Archive for August, 2010

Armani to Stay the Course

Giorgio Armani is a fashion icon. He is known in particular for his menswear although as many of his peers have done, he has branched out into other areas.

For the most part Armani adheres to simpler designs and patterns, and for this reason his men’s ties have become classics which never go out of style.

There’s a reason why Armani is one of the top fashion brands in the world. And that it is because of designer and founder Giorgio Armani. And when asked about hiring new breed of fashion designers for the fashion house, the 76-year-old explained that he is happy with the way things are and added that when changed need to be mane, it is better to have someone who already works for the firm take over.

One of Armani’s tenets is for a designer to be true to themselves and their philosophy. Unfortunately many people dabble in a variety of areas without a vision or sense of self, and in the end lack the consistency that Armani has attained over the years.
But that doesn’t mean that we have seen the last of this genius’ work, because he has no intention of standing down from his fashion house soon.
He said, “I want to go out and run my company with the people that I have. This is a company that is going into the future with whatever changes and evolutions are needed. If you put in a different design talent, say someone spectacular like Galliano, it wouldn’t be Armani anymore.”
That is why Giorgio is working hard to make people who work at Armani understand his aesthetics. And he is very happy that it is working and is very proud of everything the company has achieved.

In his interview with British Vogue, “I have to make those around me understand the style of Armani. I find it absurd, the idea of putting someone in place who will undo everything I have done in the last 20 years. It would be such a shame when one has built something with such care.”

Add a touch of Giorgio Armani to your wardrobe today!

MENS GIORGIO ARMANI LUXURY SUIT UK 36R W32 X L33
MENS GIORGIO ARMANI LUXURY SUIT UK 36R W32 X L33 $79.35 (1 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 11:11:35 PST

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2395 Armani Collezioni Black on Black Stripe Super 150s Business Suit 44L
2395 Armani Collezioni Black on Black Stripe Super 150s Business Suit 44L $635.26
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 11:23:28 PST
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MENS STUNNING GIORGIO ARMANI LE COLLEZIONI DESIGNER SUIT 40 W36 L295
MENS STUNNING GIORGIO ARMANI LE COLLEZIONI DESIGNER SUIT 40 W36 L295 $65.06 (1 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 12:08:14 PST

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Mens Giorgio Armani Vintage Suit size 44 54
Mens Giorgio Armani Vintage Suit size 44 54 $99.99
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 12:25:07 PST
Buy It Now for only: $299.99
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Mens 1200 Armani Collezioni Black Double Breasted Suit Size 44 54 L
Mens 1200 Armani Collezioni Black Double Breasted Suit Size 44 54 L $99.99
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 12:25:27 PST
Buy It Now for only: $299.99
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2395 Armani Collezioni Gray Windowpane Business Suit 40R
2395 Armani Collezioni Gray Windowpane Business Suit 40R $635.26
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 13:54:53 PST
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EMPORIO ARMANI SIZE 42 COTTON RAYON SUIT
EMPORIO ARMANI SIZE 42 COTTON RAYON SUIT $10.00 (1 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 13:59:20 PST

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EMPORIO ARMANI SIZE 42 linen SUIT
EMPORIO ARMANI SIZE 42 linen SUIT $22.00 (4 Bids)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 14:01:44 PST

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Successful Men Wear Brioni

While reading an international daily a few months back, I chanced upon an advertisement for Brioni. I was pleasantly surprised to find a distinguished-looking male model in a handsome suit side by side with an equally elegant-looking female model wearing a perfectly tailored dress-and-jacket ensemble that exuded timeless femininity and grace. I wasn’t aware that Brioni also had a women’s line, so when I found out they opened a flagship store in Ginza in May, I had to have a look-see; I contacted the gracious head of PR for Brioni-Tokyo and got a lowdown on the label.

Brioni is a fashion brand that is synonymous with unparalleled luxury; it reigns supreme in men’s clothing and is distinguished by impeccably cut and elegantly tailored suits in the finest of fabrics. Their long-standing tradition of creating only the best in men’s fashion remains unchanged, 65 years after their first atelier opened in Rome on Via Barberini.

Brioni is named after the Istrian Island frequented by the most exclusive European jetsetters in the first decades of the 20th century. The fashion house was the brainchild of a tailor from Penne named Nazareno Fonticoli and a businessman from Umbria by the name of Gaetano Savini. Their combined love of elegance and an enterprising spirit brought Italy’s top-class tailoring to the forefront of international fashion.

Headed by Andrea Perrone, grandson of Gaetano Savini, the descendants of the founding families of the brand manage the business and are just as committed to maintaining Brioni’s unrivaled position in the luxury tailoring and lifestyle market.

A Stitch at a Time
The creativity involved in realizing a Brioni garment is close to an art form. It takes about 18 to 22 hours to create one suit; 220 steps equate to 440 hands working on one piece of clothing. Every worker is dedicated to only one phase, with 80 workers assigned to ironing alone. Depending on the design and type of construction required, 5,000 to 7,000 stitches are hand-sewn to each jacket; every sewing phase is followed by ironing, then by a “precise resting” phase that varies according to the fabric and the garment’s geographic and climatic destination.

Fabrics are strictly inspected to ensure that they have the fundamental elasticity. Silk, mohair, linen, cotton and gabardine are subject to modification so as to consistently guarantee the best possible movement and the proper, comfortable fit of each piece of clothing. Each fabric is then matched with a particular type of lining, 50 available varieties in all. Along the way, numerous intermediate inspections take place, especially after the article is pressed. Each garment is given several hours to rest and is checked for any reaction that might affect the finish and if there is one, appropriate modification automatically follows.

Today, the Brioni brand rests in the hands of 400 master tailors and a total of 1,650 employees. Truly, no other brand exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of “Made in Italy” than Brioni.

Quest for Perfection
Made-to-measure tailoring is one of Brioni’s most traditional and satisfying rituals; it is also the epitome of exclusivity. Brioni has established an exclusive service that provides their clients from all over the world access to their master tailors. These master tailors travel the globe 90 days out of a year, paying personal visits to their clients and providing them with one-of-a kind, specially crafted clothing with the perfect fit. They travel not only to a client’s city but also the client’s world; they learn about his taste, aesthetic approach, cultural background, lifestyle and psychological component and integrate them into the client’s final wardrobe choice.

Seven generations of master tailors have already been trained by the Nazareno Fonticoli School of Tailoring founded in 1985 in Penne, Abruzzo, to continue the tradition of Italian tailoring; the school cultivates the talents of dedicated young students through a four-year course on traditional tailoring followed by a one-year apprenticeship in modern manufacturing techniques at Brioni.

More than Just Clothes
Unknown too many, even before lifestyle became a byword in the fashion industry, Brioni was already fully embracing the concept. The brand is responsible for the first Italian polo club established in 1924 and has since organized a number of Brioni Polo Classic competitions. The fashion house keeps a small Polo collection for both players and fans of the sport — gentlemen and experts who share a passion for this ancient, virile and unrivaled sport.

In 2005, Brioni partnered with The Four Seasons Hotel-Milan to create “Suite Brioni,” a haven on the top floor of the hotel. Located a short distance from its Milanese headquarters, the hotel suites were created by Brioni architects and interior designers in a style that reflects the atmosphere of an intimate apartment, a refuge that comforts, delights and soothes. One-of-a-kind pieces like the Louis-Philippe armchair irreverently updated in contemporary fabric, Syrian silver tables, Empire armchairs in horsehair and a bassorilievo by cabinet-maker Giuseppe Amato fill the suites.

You too can wear a Brioni suit or a Brioni sport coat. Check the prices below and I think you will be surprised at how affordable many of their suits and jackets are when discounted.

Recent 4695 BRIONI Lighter Gray Wool Suit Athletic Cut Slim 44 L
Recent 4695 BRIONI Lighter Gray Wool Suit Athletic Cut Slim 44 L $600.00
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 14:32:50 PST
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NWT 5775 BRIONI Handmade Olive Green Side Vent Superfine Wool Suit 48 R L
NWT 5775 BRIONI Handmade Olive Green Side Vent Superfine Wool Suit 48 R L $1,495.00
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 16:23:47 PST
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Mens Brioni 46R 100 Wool Staple Gray 2 Button Double Vented Made in Italy Suit
Mens Brioni 46R 100 Wool Staple Gray 2 Button Double Vented Made in Italy Suit $300.00
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 16:43:06 PST
Buy It Now for only: $400.00
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Mens Brioni 46R 100 Wool Staple Gray 2 Button Double Vented Made in Italy Suit
Mens Brioni 46R 100 Wool Staple Gray 2 Button Double Vented Made in Italy Suit $300.00
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 16:45:49 PST
Buy It Now for only: $400.00
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Sharp BRIONI Olive Tone on Tone Stripe 2 Button Suit EU 48 US 38 S 31 X 26
Sharp BRIONI Olive Tone on Tone Stripe 2 Button Suit EU 48 US 38 S 31 X 26 $99.00
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 17:10:53 PST

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GORGEOUS BLACK BRIONI BLAZER RARE 41 SIZE
GORGEOUS BLACK BRIONI BLAZER RARE 41 SIZE $314.99
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 17:56:22 PST
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BRIONI 2010 Charcoal Gray Pinstripe Super 150s Luxury 2B Suit 44R
BRIONI 2010 Charcoal Gray Pinstripe Super 150s Luxury 2B Suit 44R $1,095.00
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 18:32:42 PST
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4500 NEW BRIONI MEDIUM GRAY 3 BUTTON SUIT 42L 42 L
4500 NEW BRIONI MEDIUM GRAY 3 BUTTON SUIT 42L 42 L $1,209.99
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 10:10:12 PST
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Without a doubt, this year’s Men’s Fashion Week in Paris was stripped of the usual decadence witnessed on the Parisian runways. Left in its place, exposed and bare, was a minimal aesthetic that replaced the usual rainbow of spring colors with tailored nudes and this year’s favorite palette of black and white.

The designers who showcased their Spring-Summer 2011 collections this June definitely proved less is more. And none better than Belgium designer Kris Van Assche of Dior. The show, appropriately entitled, “Lessness,” dressed down the silhouette to reveal luxury in sobriety. Designer Van Assche, told The Associate Press in a backstage interview that he “wanted to show less to put all the attention to quality.”

And he did just that. With the normal distractions of embellishments now removed, the focus went to the raw internal seams with linen taping and the white selvage edging on raw-edged coattails. These understated details reveal the mastery of fabric and the finesse of the ateliers, whose expert tailoring is a true synonym for luxury.

“That for me is the real luxury. It’s not about sequins anymore,” Van Assche told the AP. The hand-stitched detailing and slit pockets were his subtle version of “embellishments” that proved that luxury doesn’t mean opulence, but rather sophisticated simplicity. From black to greige — undyed and unfinished textiles, the almost colorless collection forced admiration onto the process and skill set of the master tailors rather than the indulgence of fashion. The colors of gray and midnight blue respected this design philosophy, also highlighting the rigor involved.
Pieces were modernized with the usual suspects shorn off, thus appearing in manifestations of sleeveless trench coats and blazers without closures. Lapels dissolved off blazers and fine fabrics extended as coat tails. What is remarkable is that Van Assche was able to give lessen the finishings without making the outfit appear unfinished, or worse — grunge. Instead, what came out of the dark shadows cast behind the catwalk’s centerpiece — a soaring, spiral made of thin, white fabric — was the exact opposite: It was luxury redefined.

The dramatic tension between exaggerated volume and proportions of the contemporary three-piece ensembles suggest an evolution into more modern, somber times. The presence of draped wools and silks created a sense of sensual fluidity that was contrasted with the masculine patches of bare skin revealed through deep-cut V-neck tank tops that were asymmetrically slit.

Although some fashion critics have claimed that the long sleeveless coats were reminiscent of a Japanese samurai, the look was much broader — encompassing the entire Orient. The sleeveless trench coats in black were the Saudi mishlahs reincarnated and made international. The draped white V-neck shirts made in light silks appeared like the top half of an evening thobe. The accompanying drop-crotched, voluminous pants worn with a fabric waist appeared as a chic and modern harem pant.

Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld who, besides being the visionary photographer behind the Dior Homme ads, is also a devoted Dior Homme fan and patron, and took his usual front row seat. Lagerfeld and co. showed up in their uniformly Dior Homme suits. “Dior suits are the best made in the world — nobody does clothes like that,” praised the gloved designer, “[The collection was] very elegant.”

For great prices on Dior Homme suits and jackets view the items below.

Dior Homme 46 36 Black Hedi Slimane Margiela Jil Sander Blazer 2100 S S 04
Dior Homme 46 36 Black Hedi Slimane Margiela Jil Sander Blazer 2100 S S 04 $499.00 (1 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 13:29:46 PST

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Dior Homme 46 36 Black Hedi Slimane Margiela Jil Sander Blazer 1900 F W 05
Dior Homme 46 36 Black Hedi Slimane Margiela Jil Sander Blazer 1900 F W 05 $499.00 (1 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 13:34:50 PST

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AW08 Dior Homme 2 Button Wool Suit Sz 44 Jacket Blouson Pants Hedi Slimane
AW08 Dior Homme 2 Button Wool Suit Sz 44 Jacket Blouson Pants Hedi Slimane $1,749.99
End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 17:10:47 PST
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DIOR HOMME HEDI SLIMANE SUIT As worn by Jack Osbourne
DIOR HOMME HEDI SLIMANE SUIT As worn by Jack Osbourne $315.87
End Date: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 12:15:53 PST

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Dior Homme Paris Navy Blue Wool Mens Suit Size 38 L 34
Dior Homme Paris Navy Blue Wool Mens Suit Size 38 L 34 $625.00
End Date: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 13:01:35 PST
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vtg Christian Dior Blazer 40 R Double Breasted Grey Pour Homme Classic
vtg Christian Dior Blazer 40 R Double Breasted Grey Pour Homme Classic $34.99
End Date: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 21:18:49 PST
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DIOR HOMME HEDI SLIMANE Gray 2 Button Suit 52 42
DIOR HOMME HEDI SLIMANE Gray 2 Button Suit 52 42 $999.99
End Date: Monday Feb-20-2012 19:56:38 PST
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DIOR HOMME Slim Fit Two Button Suit RRP 2500
DIOR HOMME Slim Fit Two Button Suit RRP 2500 $1,249.98
End Date: Monday Feb-27-2012 23:49:00 PST
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Tips on Making a Good Impression on a Job Interview

Dressing for a job interview is one of the most important things you can do to jump start your career, after all first impressions really do count. So what should you wear to an interview? With the competition very high for jobs the first impression you make to the prospective employer could very well be difference between getting the job and not getting the job. Of course there are many others you must do to make a good impression on a job interview, but looking professional is a good start.

The answer depends on both your style, and the job you are interviewing for. However, keep in mind that you should always dress "up" for an interview, and never wear casual wear when you're interviewing for a new job.

A great look for a new job interview is a classic men's suit, in traditional navy or grey. Your classic new suit can be paired up with a designer men's shirt and tie, you will not only look successful, but you will feel successful as well. Feeling great about the way you look in your wardrobe can be the key to self-confidence, a trait that employers like to see.

You should also keep your shoes and socks conservative; dark colors will work well with any men's suit combination.

Which Dress Shirt?
There are several types of dress shirts that go well with men's suits. Silk, linen or a cotton blend are common dress shirt materials, but how do you know which dress shirt to wear to an important job interview?

The first aspect you should think about is color. For a professional look, a long sleeved white cotton dress shirt is always a good choice. Oxford cotton is the most practical choice, simply because cotton will wrinkle less than other materials. Also, white dress shirts will go with any men's suit you own.

Men's dress shirts that are made from linen or silk may wrinkle too much to look professional, but you may choose another light color besides white. Pale yellow, pink or blue are common choices, but will make choosing your tiemuch more difficult. You should also wear a dark colored belt, preferably black.

Spice Up Your Professional Attire
Choosing a tie seems simple, but you can really add some flair to your suit by choosing the right men's tie. Your tie should be on the conservative side; a silk men's tie is a great choice for an interview. The color of the silk tie should complement your suit, and be of one solid color, so save the ties with patterns or pictures until after you get hired.

You can also spice up your wardrobe by choosing a men's designer suit, such as an Armani men's suit. Armani men's suits are classically made, and will last for many years longer than other discount suits. They also look great, especially when you are making your first impression on a job interview.

You can also pair your designer men's suit with a designer dress shirt by Armani. The Armani shirts come in a wide variety of colors and style, and can be worn in both interview and work situations.

If an Armani men's suit is not within your budget, don't worry. You can also purchase beautiful discount men's suits for a fraction of the cost. Discount men's suits look great for an interview, and can be paired with an Oxford men's dress shirt for great results.

Creating a Successful Business Image : Proper Fit for a Jacket

Learn tips and advice on how to develop a professional wardrobe for men, including business casual style and the proper fit of a suit jacket in this free how to video.