Top Looks....Bottega Veneta, Milano

Today was a very good day of menswear shows in Milano. It started early (very early) at Bottega Veneta and just ended at Prada with stops at Ferragamo, Ferre, and Moncler along the way.

Bottega Veneta was so strong: the color options, the focus on sportswear, and the casting of masculine, virile models.

I'm very curious about where the prices will come in on this collection. Even though the design details are fantastic, I don't want to spend a ton of money on cargo shorts.

Top Looks...Burberry, Milano

Top Looks....Dolce & Gabbana

I have to say that the all white section of Dolce & Gabbana looked great.

On the Street....Sam, Florence

On the Street....Matte Sequined Top for Day, Florence

On the Street...Italian Khakis, Florence

Italian khakis are the best!

I love American khakis, but American brands add so much fabric to the back upper-thigh panel and butt that it always visually adds 10 pounds to any guy's backside.

This gentleman's khakis fit almost like jeans, and that's why they look so cool.

On the Street...Italian Girls, Florence

On the Street....Back at Pitti, Florence

Alright!

I should be back on a more consistent posting schedule for the next several weeks, if not for the rest of the summer.

I am really inspired by some of the young guys that I'm meeting at Pitti. They seem to appreciate the elements of quality that great menswear can offer and yet approach and use these elements in a more modern and experimental way.

On the Street....Summer Detail, Barcelona

In the heat of summer it can be really hard to make a tee and shorts look interesting.
Finding items with some type of special design detail, like the lace inset for the tee or the sailor buttons for the shorts, can go a long way in taking a look to the next level.

On the Street....Camila, Barcelona

Barcelona this Thursday!

Update :

Today I am going to be in Barcelona, Santa Eulalia where I will have a very informal party, book signing and hopefully take a few shots.

Later in the day, at 8pm (Spanish time), I will do a talk and answer any questions (except mathematics!). You can start sending the question now (Twitter @santaeulalia, Facebook Santa Eulalia) and you will be able to follow the presentation through streaming on Santa Eulalia's blog. For more information you can go on www.santaeulalia.com

See you there!

The Sartorialist & Santa Eulalia
Day: Thursday June 10, 2010, between 11am and 7pm
Place: Santa Eulalia – Paseo de Gracia, 91

On the Street....Bond St. Summer, New York

On the Street....Color Study, Tokyo

Grandmother, Vintage Photo

This is my grandmother Giulia on the beach in Sanremo (famous Italian resort in the Riviera Ligure) in 1928.

She was 18 and she wore very proudly an outrageous swimsuit.

Bye.
Maurizia

On the Street....Prince St., Soho

On the Street....Black on White, Japan

The Case for Pushed-Up Sleeves, Milano

On the Street....Preparing for Pitti, Florence

I'm getting my wardrobe ready for the upcoming Pitti Uomo in Florence.

I love the idea of a tailored jacket with sportier shorts.

Two years ago I tried a few very casual, unconstructed cotton sport coats (45RPM, Junya, and Engineered Garments to be exact) but the lack of structure and sculpting in the high-waist made the look too shapeless for my tastes.

I'm not saying that the option above is the perfect scenario, but it's a very good reference point.

Actually, last week in Milan I found a great cotton sport coat at Piombo. The jacket fits like the one above, but the upper-sleeve is slimmer and the washed cotton gives the jacket a sportier feel.

I have to write more about Piombo later. If you don't know it, imagine an Italian, super chic version of J.Crew.

On the Street....Out of Nowhere, Milano

This past week I was shooting an ad campaign in Milan.

While I was searching for a location on a very quiet residential street near Parco Sempione, this man, a Sartorialist All-Star, just happened to pop up on his bike. This must have been fate because the street was so quiet.

I didn't have my regular camera, since I was riding around on the back of a Vespa. However Emanuele, one of the production staff, had his tiny point-and-shoot so I rattled off a few shots.

It has always been so random when I run into this gentleman and yet always quite inspiring. He's so sporty, chic and, of course, always with his bike.

When we got back to the trailer I told one of the other production people about seeing him again, and she's now convinced that he's my guardian angel!

Let's Discuss....Suspenders

I'm so tired of my pants riding on my hips (like jeans) and not on my waist(right below the belly-button) where they should be. All day I'm adjusting my pants hoping they will stay in the right place. My belt doesn't want to help the situation either. It's either too tight or too loose..always.

The other day I broke down and bought a pair of suspenders for my new Ralph Lauren Purple Label suit. After wearing the suspenders just one night I will probably never go back to belting suitpants again. Suspenders work!!

Suspenders keep your pants in place like no belt ever could. Don't get me wrong, I don't like the look of suspenders and I hate funny or theme-y suspenders, so i hide my braces under a vested suit.

The downside of this new love is that suspenders are so hard to find, at least in New York. Suspenders and cufflinks are two of the most important accessories for men and yet the challenge of finding great options is almost insurmountable.

So, what do I need to know about the art and craft of suspenders and where can I find some good ones?