PISSING PETA OFF

I have always been one to love aspiring new talent, and 20 year old photographer Julian Laidig has most certainly impressed me.  In the latest issue of Hole Magazine, Laidig captures models David Haas, Stefan Podany, Constantin Simon, and Magomed Dadakaev in a fur filled editorial entitled THE BOYS WE LOVE.

A New Feeling For Fitness

Represented by Ford, Models 1, and Viva Modeling agencies, newcomer James Smith is snatched up by photographer Thomas Lohr for an editorial for Sleek Magazine.  Stylist Toby Grimditch manages to take the most simple looking athletic and sportswear, infuse it with some latex and unconventional pieces to create a pretty amazing editorial. 

In Awe of an Albino

In a world where everyone strives to look perfect, often times "abnormal" features are shunned upon.  Each day my love for Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci grows and grows, because he is able to see the beauty in us all.  Accepting us all for our very own individuality, Tisci has shown his open mindedness by working with porn stars, transsexuals, and numerous minorities.  Keeping his faces fresh, the talented designer has given albino model Stephen Thompson the crown for his S/S 11 campaign.

Beautiful Brutality

In this Fall editorial of Guapo Magazine, photographer Eli Schmidt captures Vladimir Ivanov in a spread called Hell's The Hippest Way To Go. 

THE BIGGER THE BULGE, THE BETTER...

I know what you are thinking, and shame on you...Before you guys get all flustered and red in the face, let it be known that I am speaking of Xmas stocking bulges..lol  

Always being one that enjoys paying attention to detail, I figured, why not stuff the stockings of your love ones with some cool gifts?  however, if they suit your fancy, by all means, keep them for yourself.  

No matter if you are trying to be more frugal and watching your electric bill, or that you are trying to set a bit of a mood... Candles are always good to have around the house.   And if you are going to give them as a gift, why not these from Julius?   Act fast, these candles are limited edition. 

Although not as exclusive as the candles, these Julius zipper gloves are capable of adding the needed edge to any look. 

Whether your love one will have anything to put in it after the holiday season is over is questionable, but this numeric black leather wallet made by Comme des Garcons will make them feel like a million bucks.  

(photo by Walt Cessna)

For those of you that have a love for the unconventional, there is artwork and clothing from downtown New York artist Scooter LaForge.  Click his name to read more about all of his amazing talents.

Books are always a great thing to give as gifts.  Paying attention to your friends own personal style will help you with your selections.

Although a year old, The Sartorialist is a favorite of mine.  Scott Schuman fills his book with fashionistas everyday street style. 

  Kristin Knox pays tribute to the late Alexander McQueen.  The book can be found at Urban Outfitters and contains an abundance of designs from this icon. 

As we get closer and closer to Xmas, I can only hope that you guys are nearly done with all of your shopping.  I hope that these few ideas come in handy. 

Graphic Klein

Breaking away from their normal yet chic photos, Dazed and Confused Magazine infuses captivating graphics to Calvin Kleins S/S11 Collection.  Photographed by Damien Blottiere, the editorial entitled Cut &Paste uses models Christian Ochsenfahrt and Victoire Macon-Dauxerre.

Snapped & Caught

NELLY MARSHALL

Let me go on the record and say that I absolutely love this guy, but hate this guy... Hate that he is so beautiful that is...  Just when I thought I was the epitome of a prettyboy, I come across this joker. lol.  All jokes aside, my latest Fashion Forward-It Guy, Nelly Marshall, is a sweetheart. 

It was the first week of November, and I had just come off what seemed like an amazing but never ending shoot with my friend/photographer Elvis Piedra.  After making a connection with the hard working subject of the day(Ben Muller), I called myself relaxing just a tad once I arrived home when I noticed this exotic like creature being suggested to me in my friends column.  Barely giving a rats ass, but curious, I clicked on his profile and was instantly placed in a trance.  "WOW!!! An attractive guy, with an out of the norm style," I thought and probably said aloud to myself.  He instantly accepted and we figured out why he popped up in my always questionable list of recommendations.

True to myself, I reached out to him to see where his head was and came to realize that Nelly was a pretty cool guy.  But what really drew me to him even more so was all of the tribal inspired editorials that have been surfacing in magazines as of lately.  I looked at the dates of my magazines, and then back at the dates of the pics on his facebook profile, and noticed that this was a guy who danced to the beat of his own drum before hand.  It just so happens that mags just recently started featuring these looks, and Mr. Marshall had been doing them all this time.  keeping score, another CHECK on his scoreboard for being a Fashion Forward Man. 

I have always found that my It-Guys born in another country to be more intriguing... Sure there are exceptions but I dare not specify which ones.  After all, they all capture my eye for one reason or another.  I did however learn that Nelly was born in Germany,and have spent more than half of his life in Europe.  How he and he twin brother... yes identical twin brother, identified with a more native American culture, I don't know, but it works. 

"My style, it's about empowerment, giving an edge and some life.  Its not about looking at it and saying it doesn't make sense.  It's about making sense.  Going into a thrift store and seeing potential in what an item could be, not what it is," he explains.  Being a man of such a diverse, yet complicated background myself, I left his response at that.  

 What I will say about his upbringing/family is that he has an twin.  His brother Lavell is identical...so much so that I had to find and post a picture of them sporting different hairstyles so that I could tell them apart in pictures. (do you you know which one is which?)

When asked who his primary mens fashion icons were, he was given another CHECK to my fav It-Guy list with his answer.  Calling His Purple Majesty my long lost father, Nelly seemed to have this in common with me.  "Oh man, I'm not sure I can limit myself... for much of my inspiration is from females yes. Ha! Many would think I pull from Prince. Haha I couldn't tell you how many times a day I here " Ey Prince," I give him great props! Really I'd say any male daring enough to throw their body outside an expected box of simplicity and run with there imagination.... I dance for androgyny, it's a beautiful thing!"

 With chiseled good looks and dead on answers, I was only hoping that this particular Fashion Forward-It Guy had flaws.  "What are some of your bad habits." I asked.  Although playing coy, I will say that he confessed to somewhat having a shopping addiction.  So much so,, that he is willing to put himself in jeopardy of a utility being shut off in order to have them.  I cant even laugh, I have been there and done that myself. 

 

And although vintage stores, and Goodwill locations may be places Marshall frequents to find his pieces, he admits to liking Topman. 

Another thing that I learned about the multicultural  beauty was that aside from being a talented hairstylist, he also sings.. And just when I thought he was purchasing the majority of his native inspired  pieces, he was in fact sitting in a corner, drinking juice, making them.  All the while his brother and mutual friends break danced and drank "stronger" beverages.   

Well, with that being said,  I must say, this It-Guy has me in his corner and totally motivated... Trust me, I am doing all I can to get him as well as his brother in front of a camera to see how much they can really shine... 

The Nappy Dred

Locs, Rick Owens, and Comme Des Garcons... I couldn't ask for more in one editorial.  Photographed by Mariano Vivanco, Vince Taylor goes against the grain of a typical model and delivers.  Take a look for yourself. 

FASHION FORWARD FRANCOIS???

I am trying something new with this particular installment, but rightly so.  Reflecting back to my interviews with my It-Guys, I noticed two of them had a particular off-the-cuff name in common as one of their fashion icons...the very mouthwatering Francois Sagat. Why???  For those of you who don't know, Francois is actually a porn star.  Hell, MEGA PORN STAR.  Sure, I have known of this handsome creature for quite sometime myself, but you know how people can be when it comes to talking about porn in public.  They get all shy and pretend like they have never popped in a dvd, or searched the web for it.  Me being the bloodhound that I am, I can sniff bs a mile away.  But with that being said, this is why I love my It-Guys...  They have always been real enough to tell it like it is.

What I love about Mr. Sagat, is that he decided to grab his life by the horns and do what the hell he wanted.  By looking at him, who would have known that the frenchman was actually shy growing up??? But what some of you may still be wondering is what makes him a fashion icon.  Well, when Francois isn't laying on his back making those vids that we hide in the back of our closets when company arrives, he also works as a model, and has made appearances in "regular" movies as well.  One of which one of my favs, Tony Ward, has written and produced.  But lets not forget what he is really known for... That tatted hairstyle of his.  You know the one that a major house like Givenchy basically paid homage to in one of their recent collections.  Yes folks, Francois is the stuff that LEGENDS are made of.  I myself love that he is able to transition from each job, and is able to keep our attention.  But just in case he hasn't held yours just yet, allow me to enlighten you with a few more images of this HUNK.

SOFT AROUND THE EDGES

is the title of this editorial for Oakazine Magazine.  The Story was shot by Matthias Vriens-Mcgrath and styled by James Valeri.Naturally i loved the boots in the pics, but I particularly loved all the different hair styles that the guys are rocking..