Like the design house itself, the new lookbook from Toronto-based Krane is equal parts modern and quirky as it is recalling of traditional menswear. Photographed by Tabea Mathern and designed by Ron Wan, the quality detail of the each leather piece and accessory for Spring/Summer 2015 is pulled out of the shadows in a series of surrealistically clean vignettes, which offer glimpses of the Canadian brand’s commitment to the “process,” while also hinting at playful tangents of European whit. See an exclusive preview of next season’s lookbook below.
On the go? Good, now dress for it! Peep the new adidas Highlights SS14 look book below, featuring a sporty assortment of adidas Originals and all your favorite adidas friends, including Jeremy Scott, Ransom, Kazuki Kuraishi, Mark McNairy, and Bedwin & the Heartbreakers.
At first you won’t notice it. The emotive, sexually-charged imagery might appear to less-speculative eyes as simply interesting décor. But suddenly its subtlety falls away, and it slaps you in the face: an image of lovers wrapped in a Kama Sutra position superimposed over a scene from Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel; an amulet in the light reveals its true phallic nature. This is the way title of work works, subverting Creative Director Jonathan Meizler’s dark fixations and translating them into handcrafted men’s accessories.
“Our first vision of Jesus is an almost-naked man on a cross. It could be considered very sexual.” Meizler says, swallowing a smile as he presents his line for Fall 2013. “I wanted to explore that feeling in a tie. I do that in a very obtuse way.”
Besides fifteenth century Japanese shunga prints and dharmic hardware, a rich autumn palette dances through the rest of Spirituality vs Sexuality, title of work’s newest collection which can be seen in their video look book below (NSFW):
The clip opens with text that reads “both prayer and the act of sex could be perceived as forms of spiritual cleansing,” a quote from Meizler that suggests this might not be the type of neckwear that you’re accustomed too. What comes next are quick vignettes of the brand’s handcrafted creations: a Merlot colored Italian cashmere piece with crumbs of sterling silver, a skull-embellished rosemary pendant birthing out of of a wool tie, a model’s open chest—and then suddenly—a groin. Like the collection in its entirety, the video uses high-impact religious and sexual imagery to convey Meizler’s point of view, but rather than bombarding the viewer, the effect crescendos into something that is stimulatingly, provocative, and very much in line with Meizler’s creative background.
title of work’s Creative Director Jonathan Meizler.
Always fascinated with the visual arts, Meizler attended Syracuse University where he studied film, art history, and graphic design. After working in Hollywood in the late 80’s, he began illustrating which quickly led to a men’s hand-painted silk collection. He subsequently co-founded JonValdi, initially a co-ed sportswear line that eventually dropped the menswear. In 1994, JonValdi opened their first Melrose boutique, and in 2003 Bergdorf Goodman purchased a couture collection from illustrations alone.
Almost a decade later, when Meizler decided to leave JonValdi, he still had the same passion for menswear and architecture that he started out with. “I knew I wanted to say something new in the arena of men’s fashion, but I saw it as cyclical and I felt like a little rat on a wheel,” Meizler remembers. “I wanted to get off and say something with a collection that had a little bit more longevity.”
In 2011, he merged his art background with his love of fashion to create title of work. Deconstructing the modern tie became his new passion, and after selling to Barneys, Bloomingdale’s, and Neiman Marcus, accessorizing the likes of Jay-Z and launching a diffusion line, exhibit A, it became clear that despite the growing-causality of today, men are still thirsty for a sense of formality. Whether they know they’re wearing a silver penis on their ties, though, remains a question that doesn’t concern Meizler.
Guess has more than a few useful items to pepper your wardrobe with this spring and summer but there’s one item we’re kinda can’t keep our eyes off of. The gorgeous navy and olive bomber pictured above. Lightweight, silky shine and just a bit of detail on the sleeve—it looks way more expensive than the $148 that Guess is asking for it. As for the rest? There’s more than a few cuts on the pants, but they’ve got a good selection of relaxed slim fit, which is just the way to kick it when you’re out on one of those summer days that might have the potential to turn into night. You’ll also find some all-over print blazers, shorts and pants, a few plays on texture (specifically a white tonal striped button up) and contrasting cuff colors (on both shorts and a tunic). Check the entirety of the Guess men’s Spring 2013 collection after the jump.
We’re due for a Summer of Love, no? The third to be exact—the first being the 1967 San Francisco’s hippie movement and second the 1988/89 MDMA infused London rave scene. Both were built upon confrontation, liberation and driven by positive and engaging energy. (Also something else, but we’ll leave that to your imagination). Anyway, those things not parenthesized are just what the guys at Wood Wood have been feeling and have channeled through their keen their street/performance sport inspired hands for the Spring 2013 collection. The 3rd movement in the “Summer of Love,” appears calmer, warmer and more subtle in its coloring than those electric acid ravers and tie died hippies—puce and brown tones are this season’s new base, along with classic navy, antique whites, army colours and grey melanges. Pop up blues and yellows and the unique prints that you already love Wood Wood for (this time round a distorted animal pattern, electric coloured florals and an ethnic bead print) give it just the right edited, clean, mitigated sentiment of a modern “Summer of Love.” The collection will pre-launch January 28th in the Wood Wood online store. Look book after the jump.
Here’s something that’ll be a spectacular addition to your coffee table library: ‘Kill the Night’ —the Fall 2012 3.1 Phillip Lim comic book that’s also a look book. It’s co-written by Lim himself and John Ostrander and illustrated by Jan Duursema, both of Star Wars fame. Lim’s fall 2012 collection was inspired by the spirit of comic books like Sin City and V for Vendetta and the neo-noir heroines within. The book will be sold online at 3.1philliplim.com but there’s a special promotion going on for its launch date of September 6th, which is also Fashion’s Night Out. Head into the 3.1 Phillip Lim store and you’l get a signed copy with any purchase and a 15% discount.
