Le Grande Facon in San Francisco, acceptable or not?

Jean Paul Gaultier 

Okay, this has been a conundrum for me. I love the winter season for the fact that I can do layering and wear my scarf but living in San Francisco, that's year round anyways. It does get cold but is it enough to wear heavy coats? For some reason I always end up wearing my mini puffer jacket or my vintage 70's style jacket that everybody wants (the funny thing about that jacket is that I get more complement for that jacket alone than any of my more expensive jackets/coats combined, go figure). The problem is that when I start driving away from the city that I call home and start driving to the eastbay (Oakland) or to the southbay (San Jose), It's usually not that cold and I end up being hot. I know that fashionistos/fashionistas usually suffer for fashion but nobody likes sweating under a nice coat. Donning a trench is okay since most of the time the lining is detachable. Just recently, I received a very dramatic military inspired trench that I really wanted and I've been wearing thanks to the nasty weather that we've been having. But recently while having brunch with a good friend, I spotted a man wearing a grand coat that its own right looks stylish, reminded me of the Jean Paul Gaultier grand coat, but he looked out of place and I began thinking do I stick out in the crowd like him? Is that a curse that fashionistos/fashionistas has to live with? To stand out like a sore thumb? Most of the time, like at an art gallery show, and night out at the museum people had been dressing nice and fashionable. But I was still a little (just a little) jarred that in the recent fashion event that I attended in the city there were people that came to the event and were quite confused what fashionable chic meant, but I digress.  On an everyday occurrence it is very rare that I see a guy as fashionable as somebody (ahem) i know. ha ha. I live in a major city for god sakes not some small town Oklahoma.  My aunt who lives in Italy always tells me how Italians are always dressed up to their nines every time they step out the door. I guess I should just be thankful, at least that the people in the mission embraces the Bohemian style of fashion.    

La Vie Boheme! - David Gandy & Sam Webb by Matteo Zini

The editorial that featured David Gandy and Sam Webb appeared on the latest issue of Seventh Man magazine and photographed by Matteo Zini. Styled by Rossana Passalacqua in pieces like Ermenigildo Zegna, Prada, Gucci and of course the bow tie from Lanvin. Yep, I love the bow tie, it's from Lanvin how could I not?! I really wish that more American men take note of European fashion. The cut, the styling it just makes sense to me. 

Post Christmas Thought - Holiday Blues

As I sat here at my parent's living room, semi-watching the lights on the Christmas tree, hearing my sister's laugh on the other room, my brother, my dad and my mom talking about the food on the table, my niece wanting to color all night and slightly succumbing to a food coma and feeling buzzed from the Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc that I've been drinking (found in my parent's wine "cellar" which I remember bringing two years ago with an ex-mon ami). But something is different compared to the past so and so years. I am single, by choice? Maybe. So, everybody wants to know, did I get what I wanted for Christmas. I got some clothes, A wonderful coat, some alcohol what else can I ask for . . . wait, no Ipad (sigh - I guess I wasn't in santa's nice list). I went shopping and spent countless hours looking for a perfect gift for my niece. She's my first niece and she's getting spoiled like no other by my family. Aside from not finding an Asian Barbie, which I ended up buying a doctor Barbie which I thought was Asian enough.   I spent some time with a very good friend the eve of Christmas eve. Talking about the holidays and what we got from people so far he got a very nice Ted Baker bag that costs $1,500 am I jealous? maybe a little bit. I did spend sometime shopping with him a few weeks back for that character that bought him the bag and I sorta felt this nostalgic feeling of buying a gift for that special someone in my life. Snapping back to reality, thanks to a friend that really, I mean really, hopes i find self realization for being totally happy when I'm single. Which I am, I had an awesome time with some amazing friends for Christmas eve and spent Christmas Day with a supporting family that I know who will be there all the time, what can I ask for? I'm not gonna lie I do miss having that person to kiss under the mistletoe and it does mean something and not just a lusty kiss but I don't miss the jealousy that came when I look at another person the "wrong way".  People come and go in your lifetime but dear friends and family will always be there for you. You know what? I may be single this holiday but that didn't mean I was alone. Hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas.
- Lex 12/25/10

Happy Holidays (Merry Christmas) To One And All - Pull & Bear F/W 2010-11

I know for those in the know, this ad campaign came out sometime in August but I knew I would post it on Christmas Day. The ad was under the direction of Gaspar Sobrino and featured models Sam Way, Rodrigo Calazans, Mak Weinman, and Azila Jangutinova. Well Hopefully everybody got everything that they wanted and more. Happy Holidays to all. 

Role Model - Phillip Alexander by Allen Zaki

Phillip Alexander is the Role Model for Allen Zaki's editorial that appears on the current issue of Bello Mag. Styled by Catherine Wright with pieces from Zara to Gap. I like how every piece from this editorial are not from any high fashion houses but the editorial still came out very handsome. Style on a budget.