The Material Boy #312

Below: Gucci Prefall 2009...A combination of rustic charm and modern gentlemen...

Below: Cashmere and silk tartan pattern carré with fringe: US$350. Cosy wrap anyone?

Below: Bi-colour perforated leather lace-ups: US$610. Love it!

Below: Weekend escapes in true baron style...

Below: Sumptous leather duffel: US$2390

Below: Back to the city and party like a rock star...love that
leather biker jacket with tartan sleeves...

Below: Leather man clutch with braided leather chains and studs: US $1150

Below: Modern knight befitting of James Bond...

Below: Pony hair duffel: US$2980

Below: Sexy, glitterati party look...

Below: Silver merino wool and lurex skinny cardigan: US$960

Gucci PreFall/Fall Winter 2009 Menswear And Accessories

I have not been blogging much about Gucci lately as the brand is slowly steering itself towards 'tacky-dom' as each season goes under Frida Giannini's creative reign. With all the disappointing huge logos, over zealous designs of bags and full scale invasion of beyond ugly monogram canvas bags...the brand is slipping down my favourites chart and staying put at the bottomless pit of horrid brand names.

Okay, perhaps I am exaggerating a bit. I do fancy some of the runway looks, especially those metallic jeans which I almost wanted to buy. But it seems I chose another which will be another story for another day.

As I was browsing thru the Gucci website, things start to look up. Amongst the many 'less than desirable' designs, there is still some saving grace in a few of the looks and accessories.

From the prefall collection, we see a lineup of looks based on autumn hues of browns, beiges and deep reds and accented with blues and purples. Leathers, denim, wool, plaids, tartans...all make up the story of an Italian gentlemen taking a break in his countryside mansion:-P What stood out was one of the best looking scarves of the season in tartan pattern with frayed fringes. I love the size which is generous enough to allow you to be fully wrapped in it's luxurious cashmere and silk material. There is a simple rich brown leather duffel which makes for a perfect companion for those weekends escapes from the city. Not to mention those bi-coloured brogue style lace-ups which is equally drool inducing.

So after basking in the fresh air and greenery of the country, the suave Italian gentlemen will return home to his city lifestyle, clad in a series of dark and sexy Fall Winter looks, predominantly in black. Biker style leather jackets with tartan sleeves, long overcoats, silver knit cardigan are some of the pieces which evokes a dark and sexy rock and roll feel. The black pony hair duffel bag looks set to rock the gym and the clubs, while the leather man clutch with braided leather and chain ensures you are a match for your girlfriend's purses, in a masculine way.

Frida Giannini can do nice clothing and accessories. I just hope she will tone down on those oversized logos and for goodness sake, spare us further trauma from overdose of tacky GG monograms in Gucci lately.

Source: Gucci

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #37

Below: My favourite look from the collection with the Vintage 'Portrait' Print Tee that
I love love love...

Below: The tweed blazer is sharp and smart while retaining it's classic appeal...I am loving the shape of the pants which is slightly loose on the top and tapers to the legs. Fabulous!

Below: Beautiful and sophisticated colour palette for the collection...

Below: Velvet never look this good! The washed treatment of those velvet pants is
interesting and definitely not 'stuffy' and conservative...

Below: Even the suits look amazing with the blue and most of all, the slightly 'worn in' look...

Below: Outerwear is Burberry Prorsum's forte!

Below: That shearling coat is screaming love and lust!

Burberry Prorsum Prefall 2009 Menswear

With the end of season sales at its final stages, it means the time has come to start preparing to plan your purchases for fall winter season.

I have been clamouring about the Burberry Prorsum 'Portrait' Print Vintage T-shirts a few weeks back, and good news, those are in Singapore stores already:-) (Retailing at SGD $560 for Short sleeves and SGD $650 for long sleeves). The cotton is one of the smoothest and softest I have felt. I am sure savvy fashion fans will feel the difference when you wear it. I love the vintage look of the print which is reinforced with deliberate creasing to add to the used look.

The tee is not the only piece that stands out from the Burberry Prorsum 2009 Prefall Collection . Here are some more elegant and highly wearable pieces from talented Christopher Bailey:-).

“The season is about reinvention - redefining and re-modernising the core of what Burberry stands for with our authentic British spirit and point of view.” CHRISTOPHER BAILEY

Well said by Christopher Bailey. The classics pieces synonymous with the Burberry name have been tweaked and enhanced to bring relevance to the modern Burberry man. Yet these pieces retain a classic charm with clever use of detailings to create a 'worn-in' feel. Burnished brass buckles, washed velvets and bonded vintage look cotton canvas evoke the suave styles of gentlemen from yester years.

I also love the use of luxurious materials in the collection such as seersucker cashmere, lightwashed lambskin, merino silk and dishevelled velvet. All these interesting materials add to the timeless quality these pieces bring and are worth to keep. The colour tones are soothing hues of nutmeg, old stone, ink with touches of regiment red and thistle blue to brighten the colour palette:-)

My top pics are those slightly loose pants that tapers towards the legs, creating an interesting shape while not being suffocating as per some of the skinny looks we see abundantly these days. The washed velvets are ingenious to offset the heavy, 'conservative' look of the fabric, bringing a modern touch to the velvet jackets and pants. Of course, if you shop Burberry, overcoats and trenches are indispensible in your shopping list. The TDF shearling jacket, tweed blazer and washed wool pea coat and trenches with oversized lapels, will ensure you get toasty and yet sharp for winter.

With pieces this gorgeous from Burberry Prorsum, we can look forward to a winter season of impeccable style and sophistication.

Source: Burberry