Simon Nessam: Model Moment

I would have titled this "I heart Simon Nessman," but there's no SEO value in that.
You're welcome.

DKNY Interview

Here's an interview I recently did with DKNY Men design director, Ken MacMillan, discussing its Spring/Summer 2010 collection:

Attempting to define the New York man is somewhat of an enigma. Sure, images of an austere-faced Trump raising his mighty finger at an MBA grad or of a starving artist setting up his gallery on the corner of Lafayette Street and Hipster Excess are good starts, but they are equally elusive.

The New York man is in motion. His only constant is change -- much like the city itself. So, who better to turn to than Ken MacMillan, DKNY Men design director, for his point of view. “New York fuels everything DKNY is. It’s as forward as it is forever. There’s no one way to look or one style to wear.”

AskMen.com sat down with MacMillan to discuss its new collection presented around New York Fashion Week, common male fashion mistakes and the seven essentials you need in your wardrobe. We may never be able to define the New York man, but thanks to DKNY, we can capture it for a season.

Simon Spurr Spring 2010

Here are some pictures I took from the Simon Spurr 2010 collection during New York Fashion Week.

Simon Spurr 2010

Earlier this year, Simon Spurr was named one the 10 finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Big deal? Well, if walking away with $200,000 and a mentoriship with industry buffs (say, Ana Wintour) isn't a big deal, I don't know what is.

With all of the buzz surrounding the Simon Spurr 2010 collection, I was looking forward to attending his show during New York Fashion Week.

Fast-forward a few (busy!) months later -- sorry for the late blog entries, guys -- and Spurr isn't the lucky recipient of the award. However, I now understand why he's on everyone's radar.

Sachin Bhola: Fashion Editor

Please note that my blog has moved. Check out the upgrade at: http://www.sachinbhola.com/blog - Sachin Bhola

Oops…

It has been 5 months since my last blog entry. Papua New Guinea! When I first started this blog, I remember reading a “How To: Start Your Own Blog,” and step 46 (yes, there were 51 steps in all) acknowledged that it was more likely than not to fall off your blogging horse. So, my bad. It happens.

(And it will totally happen again)

However, it has been with good reason why I’ve been unable to keep up with daily blog entries. Earlier this year, Sachin Bhola (that’s me) became fashion editor at AskMen.com. It’s definitely given me a lot to write about. More to come on that -- if you can wait another 5 months.

Coco Rocha: Model Moment

April 16, 2009 – Coco Rocha, the Canadian supermodel with her unforgettable name, made an appearance at Toronto Fashion Week this past March. She attended the highly anticipated Project Runway Canada finale, seated alongside legendary supermodel Iman (host of the series). She surprised us all with her new hair color, red, which she said was a refreshing change.

Her chameleon traits have served her well in an industry fueled with built-in obsolescence, but Coco Rocha’s level-headedness explains her longevity. Discovered at the age of 14 at an Irish dance competition, she has managed to maintain a life outside of the fashion world - at times blurring the lines between the two. A memorable moment in her career, and in fashion, was the Celtic jig she performed at the Jean Paul Gaultier Fall/Winter 2007 show. With her international success, it is nice to see her continue to return to her native country and help elevate Canada’s fashion profile.

Other notable model appearances at Toronto Fashion Week included Iman, Irina Lazareanu, Taryn Davidson, and Amanda Laine.

Picture: Coco Rocha and Sachin Bhola

Domenico Vacca Interview

April 16, 2009 – Known for his traditional Neapolitan tailoring, designer Domenico Vacca introduced sartorial style to America in 2002. Since then, people can’t seem to get enough of him: Major Hollywood film and television productions, including the cast of Entourage, Lipstick Jungle and actors like Denzel Washington have turned to him for his unapologetically Italian aesthetic. AskMen.com sat down for the Domenico Vacca interview to discuss his Fall 2009 collection presented at New York Fashion Week, current trends in menswear and more.

Written By: Sachin Bhola

http://bit.ly/1qrZrR

Photo Credit: Zimbio.com

Travis Taddeo: Toronto Fashion Week

April 13, 2009 – Montreal designer Travis Taddeo chose to present his second collection at Toronto Fashion Week this season. Remaining true to his aesthetic, Taddeo’s vocabulary expanded for Fall 2009: He brought the kids out of the club and onto the streets in a toned down version of what we saw in his first collection. Highlights included fur accessories that draped along the back and attached across the chest (pictured below) and his trademark skinny pants. Also, it was nice to see fellow Montreal designer Denis Gagnon make the trip to Toronto Fashion Week to show his support.

Unfortunately, there were a lot of empty seats at the show. Taddeo’s first collection was quite strong which made it hard from him to top that one off. Lowlights included the lack of originality: Some of his looks read American Apparel – or slight variations thereof – which failed to show his unique voice as a designer.

Still, the energy was high and I look forward to watching his growth in the future.

Photo Credit (first two below): George Pimentel

Fashion Music

March 25, 2009 – Choosing the right track to set the tone for a show is an integral part of the presentation. Here are some of the tracks that were heard during Toronto Fashion Week’s Fall/Winter 2009 collections.

Annie – Heartbeat (heard at the Barbie by David Dixon show) *See Video Below
Black Kids – I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend…The Twelves Remix (heard at the Joe Fresh show)
Kid Cudi Vs Crookers – Day ‘N’ Night (heard at the Ed Hardy show)
Empire of The Sun – Walking on a Dream (heard at the Lundstrom show)
Marilyn Manson – The Beautiful People (heard at the Nada show)

Models Own Clothes

March 25, 2009 – Some models show up to work in the model uniform: jeans and a T-shirt (or some close variation). Others stand out with their individual style or willingness to fully embrace the latest trends. At the Dubuc after party during Montreal Fashion Week, male model Felix paired some Champion sweat pants with some leather lace-up wing tips. When I asked him about the look, he told me the original plan was to show up in some Buckler pants, but he ended up borrowing his buddy’s sweats last minute. Well, it worked, and people that night couldn’t stop photographing him.

At the Nada rehearsal in Toronto, I couldn’t help notice Chantilly’s no-heel shoes (pictured below) – a pair of Marc by Marc Jacobs she picked up in Miami.