWD
To hear the Fashiontribes Podcast, visit the Fashiontribes Daily 5-Minute Podcast Show at PodcasterNews.com.
Phase Two of productdose.com - which makes me think we need phases here at FT! - is now live. Not only are the geniuses at productdose.com expanding their content, but helpfully providing different ways to buy everything you see on the site.
Buying Options scours the web for places to buy the stuff they feature, prices, and multiple buying options from reputable stores.
User Pages and Profiles Create now your own profile and comment on anything in the site; comments are now on the landing page so you can see what's on everyone's mind.
Personal Dose Bookmark & tag anything you dig, and see how many other people have saved it as well, and how popular and product or story is becoming.
Tabs Another bookmarking function that rocks.
Things are still in the BETA stage, so user feedback is heavily encouraged. Take some time to play around with the site and see what they're offering. You won't be sorry.
This week on the Omiru Friday Fashion Hotlist, it's all about the effortlessly chic look with a tailored linen miniskirt for women and a laceless pair of Converse sneakers (designed by John Varvatos) for men.
Donatella Versace, inimitable empress of luxury (photo: Matthias Vriens)
The three biggest fashion mistakes are cheap suits, shoes, and shirts. Spend your money on something good. (suits: Paul Smith)
As you get older, go for an elegant and understated look. "But [older men] have the advantage that they can do the rugged thing—think of Sam Shepard in denim. I find older men more attractive than boys. I need a man who can teach me a thing or two." (photo: IMDB.com)
"I don’t like jeans—I love them. I like slim-cut jeans, and at the moment I like them dark and clean, like tailored trousers." (Theory slim jeans available at NeimanMarcus.com)
