Junya Watanabe SS 2011

In a great piece written by one of my favorite style bloggers, Sartorially Inclined, a new argument is constructed in the on-going debate between style vs. fashion. Not to rehash that debate, nor to explain where I find myself in the Style<--->Fashion spectrum, I would just like to comment on the designer who sparked the conversation.

Seldom do I post on runway designers, but I feel that Junya Watanabe's Spring/Summer 2011 collection has produced some very wearable items which are stylistically progressive. We continue to see a shift away from super-skinny male tailoring, toward wider lapels and fuller pant legs. To be honest, I still enjoy slimmer clothing, but I find this to be refreshing. It's interesting as one extreme style morphs to another polemic extreme. There is a lot of middle ground which doesn't get as much attention, but fully deserves our interest. Skinny suits and jackets are not for everyone and I think Junya has hit a happy medium.

The majority of the photos I'm sharing are a variation of a similar outfit, but it is something that I feel hits the middle ground between style and fashion. Items which are ordinary enough that they can be worn by anyone, yet if one looks closer, there is a more radical element that can be used to create much more dynamic look. This collection is fantastic, and I think this is a good sign for the revitalization of men's fashion, style, clothing, or however you justify this hobby of ours.

Summer Inspiration

Thanks to Sartorially Inclined for a shout-out the other day. He also announced the debut of LIFE Magazine's unreleased Steve McQueen photographs. Now, it seems as if everyone and their mother is looking toward McQueen as the style godfather. Not to jump on the bandwagon, but I found the photo below to be absolutely fantastic in terms of attitude, style, and ease. Everything is perfect; the slim taper of his chinos, his beat up white sneakers, sturdy watch, and his overall calm demeanor.

I remember the first time I became aware of Steve McQueen. Both my father and I are big fans of The Great Escape, a WWII POW movie where McQueen plays a leading role. The movie itself is riveting. During a particularly action packed scene, my father remarked how popular McQueen was in the 60s. It was during his famous motorcycle chase and my father mentioned that chinos and grey sweaters became the fashion statement the year of the movie's release. (Imagine that!) This was of little interest to my 11-year-old mind, but its funny how people remember things like this. I was more interested in the fact that McQueen performed his own stunts for the movie, especially that motorcycle chase. It was some time later until I saw Magnificent Seven and I am now watching The Thomas Crowne Affair, both of which will soon be added to my long list of favorite movies. So in this time of rabid McQueen fervor, I'm afraid I must again concede and agree that he was quite possibly one of the most stylish man in history.

It's been said before, but McQueen's style and grace is simply unparalleled.