Gerard Pique for He by Mango Fall/Winter 2011

It's the Spaniard for the Spaniard. The Spanish label, He by Mango tapped the dashing side of the Barcelona FC midfielder, Gerard Pique to front the ad campaign for its Fall/Winter 2011 collection. This is his second work for the label, as Pique also did the previous Spring/Summer 2011 campaign as well. 

Similar to my previous post about the label's Fall/Winter 2011 collection, the clothes featured on Pique looks equally good. I absolutely love the tweed suit which to me is the cherry on top of the cake. It looks amazing! The fabric is awesome coz wool is one fabric that I really love. But the most ravishing is the skinny silhouette of it, making the style sartorial of the wearer go really way up there. It's superbly chic and edgy.

Also, the shadow checks on pix #5 which I think is absolutely spot-on trend. Seen before on the catwalk at Bottega Veneta FW11, this shadow checks suit is the great highstreet edition if you wanna rock the look.

Others is not too bad either. The shearling jacket is also a huge trend continuing what Burberry also did, as well as the stripe wool jumper to give some color kick to the mostly sombre hues. And of course, THAT monk-strap shoes... it's definitely gonna become a 'returned' must-have for this season.

Overall, great collection. I know Shakira would approve this!

[pix from he by mango]

He by Mango Fall/Winter 2011 Lookbook

He by Mango Fall/Winter 2011 lookbook featuring Noah Mills and Brad Koenig. Alas, one menswear collection by Mango that I can give my seal of approval undoubtedly. I know it's been quite a tough ride for He by Mango to really stamped their position as one of the leading fast fashion menswear on the highstreet. Seeing the previous collections - where me myself also tried their debut collection almost 2 years back - I think it's very hard for people to really accept what they offer. Seasons after seasons, lots of clothes are sent off to the Sale section which I'm quite amused nonetheless. Is it because of the price, which I know is quite ridiclulously high compared to Topman and H&M? Or is it because of the cut and design, which previously are mostly on the meh side? Or does the allure is not as good as what its Spaniard contender, Zara? You can list all sorts of possibilities which maybe adds up to their lack of acceptance.

Anyway, for Fall/Winter 2011 I think it's time for them to propel back into the action as the pieces looks absolutely stunning and much polished. Slimmer suits, boy aren't those are to die for? I know for me, at least. The suit jackets and trousers that Noah wore are cuts to perfection, with the much contoured silhouette and razor sharp look. From tweed fabric to Prince-of-Wales check, single- or double-breasted, they breathes such a contemporary feel that is lacking before. I have three words: love, love, love! Very much Italian I presumed. I wonder if they tapped the designer from Zara coz somehow those suits really sprung 'Zara' into my head.

On the casual side, it's not too bad either. Many 'reasonable' pieces, I would have to say. Slimmer appearance is everywhere - either jeans, the chinos or the combat trousers. They are definitely for the urban gents who now wanted to be taken seriously even when it comes to being nonchalant. I like some pieces such as the waxed mac, the stripes tee and the varsity baseball jacket; which I think perhaps could make a good addition to my wardrobe as they're quite seasonless.

Others include the shoes and the bags. Man, are those monk strap loafers stunning or what? Awesome!

[pix from he by mango]

Too Much Bretons!

Breton stripes are huge this season. And I do mean HUGE with the capital H. You saw it everywhere - on the catwalk during the Spring/Summer 2011 show, in the highstreet stores, and of course... on the streets. It's stripes galore! Whether it's stripes all the way, or the Jean Paul Gaultier sailor lookalike - Breton is definitely a hot trend that never fail to appear whenever summer comes. I think the way it breathes nautical theme is what charmed people.

Me too has been succumbed into the lure of stripes. My victim of the situation? Absolutely at Asos, coz they got a humungous collection of stripey t-shirts. Either short, three-quarter, or long sleeves; Asos has a burst of Breton this time around in many color choices to choose from. With the price tag that's always dear to the wallet, Breton stripes at Asos is one stop to head down to. Period.

For every tee you see below, I have at least two for each pair coz I have a simple principle: if I like it, always buy two. That's why I have too much Bretons now!

(L) Breton tee in navy-white - Asos : Jeans - Uniqlo : Denim bag - He by Mango : Watch - Calvin Klein Sight

(R) Breton tee in green-dark green - Asos : Wool trousers - River Island : Tweed backpack - Zara : Watch - Nixon

(L) Breton tee in light grey-white - Asos : Jeans - Uniqlo : Grey leather tote - Bill Amberg : Watch - Bench

(R) Breton tee in grey-light graphite - Asos : Jeans - Uniqlo : Suede studded tote - Jimmy Choo x H&M
Watch - Calvin Klein Bold

(L) Stripe tee in green-white - Asos : Chambray trousers - Asos Canvas tote with leather trim - Jaspal: Watch - Skagen

(R) Tee in navy-yellow - Asos : Jeans - Uniqlo : Mock croc tote - Topman : Watch - Nixon Shutter tortoiseshell

BigFat 'Cool Holiday' Collection?

It's been very warm down here in the valley. So warm that even the fully-powered fan couldn't do its job very well. Coupled with the humid weather, the ambience felt a bit stuffy and sweaty (steamy? ha!). One way to avoid all those condition is to take myself up, up and away. No not to the sky, but almost there. On the highlands, hundreds of meters above the sea level. It's much cooler over there since the temperature is normally 6-7 degrees less than in the valley.

As I mentioned in the previous post, Cameron Highlands is quite close to my house - about 40 mins journey - where the Louis Vuitton menswear ad campaign for SS11 is shot. Going up there, one way to avoid the cool weather being too harsh to the body is to wear long sleeves. Since I can still feel a bit of heat warming up (though not as scorching as down here), the fabric of choice would definitely cotton or linen-based. It can absorb sweats better, while the long sleeves could also protect the chill at the same time.

Opening up my wardrobe, there are a selected few which I can consider to be taken together with me. Most are cardi, some are sweater and there's also long-sleeve tee. I also like the three-quarter sleeve merino cardi which by pairing up with the tee inside would be okay to avoid the chill.

You Say Classic. I Say Classical... App.

Ever since my first post that I've already bought a guitar, I've been talking about it on and on. The truth is, I'm still learning to play the instrument till today. And the other real truth is: it's DAMN hard! Harder than learning how to drive. Harder than learning Fluid Mechanics. Or even harder than designing a distillation column! (That's a word to my nephew btw, who's asking me whether he should design a distillation column or absorber for the Design Project - the Chemical Engineering stuff..lol).

And it's true. Playing guitar is so not easy. With all the chords, the frets, the strings to 'pluck'... it's mind-boggling. How you combine all the notes together that make a song - to me, that's like trying to climb Kilimanjaro. So complicated! I dunno how those people out there could make it look that easy ~ and with all the oh-so-endearing tunes that it makes.... I know there's lots of time and effort being spent on this stuff.

Anyway, for those who's a novice like me (or even less than novice!), you now have a choice on whether...

Ruch-front tee @ Asos.

Vest @ H&M

Raw denim @ Uniqlo

Wool fingerless glove @ Marc Jacobs

Studded leather cuff @ He by Mango

Neo-leather asymmetric biker jacket @ Uniqlo

iPad, in the YSL patent leather iPad case.

Brilliant isn't it? Now, for those who have an iPad, you can download the app that resembles a guitar. Codename: Classical Guitar app. And it works! With all the chords that you can scroll down to select, the strings seems to work flawlessly as if you're actually playing a real guitar! And yes, it sounds better of course as compared to how I played. Nggg...

What's more? There's also options to select whether you're right- or left-handed. Or whether you wanna do auto-pluck (so that you won't have to worry about 'recessing' the other strings in a chord). Or even to have a different frets without having to mess around with the actual 'clip'. Brilliant.

And the best part: the app is FREE!

He by Mango Spring/Summer 2011

I think He by Mango has become more a miss than a hit when it come to menswear offering by a highstreet giant. I dunno what happens in previous FW10, but for the previous seasons since its debut there's been a lukewarm response by the fashion lovers. In fact, I think not only the pieces are a bit blah to be honest, the price is also something way out of typical highstreet range. A bit too pricey compared to Topman and River Island, plus with the collection is not that exciting. Except for SS09, which they brought in Adam Lippes - that I think is quite acceptable.

Anyhow, for the new Spring/Summer 2011 campaign featuring Antonio Navas, the pieces seems to be much refined than previously seen. Lots of basics like macs, shirts and shorts thrown in very simple silhouette. The color seems to revolve around navy and white - a dire favorite summer tones, alongside neutrals like beige and brown, as well as grey.

I have to say, though the bad history I encountered in the previous seasons, this SS11 collection I prefer more. Why? Coz they are slimmer. And some design appear to be quite symmetrical. Pieces that I like: the sandals, and the denim shirt. They're worth buying...

[pix from mango]

Signed, Sealed, Delivered... It's HE!

See it, love it, but couldn't find in store. So? I get it online. Easy peasy. And with additional discount during the National Glamour Week, it finally arrived into my mailbox. (No, not really into the box coz it's big, silly). After been a week, I can truly say I love this cotton canvas tote with its denim feel and adjustable/removable strap. Very lightweight, roomy and practical. The color combo...oh, so delish.

What a great bargain! No, it's not DSquared2 bag (though it look like one). It's from HE by Mango!

Adjustable/removable strap

Front zippered pocket

One of 3 inside pockets

It's always that extra details... 'HE' stamped on the studs..