Menswear outpaced women's fashion in overall sales during the past year, reports AP. According to research company NPD Group Inc., menswear
sales rose 0.8 percent in the last year (ending in May), while womenswear
sales fell 3.5 percent. And since May, womenswear
sales dropped 3 percent, while menswear sales rose 2.3 percent.
Fashion analysts explain menswear's new lead on the recent influx of slimmer, tailored looks, like those offered by Out 100 honoree Thom Browne (above) in recent years, and a more casual work environment that allows for increased options and in turn means more opportunities to purchase and wear a wider variety of looks. And menswear companies like Nautica and Levi Strauss and Co.'s
Dockers, once unthinkably inappropriate for the office, "have reworked their fits -- pants, for example, have less
material in the seat and thigh and have no pleats; suit jackets have
higher armholes with narrower and shorter sleeves," which offer cleaner, more modern silhouettes.
Ironically, other analysts believe that with our pokey to the point of groan-inducing economy, many men are actually paying more attention to what they wear to the office, or at least spending bigger bucks in hopes of being taken more seriously at work. "I am dressing up a bit more," Steve Hale, a 37-year-old fashion consultant, told AP. "If you are keeping up
with fashion, people notice and it gives them more confidence [that the
financial industry is going to turn around]." Hale says he spends $500 a month on clothes, more than twice as much as he spent previously.
Never an industry to idly sit on its hands when a new market begins to present itself, the big boys of fashion are already courting eager male shoppers. Ferragamo and J.Crew are opening men's only boutiques. Bloomingdales has created special areas in its men's department that feature tailored clothing and flashy accessory items like ice buckets, GPS systems and luxe shaving kits. Macy's is adding more exclusive lines, including the already insanely popular Emporio Armani underwear.
So, you know what this means: With the stores full up with fall fashions (and some great end of summer sales on last season still in progress) -- and in order for all of us to keep our jobs, keep the floundering economy from completely going under, and keep our co-workers, partners, and the boys on the dance floor duly impressed and begging for more -- get out those wallets and start shopping!
Passing Judgment: being that he is headlining the Fashion Rocks concert, it's no surprise to see Justin Timberlake grace this year's FR mag cover--and he is "gracing" with all the svelteness of a high class waiter. [The Cut]
A happy belated Birthday to the ever
inspiring and always fabulous Tim Gunn! At 55 he's still working it
like he owns it, because he basically does. [AP]
If you have, like $18,000 to blow on just whatever, you can get your very own pair of vintage (and we mean vintage) Levi's from the 1890's that were found in a mine in the Rand Mining District, on the Mojave Desert,. California. Sounds like a totally legit investment. [Kottke]
Did they or didn't they, did they or didn't they? In what is likely only a brilliant publicity stunt on Marc Jacob's part, everyone is still guessing whether he wed is three-month Brazilian boyfriend this past weekend. It's almost too much to handle, but you bet your bottoms I'm going to do my best to keep up. [The Cut]
It looks like someone's shelf life is about to expire; it's being reported that Jil Sander is up for sale. The label was purchased by a private equity fund in 2006 (which bodes so well for a designer label), but they are claiming fatigue of "waiting for Jil Sander’s bottom line to match its critical acclaim." [WWD] Vanity Fair has just released it's annual best dressed list. Topping the list of men? David Beckham. Coming in at number two? His bulge. [The Cut]
A pair of jeans from Damien Hirst's Spring 2008 collaboration with Levi's.Photo: Getty Images
After the success of his first collaboration with Levi's back in September 2007, Damien Hirst is set to launch the Levi's® X Damien Hirst line this fall. His previous collection's ad campaign featured lots of hot boys without shirts on, so, despite the fact we were left wondering what the clothes looked like, we were convinced to buy it anyway. [The Cut]
Hoping to build even more hype for the U.S. Topman debut this fall, the retailer will also carry the brand's new Black Trouser Project. It's a collaboration between Topman and five designers: Patrik Ervell and Tim Hamilton, Britain's Aitor Throup and Ann-Sofie Back, and Canada's Todd Lynn. Each gives their own take on the simple black pant, which will retail at $120 per pair. Style.com has your first look. [Material Interest]
Four top European editors from glossy men's mags give their 10 fashion essentials...and we will shamelessly steal them for our own fabulosity. [Style.com]
Though we're still heartbroken the Hedi Slimane will not be collaborating with Diesel any time soon, we can get some brief consolation knowing that the Italians are teaming up as Diesel and Ugo Cacciatore are set to launch a jewelry line come fall. [WWD]
In the world of big business—especially the fashion business—image is everything. Companies spend millions nipping and tucking their brand image to appeal to customers of all kinds from teens and tweens to old ladies and us homos. So, which companies efforts at wooing queers is paying off most?
According to a survey conducted by Clark, Martire & Bartolomeo on behalf of advertising agency Prime Access and PlanetOut, Levi's, Absolut, Bravo TV, Apple, Showtime, and HBO are among the gay-friendliest companies. In other words—like this comes as any surprise—we like our bums looking fabulous in a pair of jeans, our computers looking as chic as we feel, and we just can't get enough of Bravo's queer-heavy reality TV shows, HBO'sSex and the City and Showtime's The L Word. It looks like Levi's' gay ad didn't go unnoticed!
So, which fashion and grooming brands do you consider most gay friendly?
Clash of the Vogue Editors! American Vogue Editrix Anna Wintour is not happy with French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld's comments about her in her recent New York Magazine profile. I'm not sure who would win in a street brawl but I'd sure like to watch. My money's on Carine, sorry Anna. [WWD]
It's the oldest trick in the book. Buy a video camera or designer suit, use it once, and return it for a full refund. Well, retailers are finally fed up with that sneaky behavior and are blacklisting naughty shoppers and making returns even more difficult. Come on, if you're willing to wear an outfit with the tags itching you all night, you earn the right to return the outfit. If not, Nordstrom will take anything back. [Boston Globe]
Patrick "McDreamy" Dempsey is nervous about his latest role as the star of Versace's latest menswear ad campaign, he confessed at last night's Versace show. In fact, he's more nervous about his role for Versace and being scrutinized by bitchy fashionistas than he is about presenting at the Oscars on Sunday. Personally, I'd fear Cojo, Robert Verdi and Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet more than posing for a few photos for Donatella Versace. [WWD]
Brit-bad-boy designer Henry Holland announced plans to collaborate with Levi's to create a line of jeans for Spring/Summer 2009. Fashionista's ooh and ahh over the idea of neon splashes, 80s-style slashes and punk-rock plaid denim. [Fashionista]
Jezebel has a first-look at D&G's new gay-fabulous advertisement for watches. There are two versions of the commercial, but the premise starts out with a man and woman both running late for a date, but right when they are about to meet, they each make out with members of their own gender. How sneaky! Here's a link to check it out! This might just be the perfect commercial for Bravo to air during Project Runway!
But D&G isn't new to featuring a little guy-on-guy action. Just check out their ad from last year:
D&G isn't the only fashion brand to queer it up in their commercials. Levi's has been supporting the gays for some time. Check out the gay version of the commercial from earlier this year:
Levi's unveils its first Warhol Factory X jeans designed in collaboration with artist Damien Hirst. Think black skull shaped rhinestone designs on black denim. [Fashionista]
David Chu debuted his Spring 2008 collection of luggage for Tumi—including trunks, suitcases and hat boxes for a classic style. Can hat boxes fit in an overhead compartment? [Fashion Week Daily]
Heatherette reschedules their Fashion Week show and swaps locations to avoid a conflict with Condé Nast's Fashion Rocks event that takes place at the same time. Will Lily Allen walk the Heatherette runway alongside Amanda Lepore? Oh the rumors are flying! [Fashionista]
Barneys New York will carry clothes from Topman—the mens line from Topshop, U.K.'s fast-fashion, cheap-chic retailer that's a little better than H&M. I said "a little." [DNR]
Lance Armstrong and Nike are launching the Livestrong Collection of
sports apparel, shoes and accessories for men, women and children this
fall. All proceeds from the line will benefit the Lance Armstrong
Foundation to support cancer survivors. Let's just hope the obnoxious
yellow color of his ubiquitous bracelets will be used sparingly or
everyone without a tan will look sick. [DNR]
Levi Strauss tapped Young British Artist Damien Hirst to collaborate on the company's Warhol Factory X label of denim for Spring 2008. Hirst, who is known for his works of preserving dead animals in giant tubs of formaldehyde (yuck!), is also a fan of spin art. Let's hope he decides to leave the formaldehyde at home when designing the line. The stench of the stinky stuff is about as appealing as marinating in Drakkar Noir.
The Warhol Factory X line experiments with the use of textures, fabrics, colors, and treatments. It captures the Waholian pop-art spirit but at times, it wobbles on the line of cheesy '90s club garb, gel-shellacked hair and reflective shirts made in fabrics that are not of this planet. [WWD]
The Wall Street Journal announces the return of Preppy. Thanks for joining the party, a few years late. The media has been playing croquet Prep-school style—including polos, sweater vests and schoolboy ties—for what seems like years now. [WSJ]
Gay men love fashion, and fashion loves gay men. Is it something in our jeans? Celebrating this long tradition, Stylelist exists to offer advice, tips, and the occasional catty observation on celebrity style coups and faux pas.
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