Hats off to fun headgear!

There is a simplistic elegance that fortifies the relationship between a man and his cap. Way back when, it was required that a man make his way through the world with a hat on. When out in the sun, a man would don his cap, regardless of social status. So, it is only in man's best interest that they bring back a part of history that allows for them to express individualism all while maintaining a fashion-conscious mindset.

It is important to realize that men have always fewer choices in the world of fashion. Albeit our extremely recent transition from traditional to nonconforming, we are heading into the forefront of a new era, charged with brighter colors, unique cuts and more cutting-edge fabrics, ultimately designed to give a tired mind a fresh take on menswear. From head to toe, we are slowly changing the look altogether. Why not start with the head?

The over-usage and redundancy of hats on runways is only matched with the lack of hats on the streets... until now. The fashionable men on the streets of NYC are looking for timeless pieces without looking so "old-timer". Yet, menswear has taken a keen interest in a good blend of the classic infused with modern. Thus, the new era of men's hats are born! If the 90's consisted of fitted baseball caps and Kangol newspaper hats, the new millennium brought the fedora, straw or twill. Mocked for its use in the hollywood scene, the fedora can be worn very inappropriately. Given the right clothing choices, it can become virtually impossible to screw up this look.

The fedora has so many functions and can be seasonally appropriate. Whether spring, summer or fall, this choice is seemingly flawless. It's no wonder that in the beginning of the year, people are starting to wear a good summer hat in the dead cold of winter. It just looks that good. Among some of its finer reasons to don a hat is the inexplicable ability to transform a casual ensemble into a cutting-edge outfit eithout looking cocky in the least. Another reason that fedoras play an integral part of fashion these days is becasue they are extremely unisex. Just as appropriate as a fedora is for a man, a woman can pull one off, too.

The key to pulling off a fedora, however, lies in the fact that the entire ensemble has the ability to scream, we just cannot allow for any individual piece to. By this, I am referring to the ever-so-important "keeping it simple" motto. A t-shirt, some great shoes, slim-fitting shorts and perhaps a killer bag. Stick with natural tones. To spruce it up some more, add a very bold colored item. When using this look, it is crucial to pay specific attention to detail, because, with the wrong hat, or slightly odd shoes, you could look more like a crusty jazz musician or a desperate hipster than a man with a killer outfit.

When menswear takes a quick turn from never-noticed to front cover, we should all become aware of its possibility to explode with new choices, infinite uniqueness and originality. We should embrace these trends and allow them to progress and transform themselves into something that we can all benefit from: men who just dress better. And with a hat, that is just one great place to start.

The big rush of men's accessories and it's pathetic correlation to that 'Dress to Impress' slogan

I have genereally been anticipating the arrival of many things in life: My first car, my first city apartment, my first ridiculously expensive purchase, etc. I thought of many things that excite me in the realm of fashion and, as any unreasonable college graduate, I turn to the unobtainable items to grasp a hold of. By this, I mean I enjoy the items that not everyone my age can afford. By carrying a bag, what sort of image do I reflect? By wearing those really cool loafers and heading out into town, who will think differently of me, based on my purchase? Ok, now I am starting to sound slightly superficial. Let's get down to the point.

I have eagerly anticipated what is to be considered the biggest rush of men's accessories in the history of high fashion, all within the last decade. An array of shiny necklaces, bracelets and rings, a bandana paired with a leather cuff, a tweed fedora or paper boy cap or perhaps a statement belt with matching shoes. I guess I never realized the intensity to which any given combination could reflect upon my reputation. I am usually a guy who thinks that extreme fashion can be displayed by taking minimal efforts to look good. By accessorizing in the dozens, we are allowing for ourselves to become vulnerable and obvious. Afterall, isn't it obvious why some people try so hard to look the way they do?

A league of gentlemen, ranging from the ages of 20 all the way up have been spotted wearing all too much. Some of it trendy, others exude a classic taste with more traditional accessories. When we think of high fashion, some of us tend to look passed the cool clothes and attitude and run straight for accessories. The simplest compliments from onlookers is usually about an accessory that you have slapped on before heading out of your house. While their is nothing wrong with accessories, a clear distinction must be made between those who bare a seemingly flawless ensemble because of their over usage of accessories and those who regard their look as a gourmet meal: An excellent combination of lavish ingredients with added spices to complete the finishing touches. Accessories, to these people, must become the minor details that one leaves out when dressing themselves. Of course, in certain situations, one wouldn't leave the house complete without the other, however, how one dresses themselves must take on priority before bundling up in accessories.

I have always loved the classic example of the woman donning all too much jewelry. Rich or poor, these women look tacky. It shows a level of insecurity when one tries to impress with too many accessories. Multicolored bags, flashy jems, 18 kt. Gold necklaces and bracelets with bangles and intimidating shoes. I need a minute to breathe to see the way some people dress. I have often heard that you can tell someone's socio-economic status by the way they dress. This is true in a way because nowadays, people who dress in desperation tend to overlook the quality and style while focusing on how much others will perceive it to look authentic and fantastic. A guy with an expensive Rolex watch enters the room and people notice it immediately. This only goes as far as noticing your mailman has a great smile. Character cannot be determined through life's simple pleasures. We should feel thankful that most of us are given an opportunity to prove how well we dress. These days, quality can be found almost anywhere for a decent price. Dressing to impress has, since the old days, become considerably cheaper. Find great pants and a well-fitted shirt, all for under $60! Then if you get the urge to splash a little hardware on your body (your favorite bracelet, a ring or perhaps a belt), you won't feel as guilty.

Dear Mr. Sartorialist...

My widgets on my G4 laptop comes equipped with an English Dictionary. One day, I decided that I would find the definition for 'Sartorial'. I came across this definition:

"Of or relating to tailoring, clothes or style of dress: sartorial elegance."

Upon my discovery of the definition of this word, I became intrigued that the example given to show the word 'sartorial' in context was 'sartorial elegance'. This gave me an engrained image in my head of what YOUR definition of style means (regardless of whether or not this is true). I have been following your work and am envious of your ability to find beauty in the most unimaginable areas of style and dress. The subtle accents, the bright hues of stitching, even perhaps the ways a pair of pants are ruggedly tucked into a pair of wellies. I currently reside in Colorado, so, undoubtedly, my findings are few and far between when it comes to the fashion foreward. Irregardless of what I, myself am able to discover, I fall relentlessly enamored with your irrefutably distinguished taste for fashion and the arts.

For those of you reading this who are not familiar with the Sartorialist, please figure him out. I have seen his work and heard his opinion of the different style choices presented by individuals ranging from old businessmen to women scouring the shelves at Marc Jacobs. The Sartorialist offers the best pictures, comments and suggestions for his search for individuals donning a relatively bizarre, yet mysteriously well put-together ensemble and head out the door.

I must say that I have found myself putting together some interesting combinations to gear away from 'the usual'. I head out the door with a leather belt on my waist over a sportscoat, contemplated the repercussions for wearing my jeans tucked into my boots, even experimenting with alterations to my dresshirts to give them an authentic style twist without seeming too desperate for awkward attention. I am sure anyone who has grown up thinking to themselves, "I want everyone to notice how different I am!", rather than "I don't want to stand out" has succeeded in some form of personal dress that makes them a pioneer in their community as a fashionably-dressed gentleman or lady.

In a way, I am pleased with the way I too, am able to find beauty in the unnoticed as well as the mainstream. Being able to spot the quietly-dressed fashionistas becomes the key to what makes my day. I hope that one day, I will have the pleasure of meeting you for coffee and seeing you get lost in your work. "Why is she wearing that?" "huh, I have never seen that combination before" or perhaps a silent nod with eyes as sharp as a kitchen knife, dissecting each layer to truly understand their reasoning behind their personal style efforts.


Best wishes,

Ken Izawa

The Sartorialist can be found on thesartorialist.blogspot.com, www.thesartorialist.com, gq.com and on style.com, where he offers his expertise on trends, fashion technique and style options for all fashionistas- ranging from the hip and crowded streets of New York, Paris and Milan to backstreets and alleyways where true street style thrives.

The Future of Modern Fashion: Balenciaga

To think fashion is to think innovation by using a blend of unique cuts, styles, patterns and fabrics to produce a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. To some, it may be an old-fashioned belt, timeless as the material made to sustain it's beauty. For others, perhaps it is found in the odd shapes and forms created by artistic fashion visionaries who know fashion enough to predict the future a couple seasons ahead. Call it time travel or call it psychic, these artists are what lead the world into the style of tomorrow. Such a creative mind could rival the clever ways of fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga. Ingenious as he is with his talents of producing some of the world's most sought-after Couture designs, Balenciaga was also able to capture the the attention of other designers, inspiring each artist (names such as Oscar De La Renta and Christian Dior) to follow in his footsteps.

He formulated a legacy in the fashion industry, undoubtedly extending his talents of being a fashion visionary into the very mind of the current creativer director of Balenciaga, Nicolas Ghesquière. In 1997, he headed the house of Balenciaga, bringing about a new life form to the fashion label. After the death of Cristóbal Balenciaga in 1972, the house found itself going through a heavy transitional phase. It wasn't until recently that Nicolas Ghesquière brought a fresh take on fashion to a reputable image and classic label in high fashion. Ghesquière has been presenting his version of the skinny pant with the blouson jacket (picture a delicate silk blouse only in jacket form) for the millions of fashion followers to indulge in something new, something eye-opening. He has ever since, been playing with visions of futuristic form combined with his love for the 1980's era. But it doesn't end there, as Ghesquière also incorporates a bold blend of futurism with French Classicism. Looking closely at his collections, one could also see that Ghesquière likes to use somewhat drab colors for his clothing, then spices it up by accessorizing with bold-colored detailing.

There is no doubt that Balenciaga has made its stamp on high fashion as well as street culture and style. You can walk down almost any block and witness similar versions of his original masterpieces. The Balenciaga Motorcycle bag is infamous for it's sleek design and edgy form, giving it the appearance of half bag/ half motorcycle-and-jacket. It is not just recently that Balenciaga carried an immensely futuristic take on high fashion. Back in the day, Cristóbal Balenciaga had been known as "The master of us all", a popular quote by Christian Dior himself. He had experimented with rather strange forms for the female body, nevertheless, had popularized alternative stylings for women who wanted to think outside the box. It was in his innovative designs that he was able to create a full-fledge fashion house that even Jacqueline Kennedy found sensational.

This Spring season (2007), Ghesquière has incorporated his visions of a futuristic dress code, polishing his look to incorporate unique material, detailing with shimmer and glitz, assymetrical dresses, big shoulders, extremely long legs and platforms. Ghesquière also uses a base of black with metallics and white, truly magnifying the the intensity of bold fashion. Metallics (once again) has made an intense impression on the runway!

What is so truly astonishing and wildly ambitious about designer Nicolas Ghesquière is his ability to follow in the footstps of Cristóbal Balenciaga, all while creating the path to a successful future for the design house. We all become uncertain of where art can take us. Whether we find ourselves wallowing in past images of a more simplistic lifestyle or concerned with artform that affects our present, we find it rather difficult to produce an accurate portrayal of the future without seeming too distant or too predictable. With the stylings of artists such as Ghesquière, we are able to see the vision of surreal and realistic fashion, blended into one collection and captivating a truly mixed crowd of the non-fashion as well as fashion savvy.