Tales of a Post-Modern Summer. Part TWO

For the second part in my annual Summer Special, I'm taking you to explore the nautical lifestyle. Despite the complete lack of land, summering on a boat or yacht requires a very specific dress code. Aquatic fashion at its finest, I present thee!

Act II of V
"Mode Maritime" 
A soft ripple spreads on the sapphire surface, growing larger and larger to eventually fade away. A creamy white yacht cuts through the deep, saline sea. Standing on the deck, you shield your eyes from the blinding sun and turn around to smile at your friends, each of them clutching a frosty cocktail. Leaving all troubles behind on the shore, you know it's going to be smooth sailings as long as you just surrender to summer.

Sweater: Prada
T-shirt: Rag & Bone
Shorts: We Are Tuk Tuk
Sandals: Ralph Lauren
Belt: ASOS
Tote: Kitsuné
Ruffled visor: Lanvin
Vintage Sunglasses: Christian Dior (at Matches)

Tales of a Post-Modern Summer. Part ONE

My favourite part of the year is almost upon us again: sweet, sultry, salacious, summer!
I know I probably exclaimed my love for winter and its corresponding collections just last year, but shush! 
Everyone has a natural or sprayed on glow in summer, strutting their stuff down the boardwalk. Some outfits induce premature hot flashes and supreme Popsicle liquefaction, while others induce gag reflex work-outs and thoughts like 'why-did-I-have-to-see-your-hairy-cankles-now-I'm-traumatized-for-life!'.
Obviously, I can't help you if you've got hairy cankles*, but I can help you find an outfit for every aestival occasion.
I was going to do the whole "Style For Guys Extreme Bonanza Summer Extravaganza Special, Bitchez" (SFGEBSESB), in one lengthy blog post. But I just discovered too many luscious looks, so I decided to split the special up in five parts. Each part will focus on a specific occasion and what you must wear should the opportunity arise, plus what soundtrack should be playing in your head.


ACT I of V
"Strawberry Fields Forever"
Imagine a dusky summer's eve. You and your special someone have been aimlessly wandering around all day, soaking up the sun. Both a bit sunburnt and very lost you stop and look around. In the corner of your eyes you see a glowing shimmer, and you hear a soft rustling. Then you see it: a gloriously sunlit straw field on a hill, a luminous shade of gold. You grab eachother's hand and just start running up that hill like Kate Bush is chasing you in person. Your clothes in all shades of tan and beige melt in beautifully with the surroundings. Finally you fall down, exhausted yet exhilarated, and just lay there in silence.

Blazer: H&M
Henley: Burberry Prorsum
Shorts: Ralph Lauren
Hat: Paul Smith
Shades: Bottega Veneta
Belt: Maison Martin Margiela
Shoes: N.D.C.
Bag: Jil Sander
Scarf: Gucci
*Cankles: Ankles that have no discernable narrowing from the calf to the foot. Ew.

A Day To Remember

A grim and pluvious Monday morning, May 17th 2010.

A lonely boy cycling in the morning rain, the outfit he so carefully selected the day before is already completely soaked. This pisses him off. He has a goal, though, a very exhilarating one. He has somewhere to go, far away in an unknown part of the country where mines still exist and people speak considerably slower. Destination: Maasmechelen Village Chic Outlet, Limburg, Flanders, Belgium. Who or what whould the boy be so eager to get to?

Who?

This is who!

Scott Schuman, a photography and blogging legend, aka 'The Sartorialist'. His unique street style photographs have launched him into international fame, and every sensible fashion-lover's biggest dream is to be spotted by him and be immortalized on his blog.
When I was invited to meet him for a blogger's round table, thanks to the lovely Marie at Oona, I jumped up in my seat with glee. It's not every day that Mr. Schuman visits my pint-sized country and I was just over the moon with the prospect of meeting him. It was also delightful to meet my partners in fashion crime, all incredibly stylish and impeccable ladies and gents.

                             Scott, Michael Black (moderator), me, Krizia, Tiffany and Otto. 


We were all able to ask the man himself a few questions about style and his life which he would very amicably and extensively answer, and this is the question I asked him:
"Do you believe great style is attained through nature or nurture?"

I believe both. People with great style tend to be very artistic people, who want to have style. You can see it in other parts of their life too; great interior designs, a natural ease at combining colours and patterns. Look at Cary Grant! Or Anna Dello Russo (Vogue Nippon fashion director, Ed.). These people use fashion to communicate. People like Anna [Dello Russo] have great discipline, and that's what it's all about. Getting up and working out to stay in shape. Anna is beautiful, but not in a conventional way. She has immense control over herself. It's all about controlling your image at every time and being consistent in your vision. It's also very important to never make excuses, I hate that. Don't say: "Oh, if I had a lot of money I could look good too.". That's not what it's about.

Meeting him was the pinnacle of an already amazing year of blogging, I remember looking at his blog with my sisters and friends, but I'd never thought I'd get the chance at meeting him. I also had his eponymous book signed, a perfect memento of an awesome day.
Check out some more pics of the event below!

                                                               Krizia, Otto and Emma

                                                                Andy and Ilanka

                                                       Ilanka, Scott and Michael Black (moderator).

                               Yours truly and the inimitable Scott Schuman.

Hot ****

Fashion = life.

Life = music.

Fashion = music.

My deductive skills are beyond comparison, I totally should've become a mathematician.

Ahem.

Anyway, I'm totally addicted to this song by Hot Chip, thanks to a special someone (you know who you are!) and have had it on repeat ever since.

So why not share it with you guys? 

The video is beyond cray cray* but the song is brills*.

In case you were wondering, the Hot Chip guys don't look like a suave boy band, freaky alien guy or floating evil head but like this:

I.e., very very normal.
Loving the McQueen scarf on 'Kyng', by the way.
Enjoy!


*crazy
*brilliant

New New New!

Everybody knows I love me some reasonably-priced fashion, because looking good should be everyone's prerogative and not just for the rich and famous, right? So when I was invited to the New Look Tea Party this week, I was very excited to see what the Brits had in mind for us. I, for one, didn't know that they had a menswear collection until very recently so I was even more curious to see what they are all about.

I had the best time, met some other Belgian colleague bloggers who are all very stylish and wonderful ladies and I'm very pleased to announce I have for you the official Autumn/Winter 2010 collection images.
Check out the New Look Blog for the report here.

I'm really beguiled by the wonderfully bold mix of patterns, chanelling some Native American and Aztec vibes but without making it look costumey. I'm digging the retro-grunge lumberjack mood too, and even the all-American jock jack is back. 

But I can sit here and talk all I want, I bet you guys would appreciate some visual stimuli as well?

Ch-ch-check it out ( lame pseudo-rap: oh, yes I di-id)! 

Big thanks to KNOTORYUS for the invitation, you know I love you guys!

Early Registration

As a blogger, it's imperative you maintain good contacts with your fellow colleagues, because you never know what amesome insider info they have for you and vice versa.
My fabulous Ozzie friend, Genesis aka the amazing Dandy Sachs, gave me a brand to check out and I'm absolutely smitten with it.
It's an Australian brand called Saint Augustine Academy, designed by Alvin Manalo. Their AW 2010 collection, inspired by the Nick Cave novel 'And The Ass Saw The Angel' has a very distinct feel about it, quite dark and austere but with a dandy neo-Victorian grunge twist. 
Are you ready to enroll?