The names FASH, GFASH. 00 STYLE.

Bond is a character every man aspires to be. Even if it is just in appearance. He is sharply dressed, wears well-cut, and sophisticated clothing, visits exotic beautiful locations and saves the world all whilst being a gentleman. When seeking dapper inspiration there is no finer example than 007.

Photographer: Irina Krupovich

With that inspiration in mind and an invite in hand to attend The Globe-Trotting PR, A Caring Experience at Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris, I chose to unleash my own 00 style but step away from the usual traditional tuxedo. I required something a little more lavish.

Photographer: Kseniakuznetsovaphotography

Times have changed and the velvet suit is no longer the armour reserved for Austin Powers to fight Doctor Evil or for the bunny partying late Hugh Hefner. Velvet is back, in all its plush luxurious glory, assuring refinement and elegance. Hence why it continues to take over my wardrobe. Velvet is ultra luxurious with its chic polished style and adds some serious grunt to an outfit with its subtle yet commanding presence.

Photographer: Irina Krupovich

A typical suit worn for work or less-formal events such as business meetings and attending weddings would not suffice for such an event, nor would off the rack. Having researched off the rack tuxedos from a number of Australian brands, I was told the suit would require multiple alterations to have it fit my frame perfectly. As my new year resolution is to shop smarter and better, I knew that I would not be happy wearing a suit that many other gents had, yet alone the cost involved of the suit and further costs for multiple alterations. For this occasion there was no other choice than to go bespoke, made to measure. It’s what Bond would do.

With this in mind it was an ideal choice for this very special event to visit The Spectre Collection prior to departing Melbourne to discuss the event, purpose of the event, who would be in attendance, and of course of my personality and style. With anything in my wardrobe it needs to suit(see what I did there)my personality.

Photographer: Irina Krupovich

The final product was absolutely outstanding and one of my favourite outfits I wore in Paris. The tailoring is exquisite for the modern guy with its subtle details in the lapel, pockets and don’t get me started on the lining. Small details make for simple classic elegance, which is what really defines a Bond look. A traditional tuxedo would feature a satin lapel and a stripe down the side seam of the pant. As much as I enjoy military details I wanted the luxurious modern blue and black plush fabric to speak for itself. 

Photographer: Kseniakuznetsovaphotography

Complimenting the suit, I had a custom made to measure shirt created, which I believe every gent should have in his wardrobe. You would assume incorrect if you thought this would hit your wallet hard. Truth is, custom made shirts are roughly the same price as quality made shirts hanging in most department stores around the country. I opted with further customisation with double cuffs, to show off suave cuff links of course. A classic white shirt is all a man truly needs and will always be a wise investment. 

Photographer: Kseniakuznetsovaphotography

A velvet suit is not traditional black tie, but who follows the rules these days? Tick the black tie dress code boxes by adding a bow tie for a more formal look. I opted for a black velvet bow tie that has been making a strong impact on menswear thanks to designers such as Tom Ford. However this suit would look equally as good with a traditional tie. 

Photographer: Kseniakuznetsovaphotography

When wearing such a suave suit you also need the appropriate footwear. Ticking more boxes like I did by opting for a black patent lace up. Just be sure to go up a size when first purchasing as patent rarely gives and moulds to your foot like normal leather does. As much as I love my patent shoes, I binned them after a few wears trotting around Paris due to them being ridiculously uncomfortable. 

I can hear your questions now. How and where would I wear such a suit? Traditionally a suave suit such as this should only be worn only after 7pm or to private and public dinners, events, balls, and parties where dress code is enforced. In my case A Caring Experience by le Monde de GHRIBI

Once again the suit can also be worn as two seperate pieces and down graded to smart casual attire. A good pair of dark tailored trousers or even dark denim jeans, open collar shirt, or no collar, all would be a great looks for dinner, dates or heading out to a bar. Obviously velvet shouldn’t be worn in summer but is perfect for blocking out the winter chills. 

So what are you waiting for? Unleash your inner 007 by giving your evening attire a lavish spin. Take a classic and make it your own.

SPATIVM MODA - Salon Presentation

As fashion trends come and go, and elaborate stunts on the catwalk reach new extremes to keep consumers interested, a lot can be said for the elegant tradition of an intimate presentation. 

eLsi and FVCINA Luxury Combined

During Milan Fashion Week I had the delight of attending a salon presentation with a curated assortment of luxury designers helmed by Taerus PR. A salon presentation is a strong medium for showcasing collections outside of the traditional runway and this presentation communicated luxury designs to the press and public hosted by TB Milano.

At a runway you have approx 15 seconds to study the details of a garment and view a gracious bow or wave from a designer. At an intimate salon presentation you will experience the products up close and personal and able to inspect the details and hear about the design process. Walking into the TB Milano showroom was like walking into an elegant giant closet consisting of pure luxury items. It allowed designers to display their collection in a more intimate setting, and encouraged interaction between brands and the audience. 

Circled Life by eLsi

This was such the case with eLsi coutuer. eLSi is an Armenian prestigious fashion house who debuted their new collection in Milan. Having the opportunity to see the colourful collection “Circled Life” personally and up close was an art form in itself where the audience can get closer to the elegance of clean lines, bold colour and notable pieces that can be worn various ways. More bang for your buck.

Musher Italia displayed leather goods including jackets, gloves and small leather goods. The craftsmanship and attention to details are exquisite with their leather studded and embossed techniques. Classic design lines with a funky and fresh use of details making their pieces androgynous and very powerful. All I could think of was how much Lucy Liu would totally rock their jackets.

Leather details by Musher Italia

Utterly thrilling was the brand Fvcina. The epitome of absolute luxury. The designs are all hand crafted combining beautiful materials and bold colours. Their Devine use of animal skins are the things that lavish dreams are made of. From python to crocodile, and clutches adorned with emerald stones, Fvcina is the true definition of luxury. The classic lines of their bags, satchels and clutches are pleasing to the eye, and upon closer inspection the hardware and lining is unmistakeably bold and modern. Fvcina and their creative director Stefano Sanvido clearly understand their client who appreciates beautiful items made to the highest of quality. Speaking with Mr Sanvido he discussed how the precious metal hardware is constructed in one single piece and how each innovative piece is all hand made. The creative process is flawless and the finished products speak for themselves and will have you salivating at the mouth. Furthermore they offer full customisation! Now that’s luxury.

Gfashcollective with  FVCINA Creative Director Mr Stefano Sanvido

Whilst my focus was on the fashion, it was hard not to be enthralled by the art that was on display by Giorgio de Chirico. As I have always said, and now heard echoed across to our European cousins, fashion is art, art is fashion. Beautiful sculptures and artworks adorned the showroom. 

With the dedicated effort from Taerus PR and TB Milano showroom the reimagined fashion presentation is here to stay.

PINK IN PARIS

Pink has been making its mark on menswear the last few seasons with a hue called Millennial Pink. People all over the globe have been embracing this colour, including men. Heard the term “Real men wear Pink”? The same could be said for double-breasted blazers. Once reserved for the older gent, they have had a resurgence in recent years with the youth. So what happens when you combine the two?

Personally I have been wearing pink forever as I find it modern and timeless. Although for my trip to Paris Fashion Week, I needed to update my wardrobe with a statement suit that was more sartorial than safe, so what better colour than Pink!

Trotting from catwalks to trade shows at Jardin des Tuilerie, the suit definitely made me feel like I was in Parisian movie, popping perfectly against the beautiful streets of Paris (you can see more of this on my instagram). It is sophisticated, chic and modern look whilst making me feel very suave as I strutted between Fashion Week locations.

Paris in winter is beautiful. Paris in winter, in Pink….even better. If you are looking for a colour to upgrade your wardrobe, then look no further than unleashing your personality with a bit of pink. But now you are probably thinking you can only wear this brave colour to a fancy occasion like fashion week? Insert buzzer sound here. I will come back to this after I consume a croissant.

Double-breasted blazers are best suited to leaner gents, (although it can still suit a bigger or wider man) or stick insects like myself who are tall and have long limbs as they create a silhouette that emphasises broad shoulders and a narrow waist. The same as tapered trouser works for lean legs. How do I know this?

Knowing how to dress in ways that flatter your body can help you confidently strut your stuff, which is where bespoke comes into play. With bespoke you are forced to take a good hard look at your features, like leg length, width of your shoulders, torso length, all of this is taken into account to build the perfect pattern for your body shape. Building the blocks and knowing what does and does not work for you ensures you feel comfortable and brings you confidence. Every person should experience bespoke just once so they can be educated on what works on their body. Real confidence comes with excepting your personal quirks, long limbs and all.

The team at The Spectre Collection worked with my long limbs on this delightful pink suit. They understood that I required something that was going to pop, that was classic yet still showcased personality. The team knew that I was attending fashion week in Europe and required a certain uniqueness and were very encouraging of creating something outside the box. I have had bespoke menswear before but never like this. It is wonderful to create items based on your personality and needs. The Spectre Collection will do anything for you. Your desires are their wish. My wish……….chic French piiiiiiink!

So back to ways to incorporate pink and double-breasted blazers into your existing wardrobe. This whole suit can still be worn casually (think a tee and some casual canvas shoes) and the trousers could be worn separately (think just a polo or shirt and some white kicks). The easiest way to dress down the double-breasted blazer is to wear it with chinos or some denim. The effect of the blazer is accentuated by pairing it with a simple chino, maybe in a navy or a boring beige.

For the cautious man, pink combines beautifully with navy, black and almost any neutral colour whilst still being daring and vibrant. For the extrovert (me) it combines wonderfully with brash oranges, bold red, deep plums and hues of yellow. A geometric print wouldn’t hurt your ensemble either, a combination of zebra or leopard. The possibilities are endless.

 

I have noticed the French do wear strong colours but tend to pick one or two shades rather than vibrant clashes. They really are the masters of "effortless" looks. A key lesson I have learnt in a short time observing the fashion pack on the streets of Paris, is that clothes don't have to be totally form-fitting. For someone who likes his clothes skin tight, it was refreshing to wear inspired pieces that oozed this chic French style.

Add a little sartorial elegance to your wardrobe, wear pink! Better still wear Pink in Paris.

Au revoir

Photographer: Irina Krupovich