Fashion News
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday March 18, 2003
MEN WITH ZEN
Kenzo Homme winter '03 is now in-store. Farewell to designer Roy Krejberg, whose leather overcoat in bitter chocolate, honey-hued shearling jackets and chunky home-spun knits have nailed winter's key trends in one stylish swoop. A new designer will launch spring/summer '04. Kenzo recently launched its first Australian concept store, in Melbourne. The Little Collins Street address is a Zen-like space fitted with maple flooring and African wenge furniture - evidently there's a lot more in store for the label yet.
Kenzo Homme is also available
in Sydney from Robe, Paddington,
Moda Enigma, Newtown and Costume Gallaria, city.
For information, call (03) 9663 9224.
THE ARMANI TOUCH
Armani has enjoyed ongoing success on the silver screen and with the stellar folk linked to it - look what his designs did for Richard Gere in American Gigolo.
On the local front, Oscar winners Geoffrey Rush and Russell Crowe walked the red carpet dressed in his ensembles.
Armani's latest signing, actor Olivier Martinez, is another example of the designer's knack for snaring the next big thing. The striking Frenchman will appear in Giorgio Armani's 2003 advertising campaign for men.
The Americans call him the French Brad Pitt, but good looks are not all this guy is made of.
His performances in Adrian Lyne's Unfaithful and Julian Schnabel's Before Night Falls have had critics and fans calling for more.
Keep watching this space.
MINIMUM EXPOSURE
There's nothing like a bit of controversial advertising to get chins wagging.
Jaws have been dropping over the campaign for YSL's fragrance M7, which features a man in full naked glory. (The conservative version is shown above.)
A tad sensationalist? Not so, says designer Tom Ford. "Perfume is worn on the
skin, so why try to hide the body?
Our male standard of beauty right now is very contrived. I wanted to show a man who represents a natural, easy image of male beauty." The concept isn't new to YSL. In '71, Yves was photographed sans threads for the launch of his first fragrance. "Yves was incredibly daring for his time," says Ford. "There are a lot of people who have forgotten that." Judging by the hype this new ad has created, that's certain.
CAMPING OUT
"Walk. Don't Run" is the slick slogan for Camper's winter campaign. We can thank the innovative Spanish company for a clever, thought-provoking campaign without all the cliched product spruiking.
Men have grown to love Camper for fashion-forward footwear that is (shock!) comfy and looks great. Just about any guy around who thinks he's switched on seems to own a pair.
Camper entered the spotlight a few years back with shoes that looked like a distant but funkier relative of the traditional bowling shoe. This classic design lives on for winter with little renovations including lace-up high-tops. Other favourites include a driving shoe of sorts and the jazzed-up desert boot. Check out the worn-in, as-we-like-'em, '70s-style version finished with paint splashes (pictured).
Photographed in Italy, the new campaign invites us to slow things down and consider life. The advertisements feature anonymous older characters (that's right, no hi-gloss folk, no glam make-up, no styled scenes) inviting the reader to join in a game of bocce.
In a society where winning is everything, clever imagery pushes home the message that the game, not the result, is what it's all about.
Hats off to Camper: we love a clever ad with shoes to match. No doubt they're set to run (not walk!) off the shelves.
For your nearest stockist, call (02) 9970 5580.
LIVIN' IN THE `70s
Seventies sporting labels are back big time, with mammoth sales to prove it. Remember Hummel? The popular Danish brand is now available at Scandinavian boutique Lars 23. Warning: classic tee's can induce a case of the "remember whens?"
The grapevine has it that Hummel's funky poster-style catalogue is not your average number with cliched studio sittings, but the result of a little partying. The scenario reads a bit like this: a room full of models with Polaroids snapping each other. Where was the photographer? By the look of the result, they didn't need him.
Don't believe us? Grab a catalogue and see for yourself. For details, call Hummel (03) 9699 6211.
NEW DESIGN
Paddington store Poepke has moved down the road, making room for new menswear lines. Belgian labels Wim Neels, Bernhard Willhelm and Aesthetic Terrorists by Walter are now in-store. Raf Simons, another directional label, has branched into accessories. Look for his powder-coated ID bracelets and rings - a hot new look - and divine leather suit packs. The boutique stocks NYC's Paper Denim Cloth jeans and their new Basics range of T-shirts. These days, it's hard to find a tee that hasn't been vandalised with words or trimmings of one sort or another. You'll get a super-soft classic design that's the perfect basic for any wardrobe. Stock up!
For information, call (02) 9380 7611.
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald