RIP Daul

This is kinda shocking.

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/11/20-year-old_model_daul_kim_is.html#comments

Jimmy Choo for H&M, Michigan Avenue, Chicago

So the last time I was living in a city that was fortunate enough to stock an H&M collaboration was back in 2004: Karl Lagerfeld for H&M. I don't recall that there was a line, but then again, I wasn't really paying attention, nor did I show up the day of the launch...I showed up the day after and found the men's selection to be plentiful and complete. I still love the black wool coat I purchased from that collection, and I wear it religiously each winter. But regarding the attention afforded these special designer collections these days, haven't times change drastically?

I'm not quite completely convinced I made a wise choice, but out of the desire to own something that was out of the ordinary -- a pair of men's shoes from what's normally a women's label -- I told myself I had to be at a store that stocked the Jimmy Choo for H&M collection. Chicago was the closest location. With my sister (partner in crime) in tow, we made an overnight drive from Minneapolis to Chicago in order to show up at the Michigan Avenue store 3 hours before opening (7:00 AM). Driving the redeye (can I say that?) is not mentally sound, having done it, I say "NEVER AGAIN!"

At the same time, I also get to say, "I was therrrrrrrrrrrrrre......."

I had one item in mind, the men's biker boots, which, to me, seemed the least generic looking (please, Chelsea boots are everywhere, non?) and possibly the item from the men's collection that looked like it had been given the most thought from the design team (although does that really say much?). And when the clock struck 10:00 and the crowd began filing in to wreak havoc and carnage over the women's items, I made a bee-line to the escalators and up to the third floor. I came, I saw, I purchased. I must say, I'm rather impressed with the make of these boots -- the leather is very soft and pliable, and they're altogether very comfortable to wear. I can't wait to bust these out with a pair of thermal leggings/long-johns and an eclectic-looking cardigan ;)

As has been documented in previous accounts of H&M releases, men's typically always seems more low-key and less vicious, which, in my book, is awesome. I found that to be the case, even though the shot I took of the men's area appears to have somebody taking ripping off the arm of one of the mannequins.

With my item I had come for now safely in my arms, I directed my attention to the levels below. On the second level were the masses -- both wristband and bare -- waiting for access to the women's accessories and shoes.


On a side note, I was slightly embarrassed over my H&M-junkie status given I recognized two "familiar" faces from my time standing in line for the Edina store opening at Southdale. Both corporate employees, one is this cute blond lady (pixie-style haircut), and the other is this very suave, very handsome, very tall, very skinny, very my hair looks so sexy when I haven't washed it in a couple of days -- in short, very Euro, although I could've sworn he spoke plain American English (I could be wrong) -- man. I call them the power duo; they were very much present and around at the Southdale H&M, surveying the last month opening event. I realized I caught a shot of their backs in one of my photos. She's got her arms spanned to prevent traffic from clogging up the escalators, and he (helloooo...) is on her left, appearing to be running his hand through his sexy locks. I secretly wish I could meet them both and become their traveling companion as they go to H&M store events...kinda envious of their jobs here... Oh, and shock-blue-teeshirt cutie...he was a rather nice man...as I walked into the store, I only had to utter the word, "Mens" and he immediately replied, "Third floor." Now that's compatibility right there. Okay, enough with being creepy.

I must say, after standing in the midst of strangers for the better part of the morning, I didn't have much motivation to want to stick around after I had made my purchase. Given we weren't part of the gifted lot to receive the coveted wristbands, my sister, thinking the same anti-social thoughts as were going through my head, said, "Fuck it, let's go to Barneys." And go to Barneys we did.

Daniel Liu for GQ China, November 2009

image source: ???? @ tFS, photography: Blair Getz Metzibov, styling: Grant Pearce

Okay, so I'm late to the game, but it looks like hot male model Daniel Liu was successful in landing his spread for GQ China, as he had tentatively alluded to in his interview on NPR. Flashbang over at theFashionSpot posted these beautiful pictures from that successfully printed editorial 5 days ago. In my defense, I was distracted with work? And over the weekend, I was preoccupied with landing a certain pair of boots from a certain high end shoe label's collaboration collection with H&M (more on that tomorrow)... Regardless, I wanted a set of these pics for my blog, so here they are. The clothes are GQ editorial appropriate, safe luxury as I like to put it...but that just goes to show that after a certain point, it becomes the man that makes the man, and not the clothes, right? As for the female model, Hana Mayeda...she's eh to me...I could care less about her looks...although I do envy she got this gig...what I wouldn't give to be in her spot... Daniel is definitely my favorite male model of the moment...okay, it doesn't hurt that he's the same ethnicity as I am and embodies everything I had hoped to achieve in an alternate more fabulous life...I hope his star continues to rise and the he continues to put out good work.

P.S. Does anybody know how a guy like me, who lives in the middle of nowhere, can land a physical copy of this magazine? GQ China is apparently very new, launched just last month (October of this year)...what a great outlet for asian models to get some international attention...maybe in the future they can get both Daniel as well as Philip Huang to do a spread together...crossing my fingers here...

New Men's Items at Patricia Field

From time to time, I like to browse the men's selection over at Patricia Field's online store. She recently updated her site with new items. What I love about her offerings for men is that the items in general are tongue-in-cheek to verging on fetish. And although she's established herself as a premier stylist to the stars on TV and movie sets, her store speaks loads to her personal style and taste, and remains committed to that slightly eccentric slightly dirty element of downtown New York.

I'm loving the above macho man leggings, I guess it doesn't hurt that the model used is totally pulling them off too. At $28, I'm tempted to get myself a pair. I feel that this season, more than previous winters, is big on thermal leggings and long-johns as legitimate bottoms for men. Especially when the look is paired with heavy duty boots and perhaps an oversized cardigan that either looks plush, or slightly offbeat...either/or. You feeling it?

My other picks from Pat Field's updated selection include the coats below. Unfortunately, the military jacket is one-size fits most -- I'd prefer if it were more specific --, and the cashmere fur (I'm going to go out on a limb and say faux here) collar coat is not stocked in an S...sad.

image source

Lady Gaga Bad Romance Music Video

Lady Gaga's new music video for her latest single, Bad Romance, is one visually overloaded masterpiece...and, I daresay, a tribute to Alexander McQueen? How nice that they seem to have struck a reciprocating deal where, one got to play a fresh hot single to closeout his Spring Summer 2010 show, and the other got the privilege of using the extravagant shoes and even a full-on outfit from that show in her music video...

...head to toe in McQueen!...


...oh to literally be the center of attention, while wearing these shoes...


...and here they are again in white...paired very nicely with that must-have train ;)

A couple other thoughts that lead me to stake my claim that McQueen is very much alive in the styling of this vid: beyond the obvious cues to his Spring Summer 2010 show, there's also the spinal vertebral enhancements she sports...

...from time to time, McQueen is all about highlighting skeletal anatomy...

...and then there's that fabulous naked bat Lady Gaga sports along with said vertebrae...

...substitute that out with a feathered bird, outstretched wings and all, and you've got McQueen's Widows of Culloden collection from Fall 2006...

Oh and lastly, on a completely different note...props for casting the hot men in this video...all inked up and looking bad ass...especially the sexy looking lead character with the face ornament. So avant-garde, so appropriate for a Gaga video, so...Jean Paul Gaultier (especially when u take into the other headresses/masks used on the other men?)? Anybody know who he is? He looks familiar...like male model familiar...I should keep on digging and find out for myself...


...ready whenever you are...

Terron Wood for Ralph Lauren Winter 2009

While roaming the Ralph Lauren section at Macy's the other night (quite possibly the only reason to be caught dead in this department store...unless you're shopping the downtown Minneapolis location, of course), I couldn't resist snapping a shot of the beautiful Terron Wood. He is perfection. Enough said.

T.I's Whatever You Like Covered By Anya Marina

While watching Gossip Girl tonight -- Season 3, Episode 9 -- "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?" -- I came across this charming cover of T.I.'s Whatever You Like done by Anya Marina...while (*spoiler alert!*) Dan, Vanessa, and Olivia proceeded to engage in their threesome. A bit more digging reveals the music video is directed by Nylon Magazine...the video is very Nylon-esque...and even better, there's cameos by Justin Kirk (Andy Botwin of Weeds! <-- only the smartest and most hillarious TV series out there) and the adorable Daniel Vosovic from Project Runway Season 2. Michael Stahl-David also is in there...looking much more grown up since when he starred in Cloverfield...but still beautiful...

The original version of this song was on the airwaves all summer long...it made for good music to have while I was driving in the car, but this cover...I might just need purchase it off of i-tunes...I very much approve...