Bonobos - Fall 2014 Men's Suit Collection

Let me just start out by saying: If you're a guy who has a sense of style, enjoys exquisitely crafted garments and prides himself on looking his best at all timnes, you need to get acquainted with Bonobos. Fashion insiders from the Big Apple have been raiding Nordstrom for seasons now...and for good reason. 

The Bonobos fall men's suit collection is full of investment pieces that are the perfect addition to any man's closet. Not only is the design aspect amazing (gingham an paisley for the daring, navy and charcoal grey for the classicists), but the fit is remarkable, as well. After all, one of the brand's main principles is: "The foundation of any great wardrobe is fit."

Here, I broke down the collection for your reading (and viewing) pleasure.

Academy Blazers

A wool blazer is probably one of the staples of season-appropriate menswear. Bonobos offers you beautiful classic pieces from their Academy collection (appropriately named, because many of the blazers have a collegiate vibe to them) in somber dark grey and navy. 

Wear it with: washed denim and crisp white shirt or colorful pants and a polo for your ultimate stamp on American sportswear.

Top picks

Left: The Academy Blazer - Gingham Lining - Navy
Right: The Academy Blazer - Solid Lining - Dark Grey

The Foundation

As much as a house needs a good foundation to remain whole, your wardrobe needs one of the suits from Bonobos's Foundation collection. Appropriate for high-profile business meetings and first dates alike, the versatility of these pieces comes through in the body types they accommodate and flatter too. These wonderful wool suits come in Standard and Slim fits to ensure you look your best no matter which particular style you choose. Another great thing? Except for wool, there are three great suits in cotton perfect for this transitional weather, as well as chillier summer nights in the Hamptons.

Top picks

Left to right: The Foundation Slim Suit - Marled Grey Tweed,
The Foundation Slim - Blue Microstripe
The Foundation Slim - Cotton - Grey Microstripe

The Capstone Tuxedo

How appropriate to name this collection "The Capstone" considering its definition is "the high point". In your personal tuxedo collection, I can assure you that one of these pieces will be the ultimate high point. A suit you will turn to for every major event in your life...whether it's a wedding or an after party for the Golden Globes. The 007 punch many of these tuxedos pack is lethal for the opposite sex, so please, use them carefully. It doesn't really matter if you choose a gorgeous black shawl collar piece or the oh-so-dandy plaid one, the effect will remain the same - looks to kill.

Top picks

Clockwise from top: The Capstone Slim Tuxedo - Grey Honeycomb,
The Capstone Suit - Navy Double Breasted,
The Capstone - Black Shawl Collar Tuxedo,
The Capstone Slim Tuxedo - Blackwatch Plaid

Blazers

The reason why a blazer is one of my favorite things to have in the closet is because you can throw it on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and instantly lift the outfit. It's great for a morning class, Friday night drinks and, over a pair of nice slacks, a laid back friend's wedding. Bonobos gives us a wide range of styles, from brown wool to navy knit, all of them impeccably tailored and easy to pair with whatever is already in your wardrobe.

Wear it with: A vintage band T-shirt and a colorful scarf or a longer white dress shirt buttoned all the way to the top and low suede boots for the perfect autumnal look.

Top picks

Clockwise from top: Unconstructed Blazer Slim - Lightweight Italian Wool - Navy,
Maide Club Knit Blazer,
Cotton Blazer Slim - Paisley Camo,
The Nottingham Blazer - Brown

Obviously, these styles are already available for shopping on the Bonobos web-site, so have at it and make sure you're all set for the season that is upon us.

All photos courtesy of Bonobos.

#NYFW trend alert!

I'm well aware that fashion nowadays is (trying to be) much more style oriented, rather than being a slave to trends, but you also have to admit to one thing - trends are pretty fun. Their progression can be fickle at best, for gingham might be big in the Big Apple, but completely snubbed in Milan. We shall see. For now, let's concentrate on this short, seven point compendium on New York Fashion Week trends.

It print: gingham

It's been a few seasons since gingham has been on anyone's radar (most memorably, Christopher Kane did a stellar collection centered around it), but New York designers have been going mad for it, whether for sweet (Oscar de la Renta) or seductive (Diane von Furstenberg) looks. What else to say except: welcome back, old friend!

The new navy

What kind of spring collections would they be, had there not have been for some navy stripes? Except that this time around they packed more of a punch. Designers such as Altuzarra and Thakoon used this classic print in interesting new ways, such as wrapping it around the models' bodies or graphically aligning different pieces for an ultra-modern take.

50 shades of suede

Suede and all of its incarnations were a big thing on the New York runways. Altuzarra opted for a classic, sand tone version, whereas Derek Lam had a bit more fun with the skin, coloring it with pastel hues. Suede should be the choice of every woman going for subdued luxury.

Focal point: shoulders

Don't get me wrong with the title of this little trend polaroid - crop tops are still hot and heavy and everywhere, but it's the bare shoulders on the runways that really caught my eye. Victoria Beckham spiced up her LBDs with shoulder cut-outs, whereas Prabal Gurung's asymmetric peek-a-boo knits were one of the biggest hits at NYFW.

Evening wear, reinvented

Finally, designers have realized that the nude tulle, strapless gowns stopped being exciting on the red carpet, so they came up with a pretty fresh concept - a cropped T-shirt (at Carolina Herrera) or racer back top (at Prabal Gurung) over a floor-length or cocktail dress. If you're looking for celebrity validation, look no further than Diane Kruger who already donned this Prabal piece a few days ago.

Jacket of all trades

For the spring/summer season, gigantic jackets aren't such a common part of the collections, but this time around they were the pinnacles of designers' visions. Bedazzled fishermen's jackets at Rodarte and military stunners at Marc Jacobs were personal favorites.

The return of the slims...

Suck in your bellies and hit the treadmill, ladies, because the skin-tight, high-waist pant has made a comeback. Pair it with a cropped bomber jacket (as seen at Alexander Wang) or a romantic top and S&M boots (chez Rodarte).

What is your favorite trend (if any of them)? Let me know below...

#NYFW SS15 pt.8 - Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein & Marc Jacobs

The legendary Ralph Lauren is so frequently inspired by sports, whether its spectators (as in his "Downton Abbey collection") or the actual people doing it (last spring's surfer chicks). Yesterday it was a mix of the two - horseback riders headed to the safari, in a nutshell. That essence was seen in the first few opening looks - suede jodhpurs paired with bright colored satin tops. The color combination, although sometimes a little hard on the eyes, felt pretty fresh after the monochromatic showing six months ago. The latter part of the inspiration was in full force with loose-fit shirt dresses and YSL-like skirt suits paired with chic hats and luxe bags. Black pieces were almost surprisingly alluring - high slits and exposed shoulders showed just the right amount of skin, while crossing into tacky territory. The same couldn't be said for a few of the presented gowns. A particularly unfortunate was a bright pink embellished T-shirt and tulle skirt combo that felt more Sherri Hill than Ralph Lauren. New York's debutantes and A-list actresses alike will go mad for some of those tulle gowns, whereas the throwback-to-Veruschka closing dress is the perfect addition to an upcoming safari inspired fashion spread.

There's a fine line between minimalistic and morose. Calvin Klein's creative director Francisco Costa walked that line with his latest show. What is usually a smash of a show, at times felt a bit boring. The thought process and execution were all well and good, but the lack of diversity was a tad bothersome. I loved the elongated silhouette - racer-back tunics over impeccably tailored culottes and midi-skirts (in navy, black and white) were pretty cool, in part because they were accessorized with thin, metal belts right under the bosom. Another thing I must point out is that only the last day of Fashion Week we witnessed the return of the chunky platform shoe (if it wasn't for the peep-toe, I would've loved them more). Welcome back! The little gems in the middle of the show were richly colored leather minis and jackets. Particular treatments of fabrics at the end of the show gave us a few glamorous, but somewhat unflattering looks.

You may like his stuff, you may hate his stuff, but you cannot deny that any Marc Jacobs collection gives you plenty to think about. When I first logged on to the live stream, I was taken aback by the pinkness of...well, everything. Benches the guests sat on were covered in hot pink shag carpet and at the center of the runway, Jacobs' team built an idyllic looking pink house. Another thing that was surprising was that all the show-goers (including Anna Wintour) had huge headphones on which was explained by Jacobs in a way that he wanted to provide everyone with a personal experience of the show. Kind of genius, right? From the first girl out (Joan Smalls, FYI), there was an aura of uniformity surrounding each piece. Washed out greens and blues, lack of make-up and blunt black Anna-Wintour-on-a-bad-day wigs didn't have a lot of joy, but surely packed a powerful kick. I might be standing alone, but I felt a sense of menace with a few looks - models carrying five bags seemed to be moving away from a darker place, even though its outside was pink. Gold buttons and large pockets, an obvious military reference, weren't literal in a way that the pieces consisted of sturdy-looking fabrics and girly ones, such as satin. Almost as if a baby doll dress had an affair with a military uniform. Bags were a huge part of the collection, with certain dresses seeming as if a clutch bag was sewn on to it. Women, rejoice, for you'll be able to go hands-free! The decorations provided a whimsical element - graphic, 60's inspired appliqued flowers, whether on gorgeous floor-length columns or Twiggy-like collared minis. It is so incredibly fitting that Jacobs closed the New York portion of the Fashion Month, considering that his was the show truly worth waiting for.

#NYFW SS15 pt.7 - Michael Kors, Hugo Boss & Proenza Schouler

No one loves and appreciates and constantly reinvents American sportswear as much as Mr. Michael Kors. Whether it's a glamazonian approach (smoky eyes and a fur shrug) or a more pared down type of thing (as was seen yesterday - barely there make-up and a loose braid), it's always super wearable, luxurious, and comfortable. This time around he was apparently inspired by Gossip Girl-like vacations in the Hamptons. Going to town for lunch in a floral day dress, heading to the beach in a strappy 50's inspired bikini (perfectly modeled by Candice Swanepoel) or chilling by a bonfire in white summer knits sound like Blair Waldorf's itinerary during her summer break. All the Kors staples his usual customers salivate for were on show - voluminous midi-skirts, crisp white dress shirts, menswear inspired blazers and classic taupe and chocolate leather bags. Although the designs were safe by all accounts, Kors did confirm a few trends we've been spotting during the week (gingham, anyone?). I feel like you simply can't write anything bad about a Michael Kors collection, just because he is simply the best at what he does, so why change now?

Jason Wu truly made a name for himself when he dressed Michelle Obama for her inaugural ball what feels like forever ago and some of the pantsuits he presented for Hugo Boss felt like an audition for dressing Hillary Clinton. That amusing thought was basically what kept me interested through his presentation. A lot has been invested into reinvigorating Hugo Boss and I bet miracles are expected from Mr. Wu. Unfortunately, with his latest show he didn't really deliver. Paneled shifts and sheer overlays over strapless snug cocktail dresses weren't particularly memorable. Wu's talent shined as the last few girls (including house muse Edie Campbell) walked the runway. The look before the last was gorgeous - a nude body-con, deep-V dress with strategically placed shiny embellished panels (in my weird mind) had front row guests Zoe Saldana and Kate Bosworth fighting over who gets to wear it at a future red carpet appearance.

The diversity of Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler never fails to amaze me. After a few lamentations on minimalism and last season's study of animal prints, the time came for Proenza Schouler to leave their mark on classic American sportswear (in quite a different way than Michael Kors [see above]). Fashion connoisseurs will agree that Jack and Laz make a mean ass (leather) jacket and so it was this season. Particular favorites include a cobalt blue boxy piece and a longer acid orange python coat. The interesting use of leather didn't stop there - long-sleeve dresses were finely perforated. I really loved the duality certain pieces had - butter-soft leather track pants where one leg was black and the other strikingly red (the same with pleated midi-skirts). Polo shirts had their coolest incarnations in a long time with leather panels and collars, whereas intricate, technically advanced knits provided texture Proenza is so known for. What took me a bit by surprise were the final looks - swinging fringes were the perfect blend of raw and sophisticated, mostly so when paired with stitched rhombuses as sweaters. Sounds silly. Looks beyond amazing.

#NYFW SS15 pt.6 - Rodarte, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta & Narciso Rodriguez

Every Rodarte shows gives plenty for the eye to look at. Last spring season, they presented punk rocker chicks from Los Angeles with their chain necklaces and striking zebra bra tops, but this season they seem to have incorporated a more romantic and delicate approach (I couldn't believe it as well) with their signature hard-edged cool girl chic. The marriage between geeky and cool was visible in the opening looks - sprayed-on, high-waisted pants tucked into S&M inspired knee-high lace-up boots were paired with girly (almost toddler-like) ruffled blouses. The rest of the collection took us under water in the most literal sense. Pailettes on minis reminded me of fish scales, fishnet overlays resembled exactly the ones used to catch sealife and sea urchin ornaments decorated the neckline. These highly conceptual cocktail dresses with ripped hems would probably be what the Little Mermaid would wear had she arisen from the ocean yesterday. Although some of the pieces were a tad too busy for their average customer, Laura and Kate Mulleavy's exquisite approach to designing these pieces shall not go unnoticed by fashion editors. My favorite pieces were the oversized, boxy, utilitarian jackets with belted pockets and interesting detailing. P.S. Those pierced eyebrows were genius!

It's hard to imagine a more stressful situation for a designer to be in than to try and outdo their smash hit first collection. I'm guessing pressure was the one of the main components that went into designing the latest collection for Marc by Marc Jacobs. Thankfully, Luella Bartley's and Katie Hillier's innate coolness translated beautifully into another street style smash. Multiple neon triangles at the center of the venue hinted at an ode to clubbing culture and EDM madness. What followed wasn't far from the initial thought, but interestingly transitioned into work uniform inspirations and a quintessentially British way of putting an outfit together. Basically anything you could imagine a stylish Brit wearing to a Disclosure concert was presented - bras over T-shirts, nylon skirts, latex tights and neon slips. What you thought might be a more somber part of the collection, quickly took a turn for the quirky with corsets sticking out from under oversized T-shirts with a flared mini and some tulle attached. Crazy? Yes. But it's hard to imagine a girl wearing any one of these pieces and not have the best night of her life in them.

How fitting that the models at the Oscar de la Renta show entered and exited the stage through an arch of peonies considering that every flower imaginable was featured in the pieces. A lesson in Upper East Side ladylike dressing, the collection featured what every young rose would love to add to her wardrobe. Refined tennis shorts and tasteful mini-skirts (monochrome or in a magnified gingham print) were paired with sophisticated blazers and floral lace shirts. After a few smart black and white ensembles, the romantic vibe continued with classic de la Renta shifts with printed poppies and dandelions that are bound to fly of department store racks. Perhaps we could all agree that no one in New York does glamorous evening wear as well as Mr. de la Renta and he solidified that status with about a dozen Oscar-worthy gowns. The best of the best was a striking brick-orange voluminous strapless piece with bright yellow peeking out from underneath.

Along with Francisco Costa at Calvin Klein, Narciso Rodriguez is one of the pillars of American minimalism. He bore that moniker with pride whilst showing his latest collection. Although not his most enticing work, he did manage to show a lot for his fans to get excited about. Plunging V-neck day-to-night dresses with asymmetric hems and slim-fit high-waisted pants were perfectly tailored, but painstakingly safe and sparkly waves across minis seemed like afterthoughts.