DapperLou.com | Men's Fashion Blog | Street Style

Street Gens | Paul d'Orleans of The Vintagent

2012-01-29T15:39:00.000-05:00

Location | 14th Street, MeatPacking, New York

Little Miss Dapper

2012-01-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

Location | 14th Street, MeatPacking

Lou Picks | The Mix Match Jay Hawker Boot from Cole Haan

2012-01-26T18:24:00.000-05:00

I'm sure you remember that post I did on the Cole Haan concept store. Well, they already have a whole new collection of shoes. I fell in love with the mix match "Jay Hawker" (images above) and I know you'll love them as well.

Events | (Capsule) Trade Show - Part 2

2012-01-25T13:12:00.000-05:00

Street Gents | Shaun Paige Styles a Double Breasted Check Blazer

2012-01-23T16:12:00.001-05:00

What do we think about Shaun's look?
Location | Wooster Street, SoHo

Pops of Neon

2012-01-22T15:21:00.000-05:00

Location | 9th Avenue, MeatPacking, New York

Street Gents | Actor Michael Ring

2012-01-21T20:51:00.000-05:00

How do we feel about Mr.Ring's look?
Location | 6th Avenue, New York

Events | PROJECT Trade Show

2012-01-19T23:04:00.002-05:00

PROJECT is another menswear trade show I attended this week. The bi-annual show took place at 83 Mercer in SoHo. I'm actually pretty familiar with this address because the Y-3 fashion show is held here during fashion week. Some of the brands like Todd Snyder, Pendleton and Insubordinate Lads were worth checking out, while others labels played it safe. The three day show included loads activities for attendees, like on location photo shoots by Sandbox Studio, haircuts by Blind Barber, live media coverage from bloggers and more.

The pictures below are a few things I found to be cool. For more information about PROJECT click here.

Celebrating 1000 Post with MEI New York

2012-01-18T00:03:00.004-05:00

One of my designer friends (promised not to say her name) has an amazing womenswear clothing line called MEI New York and she approached me to style her Fall/Winter 2012 lookbook. How could I resist the offer when it's inspired by one of my favorite things on earth? Menswear. Her concept behind the line was taken from 19th Century menswear, tintype, daguerreotype photographs, fragile apparel arts catalogs, and christopher payne's nostalgic imagery. The collection has the fine tailoring and structure of traditional menswear with the ease and comfort of the modern woman. Here is a sneak peek of the line:

Keith Tritto and Rick Lee hosted the photo shoot at their beautiful home in Staten Island. I hardly ever travel outside of Manhattan and Brooklyn so it was a nice little day trip. The Photographer Brendan Burdzinski did such a great job with his images and the model Maria Panchenko truly brought the clothing to life. I can't express how much I love surrounding myself with creative forces.

Credit:

Photographer | Brendan Burdzinski

Stylist | Your's Truly

Model | Maria Panchenko

Host Keith Tritto & Rick Lee

This is a very special feature since it marks my 1,000th post. So far, the year has been amazing! I'm working on some exciting projects, so stay tuned.

Happy 1000!!

Events | (Capsule) Trade Show - Part 1

2012-01-16T22:42:00.001-05:00

Today I attended the first day of (Capsule) New York Trade Show. It's a nice treat to get a first look at some of the hottest pieces for the fall(and please be aware that camo isn't going anywhere). (Capsule) does a great job at selecting the most innovative high-end contemporary brands, independent designer and street wear labels on the market. Of course, I got a little carried away and took so many images, so I'll be posting part two of this post later this week.

P.S Most of the gents looked tres dapper. Bravo!

(Capsule) Show

Lou Picks | Cole Haan Concept Store

2012-01-12T21:33:00.006-05:00

As usual I walked by the Cole Haan store and for the first time their window display stopped me in my tracks. I stepped inside for a quick peek and noticed half the stores inventory was missing. When I asked the sales associate if they were going out of business, he chuckled and said, "No, this is our new concept store." From what I've gathered, the shoes are exclusive to the SoHo location and every six weeks the design team releases new styles.

The collection screams classic with a modern twist. I recon, the customer will be a guy that's not afraid to take a sartorial risk, but of course there is something for everyone. Honestly, I was never a big Cole Haan person, but this new concept store has completely changed my perspective of the brand. I'll have to pop in regularly from now on.

128 Prince Street

New York

(212) 219-8240

Street Gents | Brendon Layers Up

2012-01-11T20:33:00.000-05:00

Location | St.Marks Place

Street Gents | Jarre of Hugo Boss

2012-01-10T09:16:00.001-05:00

Location | 14th Street, MeatPacking, New York

What do we think about Jarre?

Street Gents | Like Father, Like Daughter

2012-01-09T12:20:00.000-05:00

Location | Prince Street, SoHo

Fashion Couple | Lynne & Gene

2012-01-08T09:18:00.002-05:00

This fashionable couple was recently featured in NYMag and then I bumped into them on Houston Street.

Bike Lane

2012-01-06T22:14:00.003-05:00

Last fall did the whole 50's paperboy look and now it's crossing over to the Winter. This time I paired it with a Scotch & Soda (Atrium) button down sweater, Zara hat, micro houndstooth trousers , suede Lacoste trainers and a black vintage bag. Clearly, the sweater steals the show and everything else is complementary. In this case, it's a good idea to focus on one or two pieces because you never want to look like your trying to hard.

Photo Credit | Hannan Saleh
Location | Prince Street, SoHo

Street Gents | Robby Raymond at Chez Oskar

2012-01-04T23:17:00.000-05:00

Location | Dekalb Street, Fort Greene

Street Gents | Art Student Jay Ezra

2012-01-03T13:13:00.001-05:00

Location | Prince Street, SoHo

Christine Hsu of The New Yorker

2012-01-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

Location | S Portland Ave, Fort Greene

Street Gents | The Ball Beanie Hat

2012-01-01T12:34:00.000-05:00

Andre Tulloch and Jones Nauseef show us how they've styled the ball beanie hat. What do you think?

Stone Island Spring Summer 2012 Preview

2011-12-30T10:15:00.003-05:00

Sometime last month I was invited to the Stone Island showroom to preview the Spring Summer 2012 collection and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. I was particularly struck by the outerwear. The vivid colors and featherweight fabric are perfect for spring. Of course, as I browsed through the racks I was taking mental notes on how I would style the jackets. One of the best details was the option to remove the 'Stone Island' patch logo on the arm. Depending on the garment, logos can draw too much attention or take away from the garment's design.

Stone Island's extensive dying process and advanced technology is clearly represented in these jackets. I added a video that I found on their website called, "Garment Dye" Life of a Jacket , so you can see just how intricate the whole dying process is.

Street Gents | Actor Andrew Dima

2011-12-28T17:04:00.004-05:00

I saw Andrew standing by the Paul Smith in SoHo and was immediately struck by his style. His notched lapel herringbone blazer by Ralph Lauren is considered a more informal way of dressing, so it made perfect sense to style it with casual blue jeans. Notice how he adds color to his look with bold green socks which work well with his collegiate stripe neck tie, tie clip and chocolate brown brogues. Andrew kept the accessories to a minimum. Instead of wearing a loud flashy watch, he wore a classic black timepiece by Kenneth Cole complimenting his all American inspired look.

How do you feel about Andrew's look?

Lou Picks | Modern Tailor - Made-to-Measure Shirts

2011-12-26T21:09:00.001-05:00

Modern Tailor is an online store that allows clients to design their own made-to-measure shirts at an affordable price. The concept seemed intriguing, so I decided to give them a try. First, you choose your own shirt fabric. This part may take a while since they have loads of colors, patterns and materials to choose from. Then you decide on collar size, placket style, button hole stitching, cuffs and more. If you have an eye for design, and your looking for a custom detailed shirt than I recommend Modern Tailor. However, the site would be better if you saw the shirt making process while designing it. In other words, it needs to be more interactive and adding a preview mode would make all the difference. Otherwise, I was satisfied with the final product(pictured above).

Shop | Modern Tailor

Street Gents | Unpublished Photos

2011-12-23T10:27:00.001-05:00

As I was working on my recap post, I realized there were a few photos I never got around to publishing. Hope you enjoy these shots from LA and New York and have a great weekend!

-lou

Las Angeles

New York

New York Fashion Week

Recap | The Best Moments of 2011

2011-12-20T13:58:00.001-05:00

The year has reached an end. Looking back, I've had great experiences shooting stylish gents on the street of New York, photographing interesting product and sharing my various outfits. More importantly, I appreciate all of the comments, feedback, and emails because they gave me the motivation to keep progressing forward. So please keep the loving coming and I promise never to disappoint. Last night, I searched through my archive and picked out some key pictures from each month.

This is what I came up with:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Special Thanks to Laura Flores, Liz Coucou, Julien Boudet, Caslon Cato, Hannah Saleh and Quazi King for taking photographs of me.

Grand Merci

The Dressy Staple : Velvet Slipper

2011-12-18T21:28:00.003-05:00

Velvet slippers are versatile, comfortable and effortless. In fact, they work extremely well for a casual chic outfit. Let's say you have last minute dinner plans and you need a quick and easy ensemble. Well, if you own a pair of slippers all you need are blue jeans, white tee and black blazer and in 5 minutes your out the door. It's that easy. But, if you don't own a pair, look into the ones at Del Toro because they offer a wide range of slippers for just about every type of gent.

I decided to go for a 50's inspired look, so I wore the slippers with a plaid paper boy Zara hat, micro check Descendent of Thieves shirt and plaid blackwatch Uniqlo trousers. I know it's a lot of plaid but I toned it down with a tan cardigan from Fresh Jive and vintage brown belt. Finally, to highlight the red stripe detail on the slippers, I wore red socks from Etiquette Clothiers.

Photos of me | Shot by Hannan Saleh

Location | Greene Street, Soho, New York

Lou Picks | Kenneth Cole Time

2011-12-17T10:30:00.000-05:00

Kenneth Cole New York introduced a new holiday collection that features automatic, transparent, and touch screen styles. The price range is extremely reasonable and of course will make great gifts. The transparent collection stood out to me (picture below) because it has a great stainless steel polish with a 44mm see-thru face. It's a modern update to a classic style that's definitely conversational piece.

The second watch (picture below) is a little more professional with an edge. It features a stainless steel black and rose gold plated round case, black croco grain leather straps, and a chronograph with date display black. If you're more on the classic side this is right up your ally. Shop the full Kenneth Cole Time collection here.

Street Gents | Actor Peter Burke

2011-12-14T10:13:00.001-05:00

What do we feel about Peter Burke's look?

Location | Broome Street, New York City

Off To Work

2011-12-12T13:27:00.003-05:00

Sunglasses | Club Monaco

Stripe Cardigan | J Crew

Cashmere Scarf | Barney's New York

Suit | Zara

Bag | Vintage

Shoes | UGG Australia

Photos of me | Laura Flores

Location | Bedford Stuyvesant

Phil Cohen wears a Vintage Color Blocked Blazer

2011-12-09T09:59:00.000-05:00

How do we feel about Phil's blazer?

Location | Greene Street, SoHo

4 Warm (and Stylish) Winter Coats

2011-12-07T10:58:00.007-05:00

This week may have been 60 degrees, but don't let the warm weather fool you. Before you know it, winter will be in full effect and you'll need a warm coat to get you through the cold months. In the past, I would buy a coat strictly for aesthetics, which wasn't the most practical decision but I lived and learned. Now the idea is to be warm & stylish, but is that really possible? Absolutely! Here are 4 coats that will definitely get the job done.

1. J. C Rags(Atrium) Panama Canvas Parka Jacket $329

2. Zanerobe Double Hooded Coat

3. ParaJumpers Down Filled Hooded Jacket

4. Penfield(Atrium), Gillman Jacket $390

Street Gents | Michael David of Ralph Lauren

2011-12-06T10:18:00.001-05:00

What do we think about Michael's casual look?

Occupation | Creative Presentation at Ralph Lauren

Location | Greene Street, SoHo

Press | Interview with Urban Outfitters - Gifted & Talented

2011-12-05T22:49:00.002-05:00

For the month of December, Urban Outfitter's Blog started a interview series called 'Gifted and Talented,' which profiles a bunch of different people who stand out in their fields. It was such an honor to be featured because I'm a huge fan of the brand. Feel free to check out the article here.

Street Gents | Nylon Magazine Intern, Chaz Pringle

2011-12-03T21:01:00.002-05:00

What's your feedback on Chaz's look?

Bloomingdale's Men's Spring 2012 Preview

2011-12-02T10:37:00.003-05:00

About two weeks ago, I was over at Bloomingdales 59th Street to preview the Men's Store Spring 2012 line. Matthew Singer, the Men's Fashion director was nice enough to walk me through the island themed collection. The room was filled with clothes, but the first thing that caught my eyes were a pair of suede tassel loafers(picture below), which I'm already adding to my wish list.

There was no shortage of leather goods and accessories like the schoolbag briefcase(picture below), messenger bags, envelope card holders and credit card case. After reviewing the line sheet, I notice none of the bags were over $450, which is great considering you're getting a quality leather without breaking the bank.

The enzyme washed crew neck styled over the gingham shirt was right up my ally. All I need is pair of their reversible shorts and colorful loafer's then I'll be good to go. My only concern was the Hoot + Albert crochet lapel flower(picture above), but maybe I have to see someone pull it off to appreciate it. Otherwise, I strongly recommend passing by the Men's Shop when stocking your spring wardrobe.

Shop | Bloomingdales

Street Gents | Luxury Travel Specialist, Matthew LaPolice

2011-12-01T08:13:00.002-05:00

What do we think about LaPolice?

Location | Broome Street, New York City

Press | Feature & Shoot with Société Perrier

2011-11-28T19:47:00.002-05:00

Société Perrier asked me to show them my key looks for the fall season. So I decided to wear my New York and Hat Co Fedora, Pendleton Portland Jacket, Cheap Monday Jeans, and Grenson boots. Check out the full feature here.

Lou Picks | Descendant of Thieves by Dres Ladro

2011-11-26T18:56:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, I attended a press preview and came across Descendant of Thieves, a line of causal tailored shirts. The PR rep suggested I try on one of the shirts, so I did. I was amazed by the cut,material,and uniqueness of the shirts. Some of the styles even had an elastic top button, which is comfortable and allows your neck to breath. This feature is great, since I always have trouble finding shirts that fits the neck and body.

DOT shirts can be dressed up, but I prefer them with a pair of jeans and boots. Each shirt has their signature yellow detail and inside the care label you'll see how many units where manufactured. Que Fancy!

P.S I took these photos at their showroom in Chinatown!

Shop | Descendant of Thieves

Dapper Lou x Allen Edmonds - Best Brogue Contest

2011-11-22T10:47:00.003-05:00

The Brogue is a classic men's shoe that's essential to every man’s wardrobe. So, Allen Edmonds & I want to give one Dapper Lou reader a complimentary pair of shoes to celebrate this timeless style.

To enter the contest:

Send 1 photo to Ludget@DapperLou.com showing us how you style your brogues.

The Winner will be chosen by Dapper Lou based on creativity and presentation and will receive a pair of Allen Edmonds shoes of their choice from the Allen Edmonds online shop.

The contest runs from Tuesday, November 22nd through Friday, December 2nd. No late entries will be accepted.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Ludget@DapperLou.com

Good Luck and may the best brogue win!

*Contest Closed*

The winner of the 'Brogue Contest' is Michael Gray from Ohio. He submitted this picture from his engagement photo shoot wearing a pair of $3 brogues from the Goodwill. I'm sure Michael's going to find a great pair of Allen Edmonds shoes to wear on his wedding day!

Thank you for your submissions!

Features | Illustrator Ivan Kasaj

2011-11-21T00:30:00.003-05:00

Last week, Ivan Kasaj, an Illustrator from Slovakia sent me an email because he wanted to use me as a subject for his fashion illustrations vectors. I was trilled and honored to be apart of his project because his work is absolutely magnificent. When I saw the portrait he created I was so impressed, so I decided to make it my blog header (as you can see).

Ivan's illustrations focuses on menswear details style icons like Nickelson Wooster, Milan Vukmirovic, and Angelo Flaccavento. He worked as an art director for major ad agencies and won several creative prizes from around the world. His work has also been featured in the "Great Big Book of Fashion Illustration" by Martin Dawber. To learn more about Ivan and his work check out his portfolio at kasaj.sk.

Press | Interview x Photo Shoot with GK Clothing

2011-11-17T10:17:00.003-05:00

Glamour Kills

Street Gents | Martini Slippers

2011-11-15T13:20:00.002-05:00

Hubert Chen - Fashion Editor at Elle China

Location | Milk Studios, New York City

Lou Picks | John Lobb Spring/Summer 2012

2011-11-11T12:23:00.002-05:00

Detailed, quality, craftsmanship, and sophistication are some of the words to describe the John Lobb's Spring Summer 2012 Collection. The brand has an excellent reputation of using only the best full grain leathers and creating some of the most beautiful made-to-measure shoes on the market. It's no surprise that it takes 190 steps to create a pair of John Lobbs shoes.

Shop | John Lobb

Location | Lambs Club - The Stanford White Room

Street Gents | Riccardo Tortato Wears the Double Breasted Suit

2011-11-10T10:18:00.002-05:00

What do we think about mixing stripes and polka dot?

Location | Greene Street, New York City

Features | Palmer Trading Company

2011-11-07T21:22:00.002-05:00

After grabbing lunch at Pepe Rosso on Sullivan Street, I made a quick stop to Palmers Trading Company. I noticed the Portland Collection jacket I recently featured on the site was in the window. When I walked in this cozy little store it was filled with great American Vintage, Palmer, and a nice range of Pendleton clothing. I started snapping pictures, and here is what I captured.

Visit | Palmer Trading Company

137 Sullivan Street New York, NY 10012(646) 360-4557

Event | Ferragamo and GQ Host Event with Victor Cruz

2011-11-05T18:35:00.002-04:00

Tuesday night, GQ and Ferragamo teamed up for the launch of Tramezza, a line of handmade and hand painted shoes. Victor Cruz of the New York Giants hosted the event at Ferragamo's fifth avenue flagship store. As Guest arrived, they were invited to shop the special edition line and a percentage of the evening's sales benefited The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s 2011 Annual Appeal for Prostate Cancer Research.

Street Gents | Davis Gooch of RRL

2011-11-03T22:49:00.001-04:00

Location | Spring Street, Soho

Micro Check

2011-11-01T22:52:00.002-04:00

Paper Boy Hat | Zara

Black and Grey Sunglasses | Club Monaco

Ipad Case | Lotuff & Clegg

Blue sweater with pocket detail | Onassis

Backback | Vintage from Rose Bowl in LA

Mico Check Shirt | Nuco

Olive Pants | HM

Red Brogues | Paul Smith

Location | Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
Shot by Liz Coicou

Lou Picks | The Portland Collection by Pendleton

2011-10-31T18:51:00.001-04:00

Pendleton has always been my go-to brand for their quality wools and Native American inspired prints. The century-old label has recently hired a team of three Portland based designers; Nathaniel Crissman, Rachel Turk and John Blasioli for the launch of a new line called "The Portland Collection." The goal is to create a modern and sophisticated line while keeping the brand's DNA in mind. Check out the full collection here.

Shop | Atrium

Batter Up

2011-10-28T10:45:00.002-04:00

This player is taking a little of his personal style to the field.

Location | Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Street Gents | Bold Pinstripe Suit

2011-10-26T21:55:00.000-04:00

Lou Picks | The "Fred" Boot by Grenson

2011-10-24T23:29:00.000-04:00

Without a doubt, Gremson makes the most handsome footwear a man can ask for. But adding a white vibram sole to their classic "Fred" style takes the brogue boot to a whole other level. They'll look great dressed up with a gray flannel wool suit or dressed down with a pair of blue jeans and a hoodie. Versatile, timeless, and definitely an fall essential.

Shop | Ronnie Fieg

Street Gents | Kevin Stewart of Roger Charles New York

2011-10-22T21:04:00.000-04:00

Occupation | Designer of Roger Charles New York

Location | Wooster Street, New York

Street Gents | Designer Ryan Villarina

2011-10-20T13:29:00.000-04:00

Location | Broadway Street, New York

The Shawl Collar Cardigan by PRPS

2011-10-18T23:17:00.003-04:00

PRSP Goods take on the the shawl collar sweater has a great vintage American outdoors aesthetic, which is purely stylish. The fit and print is amazing, but importantly it's the perfect alternative to wearing a jacket. I paired the PRSP sweater with military green accessories like the Atrium Supers sunglasses and Paul Smith brogues. The rugged Big Star khaki cargo pants and Zara paperboy hat is complementary to the sweater. To keep the look simple, I threw on the backpack by Sandast because it works well with the orange in the sweater. The navy Nuco V neck tee adds contrast and of course the Dope ring lives up to it's name "DOPE".

Shot by | Liz Coicou

Publish PostLocation | Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn

Street Gents | Street Style Photographer Koo

2011-10-17T20:45:00.001-04:00

I met Koo about a month ago, when I took these shots of him in SoHo. Since then I've been seeing him all over the city. I can't help but notice how eccentric and effortless Koo's style is. Even when wearing all black he makes a statement. He knows what works for him and pushes boundaries in a subtle way. He blogs here.

Lou Picks | Pochette Square by Gailord Janson

2011-10-12T23:18:00.000-04:00

The origins of the pocket squares may have been for personal hygiene, but today its one of fashion's biggest accessory for men. Weather worn formally or casually a pocket square can add color,elegance,sophistication to your attire. The brand Pochette Square is a great place to find pocket squares, because they have a whole website dedicated to them. They carry three very different collections called, "Chic","Trendy", and "Secrect in the pocket," so there is something for everyone.

If your not sure how to fold a pocket square, here are three ways courtesy of Pochette Square:

The "Flat"

Lay your pocket square on a table
Fold it in half from left to right
Then, fold it in half again from bottom to top, but not all the way
Fold it one last time horizontally, in order to fit the width of your breast pocket

The "One point"

Lay your pocket square flat, folded in four, in the shape of a diamond.
Fold the left corner towards the right corner, stopping in the middle.
Fold the right corner towards the left corner, stopping in the middle.
Fold the bottom towards the top, stopping just over your other folds.

The "Puff"

Lay the pocket square on a table and grab it from the middle between your
thumb and your forefinger
Delicately lift up the square
Grab the top of the pocket square with your other hand
Fold up the remaining fabric to the middle of the pocket square
Place it in your breast pocket and adjust it in order to obtain the desired "puff"

Shop | Pochette Square

Onassis x Dapper Lou Fall Contest

2011-10-11T09:20:00.000-04:00

Onassis Clothing and I have teamed up for a fall contest in hopes to add a few layers to your wardrobe.

Here are the rules:

The contest begins Tuesday, October 11^that 9:00 AM and is open to everyone.

You can enter the contest by simply following Onassis on Twitter and tweeting,‘I just entered a chance to win a $250 gift certificate from @onassisclothing! #DapperLou’

Be sure to include the twitter handle @Onassisclothing and hash tag #DapperLou.

The winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, October 18^th at 5:00 PM.

One lucky winner will receive a $250 gift card.

Goodluck!

ona-ssis.com

Press | Featured in Ebony Magazine - November 2011

2011-10-10T17:14:00.000-04:00

I love this feature because I'm right next to my sister Liz.

Patchwork

2011-10-06T23:34:00.006-04:00

I've never thought I'd be seen in a patchwork shirt, but I came across this one from Polo and thought I'd give it a try. Without a doubt, it's easy to stay in your comfort zone and stick to the same old styles, so the beginning of a season is the perfect time for change.

The paperboy hat from Zara gives the look a retro feel, and Nuco Cargo pants complements them. But always try to update a retro inspired outfits because it could come off as a costume. I admit, the multi-plaid printed shirt is pretty busy, so I paired it with a Prps vest to break up the print. The hint of burgundy in the shirt looks cool with the burgundy Paul Smith brogues, but brown or hunter green shoes does the job too. My looks are not usually this mature, so I threw on the "Dope" ring and "Blonde Havana" sunglasses to keep it fun and youthful. Now that I think of it, this outfit would of been perfect for an episode of the Cosby Show.

Paperboy Hat - Zara

Blonde Havana Sunglasses - RetroSuperFuture (atrium)

Cargo pants - Nuco

Patchwork shirt - Polo (atrium)

Burgundy Brogues - Paul Smith

Vest - Prps(UK)

Olive Green Backpack - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Dope Ring - Atrium

Shot by Liz Coicou

Location | Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn

After the Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 2012 Show

2011-10-05T09:21:00.001-04:00

Location | Hudson Street during NYFW

Features | The Breitling Tour

2011-10-03T11:35:00.004-04:00

The good folks at Breitling invited me to an exclusive behind-the-scene tour called, "Watch 101", where I saw the intricate details and efforts behind making a luxury timepiece. The tour began promptly on Wednesday morning with a quick breakfast at Breitling's beautiful new boutique on 57th Street in Midtown. Breitling President Thierry Prissert walked me through their various collections, including Superocean, MontBrilliant and the well-known Breitling for Bentley. Prissert gave me an understanding of the Breitling man: active, ambitious, adventurous, but most importantly, the Breitling customer is one who understands that his timepiece is a lifestyle, rather than a status symbol.

57th Street Store

Since one of the main tenets of the Breitling enterprise is customer service, I got to see their specials ways of presenting watches to clients. It's a one-on-one shopping experience where each client gets VIP treatment.

The aviation-themed pop artwork displayed is by contemporary artist Kevin Kelly. The artwork represents the brand's heritage, but also displays the brand's sense of humor.

Founder Léon Breitling

Breitling has been perfecting timepieces since 1884 and the in-store museum takes us on a journey to Breitling vintage timepieces.

The Headquarters

We traveled from the Manhattan boutique to the Connecticut headquarters, in a Bentley no less, to honor the partnership between both brands for over twelve years. Upon my arrival, Technical Instructor Robert Flood gave me an overview of the brand history, introduced me to the staff, and showed me some of the machines they use for repairs. He also explained that a Breitling watch is made up of over 345 components and takes several years to produce because of the extensive amount of testing.

I had the privilege of taking apart a 20-component watch. But, I must admit, this was frustrating because some of the pieces were so minuscule. I couldn't imagine having to put together a watch with over 300 parts. Clearly, watch making isn't an easy task, because you must work alone for long hours, have good sight, a steady hand and a great deal of patience.

Thanks to the Breitling, I have a new appreciation for the engineering and technical aspects of developing high-quality watches. This tour has been an eye-opening experience.

Breitling.com

Press | Featured on NYMag.com

2011-10-02T20:17:00.001-04:00

nymag.com

Model Talk | Yuri Pleskun & David Agbodji outside Milk Studios

2011-10-01T20:19:00.000-04:00

Street Gents | Blogger Pelayo Díaz

2011-09-30T17:03:00.000-04:00

Occupation | Blogs at katelovesme.net

Location | On Madison Avenue before the Asher Levine S/S 2012 fashion show

Team Flatbush

2011-09-27T23:34:00.002-04:00

I was born in Flatbush,Brooklyn at Kings County Hospital on April 8,1987. The hospital is also referred to as Killer County, but thats a whole other story. My early childhood was spent on Parkside Avenue, which wasn't paradise, but it was the place I called home. I went to school P.S 92 and my first grade teacher was Ms.Brown. I remember going to her class dressed in backwards denim overalls, pretending to be the American rap duo Kris Kross. She literally made me, "Jump,Jump" out of her class and into the bathroom to change.

When I wasn't in class getting in trouble, I was at Prospect Park with friends. The park was one of my favorite places to go, because it was filled with endless activities. At lunch time, I would scrape up change for 10 cent ices, ranch Doritos chips and chicken wings. All on a budget of 1 dollar.

My mom always told me to get home before dark, but of course I was too busy attending block parties on Clarkson avenue. When I danced, all the grown folks started chanting, "Go Lou Lou, Go Lou Lou." I guess I was the life of the party. Until, my mother showed up in her slippers and pajamas and told me to go upstairs, because it was past my bedtime. I was so embarrassed, because all my friends would laugh and say I was on "lock down" but in the words of Biggie, "It was all good."

That was only a glimpse of my Flatbush days. Now I can take my heritage everywhere I go, with this new "Flatbush Varsity Jacket" from Atrium. The jacket features cream leather sleeve, a red and black check print body, "BK" patch detail and "Flatbush" written on the back. So whether you grew up here or you just moved in yesterday, you too can have "Flatbush" on your back.

Credits

Lou Picks | Headphones by WESC

2011-09-26T09:59:00.000-04:00

Without a doubt, headphones are more stylish than ever and everywhere I turn someone's wearing a cool pair. Instead of getting a boring black pair, try out some of the vibrant colors WESC has to offer. The sound is incredible and they'll compliment your personal style, so its a win win situation.

Shop | WESC

Street Gents | Antonio & Daniel

2011-09-24T11:54:00.000-04:00

Location | Lincoln Center,New York,NY

Events | Exclusive Launch of Alexandre Mattiussi for AMI at Barney's New York

2011-09-22T10:11:00.000-04:00

Tuesday evening, I attended a private event at Barney's New York for the launch of a new men's line, Ami. The brand's creator, Alexandre Mattiussi was present for a meet and greet, so we chatted about the concept behind his line.

After working on collections at Dior,Givenchy,and Marc Jacobs and building his knowledge of men's tailoring, Mattiussi decided to start a line completely his vision. "We are not all billionaires", explains Mattiussi, so his mission is an affordable price point, without compromising on quality and sophisticated designs.

The brand's name is composed of the Mattiussi's initials and the last letter of his name, together they spell 'Ami' which means 'friend' in French. A form fitting name for a collection made for the real man, who is in search of relaxed elegance, authenticity and most importantly a new 'friend'.

Visit | Barney's New York

660 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10065

(212) 826-8900

Street Gents | Austin Wong in Thom Browne

2011-09-20T08:48:00.000-04:00

Occupation | Blogger

Blog | Why-youmad.com

Location | After the Buckler S/S 2012 fashion show in the meatpacking district.