Archive for November, 2009
Tie Club
Image credit: Viktor & Rolf via hypebeast.com
Over the years ties have often been used to represent group membership (e.g. school, club, military). The first “tie club” started in 1880 when Oxford oarsmen took the college colored ribbons from their straw boaters and wore them as neckties. A proper set of ties in the same colors followed shortly thereafter.
Fact credit: Wikipedia
Mr. Lipton’s Polka Dots
Image Credit: Alexander Olch via openingceremony.us
Originally created as a tribute to the sun God – the polka dot is the oldest menswear print design. Sir Thomas Lipton designed and wore a navy bow tie with white polka dots, bringing the polka dot from womenswear into modern menswear. Having sailed from his native Glasgow to the U.S. as a cabin boy, this same Mr. Lipton is known for his expert yachting skills. Nicknamed the “best of all losers,” Mr. Lipton “was the most persistent challenger in the history of the America’s Cup.” A self made man, Mr. Lipton made his fortune creating Lipton Tea.
Fact credit: Dressing The Man, Alan Flusser, p. 158; WIkipedia
Fleas You Want
Image Credit: acontinuouslean.com
There’s no better place to be than the Pop-Up Flea in NYC. Created by Michael Williams and Randy Goldberg, this is the second Pop-Up Flea. Hickoree’s Hard Goods is debuting some items that haven’t made it to their site yet.
Openhouse Gallery: 201 Mulberry Street (btw Spring & Kenmare)
Friday November 20th: 3pm – 9pm
Saturday the 21st: 11am – 7pm
Sunday the 22nd: 11am – 6pm
This Billy Kirk video will get you pumped about the Pop-Up.
Video credit: billykirkcom.blogspot.com/
Drinkin’ and Dronin’
Brandon of Drinkin’ And Dronin’ was recently featured in both the Sartorialist and GQ (congratulations Brandon!).
Brandon gives some rare insight into on what it’s like being photographed by the great Scott Schuman:
“I’ve never done much of a shoot like that before, he lets you move along as you’d like with brief instructions. He’s soft spoken, but definitely knows what he’s looking for and what looks best.”
“From the movements to the background looks, it’s all well constructed. I didn’t know him before save seeing him in the store (Billy Reid) for a brief moment. He was a breeze to work with, and it shows in his final product.”
Image Credit: Sartorialist.com
For more Drinkin’ And Dronin’ visit Brandon’s site.
Jody Rogac Through Her Own Lense
Brooklyn based photographer Jody Rogac takes portraits that have a cool yet regal feeling. Recently for City Mag, Jody photographed American menswear greats including Scott Sternberg, Robert Geller, and Patrick Ervell.
Hoyle: Do you approach fashion photography any differently than your other portraits?
Rogac: Not really. I’m more interested in the person than the clothes. When I shoot fashion I work as if I’m shooting portraits.
Hoyle: Were you ever given any photography advice that resonated with you?
Rogac: Not personally, but I read a quote in a biography once that was something like, “you have to take the bad photos in order to take the good ones”. I think this is so true — when I shoot a roll that I’m not very happy with I try to learn from it to make future photo sessions better.
Hoyle: Was your recent shoot for City Mag any different than other shoots?
Rogac: It was a pretty standard shoot. I got to meet and photograph some really interesting people, and the vibe was quite melo and relaxed.
Hoyle: What would you like to see more of in fashion magazines in terms of imagery?
Rogac: That’s tough, fashion photography really has no limits and there are so many different imagery styles in mags right now. I really enjoy looking through magazines and being surprised.
Hoyle: In portraits, is it ever the case that your favorite image of a subject isn’t necessarily the most flattering image of the subject?
Rogac: I don’t think so. When I edit my portraits I try to choose shots where the subject looks the most like themselves, and these are usually the most flattering photos naturally.
Hoyle: For more of Jody Rogac’s work, go to jodyrogac.com
Images: Jody Rogac and Scott Sternberg respectively. All Images taken by and property of Jody Rogac.
Hip to be Square
The pocket square.
1. Angle your pocket square up toward your left shoulder, it is more flattering that way as it accentuates the V shape of your body.
2. Regardless how long it took you to do a perfect fold, whether it be the four-point, the triangle, the square or the puff, your pocket square should give the illusion that it was thrust haphazardly into your pocket. (Even though there was nothing haphazard about it).
Fact credit: The Suit, Nicholas Antongiavanni, p 157.
Image credit: usonline.apc.fr
Mohawks Through the Ages
Mohawks are named after the people of the Mohawk nation, who originally inhabited the Mohawk Valley in Upstate NY, Southern Quebec and Eastern Ontario. The oldest mohawk ever documented came from Dublin, Ireland- worn by a man 2000 years ago. More recently, mohawks are strongly associated with 1980s punk style.
Fact Credit: Wikipedia
Q&A with Greg Minnig of Deth Killers
Image credit: deskiraz.com
Greg Minnig and his business partner Jenn Dixon of Deth Killers have attracted the attention of magazines from Nylon to The New York Times. Deth Killers brand clothing have graced the bodies of Kate Moss, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mickey Rourke, and David Bowie. You can see the latest Deth Killers work here. This interview shows that often the tougher a guy looks…the more generous.
Hoyle: Were you given a lot of direction when asked to design for David Bowie?
Minnig: I don’t know, ask Jenn. I think he just liked our aesthetic and would have probably liked whatever we made for him, but we certainly went into it knowing the bar was about as high as it could get so we didn’t hold anything back….
Hoyle: Can one portray toughness through clothes?